it, and I’m not talking about money. It was who he was. He was proud of it, and I spent most of my childhood in his office, watching mock-ups, listening to him explain the ins and out of the business.”
Josie kissed my shoulder, skimming her lips up and down my arm. This newfound closeness between us made it so easy to keep talking, even about things I hadn’t spoken about before—not because I had anything to hide, but it put me in a mood.
“My dad actually started this school project years ago. It took a while to sort out the legal issues and get all the permits to build, but we got the green light last year.”
“Do you need a hand?”
“You want to get involved?”
“Sounds like you need a lawyer for all those permits. I have contacts.”
The company had enough lawyers, but I wanted Josie to be part of this. I’d always liked working with my cousins, but the thought of Josie being on it too filled me with a sense of joy unlike anything I’d ever felt.
“I’d love that.”
“Just hit me up with whatever you need. Have your people email it to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I glanced at the screen again, but I couldn’t focus. To the hell with it. Everything could wait until I was back from the honeymoon. I shut the laptop, putting it to one side.
“That was awfully quick.”
Even though her face was buried in my arm, I felt her lips curl into a sly smile against my skin.
“Someone’s demanding my attention.”
“Who could that be?” she murmured.
“My wife.”
“This wife of yours is a pest, isn’t she?”
“Not at all. She’s smart, fun, and I can’t get enough of her.”
She wiggled her ass. I scooped her up, bringing her into my lap.
“Sounds like you like her,” she said on a grin.
“Very much. I think it’s time I showed her, just so I don’t leave room for any doubt.”
Her grin widened even more. “Excellent idea.”
***
Departure day came all too soon. Josie was in a bad mood while we packed. She slammed her suitcase shut, cursing when the zipper wouldn’t budge. I offered to close it for her before she ripped it.
She took a long shower afterward. I surprised her by ordering a slice of her favorite hazelnut cake.
“What’s this?” she asked when she returned to the bedroom.
“I ordered it for you. I’m expecting you to spit fire any second now.”
She gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry... I’m usually cranky on the last vacation day.”
I tapped my temple. “Learned that today. Stored it right here for future reference. I’ll make sure you start your day with cake.”
“Fair warning, it might get worse once we’re at home.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Her mood improved from the shot of sugar. She snapped a few pictures on the way out of the hotel.
She slept on the first leg of the journey, but when she woke up, she was moody again. Didn’t smile, didn’t joke.
“You okay, Josie?”
“Yes, just a bit nervous. Managed to forget about the immigration services and everything while we were away, but now I can’t help imagining doomsday scenarios.”
“Have you thought about the annulment? I can still make it happen.”
Say no. Say no.
Just the thought of her saying yes made me feel as if the rug had been swept from under me and I’d plowed face-first into a wall.
“The annulment,” she repeated.
I straightened in my seat, nodding. “Yes. I can ask my lawyers to have everything ready by the time we land.”
“Is this what you want?”
No. A million times no.
Since we decided to go through with this, all I’ve wanted was to keep Josie, and that feeling had intensified after the honeymoon. But I needed to at least attempt to do the right thing.
“This isn’t about me. It’s about you feeling comfortable. I’ll deal with the fallout. I don’t want you to feel pressured. Josie, I swear I’ll understand if you want to get that annulment. Nothing will change between us.”
“I said I’d help. I’m not going back on my word,” she snapped.
Instead of feeling relieved that she didn’t want an annulment, I was even more unsettled than before, because somehow things were worse between us than before we had this conversation.
She placed headphones over her ears, pulling up a movie on the screen.
When we arrived at the house, there was still tension between us. It wasn’t my style to ignore a problem or tiptoe around it, so after dinner, I cornered her in the kitchen. She was making tea for herself. I stood