Page 117 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

JOHN’S POV.

She stiffened immediately I hugged her, which of course, I did on purpose. I wanted Lucas to know we were no longer enemies, and that like I told him, we were coming back together eventually. This was just the beginning.

She dropped the ladle into the broth, and her hands flew to my fingers, prying them apart. Then she turned to me abruptly.

“What are you doing?” She asked, then turned to glance at Lucas, who was looking at me. “How can you just touch me like that?” She asked, but half of the time, her eyes were darting to where Lucas sat.

Were they dating? They couldn’t be dating, could they?

She was acting really suspicious.

“It was a morning greeting. Why are you so flustered?” I asked, and her eyebrows knitted closely.

“Well, your morning greeting is uncomfortable. You keep crossing the line, and forgetting that we’re no longer together.

I thought we agreed that you’ll no longer embarrass me with such shameless acts?

” She asked, and I was a hundred percent sure that she was only doing it to assure Lucas that nothing was going on between us.

“So you mean I can’t even hug you?” I asked settling in my seat. She served the last bowl, without replying, and took the pot to the kitchen. I heard water gush out of the tap, and smiled.

Maybe her heart skipped a beat. Lucas took his eyes off me, and went back to his casseroles.

Emily returned from the kitchen with wet hands, and sat in the vacant chair, which happened to be next to me.

“You didn’t answer my question. Can’t I hug you like that?” I asked, and her cheeks turned red.

“Quit it.” She said, with clenched teeth.

“What’s with the two of you? The air between you is not so heavy anymore.” Derella observed.

“Exactly. We made up.” I said, and saw Lucas stop for a second, before lifting broth into his mouth.

Emily looked even more flustered, and her hands shook slightly. Why was she so worked up?

“I love you, Emily.” I said, and her spoon clattered to the floor. Everyone looked at her, and she gave a flitting fake smile, and went under the table to pick the spoon. She took an oddly long amount of time to bring it back to the table.

“I’ll wash this.” She said, getting up, but I dumped my spoon into her broth, and snatched hers.

“Use this.”

“You don’t have to.” She said quietly, but I began to use her spoon. Everyone stared at us, even Lucas.

“Can’t you just marry me?” I asked placing a casserole on my broth-filled spoon, and she slammed her spoon angrily on the table, causing everyone, including me to jump.

“What’s your problem this morning?” She asked, turning to me, and I smiled. She obviously didn’t want to upset Lucas.

“Is it wrong to propose to the woman I love?”

“Just because we ended our fight doesn’t mean you can erase all the things you did to me just like that.

We ended our fight not because I forgot all the horrible things about you, but because I chose to forgive you, so know your place, and stop acting out.

” She said, with her nostrils flaring, and got up from her seat, pushing back her chair aggressively.

She picked up her tray, and left the dining table.

I smiled.

“My three-day trip worked. Sweet family, you’ll hear of a marriage soon.” I said, stirring my broth. My main aim was to communicate that loud and clear to Lucas.

~

The next day was a Saturday, and everyone was busy relaxing. I went down the stairs, and met Lucas and Emily in the living room laughing hard. Katie sat with them, smiling as she checked the reports on the progress of different departments. The smile on her face was a hundred percent fake.

The next time I went down the stairs, Emily and Lucas were alone in the dining, talking in low tones.

“Aren’t they such a nice couple?” Sadie asked, standing next to me.

“What?” I asked, giving her a nasty side-eye.

“That’s my plan. I told them to find out where I hid Lucas’ office files before evening.

They wasted their time thinking I was joking, but now they’re serious.

I told them if I happened to overhear them almost closing in on my hiding spot, then I’d change the location.

They’ve been whispering since then, and going everywhere together.

It’s all part of the matchmaking process.

” She said, and raised her brows at me, before walking past me.

That little brat!

She was doing it on purpose. Well, I was going to show her she couldn’t win against me by marrying Emily.

“Is a lady’s heart that hard to win?” I heard Katie ask behind me, and I turned.

“What did you say?”

“Your three-day trip wasn’t enough to get her to marry you?” She asked, holding the reports against her chest.

“I got her to forgive me. There’s no bad blood between us now. I’m moving at a steady rate.”

“Slow and steady, right?” She asked.

“Katie.” I called, in a warning tone.

“Forgive me.” She said, sarcastically, holding out the reports to me. “Maybe I’m just ready to find work elsewhere, with a rational boss who doesn’t sleep around, and expect his own wife to come back crawling to him.” She said, as I took the reports from her.

I watched her leave, her heels sounding elegant on the floor.

Katie couldn’t resign. She was my closest employee, and knew me more than any other employee did.

If I lost her, I’d have to start all over again with a new employee, and five years worth of working together, and doing things together couldn’t be formed in a day, week, month or year.

She knew I wouldn’t want to lose her as an employee or friend.

“That’s why you’re acting out.” I said, annoyed.

Even late at night, I could still hear Emily and Lucas talking. What were they talking about?

It made me annoyed with Emily.

I sat in my room, hitting my desk with a dice held between my thumb and index finger.

I needed to change my strategy. She was staying with Lucas way too much, even after I tried to love her.

Even if I brought in a lady, it wouldn’t hurt her because she didn’t need or love me.

I needed to make her love me.

And I would make her love me.