Page 160 of Temporary Vows

The door swings open and Knox walks in, his hands deep in his pockets.

"A little bird said you were here." He grins. "Thought I'd check in."

I spread my arms wide. "I'm back."

Knox crosses the office and sits on the edge of my desk. His eyes sweep over me, then a slow smile spreads across his face. "Yes, you are back. And you look..." He tilts his head, squinting. "Sickeninglycalm. I’m not entirely sure what to do with that since you tend to have that look when you’re about to wreak havoc.”

I let out a short laugh. “Not today. This is a different kind of calm.”

“I take that to mean everything went okay?"

"Yes." I lean back, folding my arms. "It went well."

He gives me an assessing stare, the kind only an older brother can pull off. "When you saywell,what exactly do you mean?" He folds his arms, too. "Are you still pretending you and Elodie can have separate lives, or has that ship sailed?"

"The ship sailed into the Great Beyond."

He laughs but I can tell he’s still reading me.

"I'm going to do this thing with her," I say it like it’s an announcement.

"Thing?" He shakes his head. "You mean marriage."

"Yes. Marriage."

"Welcome to the club, bro." He claps. "The benefits are great."

"I see that now."

The teasing falls away and his expression shifts to something deeper, more sentimental.

"I'm happy for you, Dorian," he says. And I know he means it.

“Thank you.” I cock my head. “Did anything happen here while I was away? Particularly with Parker.” I hadn’t heard anything. After the encounter in the restaurant. I expected a phone call from my father and shit from Uncle Richard. Nothing came.

“No.” He raises his brows. “Levi’s PR guy dealt with the stories that came out of your little outburst at the restaurant. And as for Parker, not a word was said.”

I nod. “He knew he stepped over the line this time. My guess is he didn’t want to tell his father because he knew he was in the wrong. I’m sure he also didn’t want me to claw back the Hargroves contract.”

“At least he played it smart.”

“Indeed. I can’t imagine what excuse he’d find to tell his father for takingmy wifeout to dinner.”

“No. I can’t either. He’s been quiet though. Not sure what that means. Can’t figure out that fucker no matter what I do.”

“You and me both.”

Knox stands. “I’d better go. What are you up to later?”

He was going to really think I changed my ways when he heard this. “I’m having dinner with my wife and her brother.”

Knox’s brows fly all the way up to his hairline. “You’re having dinner with Jack?”

“Yes. A favor to Elodie. I know it must be hard on her. I don’t want her to feel like she’s caught between us. It’s just dinner. I guess it was bound to happen sometime.”

He gives me a deep sigh. “I’m impressed. This is good though. And it’s for her. Keep me updated.”

“You know I will.”