Page 49 of Secret Marriage To My Bosshole

The drive from the private airport to Dublin is short. We abandon the car in a parking lot before heading to the cobblestone streets of the city's older sections.

Brick buildings tower on either side of the road, bright pops of color accenting the shops.

Cora pulls out her phone and starts snapping pictures. “I can’t believe we’re in Ireland right now. It’s been my dream destination for a long time.”

“I may have found that out after asking Jake.”

Cora spins to face me, her full lips parting in surprise. “You asked Jake?”

“I asked him where he would want to travel next. He said Bali would be nice, but he’s considering Ireland since you never shut up about it.” I grin and loop my arm over her shoulders, steering her down a street packed with bright buildings. “Besides, that seemed like something a good husband should know about his wife.”

Her elbow digs into my side. “You still haven’t sent me the divorce papers.”

I stop and turn to her. My stomach ties itself into knots as I look down at Cora. This moment is more intimidating than stepping before a judge to argue a case.

“Cora, is there really a point in divorcing?”

She is silent as she steps to the side and allows people to pass us.

As we stand there, I’m sure she can hear how my heart is racing.

“Did you ever want to get divorced in the first place?” Cora’s words are soft. Her gaze drops to the ground before flicking back up to me.

I swallow hard, stuffing my hands into my pockets. I don’t know how to answer her.

Telling her the truth about why I stalled the divorce for as long as I did might make her angry, but I want to be honest with her.

Though I could give her a toned-down version of that truth, it wouldn’t be enough.

I hold her gaze as I shake my head. “No. I never wanted to get divorced. Is sneaking off to a chapel in Colorado the way I thought I would get married? No. I didn’t even think that marriage would be for me before we accidentally got married.”

Cora stares at me like I have three heads for too long.

I clear my throat and shift my weight from one side to the other. “I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I didn’t even start the process of filing for one. I thought that if I kept us married for a little while, I could figure out a way to get you to spend more time with me. After we kissed that night… I knew I wanted you.”

Cora’s eyes widen, but her mouth presses into a thin line. She runs her hand through her hair before linking her hands behind her head and looking up at the sky.

“Is there anything else you want to share about this divorce you never intended to follow through with?”

My chest tightens as I nod. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that from the beginning. But you wouldn’t have listened.”

Cora nods and drops her hands. She paces away from me before coming back. She takes a deep breath and looks up at me.

“Don’t keep secrets from me, Griffin. You hear me?” She pouts her lips.

Some of the aches in my chest ease. “I won’t, Cora. Now that we agreed we won’t get a divorce, I have nothing else to hide from you. I promise.”

Cora tucks herself into my side, taking my hand and lacing our fingers together. “I’m slightly annoyed with what you did, but I’m not mad. That marriage certificate gave us a chance that we never would’ve had any other way.”

I kiss her temple. “I still have no idea how we ended up getting married. The only thing I’m worried about now is letting your brother know.”

She squeezes my hand as we reach the Ha’penny Bridge. “Let’s see how this trip goes first. Shall we?”

I laugh as we lean against the railing and look down at the water. “You’re my wife, and I want to spoil you. You work hard, and I probably don’t thank you enough.”

“Damn right, you don’t.” She smirks and pulls out her phone, holding it out and taking a picture of us. Cora flips around the phone to show me the picture. “Not bad for two people who’ve been up all night on the plane.”

I cup her chin and turn her face to mine. “You could never look bad.”

---