Chapter 10
Ainsley
I scoot further down in the water. It comes up on my waist, and I freeze letting out a yelp. “You are miserable liars.” I laugh at Goldie and Teagan.
“It gets warm after you’ve been submerged for a few minutes.” Goldie winks at me then shoves Teagan off the pink flamingo float.
“You bitch” She sputters coming back up to the surface.
Goldie sticks her tongue out at her. They seem more like sisters than the daughter and girlfriend of Murphy. He’s gotta have a good fifteen years on Teagan but she seems happy to be the silver fox’s sweet ass. Goldie is closer to my age, but Teagan can’t be much older than her. I don’t know their stories, but I am happy for their company. They’ve been coming over when Abel is away. It gets lonely locked away here with no one but Petunia and Murphy to keep me company. Petunia is inside napping. Little lazy butterball is what she is.
It’s nearly May but I think we should have waited another week before opening the pool. I tough it out though because this beats sitting in the house alone while Murphy chews on a toothpick for entertainment. Murphy bless him does another patrol around the perimeter of the property.
I still don’t know what happened to have my husband on such high alert, but I haven’t received any more threatening presents from Raul.
“Your bump is adorable.” Teagan looks dreamily at my stomach, and I wonder if Murphy will ever make an old lady out of her.
“Is it that noticeable?” I flatten my palm over the curve that is starting to show. We haven’t announced my pregnancy to anyone. Abel says it’s better if no one knows for now outside of those we trust. If you’d told me when I married him that I’d be in love with him, I’d told you to jump off a bridge. But now…I only have eyes for him. He’s good to me. He doesn’t put up with my shit, but he spoils me with his love and attention.
Neither of us have said the words but I can feel it. Abel loves me.
“Only when you turn sideways. Maybe try sucking it in.” Goldie shrugs.
“What are you wearing tonight?”
“Shit.” I forgot all about this fancy dinner fundraiser thing that Abel says we have to make an appearance at tonight.
“Don’t worry, we’re here to save the day.” Teagan winks.
The three of us exit the pool shivering and move into the house. Upstairs on my bed is a gorgeous red dress with a black lace overlay. Next to it is a card.
Be ready at seven.
Your husband…
My husband…I smile at the thought of him picking the dress out but wonder if he had any help.
“Well since that is taken care of how about your hair and makeup?”
“Do you think up or down?”
Both of my friends answer the opposite of each other, and we break out in laughter.
I hop into the shower while they go downstairs for a snack and argue over how I should wear my hair.
In the end my hair is down in loose curls. My lips are painted red to match my dress and nails. I slip into my black heels and when I walk downstairs, I don’t recognize the man waiting for me.
He smells like my husband and bears his tattoos on his hands, but this guy is wearing a suit. Abel doesn’t wear suits. He’s a jeans and t-shirt man. His hair is slicked back and if it were possible to orgasm from just looking at him, I’d be getting off right now.
I hand Teagan my phone and have her snap a photo of us because I don’t know when I will see him cleaned up again. Leaning into him, I whisper softly in his ear, “You clean up nice. Maybe too nice.” I wink at Murphy as he grins at us
with his toothpick hanging out of his mouth. I asked him once why he always has them, and he says he dips them in cinnamon and sucks on them to keep from smoking.
Abel looks me over. “Where’d you get the dress?”
“What?”
“I like that when did you buy it? You slipping out without permission?”