Page 387 of The Christmas Wife

She makes the motion of zipping her lips.

"So you knew all along this was a marriage of convenience?"

"I could tell he has feelings for you?—"

"He does not," I protest.

She merely smiles in that enigmatic manner women who are at peace with themselves, who’ve been through this merry-go-round and decided to get off, have.

"I was there when he was pissed on your behalf with his grandfather. Then, he beat up his half-brother because he dared kiss you too close to your lips, without his permission."

I wince. "That’s just him being all possessive…because I’m his 'wife.'" I make air quotes. The light from above flashes off of my rings. She glances at them.

"He gave you his grandmother’s engagement ring."

"Only to make sure everyone believes in this make-believe relationship."

"But it’s not make-believe for you, is it?"

I begin to nod, then scowl at her. "Sneaky."

She laughs. "And you always wear your heart on your sleeve. I like that about you, Mira. I like that a lot."

"Doesn’t help when you’re trying to play a game with your husband and you don’t know the rules."

"Make up your own."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

"He’s attracted to you, Mira. He can’t take his gaze off you when you’re with him. He’s possessive about you?—"

"Which makes no sense; I’m his wife in name only."

"So test him."

"How?"

"Use his weakness."

"He’s Edward, the emotionless robot who’s convinced he can’t be redeemed. He doesn’t have one," I grumble.

She continues to look at me with a meaningful look on her face.

"What?"

When she only gives me a small smile, I sigh. I take a sip of my herbal tea, then place the mug on the coffee table.

"I suppose his one indication of fallibility is losing his temper with Knox," I admit.

And the fact he lost control and fucked me on our wedding night.He was unable to resist me. Of course, he had to do it because G-Pa made it a condition—the marriage had to be consummated. Still, he didn’t have to actually do it. He could have lied to G-Pa, and everyone would have believed it. But apparently, he’s not a liar. Which is good, right? It means he’ll be truthful with me, as well. I draw in a breath. "You’re saying I should play on what seems to be his vulnerability and use it to get a reaction from him?"

28

Edward

"I don’t care how risky it is. I’ve decided we're going to take over the company." I glance between Knox and Sinclair. We’ve spent most of the morning trying to find a way to combine the forces of the Davenport empire with that of 7A—the company I co-own with Sinclair and the rest of the Seven—to launch a joint takeover. It’s a deal set with minefields and egos that could send the entire acquisition into a tailspin. It took Knox and Sinclair four hours to conclude the deal's not doable.

"I don’t accept no for an answer," I growl.

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