Free Somebody's Wife: The Jackson Brothers, Book 3 by Jasmine Haynes, Jennifer Skully Page A

the fate on their marriage and their love.
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    She wanted to cry, scream, rant, rave, demand. She wanted to hit him, kick him, bite him. Anything to get rid of this hot knot of anger and pain strangling her. How could he do this to her? Why? The line between love and hate was indeed thin, and right now, she’d fallen off the line right into the hate side.
    But Connie didn’t do any of the things she thought about. Instead, she let her gaze ride his naked body with as much disdain as she could muster.
    “Tonight I’m sleeping in Peter’s bed. Tomorrow I’ll clean up the sewing room and you can start sleeping on the day bed.”
    “Connie, please let’s—”
    She held up a hand. “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.”
    She’d made her own bed, too. “We’ll talk about divorce after Taylor and Jace’s wedding. There’s too much to do right now for me to even think about it.”
    Then she turned and left him standing naked in the bathroom. In Peter’s room, she fell asleep without a single tear. She was too angry for tears. She’d do all her crying after the wedding. After she decided whether she’d divorce him or stay with him for the kids’ sake.
    Whatever she ended up doing, the love, happiness, and passion of the last two days was gone forever.
     
    * * * * *
     
    That was the problem with ultimatums. You made them thinking you were going to get the answer you wanted.
    In those few moments Mitch stared silently, Connie had vindicating visions of him on his knees, begging her forgiveness, then throwing her birth control pills down the toilet.
    A week later, she still couldn’t quite believe he hadn’t done just that. She wouldn’t think about that now. She’d concentrate on her anger. All the bad things started with Lou’s death. But Mitch had had three years to work it out. She’d offered solace, he hadn’t accepted it. Instead, he lied, he broke his promises, and he didn’t trust her. Even just one of those transgressions would kill any marriage.
    A vice tightened around her heart.
    “Connie, you’re messing up the roses.”
    Evelyn’s voice brought her back to the moment. Connie stared down at the red splatter on the white icing.
    “Sorry.” She was a good cake decorator, and she wanted to make the cake perfect for Taylor’s wedding. But it looked more like a Rorschach paint splatter than a rose. She scooped off the splotch, smoothed the layer of frosting, then started again.
    Evelyn was putting the finishing touches on the last batch of appetizers. They’d been cooking for a week now. But today, the day before the wedding, Taylor was absent. She couldn’t see the cake. That would be bad luck. She was at home finishing the lasagnas. The food wasn’t gourmet, but it was inexpensive and good. Taylor made the absolute best lasagna. Even the newcomer, Randi, had her assignment. She said she couldn’t cook, so they had her cut up the cheese for crackers and the vegetables for dipping. There was something comforting about the camaraderie of the Jackson womenfolk getting everything ready. At least it would have been serene if Mitch hadn’t torn her heart out.
    “I’ve never known anyone that can make a wedding cake look so pretty.” Randi sucked at her finger where she’d accidentally nicked herself with the knife.
    “It’s easy,” Connie said. “A steady hand and a careful eye.” Which is why she’d muffed the rose. She wasn’t steady, and she wasn’t being careful. A broken heart wreaked havoc on cake decoration.
    With the last of the sausage rolls in the oven—they’d reheat them in the oven at the hall—Evelyn stood by the freezer door.
    “Heaven above, I forgot to get the spinach for the dip.”
    “I’ll go get it,” Randi offered.
    Evelyn flapped a hand. “No, no, you finish chopping the veggies, then start on cubing the French bread. It won’t take me more than a few minutes.”
    The kitchen was silent once more as Evelyn’s car roared