CHAPTER 32 Maya
Maya
Her husband was on his knees.
Maya’s breath caught.
His hands came to her hips, warm and familiar even through the thin fabric of her shirt.
The contrast nearly undid her. Those were the same hands that had closed handcuffs around her wrists. The same hands that had held her when she cried after her grandmother died.
How many times had those hands settled on her hips? In crowded rooms, grocery store aisles, in the kitchen while she cooked dinner.
But never like this. Never with him kneeling at her feet, looking at her in supplication.
He was so close, she could have leaned forward to rest her forehead against his.
She stared down at him.
Her husband. Her sensible husband. On his knees in front of her.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
“Tell me what you need, sweetheart,” he said. “Tell me what it would take. I don’t care what it is.”
“Reid—”
“I’ll do it,” he cut in. “Anything. Everything.” He sounded desperate.
Part of her wanted to believe this.
“Please,” he said, the words rough. “Tell me, be greedy, be selfish. Tell me and I will do it. I will do everything.”
But there was no list to give him that would make it better. Even if he did everything to undo it all: her name cleared, her home back. Her old life was gone now.
“I choose you, you are it for me, you are my number one.”
His words were perfect. It was everything she had wanted from him.
You’re a liar and a thief.
The words would not be unheard.
When he had to choose between the law and his wife, he chose the law. He would do it again next time. And Maya couldn’t go through this again.
He looked in agony.
"You were the best thing that ever happened to me," he said, "and I spent our entire marriage waiting for the proof that it wasn't real." He looked up at her. “So when a lie was presented to me, I didn't question it. Because I—" He exhaled. "Because I know you’re too good for me.”
"Reid."
"I know." His voice was rough. "I know how that sounds. I know better now. I believe you. I always will believe you.”
He was lying to her, or maybe just lying to himself.
“When I saw your name on that account. Some part of me—" He stopped. His jaw worked. “Thinking you had stolen that money was easier than believing that you actually—" He closed his eyes briefly. "That you actually wanted me."
She stepped back. "There is nothing greedy about wanting to not be falsely accused and arrested by your husband,” she said.
Reid’s hands gripped tighter for a moment, before he let her slip out of his grasp.
He stayed on his knees, not moving at first. Then, slowly, he pushed himself back to his feet.
“Okay.” He sounded wrecked.