The Backpack Bride (Give a Bookish Girl a Biker #1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Christian

B y some miracle, I manage not to get sick. And I’m thankful for it as the week following Roxy’s sudden bout of sickness is a busy one. The campaign for Bon Loup is due at the firm, and everything about it needs to be just right.

Not only that, but Roxy’s been taking Axel all over Denver, trying to find him the right tux for the upcoming spring formal. I begged her to let me call my menswear guy, but she refused. Said this was her thing and asked me to drop it. So for now, I’m staying in my own lane.

I can’t risk upsetting her right now. But at the same time, I can’t ignore my relationship with Axel if I want her to think of me as a permanent fixture in both their lives. Plus, I genuinely care about the kid. Heck, I even like him. He might be rough around the edges and keep everyone at arm’s length exactly like she does, but anybody with a brain can see that he’s a kid who’s hurting. He just needs time and patience. And I’m willing to give that to him—Roxy too.

I just can’t let her run the clock out on our time as husband and wife before I’ve shown her all my cards. Her big hearing with the judge is two weeks away, so she still needs this marriage to work. For now. I’ve at least got that long to try and convince her that we’re right for each other. That we should make this marriage a real one.

After waking up in her bed the other day, I thought she’d retreat into her shell. But to my surprise, she’s opened up more. Not only do we share mornings together, but after Axel heads to bed at night, we sit up and talk and drink mocktails or milk together, debriefing each of our days. It’s been so normal, so domestic , between us, that I’d give almost anything not to have it ruined.

Anything but ignore the budding trust that’s blooming between Axel and me. I won’t cross any boundaries that Roxy has set, but I also won’t pretend the kid doesn’t exist just because she’s afraid of him getting hurt. I’d never do that, to either of them. All I can do is hope that I’ll be able to prove myself before this marriage expires.

And try not to buy him any more motorcycles.

I’m still mulling over how best to earn Roxy’s trust when my secretary walks in. “Mr. Price?”

“Yes?”

“Your father is here to see you.” Her smile falters, a sure sign she’s aware of the fraying of my father’s and my relationship.

I set aside the mock-up I’d been staring at mindlessly for the last twenty minutes. “Send him in.”

With a curt nod, she scurries away, and in walks every intimidating inch of the man who raised me. He carefully unbuttons his suit jacket before folding himself into the seat across from my desk. “Nice to see your focus is back at work.” He tips his head toward the mock-up with a slight lift of his eyebrows.

If only he knew my thoughts were nowhere near work. Still, I’m not in the mood to entertain his poor impression of Roxy.

“My focus is always on work when it needs to be.”

His deep hum of disapproval says he believes otherwise. “And yet your choice for a bride proves the opposite is true.”

My teeth grind together as my hands curl into fists underneath the desk. “If you came here to put Roxy down some more, you can walk right back out that door.”

“I’m not here to disparage her,” he says, linking his fingers together over his crossed legs. “I came here to ask how well you really know this wife of yours.”

Defensiveness rises within me too fast to keep in check. “I know all I need to know about her.”

One silver eyebrow of his arches in question. “Is that so? Then you’re admitting that you willfully overlooked her criminal history?”

Dread threatens to swallow me as haughtiness fills his expression. I school my features as much as possible despite the panic flowing through my veins. “What about it?”

Dad’s eyes narrow the slightest bit before he leans forward in the chair. “You knew that she has a DUI on record? That she’s served time in jail ?”My pulse races erratically at the accusations, but instead of giving him the satisfaction of seeing my surprise, I ask, “Are you trying to imply something, Dad, or are you just listing out Roxy’s past mistakes? Because if that’s what we’re doing, you’ve got quite the laundry list of your own. Let’s start with how you’ve emotionally neglected Mom for the past ten years—”

“You arrogant child.”

I clamp my mouth shut against a retort. He can think whatever he wants about me, as long as he’s not aiming insults at my wife.

“Are you saying her past matters nothing to you?”

I run my tongue over my teeth, choosing my words carefully. “I’m not saying her past doesn’t matter. It’s made her who she is. Maybe she doesn’t have as sparkling a reputation as you hoped my future wife would have, but she does have the character and integrity that so many other women in our circles lack.”

Dad’s jaw works side to side, even as he settles himself back in the chair. “Christian, I care about what happens to you and this company. If she has designs on stealing—”

“Roxy would never .”

“How do you know, Christian? You’ve only been with this girl for a little over a month.” Silent rage simmers within me. “She could be using you, son. In more ways than one. Manipulating you until she gets what she wants from this relationship.”

I force myself to take steady breaths as I look down at my hands. I debate telling him the truth—that I was the one who asked Roxy, a stranger, to marry me. That it took some convincing on my part just to get her to agree. That though I didn’t know all this about her past, it wouldn’t have changed anything. I’d ask her to marry me all over again if I could.

Maybe I should. But for real this time.

Because even hearing the accusations he’s laying at her feet, I want her. Desperately. I want to make her my wife in every way possible.

I raise my eyes to Dad’s, purpose fueling my words. “I understand your concern for the company. And I appreciate that you’re looking out for me. But it’s not necessary in this case. Roxy cares for me.” Maybe not in the way I wish she would—not yet. Still, that doesn’t mean she never will. She feels something for me, I know it, whether she’s ready to admit it or not. “And more importantly, I care for her and Axel. If you can’t understand that, maybe you need to work that out by yourself. As for us, we’re happy and moving forward.”

Dad’s lips thin as he drags his gaze away from mine. “It seems we are at an impasse.” Silence stretches taut between us, until finally, he says, “I want you to know I’ve decided to rip up the contract.”

I blink, wondering if I heard him correctly. “You what?”

He flicks a piece of lint off his pant leg before zeroing in on me. “I’ve decided that it’s not in your best interest to be forced into marriage. But it is, however, in the company’s best interest to have you as acting CEO.”

“Is-is this because of your health? Did you get bad news at the doctor?”

“It’s because, Christian, I’ve seen the error of my ways. You’ve made your point clear with this woman you’ve chosen to marry. And, in turn, proven that you’ll do whatever it takes to further your grandfather’s legacy. The company, and the inheritance, is yours.” His voice softens as he leans forward, keeping his attention trained on my face. “I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life regretting this hasty decision. It’s not too late to file for an annulment. If Stefany isn't the one you want, then—”

“Enough," I bark. "I will not get an annulment and the only woman I want is Roxy.”

“Son.” His tone rises with desperation. “I’m telling you the contract is no longer an issue.”

I stand and brace my hands on either side of my desk, frustration rippling through every taut muscle. “I’m telling you that I don’t care what you do with that contract; it makes no difference to me.”

He doesn’t say anything for a long moment as his breathing quickens. “We’ll see if you don’t change your mind.” He stands with a flick of his wrist. “I’ll see you in the conference room at two to discuss the presentation.”

With that, he leaves, and for the first time since he appeared, my lungs expel a full breath.

The marketing execs and their assistants have already filled the conference room by the time I appear. My hungry gaze finds Roxy first. She’s beside Edmund, tapping her pencil against the table, smiling at something Aja says. As if she senses my presence, her eyes find mine. When her smile tilts higher, my chest loosens. That’s when I realize there’s nothing in her past that could make me love her any less. I wish she’d confided in me with the truth, but since I’ve been keeping secrets of my own, I can hardly fault her for it. Maybe it’s time to come clean. About everything.

I need to tell her how I feel.

“Christian.” Dad’s voice breaks the trance my wife cast over me. “I see you have the mock-up.”

I walk to the front of the table where he’s seated and spread the images our team created out so everyone can easily view them. “After looking over the presentation, I feel confident with the direction we’ve chosen.”

Murmurs of approval echo around the table, prompting me to explain the presentation. Dad eyes me with a strange mix of pride and apprehension. Once I’m finished, he addresses the room. “Great work, everyone. We will be presenting this to Bon Loup’s representative within the hour.” He then dismisses everyone but Aja and me.

I catch Roxy’s eye on her way out and mouth, “Supply room in twenty.” I point to my watch, so there’s no doubt about my meaning. She dips her chin with a shy smile before closing the door behind her.

“All right,” Dad says on a sigh, leaning back in his chair. “Let’s go over this again. I don’t want there to be any chance of losing this client.”

Thirty-five minutes later, I’m hustling to the supply room with the hope of seeing Roxy. Except when I get there, it’s empty. She probably waited for me but went back to her desk when I never showed.

I head that way, my desire to speak to her growing by the second. I’ve only got ten minutes before I’m needed in the conference room for the presentation, but I need to see her. Need to spend a moment with her, if only to ask her if what Dad said was true. If I don’t know the truth, there’s no way I can defend her. And I will defend her until there’s no breath left in me.

Finally, I make it to the main room and see her engaged in conversation with Freya Barros. Surprised she’s here, I head over to meet them.

“Christian, hey,” Roxy says as I approach. “Freya’s here as the rep for Bon Loup.”

I cock my head toward Freya, who smiles and nods excitedly. “Isn’t it awesome? They’re trusting me to choose the marketing campaign for next fall!” A blush rises on the tops of her cheeks as she tucks a blonde curl behind her ear. “You know, since I’m their new face and all.”

“Wow, that’s great,” I say, genuinely pleased. “I thought your contract with them had ended.” Had I known she was still repping the brand, I might’ve tried to pull a few strings.

“Oh, it was,” she says, directing her attention to Roxy. “But apparently sales were so good last fall, they’ve asked me to re-sign with them. I’ll be traveling back to Paris in August!”

“Wow, Paris?” Roxy’s eyes grow wide. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

I make a mental note to whisk my wife away to Paris for a real honeymoon as soon as she says yes to a real marriage. Maybe I’ll finally be able to convince my sister to speak to me and she can tell us the best places to stay.

“Congratulations, Freya,” I say. “No one is more deserving.”

“Well, I should say the same to you.” Freya places a hand on Roxy’s shoulder. “Your wife just told me all about the presentation you guys made, and if it’s half as good as she described, I’m already sold.” She leans in and whispers, “To be honest, I wasn’t super into the other one I saw today.”

I meet Roxy’s knowing expression with one of my own. Her eyes sparkle with victory, and I have the urge to pull her in for a celebratory kiss.

“Sounds promising for us, then,” I tell Freya. “May I escort you to the conference room?”

“Oh, sure.” Freya takes a step, then stops. “Does Roxy get to join us? I love her thoughts on body positivity and was wondering if we might be able to incorporate them into the presentation?”

Again, I meet my wife’s eyes. “I’d be honored if she would accompany us.”

Her lips tremble for a split second, just long enough for me to see the tears that well in her eyes. Then she clears her throat and schools her expression, offering Freya a bright smile. “I’d be happy to.”