Wrong Move

HE’D BEEN DYING to kiss those lips the moment they started exchanging banters. He’d been wanting to run his hands along her long neck to the curves of her delicious body to feel her soft skin against his fingertips. He missed her that he didn’t want to let her out of his sight—that was one of the reasons why he went to see her in the first place.

When he saw the same hunger in her eyes, he let his self-control slip out and pressed his lips against hers. As if he was expecting, there was a gasp of shock from Ari. Tripp thought it was adorable. But then she kissed him back.

His desire ignited, the waves of lust were so robust. His hand flew to the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. He wanted more. He wanted to take her inside the house, press her against the door, let her feel his hard as steel raging hard-on he had right now, and then ravished her.

Then his dream just vanished into the thin air when Ari pushed him away, a hand on her lips, glaring at him like he just committed murder, not he was kissing his wife.

Maybe what he did was rush, but he never regretted it even a little bit. He got to taste the most delicious taste his tongue ever tasted.

She stilled for a moment. Anger and disappointment blazed in her eyes. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?

“Is there any law in Hopes Spring that prohibits me to kiss my wife?

“Don’t try to be a smartass on me now.” Ari was already on her feet, hands on her hips, towering him with her eyes narrowing at him.

“But you did kiss me back.” A smirk spread across his lips, causing Ari to be more furious.

“So you think because I kissed you, we are getting back together, huh? Or you think I enjoyed it? You must be so damn full of yourself, Tripp. The last time I checked, I kissed a lot of guys in three years, but it still meant nothing to me.

“That’s not true. I know you damn well, Arizona.” His voice remained calm, but the lividity made his muscles taut everywhere. He didn’t believe everything she said. The Ari he knew was the most loyal he’d ever known. Whether she was telling the truth or it was her way to piss him, he should give her credit because he was damn sure he was affected.

“Tell me why are you here, Tripp.” Her patience was running low. She never imagined there would be a reunion between them. When she’d waited for him to come for her, it didn’t happen, then when the least she was expected, he just appeared from nowhere to the play the role of a good husband.

“I told you—”

“You didn’t tell me crap.

He silently stared at Ari, waiting for some sort of consideration to appear in her eyes, but it didn’t happen.

“Get out of my house, Tripp. I don’t wanna see you again until I have the divorce paper in my hand, signed by you.

Tripp tried to pull himself together. He took a deep breath and stood up to face his furious wife. “Why don’t we just give this a try, Ari? Let me take you out to dinner tonight and talk about this.” His words came out pretty natural given it was Tripp who never wanted a life-long commitment.

What was he thinking again? He must have hit his head hard in that accident. If anyone he knew heard what just came out of his mouth, they would say it was pure insanity.

Tripp had put a lot of thought into it. He should have done the right thing years ago, yet, he never even tried. Even once. He thought he wanted to focus on making a life by himself. Now he was regretting those decisions big time. Ari was distant, and she had changed a lot.

“You don’t make a call. And no.

“Just think about it. I’ll drop by later.” Women were always impressed by men who had deep pockets, luxury cars, impressive loft, and with black Amex card. Not his wife though. She might be impressed with his successful career, and Tripp was sure of that, but by the look of her life in this town with her own house and a white picket fence, she was pretty contented.

“No.

“I’d like you to join me over dinner at Bryce’s house tonight. Charleigh is your friend anyway.” He needed to try harder to earn her trust and maybe should agree to start over.

She frowned at his words. “Oh, my god! You’re unbelievable. What is it really you want from me? I can’t remember there’s a sign on my front lawn that I’m hiring a husband.

He sighed deeply. “Can you be a little more serious right now. I’m sorry. I promise I won’t kiss you again if that’s what pissed you off. Unless you initiate it first.

“I really don’t buy that crap that you want to start over or give it a try crap you cook up right now. And why now? Just tell me the truth for God’s sake.

“I meant it when I said that I wanted to start over, Ari. Believe me.

“Unbelievable!” She huffed before she tilted her head, giving him a determined look. “The problem is I don’t believe you anymore. I don’t wanna start over. I moved on. Please, leave me out of your fantasy. I can’t be your wife, and I don’t wanna be your friend either. We started with a toxic relationship and it surely ends just like that. Just stop all of these. Don’t make me hate you.

“That was not toxic.” His lips tightened. Clearly, he didn’t like calling their marriage a toxic, and her decisions seemed final.

“It was. You were my drugs. I was so addicted to you. I was under your spell the whole time until I didn’t know what I was doing anymore. I thought I was in love with you, but it was all madness, Tripp. That was not healthy. So I can’t be a fool again. You better go and leave me alone because nothing’s gonna change my mind.

Without another word, he walked out of the porch and marched toward the street. Bryce’s house was just a few blocks away from her. He was heading to his sister for help.

Tripp had always had a hard time accepting defeat and rejections. He was always the man who was after what he wanted. In all honesty, he played fair. He didn’t like to play dirty because he believed in hard work.

Since he met his wife again, his brain was running a mile a minute. Then his father’s words were jumbling his thought. For the first time in his twenty-seven years, he didn’t know which one to prioritize. He’d been giving too much of his time on his career, maybe it was the right time to choose the other path. And maybe, just maybe it was time he wanted to play dirty and changed the game.

He stopped walking and turned around with his plan to seduce his wife. He could barely see the house, but his decision was final. He hadn’t realized he just halted in the middle of the road. The squealing of the brake made him still, his heart stop, and it pierced his ears, and then the strong impact had him thrown off the street.

Not in a second before he realized he was hit. Then the face of the worried and scared old man came before his eyes.

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