The release split through her body almost before she’d realized it was imminent. It was quieter, deeper than the first one. More encompassing. She let it expand, grabbing on to the sensation because it was something she wanted to savor. Hendrix’s expression went tense with his own release and he drew it out with a long kiss, perfectly in sync with her in a way she knew in her bones would never have happened if they’d banged each other in a closet.
This was something else, taking their relationship to the next level.
He picked her up and set her on her feet so he could finally remove the dress and then gathered her into his arms to lay spoon style under the covers. She didn’t resist, couldn’t have. She wanted all of this to be as real as it felt, but as she lay there in the dark listening to her husband breathe, her eyes refused to stay closed.
None of this was going to last. She’d forgotten that in the midst of letting Hendrix prove they could have a closed-door relationship. She’d forgotten that their marriage had become intimate long before they’d signed any papers and she’d let herself get swept away in the beauty he’d shown her.
She did use sex as a distraction, as an avoidance tactic. Because she hadn’t wanted to be in this position. Ever. But she’d let him change the dynamic between them.
They were still getting a divorce. She couldn’t forget that part because it was the theme of her life.
She lost everything important to her eventually and Hendrix fell into that category just as much as anything else. This wasn’t the start of a new trend. Just the continuation of an old one that was destined to break her heart.
Nine
Helene made a rare appearance at the office, bringing a huge catered lunch with her that the employees all appreciated. Hendrix let her have her fun as the company still had her name on it even though she’d transitioned the CEO job to him long ago. As the last of the potato salad disappeared from the break room and the employees drifted back to their desks, Hendrix crossed his arms and leaned back on the counter to contemplate his mom.
“What gives?” he asked with a chin jerk at the mostly decimated spread. “You get a large donation or something?”
Her lips curved into the smile that never failed to make him feel like they were a team. At last, it seemed like they were back on solid ground again.
Sure, she smiled at everyone, because she had the sunniest personality of anyone he’d ever known, but she was still his mom no matter what and he valued their bond more than he could
explain.
“Paul Carpenter dumped five million in my lap. You didn’t have anything to do with that, did you?”
He shrugged, wishing he could say it was an act of generosity and that she shouldn’t read anything into it, but odds were good the donation came with strings. Carpenter had another think coming, if so. Having the billionaire as a father-in-law hadn’t checked out like he’d expected. It chafed something fierce to have his hopes realized of being aligned with a powerful old money family, only to find out the patriarch was an ass.
“Not even close. I don’t like how he treats Roz. If you recall, I might have given him that impression the last time we spoke at the wedding.”
“Well, he’s not the only one with a giving soul. The fundraiser was a huge success. I came by to thank you for hanging out with us old people.”
Hendrix snorted. The day Helene could be described as old had yet to come. She had boundless energy, a magnanimous spirit and could still give women half her age a run for their money. “You’re only seventeen years older than me, so you can stop with the old business. And you’re welcome.”
“You know what this means, right?” Helene eyed him curiously. “Your marriage to Roz worked to smooth over the scandal. My approval ratings are high. Seems like you did it. I don’t know how to say thank you for this enormous sacrifice you made for me.”
He grinned to cover the slight pulse bobble at what his mother was really saying—he and Roz had reached their goal much faster than originally anticipated. Her speech had all the hallmarks of what you said as something was winding down. And he did not want to think of his marriage that way. “It was really my pleasure.”
His mom stuck her fingers in her ears in mock exasperation. “I don’t want to know. This time, keep your sex life to yourself.”
“I’m trying.” And it was working well. So well, he could scarcely believe how easily he’d slid deeper into his relationship with Roz. They fit together seamlessly and it was nearly too good to be true. Far too good to be talking about ending it already. “I really like her.”
God, was he fourteen again? He was an adult who could surely find a better way to describe how his insides got a little brighter at the mere thought of his wife. But what was he supposed to say about the woman he woke up to every morning? Or about how he hadn’t yet figured out why his marriage wasn’t making him run screaming for the hills?
“I can tell,” his mom said lightly. “I’m headed to see her next. You wanna come with me?”
His eyebrows shot up automatically. “You’re going to see Roz?”
Helene and his wife weren’t having lunch any longer even though he’d told Roz repeatedly that it was fine if she built a friendship with Helene. He still felt like he’d nipped that relationship in the bud prematurely. It didn’t sit well and if they were mending the fences he’d knocked down, he definitely didn’t want to get between them again.
“I am,” she confirmed. “I can’t put off my promise to her any longer and still sleep at night. So I’m doing the clown thing. Full makeup and all.”
“The press will eat it up,” he promised and she nodded her agreement.
“Yes, I’m counting on it. It should be quite a circus, no pun intended.”
He laughed, glad that despite the many other changes that had been forced on them over the years, they could still hang out and crack jokes with each other. He’d never censored one word to his mother and she was the one person he could be completely real with.