staring at my phone screen, when Nathan

ve you been thinkin

gainst my ribs. How did he know about the family lawyer? Then I remembered the shared digital

nging immediately

iped to answer, and brou

w to operate the coffee machine, or are you just

devoid of its usual arrogant edge. "Is that appointment... Are you talking to

eeks before our anniversary, Nathaniel. After another late night, another canceled dinner, and

line. When Nathaniel spoke again, h

ally consideri

oing this to play games. I wouldn't have started a ninety-day strike if I had alread

on slipping into his tone. "Don't... just d

Nathaniel," I reminded

down. I knew he was scared, and part of me ached because I still loved him

ouse like a one-woman hurricane, carrying a bag

pointment and his total confusion over not having his clothes laid out,

ghty billionaire Nathaniel Blackwood is finally sweating! But listen to me, Soph-don't let this

you mean?

nife at me. "You spent three years managing his schedule. Now

he bed. As I flipped through the pages-hand-drawn blueprints, color palettes for boutique hotels, and cozy living room layouts-a familiar spark ignited

nt door opened, and heavy foo

d tired, but he was holding a large bouquet of vibrant tulips-my absolute favorite-

know flowers don't fix an anniversary disaster, and

up at his eyes. I could see

thaniel. They'

epping closer. "About yeste

my presence for granted, assuming that providing a luxurious life was enough to keep me happy. When I explained how I had slowly buried my own dreams of opening an inter

rying," he murmured, reaching out to ta

h, I felt my defenses melting. But then my phone buzzed o

n at the scre

rotective instincts flaring up. "Who's messagi

un with him. I tilted the ph

y dreams, encourages my career, an

e CEO looked dangerously close to commit

design circles? Because I will personally

g idiot," I interrupt

g out a heavy breath of r

ophie Blackwood. You're tryin

m, "a man who ignores his wife for three years shou

grew thick with that familiar, electric chemistry. He reached out, his fingers gently brushing

" he whispered, his voice low a

right against his lips,

are still suspend

his head back against the

punishing me harder tha

earn them," I teased, standing up. "Show me so

s eyes with sudden, stubborn determ

ng," I said with a bright smile. "Without ca

rocket ship from scratch. But then his stubborn pride t

multimillion-dollar real estate pr

away toward the kitchen. "Go

guest room, I heard muffled, angry whispering coming from Nath

ear with a look of absolute desperation. He didn't sound like a powerful billion

stop myself from laughing out loud when hi

! Just teach me how to make pancakes be