Read The Millionaire Claims His Wife for Free Online

huh?”
    â€œNo,” Annie said sharply.
    â€œI still think you’re nuts. What’re you trying to prove, anyway?”
    â€œThat I don’t need his money.”
    â€œOr him?” Deb said softly. Annie looked at her and Deb shrugged. “I saw you guys on the dance floor. Things looked pretty cozy, for a while there.”
    â€œYou saw the past worm its way into the present. Trust me, Deb. That part of my life is over. I don’t feel a thing for Chase. I can’t quite believe I ever did.”
    â€œI understand. A nostalgia trip, hmm?”
    â€œExactly. Brought on by my little girl’s wedding...” Annie paused, swallowed hard and suddenly burst into tears.
    â€œOh, sweetie.” Deb jumped from the couch and squatted down beside Annie. She wrapped her arms around her and patted her back. “Honey, don’t cry. It’s not so unusual to still have a thing going for your ex, you know. Especially when he’s hunky, the way Chase is.”
    â€œHe’s getting married,” Annie sobbed.
    â€œChase?”
    â€œTo Janet Pendleton.”
    â€œAm I supposed to know her?”
    â€œI hope not.” Annie hiccuped. “She’s rich. Gorgeous. Smart.”
    â€œI hate her already.” Deb put her hand under Annie’s chin and urged it to rise. “Are you sure?”
    â€œHe told me so.” Annie sat back, dug a hanky out of her cleavage where she’d stuffed it after the ceremony and blew her nose. “So I told him I’m marrying Milton.”
    â€œMilton? As in, Milton Hoffman?” Deb rocked back on her heels. “My God, you wouldn’t!”
    â€œWhy not? He’s single, he’s dependable and he’s nice.”
    â€œSo is a teddy bear,” Deb said in horror. “Better you should take one of those to bed than Milton Hoffman.”
    â€œOh, Deb, that’s not fair.” Annie got to her feet. “There’s more to a relationship than sex.”
    â€œName it.”
    â€œCompanionship, for one thing. Similar interests. Shared dreams.”
    â€œAnd you can have enough of those things with Milton to make you forget all the rest?”
    â€œYes!” Annie’s shoulders slumped. “No,” she admitted. “Isn’t that awful? I like Milton, but I don’t love him.”
    Deb heaved a sigh as she stood up. “Thank you, God. For a minute there, I thought you’d gone around the bend.”
    â€œNot only am I sex-obsessed—”
    â€œYou’re not. Sex is a big part of life.”
    â€œâ€”but I’ve used poor Milton badly. Now I’ve got to call him up and tell him I didn’t mean it when I introduced him to Chase as my fiancé.”
    â€œWow,” Deb said softly. “You certainly have had a busy day.”
    â€œA messy day, is what you mean.”
    â€œDon’t kill me for saying this, but maybe you should rethink things. I mean, I know he’s getting married and all, but maybe you do still have a thing for your ex.”
    â€œI wouldn’t care if he were living in a monastery!” Annie’s eyes flashed. “I do not have a ‘thing’ for Chase. I admit, I’m upset, but it’s because my baby’s gotten herself married.”
    â€œYou know what they say, Annie. We only raise children to let go of them once they grow up.”
    Annie tucked the hanky back into her cleavage, picked up the champagne bottle and headed for the kitchen.
    â€œIt’s not letting go of her that upsets me, Deb. It’s that she’s so young. Too young, I’m afraid, to make such a commitment.”
    â€œWell,” Deb said, folding her arms and leaning against the door frame, “you were young when you got hitched, too.”
    Annie sighed. “Exactly. And look where it led me. I thought I knew what I was doing but it turned out I didn’t. It was hormones, not intelligence, that—” The