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I might have invoices to pay and a resort plan that’s crumbling at my feet, but first I have a wife to see.

And to remind her that she’s mine.

Music is blasting out from my Bang & Olufsen 90s as I walk through the front door, the bass making the hallway shake like a kid on a sugar high.

But it’s the off-key caterwauling coming from the kitchen that makes me stop.

I don’t call out. There’s no point – they wouldn’t hear me over the chorus of ‘Cruel Summer.’

And from the sound of it, Bennett’s doing the lead, singing about being drunk in the back of a car, while Eden laughs into the harmony, the two of them completely oblivious to me.

I step into the kitchen right as Bennett reaches the crescendo and my stomach tightens like somebody’s punched me straight in the gut.

Eden’s next to the counter, barefoot, her hair damp and curling over her shoulders. Her cut offs are frayed too high on her thighs, and the bikini top she’s still wearing barely covers the swell of her perfectly tanned breasts.

She’s got a lime in one hand, a cocktail shaker in the other, and she’s shimmying along like she’s got a front row seat at The Eras Tour. The sun slanting in behind her is making her skin glow.

Bennett’s next to her in a pair of swim trunks that look suspiciously like a pair I own, leaning in close to pour a shot or two of tequila into the shaker like they’re co-hosting some beach cocktail vlog. His bare arm brushes hers every time he moves.

Then she spots me and her whole face lights up.

“You’re home early.” She puts the lime down, and grins at me. “We’re making margaritas. Want one?”

I unknot my tie, wrapping it around my hand to coil it, then unfasten the buttons on my sleeves and roll them up. They’ve opened the glass doors at the back of the kitchen and there’s a breeze blowing up from the ocean. “No thank you.” I lift a brow at her. “How’s my car?”

She has the good grace to look sheepish. “In one piece.”

“We took good care of it, sir,” Bennett says.

I look at her, at those perfect curves and that smile that could slay me if I let it. “Come here.” I know I’m being an ass. Thegrumpy old guy walking in on the kids having fun. But it’s been a hard day.

Her eyes flick to Bennett.Good. Let him see exactly where she belongs. And who she belongs to.

Eden walks toward me in three slow steps. Her hips sway and her gaze doesn’t leave mine.

Good. I don’t want it to.

When she’s close enough, I curl my hand around her waist and pull her the rest of the way. The scent of saltwater and lime hits me first, then the warmth of her soft skin against my palm.

Her lips part as her body hits mine, and it takes everything I have not to throw her over my shoulder and carry her to bed.

But instead, I press a kiss to her mouth. It’s not soft, it’s not friendly. It’s hard and possessive, and it sends a shot of desire straight through me.

Instead of pulling away, of calling me a bastard, she hums softly against my mouth. I kiss her again, slower this time, just to feel her some more.

When I pull back, she’s actually smiling, like I’m not some caveman fighting a hard-on.

“Hi,” she murmurs, sounding breathless.

“Hi.” My thumb brushes along her jaw. “Tell me about your day.”

I don’t let go of her, I don’t step back. The feeling of her against me is too damn perfect to willingly move away from.

“It was good. After we spoke to you, we went to Brewed Awakenings and I introduced Bennett to Mylene.”

“Not to be confused with Eileen,” Bennett pipes up. I’d almost forgotten he was there. And now I’m picturing the two of them leaning on the coffee shop counter like they are the couple.

“Nice.” I kiss her again. Softer still. Her lips curl even more. “What else?”