that was a mutually beneficial arrangement. She could sleep with whomever she wanted, and I had the right to do the same. Although I hadn’t slept with anyone else since we got married. My whole focus had shifted to the baby she carried.
The only person for whom I felt even a smidgen of lust was someone who wasn’t in the cards for me. I’d shut down those inappropriate thoughts about August fast.
With one last glance in the mirror, I went to check if Poppy was ready. We were already going to be late, but she might need some extra time getting dressed, since her movements were slower with being four months pregnant.
“Poppy.” I knocked on her room door. “Are you ready?”
“Come in.”
I slowly entered her room, prepared to see her stunning image in the dress I’d bought. I’d picked out the shade of blue that matched her eyes. While I had no urge to sleep with her again, having such a gorgeous woman on my arm didn’t hurt. Even if everyone knew she slept her way through Cincinnati.
“Why aren’t you dressed?”
Poppy lay draped on the lounge in her private sitting area, watching a reality TV show with two women pulling on each other’s hair. The volume was too low for me to hear what they were arguing about, and she had her phone pressed to her ear.
She wore a floor-length negligee that she’d left open to reveal her pregnant belly, and her hair fell in soft curls around her shoulders. The diamonds of her necklace and earrings sparkled in the low light of the TV.
“Hold on a minute, Manuel,” she said, then gave me a pout. “Charles, I’m sorry, pumpkin, but I won’t be able to make it tonight after all.”
“Why not?” I waved a hand at her. “You’re already half-dressed. Just slip on your new dress.”
She made a face at me and shook her head. “Sorry, baby, but I have a hot date with Manuel.” She giggled a little and rubbed a hand over her belly. “My pregnancy turns him on, and since you don’t desire your wife, I have to get my pleasure elsewhere.”
“You’re going to wear my diamonds to meet another man?” I ground out.
“Oh, they’re just gorgeous. I couldn’t bear to take them off. I did say thanks for them, didn’t I?”
I gritted my teeth and balled my hands into fists to stem the rage surging inside me. I should’ve known this would happen. The last few days with no arguments had simply been too good to be true. The other shoe was bound to drop sometime, and it did tonight.
“Enjoy your evening.” I strode out of the room and slammed the door shut behind me.
I shouldn’t let her get to me this time. I’d never met a more spiteful woman than Poppy. I got along well with two of my ex-wives who I parted amicably with. One of the other two had forgotten all about me and was now married to one of my friends, so there were no hard feelings there. And I had no idea where the other was.
I’d hardly tricked these women when I married them. I’d never promised them love. We usually had red-hot passion that eventually ran its course, and with it, our ability to coexist as partners in life. Even if Declan hadn’t insisted, I would’ve still gone ahead on my own and had all my wives sign prenups before we got married.
I was under no illusion about why these women had married me. A couple of them might have also had some fondness for me, but it didn’t negate the fact that they’d liked the lining of my pockets more, and I had enjoyed what lay between their thighs. Having a beautiful woman accompanying me places was also a big pro, since I entertained so much.
The long drive to my friend Paul’s house was in complete silence. I always had a drink stashed in the car, and one glass was enough to settle my nerves after Poppy had rattled them.
The party was already in full swing when I arrived. I knew almost everyone who was in attendance, and I got around, barely noticing that Poppy wasn’t by my side. She hardly was anyway. Before we got married and we arrived at events, she would always find one man or another to flirt with.
That should’ve been my clue that our relationship wasn’t going to work, but I’d found it a sexy game. She’d flirt with all the men she