“There’s no joke,” I said.
He parked his butt on the edge of my desk, a habit he’d carried over from his days working with Elise at Andes. Miles and I were both talkers. We quickly realized in order to get anything done, we had to learn to ignore each other or else we’d spend hours chattering instead of working.
“It might be me being paranoid, but I see you smiling at your computer like a little loon, and I think you’re talking trash about me.”
Laughing, I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms over my chest. “That is definitely you being paranoid. There’s no question.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re not going to tell me?”
I would have, but he was amusing me, so I drew out the torture. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“That’s it. This partnership is dissolved.” He picked up a blank piece of printer paper and ripped it down the middle.
“That wasn’t our contract.”
He crumpled the piece while staring me dead in the eye. “That was symbolic. It’s dissolved in my heart.”
I fell sideways in a fit of giggles. Working with Miles Aldrich was one of the best decisions I’d ever made.
He scowled at me through my laughter. “I’m not amused, Sershie.”
Sobering somewhat, I waved my hands between us. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I would never talk trash about you other than your abysmal taste in food trucks.”
His chin jutted. “I stand by Ludwig’s taco stand.”
“That’s because you’re a maniac. No one else wants sauerkraut tacos.”
“More for me.” His hand came down on my desk. “Now, tell me what had you grinning before I order sauerkraut tacos every day for the next month and eat them in front of you.”
I almost dry-heaved at the memory of the smell. One time was enough. They were banned from the condo.
“Just a sweet email from my husband, that’s all.”
He threw his hands up. “You couldn’t have said that?”
“I could have, but we were having fun.”
“You were having fun. You know, I see why you and Elise are friends. Both of you have demon hearts. It’s a good thing I get along well with evil women.”
“Go back to your desk and rest easy with the knowledge that I would never trash-talk you.”
He hopped up and shot me a dimple-popping grin. “I never doubted you, Sershie.”
When I was alone again, I replied to Luca’s email, stretching the truth as far as I could. I wouldn’t lie to him if I didn’t have to.
From: [email protected]
Luca,
I would love to sit across from you and eat food together. Sadly, and I really am sad about it, I won’t be able to make it today.
Miles and I are going to view that shared office space I told you about. I’ll pop in on you when we’re done. Are office kisses allowed? Because I plan to give you several.
Sincerely,
Your Inconvenient Wife
Biting my lip, I hit send. His hand would be twitchy when he read how I’d signed it. He hated me calling myself that. But he’d married a woman who liked provoking her husband’s twitchy hand.
I looked forward to seeing what he’d do about it.
My lightness vanished as soon as I remembered my impending meeting with Miller.
Freaking Miller. Ruining everything.
I walked out of lunch with Miller none the wiser.
He was squirrelly, evasive, and oddly sweaty. He asked me a lot about Clara's state of being. She hadn’t come into the office today, so he was worried. From the dark circles around his eyes, it looked like he’d been worried for a while.
But when I outright asked him if he was cheating, he flatly denied it…and I believed him.
Something was off. Very, very off. He wouldn’t tell me what it was, and I couldn’t even begin to guess. But I truly didn’t think there was another woman. He loved his wife, even if he was screwing up big time.
I texted Clara on my walk from the café to the Rossi building.
Me: I just left lunch with Miller. He says he isn’t cheating, and maybe I’m stupid, but I believe him.
Clara: Did you ask him about Theresa Graves? The flowers? The book?
Me: I did. He acted like he had no idea what I was talking about. And when I showed him the credit card statement you gave me, he said there must be some mistake.
Clara: Oh, no. Why can’t he just be honest?
Me: I don’t think he’s going to be honest with you. You’re going to have to decide what you want to do without having all the answers. I’m sorry.
Clara: No, don’t be sorry. You went above and beyond your sisterly duty for me. I will never be able to repay you. Thank you for everything.
Me: You don’t have to thank me. When will you tell Luca?
Clara: I’ll tell him soon. I need to get my thoughts straight first.
Me: Please do it as soon as possible. I’m no good at secrets.
Clara: I will. I promise. I’ll talk to him this week.
I slid my phone back into my purse and looked up at the Rossi building in front of me. My stomach somersaulted, knowing Luca was in there, waiting for me.
I hated not being able to talk to him about this, but I trusted Clara would tell him soon. As long as Luca didn’t ask me a direct question about what was going on, I wouldn’t have to lie. Since I was terrible at lying and hated doing it, I kept my fingers crossed as I walked inside to find my husband.
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.”