A Cold Wife, Sweet Husband

―Well, here's a slice for each of you. He handed them their plates and a glass of wine. ―I've also been studying up on which types of wine go best with certain foods. If I'm going to serve pizza at dinner, I'll have to add wine to the beverage list. Jessica took a bite.

―I don't know how you manage to get better at this but you do. Constance nodded her agreement. ―We're lucky, she told Jessica.

―Someday when he's a famous chef, we'll be able to say we were the first to try his pizzas.―That's true. Geoffrey entered the kitchen. ―Constance, the cleaning supplies just arrived and the delivery man wants to know where to put them.

―I'll be back. Constance left the room. ―Another pizza? Geoffrey wondered in interest. ―A dessert. Would you like a slice?

Jim offered. ―I'd love one. He smiled as the man handed him a plate. ―I hadn't had any pizzas until you arrived. I must admit that they're not as poor in quality as Louis makes them sound. The gardener knocked on the door and motioned for Geoffrey to come outside. Geoffrey sighed.

―Duty calls. I shall return. Jessica chuckled as he left. ―I love the way he talks.―He's from England. I often wonder if we sound strange to him.

―Probably so, she said. ―Have you come up with any other dessert ideas? While Jim told her his ideas, she finished the rest of her slice and sipped her glass of wine. To her surprise, her brother entered the kitchen just as she accepted the second slice of pizza.

―What are you doing here again? she asked him. ―Didn't you just come by earlier this week?―Is it a crime for me to see my sister? Brad replied. ―No. It's just that you never visited me two times in a week before.

―I wanted to see how you're analog to married life.―You're checking to make sure I'm not packing a suitcase and trying to run off? He didn't comment, but she knew that was the real reason. ―You're amazingly loyal to Mr. Monroe. He rolled his eyes.

―Aren't you calling him by his first name yet? She was but she was having fun watching her brother squirm. It served him right for taking part in forcing her into this marriage. Ignoring his question, she asked,

―Would you like a slice of Jim's pizza? It's really good. I'm having a second slice.―I would but I need to talk to you alone. I hope you don't mind, Jim. Jim shook his head. ―I'll get some groceries. Will you tell Louis that I will be back in half an hour?―I will, she assured him. After he left and they were alone, she turned to her brother.

―What is the problem now?―I don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone with Jim. People might get the wrong idea. He paused.

―They would be getting the wrong idea, wouldn't they? She was tempted to give in to her brother's fears that she was falling in love with the cook, but she respected Jim too much to involve him in her d.e.s.i.r.e to mess with her twin. ―Yes, Brad.