Page 69 of Secret Husband
“I’m not. I just—I’d prefer he didn’t immediately jump on my associates to pump them for money. It’s a bit …”
“Grasping? He is certainly taking advantage of your connections.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t go looking for chinks in the armor of our relationship. Thad and I are fine.”
“Are you?” I stood. “Because this notion that he is not threatened by me, that he is perfectly fine with my presence in your life, is absurd. If I learned that my woman was married to someone else, I would be raising hell!”
She stopped her pacing to face me. “That’s where you and he differ. What’s the point in getting mad about something you can’t control? He knows I’ll be shot of you soon, ergo nothing to worry about.”
“He should be worried. You’re my wife, Lauren.”
“In name only!” But I could tell from the way those silver eyes darkened to pools of mercury that she appreciated my possessive claim.
“The name should be enough.”
A claim too far, it seemed. Her gaze shifted to the desk.
“Thinking about that hockey stick?”
“Oh, we’re past thinking. I’m already planning my moves. Should I destroy your left ankle or crush your testicle? The choices thrill me.”
“I’m just pointing out the strangeness of your boyfriend’s reaction here, Lauren. I would be very selfish if you were mine.”
“Well, I’m not yours. I’m not … anyone’s. I’m my own person, which is why I don’t like this idea that you think you know better than me. You’re not my future, Alexei. You’re barely my past.”
That cut deeper than expected. The idea that I could go home again—to Lauren—had consumed me since the moment I reconnected with her in Las Vegas. It had kept me sane while I planned the rest of my career and my father’s life. She was my North Star, yet she did not see me the same way.
Her phone buzzed and she checked it. “That’s Thad.”
The man who thought it was perfectly okay for her to be married to someone else.
“I will leave you to discuss whatever it is you discuss with this man of your dreams.”
She reached for the hockey stick.
“Goodnight, Silver Eyes.” And then I made my exit before she could assume an attack position.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lauren
* * *
Thank God for my Bonking Book Club gals.
All I wanted was a night to drink martinis, talk about sexy (fictional) men, and forget my problems. Unfortunately, that might be difficult as we were meeting at Jason and Franky’s place, and I was very conscious of the fact they both knew about the Husband Problem. But this was our first get together since Franky gave birth, and she was reluctant to stray too far from her little one.
On my arrival, an adorable Cammi in a seafoam green onesie emblazoned with “Apparently I Like Hockey” on it was being passed around like a precious parcel while everyone oohed and aahed. As I took my seat, I marveled at how something so tiny could inspire such devotion. But then people loved tiny houses, tiny cupcakes, and tiny Japanese cleaning supplies.
I nudged Franky. “How’s the book coming along?”
“Slowly. First, I need to make sure my office is set up properly. And …” She looked at her daughter, currently being held by Summer who definitely had baby fever in those cornflower blue eyes. “This feels like the time I should be bonding with my daughter. She might speak or do something amazing. And if Jason witnesses it and I don’t?” She snorted her disapproval of this potential horror.
“I know your kid is probably superior in all the ways, far ahead of her peers, but she’s also barely two months. You’re not going to miss her first word. I get it, though, especially as I know what it’s like to hope Jason Isner never beats me in anything.”
That made her laugh. “How are things with you?”
“Moving along.”
