Page 149 of The Wrong Husband
"Iamyour wife. And when you’re stressed you have a tell."
"A tell?" he scoffs.
"Here"—I trace the furrow between his eyebrows—"and here"—I rub at the nerve throbbing at his temple.
His face softens. "Damn." He continues to look at me with wonder in his eyes. "No one’s noticed that before.”
A warm sensation squeezes my chest. "You haven’t been married to anyone else before, have you?"
A tenderness fills his gaze. He kisses me again, then sits up. "I have to leave."
What?The starkness of his words dispels the lazy, lusty feelings that were crowding my mind.
I sit up, then swing my legs over and stand up. Walking around the bed, I grab my dress and pull it on.
"Leave? Where?"
"Save the Kids. We received the coordinates of where the rebels are holding the supplies. I need to head there right away and negotiate the release, or else a lot of children will die."
Panic slams into my chest like a defibrillator. I can barely breathe.
You said you wouldn’t take on any more missions.” My voice cracks.
“This isn’t a mission for the government. This is something I’m undertaking on my own.”
I stare at him, disbelief mixing with dread. Of course, he’s doing this. It’s who he is. The man who can’t walk away from a fight when innocent lives are on the line. It’s what drew me to him. His integrity. His relentless drive to do good, no matter the cost. To use his money to help those in need.
But to put himself at risk now? When I just got him. When I'm finally free to be with him in every way.
Why does it have to be now?
Why does it have to be him?
A chill races down my spine. I sink down next to him, my legs unable to hold me up any longer.
"Can’t…someone else do this?"
He shakes his head. "I'm the only with the experience, the resources, and the influence to negotiate something like this."
"Of course. I have no doubt you’re the best person for the job. And of course, the children need you, but—" I take his hand in mine. "I don’t want you to go."
"Eh?" He seems surprised.
"It’s just… I can’t explain it. I have a bad feeling about this."
Once again, his expression melts into something gentler. Something unguarded. I can see the love in his eyes. The vulnerability. The feelings he has for me. I reach up and wrap my arm about his neck and burrow into him. I want to tell him, "I love you" because I do. But something stops me. Maybe, it’s because I’m burned from my last relationship. Maybe, I’m having to teach myself how to trust all over again. Though I do trust him. More than anyone else. I open my mouth to tell him, but nothing comes out. Instead, I hug him tightly and burst out, "Don’t go, please."
"Hey, hey, it’s okay. I know what I’m doing."
"I have no doubt. But it sounds dangerous. Which country are you going to, anyway?"
He hesitates. "I can’t tell you. It’s better I don’t, for your safety."
I nod. "Either way, you’ll be putting yourself in danger."
"For a good cause. If anyone can get them to release the supplies needed, it’s me." He hesitates. "I won’t lie and say it’s completely safe; it’s not. But I've carried out plenty of such assignments in the past. I’ll be in and out in no time. Besides, I won’t be going alone."
"You won’t?"
