Page 13 of The Me I Left Behind

“You knew the deal.”

“Yes, and I was too young and stupid to naïve to realize what I was getting into, what it would lead to.”

“You enjoyed your perks. Right, honey?” His voice was softer, lower-pitched, seductive.

An immediate zip of sexual energy shot through her body, settling in her pelvis.Shit.She really didn’t want to go there. Didn’t even want to have this conversation. “Shut up, Max. I had no choice.”

“You could have walked.”

“How? You wouldn’t let me.”

“Goddamn, Mags, you’ve always had the power to make your own decisions. In fact, all you ever had to do was make one decision and your life would be your own.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“To leave.”

“Excuse me?”

“You can leave anytime you want, but if you do, you’ll lose more than you will gain.”

That’s right. She’d lose everything. Her kids, her home…My kids.

“If that’s true, Max, then why in the hell do you even want me? Why are you tying me to this marriage with threats like that when you don’t even want to be in it? I don’t get it.”

He laughed. “Damn, Mags. Don’tyouget it? You’re convenient. You take care of things—the kids, the house, me… I don’t want to train someone else.”

His words literally stabbed her in the heart. “I’m the babysitter and housekeeper.”

“Perhaps,” he said. “With perks.”

“And please tell me your definition of perks?” She knew what he was talking about, but wanted to hear him say it.

He chuckled again. “Well, me, for one. You get to fuck me regularly—when I’m home, that is. And there’s the house, the money, and all that.”

Closing her eyes, she tried to block out the noise unexpectedly crowding her head. Was Carol still in the room? She didn’t want to look back and see. “Gee. Lucky me.” Finally, she glanced back. Carol still sat there with her head in her hands. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

“I didn’t?”

“No. Why are you tying me to this marriage now? Appears to me you already have someone in training.”

“Eh. Time will tell.”

“But why, Max?”

He paused, and she could hear his low growly chuckle again. “Because I can, Mags. Why else?”

Right. Fucker. And I fell for it.

She needed to switch the subject. “Max, what are your plans? I need to know. Are you staying there or coming home as planned by the end of the month? I’m not up for any more surprises.”

Damn. She wished she hadn’t said that. Sounded weak. She needed to be up for anything he could throw at her. Every. Single. Day.

Again, he chuckled, and she could absolutely envision the stupid smirk on his face.

“I’ll call and let you know,” he said. “I’m still working some things out here. Tell the kids hello.”

He clicked off the phone.