Page 20 of Impending Consent

“Decided to bypass furniture?” I arched my brow and he smiled.

“For now. I’m renovating and not sure what the final look will be. Feels premature to furnish the place until I know for sure.”

“I hope you at least have a kitchen table since you’re forcing me to have dinner with you. I don’t plan on standing to dine, that is, if you still plan on feeding me.”

I was sure he planned on feeding me. Something smelled amazing but I was out of my comfort zone and not interested in being nice or cordial. I chose defensive and snappy.

“I grilled snapper and vegetables. It’s warming in the oven, and yes, I have a kitchen table. So standing while you dine won't be necessary.”

“Good, bathroom? I’d like to wash up.”

He pointed to the corner across from the stairwell and I was on my way when he added, “I’ll be in the kitchen. Join me when you’re done.”

I paced in the tiny bathroom, which by the way reminded me of how old the home was. When this home was built, bathrooms weren’t a selling point. After taking a few cleansing breaths, I placed both hands on the edge of the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

“You can do this, Sail. Fake it ’til you make it. You don’t lose,” I stated before I straightened my posture and proceeded to wash my hands. After I was done, I exited the bathroom and made my way to the kitchen where Rival had a table set for two. The foodlooked amazing and I was very tempted to indulge in the glass of wine which sat next to the bottle he poured it from, my favorite wine, but that didn’t feel like a great idea all things considered.

Once I was settled in the seat across from Rival, I lifted the napkin and shook it free before placing it in my lap. “I’ll have water instead of this. You and I need to steer clear of alcohol.” I motioned to the wine and he grinned but lifted from his seat and left the table, returning with a bottle of sparkling water along with an empty glass. He set them next to my plate and moved the wine out of the way.

After a quick blessing, I sampled my first bite of snapper because my stomach was angry and in desperate need of nourishment since I’d neglected it all day.

“Oh wow, this is good.”

“Thank you.”

Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

My eyes shot across the table where I found Rival watching me with an intensity in those brown orbs as he held my gaze that had my stomach twisting in need.

Relax, Sail, you’re just hungry. Eat.

I lifted another forkful of snapper and shoved it in my mouth but that twisted feeling was still there. The need wasn’t satiated with food because that wasn’t the issue.

He was.

“Please eat and stop staring at me like that.”

He chuckled and did as I asked, which was a terrible decision, because my visual was drawn to his mouth. Those lips that I remembered kissing. I liked his lips…

Amongst other things.

After a few more minutes of silence and me enjoying my food, I wiped my mouth and placed both hands on the table. “What’s your endgame? Why won’t you just work with me on this?”

“Work with you how, Sailor?”

“An annulment.”

The corner of his mouth lifted.Damn it, I wish I could read his mind.

“We’re not related, it’s been years since either of us has seen the age fifteen, we both are in possession of all our mental faculties, we weren’t previously married to other people or forced into the marriage, and there’s only one thing left that qualifies an annulment.”

One party was fraudulently misled into marrying the other.

I cringed. “You’re not an attorney. You don’t know anything.”

“I’m not, but I can read with comprehension and so can you, which means I’m the only one here who can request an annulment based on the qualifiers.”

“No fraud occurred.”

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