Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(72)

It’s easy to pretend because the bread she made is fabulous. Soft and just a touch sweet.

She’s miffed by Molly barging in, but not overly upset, and changes the subject by asking me if I talk to my family often.

I slow mid-chew and swallow it. “No. My sister doesn’t talk to me.”

Not anymore. Not since Dad.

And if I’m being brutally honest, I’m the one who doesn’t talk to her. Can’t stand to face her after that mess and relive the day I shit things up with that sadness in her eyes.

“But you mentioned kids, didn’t you? A niece and a nephew?” Bella asks.

“Sherry and Terry,” I say, hoping it’ll get her to back off. “Good kids. Must be close to ten now. They’ve got their ma and lots of friends, even if I miss ’em sometimes. Their prick of a father visits sometimes, too.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh?”

I grit my teeth. Last thing I want to sit here and talk about today is goddamn Nathan, but maybe I should if it’ll get her off sniffing at me.

“He’s the kind who never wanted to grow up. A little boy in a grown man’s body. Can’t hold down a job, drinks too much, ran up debts sis was still paying off, last I checked...and he fucked around on her.”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry. I’ll never understand how a man with kids could–”

“He regretted it right away. Even got down on his hands and knees and begged her to take him back. But the cheating was the final straw for an asshole who proved he couldn’t be trusted to act like a man. Sis kicked him to the curb the next day and got herself a lawyer. Thankfully, they stayed civil for the kids, but I’ll never get over that little idiot. He had gold and he treated her like trash. He’s lucky he moved out when he did, before I had a chance to introduce his ass to my boot.”

Bella bursts out laughing. Can’t blame her. Guess I do get more wound up than I should about my ex-brother-in-law.

“Sorry, sorry,” she croaks, covering her mouth. “It’s just...the image. You chasing some guy around like a chicken.”

That makes me smile, imagining it myself. “Yeah, well, he’s a fucking dolt. I’ll never understand the shit he did. Never.”

Her eyes soften, turning the shade of sun-kissed grass. “One of these days, you’ll make your real wife very happy, Drake. You’ve got something rare a lot of guys don’t have anymore – respect.”

I try not to snort. Hell will freeze over before I’m ever hitched beyond this sham marriage. But in a way, she’s right.

I’d kick my own ass up and down the ends of the earth before I ever threw away a wife, a family, a life like they were nothing but some shitty hand-me-down I could pick up again next paycheck.

Changing the subject, I ask, “So what’s happening this afternoon?”

She tells me about some letter she’s written to the employees of North Earhart and asks if I’ll read it for feedback.

“Sure. Right now?” We’re both done eating.

“I’m going to clean up the kitchen first, and I want to give it one more good read-through.” Her pearl white teeth show as she smiles. “Just to make sure I’m not trying too hard to sound like Gramps.”

“All right. Let me know when you want me to look it over.”

“Are you done with the wind vane?”

“Yeah. Works like a charm.”

She turns, hands on her hips. “So which building are you going to climb up on now?”

“I’m done with the roofs. But I do need to pull some hay out of the loft in the barn.”

She picks up our bowls and plates. “Any request for supper?”

I have one. Her, right here on this table, legs wrapped around me, every moan I fuck out of her sliding down my throat like a sundae as I devour her little tongue.

But that’s not something I should even pretend is on the menu, so I say, “Nah.”

Then, recalling our annoying visitor, I tell her, “Think we’ve had enough fun here today. Why don’t we go into town for supper? You can show Erin your ring if she’s working tonight.”

She holds out her hand and stares at it. “It really is pretty. I guess it’d be a shame if it were just us staring at it. Seriously. It must’ve cost you a fortune.”

It did, but I’d known it would have to be. The price hadn’t fazed me, especially with Knox picking up most of the cost.

It’s simple, not showy or extravagant, yet elegant, too. Just like her.

“Glad you like it. My buddy sent me several pictures, said I could pick out anything, but I kept going back to that one.”

“How’d you know my size?”

“Lucky guess. Nothing more to it.” I smile because it’s true.

Her eyes twinkle. “Well, you’re a good guesser because...it fits perfectly. Plus, it would’ve been kinda awkward if you’d tried to slide it on in front of Mom, and it just got stuck.”

“Yeah, fuck.” The humor dancing in her eyes makes me want to kiss her again, so I stand before I do something stupid. “So, we’re on for the diner tonight? Around six or seven?”

“Sure!”

“All right, darlin’. Let me know when you want me to read that letter.”

I use the back door, and as I’m walking toward the barn, just for the heck of it, I pull out my phone and open the surveillance app again.