Page 28 of Hotwife

My breath caught in my chest.

Me: Why?

His response was almost instant.

Desmond: Because I can’t shake this feeling you’re rethinking this whole thing. And for some insane fucking reason, I just can’t let you go.

God Dammit.

“Dot? What are you doing out here? It’s not safe.” My husband’s voice startled me and I quickly shoved my phone back into my clutch. He didn’t miss the movement. With a cold expression, he remarked, “Jumpy lately.”

“Can we just go?” I asked. “I’m not in the mood to fight, Ced.”

Why was he making me feel like I was having an affair? The feeling sat heavy in my gut and brought about a dirty feeling. Like when I was a teenager sitting in church after being felt-up at a movie theater the night before.

“I’m not either, Dot. I love you, you know that?” His hand found my waist and pulled me close. It wasn’t forceful like Des, but rather tender and romantic. “Let’s fix this. Please?” He knelt a bit, showing me his blue eyes that were displaying his best puppy-dog adorable-ness.

I rolled my eyes, not resisting my grin. “I love you too. Let’s get you home, I think you’ve been hitting the pinot noir a little too hard tonight.”

He chuckled, pulling my hand back to his lips. “I’m sober and serious as ever, Dot.”

Suddenly, he pulled my hand away, inspecting it closely. “Dotty, where’s your ring?”

Confusion furrowed my brow as I looked at my empty fingers. “I just had it on at dinner. I haven’t been anywhere else-” I paused. “Shit, it must have come off when I was washing my hands.”

Cedric took my hand and we went back into the now empty restaurant. The staff said we could look for as long as we needed to. That ring was the only material possession I held dear. Tears pricked my eyes as I watched my husband dig through every paper towel in the trash bin and come up short.

“You were fidgeting with it on my hand at dinner. I got up, came in here, used the restroom and washed my hands. I’ve retraced every step. It has to be in here, Ced,” I whined, a tear falling free. He stood and pulled me in for a hug. A non-cringing hug. My body went slack, melting into his embrace. We hadn’t hugged in so long.

“We’ll find it, Dot. Stay here,” he disappeared and reappeared with a small toolkit. “The chef gave me these. I think they’re locking up and trusting us not to rob the place,” he smiled, rolling up his sleeves. His jacket draped over a bathroom stall.

“What are you going to do-”

“This sink, was it?” He asked, and I nodded. Lowering to his knees, he laid on his back with a wrench.

“Aw Ced,” I remarked, walking over to him and falling to the floor next to him. It was a fancy bathroom but it was still a public restroom. Our fine clothes were touching tile and sink water. But Cedric worked diligently, unscrewing each and every tiny nut and bolt.

“Remember when you fixed up my car?” I asked, fingering the edge of my lacy black cocktail dress.

He huffed a laugh. “How could I forget? I didn’t know shit about cars. Still don’t.”

A gasp parted my lips. “Liar,” I accused.

“No, dear. A man just does what he must to get closer to the woman of his dreams. I knew I had to see you again.” Something clinked under the sink and he stopped, then continued. “I knew your father wouldn’t want me coming around just to see you. So I thought offering some free mechanics would get me an in to come over every day.”

“So how’d you end up actually fixing it then?” Shock raced through my thoughts. All this time I thought he fixed that old piece of junk out of the goodness of his heart.

“Internet research here and there. I didn’t have to make it run. Just make it look like it could.” He leaned over, shooting me a devious smirk.

I playfully hit his arm. “You dirty rotten cheat,” I giggled.

Cedric sat up then, inching closer to me. “Paid off in the end. I got you to be my bride.”

Staring into his eyes, my heart fell for him all over again. It was then his hand found mine and he slipped a wet piece of jewelry halfway on. “Dorthea Ruth Queen-Winslow, will you stay married to me, please?”

Heavy winged butterflies shot through my guilty, murky soul. We were on bathroom tile and yet I’d never felt more romanced. My head nodded, a tear trickling down. “Always, Cedric. You know it’s always you for me.”

His returning smile beamed before he leaned in. Touching my lips to his, he gripped me closer, pulling my chest flush to his. I tugged away, bewildered. Taking my wrist he guided it between us. “Ced… are you… hard?”