y's

essed by the tim

the dressing table like I hadn't spen

ke nothing h

nd wrapped his arms

softly, "when

eyes in

ed some fresh air," I sai

his hand tugging li

mach t

at. "John," I said, carefully, "I was thinking

t his a

just slightly

o you before we got married, but I've been think

him to speak, my

company togeth

t was only right to let my husband manage everythin

foolish

I knew

. If I had access to the financials-if I could see the cash flow,

ill joint

vorce, I'd need proo

he was the one wh

e faded jus

don't I just increase your living expenses? And we could start t

red a

ba

ring a child i

him without rememberin

ising a child with a man I coul

ney," I said. "I just want

ul. Long hours, constant pressure. People out t

. "What exactly are you dissatisfied with in your life n

"Why are you so against

htly. "Is there... someone else

something raw, almost like panic. Then

he said, his voice rising. "H

verything I've done for you. The house. Marriage. The ring

ke devotion. "I've never cheated on you. Never! Y

g the mockery curling behind my ribs-h

smile. "Relax. I

Then, without a word, he turned away shar

ng his fingers there like he could rub

to realize he

matters that much to you, you can help out. There's alwa

ness dep

staff. Coordinating athletes. Managing c

ded a

man possessed. He said it was for us-that once the bus

rgotten all thos

n it anymore. Becaus

nvolved, easy to manage. A place where I'd either g

yes a

icker of something that looked like pity, like he

guilt in it. No

while since you've been to the office-I'll help you

me, answering texts, smiling to himself. I kept my eyes on the floo

nce I walked out of his

n sure I'd s

tly had a twiste

on the underground parking level, Aus

ath hi

ight. Crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, chest br

e, he saw me

cked to mine

allo

him. "Austin! What are y

he elevator with us. "Didn't feel like wa

ite detachment. "You mus

ight. "Nice to f

his eyes held that same wild heat I remembered

, this is the brother I told you about, Aus

wife. Austin's mom left when he was still little. He went abr

said, hoping my

ips curved

r was quiet

d said, "You've got a hickey on you

art s

idn't ev

neck like he'd only just

was it this time?

right at me wh

" he said. "Actuall

it was someone from the company. Was it R

ckled, loo

weight of his gaze, even wh

sharp, impossible to quiet. I didn't know if he could