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I swallow and try to force some brightness into my voice. “This is the real deal. Mom, Dad… meet my husband. Liam Diesel.”
Mom winces. “So, your name is Stormy… Diesel?”
And for the first time since Ray walked into my office this morning, there’s a lightness in my chest. Because I know exactly what she’s thinking.
As if it didn’t sound like a stripper name before.
15
Liam
Eventually, everyone starts gathering their things and making for the door. Slowly. Like they aren’t quite sure about leaving their daughter with me. I wrap an arm around Stormy’s shoulders. The signal clear. I’m keeping her.
Even if it’s just for now.
A round of awkward hugs and weakly reiterated congrats are issued. I lift my hand to bust knuckles with Nichols, but all I get back is a pissy stare. Fair enough. I’ll make it right with him at the arena tomorrow.
Stormy and I give a final wave, I close the door, and we slide free of each other’s holds, slumping against opposite walls.
When Stormy’s weary eyes come up to meet mine, regret hits me hard.
“Stormy, I’m sorry.” If I’d kept my shit together she wouldn’t be facing any of this.
She shakes her head. “It would have come out. You don’t even want to know how many times I’ve almost thrown our marriage in Ray’s face.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t.”
She lifts a shoulder and lets out a breath. “So, how’s this going to work?”
I push off the wall and take her hand, leading her to a stool at the island where I pour her another glass of wine. “Where should we start?”
She downs half of it in one big swallow and folds her arms over the counter in front of her. “Sex.”
“Yeah, that was outstanding.”
“Ha-ha. But also, yes. It was.”
I like that she agrees, even knowing what comes next.
“Still,” she starts, those pretty blue eyes fixed on her glass. “With us living together…”
“Crossing that line again would be a mistake.” As fun as it was, neither of us need this situation complicated any more than it already is.
She nods, then dares a look at me. “But what about your other women?"
Easy. “No other women.”
“Really?”
Why does it sound like she doesn’t believe me? “Not as long as we’re together.”
“And how long is that?"
“Depends on you. We’ll keep this up until you find someone else.”
It seems like a pretty generous offer, but for some reason, Stormy looks like I spit on her.
“Excuse me? So nowI’mthe cheater?”
