Page 11 of Affinity

“You’re getting this annulled first thing tomorrow,” he ordered.

“No can do,” I gritted out.

“Did you knock her up? Is that why you got married? If that’s the case, I’ll pay for the abortion myself.”

Abbi tensed beside me and slowly turned to look at me. The look on her face was one of shock and disbelief. I couldn’t believe those words had come out of my father’s mouth. I started to say something, but Abbi beat me to it.

“For your information, I’m not knocked up, and while I’m sorry you’re not happy with our joyous news, I plan to make your son happy for a very long time.”

Damn, Abbi was a good actor. I actually believed her for a second.

If you counted three hundred and sixty-five days as a long time. It made me wonder if there was a countdown app I could install on my phone for the day when I’d be rid of her.

I stood with my arm extended as an invitation for him to leave. “Now that you’ve met Abbi, it’s time for you to go. We’ve got some celebrating to do if you know what I mean.” I waggled my eyebrows as I started toward the front door.

Without even a goodbye, my father left, slamming the front door behind him. I wanted a beer and to chill out, but I knew that wasn’t an option, so I made my way back into the living room.

“I’m sorry about my father. I tried to warn you, but I don’t think any amount of warning would have prepared you for him.”

“You’re right. There’s not.” She still looked like she was in shock from her encounter with dear old dad.

Holding out my hand, I helped Abbi up. “Would you like a tour of the house?” How did she smell like the most amazing dessert? I swear it was to disarm me.

“That would be nice. As I said before, your house is beautiful.” She bit her bottom lip, making my dick twitch. How could something so innocent be so sexy?

“This is the living room,” I walked a few steps before I turned to her. “And this is the kitchen and dining room.” I let her follow me outside, where I pointed to the outdoor kitchen. “Barbeque. There are plenty of places to sit and relax. I hope you know how to swim.” I winked at her as we moved along the side of the house.

“You have Koi.” Abbi looked down at them in their little pond. “This is really peaceful. If I was you, I’d never want to leave.”

Most days, I didn’t.

Walking around the Koi pond with a waterfall, I stepped onto the patio and inside my bedroom. “This is the master, and around there is the bathroom.” My bathroom sat on the other side of the fireplace and had a long tub where I could sit and relax while listening to the waterfall outside.

“Oh, wow, Reeves, this place is so calming.” Abbi eyed the room in wonder.

I walked out of my bedroom and down the hall to stop in front of the bedroom she’d been in before. “Do you find your room satisfactory?” I felt bad that her bedroom didn’t have an opening to the backyard, but she could always go out through the living room.

“Yes, thank you. It’s wonderful, and I love that it feels like I’m at the beach.” She walked inside and sat on the bed. Her hands trailed over the comforter as she stared up at the TV on the wall that showed a beach scene.

I’d only been in the room once, and that was before it had been decorated. I didn’t care what the guest rooms looked like since I never had anyone stay at my house. Now I was glad I’d had my interior designer and that she’d done a good job in keeping it like the rest of the house.

Abbi’s phone buzzed from the nightstand, and when she looked up at me with her wide, terrified eyes, all I wanted to do was run out of the room. She swore under her breath as she picked up the phone with shaky hands and answered. “Paul?”

Who the fuck was this Paul?

“No, I’m not at my apartment. Are you there?” she asked hysterically while looking around the room as if she was looking for an escape. “You’re still in Virginia?” She couldn’t hide her apparent relief that whoever this Paul was, he wasn’t in California. “And you saw the news?”

I continued to stand in the doorway and watch as Abbi nervously talked to this Paul. Why was I dying to know who he was? It wasn’t like this was a real marriage.

“I met Reeves a month ago and . . . ”

I could hear a shout of “Only a month?”

Abbi chewed on the inside of her cheek as tears filled her eyes before she continued. “We hike on the same trail, and one day I twisted my ankle, and he came to help.” Her cheeks turned a dark pink as she pulled at the hem of her dress. “We wanted to keep our relationship quiet.” I heard a shout, but couldn’t make out the words. “I know it wasn’t quiet, and I’m sorry for not thinking of you when he asked me to marry him. I should have known you’d want to be there.” A tear slipped down her cheek as her chin trembled.

“I’m sorry you had to hear about it on the news. I should have called you. Catherine . . . ”

There was more shouting that I tuned out. My sole focus was on Abbi and the heartbreak that was written all over her face. Had she married me when she was in a relationship was some other man? Did she love him? I didn’t envy him when he found out that information.

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