Page 44 of I Almost Do

She shows the photo all around to snickers and grins. "See? Teddy bear."

And just like that, she's shown these men that I'm not just ruthless and efficient in the boardroom. I also have a heart.

My wife is a genius.

Franklin Barrett lifts a single eyebrow. He looks first at me, then at Clarissa… then back at me. I see the exact moment he decides I’ve won. He’s done playing his stupid games.

"That, gentlemen, is our cue to move on," I say with a quirk of my lips.

We begin our exit to the sound of chuckling. But Barrett calls out before we get far, "Mellinger, have your assistant call mine on Monday. We'll talk.”

As we walk away, I mutter under my breath, “Yeah, that is not happening.”

Clarissa leans into me and tugs me down so I can hear her. “I thought you wanted a meeting with him.”

I shoot a look around to make sure no one can hear us, then say, “That’s before I realized that old lecher has a thing for my wife.”

She sputters out a laugh. “That’s ridiculous. He’s never said or done a single thing that was the slightest bit inappropriate with me.”

“You don’t know the things he was thinking.”

She smacks my chest with the back of her hand, laughing at me. “And you do?”

I slide my jaw to the side, then ease my hand from her waist to her hip. I nuzzle her ear and gently nip the lobe. “Yesss.”

Clarissanevertugsherearring. She seems to enjoy reminiscing about her father. Everyone has a story to tell. We eat, we listen to speeches, and she and I each say a few words about the foundation and about the man who created it.

That's the only time she chokes up. But she isn't the only one. There's hardly a dry eye in the house. I squeeze her hand and lift it to kiss her knuckles. She looks up at me and ends her small speech with a bittersweet smile on her face.

And then we slow dance. I get to put my hands on her. Slide my palms up and down her back. Smell the delicate scent of her. And feel her body moving against mine. She leans up to speak directly into my ear, and I bend down to feel her lips against it.

When I pull back, I can't look away from her eyes.

This feels like a real date. The kind that ends with us ripping each other's clothes off the minute we get home.

That's what it's supposed to look like to the rest of the world. But that's what itfeelslike too.

And I am so stupidly in love with my wife that I can hardly think straight.

As we're making our way back to our table, I see my executive assistant across the way and beckon her over.

I don't think Clarissa has met her yet. Considering how often Rebecca communicates with her through email, providing her my schedule, handling minor requests, etc., the omission feels like an oversight.

Rebecca joins us, and Clarissa stiffens beside me. I glance down at her in confusion.

"Clarissa, this is my executive assistant, Rebecca Adair. Rebecca, my wife."

Rebecca pushes her hand forward for a shake, and I have to nudge Clarissa to take her hand. She's looking at it like it's a snake.

I have no idea where the Clarissa who worked the room earlier has gone. Instead, she looks pale. Upset.

"Have you two met?" I ask.

"I haven't had the pleasure," Rebecca says at the same time Clarissa says, "I've seen her around. I just didn't know who she was."

"It's nice to meet you finally face-to-face, Clare. I've heard so much about you. You must almost be ready for summer break, right?"

Clarissa gives a tight smile. "It’s Clarissa. And that’s right."

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