Page 45 of Ruthless Financier
My stomach had butterflies as I wondered what having a child might be like.
I’d never been maternal before, but Jacob’s beautiful face on a small baby was a vision that caught me off guard. My face heated, but at least my sister had no idea as I said, “Then you’re all set.”
“I wouldn’t have had the ability to do this so fast without Frank and your husband. Seriously. Now Chelsea won’t have to spend one more day without someone who at least cares about her being there.”
Ability was something Jacob had in spades. Until I’d married him, I’d been so focused on the twenty-five million dollars I needed that I’d not slept well at night or eaten properly.
For the first time in my life, I had options. I could choose what to do without running after a seemingly impossible number. I kept my thoughts to myself and asked, “When do you head down to Texas?”
“I’m at the airport now. My flight is delayed by a half an hour.”
So this was the last time Ridley would be living alone, like I’d been. Not that we were at all the same, but she’d understood my complaints about running at all hours. I stilled and said, “You’ll be there in no time.”
“Seriously, Indigo, you married a keeper. Joseph didn’t have to serve any time, and his record has been expunged.”
“Keeper” wasn’t possible. The contract was clear. And besides, love was a delusion that women tell themselves, right? I needed to protect myself from thoughts that had us living together forever. I rubbed my temples and said, “I should go.”
The shower ended as I approached. I leaned against the never-closed door and as he came out to air dry, he asked, “How was your sister?”
My muscles tensed but I was aware of the danger. For now, I needed to avoid his touch, and I sidestepped him to get in the shower he’d just vacated. I said, “She said you were a keeper, and she’s thankful for your help. She has custody if she goes to Texas.”
I turned on the water as he said, “Good to hear.”
My muscles were awake in places I hadn’t ever felt before, but I washed my hair and body and hoped I could get my thoughts under control.
Water normally calmed my fears and made my mind relax so I could get in a few hours’ rest.
My breasts still had a sweet ache of his tenderness and the shower didn’t diminish the reverberations of that memory.
I turned off the water and grabbed my towel.
This wasn’t love. It had never existed. Jacob and I had lust and maybe a few other things in common. This wasn’t anything more than that. I stepped out of the shower and continued the conversation where it had left off. Jacob was now in his underwear and picking out his suit.
“And Joseph was cleared of all charges. And the legal team you sent has arranged to have his record expunged,” I told him.
I joined him in the closet and handed him the navy blue paisley tie. He took it and kissed the back of my still-wet neck. “Glad I could help.”
I turned toward him. No reason not to indulge ourselves now. I rested on his chest as I glanced up at him and said, “And I’m here for you.”
He let me go and then handed me a yellow and green slip dress that showed off my back and arms. I grabbed my black silk underwear and bra, and wriggled into them and the dress. I knew he was watching me, but there was nothing I could do. I put my hands on my hips and asked, “Zip me up?”
He did, and then he hugged me as he said, “I wish we didn’t have to go anywhere.”
Agreed. Staying here in his sexy arms would stop me from thinking. But I turned toward him and buttoned his shirt. “We flew here for this party.”
He tucked in his shirt and then tossed the tie around his neck and began to tie it. I grabbed some shoes and we left the walk-in closet. As I put the shoes near the bedroom door, he said, “I intended to get voting stock in my father’s company to add to my quiet collection.”
I pivoted and saw that he’d finished his tie. I helped him into his jacket and asked, “Yeah?”
He reached behind him and stroked my arm as he said, “Every transaction has been secret, but I’ve quietly traded companies to secure enough stock to ensure he has a new board, under my control, with this last one.”
That was a big secret. He trusted me. My heart raced, but I needed to be fine.
Life was good with him. I raised my eyebrows to not let my thoughts get to me as I asked, “Maybe he found out?”
He let me go and squared his shoulders. “Maybe, but there is only one way to find out.”
Right. We put our shoes on and as I strapped on the heels I asked, “Is there anything about your father I should know, as your wife?”
