Suit (The Twin Duo #1)(59)

~~

Paxton and the girls were in the kitchen eating ice cream when I returned. Our eyes instantly met, and we tried to look away without the other one noticing. We failed. Our eyes did that on their own. I know I didn’t have any control over it. I didn’t even want to like the guy.

“I wanted to go for a walk with you,” Ophelia whined in a pout.

“We’ll walk tomorrow. Maybe we’ll have a picnic on the beach. I found some really cool rocks you guys can climb on.”

Ophelia and Rowan giggled.

Paxton rolled his eyes, unamused. “You go there all the time. The girl’s aren’t allowed to climb on those rocks.”

I frowned, wondering why. A little kid would have a blast on those rocks. Surely we did it behind his back. I didn’t comment. It wouldn’t matter what I thought. Paxton was the boss. Paxton was King of his castle.

“I’m going to grab a shower. Finish up so you can get yours, too, girls,” I said with a kiss to the back of each of their heads.

Paxton followed me out, stopping me just outside the door. “You need to ask me first.”

“Ask you what?” I asked, eyes darting right to his. Ugh. I even asked in a seductive tone. What the hell?

“If you can shower.”

“I’m not going to do that, Paxton.”

“Then I’m going to beat your ass.”

“Darn,” I sarcastically said, and stomped away. Yup, I poured fuel on the fire and I didn’t know why. I was possessed around the man. That was the only explanation.

Needless to say, I still didn’t get to find out what I had written. Not one clue. Paxton worked in his office and the girls and I watched a Disney movie and colored a princess. I could see Paxton on my left behind his desk, door open

“I like this mommy better,” Rowan nonchalantly said without looking up from her page.

Of course my eyes went right to Paxton. Yup. He heard it, too. “You do? What do you mean?” I questioned in the same laid-back tone that she used, trying not to make a big deal about it.

“You didn’t never color with us before.”

“I didn’t?”

“Uh-uh. Did she, Phi?”

“Nope, and you didn’t wake us up with Mr. Shark either,” Ophelia helped. She never looked up from her page on the coffee table, either. A green crayon colored vigorously out of the lines.

“That’s a pig,” I said with twisted eyebrows.

“But his name is Mr. Shark,” she explained with great determination. Like I should have known that.

“Oh, gotcha.”

“Bedtime, ladybugs,” Paxton called from his office. He stood to tuck them in and they both complained. They needed to finish their pictures.

“Let’s go. Candace brought you a new book,” I said, bribing them with entertainment.

“It’s not a new book,” Paxton cockily said as if he found pleasure in putting me in my place. I didn’t know. She didn’t say anything. She just shoved it in my hand and said she had to go.

“Okay?” I replied with a question. I couldn’t read his mind. Geesh.

“It’s their book club book. It’s your job to order the books. You’re supposed to pass them out on Sunday nights. You know. Since you’re the only mother in the neighborhood that doesn’t work,” he smartly said. Like my job of being his wife was less adequate than his landscaping business. I should have gotten paid a thousand bucks a day for putting up with his narcissistic ass.

“Then me and Phi, and Collin, and Chance have a circle day, and eat cake,” Ophelia explained.

“They’re in a neighborhood book club? Why?”

“Pick up the crayons, Rowan. Bedtime,” Paxton said while he looked at me with annoyance. “Because they’re kids. They need stimulation.”

“So do I, but not twenty-four-seven.”

“S.T.O. P.”

He didn’t say it, but I read it loud and clear. Every letter that he mouthed to me.

“Sorry, but I don’t think all this stimulation is necessary. Let’s go Clydes.”

“Clydes? What the hell is that? You know what? Never mind. Forget it. I don’t even care. Come on Phi, I mean Ophelia. Clean up.”

“Daddy has to do it then you,” Ophelia explained to me. I only knew what she meant by osmosis. Every night that I had been there so far, he put them to bed, and I came after him.

“Let’s go read in one bed or the other, though,” I countered.

“Well, we don’t do it like that. You have to read it to me first because it’s my turn,” Rowan said, serious expression to match the explanation. Spitting image of her father. Rowan would, no doubt, grow up to be a leader.

“Well, that’s dumb. I’m only reading it once. If it’s your turn to go first, Phi can jump in your bed. Now move it,” I ordered while I took a step to the coffee table and helped Ophelia get the crayons in the box. Both girls happily got up and skipped away.

Paxton grabbed the back of my shirt before I could escape with them. He yelled for them to brush their teeth while he pulled me tight against his body. “What the fuck am I supposed to do with you? Stop doing that. You have no say in what goes on in this house. I need you to remember that, Gabriella. I’m begging you with everything in me. Back down.”