Page 79 of An Inevitable Marriage

Distance. I needed distance. From her, from my thoughts, and these damn feelings she’d awoken in me.

I also needed to know why the hell it bugged me so much that she hadn’t told anyone we were married. Especially not her family.

“Is there a reason you don’t want your family to know I’m your husband?” The angry words were out before I could stop them.

Snow’s gaze immediately snapped to mine. So many emotions danced in those green irises at once. Anger, shame, confusion. But the one that hit the hardest was sadness.

I couldn’t stand to see her hurt.

“My mom doesn’t…” Her voice broke. Pursing her lips, she took a few stuttering breaths then spoke again. “My mom believes two people should get married because they love each other. Not because it’s convenient. The idea of me marrying you to pay for my dad’s medical bills is one she’s not willing to entertain.”

My brows drew into a deep V. “And yet you married me anyway.”

“Well, yes.” She licked her lips. “My dad’s bills aren’t going away, and I told you I’d help you keep your company. I don’t go back on my word.”

Something warm and electrifying reached behind my ribs. Releasing my death grip on the chair, I lifted my hand to her face and brushed my knuckles over her cheek.

I opened my mouth, but before I could say a single word, her damn phone made that obnoxious noise again.

A quick “Sorry” spilled from her lips then she pulled the thing out, slipped off the chair, and moved away from me.

Low, angry curses sat on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t like the distance between us. I wanted or maybe needed her close. Because when I was drowning in all things Snow, the past didn’t matter.

With a sigh, I leaned my ass against the table and waited for her to finish her phone call. Which wasn’t long at all. The moment she was done, I was more than ready to close the space between us.

But one look at the defeated expression clouding her features, and I knew I’d have to wait.

“Snow?”

She stared at her phone for a few beats, then lifted her gaze to mine. “I didn’t get the job.” She laughed, but the sound wasn’t humorous at all. “I’m overqualified. Can you believe that?”

“I’m sorry. What can I do?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she pressed those sinfully red lips into a tight, thin line. “Oh, I think you’ve done enough.”

What? Did I blink and suddenly enter the Twilight Zone? Why the fuck was she angry with me? I was about to ask as much, but she was faster.

“This is allyourfault. I wouldn’t even need a job if it wasn’t for you.” Shaking her head, she threw her hands in the air. “This is a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.” With that, she spun around and headed for the door.

I was so confused, but I couldn’t let her leave. Not like this. I pushed off the table and hurried after her.

She was already halfway across the room when I finally stepped in front of her and blocked her path.

“Snow, what the hell just happened?”

She pinned me with one of those stares that had my balls shriveling. “You happened, you infuriating man! Now, move.”

“Not a fucking chance.” Head dipping low, I captured her gaze with mine. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

Head cocked to the side; she crossed her arms in front of her. “You’re smart, why don’t you figure it out?”

A thrill, a dangerously delicious thrill, danced down my spine when she threw my own words at me. “Oh, Snow,” I gritted out. “You don’t want to play games with me.”

“Or what?”

My face inching closer to hers, one corner of my mouth curved into a grin. “You’ll lose.”

Sparks flew in the space between us, like an uncontrollable wildfire crawling over my skin. Suffocating me. Drowning me. In this. In us.