For You I Do

by Angie Daniels

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  nightclubs—Ja’net, Diamond and Hadley.” They chuckled then finished their food and said their goodbyes. London made plans to stop by the restaurant in a week, so he could meet the staff and start transitioning things.

  While Diamere, who insisted on paying the bill, waited for his change, London headed across the marble floor of the lobby to the flower shop. He placed the order and while the clerk put together a beautiful arrangement, he pushed his hands in his pocket and stared off toward the fountain at the center of lobby.

  He noticed Bianca standing near the revolving door with her hand pressed against her stomach. He felt the feeling in his gut. In less than four months a little Brown would be coming into the world.

  He was tempted to walk across the lobby and scoop her up in his arms, but it would ruin the surprise. Hopefully, Bianca wouldn’t run into Diamere on his way back up to his room.

  “Would you like me to add a little baby’s breath?”

  He tore his eyes away from his beautiful wife long enough to say, “Yes, that would be great, and one single white rose.”

  “Ooooh! Mr. Brown you are so romantic. Ms. Bianca is lucky to have you.”

  He noticed the envy in the woman’s face before she went back to work.

  No. I’m the lucky one, he thought as he returned his attention to Bianca and watched the direction of her eyes as a man who looked familiar came toward her.

  As soon as he grinned, London recognized him—Collin.

  What the hell was he doing here?

  He moved forward ready, to confront the dude and froze in his tracks when Collin strolled up beside Bianca and pressed his lips to her cheek. She rewarded him with a smile, then they walked to the front desk with his hand resting comfortably on the small of her back.

  London stood there, clenching his fist while he watched. The desk clerk handed Collin a key and he and Bianca headed past the corporation elevators to the set at the far left that led to the twenty-three floors of guestrooms.

  Bianca leaned in and whispered something close to Collin’s 196

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  ear that made him smile. London stood and watched as the two of them boarded the elevator with the door closing behind them.

  London was stunned beyond words. His wife was having an affair with her baby’s daddy.

  Chapter 31

  Bianca waited until they were inside the penthouse suite before she reared back and slapped Collin hard across the face. “Don’t you ever put your mouth on me again!”

  He chuckled as he raised a hand to his cheek. “My bad. I thought maybe I’d have one for old times’ sake.”

  “We have no ‘old times’ to reminisce about.”

  She was so angry that it took everything she had to contain herself while they were in the lobby. To keep her staff from over-hearing, she had whispered close to his ear that he was a creep.

  “Wow!” he began as he moved around the room, taking in the rich-grain woods and fine upscale furnishings in royal blue and beige. “This is really nice. I knew your hotels were fabulous, but I didn’t think they were this fine.” A look of smug self-satisfaction crossed his face. “I feel like I stepped into royalty.” He flopped down onto the couch and spread his arms along the tops of the cushions. Grinning like a man with a secret.

  She rolled her eyes.

  Folding his arms across his chest, he turned his head and faced her. “You said you wanted to talk. So let’s talk.”

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  “I want to know what it’s going to take for you to get out of my life once and for all.”

  He chuckled and the sound was starting to grate on her nerves.

  “Bianca, I don’t see that happening for at least the next eighteen years. That’s my baby you’re carrying.”

  “Listen, I am married to London and he is ready to adopt this baby and raise her or him as his own.”

  He gave her a long look. “I thought you knew me better than that. There is no way I would give up the rights of my child.”

  “Why not? You’ve got another woman.”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t have anything to do with my unborn child.” His lips curled upward. “Face it, Bianca, I’m going to be around for a long time.”

  She glared over at him. “I’ll get a lawyer and fight you.”

  “Go for it. Any good lawyer will tell you that you can’t deny me my parental rights.”

  “Then it will be a long fight.”

  “Sure, and in the meantime I’ll let the whole world know I am the real father of your child. You know how much you hate scandal. Mommie Dearest will have a fit.”

  Bastard. He was determined to blackmail her.

  “By the way, thanks for the room. I’ll be needing it until Sunday. I’m sure Daddy won’t mind me charging everything to my room.” He rose, strolled over to the bar, removed a bottle of liquor and popped it open.

  There was a long pause before Bianca reached into her purse and removed her checkbook. “Okay, Collin. How much is this going to cost me?”

  His lips curled upward. “Now that’s more like it.”

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  Bianca returned home well after six o’clock. After Collin had laughed in her face at her offer, she left the hotel and drove around for a couple of hours, trying to decide what to do next. Collin was going to cause her a lot of trouble if she didn’t let him see the baby.

  She pulled the car into the garage beside London’s SUV and released a heavy sigh. He was home early today. Bianca turned off the car and sat there for the longest time, trying to decide what to do next. Should I tell my husband? she wondered.

  After weighing the pros and cons, Bianca decided it wasn’t a good idea to mention Collin’s demands just yet, until she knew for sure how she was going to handle the situation. There had to be a way to put this to rest. Collin was the baby’s father, and as far as her lawyer was concerned, he had a right to be a part of her unborn child’s life.

  She moved inside the house through the laundry room, removed her heels and left them beside the door. She then padded inside the kitchen and stopped in her tracks.

  “Hey, baby.”

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  London removed a casserole dish from the oven, placed it on the stove then swung around. “Hey, you’re late,” he said, then studied her intensely with his eyes.

  “Yes, I had a late meeting this afternoon,” she mumbled, quickly moving across the tile floor and kissing her husband on his cheek. “I see that you cooked.”

  “I figured you’d probably be hungry.”

  “I am, sweetheart.” She gave him another kiss then released him. “Let me go and change, and I’ll be right back.”

  When she came back, she was dressed in stretch pants and a comfortable T-shirt. She stepped into the kitchen. London had already set the kitchen table.

  “Mmm, that looks good,” she said and took a seat. “How did everything go with my cousin?”

  “Great. I’ll be meeting with him again next week.”

  She smiled. “Excellent.”

  As they ate, they discussed the plans they had for the restaurant. Afterwards, they moved into the living room. It wasn’t until then that she realized how distant and distracted London seemed.

  “Sweetheart, is something wrong?”

  “I’ve been thinking, and I think this is a mistake.”

  “What’s a mistake?”

  London’s eyes grew cold as he looked at her on the other end of the couch. “Us, going into business together. Creating this family image.”

  Her stomach began to turn. “What brought this on?”

  He rose and paced the length of the room. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “We need to remember that our marriage is a temporary business arrangement and nothing more. We have less than a year left together and we need to remember that at that point we’ll be going separate ways. I think we need to keep reminding ourselves that our ma
rriage isn’t real.”

  Her heart sank. “That’s not what you said the other day.”

  A hard, furious look came into his eyes. “Can’t a man change his mind?”

  She swallowed. “I see.”

  “I think it’s better this way.” London rose and headed out of Angie Daniels

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  the room, then stopped but didn’t bother to turn around. “I’m going out. Don’t wait up.”

  He went to his room. A few moments later she heard the garage door open, and he pulled out of the driveway and was gone.

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  London held up his empty glass and signaled for the barmaid to bring him another rum and coke. She nodded her head in acknowledgment, then reached inside the cooler, retrieved a bottle of beer and lowered it on the counter in front of a customer at the other end of the bar.

  While he waited, he allowed his gaze to travel around Spanky’s, a sports bar that was the happening place on a Wednesday night in Sheraton Beach. A professional basketball game was playing on the big screen, and the Lakers were leading by seven points, but the playoffs were the last thing on his mind. No matter how much he tried to push it aside, he could not seem to get Bianca and Collin out of his mind.

  Every emotion he could think of was running through his heart.

  Anger, jealousy and love led the race. As far as he was concerned, Bianca was his wife and the child she was carrying was his.

  A fresh drink was put on the bar in front of him. He thanked the barmaid, then tossed it back, finishing it in two swallows.

  “Give me another,” he ordered as he slammed the glass on the counter.

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  The barmaid turned around and gave him a concerned look.

  “Sexy, I think you need to slow down.”

  London gave her a dismissive wave. He’d been running a tab for the last two hours, and now she wanted to start complaining. “Sandy, quit acting like my mother and give me another one.”

  Mumbling under her breath, she resumed pouring the contents of a shaker into a martini glass, then garnished it with an apple slice. “London, why don’t you go on home to that beautiful little wife of yours.”

  He responded to her suggestion with pursed lips and a single raised brow that caused her lips to form in an O. The message came across loud and clear. There was trouble in paradise. Sandy nodded and moved to the other end of the bar.

  Staring straight in front of him, London caught his reflection in the mirror behind the bar. What he saw caused him to rake a hand down the length of his face. Pathetic.

  What right do you have to be jealous? he wondered. Bianca had made it clear from day one that their marriage would be one of convenience only. The sex was just a bonus. In no way was love now or ever supposed to have come into play. They agreed to stay together for one year and part without scandal as friends.

  So what’s the problem?

  The problem was that somewhere along the way his emotions had gotten involved and he had fallen in love with his wife. After their honeymoon and with her agreeing to let whatever happened happen, he thought that maybe, just maybe, Bianca had fallen in love with him, too.

  Sucker.

  London scowled at the man in the mirror for being so stupid and for letting his guard down.

  The crowd yelled, drawing his attention to the television. Apparently, Kobe Bryant hit a three-pointer, giving the Lakers a twelve-point lead. At least someone was having a good night, he thought.

  Sandy returned with a drink and a firm warning that it would be his last. London thanked her for the drink, then moved over to a table in the corner and took a seat. In an attempt to push thoughts 204

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  of Bianca aside, he managed to watch bits and pieces of the next quarter of the game. After a while his body as well as his mind had relaxed. The liquor had finally begun to kick in. Good.

  “I hear you need a ride.”

  He looked up to see Jaden standing over him. “Don’t know where you got that crazy idea from.” But even as he asked, with a side glance he spotted Sandy glancing in their direction. She had seen the two of them in there often enough to know who to call to pick him up.

  “Have a seat and a beer.”

  “Nah, one of us needs to drive.” Jaden straddled the chair across from him, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

  “Shouldn’t you be at home with your wife?” London snapped, his eyes blazing over at Jaden.

  Jaden frowned and reached for a handful of popcorn on the table. “She’s at one of those home-decorating parties.”

  London nodded, then turned his attention to the game. Jaden swung his chair around and followed suit.

  “I need to say something before the game comes back on,”

  Jaden said during a commercial break. He glanced down at his hands and up again. “I owe you a big apology.”

  London reached for his glass and took a sip. “About what?”

  “Collin. Bianca told me everything.”

  Surprise flickered through London’s brown eyes. “So you know—”

  “I know you married her to save the family from scandal. I know that you’re not the father—”

  “I am the father. That little boy is mine.”

  Jaden grinned. “Good answer.”

  London lowered his glass while Jaden continued.

  “I’ll admit I wasn’t too happy to know my best friend was messing with my sister behind my back, but after seeing how happy she is and after her telling me how much she loves you, I’ve changed my mind. You have my blessing, man.”

  Jaden continued to talk but all London heard was how much she loves you. “Bianca told you she loves me?”

  Jaden shrugged. “Yeah, not that she needed to. It was written all over her face.”

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  Why hadn’t she ever bothered to tell him? Probably the same reason why he’d never told her. Too damn stubborn.

  But if she loved me why was she with Collin? “Look I got to go.” Without explanation, he rose from the chair and hurried across the bar. Jaden came right behind him.

  “Whoa! Hold on there. You’re not going anywhere,” Jaden said, as he grabbed London’s arm.

  London looked down at his hand then back at Jaden. “I need to get home and nothing is going to stop me from getting there.”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  “Then take me home now,” London demanded.

  As far as London was concerned, Jaden didn’t drive fast enough. Before he even had the car parked, London jumped out and raced into the house. He wasn’t in there five minutes when it hit him. Bianca had left him.

  He walked the length of the house one more time. This had to be some kind of mistake. As he made his way down the hall a third time, Jaden grabbed his arm.

  “London, man, she’s not here.”

  “Where is she?”

  Jaden shrugged. “I’m not sure, but it can’t be too hard to figure out. Not in this little town. Let me make a few phone calls.”

  London raked a hand across his head as he moved back to the bedroom to check for a note or something. Two minutes later he lowered himself onto the bed. Nothing.

  His wife was gone and it was all his fault.

  She loves you.

  Then where was she? he wondered. Jealousy started to rear its little head again. Maybe she was with Collin. Visions formed in his head of her lying in her lover’s arms.

  He heard footsteps coming down the hall. He looked up to find Jaden standing in the door. “Bianca’s at my parents’ house.”

  He rose from the bed. “Then let’s go and get her.”

  “Oh, no!You need to get some sleep and sober up a bit.You can talk to her tomorrow.” Jaden pushed him back down onto the bed.

  “She left me, didn’t she?” he searched his brother-in-law’s eyes for answers.

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  Jaden hesitated. “Mother said Bianca was very upset. She asked to stay in her old room for a few days. It’s probably for the best.”

  London pulled his keys out of his pocket and tried getting up again. “I have to talk to her.”

  “Not tonight. It is too late to be knocking at Mother’s door unless you want to get on her bad side. Trust me, man, you don’t want to piss my mother off.”

  He was quiet for a long moment before he nodded.

  Jaden snatched his keys from his hand. “I’ll keep these and bring them back in the morning on my way to work. Get some rest.” He headed toward the door.

  “Jaden?” London called after him.

  He looked over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

  “I love her.”

  Jaden’s shoulders sagged as he nodded. “I believe you. That’s how I know the two of you will be okay.”

  London watched him leave, hoping he was right.

  Chapter 34

  “Bianca, sweetie. You know I love you, but you can’t stay with me forever.”

  Bianca looked over at her so-called best friend and rolled her eyes. “Some friend you are.” Actually, Debra had been a wonderful friend, allowing Bianca to crash at her house after her mother started getting on her nerves. She could have easily taken a suite at the hotel but then she’d have to run the risk of bumping into that snake Collin, who was still there milking the hotel for everything he could.

  “Because I’m your friend and because I love you, I’m going to tell you like it is.” Debra paused and scowled. “Go home and work out your marriage.”

  “According to my husband, I don’t have a marriage. I have an arrangement. Believe me. London has already said more than enough.” Bianca felt sick to her stomach every time she thought about their last conversation.

  Debra took a seat on the rose-upholstered couch, shaking her head with disbelief. “I still can’t believe London said that. Are you sure you heard him right?”

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  “Yes, I heard him right. Goodness, Debra, whose side are you on?”

  “Yours, of course, but I’m trying to be open-minded.”

  “And so am I. But it is what it is. If London doesn’t think our arrangement is working out, what else is there to say?”