“Unfortunately, sir, you’re no closer to having a real wife than I am in buying myself a yacht and sailing the Atlantic.”
“I don’t need a wife any more than you need a yacht. You get sea sick.”
“It just so happens a few nights ago I couldn’t sleep, so I switched on the TV. There was a reality show playing where couples date for a weekend, then decide if they want to marry come Monday. At the time, I thought the scheme was ludicrous, but that’s exactly what you need. And who knows, maybe you will find true love.”
Declan stretched his legs and relaxed his feet on the table. He’d been in love once and that was enough. “That’s not what I need.”
“A reality show? Finding true love?”
“I need love as much as I need another hole in my head,” he groaned. “I’m talking about a weekend wife, except I’d need her services for a week or two.”
Todd crossed his legs and thrummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Don’t we all.” When Declan didn’t crack a smile, the man’s grin faded. “You’re serious?”
“What other choice do I have?”
“Oh, I don’t know…maybe telling Hannigan the truth is a start. Admit to the man that the very idea of long term commitment makes you break out in hives.”
Declan lifted a brow. “And lose the deal? I’m sure people have pulled this off before.”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“I just need the perfect woman to be Mrs. Declan Knight.” He thought at one time he had her.
“And which lady from your past do you see fitting into the role? The bikini model who recently posed for Girls Are Dirty, or maybe the actress who was caught in a very suspicious position with a married politician?”
“Todd, it seems you follow every scandal.”
He shrugged a thin shoulder. “I just follow the news, sir, so you don’t make any bad choice for a second time.”
“Are you saying that I make poor decisions when it comes to female companions?”
“Do I need to say that?”
Declan sniffed loudly. “I wasn’t planning on marrying any more of them.”
“Exactly.”
“Just because they’ve been caught in a scandalous situation doesn’t make them bad people, but Melynda really posed in a porn magazine?”
“Yes, she did.”
“She had a promising career as a swimsuit model. Anyway, what do you propose I do?”
“To stop this silly notion.”
“Outside of that idea.”
“You really want to know?”
“Yes, I do,” Declan said.
Todd folded his arms over his wide chest as he did when he was taking lead in a serious conversation. “I have a friend who can help. Her name is Miss Rox. She has owned and operated an exclusive escort service that caters to many rich and well-known customers for over twenty years.”
“An escort service? Have you used the services yourself, buddy?”
“Miss Rox and I go way back. That’s another story.” He picked off a hair from his otherwise immaculate jacket.
“You’re suggesting I use an escort to become my wife? That’s what you want me to do?” Declan blew out a long breath like the deflation of hope in his mind.
“No, I don’t want you to. You asked and I’m giving you my two-cents. There are a lot of men, many like yourself, that use Miss Rox’s services when they’re between a rock and hard place. There are lonely men who love the idea of an uncomplicated woman entertaining him, no expectations, no promises.”
Declan shook his head. “Todd, I’ve never met a woman who didn’t have at least one complication. That’s why I’ve found myself in trouble many times because I can’t resist a challenge.”
“Depends on what you consider a challenge, sir. The brain and the bed are two different matters. Have you dated any woman who you find conversation with her as sexy as her naked body?”
He tried real hard to find one woman from his past that fit that description, and up came Ash. She was smart. Challenging. Independent. Things had gone downhill since. His gut twisted, remembering how he’d accused Lucy of picking the same men over and over, knowing it would only last temporarily. It wasn’t that Declan didn’t appreciate a woman’s mind, because he did, but when it came to intimacy, his usual choice had been big breasts, a raging libido, and, well, not much more. He was certain these lust interests had ambitions, but he’d never asked. In fact, he couldn’t remember having many conversations beyond, “What do you like for breakfast?”
How had his life turned to shit? He’d rebuked his father’s meaningless relationships, and now Declan was following in the same footsteps. What he feared most in life was that he would die, just as his father did, alone and heartbroken. Frustration charged his veins. “The answer is no, Todd. I haven’t met a woman in a long time that made me crave conversation.”
“When you do, find one that sparks something in your brain as well as behind your zipper, you’ll be turned upside down.”
“If there is someone out there like that for me.” A second time.
“In good time, sir. Now, in the meantime, what are your thoughts on the escort service?”
Declan shook his head and smiled. “You never cease to surprise me, Todd. Did you also hook my father up with Miss Rox?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“That my father had needs too.”
“Of course not!”
“Come on, my friend. I’m not a kid anymore. We all know Father had his evermore desires for the fairer sex. Miss Rox was the lady who showed up at the funeral, wasn’t she?”
After only a slight pause, the man nodded. “She was. Your father and Miss Rox had a working friendship. I should never have mentioned the option.”
“Actually, the escort service might be the only option. I only need someone for false pretenses, not to warm my bed.” He had a good idea how the services worked, but he wouldn’t be partaking in the fringe benefits of the agreement.
“May I be blunt, sir?”
“When have you ever asked?”
“I often wondered if your fear of commitment was not because of the commitment itself, but the doubt you have in your capability. Son, we all doubt our capability of loving wholeheartedly and failing those who love us most. People fail and they learn from their mistakes. If you spend too much time meddling through the past, you’ll never have the pleasure of finding the future.”
“Is that so?”
He nodded. “I knew your father well, Declan.” The only time the man used Declan’s Christian name was when a lecture was about to unfold. “His love for you and your sister and brothers has never been up for debate. I think we could all agree that your father could be aloof and preoccupied at times, but he wanted you and your brothers to continue what he started—to continue the legacy.”
“I know you and my father were friends. I only wish I could say the same about my relationship with him. Sometimes I feel like I barely knew him.” Declan chuckled, but it was cold, even to his own ears, and by Todd’s scowl, he caught the bitterness also.
“Your options are thin. May I point out that whomever you decide to utilize for this marriage, she must be discreet.”
Declan rolled Todd’s words around. “As dire as my situation is, I don’t want to hire an escort.”
Todd nodded. “Have you considered…” he hesitated. “Maybe I shouldn’t say anything.”
“Too late. You already did.”
“You prefer not to discuss her, but have you thought of asking your real wife to pose as, well, your wife?”
Declan laughed. “Have you lost your mind, my friend?”
Todd shrugged a lean shoulder. “Just offering advice, sir.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Declan gritted his teeth. “That’s not an option.” Ash was gone and never coming back.
His assistant looked genuinely concerned about him. “Again, I might be crossing a line”
“That hasn’t stopped yo
u before.”
“True. There must be a reason why you haven’t started divorce proceedings.”
The same question had crossed his mind repeatedly. Several times he’d made plans to call his attorney, but those plans were thwarted. At first, he had wondered if she’d come back. After the third year, he realized that his hopes were a pipe dream. He no longer understood why he hadn’t made steps toward closure. “I have no clue where she is.”
“You could have hired a private detective to find her.” Todd eased back into the chair, his gaze pensive on Declan. “I must say, I did wonder what happened between you and her. A year of marriage is still in the honeymoon stage.”
Declan swiped his hand down his face. “We were young—too young for marriage. End of story.”
“Yes, sir.” Todd stood, straightened his jacket and rounded the table. He stopped next to Declan and laid a firm hand on his shoulder. “You have a few weeks to figure things out. I’m sure you’ll come up with something.” Then he was gone.
Growing up without his mother, Declan had never known how relationships worked, nor had he seen two people argue and work out their differences. He’d had a watered-down idea of what a relationship looked like—people married for money and companionship, until he met his wife. He’d ended up in a diner late one night and she was the waitress. She wasn’t his usual leggy-blonde type who wouldn’t be caught dead eating in anything less than a fine dining establishment, let alone working there. But Ash was different, a breath of fresh air to his pre-conceived notions about relationships and desire. Normally when a Knight flashed his smile, they had a flock of females falling at their feet, but Ash proved a set of dimples and a large tip didn’t persuade her. Taken back by her reserve, and her classic beauty, he’d gone back to the same diner every night for a week until he’d finally convinced her to go out on a date with him.
He’d given her the choice of any restaurant. He’d been flabbergasted when she’d chosen a quaint, pizza shop on the corner. She loved their specialty pies loaded with five cheeses.
He’d fallen for her almost immediately. Not only had he admired her independent, spirited nature and her infectious smile, but she didn’t give one hoot about his fancy car or how much money he had in his bank account. That’s why he’d asked her to marry him two weeks into dating—and she’d said “yes”. He sighed heavily remembering how ridiculous his hopes had been when it came to Ash. He’d had elaborate dreams of them having children together. Living a perfect life as man and wife. He’d loved her more than he’d ever loved anyone. Trusted her with his heart and soul. And that was his ultimate demise. He’d trusted her to be there when he needed her most, but instead, she’d chosen someone else who she thought needed her more—her sister who was always in trouble.
Blowing out a forced breath, he stood and strolled upstairs to his bedroom. Sleep was the best thing for him. Sometimes it was the only solace he got from the demons inside.
CHAPTER TWO
“Bang!” A young girl was awakened in the middle of the night by the banging of a door. The loud voice of her father yelling brought her to a sitting position in her bed, clutching her cartoon sheet tightly to her pounding chest. Six-years-old and already Ash had witnessed her parents’ arguing enough to realize when things were getting out of hand. The slamming of doors and the throwing of objects always told her she needed to be on alert.
She stayed very still, listening, holding her breath as the yelling grew louder and the name-calling started. Most of the words she didn’t understand and sometimes she would cover her ears, but this argument seemed different. It escalated faster than the others. Dragging the sheet over her head, she attempted to block out the screaming match going on in the next room, but it was no use.
Earlier that day, her father had come home early and told Ash’s mother that he had lost his job. Mother had called him a “drunken bastard” and Ash had been scared that they would fight.
She’d been right.
Sleeping in the bed next to her was her little sister, Abby, who had just turned four. Her birthday balloons were still floating in the corner of the room. She wasn’t awake. Sometimes she could sleep through the arguing, and sometimes she would crawl into Ash’s bed.
Her mother’s enraged voice made fear drip down Ash’s spine.
Pushing back her covers, she tiptoed across the short space to her sister’s bed and shook her shoulder. “Abby,” she whispered.
Outside of the door came a loud crashing sound followed by a thud, then her mother’s screams. Ash jumped. The last time she heard this much noise she’d seen her father hugging her mother too tight. Ash had screamed for her father to let her red-faced mommy go, and he had.
She didn’t want to see her daddy hurting her mommy again.
Shaking her sister’s shoulder, this time harder, Abby moaned and fluttered her eyes open. “What, Ash?”
“Wake up. We are going to play hide and seek.” It was the game Ash played at times like this.
Her sister obeyed and climbed from the bed, pushing her nightgown down her thin legs. “Where we hidin’?”
“We’ll find a place.” Ash grabbed her sister’s hand and together they walked to the closed door of the bedroom.
Ash pressed her ear to the wood and listened, not hearing anything but silence
“That hurts,” Abby complained as she tried pulling her hand free from Ash’s grip. She hadn’t realized that she was squeezing it and she lightened her hold.
“Shh! We have to be quiet.” She reached for the doorknob, her hand shaking as she pulled the door open a crack. She felt Abby snuggle closer. Her bottom lip was puckered. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fweezin’.”
“Okay. You stay here,” Ash commanded. She went to Abby’s bed, grabbed the furry pink blanket and started to step away, but she had a second thought. She grabbed her sister’s stuffed panda too. “Here, Abby. Hold this. It’ll keep you safe.” Ash pushed the patched-up bear into her sister’s arms who clutched it tightly against her chest. Ash covered her sister’s shoulders with the blanket.
Back at the door, Ash peeked out into the shadowed hallway, seeing that the coast was clear. She brought her finger to her tight lips, reminding Abby not to make a sound.
Ash in front and Abby following closely, they quietly made their way down the hall, their bare feet supporting the process. The yelling started again from the living room and the two girls took off into a run, straight through the back door and into the cool December air. Ash coughed. The cold temperature hurt her lungs. Abby shivered. “Keep the blanket tight.”
Abby nodded and a glop of snot appeared at her right nostril. She swiped the back of her hand across the gooey wetness, smearing it onto her rosy cheek. She’d just gotten over a cold.
Light snowflakes were falling. Ash stuck out her tongue and caught a flake.
“Can we play?” Abby’s eyes lit up.
“No. We’re barefoot. Come on,” Ash whispered to her sister, practically dragging her into the darkness.
Abby stopped, burying her heels into the grass. “Don’t want to.”
“If you stay out here you’re gonna freeze. We’ll be warm soon.”
With an uncertain nod, Abby continued behind Ash.
Dogs barked. The neighbors’ TV played too loud. Down the street, a car’s tires squealed. They stopped in the middle of the yard, and Ash looked over her shoulder at the windows into the house. She could see her mother and father’s silhouettes. He was holding her too tight again. The snow fell faster and her toes were cold in the grass. Where would be the best place to play hide and seek?
“There.” She pointed. Again, dragging her sister close, they reached the ladder to the treehouse and she pushed Abby toward the first rung. “Go. I’m behind you.”
The four-year-old started climbing, but couldn’t maneuver the ladder very fast, her feet slipped several times. Ash stayed close, just in case Abby started to fall.
Once they were safely in
side of the ramshackle treehouse, they snuggled up into the corner, partly from fear, and partly from the chill in the air. They covered themselves with the blanket, but it wasn’t quite big enough to cover their shoulders and their feet.
“I scaret,” Abby whimpered.
Ash tucked her arm around her little sister’s quivering shoulders. “It’s okay. I won’t let nothing happen to you, ever. I promise.”
“It’s colt.”
“Here. You take my shirt.” She dragged off the long-sleeved penguin pajama top. She was wearing her favorite pink T-shirt underneath. Ash helped her sister pull on the shirt and the trembling in her body stopped—some. “Now try to go to sleep. We’ll wait till they find us.”
Ash sat stirring, time ticking by, the wind howling through the cracks in the wood. Her sister was sleeping, but it took a long time before Ash fell asleep too.
Sometime later, the creaking of a board brought Ash awake. She fluttered her eyes open, realizing where she was and sliding in front of Abby who was still asleep. A second later their father appeared in the opening to the treehouse. He looked mad. “Are we in trouble?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, you’re not in trouble. I looked everywhere and was worried. It’s too cold outside for you to sleep here.” He started to reach for the youngest child, but Ash moved forward, blocking him. “It’s okay, Ash. I’m only carrying her inside. You come too and I’ll tuck you both into bed.”
Reluctantly, she allowed her father to take Abby into his arms. Ash followed him down the ladder.
“I’ll carry you too. Your feet will get frostbite.” He lifted Ash into his free arm and he was warm, but he smelled bad, like he did at the New Year’s party when Ash’s mom accused him of drinking too much.
They retraced the steps the girls had taken earlier, but the yard was now covered in a layer of snow. Inside, the house was quiet. The only light on was the lamp in their bedroom.
“Where’s Mommy,” she asked.
“She’s sleeping. She has a headache,” he said. “Now crawl into bed and I’ll tuck you in when I’m finished with your sister.”
His Weekend Wife (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 2) Page 3
