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"Eh?" I narrow my gaze.
"Are you flattered by the fact he was…isso infatuated by you."
"Maybe?" I wriggle around, trying to find a more comfortable place in the bed. "My mother died when I was young, and my father never paid much attention to me… And my stepmother and sisters? Let’s just say, they didn’t care what I did, as long as it didn't affect them. And then, to find out this man took one look at me and decided I was the one for him."
"That’s what he told you?"
I nod. "Only, he didn’t act on it, like a normal man. He decided to get fixated on me. And then, oh, yeah… When he realized my father’s business was in trouble, he stepped in and told him he’d marry me in exchange for saving his company."
She whistles.
"Exactly."
She moves around and drapes herself sideways on the chair, so her legs hang over one of the arms. "When Sinclair and I met, he came onto me in the conference room of his office, then filmed me and used the video to blackmail me into marrying him."
"He did?"
"Also, there was this whole thing of him holding my father responsible for the incident, so he wanted revenge and decided to take it by marrying me."
"Oh." I stare at her. "Was your father responsible?"
"He gave information to the people behind the incident to save me and Karma. He didn’t have a choice. And Sinclair seemed to think he didn’t, either, but—" She raises a shoulder.
"But—?"
"But of course, there’s always another way. Was I pissed off with Sinclair? Yes. Did I want to leave him? It crossed my mind, but I was already in love with him. I couldn’t see a life without him. And then he changed. Turned out, it took the love of a good woman to reform him. And of course, he apologized and said he’d do anything to make me happy, and"—she tilts her head—"I chose to believe him. Not that I’m advising you to do the same."
"You’re happy, though?"
Her lips curve in a soft smile. "Very. He’s the best husband ever, and as a father, he’s so devoted. He’s changed his entire life for us and maintains we're the best thing that's ever happened to him. He says we help him stay grounded."
"You got your happily-ever-after." I try to keep the wistfulness out of my voice but don’t think I succeed, for she leans forward and takes my hand in hers.
"Oh, honey. It wasn’t easy, but I persevered. I just knew it was Sinclair or nothing. I guess, I didn’t hold his actions against him. He’d been through so much, and then he showed he could change. Again, I’m not saying that’s what you should do—"
"So, what should I do?"
"I can’t tell you that." She shakes her head. "But what I can tell you is that you’ll know, when you know. And if you can hang in there until you know… Well,"—she purses her lips—"do you think you can do that? More to the point, do you want to do that?"
70
Edward
I hold the door to the car open. My wife swings her legs over the side and places her feet on the ground. When I offer my hand, she hesitates, then takes it. The breath I hadn’t been aware of holding rushes out of me. Each time she doesn’t attempt to put distance between us, I send up a prayer. Yep, me, the man who decided he didn’t want anything to do with HIM, apparently, can’t go an hour without beseeching Him to give me a chance to show my wife how much I love her. How much I want her. How much I can’t do without her in my life.
My wife straightens, and when I take in that gorgeous turn of her stocking-clad ankles, that familiar bolt of lust squeezes my groin. I shove it aside, continue my perusal up the flash of her legs, those thick thighs covered by a bright red coat that falls to below her knees. It brings out the color in her cheeks and the golden streaks in her hair.
Yesterday, when I arrived with a blueberry-sated kid, as well as a housekeeper in tow with breakfast for her and Summer, she wouldn't meet my eyes. But she didn't refuse my help when I plumped the pillows at her back, then placed the breakfast tray on her lap. She also didn’t mind when I broke off a piece of croissant and fed her, and she took the cup of the tea I poured her. Then, I made sure to occupy the toddler while she and Summer visited.
After Summer left, I ran her a bath and waited outside while she bathed. Then, I insisted she take a nap while I dismissed the housekeeper and cooked an early dinner for her. We ate in front of the television, and when I pulled up another chick flick—The Fault In Our Stars—she didn’t protest. And when I pulled her close and offered her my shoulder and a box of tissue when she cried, she accepted both. She fell asleep tucked into my side, and I carried her up to her room, tucked her in, and stretched out over the covers.
This morning over breakfast—which I’d cooked—I told her we were expected for dinner at G-Pa’s place to bring in the New Year. I’d expected her to decline the invite, but she’d said she was happy to come. Of course, she said she loves the old man, and she wants to see Tiny. Clearly, the dog has a bigger share of affection than me. Not that I blame her.
It's a wonder she's even talking to me, after everything I told her. It's a wonder she hasn’t told me to fuck off. But that's my wife. Sweetness and honey and all things nice… And I so want to taste her again. I want to bury my nose in her hair and take a long sniff—I confess, I manage a quick one when I help her out of the car. I also savor the feel of her delicate fingers in mine as I lead her up the path to Arthur’s town house. And the warmth of her skin through the wool of her coat as I slide it off her shoulders. The creamy length of her throat, the nearness to her curves, the flare of her hips which pulled the dress tight across her rear… And fuck, the dress she’s wearing. It clings to her in all the right places, showing off her lush figure, and when she turns to look at me over her shoulder, I have to tear my gaze away from her butt and hand the coat over to Arthur’s staff. Her cheeks have gone pink. So, she noticed me ogling her, but she doesn’t comment. If anything, the gleam in her eyes indicates she’s pleased by my reaction. I step past her and lead her to the living room, where the rest of the family is gathered.
We step inside the room and Sinclair claps me on the shoulder. "Good to see you man." I nod.
"Glad you both made it." He looks from me to my wife, then back at me. "What are you both drinking?"
