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I leave Emma standing there in her closet, still working to catch her breath. Then I fuck my hand in the shower, hoping the release will take the edge off my desire for her.
It doesn’t work.
Later while we’re out having lunch, then sharing an ice cream cone and walking hand in hand through Central Park, I find every opportunity to touch her. Wrap my arms around her and claim her mouth. It’s under the guise of taking photos to post to Emma’s social media, but I’m starting to care less and less about having an excuse to kiss my wife.
I hope I can hold out long enough to keep from ruining us both.
CHAPTER19
Emma
“Is today ‘bring your hot husband to work day’?” Leo asks, his gaze fixed over my shoulder as a wicked smile spreads across his face.
I turn to find Griffin walking toward us. My breath catches at the sight of him. He’s in dark jeans and a button-down. As he moves closer, his eyes rake over me and when they reach my face, his smile expands, making his dimple pop. He’s carrying a small bouquet of flowers.
He stops right in front of me. I only have a second to wonder how he’s going to greet me, because then he’s greeting me. His large hands encircling my waist and pulling me flush against him. His lips pressing to mine in a gentle, yet exploratory kiss. By the time he releases me, I’ve forgotten where I am and what the capital of Delaware is. That one was always tricky.
He looks around, taking in the space. “I hope you don’t mind I stopped by.”
Leo speaks for me. “Honey, we don’t mind. Not at all. In fact, we’ve been dying to meet you.”
“This is Leo,” I tell Griffin. “He’s our social media manager and marketing extraordinaire.”
“At your service.” Leo shakes Griffin’s hand and simultaneously takes a bow.
“Nice to meet you, Leo.”
“I thought we were meeting at the restaurant?” I say.
He shrugs. “I thought I’d pick you up. And I wanted to see your office.”
My heart flutters at Griffin’s interest in my business. He made good on the post nuptial agreement. My lawyer, who received it on Monday, has already approved the financials and given me the green light to sign it.
Now, with every touch, every kiss, my quest to uncover Griffin’s flaws is waning. The reality is, I want to spend time with him and I’m finally starting to allow myself to enjoy our time together. While the upcoming interview with Kandi has put pressure on us to get to know each other, this week feels different. When I’m at work, I think about him constantly. I can’t wait to get home and see him. To tell him about my day and hear about his. To make him laugh so I can get a glimpse of the dimple that pops when he smiles. To cuddle up next to him and watch a movie or tease each other while we play Yahtzee! And all the practicing we’ve been doing? The touching and kissing are great, but I’m dying for more. I know that’s not part of the plan. That Griffin doesn’t want to go there with me. He’s waiting for someone special. Someone he didn’t mistakenly marry.
It feels impossible to think that twelve days ago, I didn’t know Griffin existed. And that in another ten days, he’ll be gone.
I push the thought out of my head and bring my attention back to Griffin.
“Well, would you like a tour?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he nods, “show me.”
As I walk Griffin through the space, he asks questions about my process and the business itself. I introduce him to Kiara and Josie who are hunched over a computer working on updating the website.
Behind Griffin’s back Josie fans herself.
“Damn, Emma, your husband is a snack. Mmm, mmm, mmm.” Unlike Josie, Kiara doesn’t bother to hide her stare.
“Okay. Thanks, Kiara, for that keen observation.” I feed my arm through Griffin’s to guide him along. “Jess is out of the office at a meeting.” I motion to her workspace just outside my office door. “And this is my office.”
He looks around at the shelves filled with design books, swatches of fabric and a few photos. The mannequin busts I have set up in the corner, so I can affix fabric to them while I’m working on a design. He runs his hand along the dining table I originally bought for mine and Alec’s place, but am now using as a design table.
“You have a photo of us?” He picks up the framed photo that Leo gave me. It’s the photo from our wedding night. Leo was horrified to find it still in the manila envelope from the wedding chapel so he bought me a frame to put it in.
“It was a gift. Leo said it was criminal that I didn’t have a photo of you in my office.”
He smiles at that. “He’s right. After all I’m a…what did your colleague call me…a snack?”
