Page 22 of Marrying Off My Husband

I waited for her to suggest we go to dinner right now. I wasn’t ready for that—for any of this. Especially with someone who I wasn’t quite able to reject immediately.

“What?” Eve asked.

With a sly grin, Louise leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I want you to be with my husband.”

I snapped my gaze to the woman at my side. Her eyes went wide, her jaw falling open as color rose in her cheeks. She shot me another glance, and I spotted the panic rising in her eyes.

After a second, she pressed her lips together and swallowed hard. “Uhh…”

“Now, don’t be shy, sugar.” Louise waved a hand at her, but Eve stumbled back a step.

“I’m…I’m so sorry, I think…I think maybe I misunderstood what was happening here. I’m going to go.”

I realized exactly what Eve assumed was happening. The way Louise had said it sounded much more provocative than she’d meant it.

Louise crinkled her brow as Eve tried to scramble around our side table. “Now, wait, just a minute, darlin’. There’s no need to rush off.”

“I…think there is,” she answered, her knuckles white around her purse.

“Well, in heaven’s name, why?” Louise asked.

Eve licked her lips, leaning closer to her. “I’m really not into this sort of thing. I’m sorry if I gave you another impression.”

“Whatever are you talking about?”

“Louise,” I murmured as I approached them, startling poor Eve again as I hovered near her, “she thinks you’re propositioning her.”

“Proposit–” Louise’s eyes went wide before she doubled over with laughter, slapping her thigh. She reached for Eve, sliding an arm around her shoulders as she guided her to the couch. “Now, darling’, there’s nothing weird going on here.”

I eased into an armchair as Louise and Eve settled on the couch, Eve still looking uncomfortable.

“But you said…” Eve raised a finger in the air, her features still etched with confusion.

“I know what I said. I didn’t mean…well, let me try again. This is my husband, Spencer.” Louise patted my knee. “We’re married in name only. Legal purposes. We’ll be getting a divorce soon, and I just want Spencer to be happy. So, I want you two to date.”

Eve stared at Louise like she had completely lost her mind. “Oh.”

She glanced down at her lap, looking lost, and I clearly wasn’t helping matters. I hadn’t said two words about the situation. I imagined she didn’t want to upset Louise, but she had no idea if I was on board with this plan.

I really hadn’t wanted to date, but in that moment, I didn’t want the poor woman to feel so awkward. I’d been in that position way too many times.

Louise offered me a wide-eyed glance, offering the last bit of encouragement I needed to clear my throat and speak up. “I know this is sort of weird, but…I’d love to have dinner with you…if you’re interested. No pressure.”

Louise offered me an approving smile and a slight nod. Eve still didn’t look so sure. “Oh, uh–”

“Now, come on, darlin’, I promise you, he’s a catch.” She grinned and nodded before her features went blank. “Oh…you’re probably wondering why we’re divorcing, but I promise you it has nothing to do with him. We’re just two different people, that’s all. I love going out, he loves staying in.”

“She says tomato, I say tomah-to,” I said with a nervous chuckle, wondering if the poor woman would run screaming from the house and tell anyone she found that we were stranger than anyone could imagine.

A jittery chuckle escaped her as she shifted on the cushion. “I, uh, don’t know what to say. I’ve never been…on a date with a married man.”

The laugh she offered after was infectious, and we all joined in.

“Well, just try to think of it like any date,” Louise said. “He’s not really married. Only on paper, sugar.”

“Right,” she said with a nod, her eyes falling to the ring on my finger.

I quickly shifted my right hand to cover it. If I had to date, this woman seemed like a good choice. At least I wouldn’t absolutely detest spending time with her. “How is Friday?”

---