Marriage For One

Her chin rose, just slightly, her eyes sparkling with something that resembled anger. It made her look more lethal than she already was to me.

“How was your day…husband?”

I straightened against the doorframe.

“Tell me you signed the papers.”

Her head tilted to the side and she dropped the kitchen towel on the counter, her stance mirroring mine as she crossed her arms.

“I didn’t.” There went her chin, up a little more.

I studied her, a million thoughts running through my mind. “What’s happening here?”

She uncrossed her arms and held on to the edge of the kitchen counter. She was wearing her favorite black jeans that hugged every inch of her curves and a chunky sweater that fell off of one of her shoulders. Half of her hair was up in a messy bun on top of her head, the rest tumbling down her bare shoulder.

“Are you seeing someone?”

My brows snapped together. “What?”

“Are you seeing someone? Is that why you want a divorce?”

I came out of my stupor and took a few steps toward her. Her body stiffened, but she didn’t lose her stance.

“What the hell is happening here?” I repeated.

“I took vows.”

That was what she came back with, and my brows drew in tighter.

“Fake vows,” I countered, my voice coming out harsher than I had intended. I caught her flinch but didn’t know how to react. I had no idea what the hell was happening or what she thought she was doing. As far as I knew, she was ruining everything.

“I wouldn’t say so. They were pretty real for me. We said I do in front of the officiant. We signed the papers, and I have the proof. That’s as real as it gets.”

I stopped when we were toe to toe and stared down at her. My eyes flicked down to her hands and I noticed how tightly she was gripping the marble.

“Where are you going with this exactly?”

“I’m not going anywhere. That’s the point.”

“I see. So what you’re saying is that you’re refusing to sign the divorce papers?”

“Exactly.” She squared her shoulders, unknowingly pushing her breasts toward me. My eyes dropped from her gaze only for a moment. I took a step back.

“And I’m moving back in.” She let go of the counter and opened her arms. “Tada—I’m home! I answered your questions. You didn’t answer mine.”

Confused about what was happening, I stared at her. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Are you seeing someone? Is it someone from work? Samantha, maybe?”

“You have lost your mind then.”

Her hands went back to grip the edge. “You’re avoiding the question. Are you cheating on me, Jack?”

I took back the space I’d created between us and put my hands on the counter behind her, trapping her between my arms. I bent down until her face was only inches away from mine and I could look into her beautiful, beautiful eyes.

“What are you doing, Rose? Don’t make me ask again.”

She didn’t bristle at my stern words. Instead her face gentled, her eyes staring right back into mine. “I’m trying to have a fight.”

I waited for her to go on.

“You never make anything easy, do you?” She sighed. “I happen to think a little fighting is healthy in a marriage. First of all, it’s never good to hold things in, so you have to keep the lines of communication open if you want to last. Which you’re not very good at, but you’ll start working on it. I’m sure.”

“Explain why you’re not signing the papers,” I insisted.

She started to bite her lower lip, presumably trying to find the right words. I waited patiently. Her response was important.

“Because I don’t want to get a divorce.”

“It wasn’t a real marriage. I lied to you. I tricked you into it. You didn’t have to marry me—I could’ve bought the property and rented it to you.”

“I would’ve never accepted it. You knew it, you said so yourself. Why did you do it?”

“I already answered that question the day you came to my office.”

“To have a shot with me. You never apologized.”

“And I won’t now either. I told you I wouldn’t take the time I spent with you back.”

“Yet you want a divorce.”

I nodded. Moving just an inch closer, my eyes fell to her lips, which were starting to turn red with all her biting. “I do.”

“Why?” she asked.

“You said it yourself—you think I’m seeing someone else.”

She shook her head, her eyes dropping to my mouth and then coming back to my eyes. Her chest had started to rise and fall faster. She shook her head, a very small movement. Her shoulders were slightly trembling as well.

“I don’t think you’d have the time, what with stalking me and all that.”

The things she said to me… My lips twitched, drawing the attention of her gaze.

“A lot of work piled up at the office because of you.”