Page 39 of The Marriage Mission

The moment had been electric, their connection a live wire that had intensified with each passing second until the abrupt ring of the doorbell had shattered it. An Amazon driver with a package had never been so untimely or unwelcome. The interruption had cast a subtle chill over the warmth they’d been basking in, shifting the mood from intimate to interrupted.

Noah knew the potential of what could have been a lingering, deepening kiss. The thought of reclaiming that lost moment fueled a determined optimism in him. He turned his gaze back to the road, planning, scheming ways to recreate the magic that morning had promised.

He'd only had a taste of the dessert tray that was Jacqui Chou Henry. He was done sampling. Noah had every plan to sit down at the table for the main course herself.

The light morning traffic hummed around them, a mundane backdrop to the charged silence that filled the car. As the traffic light turned green, he stole another glance at Jacqui. The soft morning light caught her profile, highlighting her contemplative expression. He wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap with words or touch, but he also recognized the value of patience, of giving her space to process the morning’s swift shift from intimate to ordinary.

"Busy day ahead?" he ventured, breaking the silence.

Jacqui turned from the window, her eyes meeting his briefly before focusing on the road ahead. The blush that spread across her cheeks was even better than the sparks when they argued. "Yeah, I have a few things to sort out at the restaurant."

"I thought we were taking the day off."

She let out a weary sigh. "I can't just take time off."

"You have a head chef, prep cooks, and a saucer."

A grin split her lips. "Saucier."

"Not sure a man like Aarav would appreciate being called sassy. But that's my opinion."

This time, a giggle escaped the grin. Jacqui pinched her lower lip again. Then she tugged it into her mouth, never losing hold of the smile Noah had coaxed from her.

"My point is, the restaurant will be fine. Besides, if you really want to work, we can check out the competition."

She opened her mouth and closed it. Then she looked out the window to see that they were driving past Chow Town. "Hey! This is kidnapping."

"A husband can't kidnap his wife." That wasn't precisely true. But Noah doubted anyone would argue with him. By the time the day was over, and if he played his cards right, it wouldn't be charges his wife would want to press against him.

Jacqui pursed her lips. When she opened her mouth, it was clear to see that Noah had won. "I have to stop at the bank first."

She looked down at the envelope in her lap. In there was her key to freedom—financially speaking. Jacqui worried the edges of the envelope, then used the same fingers to worry at her lip. She could've told him that his services were no longer needed. She didn't. Because she wanted more of his kisses. She likely didn't know how to ask. This one time, he would take it easier on her.

He pulled up into the bank's parking lot. Bringing the vehicle to a stop, he put it in park and turned to face his wife. At the same time, she turned to face him.

"Jacqui—"

"Noah—"

"You go first," they both said at the same time.

"Ladies first."

"That's a ridiculous notion. Just because I'm a woman, I go first."

"Because you're my wife, you go first."

That wiped the smile off her face. "But I'm not really. Your wife, I mean."

"I've got a legal document that says differently. It entitles me to put you ahead of me."

"It also entitles you to half of what's mine." Jacqui's hands tightened on the envelope.

"You still think I'm in this for the money?"

"I…" She hesitated, hand flexing and releasing the envelope. Only to tighten around it again.

Noah let go of the steering wheel. Just in time, his right hand clamped around his left wrist, holding himself back from grabbing his wife to him like some kind of Neanderthal—though he felt more like a Cro-Magnon at the moment.

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