Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

Watching Ray fight for his cousin’s unborn child tightens my throat.

“Charles never hid his feelings about being a dad, and I respect that. And who am I to judge someone’s fears?”

“You’re his wife, aren’t you?” Ray nods toward my wedding ring.

“Since you know so much, I’m sure the reality of our marriage isn’t a secret to you and your brothers.”

He’s about to say something when I bring my hand forward. “Please. I can’t talk about this anymore. I’m grateful for your help at the hospital, but this”—I motion toward my belly—“doesn’t concern you.”

Isn’t he the one who doesn’t even consider me relevant enough to know about his daughter?

35

WHAT ABOUT PETS AND PLANTS?

CHARLES

My hurried steps grind to a halt as I spot Ray on his living room carpet with his sleeves rolled up and a scrunchie dangling from his teeth. Quill is nestled between his outstretched legs and the father-daughter duo is engrossed in a braiding tutorial on Ray’s laptop.

They don’t even look up at my arrival until I call Quill.

Ray’s hands still as he’s grabbing Quill’s wild golden locks, and for a second, I forget my worries and snap a picture of the scene.

“Very mature.” Ray lets the baby-blue scrunchie fall to the ground and then smirks. “What took you so long?”

My irritation is cut short when his daughter crawls from her father’s lap onto mine.

“Hello, Uncle Charlie. I met your wife today. She’s so pretty, like a princess.” She signs with her small fingers, making only a few mistakes. She’s still learning sign language, and I know Rowan will make sure she’s well versed in no time.

I can’t believe the coincidence.

Selective mutism is such a rare condition, and yet we have two people in the family struggling with it.

“I think so too, Quillbug.”

Quill falls into laughter when I tickle her belly.

“Time for a bedtime story, Miss Quill.” William, who prefers to still be called a butler at an age approaching ninety, appears from inside the house.

“Grandpa Will. How are you doing?” I rise up to give the old man a hug.

“I’m doing very well, Master Charles. How are you and your lovely wife?”

“Oh, let me first check with Ray, since he kidnapped her.” I throw my brother an irritated look, which only makes his grin wider.

“You boys will never change. Come on, Miss Quill, let’s see if the princess in your book is still asleep.”

Once it’s just us in the room, I turn to my cousin, who’s now by the bar.

“Where the fuck is Daisy, Ray?”

I felt her absence in my house the moment I stepped inside this evening. A minute later, my heart catapulted out of my body when Mrs. Kowalski confirmed that Daisy came in with Ray, packed a bag, and left.

“She asked me to drop her at her friend’s place.”

I never imagined this sight—Ray pouring Diet Coke over ice in two glasses and then pushing one toward me.

I throw it back as if it’s a whiskey neat and miss the sting. “And you didn’t bother asking me?”