CHAPTER EIGHT

Adrian Hale’s POV

“Happy birthday, champ!” Dad’s voice boomed as he placed a giant box in front of me, the kind wrapped with shiny paper and a ribbon bigger than my head.

I tore into it like my life depended on it, and inside sat the fluffiest, softest teddy bear I had ever seen. My mouth dropped. “No way!”

I hugged it tight before jumping up to squeeze Dad. “Thank you, Daddy! He’s perfect!”

He laughed, his warm hand ruffling my hair. “What are you going to name him?”

“Riri,” I said proudly. “After you.”

Dad raised a brow, amused. “After me? Why on earth Riri?”

I grinned. “Because you’re strong, and Riri looks strong too!”

Dad chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re silly, kiddo.”

That was the day Riri became my best friend, the teddy bear who stuck with me through everything.

Warmth brushed across my face, dragging me out of sleep. My hand reached out automatically, searching for Riri. But instead of soft fur, I touched… something firm. Warm. Alive.

Wait. What?

“Riri, when did you start working out?” I muttered groggily, snuggling closer.

A deep voice vibrated through the chest I was pressed against. “Who the hell is Riri?”

My eyes flew open. I wasn’t holding my teddy bear. I was practically glued to the very real, very shirtless, and very smug chest of Damien Cross, my fiancé.

I screamed, scrambled back, and rolled right off the bed, landing hard on my ass. “Ow!”

Damien shot up and rushed over, crouching down beside me. “Are you okay?”

“No, I am not okay!” I snapped, rubbing my sore backside. “Why the hell were you in my bed? I thought I was supposed to sleep here alone!”

He smirked in that infuriating way of his. “Because I wanted to sleep next to you. And for the record you look beautiful when you’re sleeping.”

Heat climbed my neck. I pointed accusingly toward the bathroom. “I don’t care! Go brush your teeth. Now!”

He chuckled, but obeyed, striding into the bathroom. I grabbed my toothbrush and followed, still fuming. We stood side by side at the sink, brushing in silence. Except he wasn’t silent, he was smirking at me through the mirror.

I noticed his eyes weren’t even on my face. They were lower.

I followed his gaze and froze. Oh no. I was still in nothing but my underwear.

Face burning, I bolted into the closet and yanked on pajamas as fast as humanly possible. From the other room, I heard Damien laugh. “You’ve got a gorgeous body, you know. Those legs…”

“Shut up, asshole!” I yelled, tugging on my shirt.

When I came back out, Riri was lying on the floor. I bent down to pick him up, glaring.

Damien leaned against the doorframe, hair messy and pajama pants hanging too low on his hips. His abs were on full display, and I swear my soul almost left my body.

He caught me staring. His smirk widened. “Were you just checking me out?”

“I was not!” I snapped quickly, hugging Riri close.

He tilted his head. “So, who’s Riri? I still haven’t gotten an answer.”

“My teddy bear. My dad gave him to me when I was a kid,” I muttered, clutching the bear protectively.

“Oh.” Damien’s gaze softened for a moment. “Sorry. I tossed him off the bed since you were hugging him. The only one I want you hugging is me.”

Before I could retort, his hand slid onto my hip and his lips brushed my neck. A shiver shot down my spine right before he bit me.

“Damien!” I shoved him away and ran to the mirror. My jaw dropped. “Are you insane? You gave me a hickey!”

He grinned, completely unashamed. “Not a hickey. A love bite.”

“Same damn thing!” I yelled.

Storming into the bathroom again, I scrubbed at my neck, but the red mark wouldn’t budge. Groaning in defeat, I pulled on a black turtleneck with skinny jeans and boots. I looked like a depressed poet, but at least no one would see Damien’s stupid mark.

At breakfast, the smell of pancakes made my stomach growl. Damien sat across from me, dressed in a sharp suit, sipping coffee and reading the paper like he owned the world.

He eyed me over the top of the page. “Why are you wearing that?”

“Because you couldn’t keep your teeth to yourself,” I said, stabbing my fork into a waffle.

“Sam and Adam made breakfast. Sarah’s sick,” he said casually. Then, his gaze returned to me. “But seriously, I don’t like that outfit.”

“Too bad. I own the company. I can wear whatever I want.”

His smirk grew. “Change into something that shows your neck.”

“No way. Just because I love you doesn’t mean you control my wardrobe.”

He froze. “You love me, huh?”

My face turned red. “Shut up and eat your pancakes.”

Later, in the car, Damien went over contracts for the merger, but my thoughts drifted. Was I marrying into this just for business? Did he only see me as part of the deal?

“Hey,” he said softly, noticing. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lied.

When we pulled up to Hale Inns, he leaned over and kissed me before I could protest. “You’re hiding something,” he murmured against my lips. “I’ll get it out of you eventually.”

I rolled my eyes. “Good luck with that.”

He winked. “Have a good day,  Wife. I love you.”

My chest tightened. “I… I love you too.”

At the office, Lauren brought in a bouquet of bright orange tulips.

I blinked. “Tulips?”

She handed me the note.

Dear  Wife,

Roses were sold out, so I fought for them instead.

You light up my days.

P.S. I wish you’d tell me what was on your mind.

P.S. I love you.

– Your ridiculously handsome fiancé, Damien (aka Hubby)

My heart melted. Smiling like an idiot, I called him.

“An overly handsome engaged man speaking,” he teased.

I laughed. “Thank you for the flowers.”

“You like them? I wanted roses.”

“Tulips are fine. I just pity the poor florist you terrorized.”

“You’re breaking my heart,” he fake-sobbed.

I snorted. “Drama king. And about your note… I’m still not telling you what I was thinking.”

“But?” he pressed.

“But… I love you too. Mwah.”

Before he could reply, my door burst open.

“THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, I’M HERE!”

My jaw dropped. “Drew!”

I ran into my best friend’s arms, hugging him tight.

“Finally!” he said dramatically. “God, the UK is way too far. I’m jetlagged and miserable.”

“You look paler,” I teased.

He smirked. “Pale is sexy now. But seriously, you sneaky brat you didn’t tell me your fiancé is Damien freaking Cross! Honey, he is fine!”

I blushed. “Yeah, yeah. He’s hot. But he’s also insufferable.”

“That makes him hotter!” Drew fanned himself.

Before I could reply, the office door slammed open again. Damien stormed in, his best friend Thomas trailing behind him.

Damien’s eyes burned as he shoved Drew to the ground and yanked me into his chest.

“Drew!” I panicked, but Thomas helped him up.

Drew’s face went crimson. Oh no.

Damien’s voice dropped low. “Who the hell is this?”

Drew brushed himself off, glaring. “The one and only Starbucks diva, Drew O’Connor. And if you ever shove me again, I’ll kick your balls so high you’ll be singing soprano.”

The room went silent.

Damien froze. I gawked.

And Drew just smirked.

Why did meeting the best friend always turn into chaos?