Page 195 of This Woman Forever
“She said she couldn’t work for you anymore, so how come she is?”
“I asked her.” Not fucking true but, again, a small white lie for the sake of my wife’s contentment. “I’ll never find someone else to do the job, which means I’ll have to do it, and I’m not prepared to give up my time with you. And you should know, she only accepted on the condition that you were okay with it.” What the fuck am I saying? Bending truths just a bit. But, again, I don’t need Ava to hate Sarah more for pretty much forcing me into a corner. No more death.
“You’re not giving me much of a choice,” she mutters.
It’s not about having a choice. It’s about having compassion.
“I’ll tell her it’s a no-go,” I say, taking her cheeks. Did I completely underestimate the level of hatred I’m dealing with?
Yes. Tell her about Rebecca.
“I’m not prepared to see you so unhappy.”
Her entire being folds before me, the reasonable woman I know, fighting past the emotional, unreasonable firecracker. “No,” she sighs. “I want you with me more than I want her gone.”
And there it is. The end game. Us, together, all the fucking time. She wants me around all the time. “You do?”
“Of course I do.” Her nose wrinkles, and I smile, because I know she knows she might regret saying that. “But you have to promise me something.”
“Anything. You know that.”
“When the babies arrive,” she says, as I coat her forehead in kisses. “You won’t be at The Manor day and night. You’ll be with me as often as you can.” Oh, my heart sings its happiness. The end of this trip is turning out better than I hoped, considering where we were last night. I pull away, holding her face, scanning her worried eyes. “I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispers.
She can do anything, and so can I, because I have her. “Ava, you’ll have to bury me six feet under before I have it any other way. You can do it because you have me.” I pull her into my chest, hugging the shit out of her as she wraps every limb around my upper body. Clinging on. Suddenly, all I can see is Owen Cutler, and all I can think about is the meeting he wants. “We’re going to be okay.”
“I know.”
What would Ava say if I told her about Cutler? Should I tell her? “Let’s not fight.” I press my lips into her temple. “It makes my heart split in pain, and I don’t want you stressing out. We have to watch your blood pressure.” I must get a machine and educate myself on the safe levels so I can check every day. Maybe twice a day. Depending on how many disagreements we have.
Sliding her butt off the counter, I cup it with both hands and carry her back into the bedroom. “I’m confiscating that book,” she mumbles into my shoulder.
“That’s my book, and I’m keeping it.”
“We need to make friends.”
Oh? I eye her as she looks at me, doing a terrible job of hiding her cheeky grin. And suddenly her boob is in my face. “Did you read the part of the book that says a husband should service his wife as she demands?”
I latch onto her flesh and suck, and she’s putty in my hold, but then I look at the clock on the bedside, groaning. No time. “I did, but our plane is scheduled for take-off in two hours. I need more time, so I’ll service you when we get home. Deal?”
“No deal. I want to stay in Paradise.”
“You’re incorrigible, and I love it.” I put her on the bed, ignoring her slighted face. “We need to catch that flight.” Before my parents turn up here.
“I need you,” she purrs, pulling out the big guns and seizing my dick in her hand. Fuck.
I resist and pull away. It’s unheard of. “Ava, when I have you, I like to take my time.” I take no joy from her look of disbelief. I try to kiss it away. And fail. “Pack.”
Leaving her on the bed, I go to the bathroom, checking my phone on the way, contemplating texting John.
Thank God that’s done. Although, actually, was the whole conversation around Sarah wasted breath? Because soon there might be no manor at all.
I laugh under my breath, uncomfortable.
No manor? It seems incomprehensible.
And yet, so did happiness and redemption only a few months ago.
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