Lib Novel Page 64
There’s no way she missed my hard cock, which could be used in place of a hammer to stick nails into walls, or my pounding heart, which could break an echocardiogram machine right now.
Instead of replying to me, Daisy’s eyes remain closed even when I take a step back. She inhales another deep breath and then finally lets go of my suit and opens her eyes.
“The groom doesn’t have to empty an entire bottle of cologne on his wedding day, Charles.”
I can’t help my chuckle, the buried anxiousness from the day slowly finding a release. “How long were you thinking of that comment?”
“Since you leaned in to help me with the ring, sweetheart. I’m sure you shocked the minister with that endearment.”
This time my laugh is loud, and I throw my head back. “Except for you wanting to kill me, I think the day went well. What do you say?”
Daisy is finally smiling her usual smile, where her cheeks turn rosy and her eyes crinkle. “I say you did exceptionally well, Mr. Hawthorne. Can you continue this stellar performance of being a gentleman and sit with me for a while?”
“And do what?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Talk, like normal people,” Daisy replies as she flops onto the turquoise couch placed under the tall windows. Her gaze wanders to the multiple books about leadership and business on the table and bookshelf.
I didn’t know my private reading nook surrounded by indoor plants would someday become a conversation spot.
But I didn’t know a lot of things.
Including how it’s impossible to look away from Daisy, still in her wedding dress, looking all-so mine, and not remember how her lips felt a few moments back.
“I can only offer to listen.” I take a seat on the opposite side of the couch.
“That will do.”
And then without any preamble, she demands what I didn’t offer, like always—speaking.
“Your parents are so in love. Was it always like that, even when you were a kid?”
“Kristy isn’t my birth mother.” My straight reply causes her smile to vanish in an instant.
“Really? I’m sorry. I didn’t know, Charles.” Daisy’s stricken face makes me realize that as much as I like silencing people in a boardroom, it’s no fun with my new wife.
“That’s because Kristy loves me a lot. And don’t worry, the woman who gave birth to me isn’t dead.”
“She wasn’t at the wedding. You don’t talk to her?” Daisy gnaws at her bottom lip, as if it was her duty to ensure that woman’s presence at the ceremony.
“Daisy, as soon as my dad declared he wasn’t interested in the Hawthorne family money, a lot of people dropped out of our lives. I have no intention of pulling those selfish souls back in.” My fists clench. I’m one second away from getting off the couch and walking away before horrid memories I keep locked away find their release, but then Daisy places her hand over mine.
Just her touch is enough to loosen all my corded muscles.
“I…I’m so sorry.”
“I thought you wanted to talk and not interrogate.” I tip my head to the side.
“Um, yeah. I’m sorry. Now I can’t remember what I wanted to talk about.” Daisy looks at me, her doe-shaped eyes marked with a touch of guilt.
“Maybe about your parents.”
“Oh yeah! But first, thanks for joining me here anyway.”
“You’re welcome. It’s not like I have a multi-billion-dollar business waiting for me outside this room.”
“Charles A. Hawthorne! Did you just make a joke?”
“It wasn’t a joke but sarcasm.” I hide my smile from her twinkling eyes by ducking my head and swiping away an invisible wrinkle on my pant leg. “So what was it about your parents that needs discussing at ten in the night?”