Page 88 of The Billionaire's Wife

“More than anyone in my life.”

My lips curved. “I’ll take it. See you tonight. I love you.”

“You too. Bye.”

The call ended and I frowned at my phone. You too?

I sighed and dropped my cell on the desk. Maybe it was better than nothing, but it sure wasn’t the declaration of love I’d been hoping for since…well, basically since Faith had walked back into my life.

Every night, I held my breath as we neared bedtime, wondering if tonight would be the night Faith chose to go back to the guest room. So far, she hadn’t. I hadn’t gone in and changed the sheets or anything yet, either. Part of me didn’t want to, in case that made it easier for her to leave.

And I really liked having her with me.

Even if she scooted as close to the edge as she could reach without falling off.

Usually, in the middle of the night, she rolled closer and I woke with her in my arms. It took all the self-control I possessed to ease away and out of bed without waking her the way I figured most husbands dreamed of waking their wives. But we weren’t there yet.

Please, God, let there be a “yet” at the end of the sentence.

I took comfort in the fact that, subconsciously at least, she wanted to be near me. Besides, she’d said she cared.

And “you too.”

I sighed. Maybe it was progress, but it was slow. Patience was hard.

I dragged my attention back to work. I had clients and they deserved my best, regardless of whatever turmoil existed in my personal life.

About an hour before I’d normally end the day, I shut down my computer, locked my files, and grabbed the things I needed to take home. I checked that my office door was locked before heading into the reception area.

“Heading out early?”

I nodded. “I thought I’d take my wife into DC for dinner tonight.”

“Your wife?” Arlene blinked several times as she assimilated that information. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Um. I guess I should give you the long story sometime.” I offered a sheepish smile.

Arlene waved it off. “Your business is your business.”

“This is more than that, and I’m sorry I haven’t kept you in the loop. Her name is Faith and I’ll bring her by to say hi sometime soon. Promise.” I watched her face and relaxed when she finally nodded, her posture unbending slightly.

“I’d like that. Have a good evening.”

“Thanks. If you want to head home, too, you’re welcome to lock up and do that.”

Arlene checked the time. “I might. Maybe in twenty minutes or so. Thank you. Have a good evening.”

“You too.” The echo of Faith’s words made me wince. Hopefully, she hadn’t meant them in the same, breezy casual way I’d just used them. That had been more of a verbal placeholder out of politeness than anything else.

Oh boy. What if Faith thought I’d said something like “see you later” or “have a good one” and so she’d simply responded by default with “you too”? What if that had been reflex rather than inching closer to telling me she loved me back?

I called the restaurant I had in mind from the car. The fact that it was Tuesday worked in our favor and I was able to score a reservation without too much fuss. I never liked to pull the “do you know who I am” bit, and I was grateful that I hadn’t needed to.

I probably wouldn’t have, honestly. But sometimes I thought about how much easier things might go if I did.

Leaving early meant traffic was lighter. I got home in good time and was able to zip up to the condo to change out of the casual outfit I’d worn to work for a desk day into a suit. The rest of the guys tended to whine about dressing up, but I didn’t mind it. Maybe that was from the years at the firm, where suit and tie was the outfit of the day every day. There was no casual anything at the big firms around here.

Even before the money, I’d made the investment in higher quality—and therefore comfortable—suits. That was the key to not hating every minute.

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