by Alice Ward
He kissed my lips, my nose, my cheek. “God, why do you feel so good?”
The question didn’t require an answer and made me smile as I held him close. He groaned and raised onto his elbows. “I need to get to work.”
“Okay,” I said and ran my hand through his hair. “But do you think I could spend the night at my place tonight? I know we need to keep up appearances, but I should really get some painting done. My art is still important to me.”
He frowned. “I don’t know, I—”
“Talen, I’m quitting my jobs to make sure I’m available to you whenever you need me,” I reminded him. “I can’t give up my art too.”
“Okay.” He kissed my nose. “You’re right. That’s fine. I’ll drop you off after our date tonight.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
He pushed himself to his feet. “Yeah.” I knew he needed to get to the office, but I hated being alone all day.
“I want to visit my mother,” I said, going through my options of how to get there. A cab would cost a fortune and my little car was at my apartment.
“Sure. You can use one of mine. Just call the valet and ask them to bring one around for you.”
One of his?
“Um… what are my choices?”
He grinned. “I’ve got a sweet little Porsche. Can you drive a stick?”
I shook my head.
“Then your two options would be the Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover. The Jeep is fun.”
I brightened. I’d always wanted a Jeep. “Does the top come off?” I asked hopefully.
“Yep. Ask the valets to do it for you.”
Once Talen was gone, I showered and dressed, and soon was driving happily down the road, the wind whipping through my hair. Mom was having a good day, and we cooked her meals together. It was almost like she wasn’t sick at all until she asked me about Perry.
“We broke up, remember?” I said gently.
She looked concerned and confused. “When was that?”
It became harder to breath. “After my art show?”
She brightened. “You had an art show?”
My eyes burned. “Yeah. It was great.”
And just like that, her illness reappeared, making it harder than ever to leave her again. I didn’t mention the assisted living facility Madison and I visited. It would be several more weeks before it was even an option. I just tucked her into bed for a nap before I left.
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, D…” She looked at me, confused. “D…” She blinked hard.
“Dani,” I said softly. It was the first time she’d forgotten my name.
After I left, I stopped at both the diner and the bookstore to give my resignation, yet another tether broken from who I was just a few days ago.
The drive back to Talen’s apartment didn’t carry the same joy that it had earlier.
***
I stressed more than I should’ve over what to wear to dinner. Talen was right, I did need to go shopping. I had a few good pieces, but not near enough to last the week, let alone the month.
I settled on a colorful maxi dress that fell to my toes, but added a wide belt to give my waist some definition. I looked casual, but still like someone who could be on the arm of a millionaire. Or billionaire. I still wasn’t sure exactly how much money Talen’s family had.
When Talen got home from work, he changed and we headed out for dinner. Talen chose a sushi place that was delicious. I ate more than my share and enjoyed every bite.
“If I’d known you liked sushi, I would have brought you sooner,” Talen said, laughing as I shoved more into my mouth.
“It’s so good,” I mumbled. My mouth was full, but I didn’t care. The food was too good for manners.
Talen laughed and watched me with amusement. I liked seeing him that way — easygoing and lighthearted. It was rare that he actually relaxed, so I reveled in it whenever he did. The more I ate, the more entertained he became, and the more entertained he became, the more I ate.
By the time we left, I was miserably full and loving it. We climbed into his car, and I groaned loudly. “God, I think I ate an entire aquarium in there.”
“Probably,” Talen agreed and stroked my hair back from my face. “You were really shoveling it in.”
“Shut up,” I teased. “I’m a lady. Ladies don’t ‘shovel’ anything.”
“Oh, I beg to differ,” Talen said with a wink.
I laughed. “You’re terrible.”
“But fun,” he argued.
“Surprisingly, yes,” I agreed. “You can be fun sometimes.”
“Why is that surprising?” he asked as we pulled out of the parking lot.
“Well,” I began. “Because when we met, you were a world-class asshole.”
Talen laughed. “Damn. Don’t hold back or anything.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to insult you, but it’s the truth. You weren’t exactly ‘fun’ then.”
“Oh, come on,” Talen said. “The night we met was fun.”
“I’m sure it was,” I admitted. “Too bad I can’t remember most of it.”
We both laughed at that. It was crazy how this whole thing began between us. Our drunken marriage was still fresh in my mind and slightly embarrassing, but the more time that passed, the more I saw the hilarity in it.
When we arrived at the casino, Talen held the door open for me. I didn’t know what caused his change in attitude this time around, but I wasn’t complaining. I knew I would be spending a lot of time with Talen over the next few weeks. If we could get along, maybe even be friends, then things would progress smoothly. I hated the idea of fighting with him the entire time.
“Where to?” I asked as we stepped onto the casino floor.
“Blackjack.”
I rolled my eyes. “Typical.”
He shoulder checked me. “What?”
“Such a guy.” I grinned to show him I was kidding. I loved blackjack. It was my favorite table game at any casino, but I didn’t want to let Talen know that. Already, I was picturing his face when I won.
We sat down at the table and laid down our chips. The dealer dealt our cards, and the game began. Talen and I were the only two people at the table, so the game went quickly. Talen busted. I hit twenty-one perfectly. With a grin, I pulled my winnings toward me and laid down my next bet. Talen laid down his chip and waited.
After I’d won five hands in a row, Talen’s annoyance was beginning to show. Three other people joined us at the table, and I continued to win.
“Hey,” he said, nudging me with his shoulder. “What happened to blackjack being a ‘guy’ thing?”
“I was kidding.” I smiled so wide I was sure every tooth in my head gleamed at him and tapped the table for a hit. The dealer laid down my card. “Twenty. That’ll do.”
Talen just shook his head and continued to play. He poked me in the ribs each time it was my turn as a way to throw me off. It never worked, but it was cute of him to try. We were both laughing and having fun. I walked away with a good amount of money. Talen walked away with nothing, but he didn’t seem upset by it. He just grabbed my hand and pulled me to the roulette table.
“I’ve never played,” I said with a frown.
“Thank god,” Talen joked. “Maybe I’ll beat you this time.”
I lifted a brow and crossed my arms over my chest. “Not likely.”
Talen and I spent another hour at the roulette table. He won all his money back, and I lost half of mine. Still, I was happy to leave a little richer. We were still laughing, and I was slightly tipsy when we finally left the casino and made our way to Talen’s car. He held the door open for me, and I crawled in.
“Are you okay to drive?” I asked as Talen slid in behind the wheel.
“I only had the two, and that was over an hour ago. It takes a lot more than that to get me drunk.”
“Well, you have had a lot of practice,” I teased.
“You would know,” he sai
d, poking me in the side again.
I giggled and leaned back against the seat. As we drove toward my apartment, I felt myself begin to fall asleep. Try as I might, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I wasn’t drunk, but I’d consumed just enough alcohol to make me drowsy. That, plus the sushi, was enough to make me wish I was already in my bed. I imagined climbing beneath the familiar sheets and drifting off to sleep. It had been days since I slept in my own bed.
Talen parked and walked me to my door. The cool night air woke me as we walked, but I still couldn’t wait to pass out peacefully.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” Talen said as I stuck my key in the lock.
“I’d like to visit with my mother again tomorrow. Why don’t I just come to your place tomorrow night?”
Talen nodded. “Okay. That’s fine. I just need you to come with me on Friday. To the office.”
“I can do that,” I promised.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Talen asked. “To your mom’s place?”
I blinked. Suddenly, all the exhaustion faded from my body. I was wide awake. Talen’s words took me by surprise, and I had no idea how to respond. On one hand, it was sweet of him to offer, but on the other hand, I couldn’t imagine introducing Talen to my mom. What would I even tell her about him?
I bit my lip. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Talen looked strangely hurt, but nodded. “Maybe next time.”
“Talen, you’ll probably never meet my mother. I don’t want her hopes… you know, when…”
Divorce. Why can’t I just say it?
Talen’s face fell for a split second, but he recovered quickly. His expression returned to normal, and he smiled at me without emotion. “That’s fine. Good night.”
“Look,” I said quickly. “It’s nothing against you, okay? It’s just, our arrangement isn’t normal. I wouldn’t even know how to explain it to her. We’re not really married, you know? She would just get confused, and I don’t want that. Her life is already hard enough right now.”
“I understand,” Talen said, and this time, I thought he meant it. His expression softened slightly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dani. Good night.”
“Night,” I said. Talen walked away, and I stepped inside my apartment. I was here to paint, but once inside, the inspiration to do so fell away.
It was nice — or at least less stressful — to be home, but I felt strange as I undressed. I slid on some old pajamas and climbed into bed. The sheets were comfortable but now felt slightly itchy. I thought about the sheets in Talen’s guest room. They were soft and silky. As I laid my head down, I found myself missing Talen’s apartment. I didn’t think I would ever feel that way, but I did.
Despite my earlier exhaustion, it took me almost an hour to fall asleep. I couldn’t get comfortable, and my mind raced. The more time I spent with Talen, the more confused I became. He wasn’t the man I once thought he was. I wasn’t sure who he was, but I knew I wanted to find out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Talen
Friday morning arrived too soon. All week, I’d been dreading Dani’s first trip to the Gaston Pharmaceutical offices. My father and I had this day planned. It would be the first time anyone met Dani, and it needed to go well. Luckily, the investors wouldn’t be there, but everyone else would be. If they accepted her, then the investors surely would too. It was a test run, and we all knew it. I just hoped Dani was ready to enter the lion’s den.
As we stepped into the lobby, her head swiveled from side to side as she took in the room around her. As she looked, I tried to see things through her eyes. The lobby was decorated and flashy. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined every wall, and sculptures had been placed throughout the room. Dani’s eyes moved immediately to the sculptures, and I could tell she was impressed. It was probably an artist’s dream. Everything in the lobby was meant to be visually appealing. My father’s interior decorators were the best.
“This place is amazing,” Dani breathed.
“It’s just the lobby,” I said, laughing.
She lifted a shoulder. “It’s beautiful.”
“I guess.” I shrugged and took her hand in mine. “Come on.”
Gently, I pulled her over to the elevators and pressed the button. We stood back and waited for the doors to slide open. It was early. Not everyone was in the office yet, but a few people passed us and smiled. I didn’t introduce Dani to anyone yet. I was saving her for the executives.
We stepped into the elevator, and I leaned against the back wall. I was glad Dani and I were alone for a few minutes. My nerves were quickly spinning out of control.
“So,” Dani said. “I don’t really know anything about the company.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if I’m supposed to be the perfect wife, shouldn’t I be informed?”
“That’s a good point,” I said. “What do you want to know?”
“It’s a pharmaceutical company, right? I mean, I’ve heard of you guys before, but I don’t really know what it is you do.”
“Everything.”
“That’s helpful.” Dani laughed.
“I’m serious,” I said. “We have a finger in a number of pies, from hospitals to private practices to over the counter. We have almost seventy thousand employees worldwide and have award-winning education programs. We don’t jack up medicine just because we can and we offer sliding scale programs for those on fixed incomes. I don’t want an elderly person to have to choose between food and buying their medicine.”
Dani had grown quiet as she listened to me. “That’s wonderful.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Right now, one of my big focuses is on a new depression drug. You may have seen our commercials.”
She nodded. “All the time. That one with the depressed teenage girl is always on.”
“Yeah, that’s a good one,” I said with a smile. “We really pulled out all the stops for that one.”
I didn’t tell her that the commercial damn near made me cry.
The elevator dinged and we exited into the hallway, but stepped to the side to finish the conversation.
“I always wondered if she was really depressed. I figured she was just an actress.”
“She is,” I admitted. “But it was based on a true story, so I think that’s why it hits so close to home for people. Teenage depression is real, and it’s serious. People just roll their eyes thinking these kids are emo or drama queens. Some are. Others end up dead.”
Or almost partying themselves to death, like me.
“Maybe you could use real people instead of actors,” she offered. “Actors are wonderful, but I think that commercial would really pull at the heartstrings if it was narrated by someone who lived it.”
I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
Her arms circled my waist and I held her close. “One of the things we’re all really excited about right now is our planned merger with Pharm-Co.”
“I’ve heard of them,” Dani said with excitement. Her eyes lit up.
“Who hasn’t? We’re in the process of buying them out in a six-billion-dollar deal.”
“Six billion dollars.” Dani’s eyes widened even more. “Holy shit.”
I laughed. “You knew I was rich.”
“I did,” Dani admitted. “I guess I just didn’t realize how rich.”
“I hit the lottery at birth. I work hard, but I was born into this.”
My family had more money than most people could spend in a lifetime. Future generations of Gaston children were set for life.
“Must be nice,” Dani muttered.
“Sometimes,” I admitted. “And sometimes, it’s not.”
Someone called my name and I looked up to see Richard walking in our direction. I quickly waved him over. He was the perfect person to introduce Dani to first. He was kind and had a grandfatherly aura that put everyone at ease. I took Dani’s hand in mine and smiled brightly.
&nbs
p; “Richard,” I said. “Good morning.”
He smiled. “Hey there. You’re here early today.”
“I am,” I said with a nod. “Just introducing the wife around.”
“Oh!” Richard’s eyes widened, and his head swiveled to Dani. “Wife?”
I couldn’t keep the goofy self-satisfied look off my face. “Richard, this is Dani. Dani, this is Richard Jones.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dani,” Richard said and reached for her hand, holding it between both of his.
She beamed at him, looking like the newlywed she was supposed to be. “You too. It’s great to be here, but I’m kind of in awe. This building is huge.”
Richard laughed. “Jacob doesn’t know how to do anything small.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I agreed, circling an arm around Dani’s shoulders.
Richard looked between the two of us. “I can’t believe Sheila and I weren’t invited to the wedding.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Dani gave me a squeeze to let me know she wanted to take the lead.
“That’s my fault, Richard. When Talen proposed, I just wanted an intimate ceremony. Our parents weren’t even there.”
“No?” Richard asked.
Dani shook her head. “No. Not that we wouldn’t have loved them to be. I’m just not a fan of the spotlight.”
“That’s understandable,” Richard said kindly. “My own wedding was a nightmare. Poor Sheila spent a year planning, and it still ended up a total disaster. You two had the right idea.”
I smiled and glanced at Dani in thanks. She smiled back at me before turning her attention back to the older man. “I’d love to meet her sometime. We’ll all have to have dinner soon.”
“Absolutely,” Richard said. “We would love that. You know, Sheila and I have always thought of Talen as a son. We’re thrilled for you both.”
“Thank you.” His words warmed me. I didn’t realize he felt that way about me.
“Are you on your way to see Jacob?” Richard asked.
I nodded. “Yes. In fact, Dani had some great ideas earlier that I think I’ll share with him.”
“Really?” Richard asked, looking at Dani expectantly.
