“I’m glad you have them.”
“So am I.” She turns. “Through that door is the laundry. There’s a functional washing machine, but I doubt I’ll get around to redoing the room for a while yet. I want to finish the rest of the house first.”
“You said you’d already done the bathroom,” I prompt.
“I did.” She seems pleased I remember. As if I don’t store every tidbit I collect about her like a squirrel hoarding nuts. “Back this way.”
The bathroom comes off the short hall that leads to the living room. It’s small but elegant, with a deep tub and a wet floor shower. Perfectly designed for sex. I can’t help but wonder how many other men have been here, and whether any of them have had the opportunity to take her against the wall the way I want to.
Get your mind out of the fucking gutter, Isles.
“It’s great.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t have the resources you do, but I did the best I could.”
My eyes narrow and my nostrils flare with annoyance. The only reason she doesn’t have equal access to my resources is because she insisted I not pay her any alimony. I wanted to, and at first, I sent her money anyway, but she always returned it.
“You don’t need to be defensive.” I do my best to relax my features and show my sincerity, but displaying emotion has never come easily to me—one of the primary reasons for our breakup. “I meant it when I said it looks great. You’ve done well.”
“Okay, thanks.” She’s on edge, and I don’t know how to help. “I’ll show you the room that will be the nursery.”
She leads me down the hall, pulling the door to her bedroom shut as we pass. Before she does, I catch a glimpse of a bed with a baby blue comforter and an array of dark blue cushions. My eyes widen as she lets me into the nursery because it seems she removed a wall separating two smaller rooms, and I have to step over rubble on my way to the center of the space.
“Did you, uh, have a permit to demolish that wall?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Captain Obvious. I’m not stupid enough to knock down what could be a load-bearing wall without having it checked out. I got the go-ahead. All of the boxes are ticked.”
Of course they are. I shouldn’t have questioned it. She’s never been rash. I’m debating how to respond without stepping on another land mine when I hear a car outside.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No.” She frowns, but then her face lights up. “It’s probably the girls.” She starts toward the door, then glances at me and I can almost hear the cogs whirring in her brain. For whatever reason, she’s reluctant to introduce me to her friends, but there’s no chance of her spiriting me away without them noticing.
“They’re waiting,” I say before she can dream up a plot to get rid of me.
“You’re right.” She sighs, then looks me up and down. “Do you think you could tone down the broody hotness?” Her cheeks flush as she asks the question, but she doesn’t stop. “I don’t want them getting the wrong idea about us.”
Uh, what?
My lips curl in a slow smile. “You think I’m hot?”
She rolls her eyes. “I married you. It’s a given.”
“You divorced me too,” I point out.
She touches my arm. “We both know that had nothing to do with a lack of physical chemistry.”
“We do,” I agree. “But it’s still nice to hear.” Especially considering she’s improved with age while I’ve gotten rougher. “I want to meet them.”
She nods, apparently resigned. We backtrack into the hall, and to the front door. Ashlin opens it, and I wait behind her. A cherub-cheeked face appears as the door opens, and the talking begins.
“Sorry for knocking. I wanted to come right in, but Jessica made me wait since we didn’t recognize the car out front. She was afraid we’d interrupt—” Her eyes catch on me and widen. “Well crap, we did interrupt something, didn’t we?”
“You must be Paige.” I edge past Ashlin to offer her a hand, and her jaw drops.
“Holy shit, you’re even better looking in person.” She shakes my hand vigorously, then bounces inside, darting a look at Ashlin. “Sorry for turning up like this; we thought you might need support.”
“I’m glad you did,” Ashlin replies at the same time as I say, “Don’t apologize.”
