mind about him. He wasn’t the bad guy, or at least, he didn’t think he was.
No, he wasn’t the bad guy. They were working through their issues, and he was determined to make this a real marriage.
Addie entered his office, and to him, she was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. From the moment he first saw her, he’d been infatuated with her. Evangeline had been wild, and he’d not liked her. He’d seen her greed, and the way she always wanted something that was taken.
Shaun wouldn’t break his marriage vows. It probably surprised a lot of people, but it was just something he couldn’t bring himself to do. His vows were sacred to him, completely.
“Hi,” she said.
“Did you see my support?” he asked.
“I did. I have to say, at first I was a little … upset.”
He wasn’t ready for that. He didn’t want her upset. “Why are you upset?” He watched her enter his office, and step up close to his chair.
She went to lower her bag and stopped. “May I?”
“Yes. This is half of yours.”
Shaun hadn’t wanted a prenuptial agreement, and it was part of merging his family with hers. Was their family going to come between them constantly?
Addie lowered the bag and untied her jacket.
“You can get comfortable,” he said.
He wanted her to be at ease in his company. They were husband and wife, not strangers.
She placed her coat with her jacket, and she was rubbing her hands together.
“Are you cold?”
“No. Just my hands. They’re always cold, and I always forget gloves.”
“Cold hands, warm heart,” he said.
“Yes. My grandmother said that to me all the time. She also said it was good for making pastry. I had good pastry making hands, and child bearing hips.”
She placed her hands on her hips, and his cock thickened. “You do have a damn good body.” It was a body he wanted to explore, and to get his hands on. He was getting aroused, his cock becoming a little painful as it pressed against his zipper. He moved the lapel of his jacket, and moved it over the evidence of his arousal. “Why were you upset?”
“It was so stupid. Paula called me, and she said the moment your conference or interview, or whatever it was you did, my book sales went through the roof.”
“That’s not a good thing?” He’d done it to show his support of her, and to help her.
“Yes, it’s a good thing. Darla told me it was a good thing.”
“You don’t think it is?”
“You run two exceedingly good businesses, and I can’t help you with that. My book, and everything surrounding my cooking, was supposed to be me.”
“I ruined it?” Fuck, was he ever going to get anything right?
“No, you didn’t ruin it. I just, I just wanted you to be proud of me. There, I’ve said it. We don’t have the perfect marriage, we have a really bad one, but I still wanted you to be proud of me.”
“I am proud of you, Addie. I think what you’ve done is amazing, and I’ve got to say, I’m damn jealous.”
“Why?”
“Dean and Darla, and your friends have all gotten to try your food, and I have not.”
“You have.”
“Without me knowing it. Every single meal we share together in that museum, you made?”
“Also, the brownies you got at Christmas. Bruce just told me you ate the whole lot.”
“You sent them?”
“Yes, I sent food here often.”
Shaun stood, and paced.
“Are you angry with me?”
“No. I’m not angry with you. I’m angry at myself. I’ve been such an asshole to you, and that wasn’t acceptable.”
“We both made a mistake.” She stood in front of him, grabbing his arm. “Please, don’t be angry. We both, we’ve both made mistakes, Shaun. I should have told you sooner about the implant. We should have talked with each other.”
He cupped her cheek, and stroked over the soft flesh.
There was no response from her. It was like he was touching stone, and it was his fault. He’d not taken the time to get her used to his touch. He never took his time with