Page 36 of Making Their Vows
"We can walk past it." I hadn't had any plans of stopping.
"It's okay." Truly sits up straighter. I press a kiss to the top of her head before I open the door to step out. I give my wife my hand to help her out.
Fuck, she's beautiful. A few flashes hit us, lighting her up. I want to shove her back into the car and leave. I hate that I have to share her with the world, but I know that I can’t avoid it forever. The only upside to it is that everyone will now know she’s mine.
I kiss her hands before linking our fingers together. Truly lets me lead her toward the entrance. She gives a few polite smiles, which is taken as an opening.
"Mr. Lockheart!"
"Is that your wife?"
"Is it true you're opening a new branch on the West Coast?”
Truly flicks me a glance.
"I'm not here to talk about business. Tonight is about raising money for a good cause and"—I lift her hand to kiss it again—"enjoying an evening out with my beautiful wife." I watch her cheeks pinken, the same way they do when I talk filthy to her.
I only have to get through an hour. Then I can take my wife home and make her blush everywhere.
Chapter Nineteen
TRULY
It's endearing how Blake gushes over me to people. A few even said that it was about time they'd met me. I'm not fully sure if they mean because Blake has spoken about me so much or simply because they know who I am in general. The city isn't as big as people believe it to be. Not when it comes to social circles.
"You're popular," I tell him when we finally get to our table.
"It's you that they are curious to speak to." Blake pulls my chair out for me.
"Everyone has been very nice."
"As they should." I don't miss the protectiveness of his tone.
It's all making my head spin. I had shoved a lot of stuff Mabel had said to me to the back of my mind. She doesn't know Blake the way I do. That's what I told myself, but I've been paying attention to everything.
He's so attentive, but he is still working a lot. I was under the impression that he was downsizing or getting out of any entanglements with our family, but now I'm not sure if that's true. A few of the comments people have said have me speculating once again. I hate that I’m having this internal turmoil when it comes to him. It doesn’t feel right.
It wasn't only the one about him opening another branch. Another man had mentioned something about a new investment.
When a server delivers a glass of champagne to everyone at the table as they begin to serve the first round of food, I reach for it and bring it to my lips. The liquid barely hits my tongue when another thought dawns on me. I could be pregnant. I’m not on anything, and we haven’t been using protection. It’s not really far-fetched that I could be. I set the glass back down.
Blake's brows rise at me in question. I shrug and take a sip of water. What if I am pregnant? I can’t help but slip my hand down to my stomach. A million questions flood my thoughts. It's hard to make small talk with others at the table with my mind spinning, but I do my best to remain present in the conversation.
I don't know if it's in my head or real, but my stomach starts to get queasy.
“What’s wrong?” Blake immediately asks. I love how well he can read me. If he weren’t truly invested in this marriage, would he even bother to get to know me so well? Then again, when Blake does anything, it’s not half-assed.
“I need to use the ladies’ room,” I tell him before excusing myself from the table.
“I’ll walk with you.” Blake stands before I can, pulling my chair out for me in the process.
“You’re really here,” a woman says, appearing next to us. Blake gives her a real smile. It takes me a second, but I realize this is the woman from the picture. The lawyer at the hotel bar. "I'm Lauren."
"The lawyer."
"That's all you've ever said about me?" She gives Blake a pointed stare. One I bet she gives to people on the witness stand. I'd be giving up my secrets if it were me.
"Lauren, this is my wife, Truly." He formally introduces us.
