Chapter 2
Luke stared at the closed bathroom door, wanting to break it down. The last few months had been nothing but pure hell. Dani was livid when she’d found out she was pregnant and the fact that it was his fault for mixing up her prescriptions hadn’t helped his mood any. Part of him hadn’t cared that she was pregnant had hoped it would help them and for the first time he’d imagined that they could move on from how they’d started.
But this wasn’t a fairy tale…their life was bleak and cruel and the day he’d come home to find Dani curled up in a ball barely able to breathe through the pain that had toppled her, he’d known it was over. Any pretense of civility they’d had the last two years disappeared overnight and the only thing left was the reasons behind their marriage.
Luke knew she held just as much over his head as he did hers, but it no longer mattered. They couldn’t go on like this…but he wanted her. Had from the instant he’d seen her in the hallway of the office.
She’d been oblivious to him and the other hundred guys who’d followed her movement. By the end of the day, he’d known everything about her, or at least he thought he had.
It had taken him two weeks to get her to say yes to a date and she’d been hesitant on it, as though she didn’t want to like him too much. It made sense now…she’d been after his money.
He still didn’t know why she refused to hand it over or why he simply couldn’t let her walk away. Her with the money, him with the flash drive that showed what really happened to Chance.
He wasn’t sorry the asshole was dead, and he’d probably do it again if it meant that Chance couldn’t find a way to go after Dani. The only difference would be for her to never find out the truth. Hell, he knew he’d frightened her and that was the real reason she was still holding onto his money, as long as she had it and the flash drive, she felt safe.
Bringing her here had been only partially for appearances, he wanted to pull her out of her mood, bring back the sparkle that used to be in her eyes, even when they were fighting. To find the sweet pleasure while she was wrapped around him, see the enjoyment of it in her eyes. Shit, she couldn’t deny she loved being with him sexually and despite what she said, he knew there weren’t scores of other men sharing her bed. The thought of them touching her made fury pound through his veins though, because he knew they were real, and if he let his guard down, one of them could take her from him.
His phone rang and he checked the display letting out a sigh before he answered.
“Where’d you whisk our beautiful daughter-in-law off to this time?” his father asked.
“London,” he replied.
“Dani does love London,” his mother stated.
“Well put her on the phone Luke, we want to wish her a happy birthday,” his father added.
“She's in the bath right now. She wasn’t feeling the greatest.”
“Just for a minute Luke,” his mother pleaded.
“Okay, give me a minute…” He walked over to the bathroom door and knocked. “Dani, Mom and Dad want to say hi.”
Luke heard the sound of water sloshing as she stood and then the click of the lock before the door opened. Dani took the phone and turned away from him.
“Hi Joan, Wren…” she said putting a happy lit to her voice as she enabled the speakerphone.
“Happy birthday sweetie,” Joan replied.
“Luke said you're not feeling well. You need to put your foot down on all this traveling,” Wren added.
“You know Luke, I sneeze and he’s ready to call the doctor. I’m fine, I promise.”
“Good, because we have an anniversary party to plan, unless Luke’s going to whisk you away again,” Joan said with a laugh.
“I was thinking Sydney…the opera,” Luke said coming over to stand behind her. “You know how Dani loves the opera.”
“Actually, I’d love nothing more than to just stay home this year, but a party really isn’t necessary,” Dani stated as her stomach churned. Sydney was far too close to Dean for her comfort.
“Of course, we’re going to have a party…but don’t worry Dani. I know you’re busy with the preparations for the Spring Charity Auction, so I will gladly take on all of the planning. All you and Luke have to do is show up,” Joan assured her.
“How can I refuse an offer like that?” she said agreeing to it.
“We’ll let you go now, happy birthday sweetheart, and Luke…”
“Yeah Dad?”
“Take good care of her,” he said as he ended the call.