Chapter 14
DEVON
To say things with Lizzi’s ex were anticlimactic is an understatement. The man all but rolled over and showed his belly.
I have to credit Edward with some of the ease in which Lizzi returned to that part of her life. He’d mentioned how angry he was that his sister’s fiancé had been cheating on her to anyone who’d listen so by the time she showed up again, most of her acquaintances were on her side.
Peter got a bit vocal to begin with but after Lizzi let him know she had a recording of him and his side piece, he shut up quicker than a door slamming in the wind.
Since then we’ve been enjoying our new combined lives. She goes off to work at Foxworth Industries Monday to Friday while I check in on the bar and brewing operation, or stay home and deal with our rundown house.
And yes, it’s our house.
At least that’s the way I think about it now.
Honestly, I can’t see myself living here without her anymore. Not sure how I lived here alone before she ran into my life. I love diving into projects with her on the weekends. I’ve always enjoyed the tearing down and building back up of the houses I’ve flipped, but this is different.
This is me and Lizzi building a life.
One that might change today.
A glance at the clock shows me it’s beyond her usual arrival time. Which doesn’t bode well for a smooth handover.
If her grandfather reneges on his promise, he’ll be getting a visit from me. Although I’m sure Edward will have something to say about it before me.
In the months since I entered Lizzi’s life, I’ve gotten to know her brother pretty well. He’s not what I expected. He’s less affected by his grandparents’ brainwashing. Like Lizzi eventually did, he married the woman he wanted to, not the one his grandfather suggested.
As much as I hate Peter, I’ll be forever grateful he couldn’t keep it in his pants on his wedding day. If he hadn’t been careless, I wouldn’t be married to the woman I’m irrevocably in love with.
His lack of discretion doesn’t help Lizzi gain control of Foxworth Industries though. There’s no denying Gordon Foxworth is not my biggest fan. The second week Lizzi returned to work, her grandfather had me served with divorce papers. Accompanying them was a big fat check.
I’d laughed in the guy’s face and told him to take it all back to the sender and remind him not everyone can be bought. Since then, Lizzi’s life has been anything but pleasant at work.
It’s why we’re further along in our renovations. The inside demolitions are complete, and now we’re at the rebuild stage. Of course if things didn’t go to plan today, Lizzi will need something to smash so I spent the day clearing the overgrown plants around the gazebo out back.
If she comes through the door with a frown, I’ll hand her the sledgehammer and point her out the back door. I’ve even got her work overalls waiting in the mud room.
The sound of car brakes squealing filters in the open windows. It reminds me I need to get Garrett to look at her car. A slamming door is the next noise and then stomping on the porch which I hope doesn’t crumple beneath her feet.
I’m in the hallway, waiting by the staircase when she opens the front door. One look tells me we’re heading out back.
She stops short when she sees me. “Oh. I thought you were at the bar tonight.”
Is that relief in her voice? Is she glad I’m here? “No. I’m waiting for my wife to come home on what I know was going to be a difficult day.”
“Oh.” She kicks off her shoes. “It was more than difficult.”
“Yeah.” I don’t go to her. Not yet. “Did you expect anything else?”
She shakes her head. “No. But I figured he’d draw the line at getting lawyers involved.”
I cringe. “I bet Edward was pissed.”
The laugh that leaves her is not humorous. “Pissed is only a smidgen of the anger he let loose.”
“But it’s done?”
“Yes.” She sighs. “Although I doubt we’ve heard the last from him. A few of the older board members are his friends.”
I don’t want her to rehash her day standing in the hallway. It’ll go better if she’s tearing something apart. “Want a glass of wine or a hammer?”
Her smile is slow, but it grows, and once that sparkle reaches her eyes, I know she’s ready to move past this latest drama with her grandfather. “Hammer. With wine.”
“Done. C’mon, I’ve got it all ready.”
“Of course you have.” She walks toward me with a chuckle. “You always know what I need.”
“It’s my job to know what you need.”
“Is it?”
When she’s close enough, I scoop her into my arms. “Am I not your husband?”
“Yes. Yes, you are.” Her gaze locks with mine. “Have I told you how grateful I am to have you in my life?”
“Not in words but the coffee in a travel mug on the counter this morning told me.” It’s the little things we do for each other that reveal our feelings. The ones we don’t talk about.
“It seemed prudent when I was making one for myself.”
“Nothing practical about thinking of someone else’s comfort.”
“Like having wine chilling and a sledgehammer ready?”
“Exactly. Time to take down that eyesore in the backyard.”
“We’re moving outside?”
“You’ve demolished everything in here,” I say with a chuckle.
“I thought we were going to do the porch…” She frowns. “Next. I guess that’s outside.”
“It is, but we’re doing the gazebo because we’ve got the landscape design class from the uni coming through the property next week.”
“Ah, yes, I love that you’re offering this place as a learning space.”
I shrug. “Giving Daniel and his class access means we get a free landscape design.”
“True, but you’ll stick around and talk to the students about the place.”
“I will.” Letting her go, I weave my fingers through hers and tug her toward the back of the house.
“I need to change.”
“Your overalls are in the mud room.”
She laughs. “Of course they are.”
“I wanted to make it as easy as possible when you got home.”
“You spoil me.”
“No. I take care of you; there’s a difference.”
“I feel like it’s one sided.”
“Who does all our washing? Who helps tear down walls? Who makes sure there’s food in the house so we don’t starve?”
“All things you can do yourself,” she says with another laugh.
“Yes, but you do them.” I glance over my shoulder at her. “We take care of each other.”
She doesn’t argue with me. Thankfully. And when I nudge her toward the mudroom and say, “Meet me outside,” she goes without protest.
Today might have been hard for her but tonight will be anything but hard. Unless we’re talking about my dick, because the second she picks up the hammer and swings, it’ll be rock hard and ready to take care of my wife in another way.