Husband (Betrothed 2)

A boyish grin stretched across his face, somewhat similar to his brother’s. He took a sip, set it down, and then pivoted his chair so he could face me. “What are you gonna say to change my mind, sweetheart?”

“Nothing. You’re too stubborn.” I had to force myself to take another drink, and I hid my usual grimace as it burned my tongue.

“Then why are you here?” he asked. “Other than to flirt with me.”

“I’d like to get to know you—not flirt with you.”

“What’s there to know? I’m an asshole. That’s the gist.”

Coming directly at Ash wouldn’t get me anywhere. He seemed to have made up his mind and refused to change it. But maybe if I could make him think of simpler times, his heart would soften. There was nothing I could say or do to change his mind that evening, but maybe I could plant a seed.

And maybe the seed would grow.

“What was Hades like when he was growing up?”

“Nothing special. He was Father’s favorite until he dropped out of university.”

“Your father doesn’t seem like a man who would value education.”

He shrugged. “Our mother cared. She was always the good one. We were all shitheads. My father asked Hades to be part of the family business, and when he said no, Father took it personally. They bumped heads from that moment on. That resentment only grew as time passed. It built up until it exploded… And then my father was dead.” He turned his gaze back to his glass, looking at the amber liquid that sat still.

“Were the two of you close?”

“A bit. But we fought like all brothers do.”

“Did the two of you still speak when your father and Hades were on bad terms?”

“Not really. But that wasn’t because we had a problem with each other.” Ash was similar to his brother in appearance, having the same obvious good looks, but Ash was thicker in the arms, thicker in the chest. He had beautiful, fair skin, not nearly as tanned as Hades, but that was probably because he was inside more often than my husband. Thick cords ran down all the way to his hands, powerful veins that webbed over his defined muscles. He was a big man…someone I wouldn’t be stupid enough to provoke. “We just never saw each other. I was loyal to my father, and he was off doing his own thing.”

When I’d first sat down inside that bar, all heads turned my way. Most men probably hoped I was single, because that’s what people did in a bar, looked for someone to make a connection with. I was used to those stares, had received them my entire adult life. But I noticed they halted once they assumed Ash and I were together. Just like his brother, Ash could chase away any man in my vicinity. “So, you guys were never close?”

“Not really.” His fingers gripped the top of his glass, and he gave his scotch a slight shake. “We were when we were boys. Not men.” He stared down at his glass, made another shake, and then took a drink.

“Hades mentioned that your mother lost her memory.”

“I wouldn’t say lost it… She just got sick.” His visage didn’t really change, but it seemed like the statement was difficult for him to say. “She’s been in the home for a couple years now. I don’t remember the last time I saw her.”

I wanted to suggest that both of them visit their mother, but I knew it wasn’t my place to say anything like that. I had no idea what it was like to watch a parent slowly fade away, to watch a parent forget you. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah…our lives are a sad story. But whatever. You get over it.” He stared straight ahead, looking at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar. “But it looks like my brother got a happy ending.” He turned his gaze back to me, his brown eyes so similar to his brother’s that it was like I was looking at Hades instead of him. He lifted his glass and tapped it against mine. “I’m surprised because it seemed like my brother would never commit to one woman.”

“Well…that wasn’t until he met me.” I debated telling him the truth, that this marriage was just an arrangement, just a way for both of us to get what we wanted. Our relationship had deepened into a foundation of friendship and trust, but not love. Since Ash wasn’t close to Hades, I decided to keep the truth private.

Ash smiled slightly. “You’re cool. I like you.”

“Good. Kinda like you too.” Feeling affection for this man was natural, although I couldn’t explain why. Maybe it was because he was similar to Hades, maybe because I projected my positive feeling for Hades onto him. Somehow it was easy for me to forget the terrible travesties he committed on a daily basis. “But I would like you a lot more if you stopped what you are doing.”