“How did you find out?”
He gave her the “light” version of getting caught in the act by Chelsea’s husband. No need to relive every last embarrassing detail.
“Ouch! So that’s when you broke up?”
He nodded.
“Would you have stuck around if she had left her husband?”
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. How could I trust someone who does something like that? And—this is a really crappy thing to say—I never saw us in a committed relationship. This was supposed to be an uncomplicated … thing, and a husband is a huge-ass complication.”
“Do you miss her?”
“No.” He hesitated before confessing the next bit, but he reminded himself this was Neve. He could trust her. “I miss the job. But I can’t go back there as long as she’s there.”
“Why not? Never mind. I can see how that would be massively awkward, but God, Reece, you’ve worked so long and so hard for this. And you’re damn good at it.” His chest swelled a little. “Seems to me thatsheshould be one to go.”
“She’s good at what she does too. It’s not fair to expect her to quit.”
“So how does the husband figure into this? Is she staying with him? Does she want to get back together with you?”
He stared at the ceiling and heaved out a breath. “I don’t think she knows what she wants.” He leveled his gaze on Neve. “But it doesn’t matter because Idon’twant her.” The words punched out of him with a force he didn’t recognize. “Besides, I’m married now.” Holding up his left hand, he pointed at the ring on his finger.
“Isthatwhy you married me? Assuming that piece of paper is valid.”
He dropped his hand and poked a thumb square in the middle of his chest. “You’re putting this onme?”
“Well, yes. You’re the one always telling everyone what to do.”
“Ha! That’s a laugh, Bossy Britches. This is at least half your fault.”
She lifted her pert nose an inch or two. “Oh? How do you figure?”
Being as wrung out as he was left him without a solid grasp on his mouth. “The way you looked in that dress … and the hair … and the way you smelled.” Her mouth dropped open, which was his cue to shut up before he completely tripped over his tongue.
“You actuallynoticethose things?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m a guy.”
“A very—”
A knock on the door made them both jump in place.
“Good morning, lovebirds,” came Joy’s voice. “Breakfast is here. Well, more like brunch since it’s nearly noon. If you can peel yourselves off each other long enough, come get the eats while they’re hot.”
Reece hopped up and headed for the closed door, his gaze finding Neve’s at the same time hers fastened on his. “Can you eat right now?” he hissed.
“No, but we should havesomething.”
“I need coffee. I’m not talking anymore until I have at least one cup,” he insisted. “No eggs, though.”
Neve stuck out her tongue. “I’m in total agreement with you there. Greasy eggs after a night of drinking? Blech!”
“We’ll be right there,” he called through the door.
“Don’t take too long.” Joy’s teasing voice faded as she moved away from the door.
Neve stood, and her face twisted with a cringe. “Do I look okay?”
