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"And me," Nathan calls out.
"I’ll be at the head of the line," Knox growls.
I glance sideways to find Baron trying to hide a smile and failing. I scowl at Tiny, wondering when he's going to make a move. So far, he’s been watching the bottle, but has seemed content to sit panting, his tongue lolling out one side of his jaw.
"Which brings me to the next point of business."
"Didn’t realize this was a work thing," Nathan muses.
"With Arthur everything is work." Knox bares his teeth in what he must think is a smile; he resembles a shark who’s smelled blood in the water.
"What’s happening?" my wife whispers to me.
"Not sure." I place my arm about her shoulder, and she doesn’t shake it off. Which is good, right? To be honest, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m waiting for her to lose her temper with me and tell me she hates me and that she’ll never forgive me. But none of that has been forthcoming. I rub the spot of tightness in my chest. Shouldn’t have drunk so much coffee today. In my agitation over whether she was coming to dinner with me, I paced the floor of my home office, tried to work, kept going to the kitchen, hoping to run into her, and ended up swigging too much coffee.
"I’m confirming Nathan as the CEO of the company."
Knox stiffens. My wife turns to me. "Did you know this?"
I nod.
Nathan glances at me, a look of surprise on his feature that turns to wariness. "No," he growls.
I raise a shoulder. I had a word with the old man earlier today and told him I wasn’t interested in being the CEO, not when it would mean being away for work and committing to working around the clock. I intend to spend a lot more of my time pursuing the only thing important to me—taking care of my wife’s needs and making sure she wants for nothing. Arthur didn’t seem surprised. If anything, he seconded me and told me I was making the right decision.
Nathan turns to fix his glare on Arthur, not that it makes a difference. The old codger wears a grin on his face. His eyes twinkle. "Which means, Nathan, you have three months to get married."
"Fuck." Nathan’s fingers stiffen on the stem of his flute, which cracks. The champagne spills; the glass hits the table and rolls to the end. That’s when Tiny jumps up on his hind legs and snatches the bottle of champagne and downs it.
* * *
"That was eventful." I unlock the front door of my house and gesture to my wife to enter.
"I can’t believe no one noticed us leaving."
"They were too busy trying to find Tiny," who, after emptying the bottle of champagne in one, dropped the bottle at Arthur’s feet and grinned. No, he really grinned. There was a smile on his face, until he noticed the stunned look on my grandfather’s features and realized he’d committed a booboo. Which is when he bounded into the house—with Nathan, Knox and Sinclair in hot pursuit.
I turned to find Baron at my elbow. "We need to talk," he said.
“Yes, we do,”—I looked away, then back at him—” but not now.”
“Not now,”—Baron nodded— “but we will.”
“We will.” I held out my hand, but he bypassed that and hugged me. I was surprised, then hugged him back. Something settled in my chest. I’ve missed my friend. But I'm not that selfish, bitter man who cut him and Ava out of my life. I am a husband in love with his wife. I'm ready to make amends and move on with my life. Baron must sense my thoughts because, when he stepped back, he's smiling. He walked back to Ava and I... I left with Belle.
On the ride home, I hoped she’d forgiven me. I prayed she’d find it within her to give me a second chance. I’ve made my peace with Him, thanks to her; and I’m not beyond turning to Him in the hope he’ll work a miracle and have her forgive me.
Now, I slide the coat off her shoulders because it’s a legitimate way to be close to her. As is the sniff I take of her hair. How else am I going to sleep if I don’t store up her scent in my lungs?
"Did you sniff me?" She glances over her shoulder, a strange look on her face.
"I…did," I admit.
"Can I sniff you back?"
I nod, sure my mouth is open in surprise and not doing anything to hide it.
She goes up on tiptoe, places her nose close to my neck, and takes a deep breath. A shiver grips her, and I can’t stop myself from rubbing her arm. "Are you cold?"
