Page 96 of The Billionaire's Wife

I waited, even though it took everything I had not to fill in the silence with a prompt. I really wanted her to like my friends. To fit in with them. Honestly, I’d been hoping this whole time that the ladies and their Friday night gatherings would be another check in the column of pros. One more thing that might convince her to stay.

I wanted her to stay.

I wanted her to love me the way I loved her.

Step one, though? She had to stay.

It felt like hours had passed, but it wasn’t actually that long before she continued.

“They said something that got me thinking.” She leaned forward and set her soda can on the coffee table. “Have you heard anything from Allison lately? About the case? The FBI?”

The girls had talked about the deal with the FBI? “You know, technically, that’s not something we’re supposed to be doing a lot of talking about. I guess it’s okay with the girls, but I haven’t even really filled the guys all the way in.”

She shot me a confused glance, then her lips morphed into an O. “No. Sorry. I haven’t said anything to them. That’s not what—the thing they said brought the FBI situation to mind. I’ve been getting good at pretending it doesn’t exist.”

That made a little more sense. “I have been, too. Allison called today, actually, just to say that she expected to have a resolution on Monday one way or the other.”

“Why didn’t you call and tell me?”

“I honestly don’t know. I was going to, then I got another call from a client and the day kept rolling like that. Before I knew it, I had to hurry to get here before the guys showed up. I’m sorry.” I could have added—maybe should have—that I’d spent a lot of years operating solo. Looping her in didn’t necessarily come naturally.

She nodded slowly. “Okay. That makes sense. Do you have any idea what she means?”

I shook my head. “Not really. I hope it means that she’s convinced them that this suit isn’t going to go anywhere. and they need to drop it.”

“Do you think it’s likely?”

“I have no idea. It’s the government, so who knows. They seem to do what they want with no rhyme or reason behind it.” I tipped my head to the side. “Can we go back to the girls’ night? You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I’ll just put that out. I can pull the condo out of the rotation for poker so you always have a quiet space to call home on Fridays if that’s what you want.”

Her eyes lit, then filled. She looked away. “I don’t deserve you.”

My heart sank. I’d made the offer in good faith, and I’d follow through. But I couldn’t envision life without my friends. I’d always thought that if Faith came back, she’d slide seamlessly into the group. The times we’d been together so far, it had all seemed to go well.

“I’ll let the guys know. I’m sorry they’re not a fit.” I swallowed and hoped those words had come out with the cheer I’d been aiming for. There was no need to dump my disappointment on her. We could make new friends. Friends who knew us as a couple. Couldn’t we? Maybe if I followed back up with the animal shelter and we really went ahead and rescued a dog, we could meet other dog people and go from there.

“Wait. What?” She frowned at me. “I don’t care if you have poker here. Why would I?”

“I thought you were agreeing that you’d like to have the condo free on Friday nights.”

Her eyebrows knit together. “When did I say that?”

“I offered it. You got teary and said you didn’t deserve me—I disagree, by the way—but didn’t that mean you liked the idea?” I rubbed the back of my neck. I was usually pretty good at reading people. It was a skill I worked on. It came in handy for clients and when I had to go to court. But Faith? She was a mystery.

She chuckled. “No. I’m sorry. That’s not it at all. I love that you’d offer. That’s what I meant. You take care of me. Always. And I don’t understand it or deserve it, but I appreciate it.”

I leaned forward and reached across the coffee table to grasp her hands. “I love you. That’s the why. It’s the only reason I need.”

Faith took a deep breath, and her gaze locked with mine. “I love you, too.”

I closed my eyes as relief coursed through me. “You mean it?”

“I do.” She squeezed my hands.

I stood, stepped around the coffee table, and pulled her into my arms.

She laughed. “Tristan!”

I spun, holding her tight. “Does this mean you’ll stay for me? Not just because of the Ortegas?”

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