She looked him over. Same way she had the night they’d met. Same way she had these past fifteen minutes. It made his chest swell with pride. She looked at him like she was aching. On fire for him. And he wanted to be that fire for her.
“Me wanting you has nothing to do with it.”
“That has everything to do with it.”
“Lust, Grant. That’s all it was.”
He shrugged. “Agree to disagree. It was more. We both know it. So I’ll tell you what—you give me a chance to remind you how good we are together.”
She shook her head. “There’s no point.”
“Fine, then I’ll get my lawyer to look over a divorce. Which means we’ll split marital assets.” He glanced around the bar. “This would mean I get to own half this bar of yours, right?”
Her eyes shot wide. “You wouldn’t.”
Her stance widened, her shoulders coming forward . . . his woman was pissed and in full attack mode. Or defense mode. Either way, she cared very much about this bar. Grant didn’t exactly love himself for exploiting that. He loved her. And in that moment, it hit him how low he’d go to have another shot with her.
“I just want a chance,” he said quietly.
“You’re blackmailing me into being your wife? How sick are you?”
“Excuse me, you agreed to be my wife eagerly. I’m blackmailing you into staying my wife.”
She huffed and shook her head. Grant wasn’t above a little blackmail to get a few more moments with the love of his life. He’d never take her bar. In fact, he had a ton more to lose than she did. Which his lawyer and mother had made him very aware of. Thankfully, his mother didn’t know he’d gotten married. But his lawyer did. Legally, he stood to lose a lot. Hannah could take Grant for quite a bit of his company, assets, and money. Which was why keeping his wealth to himself was wise for now. Once he could prove to her how much he loved her and they made this work, everything would fall into place—and sure, his lawyer had recommended getting Hannah to sign a postnup so that he wouldn’t lose any of his company should they not work out. But he’d deal with that later. Mostly because he was certain Hannah would never drain him. He trusted her. He just didn’t want to give her anothe
r complication to think about. He wanted her to accept him. Just. Him.
Because he’d already lost her once. Then lost his father. The only two people he ever genuinely cared about. And his father had believed in love. Said if Grant was lucky to find it, he should hold on to it. He wouldn’t let his father down. Wouldn’t let his company perish, and he would see to all his responsibilities while keeping his wife.
But one goal at a time.
He leaned in closer, placing both his hands on the bar, and felt her heat. She was two feet of wood countertop away from him. Her lips inches from his.
“Tell me right now that those two weeks we had together weren’t some of the best of your life, and I will leave and give you your divorce right here and now.”
Her eyes met his. But she said nothing.
“What do you want?” she whispered in a defeated tone.
“You. A chance to prove to you that we can work.”
She closed her eyes. “We won’t work. We don’t.”
“Give me two weeks.” He figured he’d made her fall in love with him before in that time—he could do it again.
“Two weeks? Of what? Being your wife?”
“Yes,” he said with a smile, liking the sound of that.
“And after those two weeks are up and you realize we don’t work, you’ll leave?”
He nodded. “I’ll go, give you your divorce. Not taking anything from you. You have my word. I just want a chance.”
She frowned. “Don’t be thinking I’m just going to have sex with you.”
“I think you’ll want to.” He winked.
“You’re so annoying,” she grumbled.