Page 71 of Bound To Be Mine

“This is me making lemonade from lemons,” I said.

“I’m sure your wife will love being compared to lemons,” Dash said.

“You tell her, and I’ll castrate you,” I warned.

He laughed his way out of my office. The other two left and I returned to my work.

I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Excitement.

I was going to see my wife.

And I couldn’t wait.

22

MANDY

Ihad been expecting Briggs. I had not been expecting Sebastian, Dash, and Bernadette. Briggs had texted and said he was on his way and wanted to discuss the business plan. I texted him back with a warning about bringing another contract to dinner.

I would absolutely make him eat it.

Cleo laughed from beside me.

“Did you know about this?” I asked her.

“I knew Briggs was coming,” she said. “The rest is apparently a bonus.”

“A bonus,” Callum repeated, already standing to do the cousin greeting thing.

“I’ll talk to the hostess,” I muttered. “We’re going to need a bigger table.”

I returned to the table after sorting out the seating situation with the hostess. She’d been gracious about it, probably because I’d planned enough events at this restaurant that they knew me by name. Within minutes, we were relocated to a larger table with a view of the courtyard.

Sebastian pulled me into a hug the second I got close enough. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thanks,” I said, returning the embrace.

Bernadette was next. “My future sister-in-law.”

I was certain they had to know it wasn’t real.

And dammit, Briggs looked too good. Dark slacks, a crisp white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. No tie. It was the dressed-down version of Briggs.

Our eyes met, and I felt that same pull I’d felt in his hotel room. The memory of his hands on my body came rushing back with enough force to make my cheeks heat.

“Hi,” I said, probably sounding like an idiot.

“Hi.”

“Get a room,” Dash said loudly, dropping into a chair.

I saw the look on Mandy’s face. “They don’t know,” I said, keeping my voice low.

It’s not like it would be crazy for a husband and wife to have sex, but I understood why she wouldn’t want everyone to know.

We all settled in, ordering drinks—water and iced tea all around because apparently we were all still traumatized by our Vegas experience. The waiter brought menus.