Page 26 of The CEO's Christmas Wife

Myra giggled. “It seems like she’s still organizing you and making sure that you’re the best version of yourself. I can’t imagine that you came home on your own, but I’m glad you’re here. If she’s the reason why, then I like her even more.”

Aunt Frances shot a look my way with a smirk dancing around her lips.

“Guilty as charged. I was actually on my way to a business meeting.”

“Does she always accompany you to business meetings?” Myra asked, snatching another piece of bacon as soon as Aunt Frances turned her head.

“No, but this meeting’s in New York. We were stopping in Atlanta for one meeting and then heading to New York for the next. She’s never been to New York before, so I thought it would be the perfect time to take her,” I lied.

I hoped that was true. If she had been to New York and mentioned it, I had just put a nail in my coffin.

“Well, that sounds lovely, as long as you make sure to have fun and let her have some too, Emmanuel,” Aunt Frances warned, shaking a spoon at me.

“I will.”

“Speaking of Kandi, here she is,” Myra announced as Kandi stepped into the kitchen with Byron’s wife, Libby.

“Hey, sleepyheads,” Aunt Frances greeted.

They both laughed, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Kandi. She looked beautiful this morning in a cream-colored sweater dress that hugged her curves just right. She wore tan calf-length boots and had her long hair pulled up into a high ponytail. All of her features were highlighted with that hairstyle, from her almond-shaped brown eyes to her button nose and heart-shaped lips. Her amber-colored skin glowed, and I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her.

A thought tugged my lips up at the corners. She was my wife, wasn’t she?

I stalked toward her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and stared down into her beautiful eyes. “Good morning, gorgeous.”

She smiled up into my face and pressed a hand against my chest. I caught the tiny flicker of surprise in her eyes and the way her eyebrows lifted when she felt just how fast my heart was racing.

“Good morning, handsome.”

I dropped a quick kiss on her lips and heard her surprised gasp. Then I dipped my head, nuzzled her neck, and inhaled her warm amber scent.

“Mm, you smell so delicious. A man could get intoxicated and high off you.”

She giggled just as my aunt called out, “Okay, you two lovebirds. Won’t you let her get something to eat first, Emmanuel? And you need to eat something too.”

“He’s probably full. I’m sure he’s already had his fill of her this morning,” Chauncey announced.

I pressed a soft kiss against Kandi’s neck because I couldn’t resist the temptation, and then I released her. Her eyes were lit with desire.

I turned to Chauncey, mugged the shit out of that little nigga, and barked a command. “Mind ya manners,boy.”

There was no love lost between my cousin and me. I didn’t wish him any harm, but he knew I wasn’t playing with his ass either.

“Just noticing that she’s a beautiful lady, that’s all,” Chauncey replied with his hands held up.

“Don’t notice.”

“Aye, Ma. What’s for breakfast?” Byron asked loudly, stepping into the kitchen from the living room where he and Uncle JR had been. I was sure that he heard that little exchange between his brother and me and knew there was some tension there. Byron had always been the peacekeeper between the two of us since I’d come to stay with them.

“Baby, come over here and fix you and Kayn some breakfast,” Aunt Frances commanded Kandi before she turned to Byron to answer his question.

“Kayn, can you go bring some wood in?” Uncle JR called out from the dining room.

“Sure.”

I headed outside and walked to where Uncle JR kept the wood for the fireplace. Knowing that we would need a little more, I grabbed the ax and went to the wood pile to grab someof the bigger pieces. I started chopping them up. It wasn’t long before I heard someone come out of the back door.

When I looked up, I spotted Byron wandering my way.

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