Page 55

Tonight can’t come soon enough, but I know she needs time to get used to things. And so I grant her these precious moments alone, a small reprieve so she can collect herself. Taking the steps two at a time, I hurry down to my office, bottle in hand.

I’m so engrossed in making sure I take care of my baby girl that I nearly miss Brody going back into the guesthouse. Though I don’t enjoy watching my son have sex, I hit record, knowing that Stephanie might need it as leverage. The absolute nerve of that asshole.

Until a few hours ago, he was set to walk down the aisle with Stephanie. And now, he has some other omega in his bed, screaming out his name. Anger slithers up my spine as I turn the screen off and go back to work.

After about thirty minutes or so, Stephanie comes down to the office. Her damp hair sticks to her skin, making her seem somewhat lost and abandoned. It doesn’t help that her lips are pulled down into a serious frown.

Though she seems a lot calmer, there’s still a cloud of electricity around her. The heat, no doubt. Giving her a wide smile, I open my arms, beckoning her to come in. But she doesn’t.

In fact, her frown gets even deeper. “This is wrong,” she whispered, tugging at the hem of her shirt.

“How so? We were matched and married. Can’t argue with the government.”

“No,” she mutters. “I suppose not. But what about-”

“Hey Pops!” Brody strides in, the stench of sex swirling around him.

If Stephanie smells it, she makes no mention of it. In fact, the girl steps toward him, a look of guilt shining in her eyes.

“So. I guess you got married?”

It’s as if my son didn’t even see her when he came in. At the sound of her voice, he jumps and stares at her as if she’s about to bite.

“Steph. Babe. What are you doing here?”

“I- I live here. Are you getting ready for your honeymoon?”

He runs a hand around the back of his neck. “Actually, funny thing. I got there and was told it was a clerical error. Weird, right? Apparently, someone else was supposed to get married instead of me.”

“Weird.” Her eyes grow large as she looks over at me.

Until she outright accuses me, I know better than to say a word. I simply smile and let her think what she wants.

“Does this mean you’re going to unblock me now?”

“Oh. Yeah. I guess I should. Hey. I got a meeting at a thing tonight. But next week, it’s you and me, baby. What do you think?”

I sit there, waiting for her to tell him the news, but she doesn’t say a word.

“It depends. Where are you planning on taking me?”

“Oh, you know, somewhere nice.”

“Really? Like the Meat Market?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Good one, babe. I know you’re not a big burger person. I was thinking that small Italian place you like.”

Her face falls for a moment. “You mean the chain restaurant?”

“Yeah. That one. The Sicilian Something or Other. You know. The one I take you to all the time.”

“Yeah,” she murmurs. “That one. Can’t wait.”

“Later, babe. Sorry. Don’t mean to run, but you know. Work. It never ends.”

I simply stare at the imbecile, unsure of what Stephanie ever saw in him. When he flashes her those god-awful finger guns, I almost expose him then and there. But that’s not how I want to do it.

I want her to know the real boy she dated so she can see the difference between him and the man she’s married to. Once she has all the damning evidence, he’ll be out of her mind forever. And if not… Well, I’m sure I can persuade her in other ways.