Unhinge - Calia Read Page 0,37

corners of his mouth.

My heart started to thump like crazy and I had to remind myself that I had a husband. Husband. Another man I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with. A man whom fate and the world had led me toward.

So why was I reacting this way?

“Did you start without me?”

The sound of Wes’s voice made me jump. My head whipped to the left as Wes stepped into the room. He was dressed in a black suit. His navy striped tie was loosened. He draped an arm around me and gave me a quick kiss on my head and shook Sinclair’s hand. Even though there was a healthy distance between Sinclair and me, Wes’s eyes narrowed.

“I thought you had a case to work on.”

Wes waved his hand in the air. “I left early. Couldn’t let you tour the house by yourself.” He gave me a smile but it didn’t reach his eyes. Wes directed his attention to Sinclair. “How is everything?”

“Just fine. We were just finishing up the tour.”

“I was telling him my plans for the garden,” I said quickly.

“She loves that damn garden.” Wes’s abrupt words were scathing, almost cold, completely taking me by surprise. Where was this coming from?

“It sounds like it’s going to be stunning,” Sinclair replied. The friendly smile stayed on his face but I saw his eyes dart between Wes and me.

“So, Sinclair, how long do you think it will be until we move in?” Wes asked.

Sinclair’s brows furrowed in concentration. “If you want the honest truth: about another month.”

“Another month?” Wes asked curtly.

I gave him a look, but he ignored me.

Sinclair rubbed his bottom lip, staring between the backyard and me. “If you want, I can have my men working overtime to get it done faster. Maybe a few weeks?”

“And we’re still on budget?” Wes snapped.

Sinclair crossed his arms and smiled. “Still on budget,” he said smoothly. But the friendliness was gone from his eyes. Wes stiffened beside me. There was a beat of awkward silence. Wes cleared his throat and glanced down at his watch.

“I think we should be going.”

“Right. Right.” Sinclair swept his hand toward the door. “Sorry for holding you up.”

We had nothing planned for that night. Nowhere to go. I had no clue why Wes was so anxious to leave.

We walked down the stairs with Sinclair behind us. The hairs on the back of my neck stood and I knew he was staring at me.

Sinclair followed us out the front door and stopped at my car. Before I got in, he held out his hand. “It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Donovan.”

Manners dictated that I shake his hand. But I was hesitant; Wes was watching me too closely.

Finally, I took his hand and the minute I did, I felt a zing that hit me straight in the heart. “Likewise, Mr. Montgomery,” I managed to say.

Once again he shook my hand. Those butterflies that I had when I first saw him swarmed in my stomach, begging to take flight. I shoved all unwanted feelings down as much as I could.

“Please, call me Sinclair.”

I nodded. “Sinclair it is.”

He held on to my hand longer than necessary. Long enough to make Wes stare between the two of us with suspicion. I would be the biggest liar if I told you my heart didn’t speed up. Quickly, I snatched my hand away and opened up the driver’s-side door. Wes caught it with his hand.

“I’m driving.”

“But your car—”

“I’ll pick it up later.”

There was a deadness in his eyes. As if all the emotions and life had been snuffed out of him. He was angry and the last thing I wanted was to get into another fight with him. People were all around us and I’d rather fight in private than in public.

I got in on the passenger side. The door slammed behind me, the sound ricocheting. Wes stared straight ahead, saying nothing.

He started the car. For a few blocks there was silence. No radio. No conversation. I went to roll down the window, just to hear the wind rush by. Anything.

But he locked my window.

We stopped at a red light and Wes finally turned toward me. “What the hell was that back there?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Have you met Sinclair before?”

“What?” I frowned. “No.”

Wes laughed darkly. It sent chills up and down my spine. “Don’t lie.”

“I haven’t!”

The light turned green. Wes took off, his foot pressing the gas pedal to the floor. The engine revved. I glanced at the