Page 72 of His Christmas Wife

“You got it.”

Within minutes, their fresh drinks had arrived, and Kaylee plucked at the small napkin, once again making him notice her bare finger. “When we were ring shopping, I had the impression you’d been engaged before. Married, maybe?”

“It doesn’t really matter.”

“Again, one of those things that will seem odd if I don’t know anything about your past.”

“There’s nothing much to tell.” As she met his gaze, and pain ghosted through her eyes, she pursed her lips as if resolved. “We’d found my dream ring, and I’d been looking at dresses online.”

Frost waited.

“And then my father’s health declined, and my job became a bigger part of my life.”

He drummed his fingers on the table.

“The short story is that Dwayne felt neglected.” She attempted a smile that was more of a grimace. “So he sought attention elsewhere.”

“Bastard.”

“I tell myself it’s better that I found out when I did.”

“Does that help?”

“Now that I’m over the hurt?” She shrugged fatalistically. “Yes. I wanted—want—a forever relationship and everything that goes with it. Pets. Even a mortgage.”

“Kids?” A few days ago, to rattle her, he’d said he wanted four children. Now the idea of seeing her belly swell with his baby obsessed him.

Fuck.What the hell was wrong with him?

Even though they were in public, his cock hardened.

“Not right away, but yes.” Then she stopped plucking at the napkin and sat back as if disengaging from dangerous territory, something he’d be well-advised to do as well.

She paused for a moment, and he didn’t fill the silence, waiting for her to go on. Eventually she did.

“It’s a total fantasy, right? I think I want a fairy tale where two people come together and spend their time working on a common goal.”

“Difficult, yeah. But it’s not impossible. My grandparents had it.”

With a sigh of frustration, she curled a finger into a loose lock of hair. “One thing I hate about the relationship with Dwayne is the fact I wasted so much time believing in him, in us. And the first time we ran into trouble, he was gone.”

Asshole.

She studied the candle, then moved it to the side before meeting his gaze again. “All I needed was a little space, some understanding.”

“Sickness and health. For richer, for poorer.” Something Greta hadn’t believed in either. “And maybe you’re right that it was better you found out sooner rather than later. Even if it hurts. But I’ll tell you this”—Frost leaned forward—“you were too damn good for him.” Kaylee always put others first, and to be with a man who was so demanding must have caused her internal pain. She needed support, deserved to be taken care of.

“It’s in the past.” She offered another falsely sunny smile. “And my job has kept me so busy I don’t have time to brood or obsess about what I lost and the future I could have had in a perfect world. And as soon as work slows down, I’ll start dating again.”

The thought pissed him off. Was this—what they shared—so easy to forget?

“This time I’ll find someone more suitable.” She met his gaze. “A man who believes in forever and isn’t afraid to commit.”

Fury grinding at him, he finished his drink and signaled for the check.

As usual, Kaylee reached for her purse.

“Don’t,” he warned, his temper beginning to unravel at the edges. All day, her actions had annoyed him. “Don’t you damn well do it. And if you know what’s good for you, don’t argue either.”

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