t flickered in his eyes. There wasn't a trace of anger-if anything, he turned slightly and offered his other che

y her vision nearly blurred. The sheer

ssica, and now he had the nerve to f

rist with effortless precision. Before she could pull away, he lifted her hand to his lip

s better-no bruised hand, and it

shifted. The lazy smile on his lips faltered, tig

fened, her voice flat as

eld firm, the resistance only dragging her forward until she collide

ked up? Don't worry. I'll get

eping into her as the distance between them va

t herself believe he was just as trapped in this marriage as she was-that somewhere beneath al

bare and left only the sting of truth-

something she refus

we need

ittle hum for her to go on, then turned back t

t. He held it against her with an appraising look, clearly delighted by his own c

e-it was Friday. The Becker family always gathered th

r generation was expected to arrive early

to her, and for the past three years,

ance rose inside her. She tipped up her c

eased back half a step. "You don't like thi

barely-there lingerie. "Or maybe slip into one of these instead. Just picture Grandma

's face in an instant, her cheek

n, she snatched the skirt suit from his hands, shoved it back into the closet,

ack. "Looks like you had a great time celebrating last night. Should

cused for a heartbeat. Then he crouched, retrieved the discarded outfit with deliberate care, an

me is my wife. So what'll it be? Are you putting it on you

d Corinne, leaving he

lly expected him to feel embarrassed. That was almost l

ing this out would only give him more chances to push her buttons. If she r

self off from him completely. Throughout the entire drive, not a single word passed her lips. Eve

e door, his hand closed ar

fter breakfast. At least try to look like you're

inne. The concern in his eyes only made the

is family would feel reassured, and she had been stupid enou

e was done with

e Becker family had brought to the Nash

out of his grasp, snapping, "Ryland

th, a few crisp knocks tapped again