Page 61 of Completely Captivated
“You already have, Aaron.Where has that gotten you?She has to realize what’s at stake on her own.”
“I’m not giving up on my plan, Delilah.I still have six months before the divorce is final.”
“No, you won’t give up at all.But it’s time to reformulate your plan of attack.You’re no longer the whipped dog, begging for table scraps, happy to get whatever she’ll throw your way.You’re going to make her remember the confident, cocky man who captivated her in the first place.You’re going to make her want that man again.”
“Yes, ma’am.”My smile was genuine, and my confidence received a much-needed boost.“I’m ready to throw my wife over my shoulder and carry her back to my man-cave.”
Delilah winked mischievously, sealing our conspiracy.“That’s my boy.”
Personal Delivery
Aaron
Instead of sendingthe divorce papers via a courier, I decided to deliver them personally.Besides, I needed coffee and croissants for breakfast.It was convenient since there was only one place in the world I’d go.
The Sweet Spot.
When the chimes over the door rang, announcing my entrance, Christa looked up to greet her customer.The sweet smile plastered on her face fell, and apprehension took its place.My presence there made her nervous.
Good.
At least she wasn’t indifferent or mad.She was affected by me, and that meant her real feelings were still buried.
“Good morning.”I approached the counter with my usual confident swagger.The half smile playing on my lips wanted to break out into full seal-the-deal mode, but I withheld it.“I’ll have a coffee, black, and a caramel croissant, please.”
Christa’s confused expression amused Allie, who nudged her way in to ring up the sale.After paying for my breakfast, like any other customer, I found an open table and sat where I could watch Christa work.
A couple of minutes later, Christa approached with my order, and I stood to take it from her.“Thank you.You didn’t have to bring it to me.I could’ve grabbed it myself.”
“You know me—service with a smile.”
“I do know you.Very well.”My eyes dropped to her mouth, then to her breasts, and feasted on the rest of her as if she was mine to devour.Because she was.
Her pink colored cheeks were a dead giveaway to her thoughts.She went to the same place I did with a slightly suggestive comment.Her heart remembered.Her body remembered.Now to convince her mind our marriage was what she wanted.
“What brings you in this morning?”
“Besides the best coffee and croissants known to man?”I winked, then softened my expression.“I’ve signed these.Thought I’d bring them back to you myself.”I reached inside my jacket and produced our divorce papers.
Giving them to her killed me because a divorce was the last thing I wanted.But she was damned and determined to be damned and determined.The best way to convince her otherwise was if she worked through the motions for herself.
She reached for the papers, and her hand held on to them tightly as her eyes lifted to meet mine.Our locked gaze held us in place every bit as much as the tight grip she had on my hand.She didn’t want to take the papers from me.She didn’t want to let go of my hand.
So, I let go.
The emptiness I felt from instantly missing her touch made me grab the coffee cup before I did something stupid, like grab her instead.
“This coffee is so good.You’re turning me into a junkie.”
The quirk of her lips into a partial smile came and went so fast, I almost questioned if it was even there.One fist wrapped around the papers, curling them tightly while she wiped the other palm on her thigh.
“I’m glad you like it.I’ll just go put these up.”
A simple nod was my only reply before I tore into the croissant I didn’t even want.It was all I could do to force it down, knowing she was hurting, too.Knowing I only wanted to make everything right.Knowing she was still my wife, and that was all I wanted.
She walked away, and Allie approached me the second Christa was out of earshot.“Very smooth, slick.Want some help?”
“Absolutely.Has Jared made his move yet?”
