Read Her Imperfect Life for Free Online

slowly.”
    Marah listened quietly. She recognized that he had been hurt as badly as she had, although in a different way. That many years, and he hasn’t been in a relationship? A man this good-looking? But, will he cheat on me? If he doesn’t, I can actually see myself in a relationship with him. But, if he’s going to cheat, all bets are off. As she thought, the question of how she would know he had begun to cheat came to her mind.
    “Shayne, you need to know something about me. My ex-husband cheated on me many times. Before we got married, he cheated and after we got married, he cheated. I found out about his serial cheating when Daisy was only two years old and I filed for divorce right away. While I was waiting for the divorce to be finalized, I found out that he’d cheated on me with several girls while we were dating – while we were engaged. For that reason, I’ve avoided any more romantic relationships –   I’d rather be by myself for the rest of myself than run the risk of being cheated on again.”
    “Marah, I do not believe in multiple relationships, nor do I believe in cheating. If you finally decide you are going to be in a relationship with me, you will be safe with me. I cannot fathom how anyone can make a commitment to someone, say they love them, promise to be true to them – and then cheat on them, let alone multiple times with multiple partners,” Shayne said. “If you believe me, I hope you’ll think about starting to go out with me – one on one.”
    Marah looked up at Shayne. How do I know he’s telling me the truth? There’s no test that gives me that answer, and I don’t know if I’m brave enough to try this out. As if in answer to her thought, Marah’s heart began to hammer hard in her chest.
    Shayne had draped his arm lightly around Marah’s shoulders and he felt the timbre of her heartbeat speed up and become much harder. He looked at her and saw the fear on her face. Stopping, he stood in front of her and placed both hands on her shoulders.
    “Marah, you’re petrified. Your reaction is normal – your ex-husband mistreated you and you probably found out in the most horrible way possible.”
    At those words, Marah’s face crumpled and she began to cry. Shayne pulled her against his chest, absorbing her grief. He rocked her gently, as his shirt grew damp with her tears. After several minutes, she stopped crying.
    She sighed, saying, “I have never cried like that ever since I found out. This is the first time I’ve done so.”
    “I think we’re closer to your place than mine. It’s getting really cold out here, and I’d hate to see you get sick. Can we have some hot chocolate at your house?”
    “Sure. I can make something hot to eat as well,” Marah said. She allowed him to drape his arm over her shoulder as he shared his body warmth with her. She felt safer in his presence. In her house, she made hot cider for him and hot chocolate for her. Before she started dinner, she called Daisy’s sitter and asked her to bring her daughter home.
    Once dinner was ready, the three of them ate – Daisy, surprisingly, remembered Shayne and was immediately comfortable in his presence.
    “Mommy, is he going to be living here?” Daisy asked with wonder in her green eyes.
    “No, honey. It’s going to be you and me. I need to get to know him better and he needs to get to know me better,” Marah said.
    “Punkin, would you like me to be your mommy’s friend?” Shayne asked.
    Daisy grinned, her trademark dimples making their peek-a-boo appearance in both of her rounded, smooth cheeks.
    “Yes! I do! I like you!” This came out in a loud, high-pitched voice as Daisy made her feelings known. “Mommy, will you promise that he can be your friend? Please?”
    Marah swallowed her food, thinking. She has it right – he needs to be a friend first before anything else. “Baby, you’re right. He needs to be my friend first. I just want to make sure I’m making the right decision