Page 45 of Bourbon and Proof

I keep my attention on her and not the way my shirt looks better on her than me, or the way she’s looking at me right now—as if she wants nothing more than to push every one of my buttons.

Sighing, she rubs at her bottom lip. “You realize you’re no fun? You’re taking away one of the most fun parts of a marriage, Ace.”

“Infidelity isn’t a part of marriage, Hadley.”

She rolls her eyes and clarifies. “Sex. You’re taking sex out of the equation with this”—she air quotes—“rule.”

“Out of all the things we should be talking about, this shouldn’t be your priority.”

She raises her eyebrow and smirks. “Is it because you’re older? Things aren’t as...” she taunts, glancing down at my crotch.

“You’re a smart woman. I’m sure you can figure out how to ease your needs,” I practically choke out. Like telling this woman to get herself off is as casual as telling her the weather.

“Oh, I’m very well-versed in that department,” she mumbles.

Fuck.My dick nudges me at the insinuation.

“How long?” she asks on an exhale. “I’ll need reinforcements,” she mumbles to herself as she picks up her phone, swiping at the screen. “How long is this marriage and its rules going to last?”

Good fucking question.“It’s more than just the bourbon business now. We’re talking about your safety, along with a plan that needs...massaging,” I say, barely holding back a groan, hoping like hell this all works out.

“Then I have some rules of my own.” She sits back in her chair, her fingers gliding along the edge of the leather. “You’re not going to treat me like some kind of inconvenience. If you invite me to something, I won’t just be an arm piece.”

It’s amusing for her to think so low of me. That I’d ever consider her as either of those things.

Tipping her chin up, her eyes meet mine when she adds, “I’ll be your wife, Ace, but don’t ask me to turn into something I’m not.”

“Like what?” I smile. “Quiet? Reserved? Obedient?”

A laugh erupts out of her. “You know how well that’ll end for you, if you ever suggest me to be quiet.” She shifts in her chair. “Reserved? Not in my wheelhouse.” With a hum, she moves a pawn. “Obedient, though?” She bites the inside of her lip, as if she’s thinking about a word I so carelessly threw out. “Depends.” Her eyes shift to mine, and there’s a twinkle there meant to torture me. “Playing with power dynamics has always been intriguing to me. But I wonder...is itsiranddaddythat gets you all warm and fuzzy? Or would you prefer a whimperingplease?”

She has a way of getting under my skin, and I don’t even realize it's happening until it’s too late. Answering that question is asking for trouble, and she knows it. So, I keep to the point. “You have my respect, Hadley. Always have, but even more so now as my wife. I will not treat you in any way that doesn’t show respect. You should know that. And if you didn’t”—I clear my throat—“well, now you do.” Releasing a breath, I force a smirk to keep my shit together. “What else?”

Fidgeting just a little bit, she’s buying time to figure out what else she should demand. “I want a nickname. You always say my name with a little twinge of annoyance—I’m not sure you even realize it. But other people will. So...” She lifts one shoulderlike this request is no big deal. “I want a nickname. Somethingsweet.”

I watch and wait for what else she’ll say, but she lets the statement linger there. She wants me to call hersugar.

As I study the chessboard, I can’t help but crack another smile.

With my silence, she keeps going. “I’m not against something typical likebabeorsweetheart, but I feel like you can be more creative than that.” She finally looks up at me. “What? Your brothers really stepped up with the nicknamesPeachandHoney. I’ll feel left out.” She fiddles with one of the buttons on her shirt when she can’t help but mutter, “You seem to react nicely to Daddy, so?—”

Jesus, she’s trying to kill me. “No. You’re not calling me that, Hadley. I’ve told you this already. It’s a hard no.”

She blinks at the forcefulness of my words. “Alright. Can I ask why?”

“Your father—” I start to say, taking the opening to shift the conversation. She needs to know my plans, and I’m not going to enter this with her and have it hanging over our heads.

“Ace, are you kidding me?! You can’t drop a cold bucket of water like that on me. Please do not connect the two. My relationship with that man doesnothave anything to do with that word. Ew!” She cringes. “They’re similar words, but they do NOT mean the same thing. I understand limits and can respect?—”

“Hadley,” I interrupt her rambling, shaking my head. “If you’d let me finish...I went to see your father.”

“You what?” She stops the glass decanter from pouring mid-air, her face turning from curious to angry within two blinks.

“Your father knows more than he should about my business. He threatened to share names of my colleagues. Names he shouldn’t know or with whom to share them.” I bite down andclench my jaw trying not to get worked up over this right now. “It puts my friends and their families in danger and I can’t allow that.” I pause and take a breath before what I’m about to say. “Unless I convince you to see him and grant him access to the financials tied to Finch & King funds.”

She tosses back the entirety of the bourbon she poured. “I have plenty of reasons why I don’t want to help that man, never mind see him. Speak with him. And you...” Her anger drifts off just as quickly as she realizes what I’m saying. “He wants access to all of the estate through me, so you’re marrying me...to make that impossible?”

I smile and give her a firm nod. “I’m marrying you to gain my share of Foxx Bourbon.” Even though it feels like a lie at this point, it makes sense for me to have a selfish part in this. “Andto make sure you’re safe because, despite everything, that matters to me a great deal.” I don’t miss the way her mouth parts, but no words come out, almost like she’s taken aback. “I can’t tell you when this will end, because I don’t know if your father being sent to prison ends any of this burden thrust upon you. But you’re marrying me to help and pay back a debt you think you have, and to make sure your father doesn’t have an opportunity to use you again, or anyone else for that matter.”

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