Page 12 of Second Chance Husband

“Did he hurt you?” he asked, his voice so low it was barely above a whisper.

My spine straightened, and I shook my head, this time not feeling nauseous. The breakfast and meds with coffee had worked.

Damn the man.

“Not in the way you think.”

Except that once.

I didn’t say it out loud.

August’s eyes narrowed anyway. “I’m going to kill him,” he growled.

Despite that odd sensation that slid through me at the words, I immediately raised my chin. “No. You will not. It’s done and over. And I’m sorry for putting you out last night. Please apologize to your date as well. Thank you for helping me not make another mistake.”

“Paisley…” he began.

I held up my hand, before sliding my dishes into the sink. “No. I appreciate all you’ve done. But I am going to go get dressed, and then call a car. I will do dishes after I get dressed, so don’t worry about it.”

“I can do the fucking dishes.”

I didn’t flinch at his tone. “Fine. Then thank you again. For everything. Please tell your date that I’m sorry.”

“Dakota wasn’t upset. But I’ll tell her you said that. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not in the slightest, August.”

When he froze for that instant, I realized I did not say his name often. How odd to think that between us that he was the one who said my name, and I tried never to say his. What did that say about me?

“What are you going to do about the vacation up in the mountains we’re all going to soon?”

I cursed under my breath, as I had forgotten the damn Cassidy vacation. I hadn’t even wanted to go, and Jacob certainly hadn’t. It was probably because he had been so adamant about not going, that I had gone full head into helping the girls plan the damn thing.

August’s two brothers and his sister, as well as all of their spouses and children were going to be at this event. It was a lovely vacation in the mountains for the families, and the girls had wanted me to come, because I had become part of their family, though not August’s. When August had said he would be fine with it, as he was going to bring a date, I thought why not. So I would bring my husband, and we’d all be one happy family in this modern world.

And now I was in a new hell. This time with mountain peaks and skiing.

“I’ll cancel, or I’ll go. I don’t know. You don’t need to worry about it.”

I would just be the seventh wheel. But you know, I was used to that.

“You don’t need to get a car. You don’t need to cancel. Let me just drive you home.”

I took a step back from him, needing that armor again. “If you’ll just point to me where my clothes are, I’ll do that.”

“Your pants are over there and your shirt is in the washer. I have one of Greer’s shirts for you though,” he said, speaking of his sister.

For some reason I was grateful that it was his sister’s, and not his girlfriend’s. But I wasn’t going to lean too hard into those thoughts. That way lay so much trouble.

“Thank you. I’ll get it back to you.” I sounded so prim and polite. I hated myself in that moment.

“Paisley. I’m here, you know. If you need me.”

I just looked at him then, wondering exactly when this had occurred. And who this man was.

“I’m fine, August. I will be. Thank you.”

And I quickly called for that car service and got undressed. By the time I was ready, my little purse and phone in hand, the dishes were done, the news was off, and August was in his office. Probably grading papers or doing the countless other things he did as a teacher. He worked so many hours, probably just as many as me, but never got a thank you.

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