Renewal

By Jewel Donovan

Socialite Mariah Pearle has everything that money can buy, but none of the things she really wants. When her boyfriend of several years dumps her instead of proposing, she makes a foolish mistake that results in her being sentenced to community service. And the man she has to work with is none other than Eric Woods, her ex-husband. Her first love, and the man she never stopped loving.

When Mariah Pearle walks into his office, one look at her is enough to show Eric Woods that he’s never gotten over his ex-wife. But even while the passion heats up between them once more, can they overcome what tore them apart before? Will love be enough to conquer all this time?

Renewal is a stand-alone novel. Intended for 18+ readers. Content note warning: pregnancy loss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jewel Donovan
• Release date: Jun 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370268733

Jewel Donovan

Jewel Donovan is a Canadian author whose love affair with romance novels began in sixth grade, when a friend loaned her a copy of one. She has been constructing stories in her head for as long as she could remember and decided to try writing them down. She is currently hard at work on her next book.Jewel loves to hear from readers. You can contact her via her Facebook page or Twitter, or by emailing [e-mail]

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Renewal

By Jewel Donovan

Copyright 2017 Jewel Donovan

Smashwords Edition

All Rights Reserved

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Chapter One

Late April

I think we should take a break.

Only the years of training from her socialite parents in how to act ‘like a lady’ kept Mariah Pearle’s jaw from dropping open. This was not what she’d been anticipating when Stan had said he was taking her out for dinner tonight. After all, when the man you’d been dating for three years took you out two days before your birthday, a woman was more likely to expect a ring, not walking papers.

She’d been so sure that he was going to pop the question. So ready to say yes. So ready to start the next stage of her life. She’d dressed carefully for tonight in her most beloved little black dress and matching heels, as well as her favorite set of jewelry, an emerald pendant and earrings that brought out the green in her hazel eyes. She’d even gone to the salon and had her shoulder length raven-black hair styled into an elegant upsweep.

This wasn’t what was supposed to happen.

I don’t understand, Mariah said when she’d managed to gather her composure enough to sound somewhat calm. We’ve been talking about getting engaged, and now you’re saying that you want to take a break?

Stan ran his fingers through his curly blond hair. I’m just not sure this is what we both want.

"You mean that you’re not sure this is what you want," Mariah replied, just barely able to keep from snapping at him. They were in public. This was not the place to make a scene. Especially not these days when everyone had a smartphone and could have her humiliation posted on social media before she even had a chance to leave the building. The tabloids would be more than happy to report on the heiress to the Pearle fortune having a hissy fit in the middle of her appetiser.

Stan tugged at his collar like it was choking him. I suppose that’s true. But marriage is a big commitment. I don’t think we should be rushing into it just because it’s what our families want.

Her appetite gone, Mariah set down her shrimp fork. I would hardly call three years of dating ‘rushing’ into anything.

Stan picked up his wineglass and took a hefty swallow. Do you even love me? he asked once he had set his drink back down.

What kind of a question was that? You know I do.

I don’t mean love me like a good friend. I mean, are you in love with me?

She stared at him like he’d grown another head. Where was this coming from? They’d never had that kind of relationship. What they had was convenient. Friendship, a date for events, regular sex. A relationship where they could enjoy the benefits of couple-hood while still maintaining their own lives and interests and residences. They wanted the same things, like marriage and children. Passion and romance just weren’t part of it. Never had been. Up until now, he’d never given any indication of wanting more.

I— Mariah was rarely at a loss for words like she was now.

You’re not, are you. The way he said it was a statement, not a question.

That’s not who we are. I’ve never seen that as a problem. I didn’t think you did, either.

Are you sure companionship is enough to get married on? he asked.

It has been for lots of people. Like my parents. Yours. More than half the people we socialize with.

Don’t you want more? To fall in love? Really in love?

No, she said without hesitation. She’d had that once. Where the sun rose and set on somebody. Where that person was her whole world. Where she’d been willing to leave the privileged world of her birth to be with him, to be cut off from her family and most of her friends because she thought that love conquered all. But then everything had gone horribly, hideously wrong, and it had nearly killed her to lose it. She’d sworn to never fall like that for anyone ever again.

Stan reached across the table to cover her hand with his. Only a supreme force of will kept her from jerking away from his touch, no matter how much she might want to. Pearles did not make scenes, and that would qualify as a scene.

I’m sorry, Mariah. I’m just not sure what we have is enough for me anymore.

She took a deep breath, then let it back out slowly in an effort to keep control. Why this sudden change? This has never been a problem before.

His gaze dropped from hers and he looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Mariah pulled her hand out from under his. Slowly, but inexorably. You’ve met someone else.

He didn’t answer, and the few bites of shrimp that she’d taken turned into lead in Mariah’s stomach. She leaned forward to keep from being overheard. Have you been cheating on me? she asked in a whisper.

It’s not like that, Stan protested. I haven’t slept with her. Or even kissed her. Or anything like that. She’s a friend of my cousin who came to Sunday dinner a few weeks back and we got to talking, and there was…I don’t know. A spark.

A spark.

I don’t know how to describe it. But it made me feel alive. Like I’ve been asleep my whole life and only now just woke up.

Who was this man, and what had he done with her normally sedate boyfriend? Stan had never been the poetic type before. And you’re willing to throw us away on a spark? On one meeting?

Again he went silent and looked guilty.

Oh god. This was even worse than she’d thought. How long?

We’ve been talking and texting for the last three weeks. We have so much in common, it’s incredible.

Mariah had thought that she and Stan had a lot in common. Like shared goals. Mutual respect. Apparently it hadn’t been as mutual as she thought. You may not consider that cheating, but I do.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. And I wanted you to know where we stood before anything else happened.

Before he slept with this other woman, he meant.

Do I know who she is? Mariah asked.

No.

Well, that was something. At least she didn’t have the embarrassment that her boyfriend had been sneaking around with one of her friends. So when you say that you want to take a break, what you’re really saying is that you want me to step back while you see where this goes with this—this person, while I hang around and hope you’ll pick me if it doesn’t work out?

I— he tugged at his collar again, loosened the knot on his tie. I wouldn’t put it quite like that.

But it is in essence what you mean.

I just don’t think it’s fair to either of us to go ahead with getting engaged while I have these feelings for someone else.

Maybe he had a point. But that didn’t change the fact that he’d completely blindsided her. And in public. He couldn’t have done this in private? Had it really been necessary to do this at her favorite restaurant? Two days before her birthday? After they’d been talking about the future? And to be thrown over after three years for someone he’d met less than a month ago? It was insufferable.

Everyone would be laughing at her behind her back. Poor little rich girl Mariah, had everything and yet couldn’t keep her man. Ugh. Was she worth so little that no man was willing to stick with her for the long run? How could this be happening when she’d tried so hard to make this work? When she’d invested so much time in this relationship?

Mariah felt the sting of tears. Very well Stan, you can have your break. Just don’t count on me still being around when your little fling burns itself out.

He looked saddened. I’m really sorry, Mariah. I never meant for this to happen. It just did.

Please, spare me the clichés. Oh, how she wanted to pick up the bottle of her favorite wine and dump it out over his head. But she knew that while that would give her a momentary satisfaction, afterwards she’d have to live with going viral online, and the whole world knowing why she’d lost her temper. She pushed her chair back from the table. I’m leaving now.

Mariah, please, at least stay for dinner.

I’ve lost my appetite, she said as she rose from her seat and grabbed her designer clutch purse. Maybe your new girlfriend can come join you. It would serve him right to have to sit there with an empty chair opposite him, with other patrons whispering about how she had walked out before the entrées were served. She strode away with as much poise as she could muster.

She’d expected this night to end with an engagement announcement, a happy phone call to her parents, setting a date, making plans. Maybe some mutually satisfying sex. Instead she’d been dumped. For someone else.

No, she may not have been madly in love with Stan, but she had cared for him. She’d planned to spend the rest of her life with him. Have his children. Grow old with him. She’d thought what they had would have been enough. Maybe they didn’t have fireworks, but they’d had companionship, and wasn’t that more lasting than passion and lust which burned so fiercely that it eventually hurt those involved? At least it did in her experience.

Once outside, she pulled out her phone and sent a group text to her two best friends.

I need a drink. Badly.

A few moments later a response came in from Emily.

That doesn’t sound good. :(

Then Olivia chimed in.

You okay, hon? Where do you want to meet?

Mariah texted them back, naming their favorite watering hole as the place to meet as soon as possible.

She’d been looking forward to having a celebratory drink with the gals, not one for commiseration.

***

Mariah had finished her first peach margarita and was partway through her second when Emily and Olivia showed up.

The trio had all been best friends since kindergarten of their exclusive prep school. Mariah, the daughter of the family that had founded Pearle’s department stores and made a fortune, Emily, a tall blonde whose family had made their money in oil, and Olivia, a petite brunette whose family were considered nouveau riche, having made their money through a lucky lottery ticket and a series of good investments. Many in their circle had looked down on Olivia for not being from old money, but the three of them had all hit it off immediately and been inseparable ever since.

Drinks are on me, ladies, Mariah said as the other two women sat down at the table she’d taken in the corner of the somewhat crowded bar. I started a tab already.

Girl, what happened? asked Emily. I thought Stan was taking you out to propose.

So did I, Mariah said bitterly. Instead he decided to ask for a break.

A break?! exclaimed Olivia. Two days before your birthday and he asks you for a break?

Mariah took another sip of her drink. Oh, it gets better. Apparently he’s met someone else.

Both her friends sucked in shocked breaths.

I know, Mariah continued. He said he felt ‘a spark’ with this other woman. Three years, and he dumps me over a spark.

That rat-bastard, Emily hissed. Want me to punch him for you?

Mariah laughed a little. That won’t be necessary. But thank you for the offer.

Just then a server stopped by and took orders for the three of them. Mariah said she’d have another, even though she was starting to feel the effects of the drinks she’d already consumed. Having left the restaurant after only a few bites of her appetiser, all the alcohol on her mostly-empty stomach was going straight to her head. But she had no appetite for food right now, and anyways, she was tired of appearing ladylike and in control of herself. Look where that had gotten her.

The inquiries from her friends came fast and furious for a while, reminding Mariah of how she’d felt when Stan had dropped the bomb on her. She hadn’t known it was possible for a person’s mind to hold so many questions all at once.

Their drinks arrived, and Mariah pounded back the last of her second margarita and started on the third.

Ugh, Olivia said. He actually asked for a break? As if he hopes you’ll get back together later, or something? What does he expect, that you’ll just sit around and wait for him to sow his wild oats and then get back to you?

That’s pretty much what I asked him, Mariah said as she set her drink down heavily, almost missing the coaster. Everything was starting to get a little fuzzy. Maybe she should slow down.

Or maybe not. She hadn’t had nearly enough to make the pain go away.

Not pain from a broken heart. It was bruised, but not broken. Her pride stung more. But what cut the deepest was the shattering of her future plans. She’d been so careful this time. To pick someone from her social circle, someone who understood what her life was like. Someone who wouldn’t break her heart. Someone who could be counted on to make sensible decisions, rather than emotional ones. She’d made the mistake of making emotional decisions when she was younger, and it had nearly destroyed her.

She wasn’t destroyed this time around. But