Page 57 of The Marriage Mistake

Today, her hair was in a glossy, swinging ponytail, and she wore a tight navy wrap dress with no jacket, all the better to show off her curves. A delicate necklace dangled between her breasts, drawing the eye. She wore light makeup, and she looked beautiful. I was sure it was by design.

“Ever heard of knocking?” Jack growled. He still wouldn’t let me go, and I remembered I wasn’t supposed to be fighting him every time he touched me. I snuck a glance at his face and saw his clenched jaw, his narrowed eyes.

My stomach did another tumble.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt…” Gabi’s gaze flicked between us. Her throat bobbed. She brightened, but it seemed forced. “Is Darby ready for school?”

“Here,” Darby said, clomping her way into the kitchen. I pushed against Jack’s hold once more and he finally loosened his grip, but he didn’t let go. He held me at his side as Darby’s gaze slid over us. She crossed to the counter and poured some of Jack’s leftover smoothie into a travel mug for herself. She took a sip and looked at Gabi. “I’m ready.”

“Have a good day,” Jack said, finally disengaging from me. Darby came over to give him a hug. I watched him soften and press a kiss to the top of her head. They were so beautiful together.

Then, to my surprise, Darby took a step toward me and threw her arms around me in a quick squeeze. “See you, Ember.”

“Have a good day at school,” I replied. “Good luck on your algebra quiz. You’re going to crush it.”

“I know,” she said, flashing me a wide, confident smile. We’d spent last night preparing for the test.

I laughed. She was such a gem of a girl. No wonder Jack adored her. When I glanced up, Gabi’s eyes were wide, and she was blinking rapidly. She recovered quickly, smiling big. “Isn’t that wonderful? Come on, girl. Victoria’s waiting for you. Do you have your P.E. gear?”

“Yes, Gabi,” Darby replied, hurrying out the door in front of the other woman. Gabi threw us one last glance and left with a frown on her face.

I was truly my father’s daughter, because I took great pleasure in the other woman’s distress. I looked at Jack. “Does she usually walk in without warning?”

He frowned at the door. “No.”

I remembered the look on his face when he’d snapped at her. I didn’t think Gabi would be doing it again.

Flickering flames spread through my chest and stomach. I bit my bottom lip, trying not to smile.

Jack sighed, shook his head, and grabbed his forgotten smoothie. He took a sip and met my gaze. “So. Running?”

I groaned.

Jack laughed. “You’re the one who lied on your application. Now you need to see it through.”

“You’re evil.”

“Only sometimes. Besides, a lot of the gossips in town go for early walks on the beach,” he told me, turning back to the sink as he grabbed the blender jug. “It’ll be the perfect opportunity to be seen and get them talking about how good we look together.”

“I’m not sure I’m going to look good in this situation.”

He shot me a smile over his shoulder as he ran water over the dirty blender jug. “Babe.”

I was reconsidering my stance on pet names. When Jack said it like that, it made me feel like I was floating.

Still, I scowled at him. “You want me to stumble along the beach, gasping for breath, and you think that will convince people I’m in love with you?”

His grin widened as he turned back to scrub the dishes. “Yesterday, Marigold Jenkins caught me outside the hardware store and asked me about you. Said she hasn’t seen you around in a few days, and wondered how you were settling in.”

“And you said I’m a homebody, and I was settling fine, right? You told her it was none of her business?”

“Ember,” he said, smiling. “That’s not how it works. We need to give them something to go on.”

“Just tell them you’ve tied me to your bed and you won’t let me leave. That’ll get everyone talking.”

He froze, the sponge squeezed in his hand. His eyes turned intent, and I regretted my grumbled words. “First, you tell me you’re an exhibitionist. Now you tell me you’re into bondage? Ember, Ember, Ember…” He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “This goes on much longer, I won’t want to divorce you at all.”

My heart kicked hard.