Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“I don’t care. When it comes to my dear wife, I’ll happily play a superhero whose power is to look horrible.”

Alarm bells ring in my head. Why does his presence calm the anxiety that had gripped me tightly the entire day?

Slow down, Daisy. Don’t jump to conclusions.

It’s not Charles’ presence but just that he’s not blowing his top.

I’m just about to repeat that statement in my head once again when he leans in. I wait for his kiss. But surprisingly, it never comes. Instead, I feel a soft paper on my lips and my eyes fall open.

“What’s that?”

“A precaution so no one takes advantage of us in future. Since it’s widely known that my wife is a fan of stationery, this is custom-made with a barcode.” He lifts the paper from my lips and turns on the camera of his phone. A second later, there’s a green check mark on the screen. “Only when you see this, you can be sure that the message came from me. Otherwise, you don’t have to come running for me.”

“I didn’t run.” My rebuttal is so weak that I could have just agreed with him. After a few moments of silence, I finally ask, “Wouldn’t it be easier to stop using handwritten messages and just send an official email instead?”

My palms turn clammy as I imagine myself sitting in Charles’ office with my laptop, trying to keep up with his words as he dictates notes for a meeting. But before my panic engine can run at full throttle, Charles lifts my face up with his finger under my chin.

“I don’t want you or any other member of my family to stop doing something they love just because there’s an asshole trying to ruin it.”

Our eyes connect and all the nerve endings at the back of my neck tingle. My husband, my boss, the person I used to call asshole is protecting me and worrying about my comfort.

“I’m so sorry about Jax, Charles,” I whisper under my breath.

“I don’t want you to say that asshole’s name again. Jax is no longer going to be a problem in our life.” Charles tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, but I’m too mesmerized by his words.

He said our life.

“Did you really destroy his IPO?” My heart pounds against my rib cage as I stare at him.

“Will you be upset if I did?” Charles asks, his emotions giving nothing away.

“Definitely not after what he did today.”

“I ruined his fucking IPO.” A vindictive smile finally stretches over his lips. “And I’ll ruin him for putting you in harm’s way.”

Heat blooms in my stomach, spreading like wildfire across my skin at the possessive tone of his voice.

“He thought he could get to me through you. Even if he didn’t mean to hurt you physically, he put you through an emotional ordeal. He has to pay a price for that.”

“Because I’m a Hawthorne now?” I sound like a high school girl with my teeny-tiny voice while Charles’ eyes flare with unspoken emotion.

“Yes, but also because you’re my wife and you’re the person I care about…a lot.”

“Since when?” My voice is low and sincere, and maybe even…hopeful.

“Who knows?” His words hang in the air, and the butterflies in my stomach go crazy.

Before I can say anything, there’s a knock on the door, and I welcome the distraction.

“Mr. Hawthorne, shall I set up the dinner table? I’m sure you and Mrs. Hawthorne are hungry.” Mrs. K smiles, and suddenly, I appreciate her caring presence in Charles’ home.

“You guessed right. I’m famished. Are you hungry now, my dear wife?”

I nod, and a few moments later, we’re seated at the dining table. There’s a nervous electricity, but looking at Charles, I’m sure it’s only me who’s feeling it. Because my husband, the self-proclaimed superhero of the day and the man who wouldn’t smile to stop world hunger until some weeks ago, has a giant grin on his lips.

We mostly eat in silence except when our gazes connect, and in those moments, I’m the first one to break contact, ending the strange feeling, which tells me there’s still a lot left in this day.

“Would you like something for dessert?” Mrs. K asks as she takes away our plates.