Chapter Eleven

Samuel

“I’m not having sex with you.”

I’ve barely walked through the door of my apartment before Isabel stands in front of it. It just takes one look to tell that she’s been crying. My gaze automatically goes to my watch. It’s after seven. She should be at work. I purposefully stayed gone all day to give her time alone to come to terms with everything. As I see the way her eyes are bloodshot, her face washed out and the pain that is easy to see on her features, it seems that was a mistake.

“Oh, you are,”

I correct her. “We’re going to work on this marriage, Izzy.”

“Why? What about me would make you want to do that? When we first met, you made no secret of the fact that you disliked me.”

I purse my lips and study the woman in front of me. “You infuriated me, tested me when we first met, Izzy. That’s never been the kind of woman I thought I wanted.”

“See!”

she cries.

I walk over to her, putting my hands on each side of her neck, forcing her to look at me. “Even then, I was attracted to you, Izzy. You would always come up in my thoughts. There’s something between us. I don’t think you can deny that.”

“There’s a contract between us!”

“Ignore the fucking contract. Let’s just concentrate on what we could be to one another.”

“I’m not having sex—especially with a man who is intent on knocking me up and taking my baby from me.”

I slide my thumb along the side of her cheek. “You don’t know me, but I can promise you that if you will give this a chance with me and it works, I will want you by my side until they put me in the ground. If we have kids one day, I would love for her to be strong like her mother, someone with a career that will take control of any situation—even being kidnapped and having the head of the Bratva bleeding out in front of her.”

“Sam …”

“I like you shortening my name,”

I murmur, meaning it completely. My name sounds natural coming from her lips. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“I had a panic attack after reading that damn contract and called Danny to come over. He phoned my boss. Apparently, I have the rest of the week off.”

“Good. That gives us a week to see how good we could be together.”

“Or how bad,”

she mutters.

“Optimistic, aren’t you?” I laugh.

“We could end this here,”

she suggests.

“I’m thinking we go out to dinner instead. Maybe find a Christmas tree.”

“A Christmas tree?”

she repeats, blinking as if she doesn’t quite believe what I just suggested.

“It’s almost Christmas, Izzy. It will be our first Christmas together. We need a tree.”

She doesn’t respond. Instead, she just keeps staring at me. “Izzy?” I prompt.

“You’re a very strange man, Sam. I’m trying to tell you I have no intention of abiding by this freaking contract—that we need to go our separate ways—and you want to go shopping for a Christmas tree.”

“That’s because this contract is binding and while I’m willing to negotiate on the clauses you’re upset about, I’m not willing to end it. Now, let’s go have dinner. We can discuss what you would like to change in the contract. You’ll find that your husband can be very reasonable,”

I say with a wink. Isabel looks like she wants to slap my face. That shouldn’t make me happy, yet it does.

“Do I have to change for this dinner?”

I let my gaze drop to rake over the way those jeans are hugging her curves. She’s wearing a loose pink sweater, and her hair is pulled up high on her head in a ponytail. She looks gorgeous. I’m used to women pouring themselves into skimpy dresses that are so tight their boobs almost fall out—all while wearing makeup so thick it makes me wonder how they’re breathing.

“You’re perfect the way you are,”

I tell her truthfully.

“I think I like you better when you’re not trying to be nice. I don’t trust this new Sam.”

“You’re just hungry. Let’s go find some food.”

I hold out my hand and I watch as she stares at it. It’s like she thinks I might strike out and bite her. Eventually, she puts hers in mine and I smile.

I don’t say a word as we move through the hotel, then into the parking garage. When I discovered Isabel had tried to trick me, I was looking forward to a little revenge. Now, I find myself thinking about spending time with her—bringing her into my life. I wasn’t lying. She’s stayed in the back of my mind since the night we met. Isabel challenges me. There’s something about her that makes me feel energized. I’m drawn to Isabel. That’s not something that has happened since Angelina. At this point, I’m not even sure Angelina’s pull was this strong. Isabel is her complete opposite. The more I find out about my wife, the more I find I appreciate that fact. I’m not letting her get away. I want Isabel.

And I’m going to keep her.