Tristan's Redemption Read Online Free

hours, she had nightmares about the day David died. She was in the doorway of his office, watching David and his secretary having sex while her wedding album lay open on the floor, engulfed by flames. She woke up in a cold sweat, struggling to catch her breath, eventually curling up into fetal position and sobbing. How could he have slept with someone else? Even now, five months later, the betrayal stung just as hard as his death. Abby would never have such blatant disrespect for their vows. David was her rock. During their months of infertility treatment, with every negative pregnancy test, David was the first person she called because he made everything better. Until the last day.
    She knew David loved her, which confused her even more. She saw the love in his eyes every time he looked at her, when they made love, and with every glance over their shared bowl of popcorn during a weekend Monty Python marathon. With each touch, she felt treasured. Yet despite that, he cheated. How was she supposed to forgive him?
    She went to the mall after lunch. Everywhere she looked, there were pregnant women accompanied by partners, husbands, lovers. She watched a smiling couple admiring baby clothes, the man had his arm around the woman and she placed her hand protectively over her belly. Abby put her items down and promptly left.
    After that dose of salt in the wound, the Greater Atlanta Support Group for Young Widows and Widowers was the last place she wanted to be, especially sitting next to a woman who kept trying to touch Abby ’s belly.
    “ I loved being pregnant. All five times, I was so happy. Even with both sets of twins.”
    Dear God, give this woman her own reality show and get her out of here. “That’s wonderful.”
    “ It most certainly is. Babies are a blessing—”
    Abby tuned her out as the door opened. Maybe Julie, the group leader, was finally here and they could begin.
    “Is this seat taken?”
    Abby looked up into a set of eyes so dark, they were almost black. The man ’s smile was faint but genuine and he bent so she could hear him.
    “ No, you can sit there.”
    “ Thank you.” The man was NBA player-tall, but he folded himself elegantly into the cramped plastic chair, stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. They went on for miles, it seemed...And why was she even looking? She had no interest in men.
    But something nagged at her, making her glance over at the new arrival periodically. He was the kind of attractive that could make a girl ’s self-esteem plummet. Not that that sort of thing ever mattered to her. Abby looked first at a person’s personality and if they were physically attractive, that was a bonus.
    Abby clinched her hands into fists. What the hell are you doing? Acting like a hormonal teenager over this man while still wearing your wedding ring!
    “ My name is Tristan.” He stuck out his hand and leaned forward with a smile.
    “ Abby.” She shook his hand and couldn’t help returning his smile in kind.
    “ It’s nice to meet you, Abby.”
    “ Thank you. I would say the same, but I guess none of us are actually happy about being here.”
    “ That’s true. Though it is preferable to sitting at home watching reality TV.”
    Abby bit back a chuckle. “I don’t know. I do enjoy Dancing with the Stars .”
    “ I see. But there’s a challenge in learning the cha-cha or the tango in a week, which I can appreciate. But the shows that involve a cameraman following a celebrity around all day?” Tristan winced and shook his head. “I just want to poke my eyes out with sharp sticks after ten minutes.”
    Abby laughed.
    “You have a lovely laugh.”
    Abby turned, shocked at the compliment. David used to say the same thing. “Thank you.”
    Tristan inclined his head and sat back in the seat. Julie walked in and began the meeting and Abby did her best to ignore Tristan. But it was impossible with him sitting right there . Julie asked if anyone had something to share and