Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
I drew back and dropped a kiss to her nose, then sat in the chair across from her. “How was your day?”
She blinked, patting her hair. “Good. It was good.”
“Ready to go get our boy?”
“We’re not done yet. We haven’t even started.”
From the look of the sticky tabs on my expense report, I had a feeling I was in for a good tongue-lashing. I settled in to enjoy it. I did love it when she chewed me out.
“Let’s begin, then. I want to finish, go home, get AJ to bed, and finish something else.”
I smirked as she opened the file, her cheeks flushing with color. I loved the fact that I could still make her blush.
“Business first. You cannot claim the car you bought me as a business expense.”
“Why? It’s for you to use for business.”
“Because you insist on a driver or driving me yourself, Asher. You can’t write both off.”
I waved off her concern. “Then strike it.”
“It was an unnecessary expense personally as well. You should return it.”
“It’s not a scarf, Rosie. It was a gift. You’re keeping it. You won’t drive any of my cars, so I got you one you are comfortable with.”
She snorted. “I’d be comfortable with a Mazda or Hyundai. I don’t need a Mercedes SUV.”
“I thought you did. Case closed. Next.”
“The business trip last month was anything but business.”
“I met with some people.”
“Accidently. For drinks.” She eyed me over the file. “Not a scheduled meeting. And you talked zero business. I was there.”
“I meant to,” I protested. “But you looked so fucking sexy in that little sundress. It was hard to discuss business while trying to make sure my dick didn’t explode out of my shorts trying to get to you.”
It had been a fabulous break. Rosie, me, a private villa. Sun, sand, and time together. We hadn’t had a vacation since we got married. Our honeymoon was wonderful but brief. Then Suzy and her family flew down with AJ, and we met them in Florida and did Disney World and a cruise. It was a belated birthday gift for AJ as well as a family trip. It had been one of the happiest times of my life. When we came home, I started the adoption process to make AJ mine officially. He already was in every other sense.
I still loved it when I heard him call me Dad.
But last month, I had needed my wife alone, so I’d chartered a plane and flew us to the Bahamas. I shook hands with a few people. It was sort of business.
She blinked. “You can’t—”
“Take it out, then,” I chuckled. It was all my money, so I didn’t really care. “Next.”
“The chair in my office.”
“Office furnishings.”
“Only because you broke it while having sex with me in it.”
I waved my hand. “No one knows that. It stays.”
She huffed. “I’m unsure on the flowers you send me weekly.”
“I put some in the reception area as well. That is a real expense.”
“Fine.”
“Do whatever you want, Rosie. Leave them, include them. It’s all the same to me.”
She closed one file and opened another. “Now, your personal expenses.”
“Are fine.”
“You’re spending more than you have in the past on a consistent level.”
I began to laugh. “Rosie. Of course I am. I’m finally living. I’m spending it on you. AJ. My family.”
“You’re spoiling us.”
“Then my plan is working,” I replied. “Spoiling you makes me happy.”
“You should stay on a budget,” she argued. “Plan for the future. For unexpected expenses.”
“I’m certain I can cover any ‘unexpected expenses.’” I leaned close. “I make more in an hour than I spend in a week, Rosie. You know that.” I ran a finger down her cheek. “I know money still makes you nervous, but baby, we have a lot of it. More than we’ll ever spend, even if I bought you a car every week. If I never brought in another dollar, you will never have to worry about money again.”
“Still, I drew up a budget.” She handed me a file, the look on her face nervous.
I sat back, opening the folder, running my finger down the columns. All well-thought-out, all generous, although I noticed she had put a restriction on takeout meals, which made me grin. I liked to order in dinner and save her the work. She had done this before and I always refused, but I did like to humor her. She had added a “spur of the moment gifts” column with such a low number I blinked. I wouldn’t be paying attention to either of her “suggestions.”
I tried not to laugh at her new additions and notes, frowning in confusion at one set of notes.
Reasons for budget planning:
Loss of wages.
Unexpected additional household expenses, such as: baby clothes, diapers, more childcare.
I was about to ask her why she had noted those items, when it hit my befuddled brain.