“Nope. You earned them. Anytime you need a sitter I’ll return the favor.”
Her forehead scrunched. “Well, actually, are you busy on Friday night next week?”
“Yeah. I mean no, I’m not busy.” He hefted his sleeping kid off the couch. “You have a big date or something?”
She nodded. “I do.” Then she crossed her arms and frowned like Asher did when he wasn’t thrilled about doing something.
He wasn’t sure why the thought of her going on a date didn’t sit well. That she didn’t seem happy about it made him feel better, but it was none of his business. And he owed her a huge favor
“Then I’m your man. Maybe I’ll take the kids to eat and then we’ll go to that new place that helps them write their own book if that’s okay?”
“That’d be great. Emily has been bugging me to take her for weeks. I’ll send some money along.”
“No. You probably saved me from losing hundreds of thousands of dollars today, so it’s my treat.” He headed for the door as Asher snoozed on his shoulder.
She stopped dead in her tracks and blinked up at him. “You make that much money making up games? Maybe I should switch my major.” She ran ahead of him, grabbed Asher’s coat from the rack, and then opened the front door.
Crap. He shouldn’t have said that. That was the second time he’d mentioned money in the last ten minutes. Now he’d never know if she was being nice to him for his wealth like so many other people in his life. That was why he needed to get Annie back. She’d never cared much about money.
He took the coat Lori held out and wrapped it around Asher’s shoulders. “Text me what time I should pick Emily up next Friday.”
Lori shivered in the cold air the open door let inside. “You don’t have to go out of your way. I can drop her off at your house.”
He’d sworn he wouldn’t let another woman see his three-million-dollar home either. Not until he was sure he wouldn’t get used for his money again, at least. “It’s no trouble. It’ll be on the way.”
Lori hugged her middle to stave off the cold. “Okay. I’ll text you that afternoon. Asher can have something for his fever in a half hour. Good night.”
“Thanks. Night.” He carried Asher to the car, wishing for his own coat he’d left on the front seat. Asher finally woke up a little, making it easier to strap him in before he fell right back asleep. Then Deek slid behind the wheel.
It was later than they usually talked, but maybe he’d call Annie anyway. As he headed for home, Deek ran words around his brain to say to Annie to convince her to come home after her dig finished. He needed to stay calm like Lori suggested, and just lay out the facts. That ought to work better with Annie, because she rarely lost her temper, outwardly, like he did.
After they were home and Asher was tucked into bed, Deek picked up his cell to video chat with Annie. She was supposed to be on her short break and back in her meager living quarters for the week before she went back to the field.
Finally, after five rings, she answered, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she walked down a hallway. Away from her bedroom’s closed door. “It’s late, Deek. What’s wrong?”
He wanted to ask if she remembered she was supposed to have called her son but refrained. “Nothing. Asher was sick today, so I forgot to text my weekly reminder to call. Sorry about that.”
“I can’t believe I forgot. We’ve just been so busy here. I’ll try to call tomorrow. Is Asher okay?” She frowned as she sat on an old couch in the living room.
Wait. Why would she have gotten out of bed? His stomach sank as possibilities rushed into his head. “Do you have company?”
“Yes.” Her head tilted to the side. “But I don’t understand the upset expression on your face, Deek. We both agreed we could sleep with others. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just sex. You’ve been with other women since I’ve been gone.”
“Not since we decided we’d try to make our relationship work, three months ago. I thought no sleeping with others was implied.” He felt like he was going to be sick.
Annie’s blue eyes just stared back at his as she processed his words through that damned logical brain of hers.
Her blonde hair was rumpled too, and he didn’t want to think about how it’d gotten that way.
Finally, she said, “I’m sorry. I guess I misunderstood our agreement. But we talked about this, remember? You should sleep with other women, Deek. That way we’ll be sure when it’s time to settle down. Right?”
He’d been sure since she’d become pregnant. It was his responsibility to marry her and be a good father. “Wrong.” Hot anger welled in his throat, but then Lori’s voice in his head reminded him not to lose his temper. “What it’s time for is for me to show you what you’re missing. We both know that, empirically, we’re a perfect match on paper. You’ve just forgotten it. Now go kick that guy’s ass out of the bed I paid for. I’ll call you tomorrow. And every day after that until you remember why you used to love me.”