Page 7 of The Next Wife

“There’s no need to jump every time your phone pings. Not anymore. The IPO happened. Isn’t that great?” I hope, for his sake, he keeps the phone in his pocket. I stare at him, daring him to disobey me.

He ignores my warning and pulls the phone out, glances at the screen quickly before sliding it away.

He hears my exhale, and we lock eyes.

“It’s not like it’s over, Tish. I have friends calling, employees who need advice. The IPO happened, but there is still a lot to do. People have questions. That’s why I can’t believe I’m here with you instead of back home with them.”

Really? “Oh, John, you used to love being alone with me, don’t you remember? I saved your life. Rescued you from the hell of your first marriage, or something like that. Remember? You wanted me, you wanted a fresh start,” I say.

He tilts his head, considering his next words. “Yes, I took the first step in our relationship. At work. It was wrong. I did fall hard for you.I did,” John says. He picks up a shiny red cherry and pops it into his mouth.

“It has a seed,” I say, and watch as he puts the pit on his plate. Good boy. “I’ve missed you lately. You’ve been so preoccupied.” I bite my lip, a move that used to turn him on. “We really need this weekend to reconnect.”

He pats my hand, placating me like I’m a child, before he slides his chair out from the table and carries his plate into what can only be described as a country mountain kitchen: loads of wood, carved moldings, and heavy tile. Ick. You can almost smell the old fashioned.

“I want you to enjoy this, our little weekend getaway, to celebrate and relax. I haven’t had any attention lately. It’s already Saturday. We’ll leave tomorrow evening. You can get right back to whatever it is you’re up to, OK?” Appeasement makes the heart grow fonder, I’m telling you. “Whoever’s texting you on a Saturday morning can wait until Monday, can’t they?”

John glances at me before gazing outside. It is beautiful out the window, sun shining on green mountains, a rainbow of wildflowers in bloom. Cue theSound of Musicsoundtrack. “Right. It’s not important.”

He’s lying.

It’s her.

Too bad I’m one step ahead of you both.

But we’ll just leave that alone for now. I have a whole day for him to come clean. He can tell me what’s not right about our relationship, and I’ll fix it. He needs me in his life, I just have to remind him of that fact. It shouldn’t take much, nothing a little romance can’t smooth over. I mean, men are simple creatures. We all know what they think about most of the day. So first we’ll enjoy a hike in the sunshine, followed by lunch and an open, honest conversation. Assuming everything is sorted out, we’ll come back here for a little afternoon delight, as John calls it.

It’s a day of new beginnings. The company is public. We’re rich, and we’re so in love. And no one is going to ruin this relationship. Noone will come between us. I’m going to get to the bottom of everything. I’m a problem solver.

“Ready to hike?” My voice is light and airy, warm and friendly. I’m the perfect wife.

“I’ll give it a try. Just can’t promise much, stamina wise. I’m exhausted from the deal and the altitude.” John drops onto the rustic bench by the front door, rummaging around for his hiking shoes. He sounds like an old man. Our twenty-five-year age difference usually doesn’t bother me, but just now he’s whiny.

I pat him on the head like a child, returning the favor. “Fresh air will do you good. You’ve never had a problem with your stamina, not that I’ve noticed.” Yes, I’m overtly flirting now, but this is what the male ego needs.

I wonder whatshesees in him. Sometimes I wonder if I should just bow out and let her have him. But then I realize: I’m not a quitter. And I like the crinkles next to his eyes and the way he looks at me when he remembers our love. He’s stuck with me, whether he likes it or not. Or he’ll be left with nothing. No one. It’s his choice. I’m sure he’ll come around today.

He’d better.

CHAPTER 6

JOHN

As I trudge along the well-worn path through the meadow of wildflowers, I remind myself I used to love it here. The clean air, the soaring mountains, the sense of being so far away from the flat, corporate, contained world. This is the West, where dreams come true, where anything is possible.

That’s why I proposed to Tish in this very meadow. Was it really only three years ago? It seems like a different lifetime. I know I’m tired, and this damn altitude gets to me. It’s hard to catch my breath. I need time to adjust to everything.

Tish is trying her best to make me happy. I realize that. As I follow behind her on the path, I remind myself of all the fun we’ve had. How she makes me laugh, how she makes me feel young. How I told myself it was against all the rules to fall for her, but I did anyway. She is so pretty, so uncomplicated. I was overwhelmed with my life, with Kate and our constant fights about how to grow the company, how to raise Ashlyn. Tish was a beautiful escape. As if she senses my thoughts, she turns and gives me a smile.

“Isn’t this just perfect?” she asks.

“It is,” I manage.

It’s really not her fault at all. She never stirred the pot with Kate. No, she kept this thing between us quiet and discreet until I spoiled it, bragging about my new love to the wrong guys. Tish was great with my daughter from the get-go, making sure Ashlyn knew she had a friend. She didn’t have to be nice to Ashlyn—she did it because it was the right thing to do. And she helped smooth things out. At least, for a while.

It was so easy to fall in love with Tish. And she needed love. I could tell something was missing, something happened in her childhood in the backwoods of Kentucky. She won’t talk about it, but you can sense it, want to fix it. I thought I could fill that hole, and in return, she would bring me the peace I lacked in my life. We didn’t have all that history between us, not like Kate and me toward the end. Kate and I had nothing but fights, and company problems, and a teenage daughter tearing us apart.

And Tish? I suppose she pulled us apart without trying. Being there, being so damn there with her perky breasts, short skirts, always just smiling at me no matter how terse I was, no matter how frustrated I was with Kate. Tish was like running away to a private Caribbean island in the midst of stress and grown-up problems. A temptation I was too weak to ignore.

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