Not Husband Material (Billionaire's Contract Duet 1)

“Selling?” I shook my head. “Why in the hell would I do that? We’re growing. I wouldn’t sell off what we’ve built. We’re creating a dynasty here.”

She shrugged. “Something is off. You don’t seem focused.”

“Not focused?” I was tired of the questions and the accusations. She interrogated me as if I was an intern who had screwed up an email instead of the owner of this company.

“You used to tell me everything.” Her voice was crisp.

“We also used to fuck. And we don’t do that anymore, do we?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Bastard.”

I sighed with resignation. I didn’t want to fight with her. I needed her to run the company. No one could bring people to the table like Sasha. I was on edge. I was exhausted. Alienating Sasha wasn’t smart.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“We agreed we wouldn’t let that interfere with our partnership.”

“We did. Sorry. I’m being a dick. I’m going to head out. Forget I said it.”

“I have no idea what’s going on with you. You never leave the office this early and you’ve been gone two days. I need to brief you.”

It was already dark. I had left Evie alone for far too long. I should take her to dinner. Do something nice for her first night in the city. That’s what friends did. I wasn’t sure about husbands and wives.

“Email me. I have dinner plans. I’ll see you in the morning. Early,” I added.

I could stay and argue with her the rest of the night. In most cases, I would. But not tonight.

My wife was waiting.

The apartment was dark when I walked through the door.

“Evie?”

I was going to be impressed if she had slept the entire time I was gone. I walked to the bedroom, expecting to find her curled up under the covers. I pushed the door open, fighting an ache in my cock. Just thinking about her in my bed did something to me.

I didn’t know why I kept the secret from Sasha. She would know soon that I had married Evie. She was going to be angry I hadn’t confided in her. She would take the information as a professional. It didn’t affect anything at the office. But I knew there would be a sliver of betrayal. She didn’t like it when I kept things from her. She never had.

I wanted to make the announcement to the press tomorrow. We needed to make the marriage public. My mother didn’t deserve the courtesy of a phone call, but the news would put her on notice. I was coming for my inheritance.

However, for one more night I could keep Evie to myself. One night before we were bombarded with interview requests and paparazzi scum on our heels.

I walked to the bed slowly, loosening my tie. Shit. I wanted her. I wanted to bury myself inside her. Fuck her for the rest of the night. Fill her until we were both exhausted and too numb to speak.

I patted the covers, but they were flat.

“Evie?” I whispered.

She wasn’t there. I turned on the light. The covers were smooth.

Where in the hell was my wife?

18

Evie

My shoulders ached and my thumb had started twitching involuntarily. It wouldn’t be long before my hands cramped up. I stared at the screen on my laptop. I was five cups of coffee in, and I had found my groove—finally. The coffee shop I discovered on my walk was adorable. The walls were covered in lending books. I didn’t think I could find something so cozy in the city. It was perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. I needed a pl

ace like this where I could write. Somewhere I could unwind and disappear in another world.