An unexpected weekend adventure leads to renewed passion, but will it be enough to save a troubled marriage?
Nathan Collins is stunned when he's served with divorce papers…almost as stunned as he'd been three weeks prior when his wife had suddenly asked him to move out of the house. At the time, Susan had proposed a thirty-day separation followed by marriage counseling. Nathan intends to hold her to that agreement.
He moves from stunned to pissed when Susan attempts to use blackmail as a means to obtain his signature on the papers. Damned if he'll be blackmailed into anything, especially when he's innocent of the accusations. He'd never cheat on his wife.
When an unexpected storm and a flooded road strand them together for the weekend, neither suspects that it will lead to a discovery of secret desires and fantasy fulfillment. But will their renewed passion be enough to revive their fledgling marriage? Despite Nathan's vehement denial, Susan has some pretty convincing evidence of his extramarital activities.
Content Warning: contains explicit sex and adult language
Susan Collins approached the front door cautiously. Whoever was on the other side pounded with so much force the door rattled on the hinges.
After peeking through the keyhole, she heaved a heavy sigh. She unlocked the door, yanked it open, and came face to face with a very angry man.
Not just any man, but her husband, Nathan.
He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, both covered with dirt. Apparently, he'd just come from a worksite. They must have been shorthanded, or close to a deadline, and he'd pitched in to help. Something he often did. Although Nathan owned Collins Construction, he got restless sitting behind a desk and was always eager to roll up his sleeves and help when needed.
"What the hell is this?" He waved a fistful of crumpled papers in her direction. Anger flared in his brown eyes.
"Divorce papers?"
"Yes," he said between clenched teeth. "But why did I receive them?"
"Because I had my attorney file them."
"That wasn't what we agreed to. We agreed to a thirty-day separation—to put things into perspective, you claimed—and then marriage counseling. We agreed to make an attempt to save our marriage. What happened to that plan, Susan?"
"That was before I knew you were…enjoying the company of other women."
She flung the door shut, and for a split second regretted it. She'd never slammed a door in someone's face. Then again, she'd never been dealing with a lying, unfaithful spouse. So, in this situation, she felt somewhat justified in her actions. In fact, she felt completely justified.
Just before the door slammed shut, Nathan's hand shot out to stop it and push it open.
"What are you talking about?" he demanded.
She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him her best icy stare. "I don't want to discuss this. Anything you have to say to me, you can say through my attorney. I want you to leave."
"You can want all day long, sweetheart, but it's not going to happen." He stepped inside, forcing her to take a step back. He shut the door calmly behind him. "What I've figured out in the last three weeks is that one of our biggest problems is that I always gave into your every little demand. Not this time. I'm staying, and we're going to discuss this."
"Leave, or I'm calling the police."
He waved a hand in invitation. "Go ahead. This is our house. Until a judge rules otherwise, I have just as much right to be here as you do. And that's exactly what the police will tell you."
Unfortunately, she suspected he was right. Damn it. "Then I'll leave."
She straightened, shoulders held high, and turned, intending to go to the bedroom and grab her purse. Before she'd taken a single step, he wrapped his fingers around her upper arm to hold her in place. She glanced down at his hand, and then looked up at him with her brow raised.
Immediately, he released her.
"I've never cheated on you," he said. "I never even thought about it."
"And yet I have evidence to the contrary."
