Page 24 of His Vengeful Tradwife

The kids and I had just finished dinner. Steak fajitas and quesadillas, with homemade pico de gallo, salsa, and guacamole.

"Did the kids make the salsa?" he asked. "They do a good job, don't they?"

"Yep, they sure do," I said blithely.

I felt his eyes scan over the empty plates, scraped-out bowls, messy dishes.

Nothing left for him.

Dirty fucking cheaters don't get leftovers.

"I don't think I'm going to make partner," he said into the silence.

"That's fine," I said, getting up from the table and heading into the other room. "I don't need your alimony. I just want a clean break.”

Maverick shot ahead of me and blocked my exit.

"Tallulah, this was never about your money!" he said through gritted teeth. "I haveneverbeen after your money."

"That's good, Maverick," I said, backing away, because I didn't like how familiar that throb in his jawline was, how the heat radiated from his body. "Because you won't be getting any of my money."

I retreated into the room where the kids were watching TV after dinner and sat down beside them so he was forced to silence. But I could feel his eyes on me. All the time. As I played LEGOs, fed the chickens, made a late night snack for the kids.

For the next few days, Maverick kept his head down, coming home right after work and doing the huge mountains of dishes quietly, then going back out for a sad, greasy burger, since he knew there would be no leftovers or food cooked for him.

One night I hadn't even realized he was back yet, because I was standing in my doorway on the phone with Austin. The kids were all asleep and I wanted to plan our next weekend together.

"What about going to the beach?" he asked. "Or I could fly you to Switzerland. Or the Bahamas. Anywhere you want to go. I just want to whole weekend so I can wake up next to you and then lick every inch of your body."

I laughed. "If you took me to the Bahamas, boy, you'd get a blowjob you'd never forget."

"Every blowjob from you is a fucking superstar gold-medal caliber--" Austin was saying, when suddenly the phone was grabbed from my fingers and thrown down the stairs.

Of course it was my insanely jealous and angry ex-husband, his breath harsh and ragged as he glared down at me.

"What the fuck--" I began indignantly.

"I've made a huge mistake," Maverick said.

He gripped the doorway like he was going to collapse and suddenly, before my eyes, he fell to his knees.

"I was such anidiot, Tallulah. I don't know what thefuckcame over me. She's not what I want. All I want is for things to go back the way they used to be. All I want isyou, Tallulah. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you ever since that day I talked to you about getting a divorce."

My ex's face was shadowed with pain, his voice dark with agony.

"I won't let you go.I love you so much, Tallulah. I see that now. I swear toGod, I've never even touched her since that day. I'll never take you for granted again, and if you forgive me, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

The tendons on his thick arms stood out as he clutched the doorframe, looking up at me desperately.

"Now, now," I said, patting his big shoulder in a comforting manner. "This is nothing but an attack of the nerves. I've already reserved you and Amanda's cabin for our annual family cruise. Can't back out now! Your parents are coming, too. Perfect time to tell them about our divorce.”

CHAPTER 8

Maverick

Later that week I walked into my coworker James' office to hand him all my painstakingly compiled notes on the highest-profile case I'd ever been assigned to.

Ever since my boss found out that Amanda and I were having an affair, work has been excruciating.

---