Husband By Request

“No.”

“You sound as happy as Blaz looked the other day when I came home from work and saw him with feathers stuck to his whiskers.”

“Dad—cats are supposed to eat mice!”

“Evidently he did plenty of that too. It makes you wonder what he’s going to chase now that he’s gone to heaven.”

No one could make her laugh like her father. “I love you.”

“We love you too, sweetie. Keep up whatever you’re doing, because it sounds like it’s working. Don’t forget we’re rooting for you.”

“I know that,” she said in a husky tone.

“Give my regards to our favorite son-in-law. Whenever you say the word, we’re up for a trip to Athens.”

“I’ll tell him. Give Mom a kiss for me.”

“That won’t be a problem.”

Her parents were one of the happiest couples she knew. “Goodnight, Dad.”

“Stay well, sweetie.”

“You too.”

She hung up.

By now Andreas had retrieved three boxes which he’d stacked by the door.

“Dad said you were his favorite son-in-law. He asked me to give you his best regards.”

Andreas turned to her and pushed her back before following her down onto the bed. “He would have to say that, wouldn’t he?” he whispered against her lips.

“No,” she answered solemnly. “When I returned to Sarajevo and told them I was divorcing you, they felt like they’d lost a child. Your parents aren’t the only people who’ve been in mourning.”

CHAPTER SIX

THE purity of his wife’s violet eyes slipped past his defenses to pierce his soul. He twined her silky blond hair in his fingers, loving the texture.

“I want to know the name of the person who put those thoughts about my parents in your head. Views about you they never thought or spoke.”

Immediately her expression grew troubled. “It doesn’t matter, darling.”

“It does to me. Anything that hurts you, hurts me.”

“I feel the same way, so let’s not crucify ourselves anymore by dredging up the past.”

He looked down at her. “If you’re covering for Paul, I have to know.”

“Andreas—” she cried in genuine alarm. “Of course it’s not Paul. He loves you. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for you.”

Incredibly relieved, his mind jumped to the only other person he knew who might have taken pleasure in creating trouble in their marriage.

“What kind of power does Theo have over you that you would try to protect him?”

“It wasn’t Theo. If I tell you, you might take it the wrong way, so I’d rather not have this discussion.”

“Try me.”