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“That you love him. And you want your marriage to work.”
Bianca frowned at that idea. “There is no way in hell I’m putting myself out there like that for him to throw my words back in my face. I love him, but there is no way I’m going to beg him to be with me or my child.” She leaned back on the armchair and blew out a big breath. “I’ve got enough problems right now dealing with Collin.”
Debra gave a rude snort. “That isn’t even worth wasting your breath on. Tell that man to go to hell and kick him out on his butt.”
“Right, and he’ll drag me to court so fast my head will spin.”
“So let him. What’s the worst that can happen?”
She bored angry eyes in Debra’s direction. “Him getting joint custody of my child. Collin has no interest whatsoever in having children. The only reason he’s interested now is because of my money.”
Debra leaned forward with her elbows resting on her knees.
“I told you that man was scum.”
“Yes, I know, but this is not the time for I told you so. I’ve got big problems. No husband and a father I need to pay to stay away from my child.”
Debra shook her head with disbelief. “Are you seriously going to give him money?”
Dragging a leg to her chin, she gave a reluctant nod. “Yep.
Whatever it takes. I’m meeting him at the bar in the hotel tomorrow evening with a check.”
“You know it’s never going to stop. As soon as the money runs out, he’ll be back at your door demanding more.” Debra pursed her lips with disgust.
“No. I’m not that stupid. I had my lawyer draw up papers for him to sign. The second he cashes that check, he’ll relinquish all rights to his child.”
Grinning, Debra mumbled, “I guess you’re smarter than you look.”
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Bianca snorted rudely. “Not smart enough obviously, otherwise, I’d know what to do to get my husband to love me.”
It was well after seven o’clock and London was in his office at the back of the restaurant, going over the supply orders. He’d been looking at the same thing and still couldn’t seem to get the ordering right. All he could do was think about his wife.
London tried for over a week. Making phone calls, arriving at Beaumont Manor unannounced, but nothing worked. Bianca refused to talk to him. Then yesterday Jaden told him that Bianca was no longer staying at his parents’. Unfortunately, he had no idea where she was staying. London spent the entire evening wondering if she was now living with Collin.
He reached for an eraser, removed an entry that he’d added twice, tried to brush Bianca from his mind and told himself that it was probably for the best. She and Collin and the baby could now live happily ever after.
At that thought, the pencil he’d been holding snapped in half.
That was his child she was carrying and Bianca was his wife!
The question was what was he going to do to get them back?
“Knock knock.”
His eyes snapped in the direction of the door, where he found Debra boring angry eyes at him. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong is your marriage,” she began with her hands at her hips. “I came over here to see what you’re planning to do about it.”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? London, I’m surprised at you. I really thought you loved Bianca.”
“I do. My wife doesn’t love me.”
She chuckled. “Then you’re blind. That woman is so crazy about you that that is all I heard last night and this morning.”
His brow rose. “Bianca’s staying with you?”
Debra frowned. “Where else would she be staying?”
He looked over at her, then finally shrugged his broad shoulders. “I figured—”
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You figured what?”
There was no point in beating around the bush. It wasn’t as 210
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if it were a secret. “I figured she and Collin were trying to work things out.”
“Work things out? Puhleeze,” she said with a rude snort. “The only thing that creep wants is money.”
“Money?”
She moved into the chair across from his desk and told him about Collin blackmailing Bianca for money. The more she talked, the angrier he got.
It had all been a big misunderstanding. He had put the brakes on his relationship and hurt his wife’s feelings all for nothing.
“She’s meeting that creep tomorrow night.”
“Not if I can help it.” Abruptly, he rose from the chair and reached for his keys. He was going to get his wife back, but first he needed to deal with Collin.
Chapter 35
The following afternoon London knocked heavily on the double doors to the penthouse suite. It wasn’t long before he heard heavy footsteps across the carpet and the door opened.
“Yeah?”
London looked at the man standing on the other side of the door and forced a tight smile. “Collin Clark?”
“Who’s asking…” His voice trailed off as a lightbulb went off in his head. “Hey, don’t I know you?”
“No, but you’re about to.” Without waiting for an invitation, London pushed past him and stepped into the spacious room.
Plush, cream carpet. Blue furnishings. A fully stocked bar in the corner. According to the hotel staff, Collin had been greedily helping himself to the bar. In fact, the hotel bill had already reached five figures.
“Hey, wait a minute. I didn’t invite you in.”
London swung around and glared at the shorter man, who quickly pulled back, realizing that he was no match for London Brown. “I’m here on my wife’s behalf.”
“You’re Bianca’s husband?”
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“Yes.” And nothing or no one was going to change that.
Collin’s lips curled upward and he rubbed his palms together eagerly. “Well, good. I guess she sent you over with the check.
Sorry, buddy, but if you’re going to be raising that little crumb snatcher as yours, it’s going to cost you.”
It took everything London had not to punch him in the face right then and there. Instead, London chuckled and moved over to the bar and helped himself to a small bottle of Hennessy.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. If you think my wife and I are going to pay you one cent.”
He glared over at him. “If she doesn’t, I’ll tell everyone I am the father of her child and the last thing she wants is a long, drawn-out custody battle.”
“Actually, we’re looking forward to it.”
“What?”
“Sure. Just make sure you invite your wife, Kathy.”
“My wife?”
“I’m sorry… I meant wives. We need to tell Charlene, as well.”
Collin grew still.
London set down his drink, then reached inside his breast pocket and pulled out a small manila envelope and tossed it on the counter.
“I’ve been doing some checking on you. Go ahead—take a look.”
With hesitation, Collin moved over to the counter and looked inside the envelope.
“You’ll find your marriage certificate to Kathy and one to Charlene just last year. She was the pretty woman I spotted you with in Chester. After I went and talked to your chief master sergeant, I discovered that the military was only aware of your marriage to Kathy.”
Collin swore and his face turned a shade paler.
“Bigamy is a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and punishable by law.”
“Well, I…” He couldn’t find the words.
London came around the counter, then took Collin by the collar and slammed him against the wall. “You made a big mistake when you tried to mess with my family. That’s my wife and child. If you ever go near either one of them again, I’ll personally make sure you never see another day.”
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“I’m sorry. I’ll leave town tomorrow.”
“No, you’re leaving this afternoon.” London shoved him once more, then released him. He removed a document from the envelope, then reached inside his pocket. Collin ducked and shielded his head before he realized that London was holding a pen.
“Here, I need you to sign these papers, giving up your parental rights.”
Collin didn’t bat an eye as he reached for the legal document on the counter and signed and dated every spot indicated with an X. As soon as he was done, London folded up the document, stuck it in his pocket and walked out the door without uttering another word. As soon as he was at the end of the hall, London nodded at the two men standing there waiting and said, “He’s all yours.” As he pushed the down arrow for the elevator, he watched the military police walk into the suite and arrest Collin.
Collin would never mess with his family again. Now it was up to him to get them back.
Chapter 36
London rang Debra’s doorbell. He wasn’t sure how Bianca was going to react when she saw him, but it was a chance he had to take.
Bianca opened the door, realized it was him and pursed her lips.
“What do you want?” she asked, gripping the doorknob tightly.
“You. I want you. Please tell me that we still have a chance.”
Ignoring him, she turned on her heels and walked into the living room. London followed and stood in the doorway as she returned to the couch, curling her legs underneath her, and resumed watching a television program.
London moved closer, feeling just an inkling of hope. She hadn’t slammed the door in his face, so that had to be a good sign.
“Bianca, listen to me. I was wrong. I saw you in the hotel lobby with Collin and jumped to conclusions.”
She turned, her eyes wide with surprise. “You thought I wanted Collin back?” When he nodded, she turned her head, clearly disappointed.
“I know. I was wrong.” He saw tears in the corner of her eyes and it nearly killed him. “I want you back home with me.
I miss you.”
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“Why do you miss me? Like you said, it was only a business arrangement, so what difference would it make to you if I was there or not? Obviously, if it was that easy to say that our relationship was a mistake I couldn’t have meant that much to you.”
“You are important. Very important.” He walked over to the couch and dropped down on one knee in front of her.
“In the time that we’ve been together, I realized I can’t live without you.”
She shook her head. “And when did you come to this realization?”
“When I no longer had you in my life.”
She dragged her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on top of her knees. “I don’t think it’s going to work out between us. That whole arrangement stuff was kind of stupid.”
“I don’t want you to be with me because of the arrangement.
I want you to want me for me. And to make sure there is nothing standing between us, you don’t have to worry about Collin ever again.” London reached inside his pocket, pulled out the legal document, then told her everything that he had found out about Collin, the bigamist.
The look on her face was a combination of anger and relief.
“So we don’t have to stay married a year.” It was a statement not a question.
London shook his head. “No, we don’t have to. But I want to.” He took hold of her shoulders, pulled her close to him and looked into her eyes. “I want you—and not for just a year. I want you for a lifetime.”
“London,” she began, as a single tear ran down her cheek. “I don’t know…”
“Sweetheart. It can work between us. I know it can. I want a real marriage. I have fallen in love with my wife. Please come home with me.”
The room began to spin as Bianca stared at her husband, down on the floor begging her to come home with him. His chest was heaving and fear was in his eyes. He was so handsome and he had just confessed that he was in love with her.
She tilted her head slightly as if in a dream “What did you say?” she breathed.
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“I said come home—”
“Before that,” she said, her voice strained as she lowered her feet onto the floor. His warmth penetrated her as she brushed up against his leg. “The first part,” she questioned him.
“I said it can work between us.”
She placed a hand on his arm. “Say it again,” she pleaded, her voice soft and unsure, almost nervous that she had misunderstood.
There was emotion in his expression as he leaned forward and drew her closer.
“I love you.” He gathered her up into the strong warmth of his arms and took a seat on the couch with her lying across his lap. The steady drum of his heart reached straight to her own and mixed until they beat as one.
“I love you, too, London,” she breathed, drinking in the scent that was so distinctly his.
He kissed the top of her head and whispered again that he loved her. “I want only you Bianca…all of you. To share my bed…to share my life.” He pulled her into the circle of his arms and stroked her arm gently. “Bianca, let me give you my heart.”
“Yes, London.”
He placed her back onto the couch and nuzzled her neck as he whispered once again the words of love she had so longed to hear. She thought of all the days and nights they would spend together…him…her…their child.
Bianca recalled how many nights she had wondered what it would be like to really share a life together and for London to love her as she loved him. But her fantasy hadn’t come anywhere close to this blissful reality.
T M
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3267-3
FOR YOU I DO
Copyright © 2009 by Angie Daniels
All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Kimani Press, Editorial Office, 233 Broadway, New York, NY
10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Document Outline
About the Author
Title Page
Dedication Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
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