A Cold Wife, Sweet Husband

Did you hear that Tom and Ian Conner got adopted? ―Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are excited to have them for their sons. They're good people. I imagine that Tom and Ian will be happy with them as parents, though it won't be the same as when they had their father raising them. But it will be just as good in a different way.

―I don't know Mr. and Mrs. Evans but I knew Tom and Ian's father. He was a nice man. He and my father were good friends.―You must miss your father.

―Yes, I do. I wish he had taken me with him. I wouldn't have been in his way.―That's not why he insisted on this marriage. You were never in his way. He loved having you nearby.―Then he should have let me go with him.―Would that have made you happy?

She shook her head at his question. ―I can't believe you asked me such a thing. Of course, it would have made me happy

.―Don't you have a d.e.s.i.r.e for a husband and children? I know the day came when I needed to be more than my uncle's nephew. I assume that you longed for something more than to be your father's daughter. She sighed. ―I know what you're trying to do and it won't work.―What am I trying to do?

―You're trying to convince me that I want to be married to you. Just because you kiss me and have Jim make breakfast, it doesn't mean that I'm willing to be with you to impress your clients.

―Are you still harping on that silly notion?―It's not a silly notion. I suppose the fact that I'm going to the orphanage today and baked cookies are things that make me charming. ―Yes, they are. I won't lie. You do a lot of good for others without expecting anything in return. She gave him an, I knew it' look. He leaned forward.

―I also know you have a tempting body and can kiss me to the point where I forget about everything but how much I want to make love to you. Her eyes grew wide and her cheeks flushed. ―Mr. Monroe. We are in the dining room.―So?

She looked disturbed by his response. ―Such conversation isn't appropriate here.

―Why not? If I let the staff off for a night, we could have fun on the table. He gave her a suggestive smile. Whether she was embarrassed or horrified at the thought, he couldn't tell. But he knew he rattled her cage, and that alone was worth saying it. She quickly finished the rest of her pizza and drank the milk.

―I'm late. I promised Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Tobias I would be there a little before eight. Though he wasn't done eating, he put his napkin on his plate and followed her to the front door.

―I like the way you walk, he told her. ―Your h.i.p.s sway gently from side to side. She gasped and spun around so she walked backward. ―Of course, your b.r.e.a.s.ts fill the top part of that dress nicely too, he continued. She crossed her arms over her c.h.e.s.t. ―I don't appreciate feeling n.a.k.e.d in my own home.

―Ah-ha!― Ah-ha!' what?―You just admitted that this is your house. Her face flushed and she backed up until she was against the wall.

He chuckled. ―You need to watch where you're going. The staff will laugh at you if insist on bumping into things. She quickly ran to get her hat from the hat rack. He reached up and took her hand before she could get her hat. Before she could protest, he kissed it.

―I am going to be late, she protested, though she didn't move away from him. ―No, you won't be late. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her cheek.

―Franklin will take you wherever you need to go. And if you're so inclined to do any shopping while you're out, you'll find some spending money in your purse.

He kissed her neck. Though she sighed in aggravation, he noted that her hands rested on his arms. He pulled away from her and gave her the hat and purse. Then his smile widened. ―Didn't you forget your cookies?

―Oh! The cookies! She ran past him. He watched in amus.e.m.e.nt as she raced to the kitchen. When she returned with the boxes of cookies, he opened the door for her. ―Where is Geoffrey?

she wondered. ―He's trying some of Jim's breakfast pizza. Here, let me carry those boxes for you.―Oh, I get it. Now that we're out in public, you want to look devoted to me. I noticed you didn't get these for me. I had to get them myself.

She refused to let him take any of the boxes. He wouldn't let her words annoy him. ―I let you get the cookies because parts of you jiggle when you run. It was nice to watch. She glared at him before walking up to Franklin's stagecoach. ―Is this what you plan to do for the next four weeks?

―No. I fully intend to consummate the marriage. Ideally, it won't take the whole month to happen. But that's up to you.―Then it will never happen. ―We'll see. He waited for her to get into the stagecoach before he tipped his hat to her.

―Have a good day, Mrs. Leo Monroe. She grunted her reply. He waved to her as Franklin drove her to the orphanage.