Her delicate fingers fidget in her lap. I give her my full attention, hoping she feels my support.
“When Jed passed…apparently, Raven didn’t know either, but Jed kept from us how bad things were.”
“Bad how?” I ask.
“The farm has been in debt for a long time. Jed was holding the bank back, making promises of new harvest sales, only…it seems we never caught up.”
“And with the farm being under yours and your sister’s names, the debt is on your shoulders.”
Sighing heavily, Iris leans back against the arm of the couch. “We can’t sell and leaving will only have their debt follow us.We’re trapped…which feels horrible to say. This is our childhood home. Our parents’ life’s work.”
“That’s where you’ve been going on the weekends?” I guess.
“Yeah. With Raven still hiding out wherever she is, I’ve needed to look over the books, try and pay the few farm hands we have left, and make sure the house doesn’t fall apart until we figure things out.”
“Any more texts from Raven since last week?”
Iris shakes her head. “She gave me proof of life in a pathetic excuse of a text and asked that I give her space.”
“Did you tell her?”
“About?” she asks.
“You taking her place?”
Her full lips purse. “Not…exactly.” She rushes to explain. “That’s not something you text or leave a voicemail about. That’s a conversation to have in person.”
“Fair.” I run numbers in my head. “How much is the debt? I’m assuming that’s where the ten thousand went?”
“It did, and don’t worry, Ellis. This is our mess.”
“We’re married,” I remind her.
“Yes, and you already gave what was agreed upon, which was already generous enough. We’ll figure it out.”
“No, Iris.” I lean over and cup her cheek. “We,” I emphasize, “will figure it out. What troubles you is now my troubles as well.”
She holds my wrist. “Ellis, Olive’s future and every day needs, especially with her starting school in a couple weeks is your priority. I did not come into your lives to make matters more complicated. I’m supposed to be here to make things easier.”
I run my thumb back and forth over her cheek. “Sorry, Wildflower, but you absolutely complicated things.”
“What?” she whispers, her breath brushing over my lips.
I trace the shape of her lips with my thumb. Her sharp inhale swells heat in my cock. Her lips part, her chest rapidly rising andfalling. The silk button-down she’s wearing molds beautifully to her full breasts.
“Ellis,” she whispers, slightly panting.
Air struggles to fill my lungs. I clench my jaw as my cock hardens.
“Tell me to stop, Iris,” I almost beg.
“No,” she says quietly but determined.
I growl. “Get off this couch and walk away before…”
“Before what, husband?”
Fuck. She knows. She knows that does something to me. I squeeze my eyes shut.
