Page 5 of His Willing Wife

David took a deep breath. “Luca showed usexactly what Uncle Ed was doing. First of all, he didn’t have anysolid ideas. What he hadwere half-cocked thoughts based on other companies’ successes.Think of it like cheap-ass knockoffs, if that makes sense.” He ranfingers through his hair. “No one would pay for technology that wascheap and didn’t even work. Most of the time, he fired the men whocouldn’t get it to work, and then we discovered he was channelingthe funds into his own personal bank accounts. Uncle Ed wasstealing from us, and that is why we’ve been struggling with thecompany for years, but we could never figure it out. Uncle Ed hidit from us, but with the takeover and Luca being so thorough, hewas able to spot it, and now we’re here today.”

“Wow,” Tillie said. She was in complete and total shock. Eventhough she hadn’t been part of the business or had anything to dowith it, she had known when Uncle Ed arrived, everyone had beenexcited. “So, did all the problems come from Uncle Ed?”

“Not just him. He was the main catalyst set to ruin us all, and Ithink he knew it as well. With Luca around, though, I don’t seethat happening. The man is a machine. I mean, it’s like he isgifted with sight or something. He always seems to know what’scoming next. It is amazing to watch.”

Tillie smiled. She was pleased her brotherwas happy.

“So, are you going to tell me how married life is treatingyou?” he asked.

“It’s … fine.”

David frowned. “Just fine?”

“Tell me what you’ve been up to,” she said,hoping to change the subject.

He shook his head. “Nah, let’s talkabout fine. I knowthis marriage was unexpected, and to be honest, came as quite theshock, but you seemed happy on your wedding day.”

“I was … I mean, come on, who wouldn’t be excited on their weddingday? It was a beautiful day.”

“You were marrying a stranger, Tillie.Don’t try to pretend it was anything but.”

She opened her mouth about to protest butthen closed it andpressed her lips together.

“Come on, talk to me. I don’t imaginemarried life has been easy.”

Tillie glanced around the sitting room. Lucahad a wonderful home. “There’s nothing wrong with beingmarried.”

David rolled his eyes. “Why do I feelthere’s abutcoming?”

“There isn’t, Luca has been … fine.”

David sat back and crossed his arms.

Tillie suddenly gasped and then waspleased for a distraction. “Shoot, how rude can Ibe? I didn’t even offeryou a drink. Let me rectify that.” She got to her feet and waspleased for the escape. She had no idea what she was going to say.This was insane.

Actually, it wasn’t, because the truthwas, she didn’t know how best to describe her and Luca’srelationship. They weren’t tense or uncomfortable. They were justexisting in the same house. She didn’t share his bed. They didn’tspend a lot of time together. They were strangerswho were married, and had sexonce. That was all.

Then of course, there was the other day when he asked her todance for him, and they shared a moment—a rather confusing moment for her, but still just a smallmoment.

David didn’t let her have a few minutes ofpeace. “Has he done something wrong?” David asked, following herinto the kitchen.

“No, of course not. Luca has been perfectlyfine.”

She grabbed the kettle and filled it withwater.

“Damn it, Tillie, I’m going out of my mindhere wondering what the fuck this man has done to my sister?”

She put the kettle on the stove and then glared at him. “Hehasn’t done anything to me, okay? Not a damn thing. We’re …nothing.” She shrugged.

David stared at her for a few moments, andthen frowned. “Nothing?”

She nodded and threw her hands up in theair. “We might as well just be existing together, because we havenothing in common. We don’t talk or share meals. We’re nothing likeour grandparents. We’re the complete opposite.”

“Tillie, I know you wanted to find a manand have that kind of connection like Grandma andGrandpa, but what theyhad was very rare.”

“I know that. You know I know that, but I …for as long as I remember, I … ugh, it was what I always wanted and I know that isinsane.” She sighed. “Forget about it. I’m just beingstupid.”

“Our grandparents had a love match, Tillie.You and Luca … it was abusiness deal.”

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