Carnal Indulgence (Desiring the Forbidden Book 3) Read Free Page A

professor understood the nuances between the varying shades of gray. However, you what I have learned, Miss Libby?”
    Libby shook her head, feeling butterflies in her belly.
    “I’ve learned—as you know, Missy—the varying shades of pink and red.” He raised his eyebrows at her, letting the phrase sink in. And sink in it did. “I think I’d like to give you a demonstration. Then tomorrow, when you’re calm and rational, we’ll discuss invitations again.”
    Libby had swallowed, knowing she’d gone too far from the quiet, steely tone of his voice. She’d learned the hard way over the past four years, to take heed when he spoke to her in this manner. “Yes, Daddy.”
    Just as Daddy had promised, this morning before they each left for work, he’d pulled out the invitations again, and they rationally discussed the colors. After looking at them again, calmly, in the light of day, the white lace seemed the most appropriate. Once again, Daddy was right.
    ***
    Libby walked into the coffee shop, looking around for her ex-husband, Jeff. The dimly lit room smelled of old books showcasing hundreds in the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. There were old church pews with matching dark wood tables. Libby enjoyed the old library feel, and the artsy addition of benches just made it cozier in her mind. The windows had burgundy Roman shades that added to the austere look.
    She grabbed a small table that had a regular chair on one side and a pew up against the wall on the other, looking around the room she didn’t spot Jeff. He didn’t seem to be there yet; she quickly pulled out her phone to check the time. She was early—almost ten minutes early—another skill she had learned, thanks to her Daddy. When Libby met Maddox, she thought being on time meant anything up to twenty minutes beyond the scheduled appointment. It didn’t take Daddy long to handle that situation with some firm reminders—and lingering pain—ultimately, she found the incentive to arrive not only on time but early.
    She walked to the counter placing her order for a small sandwich for Jeff and herself to split while they talked.
    Libby had barely draped her coat on the back of the chair when Jeff walked in, waving hello. “I got us a sandwich, just get your coffee.”
    She watched Jeff at the counter; he looked older now than even just a couple years ago. At almost fifty, his hair was becoming more gray than brown, and the years were evident on his face. He didn’t look haggard or awful, just…looked his age. She had the same feeling when she looked in the mirror. No matter how hard she tried with all the lotions and dyes available, life left its marks—laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, graying at the temples and roots, aches and pains that caused a stoop of the shoulders or slight limp to her walk some days—there was no denying getting older. No matter how hard you tried to cover it up, it pushed its way through.
    In the seven years since they had separated and divorced, there had been many obstacles, but Elizabeth and Jeff had decided that getting along and doing what was best for the kids would be their goal. For the most part, they had succeeded.
    At first, Jeff had been livid that she was dating someone who was at the time twenty-six—he didn’t think it was appropriate and sent a wrong message to the kids. At Maddox’s suggestion, they had met on neutral ground, and the men had gotten along very well. Jeff still didn’t like that she’d decided to date someone fifteen years younger than she, but he couldn’t find fault with how Maddox treated her or the kids. Jeff would be amazed if he knew the number of times Daddy had paddled her or forced her to call her ex-husband to “do the right thing” and to behave.
    Her ex-husband’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “You didn’t have to buy us a sandwich. I could’ve done that.” Jeff took his black dress coat off, draping it over the back of the chair. “Damn fall rains; we’re just