1. NICK AND DOM

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"That felt amazing!" Stacia James moaned with pleasure as she walked out of the massage room and into the waiting area where her sister, Nicola Grant, sat sipping on a cup of ginger lemon tea. "How was yours, baby?"

"Ten on ten." Nicola winked as she went through the magazine she had spread out on the table.

"We are glad you are satisfied with our service." Brittany, the spa owner, grinned as she waltzed in. "We are hoping to see your mother here soon."

Yvonne Montgomery was everyone's dream patron. Wherever the former model went, the high society followed.

"I am recommending your deep tissue massage to Momma for sure. I thought I had an orgasm right there on the table." Stacia laughed. "Right, baby?"

"My husband is a twelve when it comes to orgasms so no, I won't agree. I am rating the massage a ten."

Stacia rolled her eyes while Brittany laughed good-naturedly. She dropped her voice so that Nicola wouldn't hear. "All those rumors about the... affair... are just that right? Rumors. She seems happy in her marital bliss."

Stacia's smile tightened as she nodded. She was not going to elaborate to the businesswoman, whose lips reached the ears of many of the high-end society, that that was all there was to the marriage of her younger sister. 

Mind-blowing sex.

Nothing else.

"I will get you a cup of tea as well."

She nodded as the older woman walked away.

Stacia suddenly felt her chest tighten.

Two years ago, she had chosen to marry the love of her life and call off her long-standing engagement with Dominic Grant.

Her younger sister had to pay the price for her selfishness.

And today was the celebration of that fated day.

"Everything set for the anniversary party?" She put on a happy smile she did not feel as she turned to her twenty-two-year-old younger sibling who was now married to a thirty-four-year-old man who didn't care for her. All because of her selfishness.

"I wouldn't know." Aloof, eccentric, and chronically bored. Those were the words that best described Nicola Grant. "My mother-in-law is taking care of that. But you already knew that."

"I am talking dresses, jewelry, makeup, and all that."

Nicola finally looked up, her forever bored expression intact, and sighed. "I don't care."

Stacia closed her eyes, feeling the tentacles of guilt hugging her tighter.

"Stop blaming yourself." Nicola rolled her eyes, getting up just as Brittany walked in with the tea for Stacia.

She expected Nicola to stop talking but she was Nicola after all. She was not going to stop midsentence just because someone interrupted her. "I married the love of my life. It is not your fault he turned out to be an asshole."

Brittany stopped, stumped, in the process of handing the cup over to Stacia.

"I should leave you sisters alone." She fumbled with her words.

"Next time you want to know about my husband's affair, ask me. Not anyone else." Nicola stumped her once again with her unabashed candor.

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"I am not having an affair." Dominic Grant bellowed at his wheel-chaired grandfather. "Why is it so hard to believe?"

"You spend more time with Natasha Cunningham than you do with your own wife."

Dominic glared at the older man. What was there to spend time with? The woman lacked any personality. The only time he could not complain about her was when they were fucking. That she did with utmost zest and so did he but outside the confines of their bedroom, it was impossible to make decent conversation with that creature who lived in her own cloud castle.

Maverick Grant shook his head. "This won't do, Dom. People are talking. There won't be smoke without fire."

"You mean the fire they are trying to set on my marriage?" Dominic decided to play the victim. It was the only way he could deal with his grandfather.

"Stop playing the victim."

Oh well, he was his grandfather after all.

"Natasha and I are just friends. Business associates. Nicola understands that. That is all that matters to me." Dominic resigned to the fact that his wife had not accused him of this blasphemy yet. He didn't think she really cared.

He didn't think she cared about anything.

"Nick used to be so different." Maverick sighed. "This marriage changed her."

"Puberty changed her." Dominic rolled his eyes. "For good too. She used to be such a menace."

"She used to be the life of the party." Maverick glared at his grandson. "Now she doesn't even show face in said parties."

Dominic rolled his eyes. It was evident that his grandfather was going to do what he did best, walk down memory lane. After the death of his wife and then his best friend, Maverick Grant spent his days doting on his grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

Stacia was obviously his first choice as Dominic's wife but he used to adore Nicola just as much, and more so now. Except, Dominic didn't know what there was to love so much about Nicola Grant.

The double door was pushed open and the devil walked in.

"Nicky!" Maverick grinned. "You are glowing. Are you going to give us any good news?"

Dominic choked on his own spit.

He knew that, in the end, he would have to bear children with this boring woman who lacked any personality. But he was planning to put it off as much as he could.

"No, it's just the afterglow of the spa day with the big sis." Even her response was robotic.

"And how is Stacy doing?" Maverick smiled, thinking about baby Rhys.

"Positively glowing." Something akin to a smile settled on her face. "As beautiful as ever. And very much happy."

"Motherhood does that to a woman." The older man smiled.

She nodded. "I need to get to the guest bedroom to get ready for the night."

"Of course." Maverick smiled.

She walked away without another word and Dominic smirked when he caught his grandfather let out a breath of relief.

"See what I have to deal with every day?" He pointed out. "This marriage was a mistake."

Maverick gave him a look. "Do you think that because of Natasha Cunningham?"

"NO!" Dominic had had enough of explaining this to him and he was tired now. "Can't you see anything wrong with Nicola?"

"Maybe your marriage will be much bearable if you first try to become friends with your wife."

"Like she thinks I can fit in her circle."

"You are a Grant. You can fit in anywhere."

Dominic rolled his eyes. He was not here to hear those cheesy lines.

"I need to get ready."

"Run along then." Maverick smiled at him.

Dominic gave him a quick nod and walked off to the guest bedroom that had been set up for him.

Maverick sighed, looking skyward. 

Maybe this marriage really was a mistake. 

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