Page 66 of Theirs to Treasure

I’m in the kitchen, drinking a cup of hot chocolate—wishing it were a fully loaded Mexi-mocha like I’d fallen in love with in Idaho—when Forrest walks in.

He’s already worked out in our home fitness center, and he’s showered and shaved. He appears annoyingly fresh and handsome in his white shirt and trousers while my hair is mussed, and my eyes are burning.

When we were on our honeymoon, and he wasn’t totally overbearing, I’d enjoyed our mornings together.

Right now, I’d give anything to be away from him.

Smelling of masculine spice, he reaches past me to plop a pod into the coffeemaker.

Even though I’m aggravated with him, my body still responds to his nearness, and I hate that my hormones make me vulnerable to him.

With a frown, he studies me. “Everything okay?”

“Yes.” I’m so accustomed to tamping down my own feelings to please others that my response is instantaneous—and a lie.

Adrenaline punches me in the stomach, demanding I tell the truth. “No.”

The word hangs between us.

“No?”

“You canceled the lease on my apartment.”

“And?” He places his mug, then pushes the Brew button.

“And?” I repeat, putting down my cup with a clatter before I drop it.

Once more he faces me. His eyebrows are knitted together in confusion. “What’s the problem?”

Are you serious right now?My voice shakes. “You didn’t ask my opinion, didn’t consult me at all.”

Gently he curls his hands around my shoulders. “Why would I? We’re married, living together in the brand-new home that you chose.”

“It’s my apartment.”

“And our house in River Oaks is on the market.”

I roll my eyes as I shrug out of his grip.

“Harper, be sensible. Why would you pay for somewhere you’re not living?”

Not that I am actually paying. I have no idea who is. Forrest? Or my former intended? “It wasn’t your decision to make.”

“You’re mywife.”

“Not your fucking chattel.”

“Be reasonable.”

“Did you actually say that to me?”

As the coffeemaker hisses, he drags a hand through his hair.

“You have a million things going on with transforming our house into a home for us and our baby, and you’re juggling it all beautifully.”

No way will I allow his compliment to derail this conversation. “So you took care of that pesky detail on my behalf.”

He nods, as if pleased that I’m finally seeing what a hero he is.