The Only One for Me(36)
“No. I saw him, and I don’t want him around my kids.”
She threw the door open. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Corra stepped back as he stumbled through the open door, and quickly tried to right himself. He smelled like a distillery. She’d never known him to abuse alcohol, but clearly he’d changed since their divorce.
Once he steadied himself he looked around. “Where’s my kids?” he asked, with slurred speech.
“I told you, they’re upstairs getting ready for bed. You’ve been drinking and I won’t let you see them in your condition.” She held the door open. “Eric, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
He looked up at Corra with bloodshot eyes like she was crazy. “I bought this house. If it wasn’t for it, that...you wouldn’t even be living here.”
“We bought the house. Then you lost your share in the divorce settlement. So, again I’m asking you to leave.” Corra wasn’t afraid of Eric. He no longer held any power over her. The only times they’d actually fought were when she caught him with other women.
“I don’t want him in here, Corra. He’s not taking my kids away from me.”
“Eric, what are you talking about?”
“Your boyfriend, Chris,” he said, getting louder. “I saw him leaving a few minutes ago. If you let that bastard poison my kids against me—”
“Shhh.” Corra glanced upstairs to make sure they hadn’t been overheard. Then she turned back to Eric with fire in her eyes. “You’ve been sitting outside my house watching me?” She was furious.
“I was coming to see my kids, then I saw his car parked out front. So I sat there.” He staggered around a bit more trying to keep his balance. “I waited to see how long he was staying.”
Corra couldn’t believe her ears. He’d been out there drinking and getting madder by the minute.
He pointed his finger in her face. “What you tryna do, replace me with your football hero? You always had a thing for him. Hell, you think I didn’t know that.”
Corra smacked his hand away. “Eric, leave now.”
He chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere.” He turned to go up the steps. “Where’s Jamie.” He called out, “Jamie!”
Corra grabbed him by the arm. “He’s taking a bath. Come on, Eric, I’m not playing with you.”
He stopped and spun around. His facial expression and tone all softened. He reached out and tried to touch Corra’s cheek, but she pulled back.
“I miss you, baby. Didn’t you miss me?”
Shocked and horrified, Corra shook her head. “No, I don’t.”
She pushed past Eric up the steps. “That’s it. I’m calling the police.”
He reached out to grab her foot, but missed and fell onto the steps. “Okay, okay, I’m going. Just give me a minute. Damn!”
She stood at the top of the stairs with her arms crossed and the cordless phone in hand.
He snickered as he pulled himself up and opened the front door. “I’ll be back tomorrow, and your boyfriend had better not be here.” He slammed the door on his way out.
Corra lowered her arms and took a deep breath. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
Chapter 18
“Oh, my God!” The lobby of the Bellagio Hotel had been the most spectacular thing Corra had ever seen, but this room absolutely took the cake. The huge king-size bed, and the calming indigo and platinum color palette were set off by the breathtaking panoramic view of the Strip. She threw her purse on the bed and walked over to the window.
Chris walked in behind her. “What is it?”
“This view. Is that the Eiffel Tower?”
“Yep, and that’s the Paris Hotel across the street.” He walked up next to her.
Corra inhaled the crisp cedar-and-sandalwood scene of Chris’s cologne. She couldn’t believe she was standing next to him marveling at a replica of one of the most famous landmarks in the world. He reached out for her hand.
“Are you okay?”
She wrinkled up her nose. “I’m better than okay.”
“How about hungry?”
She smiled up at him. “Starved.”
“Me too. Come on, let’s find something to eat.”
As they walked hand in hand back through the casino to the restaurant, Corra noticed several women check Chris out. She wasn’t the only one who appreciated his style. He was fine from head to toe in a pair of long cargo shorts that showed off his toned legs, a designer T-shirt, with a large Tissot sports watch on his wrist.
After grabbing a bite to eat, they dropped a few coins playing slots up and down the Strip, before they returned to the hotel to change into club attire. When Corra stepped out of the bathroom in a short black dress with a deep plunge down the front, and sexy strappy heels, Chris wanted to shout Damn! The dress hugged her hips and showed off every fabulous curve of her body. She looked in the mirror and applied more lipstick, then turned around.