“Cariño, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want to me.”
Her bottom lip falls to a pout. “You’re a good man.”
I thank her, confused by the glaze over both her irises.
“No, like a really,really,good man.” Her eyes keep darting over to the direction of her father. “I’m sorry.” The weight of burdens that aren’t hers to carry fall heavy on her breath.
I redirect her chin to face me. “Stop apologizing to me for him. You have nothing to apologize for. Sit on me. Eat your food. Let me enjoy how good it feels knowing mywifeneeds me.”
Finally, a genuine smile cracks through. “You really like that whole wife thing, don’t you?”
“Yep.”I really do.
Dinner wraps up relatively drama-free and thankfully, the collective warning glares from Sarina’s brothers keep James at bay. It’s bad enough that he’s here, but it would escalate to another level if he came over.
Harper joins our table, asking if Sarina wants to go out with the girls for drinks. She says she has cramps, which I sense is code for not wanting to go out since I know she’s not on her period. I’m ready to head back to our room with her when Noah stops us.
“Hey, Ri, you mind if we borrow your husband?” he asks with a wink.
“Umm, why?”
“Just want to fill him on some things before the big day tomorrow, that’s all.”
Sarina’s eyes narrow. “Sounds suspicious.”
“It’s not,” Liam chimes in, sounding very suspicious.
She looks to me. “Are you okay hanging with them for a little while? Or better yet, do you even want to?”
I glance over Sarina’s shoulder, studying the way her brothers are huddled, taking turns looking in James’ direction. Clearly, what they have to tell me is about him, and if it’s something that potentially affects Sarina, I want to know. “I’ll be fine, meet you in our room in a little bit?”
“Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t, don’t you worry,” I promise her.
Sarina turns to Noah. “Go easy on him.”
He tilts his head, the brim of his cowboy hat pinched in his fingers. “You got it, sis.”
Apparently, a walk means a drive —in complete silence.
The truck rolls to a stop, making the lack of conversation feel eerie, given our surroundings.
I stare at the gated property we’re parked in front of. “Where are we?”
“We got you the address of the attorney who drew up our grandmother’s will.”
I point at the car window. “I’m assuming we’re parked in front of it.” I can’t help but chuckle. “You know, you could have just sent me the address.”
“We could have, but where’s the fun in that?”
Clearly there’s something I’m missing here.
“I’m going to be honest, it’s been a long couple of days, I’m going to need you both to cut to the chase.”
“That’s fair. We know that you and Sarina are married.”
Fuck. This was only a matter of time.
