Page 47 of Malicious Marriage

“Right now?” After sex, it feels cheap to call him and ask for that.

“Clover, you can’t put everything on hold because you feel bad. Listen, Ryan is a pressing issue. Dean already knows you have money worries but he thinks they’re related to your family and your uncle. He doesn’t need to know that the money is goingto a loan shark. He just needs to give it to you. And he seems like a decent man, so the sooner we tick off Ryan, the sooner we focus on Hailey, right?”

I nod slowly, chewing on my lower lip.

“I’m not trying to be a dick here,” Bobby says. “I just don’t take kindly to that asshole threatening my family and my friend.”

“No, you’re right. You’re right.” Bobby already does so much for me. Getting Ryan squared away is the least I can do. “I’ll call him. I’ll call Dean and I’ll ask him for the money. Ryan won’t be a problem for much longer.”

21

DEAN

“Clover!” The moment she steps out of the car, my world immediately feels like a brighter place. Telling myself not to get attached is pointless after our night together, but I’m well aware it blurs the lines of our arrangement. Which is why when she called yesterday to discuss money, I thought it would be better to talk in person.

“Hi, I’m so sorry I’m late.” She flashes me a wide smile while smoothing out the wrinkles in her skirt. “Would you believe me if I told you I’d locked myself out with the keys inside and had to wait for Bobby to rescue me?”

I laugh softly and briefly wave to Bobby as he climbs out of the car. “Honestly, I would.”

“Good, because it felt far-fetched even for the truth.” Her cheeks flush slightly as she stands next to me and gazes into the window of the extravagant department store I arranged as our meeting place. “Why are we meeting here, exactly?”

“Well, when you called yesterday to discuss your situation, I thought it would be a much nicer discussion in person and I’m in need of a few new suits, so why not combine the two?”

She arches one brow at me as Jack opens the door for us and ushers us inside. “Do you buy all your suits from stores?”

“Not exactly. I wander the new releases and pick out suits I like the look of. They get sent to my tailor, who either alters them for my build or he orders the material and recreates the suit from scratch.”

“Wow.” Clover’s eyes widen. “I didn’t even know that was a thing you could do.”

“You can do anything if you have the money for it,” I remind her.

“Like buying historical landmark hotels?”

“Exactly.”

Bobby and Jack greet each other and fall into a soft discussion several feet behind Clover and me while we start our circuit of the first level of the store. I pick out a few suits by marking them with a pink circular sticker given to me by the assistant who makes herself scarce as quickly as she arrives.

“So,” Clover says after we complete a loop of the bottom floor with pleasant conversation. “You just mark them and they’re yours?”

“Pretty much.” Peeling one of the sticker sheets apart, I offer it to her. “You try.”

“Oh, no.” Clover quickly shakes her head as we step onto the escalator. “I couldn’t.”

“You can. Please.”

“No, no, I can’t.”

Is this about money? “My gift, Clover. Please let me treat you for being such an outstanding guest at the gala.” Her mouth opens to protest once more, but I take her hand in mine and press the stickers to her palm. “Please, I insist.”

She frowns but her fingers curl around the sticker sheet. “You’re a hard man to say no to.”

“So I’ve been told.”

The second floor is much more Clover’s style as an array of dresses and pant suits stretches out before us on various displays. After a little encouragement, Clover finally puts a sticker on a beautiful white dress that’s covered in vibrant, multicolored petals.

“Clover, when you called yesterday you mentioned something about borrowing money. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you an immediate answer because I was wrapped up in work, but I’m happy to talk about it now.”

Clover’s attention remains down on the sticker sheet. “Actually, before we talk about that, I feel like we should talk about something else first.”