Chapter 34
Cori
“I’ve thought about it, and I think your strategy is wrong.” I turn on the shower to ensure that my nosy husband can’t hear my conversation with Selene. “I think your goal is good. Drive him crazy, but how you’re going about it won’t work.”
“Why not? I’m making him as miserable as he’s making me.”
“You fucked him last night after I told you not to. He’s not that miserable.” My body starts to wake up at the thought of last night and this morning. After we had breakfast, he took a call and left, promising to be back in a couple of hours.
My demand to know where he was going was met with deaf ears.
“What the fuck do you suggest I do, Selene?” I snap. “Kill him?”
“Um, no. I’m not trying to visit your ass in prison. Listen. You are attracted to him, right?”
“Unfortunately.” This would be a lot easier if he were ugly.
Your ass wouldn’t have been caught dead following him if he were ugly.
“For this to work, you need to be attracted to him. Stop fighting him and stop being stubborn. I think he has real feelings for you.”
“Selene, this isn’t one of your romance novels.
No man with feelings goes to a girl’s father to offer a bribe for her hand in marriage.
In all the mob movies Mr. Rose made us watch, the head mob guy always had a wife and family.
It makes them more relatable and normal.
That’s what this is. And I didn’t tell you this before, but his dumb ass is trying to buy a motel chain, and the old owners wouldn’t sell to him unless he had a wife. ”
“Maybe that’s part of it, but he caught feelings. I can see it. I’m sure everyone else can see it, too. You should have seen his mother looking at the two of you. He told her something, but like I said, stop fighting him. Go on this honeymoon and act like you’re a happily married newlywed.”
“You want me to fuck him?” Not exactly a hardship. Even though I’m packing all of the ugly housedresses that I stole from my mom’s closet.
“No. Make love to him. Be playful. Touch him. Kiss him. Play the part. Put down the armor and be a loving, dutiful wife. He’s going to fall hard, and when he does, you can tell him it was all a sham, and you feel nothing for him.
Hopefully, by then, your mom’s surgery would have been successful.
He’ll be heartbroken, which is what his dumb-ass deserves. ”
Everyone thinks Selene is an airhead, but out of the three of us, she’s the most thoughtful and diabolical. I would have kept being difficult, but she’s right. Her plan is much better.
The man might have no scruples, but other than the kidnapping, he’s never mistreated me.
Last night, he held me in his arms after our lovemaking.
He’s extremely loving and kind with his mom and sister.
He’s even good with that monster dog he has.
It won’t be hard to have him eating out of the palm of my hand.
“You diabolical bitch. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
He was gone when I went back to the bedroom in nothing but my towel. After putting on a pair of tight black pants and a shirt with a deep neckline, I go in search of him.
He’s in the kitchen pulling food out of a large brown paper bag. His eyes light up in appreciation when he sees me. I take my time, slowly walking through the large kitchen, doing my best to be a temptress.
Finch runs across the room, stops in front of me, and barks. I put a hand to my chest and scream.
“God damn it.” He takes her collar and pulls her away. He opens the sliding glass door, and she runs outside. “She likes you, but she’s not used to another person living here.”
“The feeling is not mutual. I hate that bitch.” The response flies out without a thought.
“Don’t call her that. You’ll hurt her feelings,” he chastises.
I put on a fake smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry.
” He arches an eyebrow, almost as if in disbelief.
I shake my head, walk to him, and put a hand on his bicep.
“Um,” I clear my throat. He freezes at my touch.
“Why don’t you let me set the table so we can eat since you went through the trouble of getting us lunch? ”
His eyes narrow at me, but I don’t feed his mistrust. I leave him in search of plates and set the table for two.
“How about some champagne?” I find a bottle. He takes it from me, and the bottle pops when he removes the cork. He fills two flutes. I take mine and hold it up. “To a new beginning.”
“A new beginning?” His question is laced with mistrust.
“Yes. A new beginning.” I clear my throat and do my best to smile convincingly.
“What is this, Bella?”
“I’m capitulating. You won. I’m not going to be miserable.
” I put my flute down, and when he does the same, I take both hands in mine.
“I don’t want to keep fighting with you.
And I have to admit that, at the very least, we are attracted to each other.
” What he doesn’t realize is that I would fight him until my last breath, but I keep that to myself.
He licks his lips as he looks down at my mouth. His cologne hits my nostrils, and I inhale.
“Yeah. At the very least,” he agrees.
“And how many honeymoons can a girl have?” I do a shrug. “Eden only went to New York for a few days, and they got married for love.”
“You can have as many honeymoons as you want.” I put my hands to my cheeks and pretend to blush. “If you’ll get a damn passport.” I can hear the annoyance in his voice. My plan worked, and I take great joy in that.
“We can take things slow and see how we get along in Chicago.” I shock him when I wrap my arms around him for an impromptu hug. He wraps his arms around me and plants soft kisses on my temple.
It would be nice if I weren’t so angry with him, but this is going to be easier than I thought.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Bean and the Mag Mile. And I hear the food is fabulous. I’m going to research restaurants on the plane.”
“We’ll do whatever you want, sweetheart.” He tilts my chin up and plants a soft kiss on my lips.
“Really?” I bat my eyes at him and channel my excitement on Christmas morning when I was seven.
“Really. I can give you whatever you want.”
I splay my hands on his large chest. I glance up at him and quickly look away. “You can be sweet and romantic sometimes.” I pretend to blush.
“I can be that to you all the time.” He grasps my chin. “You’re my wife.”
He says it with such pride that for a brief moment, I wanted this to be real, but I know myself. I know I’ll never be able to forgive how he manipulated his way into this marriage.
“And you’re my husband.” The words almost get stuck in my throat. “I’m willing to try. I’m sorry for my attitude leading up to the wedding and last night.” I almost choke on my apology, but the fool closes his eyes, exhales, and rests his chin on top of my head.
“I forgive you, baby.”
The arrogance of this man to think that I would ever apologize to him or need his forgiveness. He’s the one who should be begging me to forgive his manipulative ass, but I know I can do this long enough to break him as he deserves.