“I’d rather not.”Gemma touches her fingers to her lips as if me kissing her is not entirely welcome.
It pisses me off.
I watch her walk across the room and then follow.There are toys scattered around, and I get the sense that Gemma’s normally tidier than this despite having a toddler.
I’ve had a tough couple of days.
“Would you like a drink?”she asks, walking to a side cabinet.
“Water will be fine.”
She heads into the kitchen and returns with a glass of water.I take it and sit on the sofa, tossing a plush toy onto the armchair.Gemma flops down beside me, tucking her legs underneath her.
My body begins to calm, as if having her near makes my world feel better.
It’s a foreign sensation.
I sip my water, wondering how to approach this.Asking if she discovered her dead husband was cheating isn’t exactly an easy thing to do.
If she hasn’t, I don’t want to be the one who breaks the news.
“I think my husband was lying to me.”
I almost spit my water across the room but catch myself and wipe my hand down my tie.
“What?”
Gemma shrugs.“I shouldn’t be telling you.”
“You can tell me.I promise it won’t leave this room.”
She glances away, deep in thought.“We should have more money in the account.God, you don’t need to hear this.The man who can buy a diamond necklace as a sex toy.”
I choke this time, coughing.“It...okay, fine, yes we did use it as that.”
A small smile appears as she meets my eyes.
“In my defense, it didn’t come with batteries, and I can sell it one day and profit.”I run a finger over cheekbones.“And I don’t regret a dollar of it.”
And I want to see you wearing it again.
I want to tell you it’s yours, but I know your brain will explode.
Mine may do the same thing because I’ve never bought someone a one-million-dollar gift.I’ve never bought diamonds for a woman.
I dip my eyes and see her wedding rings are gone.
Fuck.
That makes me very happy.
Which it shouldn’t.
“How bad is it?”I ask, lifting my eyes to hers.“The missing money?”
“I never said it was missing.”She blinks.
“If there should bemorethat speaks to it being missing.Am I wrong?”
