I tucked both my Clydes in with kisses and left him alone in his office. What else was I supposed to do? I tried. I tried every day to please this man, and I couldn’t do it. Maybe a lavender bubble bath and a nice stiff drink would make it all go away.
That was a nice plan. One that didn’t work. I downed the drink, and I was out of the calming bubbles. Rowan and Ophelia dumped the rest of a half a bottle in my shower. They spent at least an hour, slipping and sliding in there while I sat on the counter and read a book that automatically downloaded on my tablet. Evidently I preordered months before. I was engrossed in this girl’s life and didn’t even realize what they were doing. Black Rain by Jettie Woodruff. I read it in one sitting and instantly preordered the next one. Luckily I only had to wait a few days. Perfect for vacation. It would be on my tablet before our upcoming vacation. An amazing book that had my total attention was the reason I didn’t have bubbles.
The drink was good, and I think it did help settle my nerves a little, but something else was weighing on my mind. I knew I was irrevocably in love with Paxton. Why? I had no clue. Paxton was the most difficult man on earth, and I was fascinated by him. I wasn’t stupid though. I didn’t know if my heart could do Paxton Pierce for a lifetime. This wasn’t working for me. I didn’t know if I could do this.
I didn’t get to go to Paxton’s office that night, or the next, or the next. Paxton worked late every night. He spent a couple hours with the girls in the evenings and ignored me even more. My excitement for our trip became less and less thrilling. I didn’t want to go anymore. Paxton proved to be more of a dick than I ever thought possible. Nine days. That’s how many days he worked late. That’s how many days he ignored me. Even sex. He didn’t touch me. Not even a kiss. When Paxton played the silent treatment card, Paxton meant business. I tried. I tried like hell to get through the thick skin with no avail. I gave up and dreaded the five day trip with him.
Paxton Pierce was an impossible man. One that no woman could please. Not even me.
Chapter Nineteen
Rowan and Ophelia were beside themselves the day we were set to take off on our trip. I packed all our clothes and had them loaded in the car before Paxton ever got home from work the night before. I was over it. Over his childish silent treatment, over the vacation, and over Paxton. I couldn’t do it anymore. Maybe before, but not now. Not anymore.
I’m the one who copped the attitude when we got to the airport. It was just before sunset, around eight o’clock. Paxton did that. He knew we were going to be in the air for a very long time. A night flight was perfect. My problem wasn’t the evening plans Paxton made. It was the airport, the plane, and his holier than thou attitude.
“Oh look, girls. A private plane,” I smartly said while I watched a two seated golf cart arrive to retrieve our things.
Paxton looked at me with a dark glare. “Don’t move.”
“Can we, Daddy? Can we get out?” Rowan and Phi asked, exciting adrenaline, pumping through their veins. I hated when he did that. Usually he was good about not being a dick around them, but sometimes he slipped. Or they overheard, like this time. They didn’t get it, not like I did. Thank God they were too excited to notice the dominance their father had over their mother.
Paxton smiled back at his prides and gave them their wish. “Yes, you can get out.”
I sat there like a good little girl and waited for permission to get out, too. Five minutes. That’s how long Paxton left me waiting. He talked to the pilot while the girls helped load the cart with our things. I played on my phone, fuming from the inside out. We couldn’t afford Disneyland, but we could afford private planes. Made perfect sense to me.
I defiantly held up a finger when Paxton opened the door. My phone was taken right out of my hand and placed in his shorts pocket. Jerk. I declined his hand and sidestepped him, smiling brightly at the girl’s excitement. One finger through my belt-loop stopped me.
“Calm down now, Pumpkin,” I heard in whisper through a smirk. Paxton did this shit on purpose. Not being used to this side of me, Paxton got off on me being disobedient.
A twist of my arm separated his body close to mine. I’ll give you pumpkin. Jerk. Paxton laughed behind me, and I shook my head. Not at him. At myself. I loved this Paxton. The playful one that liked me. I could tell myself a million times that I wouldn’t let myself get wrapped up in him the next time he decided to be normal. I promised myself that I would stay somber. Even when we had sex. I hadn’t had to worry about that. We hadn’t had sex. In nine days! That was the longest I’d gone without sex since I could remember. Inside jokes aside, that was a long time for me.
Paxton turning into this man twisted me into Jell-O. No matter how much I wanted to be stronger than him, show him what I was really made of, I couldn’t do it. I melted to this man. To this side of Paxton.
Paxton slowed his pace and answered his ringing phone, still laughing.