* * *

The utter surprise, coupled with disgust, in Pete’s expression as Emma caught him and Candace in a clench was almost comical. But Emma kept a stern look on her face, crossing her arms and jutting her hip out to make it look convincing.

She couldn’t believe a perfect opportunity to implement Piper’s advice had presented itself already.

After a great dinner, and more chatting, Emma had come to some amazing realizations about herself, and the beginning of a plan to change up her marriage had formulated. She hadn’t thought an opportunity would materialize so soon, but this was as good a time as any to begin to shake things up with Pete. Let him know that everything in her world wasn’t always calm and go-with-the-flow.

Emma knew without being told that Candace had come into the house unannounced, hoping to seduce her husband into bed. Emma was no fool. It had been only a matter of time, the way Emma saw it, before Candace would try to make her play. It was a very unshocking scenario, and little did Candace know, Pete fucked women all the time with Emma’s permission.

But that was all about to change.

At the sound of Emma’s voice, Pete had taken a huge step backward to get away from the interloping trophy wife, but Candace had attached herself to him so thoroughly she’d lurched forward with him, forcing Pete to catch her, lest she fall to the floor. That wouldn’t have been entirely unwelcome, but this was just as good.

Emma watched the antics, biting her lip so she wouldn’t laugh, as Pete tried to detach himself from Candace as their limbs intertwined.

“This is not what it looks like,” Pete started. “I can explain—”

Emma held up her hand. “Don’t start. I clearly saw you two kissing.” If Pete was smart, he’d keep quiet.

He did.

Once settled, Candace reached up to fix her hair, not daring enough to look Emma in the eyes yet. “Well, yes.” Candace cleared her throat as she glanced at the counter, and then at the floor. “I know this looks bad, but”—she seemed to become a little bolder as she went—“it’s not nearly as bad as you watching something intimate between me and another person through a garage window like a Peeping Tom.” She lifted her chin, finally meeting Emma’s gaze, daring Emma to say otherwise.

Emma dared.

Dropping her arms, Emma waltzed up to Candace, getting right in her face—something she might not have done if Piper’s voice had not been ringing loudly in her ears right this second, urging her to take control of her life. “You listen to me, Candace. My husband is off-limits. Do you understand? For now and forever. As for you and your boy toy—I would strongly suggest in the future that if you don’t want anyone to know about your indiscretions, you take your fucking elsewhere. Either hole up inside your house or go someplace discreet. Your moans are loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood. The Dwyers can hear them without their hearing aids—which we know is your intent. You love that we know, and tonight you were hoping my husband would be your new fuck buddy.” Emma gave her neighbor a sneer for good measure. “How’d that work out for you? Justin’s twenty-two-year-old dick is no match for what Pete could give you without even trying too hard. He’s a stellar lay. But you’re never going to find out because that dream is shot, Candace. Now go back home with your empty wine glass and your tail firmly tucked between your legs, because that’s the only thing that’s going between them tonight.”

Candace opened and shut her mouth twice before she sputtered, “You can’t…you can’t take that tone with me! I know you two are into dirty things. You’re like two rutting animals—”

“Shut the hell up, Candace!” Emma snapped. “I don’t want to hear it. You came here looking to get laid, and you’re leaving with nothing. And if you don’t start moving your ass toward that door, I’m going to toss you out myself.”

Candace had been slowly backing up as Emma had been talking. Pete had remained quiet and gotten out of the way, which was exactly what Emma had wanted. She didn’t dare glance at her husband, because she would likely break character. His look of utter surprise might be enough to derail her act.

This was a side of her she was certain he’d never seen. In fact, it was a side of her she wasn’t sure she’d seen herself, until this very moment.

It was liberating!

Pete was going to have to buckle his seat belt from here on out.

“I’m going. There’s no need to get violent.” Candace scrambled toward the glass doors. As she slid the door open, she tossed her hair back and tried to regain some dignity. “I hope you two deviants are happy. When I’m done, the entire neighborhood is going to know you two are sex addicts!” With that, she disappeared into the night.

Very calmly, Emma walked over to the door and called, “Do that, Candace, and your entire bridge club will know you’re fucking the son of your good friend and bridge partner, Shannon Patton!” Emma slammed the door closed with a loud bang, without waiting for Candace to reply. Emma knew she’d heard every word, and the woman wouldn’t say anything to anyone.

Once the door was locked, Emma turned but refused to meet Pete’s gaze as she headed out of the room. She could hear Pete following her. “I don’t understand why you’re so angry,” Pete said to her retreating back. “Candace came in here unannounced, and before I knew what was happening, she was all over me! I had nothing to do with it.”

“Of course you had something to do with it!” Emma said in an exasperated tone as she kept walking. “I just found you kissing another woman behind my back in my own kitchen.”

“I wasn’t kissing her! She was kissing me. I want nothing to do with her.”

“It didn’t look like it to me.” Emma kept walking, staring straight ahead.

“Emma,” Pete said evenly, “we invite people into our bedroom all the time. Why would this be an issue for you now, especially when you know I don’t want Candace?”

“We have rules about sex with other people, including no intimacy, and certainly no contact while the other spouse is away. I shouldn’t have to remind you of that.” When Emma reached the bottom of the staircase, she spun around, surprising her increasingly distraught husband. “I only need to know one thing from you.” She held up a single index finger in front of his face. “One thing.”

“Anything,” he said, putting his hands up. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. I have nothing to hide.”

“Is this the first time you’ve kissed another woman without my permission?” Her face was set. Even though she was milking the role of angry wife, this question was a big deal to her. Emma knew tonight was all on Candace and her husband would never take that woman to bed, but their entire marriage had been based on a very strict no-sneaking-around rule.

Period.

If Pete had ever messed around with another woman behind her back, it would be devastating news—news that would change her life forever. Trust and honesty were the two things that had kept their marriage rock solid throughout the years, even though they lived an open lifestyle. If Pete had cheated, it would be a game changer.

“Yes, of course it’s the first time!” Pete practically shouted his response, even though they were a foot apart. “You have to know me better than that. I love you. I would never cheat on you! We have rules on purpose. I swear to you I’ve never gone behind your back with another woman in my life. Why would I?” When she didn’t answer immediately, his face changed to open pleading. “Em, you have to believe me. I didn’t do anything to lead Candace on! She came on her own.”

He really believed the root of the issue was Candace.

Why wouldn’t he think it was about Candace? Emma thought selfishly. It wasn’t about Candace. It was that Pete expected her to brush this off like it was nothing, to be her normal, affable self and soothe his ruffled feathers. Even though she felt peevish about that right now, she was relieved because she believed Pete hadn’t cheated on her.