Eligible Ex-husband - Marie Johnston Page 0,25

too busy working.”

She stares at the girls sprinting across the field. I search the playground and spot Maddy’s bright yellow shirt that I made her wear just so I can pick her out from a distance.

“Would it matter if he did?” she asks. There’s genuine curiosity in her voice.

“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.”

“Would it matter to him if you had dated between then and now?”

“Maybe. When he commits, he commits hard.” It’s a trait I used to love about him.

“Okay. So he’s staying with you. You’ve even kissed. He’s probably been single the whole time and you have too. What happens if you try to work things out?”

I chew the inside of my cheek as I think, but as always, I come up with the same answer. “He won’t divorce Gainesworth Equity and I can’t share my husband.”

Rachel pins me with her direct amber stare. “Then set your limits and stick to them, or we’re going to recycle the same conversations we had last year, only I think it’ll be harder on you to lose him a second time.”

Chapter 8

Natalie

Simon’s late. He mentioned speaking at a luncheon today but that he’d be around tonight.

I’m making headway on my own business. Last night, I crafted a rough draft of my ad. My heart rate kicks up when I think about posting it.

I have some IRS business to take care of and a new bank account to open. If Simon follows through with all the evenings this week, I can get it done.

Then I’ll be ready to launch in August.

I think about the talk with Rachel a couple of days ago. At soccer, we didn’t discuss Simon. There was nothing to discuss. Tuesday was like Monday. He ate the leftovers I had in the fridge for supper and tucked the girls in. The only time I was disturbed was when they came in to give me goodnight hugs and kisses.

The clock ticks past seven. I might as well write off tonight.

I herd the kids to their bedroom and we pick up toys.

Abby plops on the floor next to me. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

“Nothing. Why?”

She lifts a small shoulder. “Dunno. You just seem sad.”

I put my arm around her shoulder. “I’m fine, thanks for asking. Let’s get the dirty clothes off the floor and then you two can go take your baths.”

Abby jumps up. “I call Mom’s bathroom!”

“No fair.” Maddy stomps out of the room.

The bathroom fight. I was hoping to skip it just this once. “Whose turn is it?”

“But—” Abby’s eyes go wide and she leaps for the door. “Daddy!”

I look over my shoulder. Simon’s in the doorway, fielding hugs. His suit jacket is off, the tie is gone, and he’s undone the top two buttons of his shirt.

He has a nice chest and I feel every minute that I haven’t seen it without a shirt. I rise, so glad to see him that I’m embarrassed. It isn’t that I want to rush off to the office. It’s that for the third day in a row he’s kept his word.

Is it possible that he can change?

Do I want to risk finding out?

I stuff those questions away. He’s done nothing but co-parent all week. We’ve been little more than two ships coming in and out of dock at opposite times.

He straightens and leans against the doorjamb. “Sorry I’m late.”

His apology is sincere. “There are leftover fajitas in the fridge.”

He groans. “That sounds delicious. All right, girls, take your baths, don’t argue over the bathroom.”

I grin. As if that’s really going to work. I leave him to wrangle bath and bedtime and head to the office. The door clicks shut behind me and it’s quiet.

My mind isn’t on work. I have a to-do list, but I don’t want to look at it. I open my laptop and scroll through the work I’ve done. The next thing I know, I have the internet pulled up and I’m searching information about Gainesworth Equity.

The usual articles about his brother’s death appears. The bachelor article. I skip past. I know exactly how eligible he is.

I find an obscure business site with a write up about the abrupt withdrawal of Graham Morgan’s interest in the companies Simon was after. My search changes to Graham Morgan. There are some old articles about the company he ran with Simon’s brother. A feature on his wife and kid.

Is he a workaholic like Simon? Was he and did he change after he married? Does his wife work or did she give up her life