The Pick Up Wife by W. Lynn Chantale Read Free Book Online

abdomen before disappearing into her bikini line.
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    When she tried to bring the front of the shirt together he stilled her hands. For a long moment she stared into his eyes. Something akin to compassion and love flickered in the coffee-colored depths, and she allowed him to brush the garment away. His warm breath teased and tickled the sensitive area, producing an ache between her legs.
    “What happened?”
    She swallowed. “I was in a really bad car accident.” It was all she could say. She didn’t want to mention how she nearly lost the twins because of some careless driver on his cell phone.
    “You mean I almost lost you and never even knew?”
    Too overwhelmed by tenderness to speak, she nodded.
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    He blanketed her body with his. “Say you’ll come back with me.”
    “I can’t. I have a life here.”
    “What do you have here that you can’t do close to my office?”
    She clamped her lips together.
    “Symmone?”
    “Tonight over dinner I’ll tell you everything, but I’m not going to drop everything I’ve done to be with you.”
    “Asking you to drop two crappy jobs to be my wife isn’t a good idea?”
    She sucked in a breath and shoved at the hard wall of muscle. He didn’t budge. “You arrogant jerk! Get off me.”
    As soon as he rolled to the side, she scooted to the edge of the bed. Her crappy jobs? Was that 10
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    what he really thought? While he was off pursuing his all-powerful career designing multimillion-dollar buildings, she was only raising children and doing her best to balance life and motherhood. She dragged her fingers through her tangled curls and yanked on the ends.
    “I can’t believe you could be so callous as to dismiss what I’ve done just because it isn’t
    ‘corporate’.” She stood and found herself staring at the solid wall of his chest. When had he moved?
    He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
    “You’re right, you’re right. I was a little harsh. I’m sorry.”
    She studied him a moment. “I’m going to leave now.” She stepped around him. “Maybe we both need a little time to put things in perspective.”
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    “Wait–”
    She slammed the bathroom door and leaned against the wood. It was too soon. He didn’t even know about the kids and already he was trying to dictate what she should and shouldn’t do. She couldn’t give up her independence again. Not for him.
    Once dressed, she was a little more composed. She stepped into the living area and found him seated on the couch, clad in black pajama bottoms. He tapped a business envelope in his hand.
    “I got carried away. Tell me what you want,” he said, holding her gaze.
    She studied him, trying to determine if he was serious. “I need to trust you. Just because we’re still attracted to one another doesn’t mean 10
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    I’m going to drop everything and be your wife again. What makes you think I want to get married again or need you to take care of me?”
    He sat back, his brows lifting. “But I thought…” He shook his head. “I guess it doesn’t matter what I think.” He held out the envelope.
    “This is yours.”
    She snatched the paper from his outstretched fingers. “An envelope?”
    “A peace offering.”
    Great, just great, as if the flowers and sex weren’t enough. She opened the flap and out tumbled a plastic card. She turned it over then looked at him for an explanation. “Okay. This isn’t mine.” She held the card out to him.
    He nodded. “Yes, it is. On the advice of my lawyer and accountant, I opened an account. The 10
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    money you returned has been held in trust. That is your account. Your money.”
    She pursed her lips. “I told you I don’t want–
    ”
    “Would you even care to know the balance?”
    Shaking her head, she slipped the card inside the envelope and laid it on the table. He just didn’t get that she didn’t want him to take care of her. She was fine without him. “Thanks, but no thanks.” She glanced at her watch. “I really need to