Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

Harper.

"What are you looking at this late into the night?" the deep voice startlesfrom behind.

"God, you scared me," I muttered, trying to calm down my beating heart. "Don't ever sneak up onlike that." Gabriel walks around the Kitchen counter and comes to stand on the opposite side. The moment he does that and my eyes take him in, my throat goes dry all of a sudden. I feel parched, like I haven't had water in ages and swallowing becomes a big damn problem.

Gabriel had nothing on except for a pair of grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips. The damn man was a masterpiece with the body of a Greek god. With his broad shoulders, abs for days, and that damn V that would drive any woman crazy, He had a trail of dark hair that started at his navel and disappeared into his pants. It's as if it pointed to the direction of paradise.

I want to pull my eyes away but it's impossible. They drink him as if he were their only source of water. I stare at every nook and cranny of his body, noting the tribal tattoo on his chest. That is a new addition. It wasn't there when we had sex years ago and seeing it makescurious about its meaning.

There was no denying that Gabe was a fine specimen, especially now. Don't getwrong, even back then he had a great body and was fit, but now it's something else. Gone is the boyish body and in its place is the body of a man.

"See something you like?" his arrogant tone pullsfrom the trance his naked chest hadin.

I scoff to hide my embarrassment at being caught. "Please, I've seen better." "I doubt that, Harper," he said with an infuriating smirk.

"Of course you'd say that... Your ego won't allow you to accept otherwise." It's all a lie, though. I don't want to compare, but he was right. I've only been with two men, Liam and Gabriel. Liam was okay; he exercised and was fit, but his body didn't canywhere near Gabriel's.

Gabriel's is the kind of body women dream of. All muscles and no fat in sight. Strong, sexy, and mouthwatering. It's the kind you imagine running your tongue on, and I am ashamed to say that I am imagining that right now.

Shaking my head, I push those thoughts away. I was just sexually attracted to him. I haven't had sex in two years, so of course I would react like this to seeing him almost half naked. In fact, I would react like this towards any man, there's nothing special about Gabriel.

Keep telling yourself that. A voice whispered inside me.

Yeah, I will continue telling myself that. Being delusional is better than facing reality anyway.

Turning my attention to Gabriel, I find him staring at me. Correction, staring at my breasts. I watch with amusement as he swallows. I guess I wasn't the only one affected.

"See something you like?" I throw his question back at him.

"No," he answered gruffly.

I hide my smile. Looks like I am not the only one living in denial. Anyway, it doesn't matter because nothing will ever happen betweenand Gabriel. That ship burned and sank years ago.

We are both quiet after, and the atmosphere is awkward as hell.

Clearing my voice, I ask. "What are you doing up?" It was past midnight. Unlike in our previous marriage, he has been trying to cback hearly because of Lilly and then leave in the morning after she wakes up.

"I couldn't sleep," he simply answered. "You?" This is so weird. We never had this in our previous marriage. We never sat down and talked. He never comfortedwhen I cried. Hell, the man didn't care back then. Now things seem to have changed, and I don't know how to handle it. "I'm going through a list of schools that Lilly can join," I replied.

Given that I'd agreed to the contract and we were now married, for the next two years our lives would be here, so I needed to settle Lilly.

"She can join Noah's school. Lakewood Preparatory," he said casually.

I just stare at him like he has grown two heads. I know the school. Hell I used to go there. It's the only school for the rich and affluent in this city. "You do realize that I can't afford that kind of fees?" I asked.

Sure, I took Lilly to a good school back at home, but it wasn't as costly as Lakewood. Lakewood is way, way beyond my paycheck.

"You can't, but I can," he leaned forward on the counter.

"Absolutely not... I won't let you pay her fees." "I'm her father and I can afford it so let me." I go to interrupt him but he cutsoff and continues. "Look, I'm planning to introduce you two to my family this weekend. She'll get to know her cousin. When she jgins, it won't be that bad for her because she would have Noah." I stop and think. No one likes being the new student and he's right. It'll be better if there's someone there she already knows.

"Fine," I grumbled. "Just this once." "Good, I'll get my assistance to handle everything and she can join at the beginning of next week." "Okay. Given that that's settled, I'm going to sleep.” School searching is what keptup late into the night, and now I didn't have to worry about it. Standing up, I'm about to turn around and leave when his voice stops me. S "One more thing, Harper," he said, coming to my side. "Tomorrow you'll start working with me." he finished, more like he commanded.

What the hell? "Absolutely no," I snapped.

"Yes...Now, expect you to be up and ready, bright and early, because you'll be riding with me." Before I can wrap my head around his words or give him a piece of my mind, he turns around and saunters out the kitchen, leavingfuming and all alone