“Well, yeah, but they’ll be short.”
That’s always the promise at first.I’ll only be gone a few days.But days turn into weeks, and time slips away as the hours and workload become more demanding.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
She pushes against my chest, sliding backward off my lap as I try to hold on to her. “Excuse me?” she asks, folding her arms in front of her chest as she stands in front of me, looking down with narrowed eyes. “I didn’t say that to you when you said you wanted to be the governor.”
“Baby,” I say, reaching out and trying to wrap my arms around her again, but she steps backward. My muscles tighten and my agitation swells. “I didn’t make the decision to run for governor by myself. We made it together.”
“But I didn’t stop you.”
“I know, but if you had any objections, I wouldn’t have entered the race.”
“Bullshit.” She pulls at her hair and starts to pace. “You were going to do whatever you wanted, even if I didn’t like it.”
“That’s not true.” I believe the words as I speak them, but if she had said no, I’m not sure exactly what I would’ve done. I’d like to think I would’ve done whatever necessary to keep my wife happy and maintain my career. But would I have gone against her wishes if it was my biggest dream? “This next year is supposed to be about us, Reagan. About starting a family.”
“You want me barefoot and pregnant, don’t you? Forget about my job and dreams as long as I’m popping out babies for you?”
My body jerks back as she grows angrier. There’s a fire in her I haven’t seen in a while.
“Don’t make me sound like a macho pig. I just want my wife back.”
“Why don’t you give up the race and join me on the road? We could see the world together.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. My work is important.”
She points her finger at me with her lips set in a straight line. “That right there is the problem.”
Fuck, I wish I could take every word back and stop the shitstorm that has already started to brew in this room like an out-of-control hurricane barreling right for us.
I fucked up. I said the wrong thing, and I now I have to do everything in my power to make that shit right.
“Reagan,” I say as she turns her back to me. “Baby, come on.” I walk up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing my lips to her neck. “I don’t want to fight.”
She turns her face, looking at me over her shoulder. “I’m taking the fucking job, Jude, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
11
Reagan
The airin the room goes still for a few seconds. I can feel Jude’s chest moving in and out against my back as he breathes.
I’m surprised he hasn’t fired off a comeback yet—he’s usually quick on the draw when we’re fighting.
He sighs deeply, his hot breath against the skin of my neck sending a tingle down my spine.
“This doesn’t need to be decided this instant,” he finally says, tightening his hold on me. “We talked about me running for governor formonthsbefore deciding.”
He takes me by the shoulders and turns me to face him, cupping my cheek in one of his massive hands.
“Tonight, let’s celebrate the offer and not get out in front of the headlights. Let’s just be a husband and wife savoring our time together, okay?”
He knows how to defuse tension when he wants to. It’s not just his carefully chosen words that soothe me, but his deep, sexy tone and the way his other hand is cupping my ass.
Without using words, Jude’s telling me we’ve got better things to do tonight than argue. Half of me wants to give in, and half of me wants to tell him he can’t distract me with his sex appeal.
“If I want to take this job, I will,” I say firmly. “You’re not going to fuck me into compliance.”
