Page 145 of Outside The Wire

Disappointment flooded me, but I held back the pain because what she was asking for wasn’t unreasonable. Kissing her, I pretended I was fine with it. “I understand, Holly Bear.”

“I do want to live with you, but?—”

“Hey, you don’t have to explain.” And she really didn’t. How many other women had been in her situation, swearing the man they were with promised he would get a divorce? It didn’t matter how much she trusted me. This was something she needed, and I would get it for her, no matter what it took.

My phone rang again, and I extracted my hand from her despite wanting to take her to bed and finish what I had started. “Hang on, baby.

I grabbed the phone and answered. “Yeah, this is Asher.”

“Asher, this is Greg from the law firm.”

I sat up, no longer interested in sex. “Hang on.” I put him on speakerphone so Holly would hear everything I was. “I have you on speakerphone with my girlfriend. What did you find out?”

“Well, it’s pretty cut and dry. Your wife was declared dead. According to the law, your marriage was officially over when her death certificate was signed.”

“What about if she tried to challenge it since she wasn’t actually dead?”

“It still wouldn’t matter. Legally, your marriage is over. Even if you wanted to be married, you’d have to remarry. You are essentially a single man.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. It was really over. “What about paperwork? Her assets and things I inherited from her?”

“That’s up to you. I would assume that since you’re no longer married and she’s alive, you would like to return those assets to her?” he asked, almost as if he was hoping my answer would be yes.

“That would be the ideal way to handle this.”

“She’ll first need to get an amended death certificate. It won’t be over by Tuesday. But I would assume she’s already started the process if she’s been alive as long as you say.”

“Alright, I’ll check into that and let you know what I need help with.”

“I look forward to hearing from you.”

“Thanks, Greg.”

“Any time.”

I ended the call and breathed for the first time since I saw Jade in that restaurant. “It’s over,” I whispered. Holly clasped her hand in mine, and when I looked up at her, tears filled her eyes. “It’s really over.”

She nodded, bursting into tears.

“Hey. Hey, why are you crying?” I cupped her cheeks, brushing away the tears. The waterworks had really kicked in and it was starting to concern me. “Tell me what’s going on.”

She wiped her tears and smiled. “I’m not your mistress.”

“Thank God,” I laughed. “Mistress Holly Bear would be a terrible name.”

She nodded. “I’m just glad I didn’t have to fight her. I’m like sixty percent sure I would have lost to her.”

“Not a chance in hell,” I chuckled.

She nodded seriously, her eyes wide as saucers. “She hugged me. I felt the power in those arms. I would have flopped like a pancake. Which is pretty pathetic since she was in a coma for four years.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. “And yet, I still would have chosen you if you had become a pancake.”

“Even if I was all mushy?”

“Especially then. Then I could lick you up.”

She grimaced, smacking me on the chest. “Gross. You know, there’s a time and a place.”

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