Wife to the Boss (Managing the Bosses Series, #6) (10 page)

“I like that idea, but you know what I would like even better?” She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Me? On a platter?” He lifted his eyebrow.

“Yes, but even more than that... some chocolate cake at the restaurant.”

“Even over me?” He gave her a cute look.

“Yes. Even over you.” She winked. “Or on top of you.”

One Month Later

P
aul's transition from the firm went far more smoothly than Jamie thought it would, and though Jamie knew Mark still had the itch to try something new, he laid off talking about it. He seemed more committed to help Alex find some semblance of balance and, with all they'd been through, Jamie couldn’t have been more grateful for his increased involvement at the office. For a guy who loved being outside, he had brains and talent. They both did.

She glanced behind her as the wind picked up and blew her hair about. The sun was shining and it had somehow turned into a lazy Sunday afternoon. Mark and Alex were golfing, and she was at her parents’ house, trying to stay committed to spending more time with her family.

Her dad smiled at her as he walked out the back door, moving slowly. His house robe was tattered; it was the same one he'd been wearing since she was a kid. She made a mental note to get the poor guy a new one for Christmas that year. Or sooner, like the next time she came to visit him.

“It's beautiful out here.” He inhaled deeply, as if trying to take the heat and put it inside of him. He gradually moved toward her.

She started to get up, but he lifted his hand. He had made a full recovery, but the surgery seemed to have taken something out of him. He was moving more sluggishly than she had ever seen him move, but his disposition was good. He would get stronger over time.

“I’m fine.” He sat down beside her, the bench barely shifting from his light weight.

“It is. I love Sundays.” She leaned back on the bench in the middle of her parents’ back yard and closed her eyes. “Maybe when you get back to your full strength, you can join Alex and Mark on the golf course. I remember you used to play a lot when I was a kid.” She glanced over at him as he shifted carefully beside her.

“I'd like that.” He groaned softly before settling back. “I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and feel like my old self, but it just hasn't happened yet.”

“Dad, they had to cut into the center of your heart to fix that valve. The doctor said six months at the earliest for being back to a hundred percent.” Jamie reached out and squeezed his hand. “You look good.”

“I feel good.” He smiled. “I'm just ready to feel great, but enough about me. How are you doing?”

“I'm good.” She rubbed her tummy and smiled down at it. “I'm still in shock about having twins, but I guess we're just going to start a big family this first round.”

He chuckled. “Since when have you gone small on anything?”

“It’s never on purpose”,” she chuckled as she released his hand and lifted hers to the sky, stretching and letting out a soft groan. “I'm going to have to get going before too long. I've had my fill of Mom.”

“Speaking of your mother...” He coughed softly and pressed his hands to his chest as he did.

“What about her?” Jamie turned to face him, not liking at all the way his voice pinched. Was something wrong with her mom now, too? Whereas she didn't like the woman at all, she still very much loved her.

“I'm going to work to get better over the next few weeks, and then I'm leaving.” He glanced down at his hands and shook his head. “I thought I was going to die when I had the pain in my chest in the kitchen.”

“Dad.” Jamie reached out and touched his back as his voice broke a little. She'd never seen her father get emotional except at his own mother's funeral.

“No, listen.” He glanced over at her. “When I was going to the hospital in the ambulance, all I could hear was her bitching at the EMS guy who was working to save my life. I felt horrible for the guy, but as I lay there, I realized that I regretted one thing in my life. Staying with her.”

Jamie was at a loss for words. One on hand, she completely understood her dad's point of view. There was no way in hell she would ever be with someone like her mother, who tore people down without thought of their feelings or the lasting effect she might have on them.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do? You and Mom tried to break up just before Christmas, and you were miserable.” Jamie continued to rub his back.

“Yeah, I'm sure. I think I bought her lies that she could change. That she really did love me.” He shrugged. “She doesn't love anyone. She's just poisoned from the inside out. She told me that she was horrified at the thought of waking up next to a corpse.”

Jamie's eyes filled with tears. “She mentioned that, but I honestly was hoping she was just being melodramatic and didn't actually say that to you.”

“Nope. She said it. In her pretty little crazy way. No pretty or little.” He ran his hands over his face and took a shaky breath. “Don't say anything please. I'm not trying to put you in a hard position, but I didn't want to sit here and feel as if I was lying to you by not saying anything. I just need the strength to go, and then, I'm out.”

“When the time comes, just let me know and we'll come over here and get you. Alex and I can help you, and you can always stay with us until you're ready to find a place.” She pulled her hand back and let out a long sigh. “I'm sorry to hear that nothing has gotten better.”

He chuckled, but the sound fell flat. “It's gotten worse. I have no clue who the woman in that house is. She's not the beautiful girl I fell in love with. She's bitter, power-hungry, and vicious. I guess it's got to be my fault for spending so much time and energy on my career, but I was the only one working.”

“Dad, now isn't the time to beat yourself up. You need to focus on healing.” Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Most likely Alex.

“I know, but with so much time on my hands I can't help but sit here and think through how miserable I've been for the last twenty years. I can't remember too many happy times, and the way she raised you girls was something I should have done something about.” He glanced over at Jamie with his face downcast. “Forgive me?”

“Dad.” Tears dripped over onto Jamie's cheeks as she reached for her dad and wrapped him in a hug. “There's nothing to forgive. It wasn’t always easy, but I’m not a baby. I'm a strong woman now, even though it took a lot to get me here. You've been good to me. You know that. None of what happened is your fault.”

“I just wish I had put my foot down with her being such a bitch over your weight and my food and...” He sighed heavily. “I just didn't want to deal with her.” He smiled, his face tired. “You're a beautiful woman, and you always have been. Inside and out, princess.”

“No pumpkin?” She smirked as she moved back and wiped away her tears.

“All the above.” He leaned back and patted her leg. “Get out of here, and when the time comes for me to leave I'll probably take you and Alex up on coming to stay with you for a few days or so. I don't think I'm ready to get an apartment just yet. I'm still a little nervous about going to sleep and not waking up.”

Jamie stifled the need to console him, and simply nodded before standing. “Okay. You just let us know, and we'll come right over.”

“I know you will. Thank you. I love you.” He reached up and touched the side of her face as she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Go around the house and save yourself from coming face to face with the fire-breathing monster.”

“Dad.” Jamie rolled her eyes as she pulled out her phone and her keys.

“I'm serious. She's lost her wedding ring and swears you took it. Go around the house and save yourself a useless fight.”

She laughed. “Why would I take her wedding ring?” She glanced at the house and gate at the side of the house. “Okay, I think I’ll follow your advice and sneak out the gate.” Jamie walked around the house, not at all surprised to hear that her mother was having a fit over losing something, and of course blaming her. She texted Alex that she would meet him at home, and got in her car, grateful that the visit was over, but worried more than she had been before getting there.

Whereas her dad was a strong man, her mom was extremely manipulative and wouldn't retract her claws without a fight. In her dad's condition, the last thing he needed was a fight.

*

“J
amie?” Alex called out from somewhere in the house as she walked in and locked the front door behind her.

“Yeah, it's me.” She hung her purse up by the front door and slipped off her sandals before walking through the house to find him. Jake ran up and jumped all around her, barking until she knelt and petted him. “Hi, my boy. How are you?”

“I'm good.” Alex stood at the entrance to the kitchen in a pair of slacks and nothing else.

Jamie let her eyes roam over the thick swell of his abs and chest, the hours in the gym and his natural build leaving him to look like sex incarnate. His sexy smile combined with the nice tan he'd gotten over the last few weeks from being outside and at home on Saturdays left her toes curling. “Yeah, you're real good. I should know.” She rose to her feet and took a step toward him as he approached her.

He wrapped her up tightly in a hug and kissed her deeply as she melted against him. Every time she saw him, her heart fluttered, her body warmed. She could only pray that it would always be like that.

“How was your visit with the family?” He moved back, but didn't release her.

She gazed up at him as her fingers played along the strong muscles of his back. “It was a visit with the crazy house.” She grinned, breathing in deeply and lifted an eyebrow. “Do I smell pasta?”

“You do.” He kissed her again and released her, turning and walking back into the kitchen. “I got you something. Go put it on and join me in the kitchen. I'm making dinner for you.”

“Hmmm... Sounds interesting.” She turned and walked to the bedroom, half expecting to find a nightie on the bed. Instead there was a pretty dark blue cotton dress. She smiled and ran her hand over the front of it, enjoying how incredibly soft it was.

“You like it?” He moved into the bedroom and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “It's a type of cotton that feels like silk. They were selling them at the golf club. Crazy, right?”

“I love it.” She wrapped her arms around his as he held her. “I love even more that you thought about me.”

“Of course I did.” He kissed the side of her face and moved back, gripping her hips and turning her as he worked on her jeans before tugging her shirt over her head. He smiled as he cupped her belly. “Beautiful.”

“You like the little bump?” She smiled and reached back, removing her bra and tossing it onto the floor.

“Oh yeah. It's incredibly sexy on you.” He moved down to his knees and wrapped his arms back around her, leaning in and pressing his cheek against her tummy. “Do you think the joke’s on us?”

“What do you mean?” She ran her fingers through his hair before leaning over to press her cheek to the top of his head.

“That the twins are a girl and a boy. My Lilliana and your Benton?” he chuckled, and Jamie couldn't help but join him.

“That would be rich.” She kissed his head once more before standing up.

He lifted a little and teased one of her nipples with his tongue before cupping her breasts and massaging softly. “I want you to relax tonight and let's just have a good dinner together. After that, I'll get you in a hot bath and then we're going to do anything you're up for.” He stood up and reached around her, grabbing the dress and lifting it over her head. She lifted her hands and stepped closer, kissing him as he worked the dress over her hands and pulled it down her body.

“I'm up for everything where you're concerned.” She slid her hands over his hips and up his back as she pressed herself to the front of him.

“Good. I like the sound of that.”

“My dad's leaving my mom.” She hadn't meant to blurt it out, but he had a way of leaving her raw and completely open when it was just the two of them.

His eyes widened a little. “Wow. Really? Didn't he try that last year, and he went back within a few weeks?”

“Yeah, but he said that when he thought he was dying, staying with her was the one thing he regretted.” Tears swam in Jamie's vision. “I'm sorry. I'm just worn out from all of it.”

“Oh, baby. That's horrible.” He wiped at her tears and kissed the tip of her nose. “Did you tell him that we're here for him?”

“Yeah. He said he would call when he was physically strong enough to leave her. I think he's just going to have to work on getting his strength back at this point.”

Alex nodded. “Good. He’s a grown man; he knows what to do. He’s not the kind of guy to rely on his daughter to deal with his marriage issues. I respect him and what he’s dealt with.” He shook his head and straightened. “Don’t worry about, okay? He’ll be alright. How about we enjoy our awesome marriage? Let's go have some pasta and enjoy our time together. This thing your dad is doing is probably the best thing he could do. Your mom is...”

“I know. No need to find the right word. I'm not sure it exists.” They turned and walked to the kitchen with his arm over her shoulders and hers around his waist.

“You're nothing like her, so don't even go down that path.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead before releasing her and walking toward the stove. “Now, get a glass of the sparkling grape juice I got for you, and go have a seat while I plate this up.”

“Let me help you.” She started for the stove as he lifted his hand.

“No. I want to serve you. Go sit down.” He let his eyes move across her. “I'll serve you dinner, and you serve me in the bedroom.”

“Wow. That was hot.” She turned on her heel and half jogged to the table. There was nothing in the world she'd rather do than serve Alex Reid in the bedroom. Good thing she got to for the rest of her life.

“
T
hat was delicious, Alex. You've been holding back on these mad cooking skills.” She dipped her bread- stick in the sauce that was left on her plate and took a bite as she glanced up, to find him watching her.