Work Wife

By Bethany Lopez

USA Today Bestselling Author Bethany Lopez brings you an all-new series about getting a second chance at love later in life. Follow Whitney, Summer, Margo, and Charlotte, as they experience the good, bad, and ugly of dating again in your thirties and forties. Join them in The Jilted Wives Club.

When men let you down, nothing’s better than a bourbon straight up.
Margo has no time for games. A workaholic businesswoman in a male-dominated industry can’t afford any. After a failed attempt at marriage, she’s chosen to keep her affairs with men casual... with no strings and no expectations.
Aiden has no time for complications. Working two jobs, co-parenting an active little boy, and helping out on his family’s farm hasn’t left him much time for relationships. And with one divorce under his belt, he has little desire to try again.
Margo will never be a Work Wife again, but there’s something about Aiden that makes her want to let down some walls and see what happens.

Can Margo and Aiden find room in their lives for each other, or will Margo be left with nothing but a bourbon straight up?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bethany Lopez
• Release date: Nov 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781954655065

Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r7w3w5

Book preview

Chapter 1

Margo

I still live with my mother, but it’s really for her sake. She doesn’t want to be alone, and she likes having me there to take care of. I’m kinda in between jobs right now, but I think I’d like to be an actor. There just aren’t really any acting jobs here in the city. Anyway… He paused to cough in rapid succession. Don’t worry, it’s just a sore throat and cough. No big deal.

Somebody shoot me.

I swear to God, Summer is going to owe me big time for this.

I backed farther away in my seat to try and avoid his germs.

The speed dating event Summer had asked me to come to in her place was just kicking off, and this guy was my first date. It was at Thrive, a bar I’d never heard of until tonight, which smelled like week-old vodka and meatballs.

This guy had been talking about himself from the moment he sat down and hadn’t asked me one thing about myself.

I seriously hoped our five minutes were almost up.

Okay, fellas, switch, the moderator said.

I sent Summer a quick text under the table. You owe me big time for this… then gave sore throat guy a bland smile.

All the men stood up and walked to the next table, while all the women stayed put. The lights in the bar were low, so I couldn’t really see the incoming guy’s face until he was a few feet from my table.

Hi, I’m Margo, I said to the tall drink of water who sat across from me. He was quite attractive.

I’m Philip.

Where are you from, Philip? I asked, noting his accent.

I actually live in France. I am only here for the weekend on business. I saw the app was hosting this event and thought I’d check it out.

Okay, so this dude’s definitely just looking to hook up.

Once the moderator told them to switch again, I crossed off the first guy’s name and put a check mark next to the second because … who knew. He may be the best bet I had for the night.

And on the party went.

Some of the guys were okay. But if they mentioned marriage or kids, I crossed them off my list. There was no way I was looking to get bogged down with a guy in search of a serious commitment.

I was doodling on my paper when the next guy sat down, and when I looked up to see longish black hair framing a tanned, lean face with bright-blue eyes, my spidey senses started to tingle.

I instinctively held out my hand and said huskily, Margo.

His answering grin was slightly lopsided, and his hand was rough with callouses. The hands of a man who worked for a living, not like the guys in my office, or my ex.

All of this worked for me. A lot.

Aiden, he replied in a deep voice that sent shivers down my spine.

Wow. Aiden is definitely a winner.

He glanced at my paper and asked, You like tulips? Which is what I’d been doodling.

They’re easy to draw, I said. But lilacs are my favorite flower.

He simply nodded and kept his eyes on mine. I liked that. A man who made good eye contact and didn’t look away at the first moment of intimacy.

Have you been to one of these before, Aiden? I asked, praying he said no. I’d hate to learn he was a regular on the dating app scene.

No, this is my first time. You? he asked.

Same, I replied, then leaned in close and admitted, Actually, I don’t even belong to the app, I’m here doing a favor for a friend.

Ah, Aiden said, that deep voice seeming to rumble through me. You are single though, right? Or are you simply here for fun?

Single. But also, here for fun, I teased, leaning in a smidge closer.

I could smell his cologne, which was dark and woodsy, and felt the heat coming off his body.

I see, he said smoothly.

Do you? Because I’d love to get your number, I said, going out on a limb and not caring in the slightest.

He was the most interesting man I’d met recently. Not just tonight, but in the last few months. Hell, he may have been the first guy to get this kind of instant reaction out of me in years.

How about you talk to me after? Aiden suggested.

The deal was we would have five minutes with each guy and then after there’d be a kind of social hour, where you could talk more in depth with the people who caught your eye.

I’ll do that, I promised, just as the announcer said to move.

I watched Aiden get up, enjoying the way he seemed to unfold himself from the chair. He was really tall, which appealed to me, since I was five feet ten inches myself.

When a new guy sat down, I sighed with regret and turned my attention to him.

Great. He looks the same age as Whitney’ son, Silas.

The night went on, painstakingly slow, until finally, the last guy left my table, and I was free to move about the room.

After going to the bar to get a drink, I turned slowly and surveyed the room.

There…

Aiden was talking to a petite blonde by the snack bar, but I paid no attention to her. I stood to my full height, brushed my long black hair off my shoulders, and sauntered over to where he was standing.

My movement caught his attention and his gaze looked me over as I sidled up beside him.

He gave me that lopsided grin, turned his attention back to the blonde, and said, It was great meeting you, too, Jess.

She gave him a big smile, which dimmed a little when she looked at me, and then turned, her hair whipping around as she flounced to the bar.

Hey there, I said, once she was gone.

Hey. Did you enjoy your first time speed dating?

I gave a half shrug and said, I consider my favor complete. How about you?

I met some nice people.

Yeah? I asked. Anyone of note?

I’m not sure there was anyone I really had anything in common with.

How about chemistry?

There may have been one person I felt a hint of a spark with, he teased.

I lengthened my spine and pushed back my shoulders to showcase my bosom. My breasts were small, but I knew how to work them.

Aiden’s gaze was knowing, but rather than take the bait, he simply smiled. When his tongue darted out to wet his lips, I felt a little lightheaded.

What do you say we get out of here? I suggested, never one to shy away from what I wanted.

That’s quite an offer, Aiden said. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to take a rain check. I’ve got a busy morning tomorrow.

Disappointment filled me at his words, but I wasn’t one to beg, so I looked him straight in the eye and said, Your loss, and walked out the front door.

Chapter 2

Aiden

I ’m gonna see you at your game tonight and then your mom said I can take you out for pizza before I drop you at home. How does that sound?

Good, Dad. I’ve gotta go, my bus is almost here, my ten-year-old son, Tommy, said, his words rushed.

Okay, bud, I’ll see you later.

I hung up the phone and rubbed my palm over my face. I was tired and knew with the long day I had ahead of me, I was going to pay for going to that speed dating thing the night before.

But as a vision of a long, lean firecracker with long black hair and striking blue eyes filled my mind, I couldn’t help but grin and think, it was worth it.

In my younger days I would have taken her up on her offer without a second thought. But now that I was in my late thirties, been married and divorced, and was now raising my son jointly with my ex-wife and her new husband, I didn’t have the time or energy for one-night stands.

Thinking again of Margo, though, I sure wish I did.

Midnight, I called, grabbing his leash off the hook and waiting for the sound of his paws scrambling down the hall. I gave him a pat on the head and took him outside to do his business, before leaving him behind in the town house to head to my first of two jobs.

When my truck turned down the long dirt road leading to my childhood home, I was flooded with the feeling of nostalgia that always hit.

Growing up on a farm twenty miles out of the city had given me the best of both worlds. Small-town living season to season, and working-the-farm work ethic, along with the day trips to the city and field trips to museums gave us a little culture.

My parents, my uncle, and my sister all lived and worked the land I’d grown up on, while I’d opted to live in the city and help out part time. I loved the farm and my family, but I wanted more for myself and for my son.

I was in charge of working the Farmer’s Market scene. I currently sold at three separate locations throughout the week and on the weekend. I’d pick up fresh produce from the farm and deposit the earnings in the bank. I was also in charge of the marketing, social media, and scouting new locations.

I enjoyed it because I was a people person, unlike my sister or my uncle, and it made me feel like I was contributing to the family.

Which was something I’d felt guilty about ever since I’d made the decision to leave the farm.

There he is, my dad called out as I exited the truck. No Midnight today?

I often brought my black lab and let him run free at the farm while I worked.

Tommy’s got a game tonight, so I’ll take Midnight with me there, I replied, giving my father a quick hug. Midnight and my son had a special bond, so if I could bring Midnight along when I was going to see him, I did.

You’re looking good, old man, I said, noting his face looked thinner.

Your mother has me on this fool’s diet. No red meat or greasy foods … can you believe it?

Better you than me, I joked. She in the house?

Yup, probably making you the bacon she won’t let me have.

I chuckled and slapped him on the back, then headed into the house to see my mother and grab a bite.

My parents lived in the main house, while my uncle and sister each had their own places farther away on the property. This way they each had their own space.

Ma, I called as I wiped my work boots on the rug by the door.

In the kitchen, she called back.

Hey, how’s it going? I asked when I walked in to see her kneading dough.

Another beautiful morning, she replied with an easy smile.

That it is, I agreed, crossing to pick up one of those pieces of bacon and pop it in my mouth.

Picking up produce this morning?

Yeah, I’ve got a lunchtime setup in the city center. It’ll be my first time there, so hopefully it’ll yield a good turnout.

You working today, too, or is it an off day? she asked, her eyes getting that worried look they always did when she mentioned my job.

My real job was as a firefighter at a station in the city.

Off today. Back at it tomorrow, I replied. Tommy’s got a game tonight.

Oh, what time? Maybe your father and I can come out to watch.

Six.

Perfect, I think we can swing that. I’ll talk to him when he comes in for his lunch, she said as she began making me a plate. So, how did the dating thing go last night? Meet anyone nice?

I grinned, thinking, I met someone, but I wouldn’t necessarily say she was nice.

Everyone was nice.

She let out a frustrated sigh and asked, Anyone you’d want to see again?

"Maybe … I know Tommy would love to see you tonight, I said, changing the subject back and taking a seat on one of the stools as she put the food in front of me. You spoil me."

You deserve it, she replied, shooting me a look that dared me to disagree. You do a lot for this farm and this family. Never doubt it. And you deserve to find a woman who will make you happy.

Yes, ma’am, I