Page 71 of All Tied Down

The problem with Emerson Andrews is that she’s so much more than she lets people see and now, I’ve fallen completely in love with her in my kitchen.

My fake wife.

The woman who loves to remind me that our marriage is temporary and that she’s no good at the feelings part of being there for someone.

But she’s wrong—so damn wrong.

Because she dropped everything when I said I needed her and she’s done everything she could to pull me out of my head. She’s been sweet and caring and sexy as hell, easily moving from one to the other depending on my mood.

And she didn’t have to.

She looks at it like she’s failed me, but I’ve been healing in those quiet moments—where she strokes my hair while my head is in her lap during a movie or when she made us one of her favorite dinners from growing up.

Or when she let me make love to her in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep.

“You are incredible, Miss Andrews.”

“I’m surprisingly terrible at accepting non-work compliments.”

“That’s a shame,” I tease, tracing my thumb over the pulse point in her throat all the way to her collarbone. It jumps under my touch, her breath hitching the slightest bit as she watches me.

“I love where this is going but we don’t have time.”

“You didn’t build in time for sex? That sounds nothing like you.”

“We’ll make up for it later.”

“Where are you going?”

“To the spa with Kat and Nico’s mom and daughters.” She chuckles and wraps her arms around my waist. “It’s going to be fun.”

“Are you sure? That’s a lot of socializing for you.”

“Yes, well, make sure Nico has a good time.”

“He’s coming too?” I ask, my eyebrows creeping up my forehead.

“Among others.” I’m just about to inquire about the guest list when there’s a knock on the door. “That should be Jace.”

“Jace is going?” I ask as I turn and head for the entryway.

“Because I told Tom no. Jace was a compromise.”

“Tom…” I’m still processing that as I pull the door open and find Jace on my doorstep with jeans, a T-shirt under a blazer, and dark sunglasses that he has tucked into his shirt. His smile is immediate, as he moves the gum about his mouth and holds out his hand.

“Hey man, thanks for letting me steal your wife tonight. I promise I’ll take good care of her.”

“I don’t know how I feel about that statement…”

“Oh, stop,” Emerson huffs, appearing at my side with a bag as she fists her hand in my shirt. “You’re going to have fun. I’m going to have fun, and I will see you later.”

She leans in and places a borderline indecent kiss on my lips. Jace is apparently unfazed by this and remains planted on the walkway, eyes scanning the street.

Even though this neighborhood is private.

And gated.

Now all I want to do is drag her back inside for something fast and dirty but then she’s moving around me as she steps out onto the sidewalk.