Sincerely, Your Inconvenient Wife (The Harder They Fall, #2)(86)

Chapter Thirtysix





Luca





My hand came down on Saoirse’s sassy ass. “You’re not inconvenient. Say it.”

She squirmed in my lap, her face buried in my throat. “I’m not inconvenient.”

“You are a fucking menace, though.” I smacked her again, making her yelp.

“I’m a fucking menace.”

I smacked her again. “I’m not having sex with you in my office. There are far too many people nearby for me to do what I want to do with you. Now, I’ll have to work the rest of the day with half my blood supply in my dick because of you.”

I felt her grin against my throat. “You didn’t have to spank me.”

“You had it coming, and you know it.”

I’d been disappointed Saoirse hadn’t been able to join me for lunch, but when she appeared at my doorway a few minutes ago, that fell away. Holding her in my lap more than made up for not having her company earlier.

I pressed a knuckle beneath her chin, drawing her out of my throat so I could look at her. I’d woken up to this face for a week now, and not a single part of me wanted to go back to waking up alone.

“How was the office space?” I asked.

“We liked it. I don’t know if we’re ready to sign on yet, though. We were more just getting a feel for what was out there.”

“Did you and Miles grab lunch, or are you hungry?”

Her nose scrunched. “I’m not hungry.”

There was a strained quality to her answer that brought me to attention. “Did you eat?”

“Mmhmm.” Her eyes darted to the side, and her hands clenched on her thighs.

“Was that a yes?”

“Yes, Luca. I ate.”

“With Miles…?”

She huffed, turning away from me. “Yes. Miles and I both ate. He’s actually probably wondering why I’m not back at work. I should go.”

I caught her before she could slip off my lap, holding her flush to my chest. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course it is. I only meant to stop in for a minute, though. I need to head back to work.” Her lips pressed against the side of my throat, and she nuzzled me with her nose. “I’ll see you tonight.”

She wanted to go, so I let her. But she’d raised my alarm bells. I knew my wife. She was an awful liar, and just now, I was almost certain she’d lied about something.



Approaching Saoirse from behind, I swallowed her in an embrace. Her head fell back against my shoulder with a sigh.

“What are you making, pretty girl?”

I’d arrived home, welcomed by Clementine and the scent of garlic and spices. After giving my cat a good pat, I followed my nose to the kitchen, where Saoirse was standing at the stove. She wasn’t exactly a domestic goddess, but she cooked well, and my mother had taught her a few of my favorite dishes from childhood.

I had no complaints and considered myself lucky.

“Salmon and asparagus.” She tilted her head to the side to meet my eyes. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be home in time to eat with me.”

“Are you glad I am?”

“Always.”

Leaning down, I dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’m starving. Are you hungry?”

“Mmhmm. Give me a few minutes and I’ll feed you.”

I slid my hand down to her lower stomach, splaying my fingers wide. “What did you have for lunch?”

Her breath stuttered. It was quick, and if I hadn’t been holding her, I wouldn’t have noticed. But I had noticed, and once again, I went alert.

“A terrible curry chicken sandwich at this café near Rossi. I’ll have to check what the name was so you can make sure you never eat there.”

Reaching around her, I turned off the stove. Saoirse yelped when I spun her to face me.

“Yeah, that’s bullshit.”

Her mouth fell open. “What? I don’t—”

I tapped her lips. “You don’t lie. You’re really bad at it. You’re lying to me now, and I want to know why.” She tried to turn her head, but I caught her chin, keeping her in place, so she clamped her mouth shut. “Are you really going to do this? I’m standing in front of you, telling you I know you’re keeping something from me, and you’re—”

“I promised Clara,” she snapped. “Okay? I promised her I wouldn’t say anything.”

Taking her hand in mine, I dragged her out of the kitchen and pulled her with me to the den. This was where she was comfortable. Where she relaxed.

If she was going to go back on her promise—and she was—it would happen here, where everything was soft and away from the hot stove and sharp knives in the kitchen.

“Luca, I can’t do this. Talk to Clara. I’m going to finish dinner.”

She started to rise, but I tugged her right back down, holding both her hands in mine.

“No. I could give a fuck about dinner. Clara shouldn’t have put you in this position and she knows it. You know it too. I don’t know why you would agree to lie for her—”

“She’s your sister.” Saoirse yanked her hands out of mine and folded her arms over her chest. My pretty girl was pissed, but she had to have known it would come down to this.