Page 60 of The Contract Marriage

Hugh throws everything he can think of at me. Doesn’t seem to realize that some of it rings true. But I’d rather bite my tongue off than let him know that any of it managed to draw blood. “Okay. And?”

“‘And’? What do you mean, and?”

“I mean, what do you want me to do about it?”

He licks his lips and leans forward. “Tell her she can’t just heartlessly use you to punish her father.”

“Why? If the situation were reversed, she’d do the same for me.”

“But she’s using you!”

“You mean the way you used your late wife?” I shrug. “Pot. Kettle. Besides, I offered.”

His jaw tightens. “You’re such an asshole.”

“Insults aren’t going to put me on Team Hugh.”

“You ball-less, spineless, gutless pussy!” he screams, his face apoplectic.

“Yeah. I’m sure that balls, a spine and guts are what made you cheat on Olivia’s mother with that selfish whore. She makes my parents’ assistants look classy.”

Hugh turns purple. “You’re going to regret this. Know why? Because one of these days, she’s going to throw you away like a used Kleenex, and you’re going to realize that you’re nothing to her. Nothing! Despite all your sacrifices! She has no feelings for you. She has no feelings for anyone. You know what it’s like when she looks up at you with those soulless eyes? She’s so fuckin’ crazy she thinks everyone is out to get her. She believes I killed her mom. She claims we killed her dog. Why the fuck would we do that? We’re not psychos. Nobody wants to go to jail.”

He’s trying to make himself the victim and Olivia a heartless monster, but I hear far more than what he’s saying. My heart aches for what she must’ve suffered. “And yet the jails are full of people.”

For a moment, he looks like he might actually pop a vein. But then he subsides and finally bites his lip. “You, you…” He struggles for words.

It’s hard not to sneer at this ridiculous man-child. Just how trusting was Olivia’s mother that she fell for this asshole? “One of these days, Hugh, you’re going to touch something you shouldn’t.”

He jumps to his feet. “You stupid bastard. You’re going to be sorry.”

“I’m already sorry. Sorry I actually listened to you bleat like a goat. But guess what? I’m still living a great life.” I smile. “You don’t know what it’s like to wake up next to the woman you love. Olivia’s a wonderful wife, and she’s going to be an amazing mother to our children.”

All the color drains from his face.

“Time’s up. Get out.” I point to the door.

He comes around the desk, grips my shoulders and tries to shake me. “You can’t get her pregnant, damn you—”

Enough of this bullshit. I throw an uppercut that clacks his jaw shut like a bear trap.

“Fuck!” He backs off, covering his mouth. Blood drips from between his fingers.

I suppress a sigh of satisfaction. “Told you.” But that blood is going to be a bitch to get out of the carpet. I ought to send him the cleaning bill.

“This is assault and battery,” he says, wincing.

“Uh-huh. Call Jeremiah Huxley and tell her aaaallll about it.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Liam

I shake off the annoyance of the morning’s visit, rolling my shoulders as I get ready for the first date with my wife. It took me a week to get the date set up by pulling some strings with Elizabeth Pryce-King.

“It’s for my first date with my wife. She adores seafood, and La Mer is the best place for it.”

“I can definitely set you up for Friday night. My standing table should be free. But you’re still going to honor the bachelor auction result, right? You still owe a date to…London Bickham, wasn’t it?”