Page 55 of Manhattan Heart

She’s somewhere in the house, probably plotting my death on the phone with Sena. I wouldn’t blame her. Cabin fever has me by the balls and an hour before the crew are due to start arriving, I give Joe a text to come and pick me up.

We’re maybe ten minutes away from the house when his phone beeps.

At a red light he checks it, types back and puts it away.

“You didn’t bring your phone,” he says looking at me in the passenger seat. “India wants to know if I’ve picked you up.”

Punched with a tower of guilt, I cuss under my breath.

Fucks sake. This isn’t me.

I know she’ll be at home worried, and I never cause her worry if I can help it.

There are cars outside when we get back and I find India’s eyes instantly amid greetings from everyone. I place the brown sack of liquor I went out for, not that we need it, the bar is plenty stocked.

“Baby…” I start, coming up behind her.

I see her spine is stiff in the red and white quarter length jumpsuit she’s wearing. Absolutely stunning with her blonde hair piled on top of her head with pieces falling down around her face.

“Save it until later.”

Yeah, I’ve pissed off my wife and I only have myself to blame.

She walks by me holding drinks in both hands and then I watch her game face cross her features.

Damn. This is going to be one long night.

“You in the doghouse, mate?” Ronan asks with a half grin on his Irish born face.

The girls decide it’s game night so they’re in the living room setting up whatever we’re playing first.

“I don’t think I’m even allowed in the doghouse,” I tell him, to which he bursts out laughing.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m always pissing off Catherine. She bitches at me, I put her in her place then it’s all good again.”

This brings a half grin to my lips. “I think you’re oversharing, Ronan.”

“Just grovel.”

Oh, I intend to. I don’t like upsetting India, even if my mood is still not at its best. But we get through game night with her barely talking to me. And at 11:30 pm, we’re showing everyone out.

“Boys, up to bed,” she tells the dogs and surprisingly, those little turds listen and scamper down the hall and up the stairs.

I come up behind her, palming her nape. Her skin is like silk and I want to put my mouth right there. “Are you going to blank me forever?”

She rounds on me, her eyes have flattened out to deep pools of angry…no, that’s not right, she’s upset and that kills me. I frown and try to draw her in and she knocks my hand away. “You went out and didn’t even take your fucking phone, Gray. Do you know how concerned I was?”

I do now and I never thought I’d be the one to put that look in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t think.”

“No, you didn’t. Because you’re having a freak out and haven’t shared it with me. I’m allowed to take care of you, Gray. We’re in this marriage together, you know.”

I don’t give her a chance to knock my touch away when I crowd her against the island, my hips holding her in place as I curl a hand around the front of her throat, tipping her chin up with my thumb.

I love seeing her eyes up close. They are every autumnal color on the spectrum.

“I adore every last inch of you, India.”

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