Because I missed my wife. The words echoed relentlessly inside Chloe’s mind. She hated them. Hated the way they affected her. Hated the way her heart reacted. Most of all, she hated that a part of her wanted to believe him. Unfortunately, experience had taught her better. Liam Reigns was many things. Persuasive. Intelligent. Manipulative. Dangerous. And Chloe refused to become vulnerable again. Not after everything. Not after three years of painstakingly rebuilding herself. The silence between them stretched. Heavy. Uncomfortable. Charged. Finally, Chloe laughed. A short laugh. A defensive laugh. “Your wife?” Liam didn’t smile. “Yes.” She shook her head. “In case you’ve forgotten, our marriage was a contract.” His gaze remained steady. “I remember.” “Good.” “Do you?” The question caught he
