Page 1 of Garden Daddy

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Marcus

This is a terrible idea.

It wasn’t the first time he’d had the thought, which was why it had taken him so long to get around to doing this.But it was time to face his ex-wife.He and Eden couldn’t continue on the way they had been.The constant sniping and arguing would have been kind of fun if he’d also been getting make-up sex at the end of it, the way they used to, but without that, it was just annoying.They couldn’t avoid each other, not unless they wanted to lose friends.He wasn’t willing to step away from his best friends, and he didn’t think she would be, either.

They might be very different people than they were five years ago when they’d been married, but she still knew how to get under his skin.And he knew how to get under hers.

He wasn’t sure how facing her head-on was going to go, though.During their marriage, she would have appreciated his directness.Now… he wasn’t so sure that would be her reaction.

Taking a deep breath, he stopped staring at the door to her apartment and knocked before shoving his hands in his pockets.Then he listenedreally hard.He could hear her approach, though her footsteps were soft.He held his breath.

Then nothing.

She was standing on the other side of the door.Probably looking through the eyehole and deciding whether or not to open it when he was on the other side.Should he knock again?Tell her that he knew she was there?

The door flew open with a suddenness that almost made him jump, and there she was.Pink hair down around her shoulders wearing a blue shirt that said “I Like Tacos and, like, Three People” with a taco on the chest and a pair of cute, cute-off shorts.The kind of thing she liked to wear when they were dating.

The kind of thing she’d stopped wearing once they were married to try to fit what Marcus thought his wife should look like when they were out in public.Just in case they ran into anyone from his office.He’d had appearances to maintain.

He’d been a fucking ass.

Eden’s chin jutted upwards, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him.

“What do you want?”

Well, that was his opening.Marcus squared his shoulders, lifting his own chin and looking down at her.She used to like how much taller he was than her, saying it made her feel protected.

“I think we need to talk.Can I come in?”

Immediately, she stepped forward, so she was standing in the doorway, completely blocking him from her apartment.Marcus’ lips twitched.Moving forward had also put her mere inches away from him, and he wasn’t backing up.Her head tilted back even more, frustrated anger flaring in her gaze as she realized he was now in her space, and it was her fault.It also meant he was looming over her.

“No.I’m busy.”

“Really?Because it looks like you’re just watching television.”He could easily see over her head into the apartment where a show was paused.

“Yes, it’s called relaxing downtime.Supposedly, something you know about now.”She sniffed derisively.“I guess reports of your reformation have been greatly exaggerated.”

Yup, this was their new reality.If he could haul her over his shoulder, take her to the bedroom and spank her before fucking her senseless, he would have been totally okay with the bratty banter.It was part of what he’d fallen in love with the first time around.

Right now, it was frustrating because he couldn’t haul her over his shoulder or spank her.What he really needed was for her to listen to him.

“I only need a few minutes of your time.”

She rolled her eyes.“If I wanted to hear from an asshole, I would have farted.Bye.”She stepped back, and his hand came up to block the door from closing on him.Marcus stepped forward, and he didnotlaugh at her insult, no matter how much he wanted to on the inside.Eden glared at him.

“Get out.”

“I’m not in,” he replied, keeping his tone as reasonable as possible.He knew it ticked her off that she couldn’t get the reactions she was used to out of him anymore.Back when they were married, he would have given back as good as she gave.Now, he tended to let things roll off his back, and when she did get under his skin, he didn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing.He pointed at the floor, where his feet were clearly not over the line of the doorframe.“The sooner you hear me out, the sooner this conversation can be over.”

He was hoping it would lead to future conversations, but he figured she was probably going to need some time to adjust to his new agenda.So, he had a game plan.

Tell Eden his intentions.

Give her time to adjust.

Remind her of how good they could be together.

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