Page 71 of Reckless Vow

I want a fucking refund from my therapist.

Baldo shakes off my hand effortlessly and it’s like a slap. While I’m craving the connection, he discards my touch.

But my unreasonable grief is short-lived when he snakes his arm around my waist and yanks me to him, whispering in my ear, “You’re not a cheap date. Far from it.”

Holy shit. I want to pull him down for a kiss and never let go.

As absurd as our relationship has been, I need him with such visceral urgency I don’t think I can last another minute without him.

But I don’t get that kiss, because Baldo hoists me over his shoulder and leaves the floor.

I punch his back with my fists, but it’s a laughable effort. Groaning, I give up and just let him carry me away while several guests stare. Or that’s what I think they are doing, because the club’s raucous energy mellows around us as Baldo heads out.

“Let me down.” I kick when we leave the sounds behind, entering some back hallway, but he only grabs me tighter.

We step into the elevator and he finally lets me slide down his body.

“You’re behaving like a lunatic. That was embarrassing and unnecessary.”

He shrugs and turns to face the door.

“You’re such an asshole.”

“You mentioned that.”

“What’s your fucking problem, Baldo? You left me alone for three days. I’m not property you can lock up.”

The elevator jerks to a stop and the door into his apartment opens.

“You’re my wife, and you shouldn’t hop around with assholes who want to take advantage of you. What if Rupert has spies here?”

“You’re incredibly invested in this ruse.” God, I want to strangle him. And I want him to admit that the last ten minutes weren’t for the sake of pretending.

“I call bullshit.” I march across the room. As far away as possible from him. “You’re having all the fun, but you can’t stand me having some too. Hypocrite.”

I drop my purse on the coffee table, the energy pulsing through me in bouts of anger and frustration.

“I’ve been working.” He’s so aloof and composed I want to throw something at him.

Opening a cabinet, he gets a glass and fills it with water. He leans against the counter, takes a sip and watches me patiently.

Fuck him.

“Working?” I snort. “I saw you with that long-legged hussy in your office.”

I regret my words as soon as they come out. Way to point out how unreasonable his jealousy act was by bringing out my own insecurity.

“I thought someone was at the door.”

He’s not even trying to deny it. That stinks more than it should.

He puts down the glass and walks over to where I stand. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to spend more time with you. I was trying to give you space.”

“To give me space to do what? Go crazy in a strange city all by myself?”

His nostrils flare. “Okay, I was trying to stay away from you. Happy?”

He flails his arms in frustration and turns sideways. He tilts his head back, watching the sky through the glass roof.

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