Page 23 of Demanding Husband

Vince closed his eyes and let his breath hiss out between his teeth. How could he have been so stupid?

“Who iswe?” she snapped.

“Me,” Vince started, slowly, “and my wife.”

“Your wife?” Her brows rose high on her forehead. “What kind of sickos are you?”

“We’re not,” Vince insisted. “My wife isn’t involved in this. She wants us to have an open marriage and she took a liking to Claire. It was she who set this whole thing up.”

Kate scoffed, then stood and downed the rest of her wine.

“I’m sorry,” Vince said. “I know this must be a lot.”

“You don’t even know,” she muttered, grabbed the bottle, then poured another full glass. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourselves into.”

Vince opened his mouth to reply, but realized what she was saying. He frowned and shook his head, trying to figure out if he’d heard correctly.

“Do you think this is the first time Claire has behaved like this?” she asked. “It’s not. When she was barely a teenager, I caught her on her piano teacher’s lap, trying to fondle him.” She took another huge gulp of wine. “I blamed him,” she said ruefully. “I blamed the poor man for my daughter’s actions. I thought he was a predator or something. Turns out, it was all her. She has this …thing… for older men. Hunts them down. Tracks them like prey.”

Her words were tumbling out now. Vince wasn’t sure if it was because of the wine or because it was a relief to finally have someone to talk to about all of this. It was clear it had built up inside of her for years, waiting to come out.

“I tried to protect her,” she admitted. “I tried to stop her. I couldn’t. She’s her own person with her own wants. What can I do?” Kate downed another big gulp. “She’s eighteen-fuckin’-years old. If she wants to be with you, she’s going to be with you.”

Vince wasn’t sure what to say. How was he supposed to react to this?

“Doesn’t matter.” She sighed. “We’re moving across the country soon. She doesn’t know, but shewillmove with me. This is the last relationship I’ll be able to stop. After that, it’s all on her.”

Vince’s stomach dropped, careening toward the floor as her words sank in. Claire—leaving—across the country. The whole world started to spin around him as he thought about the implications of her absence. Lorelei would be beside herself. His marriage would suffer. Claire would suffer. He would suffer. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate, or think, or do much of anything.

“Are you serious?” Vince asked. “You’re taking her away?”

Kate looked up at him, her blue eyes steely. “What choice do I have? I’m paying for her college tuition, so I get to decide which school she goes to. We’re going far, far away from here.” She shook her head and pressed the wine glass to her lips.

Vince felt his heart slow to a crawl in his chest. “Why?”

“She’s lived here all her life, she’s made quite the reputation for herself, as well as me and the rest of her family.” She shrugged and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “It’s the only thing I can think of at this point to do. To try and save whatever scraps I can. I tried my best with her, I really did. I don’t want to believe that this is my fault. Not until I’ve tried everything in my power to curb this obsession of hers.”

“Don’t do this,” Vince said. “Please, don’t do this to me.”

“Toyou?” Kate laughed, a mocking cackle that was followed by a hiccup. “This has nothing to do with you. I’ve been planning this for months.” She downed the rest of her glass.

“You said it yourself,” Vince said, “you can’t make her change her mind. Why would you force her away from everything and everyone she’s ever known?”

“There’s no other choice,” she said as she shook the wine bottle, trying to get out every last drop.

“What if there was?” Vince suggested. “What if she could stay with me and my wife?”

Kate stared at him, her eyes unblinking. “Why would I let my daughter stay with you people?”

“Because, I mean, she’s eighteen. She’s going to do what she wants. I can offer her paid college, a home under my roof; she’ll want for nothing. And,” he cleared his throat then approached the next part carefully, “She’ll be out of your hair, so to say. You can start fresh. So can she.”

Kate’s eyes turned icy with anger. She leaned on the counter and cocked her upper body toward him.

It wasn’t something Vince had ever considered. Luckily, he had plenty of money to pay for her degree and housing. Having her around all the time, living under his roof, was a tantalizing thought.

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?” Kate seethed. “Why the hell would you undermine me like this?”

“Because I want what is best for Claire,” Vince snapped. “If that means living with me and my wife instead of being halfway across the country, then I will do whatever it takes.”