Forgiven Read Free Page A

remind myself that I need to prepare myself for the possibility, even though it sickens me, that it’s his; that the baby is Bradley’s. We have no proof that Ian and Veronica were scheming behind our backs. Stop it Gabby. Don't go there . I swallow the doubt that is creeping into my mind. I trust Bradley. I have to believe that he's right, and that this is all going to be okay.
    All of this makes me kick myself. Because I know that if I had taken time off from school, at the very least, we would have had more time to settle into this new life together. We could have ridden together because I wouldn’t have been all the way in Gainesville, which is where Brenau is located. I sigh. The timing is absolute crap.
    The drive to Château Élan isn’t long. I realize he didn’t tell me which part of this mammoth community to go to, nor did he tell me how to get past the gates as I exit the interstate. As I reach for my phone, it rings.
    “Hey. Where am I supposed to be going?”
    “Yeah, it would have helped if I told you, right?”
    “Humph, ya think?”
    “Just turn into the main entrance as you come off the interstate on the left. We’ll just leave your car there.”
    “Okay. See you in a sec.”
    I end the call as I pulled into the entrance of one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen in my life. The view from the interstate just doesn’t do it justice. The entrance has shrubs that are trimmed to read Château Élan, and there are colorful flowers surrounding the shrubs. The grounds are immaculately kept, and only compliment the incredible white mansion that I am driving towards. The vineyard spans for acres to the left. It’s hard to believe when you pull in that this paradise is in northeast Georgia, just a minute from a busy interstate.
    I glance around and spot Bradley’s car, not because it’s a nice car, but because he’s leaning up against the side with his arms and legs crossed. He’s watching me drive closer to him, and I see his lips curving into a smile. That look, that smile in front of this beautiful place is panty melting. I just want to run up to him and wrap my legs around his waist, kissing him. I don’t think I realize how much I miss him during the day until I am back with him. Then it’s times like these I wonder how we ever managed a long distance relationship for the time we did.
    I smile at him as I put the car into park and gather my things. He doesn’t move. He’s just standing there, watching me, waiting for me. As I am about to open the door, he reaches his arm out and does it for me. Such a gentleman.
    I can feel my face turning crimson when I look up into those deep blue eyes as I stretch my legs out of the driver’s seat. I hope he never stops having this effect on me.
    “Hey,” I say shyly. Why I’m being shy beats me, but he looks so good today. He’s come straight from work. I’m sure his jacket is laid nicely in the trunk of the car. He’s rolled the sleeves of his crisp white shirt up, showing his toned, tanned forearms. His teal tie is loose around his neck, and the color makes his eyes even more beautiful than they normally are. Then as if those things weren’t enough, the first couple of buttons of the shirt are undone. There’s something about his collarbone showing through that V that his shirt makes that causes my insides melt. Who am I kidding? Everything about him makes me melt.
    He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into an embrace. It’s unexpected and my body jerks quickly until it’s perfectly molded into his. He looks down at me, and I am so close that I have to arch my back and tilt my head to see him. He does that sexy, cute, throaty growl as he sucks on my bottom lip in a slow, sensual kiss. It amazes me how he can go from being a little rough to sweet so quickly. It makes my body a trembling mess. The thought of looking at homes is now the last thing on my mind.
    He pulls back, so slowly. I stand on my tip toes and try to hang on