COLD BASTARD

A Short Story

A Nagging Suspicion

Five years later...

Something was off, and Archer couldn’t put his finger on it. And not knowing what was going on nagged at him more than any of the complicated acquisitions or cursed negotiations he’d ever had to deal with. He’d never felt more in control of every aspect of his business. But his personal life? He wasn’t so sure anymore.

Blackwood Energies had become a powerhouse, a global leader in clean energy innovation, and Archer’s pride and joy after overcoming so many hardships. Still, it was his family that willed him to fight every morning.

Zoe Somersby had tumbled into his well-planned empire and shown him that the most unexpected mayhem could bring the most precious jewel into his life. Love. It was as incredible and straightforward as that.

“Are you having breakfast, Archer, or do you have an early meeting?”

His beautiful wife’s smile warmed his heart. During their years together, finding balance had been a challenge. Most of that time had been focused on protecting his wife, their daughter Julia, and Zoe’s younger brother Lucas from Finch’s constant and increasing threat.

Only recently had Archer considered his life normal again and was able to lower his guard enough to enjoy the gift he’d never thought he deserved and one he’d fight to the death to keep.

“Earth to Archer!” Lucas’s voice was laced with amusement as he scarfed down his third serving of pancakes.

Lucas was home for a few days from university. The young man was a stellar student and athlete, with a hockey scholarship on top of his academic grades. It had been a struggle to build a trusting relationship with the young man. It wasn’t surprising as he’d seen firsthand how Zoe had to deal with her surprise pregnancy alone in addition to the trauma from their past. However, as Archer had promised to love his sister with everything he had and proved it time and time again, slowly but surely Lucas had accepted him, and they’d even formed a relationship.

A pair of small hands tugged at his pants and returned him to the present.

He scooped up little Julia and kissed her chubby cheek, sticky with maple syrup. “Hey, my little sugar bunny!”

“Daddy! You itchy!”

It was his turn to smile. “And you’re covered with syrup! Delicious.”

His little angel wiggled out of his arms and ran to Zoe who wiped her face. “Go get your pack, jellybean. You don’t want to be late for class.”

Class was a big word they used for kindergarten. Time had flown by and Archer couldn’t believe that the baby he’d cradled in his arms was now this bouncing ball of endless energy starting a new phase of life. If he were honest, Archer wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

Zoe smiled and came to his side, a hint of worry on her beautiful face. “Are you okay? You seem to be lost in your thoughts more than usual lately.”

His arms went around her, naturally bringing her closer into a tight hug. He took a deep inhale, and his world steadied again. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

As he spoke, he realized she was already dressed to the nines which wasn’t normal as she usually worked from home in the mornings. “Hey, I thought we could have coffee together before I leave for the office.”

Zoe slipped out of his grasp, a sad expression on her face. “I have an early appointment, and then I need to see the lawyer for a part of the business I’ve been working on.”

Archer knew all about dealing with a deadline, but lately, Zoe had been the one pulling a disappearing act. If she wasn’t the first one through the door, she came home late at night, exhausted.

Archer knew firsthand how establishing a new business could eat up all your time. Once Julia hadn’t been so dependent on her, Zoe had started working again as a translator, helping at Blackwood Energies for a while, but it was clear she needed a project of her own. With her brother now independent and about to build a life for himself, and their little jellybean starting full-time school in the fall, Archer doubted his precious wife would twiddle her thumbs while waiting for him to come home. Nevertheless, he was proud of Zoe and was willing to help and support her in any way she needed, although she seldom asked for his help. Maybe it was pride or the desire to make it on her own, but he understood and accepted her decision. So why did he have that nagging in the back of his head?

His eyes didn’t leave her while she wrangled their child and kissed Lucas’ cheek. Zoe waved him goodbye with a smile before scrambling out the door without kissing him.

That was when it dawned on him; that nagging feeling had been about Zoe, or more accurately, about them as a couple. A disconnection had started growing between them at some point but he didn’t know when exactly. The last few months? Had it been that long?

Archer realized he’d known somehow and had tried to instinctively counteract it by making time for them alone, but none of his plans had worked. When he’d booked a fancy dinner uptown, Julia got the sniffles. When he’d been about to kidnap his wife for a weekend in the Caribbean, their home suffered a burst pipe. And when he’d tried smaller gestures over the last few weeks, Zoe seemed off, and had avoided spending time alone with him. Was that it?

Fear seized him. Had he been so blind as to not see her feelings for him had changed?

“Archer?”

Lucas almost had him jumping out of his skin. It was so unlike him to be unaware of his surroundings, having that awareness had been essential in keeping him alive in his youth.

His brother-in-law looked at him as if he’d sprouted a second head. “Hey, I’ve never seen you so pale and out of sorts. Is everything all right, Archer?”

Lucas seemed genuinely worried about him, but there was no way he could open up to him about this. “Just got a lot on my mind. How’s school? Do you need help with anything?”

Lucas angled his head, looking so like his sister. “I’m fine, everything is under control. But I did want to talk to you about something.”

The tone of his voice caught Archer’s attention. “Of course, anything.”

Lucas went to sit at the kitchen table with his coffee, and Archer grabbed his own before sitting in front of him.

Lucas seemed to hesitate, searching for his words, so Archer took another sip, keeping things relaxed and letting him set the pace.

“You know I’ve kept my studies general, and not focused on anything specific.”

“You’re excelling at everything you do. Zoe told me that you were especially good in science.”

“That’s true. I’m good in that field. In everything, really. I’m not saying that to brag, but I know I’m smart.”

It was so much more than that, it made Archer grin. “You’re a genius like your sister. It amazes me. You don’t know how much I envy you. Maybe my life would’ve been much easier if I’d had opportunities lined up in front of me because of how smart I was.”

Lucas seemed far from being convinced. “You don’t see it the way I do. I think having so many options is worse. Suppose I’d been awful at something. It would have given me direction. I’ve seen guidance counselors and done internships, but nothing has jived for me. So I started thinking about people who’ve made it, people who are driven, and I thought of you.”

“Me?” Though surprised, Archer saw how animated Lucas had become, his speech now faster and more excited.

“Yeah, you! You fought hard when you took over your company, and even when you were on top, you didn’t sit back and relax. Instead, you thought about the future and the environment and transformed it from the inside out. I don’t know everything about you, but I bet you’re already ten steps ahead of your competitors.”

Despite having been the subject of countless interviews, winning awards, and being acknowledged many times, it was the first time praise had touched Archer, and it revealed how much he cared about the boy that wasn’t quite one anymore.

“Thank you, but you know I inherited the original company from my late wife. I was thrown into it. I wasn’t prepared, but I was a fighter. I fought my way into becoming a worthy leader for the company.” Archer left out the more nasty details about his criminal past and less than illustrious endeavors. “You have the possibility of studying your way into success and be anything you want to be.”

“That’s my problem! I don’t know which way to go.” With a dramatic grunt, Lucas threw his arms in the air.

“Okay, what’s on your mind, Lucas? What do you want to do?”

Lucas leaned forward, looking serious for his young age. “I’d like to check out all the departments at Blackwood Energies, something like a mega internship. The semester is ending soon, and I want to spend every minute of the summer checking out every position you have, from technical to professional, even janitorial if needed. I want the chance to explore everything, get a feel of the work done in a company that matters and has a soul. And I’m hoping I can have that chance with you. I don’t only want to have a career. I want to make a positive mark on the world. Like you.”

Again, the kid had a way of giving deadly punches to the heart and simultaneously stroking his ego. “There’s nothing perfect in what I do, Lucas, but I do my best. If you want to explore what you want to do with your life, I’d be honored to have you explore at Blackwood.”

The whooping yell and the air punching were sure signs that he was happy with his answer.

“Oh, Archer. Thank you, man! And at some point, can I be your shadow? I’d love to watch and see what you do.”

Archer nodded, heading to put his empty mug in the sink. “I think you already have a good idea of what I do. You’ve been around enough to see it. And unfortunately, I’ve worked all around the house.”

Lucas brought his dishes back too. “That I know, but I only heard one side of the conversation, with a lot of yelling and grunting. I want to know more from your point of view... with complete sentences this time.”

Archer nodded before putting a hand on Lucas’ shoulder. “Deal. Let me know when you want to start and I’ll make it happen.”

The young boy, so protective of his big sister, who’d struggled through hardship and danger, was blossoming into a fantastic man.

Lucas mirrored his gesture and put a hand on his shoulder creating a connection between them. “Thank you, Archer. I know you didn’t have to agree to my request.”

“We’re a family, Lucas. That’s what we do.”

Lucas smiled and strolled away. “I still have some homework to do and some studying. A couple of big tests are coming up, and I want to be ready. Also, I won’t be in for supper tonight.”

Archer frowned. “More study or a hot date?”

The twinkle in Lucas’ eye was telling. “Maybe. But don’t tell Zoe. Not yet. She’ll go all weird again.”

That single last word caught his attention. “What do you mean ‘weird’? I know she’s been busy lately, but...”

Lucas schooled his features and shrugged, always his sister’s protector. “I don’t know. She’s acting a bit weird lately and seems withdrawn. I figured that Julia was being a bit more demanding than usual, or maybe it’s those incessant calls she’s taking. That dude doesn’t put his phone down, that’s for sure. Gotta go.”

And suddenly, the ice ball in the pit of his stomach grew bigger and heavier. Zoe’s strange behavior was one thing but thinking that a man might be why the love of his life was distant and cold was untenable. All the rage inside his soul that had taken years to master came undone. He wasn’t the suave billionaire anymore but the criminal that had roamed the streets of London and left violence and terror in his wake.

Violence overtook the best parts of him, and he didn’t know what to do... Apart from reaching out to the one man who would understand how it truly felt.

Brotherly Support

It was difficult to know who was more surprised, Archer at finding himself knocking on his brother’s door or Aleksei at seeing him on the landing.

The brother thing had been quite a surprise for them both, and they navigated their relationship very carefully. United against Finch at first, they were now finding their bearings in the normality of life.

“Hey!”

Aleksei blinked in response and hesitated, looking around. “Are you all right?”

If he hadn’t been such a twisted mess, Archer would have laughed at Aleksei’s welcome. “Yeah. I just needed to bounce something off you if you have time. But I see now it was a bad idea.”

Ready to turn around and leave, Archer stopped as his brother grumbled something in Russian under his breath, leaving his door open before disappearing inside.

The option of fleeing now closed, he stepped inside. The apartment was vast but cozy, most probably the work of Deva. Aleksei’s wife wouldn’t have accepted the spartan and functional style for long. He found Aleksei in the open-space kitchen waiting for him.

“Do you want a coffee or maybe something stronger?”

Without waiting for a response, Aleksei opened a cupboard to grab a bottle of vodka and two small glasses. It was still early, but Archer accepted the shot, welcoming the burn down his throat.

Standing on each side of the kitchen island, Aleksei poured another round but didn’t drink it, waiting.

It was his cue to jump. “Zoe and Deva are close. I wanted to know if you’ve heard anything out of the ordinary, or if Deva has noticed something odd about my wife.”

His smirk was quickly replaced by a look of utter astonishment. “You’re treading a perilous line, brother. I’m not scared easily, but even I wouldn’t dare to put myself between our women. I like my head exactly where it is.”

The joke fell flat, and his expression must have given away how worried he was.

“What do you mean? Is something wrong with Zoe? Is she in danger?”

That was the standard question because of everything they’d endured, but it wasn’t the main focus for once. Not sure how to voice his concern, Archer shook his head.

Aleksei looked stunned. “You don’t think your wife is... having an affair, do you?”

Without thinking, Archer took the shot and tossed it back, needing the burn in the hope of clearing his mind as he dumped everything he was feeling and thinking on his brother, not confident he made any sense.

When silence returned between the brothers, Aleksei poured another round before taking his shot and gesturing for Archer to follow him.

Tempted to bring the rest of the vodka bottle along, he kept the shot in his hand and went into Aleksei’s office. His brother was more than the Bratva’s brawn, he was also a very talented financial analyst. Looking at his fighter’s build and tattooed skin, it was easy to forget his intelligence though.

Once he’d booted his computer up, Aleksei swiveled on his chair to look at him. “Let’s start with the obvious and find out who the ‘dude’ Lucas referred to is. And that starts with hacking Zoe’s phone. Are you ready for that?”

Just the thought of looking into it behind Zoe’s back tasted foul in his mouth. “Would you do it if you suspected Deva of anything?”

The Russian traced the edge of his shot glass a few times. “I think we brothers are protective of our women to a point where it clouds our judgment. Not communicating what we feel is another of our faults. You don’t really think Zoe has been unfaithful. You’re at a loss being disconnected from her. You’re comparing the intensity of the beginning with the reality of normal life. Am I right?”

Archer sighed through clenched teeth before loosening his shoulders. “How did you become the wise one among us?”

With a grin, he lifted his glass at his brother. “Because I’ve been through the same thing. Life started to seep between Deva and me, and I couldn’t recognize who we were.”

Archer snorted. “No offense, but you’re not the most talkative out of all of us. Hearing you talking about opening up is out of character, to say the least.”

The smile on his mouth was both amused and lethal. “Opening up to her, dumbass. If I want to make a point, I’ll punch my way inside your brain to convince you. Women... My woman...”

Archer knew perfectly what Aleksei wanted to convey. Zoe was now weaved into every fiber of his heart, the foundation of his soul itself. He’d forged himself in a world where men couldn’t reveal any weakness, but his wife was the only one he could lay his heart to and be safe. It was a double-edged blade. If Zoe stopped loving him, she’d slice him open to bleed out.

Aleksei was right. He had to shed his armor and lay himself bare to her if he wanted the truth.

He was deep in thought when his cell phone pinged in his pocket, announcing a message.

One look at it froze him to the core, and it must have shown as Aleksei was immediately by his side.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s a message from one of my lawyers. The one who oversaw Zoe’s business launch.”

“As independent as Zoe is, I’m surprised she used one of yours.”

“You’re right about that, but when she told me which one she’d selected, I didn’t tell her he was on my payroll for another project. I was just glad that her stuff would be handled efficiently.”

“What did he say to make you look like you’ve been stabbed to death?”

“Zoe has decided to close her account and asked him to end the lease on her office downtown.”

“Why would she do that? She was fired up about this new venture last time we talked.”

Archer knew all about that and hadn’t felt so disconnected from the woman he loved. “And she asked the lawyer to make sure my name was nowhere in the paperwork for the business and who she should talk to about a dissolution.”

As he said the words, the air became thick, making it difficult to breathe.

“Dissolution? You must have misread it.”

He let Aleksei read the message, but Archer’s head was buzzing too much to even focus anymore. His control was slipping, and in a rare moment in his life, he didn’t know what to do.

“The message isn’t clear, brother. You should call your attorney and ask him what’s going on.”

Archer’s vision narrowed into a tunnel, eyeing the door. “There’s only one person who knows the truth.”

Aleksei grabbed his shoulder before he could bolt out the door. “Calm down, brother. Until you know the whole story, don’t confront Zoe.”

Archer shrugged away his brother’s hold. “I’ll get to the bottom of this, and my wife will tell me the truth. That was the deal, for better or for worse.”

All Or Nothing

With every minute that ticked by, a piece of Archer died. After his talk with Aleksei, he’d struggled to regain control of his emotions, his mind always going back to Zoe.

He’d tried to call her but got her voicemail, followed by a quick text message telling him that she couldn’t answer her phone but would call him back as soon as possible. She didn’t.

There was no way he could work, so instead, he took advantage of their personal gym, bringing himself to the brink of collapse. He would’ve pushed himself even further if he hadn’t received another text from Zoe asking him to get Julia after school. Unable to get his daughter and care for her in the state of mind he was in, he asked Deva and Aleksei to pick her up and babysit her for the evening. Jellybean would see it as a treat as she always had the time of her life with her favorite Uncle Alek, who would no doubt allow her to eat all the candy she wanted, jump on the bed, and go to sleep awfully late.

After sending a quick message to Lucas to make sure he wouldn’t be back home tonight, Archer returned to the gym, attacking the punching bag Aleksei had suggested as an addition to his setup like he could transfer all his fear and anger onto the inanimate object so his life would make sense again.

When his body screamed at him to end the suffering, Archer took a long, cold shower before dressing again. He always felt wearing a suit acted a lot like armor, and he needed it to protect himself, or more specifically, his heart. There was no way to know how the upcoming conversation with Zoe would go but he prayed he’d be strong enough to hear the truth and say the right words. One thing was for sure, he loved Zoe more than anything else in this world, and he’d fight to keep her by his side. If she still loved him. That was the heart of it all.

As he couldn’t focus on work or even watch TV, Archer sat in one of the armchairs in his study and waited. He’d always been a patient man, cunning and ruthless in his actions. All those skills he’d honed over the years, which had helped him achieve great success, would now become his last line of defense to save the only thing that mattered to him: his family and the love of his life.

Night had fallen by the time he got an alert that Zoe had parked and entered the building. Still, Archer waited. From a distance, he heard the door open and close and the familiar sound of her heels against the wooden floor. He sensed her hesitating, looking around before heading to Julia’s room. As expected, her next steps were to check for Lucas. Her footsteps accelerated as she went to their bedroom and finally headed to him.

He should have gone to her, but he couldn’t. He was about to come undone at any moment, and he held the armrests of his chair like a lifeline preventing him from turning into the monster he’d sworn to leave behind.

The door finally opened and she appeared. As with every time he saw his wife, the sheer sight of her overcame him. A red-headed beauty with a wealth of enticing curves, there was no other in the world for him. And there never would be. But the sight of her messy hair, her sheath dress askew, and the pure look of exhaustion on her face made his anger flare again. Could it be from time spent with a lover?

“Archer? Goodness, what are you doing sitting there in the dark? Where are Julia and Lucas?”

“Everyone is safe and sound. Julia is with Aleksei and Deva, and Lucas is having a night out with his friends. I don’t expect him to back tonight.”

Her body relaxed for a blink, but worry returned to her face. “Good. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed. I’m exhausted.”

Once again she was evading spending time with him and it made him snarl. “We need to talk, Zoe. Now.”

At the snap of his voice, Zoe halted and pivoted to look at him again. “I’ve had a long day...”

He got to his feet with deliberate movements, putting his hands in his pockets to hide his fists. “A long day of meetings? Or phone calls? Or were you meeting with someone special, maybe?”

How he wished the look of surprise was genuine. With her hands on her hips, he observed outrage color her face. “I hope you’re not insinuating what I think you are, Mr. Blackwood, because jealousy doesn’t suit you.”

“Jealousy?” He could have laughed at that nonsense. “Oh, no, Mrs. Blackwood. We’re way past the simple concept of jealousy. I don’t know what’s going on, but tonight we put everything on the table and clear the air, whatever the outcome.”

In the middle of his darkened office, they maintained their distance. One Archer hoped they would breach.

As she remained silent, he decided to jump. “Over the last few weeks, I haven’t recognized the woman I married. You’re distant, cold. I know how much time and effort building a new business takes, but there’s something else on your mind. You keep pushing me away and your eyes are constantly on your phone.”

Zoe shook her head. “Archer...”

“No, hear me out. I’ve tried to reach out to spend time with you several times, but you’ve deflected and stopped talking to me. I’ve never felt so far from you as I do right now.” His voice rose and he grew restless. “The more I’ve tried, the more distant you’ve grown, like sand slipping out of my hands. And when you fled this morning...”

“I didn’t flee!”

Archer ignored her and pushed on. “That nagging feeling crystallized. And it intensified when Lucas mentioned that a man has been calling you nonstop.”

“What?”

“And then I got a message from your attorney saying that you’re closing your business, and that you wanted him to make certain my name isn’t on the paperwork and you even asked him about dissolving our marriage.”

“Stop! Shut up, Archer!”

Zoe never shouted at him, not that way, and certainly not with that expression of pure pain and anger on her face.

“Were you spying on me? And as for the attorney, how dare he reveal privileged information to you.”

Archer couldn’t help but wince and take the blow as he revealed how he was privy to this information.

Instead of the shouting match he’d expected from his fiery wife, he was thrown by her beautiful eyes filling with tears. Instinct erased the storm of emotion and pushed him forward to take her in his arms, but for the first time since they were married, she stepped away and avoided his touch.

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Zoe stood her ground, facing him with everything she had. “I never wanted to push you away, Archer. You were wrong to assume the worst of me, but you were right about my business taking a lot. Maybe too much. But I was ready for it. I’d found a great office and the perfect partner, so I’d thought.”

Archer frowned as Zoe wiped her tears away, but he let her continue.

“And then everything derailed. I started feeling unwell. I thought it was the added stress and Julia being more demanding, but it became worse. I was scared and didn’t know what to do. I went to the doctor who ran some tests, but in the meantime, she told me that I should get more rest. I could tell she was worried. But how could I slow down when the business needed all my energy and attention? I panicked but knew that I’d put myself first if I had to choose between my career and my health. So I told Sergio that I had to end our venture. I hoped he’d understand, but he panicked, hence the phone calls and messages I needed to deal with. And then I had to get the lawyer to deal with the rest and dismantle what hadn’t a chance to even begin, including the contract with Sergio that needed to end.”

It clicked in Archer’s head. “The dissolution, it was your partnership.”

Zoe nodded. “But Sergio started calling me and threatening me with a lawsuit. I’m sure they were empty threats, but I had the lawyer serve him the right paperwork, nonetheless. I also made sure that your name was kept out of it so you didn’t get caught up in a lawsuit or anything nasty just because you’re my husband.”

Archer was speechless over everything she’d kept from him. “Why didn’t you talk to me about any of this? I would’ve more than just understood. I would’ve helped you, supported you. Nobody should go through all that alone, my love.”

More tears fell. “It wasn’t about not trusting you, but you already have so much on your plate. And honestly, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it all when it came to business, family, and you. But I failed.”

This time when Archer went to her, Zoe didn’t push him away. “I don’t do it all by myself, my darling. I have partners I trust and professionals by my side, and I have you. I rely on you for so many things, and I thought you knew you could expect the same from me. But, unfortunately, it seems that I’m the one who’s failed you, my Zoe. I got carried away with worry, and imagined the worst. I’m so sorry.”

It felt so right to have her secure in his arms once again. He could have remained like that forever until he remembered part of what she’d. He pulled her away, brushed the loose strands from her face, and straightened her glasses. “And do you know what’s wrong with you? Have you received the results yet? Zoe, you’re not alone. We’ll get through this together, I promise. We’ll get the best specialists, and you’ll soon be well again.”

A sob passed her lips, and it almost destroyed him. No way he would lose her. He’d tear apart the fabric of the world to do whatever it took to save her.

As he cupped her cheek, it was as if he’d found the woman he loved once again. The connection between them was as strong as ever. He could sense it in his bones.

Slowly, her mouth curved into a smile, sweet and loving, the same one that had been his salvation so many years ago.

“That’s why I asked you to pick up Julia tonight and got home so late. My doctor called as I was leaving the lawyer after signing all the paperwork. She’d just received the test results and offered me an afterhours appointment so I wouldn’t have to wait.”

Archer was afraid to ask. “So, what’s the diagnosis?”

Her eyes swimming with tears didn’t announce good news as she hesitated. Despite her smile, he braced himself for bad news.

“All the blood tests came back negative, except one.”

His mouth dry, Archer swallowed reflexively, ready for his world to end.

“I’m pregnant.”

The words didn’t make sense in his brain at first, so much so that his confusion made Zoe laugh. Then, gently, her hands cupped his cheeks, forcing him to process the news.

“You’re pregnant? With our child? You’re not sick?”

“No, I’m not sick. It’s just that the symptoms are so different than when I was pregnant with Julia it threw me off and my doctor too. She suspects that it’s the added stress that messed with my body.”

The relief was so intense and sudden that it made him dizzy. Still holding on to his wife, Archer stumbled back until he could fall onto the couch with Zoe on his lap. It took several heartbeats for him to clear his vision and steady his heart. The fear of losing her would haunt him for years to come.

He loosened his grip on her ever so slowly, his hands gentler and caressing, tracing her body until his palms rested on her belly.

When she’d been pregnant with Julia, Archer had been unaware of the situation and had missed out on most of it. Luckily, he’d been there for the delivery and was grateful for experiencing that miracle and holding his newborn child. It was a life-altering event and he now had a second chance to be there for Zoe and his unborn baby. Another child. Their child.

“Thank you.”

The words had escaped his mouth, and Zoe giggled. “I think this baby is a joint effort.”

He smiled, seeing her happy in his arms. “Yeah, there’s no doubt about that. I’m just thankful for you, my love. For bringing me so much joy and love. A beautiful daughter, and maybe another. It’s like being in a dream, and I never want to wake up.”

Her hand was cool on his face as she caressed his hair. “It’s never a dull moment with us that’s for sure. It’s a good thing my business crumbled after all.”

“Zoe, if you want to start over, we’ll do things differently. I have no doubt you’ll succeed in any project you want to launch. You never have to choose between me, your family, or your career. You can have it all. I’ll make it happen.”

Her body softened against him, derailing his thoughts.

“I want it all with you. These last few months have been a lesson on what not to do. I shouldn’t have left you in the dark. I see now how it hurt you. I’m sorry. You tried to get through me, but I was too stubborn to admit that having it all didn’t necessarily mean doing it all by myself.”

“And I should have pushed harder, made you talk to me. We’re in this together. Don’t shut me out, Zoe. I’m begging you.”

She lowered her mouth to his in the most searing kiss, sending his body into overdrive. He wanted her like a starving man, reminding him that the last time they made love several weeks back was probably when they’d conceived their little miracle. They’d never had such a long, dry spell before. However, what stopped him from taking her here and there were the words of her doctor.

It made him wince in agony to stop her wandering hands. “Zoe, you must rest. Your doctor said...”

“My doctor said to be mindful of my stress levels, which I took care of today. And I know something that will help me relax. Something you can give me.” Her smile held so many promises.

Stepping out of his embrace, Zoe pulled out the last remaining pins of her up-do, letting her red hair tumble over her shoulders. Then, with a wicked smile that stirred his blood, she reached behind and unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor.

Even in the simplest of underwear, she was the most beautiful goddess in his eyes. Not stopping there, she reached back for the clasp of her bra. “I don’t want to force you into anything, husband. If you’re too tired, I’ll understand. I have a vibrator somewhere...”

Archer was running after her even before she’d finished her empty threat, her laughter easy to follow to their bedroom.

His universe was back on its axis again, and he sent up a silent prayer in gratitude. Life would never be the perfection of a fairytale, and he didn’t care. Archer didn’t need perfect. He could deal with anything as long as he had this incredible woman by his side. It was the only happily-ever-after that mattered, the only fairytale he wanted.

Copyright © 2022 by India Kells