Fake Summer Wife

As he opened the lid his handsome face transformed into a smile of pure delight. “You got me a tie?”

“It matches my dress. Apparently, that’s what couples do at shindigs like this.”

“I love that it’s simple,” he said, running a finger over the silk. “Pinstripes are quite enough of a pattern for me.” He looked up to see me grinning from ear to ear.

“Of course I’m going to know exactly what my husband wants,” I said. “You’re a no-nonsense guy. No paisley or houndstooth for you.”

Vaughan set the box on a side table, gathering me into his arms to dance around the foyer to whatever imaginary beat was in his head.

“I love that you already understand me,” he murmured, as his strong hands caressed my back.

Feeling his body pressed to mine made my thighs quiver and my breath catch in my throat. It was heavenly. Terrifying. Exciting. Everything at once.

As I took brand new steps into the grand adventure of dating and having a boyfriend...sorry, make that a husband...I couldn’t imagine trying to figure it out with anyone other than Vaughan.

Chapter 6

_____

Vaughan

I knew that Saturday was going to be busy, but everything seemed to take twice as long as I had expected. Checking on one job site should have taken twenty minutes, but it stretched into an hour. Then there was a lineup at the bank and it took forever to grab something from a safety deposit box.

I actually had to stop for espresso on the way to pick up Claudia. Then I realized that I was a terrible husband for not knowing how she took her coffee, so I sent her a quick text.

Me: I’m doing a coffee run on the way to collect you. What would you like? Espresso? Latte?

Luckily she responded almost immediately.

Claudia: Americano with a pinch of cinnamon. You know – like we had on our honeymoon when we cruised by Italy. I can’t believe you don’t remember! :)

Me: Of course. How silly of me to forget.

Me: I’ll be there in a few minutes.

Claudia: I’m almost ready.

By the time I got to her apartment, I was actually prickling with nerves. My company’s marketing person had made a big deal about me finally bringing a date to one of these events. I tried to tell Yvonne that we didn’t need any more media coverage, but I wasn’t sure that she listened.

I was about to buzz Claudia’s apartment number when she opened the door in front of me. “Were you waiting here in the lobby?” I asked.

“I just got downstairs,” she said.

“You’re supposed to let me come to you,” I began to chuckle, then we stepped out in front of the building and I got a proper look at her.

My heart began to pound in a strange techno sort of rhythm that I’d never felt before.

Claudia was ravishing.

Her lovely dark hair was pinned up in some sort of fancy twist with a swirly silver clip. Somehow her eyes were even bigger, even bluer. She looked like a model. Or a doll. Or a photo of the perfect glamorous girl next door.

“What’s wrong?” she asked breathlessly, fingers clenched around her tiny black purse that hung from a wrist strap.

“Absolutely nothing,” I muttered.

My eyes raked over her cleavage, then paused at the curve of her hips. I needed to grab her. I needed to hold her against me immediately. I’d never had such a powerful reaction of raw desire before.

Blowing out a slow breath, I shook my head. “I just really can’t believe how beautiful you are, Claudia. It’s freaking me out, to be honest.”