Page 43 of The Hunted Wife

Chapter 14

With Ricard behind bars and Millie safe, Adam returned to work for the first time since the rescue. He still had a huge bruise on his chest from being shot, but it was nothing because he had Millie back.

Concentration seemed impossible. He’d read the same paragraph three times and still didn’t know what it said.

All he wanted to do was get back to Millie. To hold her in his arms and breathe in her vanilla scent.

“What are you doing, brother?” Benjamin came around the desk and looked over Adam’s shoulder. “Can’t concentrate now that you’re a happily married man?” He laughed.

“Laugh it up, Chuckles. Love will get you one day, too, and then the younger brothers will follow. Soon we’ll have to build more houses, and we’ll have kids running around. It’s going to be a whole new life.” He punched his brother in the shoulder. “And you’re gonna love it.”

“In your dreams.” Benjamin sobered. He walked to the other side of the desk and sat in one of the chairs. Although Mom and Dad would have loved that.”

“Yes, they would have.” Adam was quiet for a moment remembering his parents and their zest for life. Seeing their sons married and having children would have put them over the moon. Especially his mom. She wanted nothing more than to see the ranch overrun with grandchildren.

“You okay, Bro?” asked Benjamin.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just thinking about the folks.”

“I miss them, too. We all do. They should be here.”

Adam nodded. “They should be. But they’re not, so we just have to do the best we can do…for them.”

“I’m still not getting married…ever.”

Adam laughed. “We’ll see. We’ll see. I’d make a bet with you, but I know better. You cheat. No, I don’t think I’ll bet with you ever again.”

Benjamin blushed. “I see you’ve figured me out. Just don’t tell the brothers. I can still get them to bet with me.”

Raising a brow, Adam grew serious. “You can’t keep cheating. Yes, I’m telling them. Or you can quit making bets or if you do, be honest about them.”

“You take all the fun out of everything. You know that?” He crossed his arms over his chest and settled back into the chair.

“I know but this is my lot in life.” Adam placed his forearms on the desk and leaned forward. “I’d much rather be back upstairs in bed with my beautiful wife.”

“Speaking of your beautiful wife, she’s probably got breakfast on the table. Are you ready?”

“For Millie’s cooking? Always.” He stood, walked around the desk, and draped an arm over his brother’s shoulders as they headed to the kitchen. “So, what are you looking for in a wife?”

That morning, while Millie was busy the breakfast dishes, Adam got all his brothers together in their father’s office. “I need your help. I want to give Millie a surprise, but I can’t prepare it myself. I need to keep her busy while you do.”

All of them nodded.

“We’ll do anything for Millie,” said Everett. “You know that.”

“Okay, thanks.” Adam told them what he had planned.

Amidst grins and nods, each man took off with their assigned task.

Adam worked until about eleven o’clock when he saw on the security footage that all his brothers had returned. Now was his turn. He walked to the kitchen, came up behind Millie while she prepped food on the counter and wrapped his arms around her waist. Then he began kissing her neck. He felt her shiver and smile.

She turned in his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. “What has you so lovey-dovey?”

“Can’t I kiss my beautiful wife?”

She smiled up at him, her eyes more black than blue. “Of course, but I get the feeling something’s up.”

“I can’t keep anything from you. I want you to take a ride with me. The brothers have already said they would fend for themselves for lunch. So, will you come with me?”