Page 8 of Splintered Security (Aspen & Evergreen #2)

horny round-the-clock

Anni

Today has been a blur. I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman , only not the high-priced hooker part.

I’ve carried more bags, made more purchases, and spent more money today than any other day in my life. He “insisted.” His face and body went hard when I told him what I planned.

We had a stare down. I hate confrontation. Ren does not. So he won.

On everything but my dress, though he doesn’t know that. That felt too personal. It’s not like I went into a bridal store or found a gown. It’s a dress, not a gown, but I love it. It’s stunning, and I feel beautiful in it.

I’d wear it given all the choices in the world. Wearing it to marry Ren Gallo is every dream I could ever have.

By the time I found the perfect shoes, I was giddy.

Ren ran out for something and returned in time to pile everything into his SUV and take us to eat. Lunch at four doesn’t sound right, but neither did breakfast at ten .

We were incredibly efficient—courthouse first, then phones, then to shop.

I’ve never been the wander-the-mall girl.

Maybe as a teenager, but since? Nah. Give me online shopping and easy returns, so there’s no reason to wander store to store.

That’s social, anyway. Between my job, and my friends leaving Pueblo the first chance they got, it doesn’t leave much time to meet up and meander in and out of storefronts to spend money on something just because it catches my eye.

I sound cynical. It’s just that life has gotten in the way for a while now. Even so, I’ve smiled more today than any day I can remember for a long, long time.

It’s not spending the money. I never have done that easily or frivolously. It’s the care Ren showed. I don’t know how else to describe his worrying about my safety and comfort, today and in the future, aside from care .

“Did you hear me?”

Nope. No clue what I missed while in my Ren fog. I swing my eyes to the man in the pantry yet again. “Sorry. I missed that. What was it?”

“Wondering what you want for dinner.”

“I’m not that hungry.” I barely get the words out when my stomach growling fills the room.

“Right. So anything you have a taste for?”

“Surprise me.”

He chuckles and mutters under his breath while grabbing a few things from the pantry and fridge to begin chopping .

“I’m nervous about tomorrow,” I blurt out.

The chopping stops, and silence falls between us.

He turns, props a hip on the counter, and crosses his arms. “Why?”

I shrug. “Just…” I wave a hand as if that can communicate in place of my not speaking.

“Just what, Anni?”

“Can you chop please?”

His brows furrow, he gives me his back, and when the knife echoes rhythmically off the butcher block, I try to articulate what’s in my mind.

“Not about you. I mean, a little about you. But mostly, about Heath. And his anger that we’ll see. Or at least about the blowback we’ll surely have. Because Mom will be bummed she missed ‘my wedding’.” I use air quotes, at least in my tone.

“We’ll come back to those. What about me makes you nervous?”

“Well,” I pause, contemplating how I want to say this. “Are you seeing someone?”

Yeah, that wasn’t it. And I know it when I see his face.

“Excuse me?”

“That didn’t come out right. I meant…” I let the words trail off, hating how I can never say what I mean when I mean it.

His shadow looms over me before his words hit me.

Though his tone is soft, his words are harsh.

“You think if I was committed to someone I would have kissed you like I did this morning? Or slept next to you last night? You think I would throw them away without so much as a phone call? Is that what you think of me?”

“I think you’ve always been self-sacrificing and kind.

And I don’t for a moment think you would do that to someone you cared about.

” I drop my eyes to the counter while rubbing my fingers and wringing my hands.

“But I do think I would be selfish enough to ask you to marry me, to solve my problems, without ever considering how this might impact you. And I didn’t even ask, so I’m asking now. ”

“No, Sunshine. I’m not seeing someone. I haven’t been. And I agreed. I agreed to marry you, to upend whatever I had going on… For you. That was my choice. I wasn’t forced. I wasn’t coerced. I chose it.”

“Okay.”

“Furthermore, I’m no cheater. My dad was a cheater. It’s why I exist. It sucked for me. It was terrible for my mom. It dishonored his family too. That’s not me. It will never be me.”

I nod, feeling puny as I’m getting schooled.

“What I’m saying, Annika, is for as long as we’re together, as long as you’ll have me, I’ll never stray. I’ll never break my vows.” He levels me with his eyes and rocks me to my core with his words. “I will be faithful to my wife.”

My response comes out on a choked whisper. “Okay, Ren.”

He goes back to his board after finding something on my face that he seemed to be seeking. He tosses some olive oil and veggies into a pan, sautéing them before adding sliced chicken breast.

“Your mom will be bummed. Mine will too. We can’t fix that, and they’ll understand.

Or they’ll get past it.” He moves to the fridge, grabbing what looks like leftover cold noodles, and adds them to the pan.

“We’ll go see your mom this weekend when we get your stuff from Pueblo. Is she still down there?”

“She’s in the Springs now.”

“’Kay.” He stirs and adds something to the pan before looking over his shoulder. “What do you want to tell her?”

Crap. I hadn’t thought of that. I shrug, but his back is still to me.

He drops a shallow bowl in front of me and a glass of water before grabbing his own. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

I shake my head, not needing any help making my thoughts even more confusing. “No thanks.”

I dig into my plate and moan when the flavors burst on my tongue. I never thought I’d marry a man who could cook. A snort escapes me, and his eyes search my face.

“What?”

I shake my head, offering a partial truth for all his honesty. “I’m going to have to find a new workout regimen if you keep cooking like this. Seriously, this is delicious.”

His eyes are soft, and his lips tip just enough. It’s all I get, but it’s enough .

He mumbles something under his breath, but I accidentally drown it out with another moan. Chewing and swallowing, I ask, “What? I missed that.”

He simply shakes his head and licks his lips. And I’m mesmerized.

His glittering eyes.

That deep, raspy voice.

And a straight-up sinful mouth.

I’m going to be horny round-the-clock. I am so fucked.