Page 63 of The Merger
She rolled her eyes. “Okay,husband.I still don’t want to go to that party.”
“Those rich friends of hers sit on the boards of companies all over this country. People who we will need to deal with if we’re going to salvage Jana’s company. Also, people who have been doing business with Maxwell Easton for decades. Instead of letting her win, we should use this to our advantage.”
She pursed her lips in contemplation. “I hope you know what you’re doing. My mother is devious on her best day.”
* * *
We ended up getting takeout and watching TV last night instead of going out like I’d suggested. The party looming in a couple of days left Sabrina irritable, and not in the mood to be around other people. She was finally giving our marriage a real chance, but we were more out of sync than ever.
Case in point, I was pacing back and forth in my office while my wife was getting ready to go to lunch with her ex-boyfriend. A man she never should have dated, since we were married. Not that she remembered. The fact she had a history with him was driving me insane.
My maturity had hit rock bottom. I felt closer to her age than my own. I might be ten years older than her, but you certainly couldn’t tell by my behavior that I was thirty-six.
She poked her head in the door and knocked loudly on the frame. “I’m heading out. Do you want me to tell Mrs. Beckett to order you something?”
I rolled my eyes. “Is she still here? I never see her.”
“With everything else going on, I haven’t gotten around to replacing her. I could have a phone put in the supply closet if that helps.”
“This is ridiculous. Just go on your date. I can manage to get my own food.”
“Come with me then.” Her tone let me know I was in trouble. “This is a business lunch. If you need to see it for yourself, to trust me, then come.”
“I’m fucking this up. I trust you.” She opened her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “I do trust you, but I’m still trying to believe I’m enough for you.”
“Stryker, we need to get past all the insecurities if we’re going to have a chance.”
My feet were moving before I made the decision to cross the room. I pulled her the rest of the way into the room, closed the door, and backed her against it. “I know I’m all over the place. But you need to understand something. This isn’t me being insecure or not trusting you. You’re mine. I’m trying to curb my more caveman impulses, but I’m afraid I’m always going to be a bit jealous and possessive when it comes to you.”
She fought a smirk. “So that means you’re coming then?”
I swatted her on the ass. “Like I’d let my hot wife go out to lunch with any other man who looks at her the way I do.”
“And how do you look at me?”
“Like you’re the sun. You brighten my world.”
“That’s a good answer,” she replied in a husky whisper.
My fingers slid through the golden strands of her hair, and I tucked a lock behind her ear. I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’ve had years to figure out what I’d say to you when I had you back. You’ve been my main focus all that time. I’m sorry in advance if I get intense sometimes.”
The hesitancy in her expression fell away, and her face lit up as her smile spread. “I think I like your intensity.”
“That’s very good because I can’t be anything less with you.” Never again would we be less than everything.
* * *
“Ican’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Sabrina said through clenched teeth. Outwardly she wore a smile, but her nails digging into my hand let me know she was far from comfortable walking into the palatial home her mother shared with her stepfather.
She was beautiful in her white cocktail dress. Jana insisted she look the part of a bride even though Sabrina didn’t really want to go to this party. She fidgeted with her jewelry, the hem of her dress, and the clutch purse in her hands. I took her free hand to keep her from ripping her dress.
Jana and Colter followed close behind. He looked equally as unsettled as Sabrina. I turned my head and spoke to Jana over my shoulder. “You’d think we were leading them to their execution.”
“I think I’d be happier if you were,” Colt grumbled.
A deep crevice formed between Sabrina’s eyes. My mom used to call it herwhat the fuckwrinkles. “How’d Evie and Beck get out of coming to this farce of a party?” Sabrina asked Colter.
He exhaled. “Gracie is teething. Lucky bastards.” He muttered the last part under his breath.