Page 27 of Mr. Strategic

“I know you don’t want to sleep with me,” he said gently. “I am so sorry about this whole situation.”

My eyes filled with tears and I turned away, letting them fall in burning streaks down my cheeks.

“There is one thing you could do for me. But it might make Michael angry.”

Reuben smiled, transforming his stern face with pleasant lines.

“Happily. What?”

When I whispered a few quick words in his ear, he smiled even wider.

“And if you need a place to stay after that—” he began.

“Wouldn’t—Alix be very mad?” I asked in a small voice.

The older man snorted. “Alix is on a very short leash. If she wants this to work out, she’ll do as I say.”

“Then—staying a few days would be very welcome. If—you don’t mind. Just until I figure out what to do.”

“Anytime,” he said.

I waited quietly until it was time for Michael’s speech.

“And now,” the Mayor announced, “our keynote speaker, Dr. Michael Carrington.”

My husband looked assured and brilliant as ever as he clicked on the PowerPoint and began to talk about the newest surgical advances, how the technological investment the city had made into the hospital had made it a destination location for the trickiest cases.

As as he was at the height of his powers, Reuben slipped into the seat beside me and rested an arm on the back of my chair.

Michael noticed almost immediately, his hands clutching the platform, white-knuckled and furious.

His speech trailed off as he stared at me, and he clicked to the next slide, but he wasn’t even looking at it.

Reuben moved his arm to my shoulders, and I snuggled back into his chest.

Michael’s chest rose and fell, a muscle twitching in his jawline.

This was a man who was supposed to love me. Cherish me.

And he’d only betrayed and humiliated me.

I gathered all my courage in both hands.

Now or never.

Just like I had expected, Nicky and Starling were both staring open-mouthed at me, Nicky barely concealing his glee at this juicy drama.

“Oh, didn’t you know, we have an open marriage?” I asked, putting both my hands on Reuben’s face and kissing him.

Chapter Ten

After that, it was pandemonium.

Somewhere, Alix screamed, loud and shrill and piercing, and Michael lunged from the stage.

Reuben stood up to meet him, and I didn’t dare look back, his keys burning a hole in my pocket.

This was my chance to escape.