Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“What sort of husband would I be if I didn’t know that about my dear wife?”

Every time he says those three words, my dear wife, I feel a small zing going through my spine.

“I was waiting for you to show up for breakfast,” Charles adds.

“I’m not hungry this morning,” I mumble absently. This new version of Charles seems to have stolen my hunger and thirst, at least temporarily.

“Oh.” His grin slips but he recovers fast. “Then if you don’t mind, I’ll leave for the office. You can take the day off, if you’d like. You are a new bride, after all.”

Take a day off.

He continues to fire the surprise cannon relentlessly.

You want acting? You got it, Hawthorne.

My hands find his tie and I tug him closer. His eyes flare with a foreign expression for a second, so fleeting that I might have just guessed it, until he smiles and leans further in, making me gulp. But I push away those butterflies that have started to take flight every time Charles is around me.

“I’ll miss you too much if I stay home, husband. You can expect me at my desk in the next hour,” I coo in a honey-dipped voice.

“I’ll be counting the seconds, Mrs. Hawthorne.” His smile is so wide that I almost die.

He kisses the tip of my nose, and I want to bawl like a child at the sweetness of it all.

How dare he act so well.

Charles grabs his bag and saunters toward the main door, which opens right on cue. Dave’s hand stays at the knocker, and he speaks into his earpiece, alerting Steve about Charles’ move.

But everything dies in the background when, just before leaving through the heavy door, Charles looks over his shoulder. His eyes meet mine, and I suck in a breath of air.

“You look beautiful in butterflies, Mrs. Hawthorne.” His lips tip to one side, and then he’s gone.

What the heck?

My gaze skids from the door to my PJs, which have colorful butterflies, until I close my eyes hoping my racing heartbeat will calm down.

Before that can happen, I hear Mrs. Kowalski behind me. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything, Mrs. Hawthorne? Maybe some eggs or pancakes?”

“Please call me Daisy like you used to, Mrs. K. I don’t want everything to change.” Especially when my boss is filling every quota in that department.

I’m about to refuse the food again when my stomach rumbles loudly. In all my nervousness yesterday, I barely ate anything, and it seems the smell of coffee and the offer of pancakes is enough to bring back my lost appetite.

“My stomach likes the pancake offer.” I smile sheepishly.

“I’m happy to hear that. Just give me a few minutes and I’ll have your breakfast ready.”

When she leaves, I send a text to Kai.

Me: Hi. How’s Dad doing? Was yesterday too much exhaustion for him?

Kai: Not at all.

He sends me a picture of Dad focused deeply on his iPad.

Kai: He’s searching the latest fashions for older men. To set his social media image right from the start.

I can’t help my laugh.

Me: I don’t know if I should be happy or bothered about my dad’s newfound addiction.