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With all the questions firing off in her head, the only words she managed were, “You’re home.”
Luke put his arm around her shoulders to keep her against his side. “This is important to you. I wanted to show interest too.”
They were words she’d long to hear from him, but now, she couldn’t help but wonder if they were genuinely meant or if there was more to them. Her hands grew damp, beads of sweat formed at her hairline.
“Good man,” Kenny said on a chuckle. “This was all Tilly. She hasn’t just got an eye for design, but the skill to bring it to life.”
Luke’s arm tightened around her shoulders as he smiled down at her. Was that pride in his expression?
Kenny continued, “In fact, she’s so good I was hoping to merge with another firm from the area. They have an incredible client base and with Tilly’s design skills…” Kenny pushed his hands into his pockets. “There’s no limit.”
She went numb, her heart no longer thumping but slamming into her ribs. Her head jerked to Kenny. He had that look, the one where he was feeling chatty. If Kenny mentioned Gage, would Luke remember Hershey?
“Really?” Luke said, looking down at Tilly. “You didn’t mention that.”
She hadn’t mentioned it for countless reasons: Luke’s disinterest in her work, his annoyance that work took her away from her motherly duties, but the biggest reason was Gage Sutherland. Even just talking about him, she knew she’d give herself away.
“She’s humble,” Kenny said. “But she’s amazing.”
“I think maybe I need to pay more attention, huh?” Luke said. He squeezed Tilly. “I’ve been kinda absent, babe, haven’t I?”
Tilly could hear her heart pounding in her ears. It was like Luke had been cloned, physically, they got him right, but everything else was wrong...off. Her fear grew that her secret was out, her stomach churning so badly she thought she might just toss up her lunch. Her voice was a bit hoarse when she said, “You’re busy.”
“That I am, but I can make time for my wife and her career,” Luke said, causing Tilly’s jaw to almost drop, hearing those words coming from his mouth. Luke turned his focus on Kenny. “So what firm were you thinking about teaming up with?”
“Sutherlands...they’re located—”
“Boss, we need you over here,” One of his workers called.
Tilly’s legs went weak, as her brain frantically searched for a way to distract Luke. She reached for his hand. “Since you’re home and interested, would you like to see some of my designs now?”
“Yeah, but after,” he said with a grin.
Now her legs were weak for an entirely different reason. He was her husband, she’d wanted this from him for so long, but now the thought of sex with him… she felt like she was cheating and if that didn’t make her a big fucking hypocrite.
“The kids will be home soon.” She tried to discourage, but Luke was determined.
“Then we’ll have to be quick, won’t we?” Luke went to the back door, flipped the lock and pulled her to their room.
They say be careful what you wish for. She had wished once for spontaneity from her husband, wanted what she’d once had with him, but finding that now when her heart belonged to another hurt like hell.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gage held the phone tohis ear, his steps steady and quick as he was running late.
“Can we go tomorrow night?” He asked his daughter.
She let out an audible huff. “But you said we’d go tonight.”
“I know, Letty,” he said softly and lied, “But I have a meeting and—”
She cut him off, her tone firm. “Since when do you have meetings?”
Gage stepped up onto the curb of the school and stopped. Looking to the ground, he ran a hand through his hair. “There’s a guy who wants to merge companies, I’m meeting him.”
“Oh,” Scarlett drawled. “That’s kinda cool, Dad.”
The excitement in her voice sliced. He wasn’t lying; Kenny had wanted to merge companies, but he’d already made the decision not to. Gage looked up and watched the last of the people in the parking lot walking quickly through the double doors. “Tomorrow night, you, me and new sneakers, okay?”
