her more generous moments. Other times she went to work with a hacksaw.â
âOuch.â
His exaggerated shudder earned him a faint smile. He had to fight the urge to follow it up by reaching across the table and folding her hand in his.
âI meant what I said earlier,â he told her instead.
âAbout?â
âAbout being grateful to them. They were there for you when you needed them.â
When he couldnât be.
Facing his wife across the table, Travis acknowledged that heâd abrogated his role as a husband too many times. When the Bank of America promoted Kate in recognition of her adroit handling of foreign investments during the recession that panicked markets around the world, heâd been swatting mosquitoes at a remote airstrip in Kenya. And just months ago, while sheâd agonized over whether to accept the offer from the World Bank and move to DC, heâd been freezing his ass off at a classified location he still couldnât talk about. Time now, he vowed silently, to realign his priorities and reclaim a place in her life.
Assuming she would let him. Heâd cracked the door open by getting her to spend this time with him, but the determined expression that now settled over her face suggested heâd have his work cut out to push it open all the way.
âWhat did you want to talk about?â he asked her.
âWe need to discuss the ROE.â
âAre we speaking your language or mine?â
ROE in her world stood for return on equity , a formula that assessed a companyâs efficiency at generating profits for its stockholders. In his, ROE stood for the rules of engagement outlining the type of force that could be employed in various situations.
âIn this instance, they represent the same thing. We need a set of parameters that define what we should and shouldnât do during this time together.â
Travis didnât much like the sound of that. âI figured we would play it by ear.â
âRight. Like you did with the villa? Tell me you just pulled that idea out of the air.â
âOkay, I might have scoped out a few possible courses of action...â
âExactly. And if I remember the principles of war correctly, the purpose of a course of action is to achieve an objective.â
She didnât add at all costs , but the implication hung heavy on the air. His brows snapping together, Travis shook his head.
âWeâre not at war, Kate. At least I hope to hell weâre not.â
âNo, weâre not. Now. And I want to keep it that way.â
âAll right,â he conceded, not particularly happy with the direction this conversation was taking. âLetâs hear your ROE.â
She raised a hand and ticked them off with a decisiveness that told him she didnât intend to negotiate. âOne, separate bedrooms. Two, we share all expenses. Three, we decide on the itinerary together. Four, no changes unless by mutual consent. Five, no surprises of any size, shape or dimension.â
He took a moment. âOkay.â
âThat was too easy,â Kate said, frowning. âWhat am I missing?â
âNothing.â
âDo you want to add to the list?â
âI think youâve covered the essentials.â
Her frown deepened. âThis wonât work if weâre not honest with each other, Trav.â
âI am being honest. I can live with those ROE. As long as you understand I intend to focus most of my energy on number four.â
Focus, hell. He intended to use every weapon at his disposal to make it happen.
âThatâs my sole objective, Katydid. Gaining your consent...to changes in bedrooms, expenses, itinerary andâoh, yeahâour pending divorce.â
âWell.â She sat back, her brown eyes wide. âThatâs certainly honest enough.â
âGood.â He pushed back his chair, figuring heâd better make tracks before she added to