Page 13 of His Willing Wife

Tillie smiled. “I’m here to see LucaWinters.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked.

There was no name badge on her chest, orany way to know who shewas talking to.

“I’m Luca’s wife,” Tillie said, and thatsounded strange to say. Maybe that was why thewomanscoffed.

“Look, I’m sure you think you have anappointment—”

“She’s my wife, April,” Luca said, suddenlyappearing at his door.“Come on, Tillie. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Tillie offered the woman a smile, and shedid feel a little glad at the shock on the other woman’s face.

Stepping past Luca, she felt his hand atthe base of her back, and even that touch felt amazing to her. Shetook a deep breath, and then moved toward his desk. “Thank you. Idon’t think she believed me when I said I was your wife.”

“April worked for your Uncle Ed, but I’mstarting to feel he used her for other reasons,and, well, I’m notinterested.”

“Other reasons?” Tillie asked.

“Sex.”

“What?”

Luca raised a brow and she felt her cheeksstart to heat. “You do realize your Uncle Ed was a bit of a player,right? He went through secretaries and PAs like they were going outof fashion.”

“I had no idea.”

“Yeah, and he also gave a couple of themsome big payoffs. However, I promised you I would only get rid ofthe people who showed nopromise. April doesn’t show any promise at all.”

Tillie was still reeling from the truthabout her uncle. “Wow,”she said. “I never thought of my uncle as … someone who would dothat. I mean, he is married.”

“Married people cheat, Tillie.”

She folded her arms and looked at him. “Willyou cheat on me?”

“No.”

“How can you know?”

He chuckled. “You’re upset at the thoughtof me cheating and now you’re confused because I said I wouldn’t cheat?” He took a coupleof steps toward her.

“It’s not that, but I amcurious how youwould know youwouldn’t cheat?” she asked. “You don’t know how you’re going tothink or how you’re going to feel, and women like April, they’regorgeous. I don’t know if Uncle Ed did all the chasing, or if thewomen did the chasing, and right now, I’m not exactly sure of whatI’m saying.” She pressed her lips together in the hope that shewould stop talking.

Luca chuckled. “I have no intention ofcheating on you, Tillie. You are, however, late.”

She blew out a breath. “I know. I’m sorry.Traffic was a nightmare,and parking wasn’t easy, but I come with gifts.” She pulled out acouple of Tupperware tubs. She spent all morning preparing theirlunch, and now she smiled at him as she placed one in front of him,and then provided him with the necessary fork.

Taking her own bowl, she sat down in thechair in front of his desk, and waited for him to open his lunch.He did so, and she watched his reactions. He leaned down and inhaled and she saw the moanform on his lips.

“That smells delicious.”

“It’s a pesto chicken couscous salad. It has sundried tomatoes,artichokes, lemon, and of course chicken and pesto.”

She opened her own bowl but waited to take abite until after he’d taken one. The moment he did, she watched himclose his eyes.

“That is good.”

Feeling happy with herself, and believingher grandma to be right—thatlove starts with the stomach—shetook a mouthful of her own food. The flavors were good, balanced,and this was one of her favorite foods to eat either hot orcold.

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