Chapter 2
Tracey
I opened my eyes slowly, holding perfectly still as I listened to Bryce’s soft breathing beside me.
He was still asleep. Thank God for small favors.
I slid out of bed and paused briefly to look down at him.
His expression was relaxed in sleep, but I’d learned long ago that peace was only ever temporary with him.
It was easily shattered by the smallest misstep.
I left the room, closed the door quietly behind me and made my way to the restroom across the hall.
I laid out my clothing last night so I could shower and get ready for my day without disturbing my family.
I looked in on our young daughters, to find them still fast asleep in their beds. They were the only joy in my life. They had a musical alarm that would wake them in about an hour, and I didn’t dare disturb them. I moved down the hall, without stopping at Bryce’s parents’ door.
We’d yet to find our own place. Every house we’d looked at, Bryce had found a problem with.
So we were still staying at his parents’ estate.
Their home was huge, and his mother had just finished a major renovation before her cancer came back for the third time.
The house was gorgeous. No one could accuse Eleanor of not having good taste.
The kitchen had granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and white cabinets.
Since today was their housekeeper Anna’s day off, making breakfast fell to me.
She had already prepped everything, all I had to do was cook the eggs, bacon, and cut up the fruit.
Even the coffee pot was already filled and the automatic timer set.
I didn’t mind making breakfast because cooking in my mother-in-law’s kitchen was a genuine pleasure.
I moved around the kitchen, pulling out all the equipment I needed to make breakfast for a family of six.
I reminded myself to cook a little extra because my mother-in-law’s nurse would be arriving soon.
Each morning felt like walking a thin line between anticipating Bryce’s mood and taking care of the girls.
It seemed like Bryce was either unbearably grumpy or incredibly happy.
I was certainly no mental health expert, but I knew most people had more than two moods.
To be honest, worrying over whether I was getting Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde every morning left me feeling exhausted before the day even got started.
As the scent of coffee filled the air, my mind wandered back to last night.
There was something about the unexpected meet up and the warmth in Alvin’s gaze that had me wishing my life could be different.
If Bryce had only turned out to be the man I had thought he was, my life would be ideal.
Seeing Alvin had thrown my life into sharp contrast.
Although he had matured into a handsome man and was in really good shape, I wouldn’t say that what I felt last night was necessarily lust. Seeing him reminded me of our college days, when we were young and carefree.
I’d almost forgotten what it was like to be truly happy, and to have aspirations of my own.
Back then, my goal had been to become a dentist. Sometimes I still think about going back to college, maybe when the girls are old enough to start school.
When I heard the sound of footsteps moving around upstairs, I quickly got back to the task at hand and finished breakfast. The last thing in the world I needed was Bryce to come to the table and have to wait for his food.
The girls showed up first, climbing into their preferred chairs at the far end of the table. I poured their juice and gave each of them a piece of bacon and some scrambled eggs to eat.
The sound of footsteps approaching could only mean one thing. Bryce had gotten dressed for work and was ready for his breakfast. He stepped into the kitchen, moving towards the table with the easy confidence of a man who always expected to get his way.
I gave him a tentative smile as I poured his coffee. “Impeccable timing.”
One side of his mouth quirked up because I used his favorite word. Unfortunately, the smile didn’t reach his eyes, giving me a bad gut feeling that his mild response meant we were in for a Mr. Hyde morning.
He moved past me and an instant later, I felt his arms slide around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. “Told you last night wouldn’t be as bad as you thought, huh?” he murmured against my ear, his voice low and satisfied. This was clearly his I-told-you-so moment.
I forced a gentle laugh, turning slightly to look up into his self-assured gaze. “You were right. It was nice, actually.”
“Good.” He stepped away to pick up the coffee that I’d poured him, bringing the mug to his lips. I didn’t care for the way his eyes lingered on me, possessive and proprietary.
I watched him carefully out of the corner of my eye, on guard for any signs of tension or displeasure.
Bryce took his seat slowly and leaned back, one arm draped casually over the table beside his plate. A short silence spun out between us. It felt thick with a certain kind of foreboding.
He finally came out with what was on his mind. “You smiled at Alvin a lot, last night.” His tone was deceptively mild as he scrutinized my reaction.
I kept my expression calm and met his eyes without shame or fear. I hadn’t lusted after Alvin, so I had nothing to hide. “He’s an old friend, Bryce. I was just being polite.”
“Polite,” Bryce echoed softly. He looked down and swirled his coffee around in his cup thoughtfully. “Are you sure polite is all it was? You seemed more than polite to me.”
“It wasn’t,” I reassured him firmly, holding his gaze. “Alvin is simply part of our past, Bryce. I chose you. We have a family and have built a life together. That’s what matters.”
Bryce’s expression cleared. He seemed to be satisfied with my response. He reached across the table and took my hand in his. “You know I’m very protective of my family and most especially my wife. I would take it personally if you flirted with other men publicly.”
“I’m a married woman with morals. I’d never cheat on you, Bryce. If ever I didn’t want to be with you, I’d divorce you. But I’d never cheat.”
“You’re not divorcing me,” he growled. Catching himself, he lowered his voice, “Because you love me, remember?”
I don’t know where I got the courage, but I responded, “You once told me that love doesn’t have anything to do with marriage, and I’m afraid I took that piece of advice to heart. As long as I’m a good wife and mother, what does it matter if I love you?”
His nostrils flared as his expression shifted to one of anger. “You’re trying my patience today, woman.”
“No, sir,” I shot back. “I’m just following the rules you already laid down for our marriage.”
The tension was about to boil over when heavy footsteps sounded in the hall. We both pulled back and schooled our expressions into something approaching stoic.
Bryce’s father, Richard, entered the kitchen with his usual tailored suit. His silver hair was perfectly groomed. He eyed us as he walked past.
“Good morning,” he murmured, taking his usual seat at the head of the table. We were at his house after all.
He was acting a bit weird today. His eyes shifted from Bryce to me and back again in a calculating manner. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
“Not at all,” Bryce answered quickly, sounding a bit rattled. “We were just talking about our outing last night.”
Richard nodded as he picked up the pot I had left on the table and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Ah, yes. I hope you had a lovely night. My CPA messaged me that you spoke to him last night. Networking is always a smart move for those of us in the business world. Even in a place like Griffinsford, it pays to stay connected.”
Bryce’s face went pale, which made me think he might have been talking about something with that accountant that his father didn’t approve of.
Richard took a big gulp of his coffee and then another, draining the cup before turning to me. “I have a concern that should be elevated to the top of your priority list.”
“Whatever needs to be done, I’ll see to it,” I assured him. Bryce had impressed upon me the importance of being a team player.
“That warms my heart to hear. When can we expect you two to start trying for another baby?”
I don’t know why I was so shocked. It took me a moment to respond. “Another what?”
“Baby,” Richard said slowly, like I needed the word strung out to understand it.
When I didn’t immediately respond, he continued expounding upon his point. “The girls are adorable, but the Sterling name needs an heir. I want to be pivotal in my grandson’s upbringing to be certain he is capable of taking over the family business when his time comes.”
His tone was pleasant but serious.
Bryce chuckled, pretending to be unfazed. He even looked at me with an expectant grin. “Of course, we’re ready for another pregnancy. Tracey and I have already discussed it.”
I gripped my coffee cup tighter to cover my anger and responded mildly, “Yes, that discussion entailed another potential pregnancy once the twins started school in the fall.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed on me. He gazed at me for so long, I started to feel genuinely uncomfortable.
“You know, Tracey, I never approved of your marriage to my son in the first place. Now, you seem to be dragging your feet about giving my only son an heir to the Sterling family fortune. I find myself growing less impressed with your dedication to our family as the years drag on.”
When Bryce jumped into the conversation, his voice was tense. “You misunderstand, Father. Tracey and I want her to be able to dedicate her days to the care of our future heir. She can’t very well do that with the twins running around underfoot all day.”
“Bryce, caring for children is what nannies are for. I’m sure you remember that from your own childhood.”