Page 54 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
Nick pounds into the bag again. Pain like knives slice through his throbbing arm, but he can’t stop. He has to keep his body and his mind busy, reigning in his irritation while his beautiful wife talks to Team Shae, confessing to them she married without their permission or approval.
He swipes at the sweat burning his eyes before his right fist makes contact with the vinyl. Fuck them.She doesn’t owe them jack shit. They work for her, but somehow seem to think it’s the other way around. Manipulating her for their own purposes, chastising her for living her own life.
“It’s just a phone call.” Max braces his feet from the force of the hit. “She’s got it under control.”
“If it was me—”
“But it’s not. This is her career, and you have to let her handle it.”
“I’m down here, aren’t I?”
He swings again. Forcing himself to be in the basement gym while she works upstairs in his office. Fighting against everything churning in his gut not to race up there and remind them what it would be like to deal with an asshole rather than the sweet angel they’ve been lucky enough to have all these years.
Metal vibrates from the weight rack, and Max shakes his head. “Hold up.”
He steps back, and the bodyguard releases his grip on the bag before grabbing his chirping phone off the row of hand bells. His eyebrows lift after he swipes the screen. “Luther’s here.”
The attorney showing up unexpectedly can’t be good. His pulsing muscles stiffen. There’s going to be fucking hell to pay if Max’s informants didn’t warn them about a warrant. “For what?”
“For her.” A smart ass smirk crosses his friend’s face as he types. “Shae called him. You must have fucked up pretty bad if she’s already calling a lawyer.”
“Fuck you.” He rips off the tape securing his glove as Max laughs. “What is it?”
“Attorney-client privilege. That’s all he’ll say.”
Today is not the day to fuck with him. “Don’t think I won’t kill his stupid ass. Yours either.”
“I’m not scared. You’re not the boss anymore, remember? You gave it all up yesterday.”
Nope. The exact opposite. He gained everything when she accepted his commitment. Her eyes sparkling at his promise to be a better man, to be the person she thinks he is. Yet, his confidence is not as strong as hers, waning at the fear rolling through him at her need for legal assistance, wavering from her calling for Luther instead of him.
“Just hold the fucking bag.”
Max stares at him, disbelief lining his forehead. “That’s it?”
“What?”
“You aren’t going to jet up there?” His friend lets out a long, low whistle. “You really are a changed man.”
He slams his fist again. Only for her. She said she would let him know when she’s finished, protecting both of them from his disgust with her manager. As always, shielding him and Gail from each other. Now all he can do is wait.
An hour later finds him in the office doorway. Finished with his workout and shower, he breaks his promise to stay away. Unable to refrain from coming to her. The need to know what’s going on too great.
She’s so fucking beautiful sitting in his chair, rubbing her hands across the leather arms, deep in thought. “Can I come in?”
Her face lights up at his voice before she even looks up, slaying him with her happiness he’s there. God, he’s a fucking lucky bastard.
She flashes her ‘what are you up to?’ smile. “Of course. It’s your office.”
“Not anymore. Max reminded me you’re the boss now.”
“Well, then I guess I better play the part.” She leans back and props her pink heels on the desktop. “Come here.”
Fucking shit. She has no idea how sexy she is. “I don’t sound like that.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Fine. What else do I say?”
