Page 105 of Be My Wife

“Ehem,” Lana says.

Shoot.

Right.

Lana’s here.

I give her an annoyed look. “What?”

“I’ll catch you another time, Brogan.”

Elizabeth waves. “It was nice meeting you!”

Lana doesn’t bother answering. She beats a hasty retreat down the hall, her heels clicking in tandem. I know she’s been seeing other people, so I don’t get why she keeps acting like there’s a possibility of us getting back together whenever we meet.

“Is she gone?” Elizabeth asks, hugging me tight.

I drop a kiss on her forehead. “Yeah.”

The nurses passing by give us amused looks.

Elizabeth ducks, hiding her face in my shirt.

I lift her chin with my finger. “Don’t act shy now.”

She reaches out. Swipes my cheek. “You have lipstick all over you.”

“Who’s fault is that?”

“I didn’t expect you to go full tongue in public, Brogan. There were kids around.”

“I thought you couldn’t resist me?”

Her eyes dart away. “You know I didn’t mean that.”

My amusement drains, leaving a hollow ache behind. Reminding myself that this marriage is a sham is one thing, but Elizabeth’s reminder… it hits harder, sharper.

She doesn’t want me.

Just like Lana.

It would be foolish to fall into the same trap twice.

I clear my throat. Place a hand on her back. Escort her down the hallway.

“So,” Elizabeth shoots me a cheeky grin over her shoulder, “how did I do?”

I grunt. “What were you trying to prove back there?”

“Couldn’t you tell?”

“No.”

She stops. “I wanted you to know that you’re wrong.”

“About what?”

“You’re not pathetic.” She lifts her chin. “You’re grouchy. Rude. A little insensitive—”

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