Page 112 of Dirty Husband
Deep breath. Poker face. "You too." I release Jasmine. Shake his hand. Turn to her like I'm ready to marry her. No, I am ready. And I am proud to introduce her. She's the most remarkable woman I know. The most remarkable person I know. "Have you met my fiancée?"
"Jasmine Lee." She extends her hand. Shakes his. "I'm always happy to meet a friend of Shep's. But I have to admit, now that I've left finance, I can't stand to hear about it."
"You can't?" I ask.
She shakes her head, leaning into the explanation. "It's so tedious. All the terms, all the rules, all the numbers. Like a board game that doesn't make any sense." She turns to me. Stares up at me like I'm the only thing in the universe that makes a lick of sense. "I'm not going to miss that."
"Ever?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "Never." She turns to Lucien. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so rude. I just get caught up talking to Shep." She offers her hand. "It's been a long time."
"Please." He ignores her request for a handshake. Holds out his arms, inviting her to hug him.
She looks to me for approval, but he's too fast.
He swoops in. Pulls her body into his. Holds her like he'll never let go.
My blood boils. This suit is too stuffy. This tie is suffocating me.
I need to take it off, wrap it around his throat, pull tight. So he never breathes again.
But Nick is right. If I kill him, I'll be under his thumb forever.
He'll win again.
The bastard always finds some way to win. He knows rules I don't. He invents new ones.
I don't breathe until he releases her. Then I grab her too hard. Pull her too close. Hold her too tightly.
"Careful." My voice is a threat. "I get jealous."
I won't hesitate if he hurts her. It will be the last mistake he ever makes. I don't care what it means for me. Or for this bullshit game he's playing.
No one hurts her on my watch.
"You've always been such a beautiful girl." Lucien's voice is a dare.What are you going to do? We both know you're not man enough to stop me. You weren't then and you aren't now. "And, now, such a lovely young woman."
Charles nods. "My wife would love that dress."
Jasmine smiles and names some boutique in midtown. "Tell her Jasmine sent you. And maybe she'll give me a discount next time."
Charles raises a brow. "Are you lacking cash?"
"Never too rich for a good deal." She turns to me. "Right, baby?"
My balls tighten at the term of endearment. She hasn't called me that since we were kids. And then—
Fuck, this is confusing.
I want to hold her.
I want to fuck her.
I want to kill him.
"Smart too," Lucien says. "I always liked that about you. I couldn't believe my son was ready to settle down so young."
Where the fuck does he get off, calling me his son?
