by Schultz, JT
The door opened and he crossed the threshold. His steps halted as the door shut behind him. He glanced around the room and frowned. Richard then glanced back at the front door before his gaze landed on her. “For a minute I thought I was in the wrong suite.”
She shook her head. “Nope, this is definitely the penthouse suite.”
He stepped deeper into the room and his mouth dropped open. Disbelief washed over his face as he blinked at the very large television that now hung above the fireplace. Gone was the black and white with chrome accent furniture and replaced by a deep rich dark brown, a light sky blue and Tan. Cream colored accents tied the room together. The space was now bright, modern and designed for entertaining.
“Where is my furniture?” His tone held a hint of temper as well as something else she couldn’t identify.
“In storage.” She replied flatly. “You mentioned you entertain. This was not designed for entertaining. You run an investment company.”
His blue eyes darkened. “I’m aware of what I do.” Oh yeah, he wasn’t happy. Too bad. Neither was she.
“Right, well, that means you’re entertaining people with money and often taste. No offense but it looked like a really expensive bachelor pad in here and not the signs of success.”
Richard’s mouth fell open in shock. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Well that’s because you’re too busy not being around to get to know me.” Logic said to keep her feelings and hurt out of it. The female side of her thought to hell with it. “Now this screams success and is still, from what I can gather, to your tastes.”
“I had things the way I wanted.” He all but snapped at her.
“Well since this space is also mine for another 321 days and I’m supposed to be the wife, I thought I would make it more tolerable and cater to your needs.”
He stepped closer to her and took another look around the room. “What I need is for my stuff to be put back in here and all this out of here.” This time he raised his voice. “Toni—”
“Don’t Toni me. By what grace of God, warranted you home before dark? Let me guess—you have an important meeting later.” And enter her sarcastic side. “That’s right, your house, your rules, your life. I’m so far the only one who has had to give up everything. My house, trips I planned months ago and high paying jobs which would have made me a ton of money. Not to mention carry a lot of prestige.”
“Do I even want to know what this cost because from where I’m standing that appears to be a ten thousand dollar living room set.” He again had raised his voice. Richard focused on her and narrowed his gaze. “I can tell already, you aren’t hurting for money.”
“No I’m not. However, neither are you and you still go to work.” She shook her head and refused to back down. “The only thing you’ve had to give up is changing your girlfriends every six weeks to three months, which reminds me, you should be due soon to give up the one you have now.”
Slapping his face would’ve had the same effect. He placed his hands on his hips and stared at her in shocked horror. “I can’t—”
A small meow filled the room as a small kitten ran by his feet and jumped up onto the back of the sofa. She walked over to the tuxedo and rubbed his ears. “It’s okay Boxter,” she reassured. Another streak of black and white ran across the floor and the cow print Vette jumped up and joined her brother.
Richard stared at the nine week old kittens. “What the hell are those?” He pointed to where the two fur balls sat.
“Those are called kittens, eventually they will grow up into something called cats.” She didn’t mean to be quite as sarcastic as she was, but she wasn’t going to be ignored anymore. “I know, you’re not used to this kind of pussy—just the kind that comes in the form of models and actresses.”
Offended. That was the best word used to describe the expression on his handsome face. “I’m not having an affair. I can’t believe…I can’t do this.” He turned on his heel, walked over to the door, and pulled it open.
“Don’t worry, I won’t wait up,” she told him. “I never do.”
Richard glanced around the room again and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
She glanced at the kittens and scratched their little heads. “Well, at least he knows I exist now.”
Toni took in the room. She’d really outdone herself. Everything looked incredible. She should be pleased, but she was just as miserable as she was before. She walked over to her purse and withdrew her cell and tapped Piper’s name.
The call connected. “So, what did he think?”
“I think he hates it, I’m positive he hates me and he walked out the door. Of course I confronted him about cheating on me.” She sighed and debated a glass of wine.
“Toni, you didn’t.”
“No, I did. I mean, can he not control his man whore ways to survive a year?”
Piper gasped. “Oh God.”
The two simple words—not so much the words but the tone of her new friend’s voice. “What’s wrong?”
“He’s not cheating. He’s been working on a really big client.” Piper sighed. “He won’t even tell me the details, but whoever this client is has to be a pretty big fish, because he doesn’t even know if he can pull it off.”
“Well that explains part of it, but you’ve witnessed his attitude toward me first hand.” She started to pace the floor. “I don’t know why he admitted he was attracted to me when now I might as well be the plague.”
“I came out and asked him today if he was cheating.”
Toni snorted. “And what, he denied it? Of course he did, he knows we’re friends.”
Piper sighed again and cleared her throat. “He at first asked me if I was kidding then reminded me you were gorgeous.”
She was confused. “Well if I’m gorgeous, why is he being such a jerk?”
“Because I think he’s falling for you.”
Her steps halted and she swore she misheard. “I’m sorry; I think you better repeat that.”
The other woman laughed from the other end of the phone. “I’m dead serious, Toni. All he could do was tell me how smart you are and creative and so talented. My brother doesn’t say that about women nor does he talk about them.”
“If that’s how he feels…why hasn’t he said anything? Why does he avoid me at all costs?” Toni’s nerves were officially fried. “I don’t get it. All I know is I was crazy about your brother and I knew if I wasn’t careful, I’d fall for him.”
“You’re speaking in past tense.” Piper noted then paused. “Oh dear.”
Toni was ready to scream. Instead, she squeezed the bridge of her nose to keep the pending headache at bay. “Now what?”
“I think it’s too late. I think you have already fallen for him.”
Point’s for Piper.
“I was starting to and then—”
The other line cut in. She glanced at the phone. It was Kayla. “Piper I’ll call you back. Kayla is calling.”
“Okay.”
Toni clicked the call over. “Hey Kayla, what’s up?”
“Your husband just showed up here,” her friend responded. “I’m gathering you had a fight over the changes you made and the new furry residents.”
“You could say that is putting it mildly.”
There were male voices in the back ground.
“You know what,” Toni whispered not wanting to be on the phone talking to anyone or standing in the designer prison. “Go deal with your company. I’m going to work for a bit before I lose my ever loving mind.”
“Toni—”
She resisted the urge to cry. “I’ll call you later.” She ended the call and stared at her phone. Toni glanced at the kittens. “You guys be good—I’ll be back in a bit.”
If Richard could come and go as he pleased, so could she,
“You heard me, Andrew.” Richard hung his head still trying to wrap his head around the condo, the kittens and the conversation. “I think I w
ant a divorce.”
His friend blinked at him. “You don’t need to get a divorce; you’ll be getting an annulment.”
“That isn’t going to work. It’s not working. In fact my life is hell because of it.” He threw himself down on the sofa. “I’m attracted to my wife.”
“Seriously?” Andrew blinked in disbelief.
“You’ve seen my wife. She’s your wife’s best friend, not mention gorgeous and smart and funny. My God and she is so business savvy.”
“Richard, you’ve totally lost me.”
He stared at Andrew and shook his head. “I want to touch her, I want to hold her and kiss her. I want to hold my wife and God, do I want to take her to bed.”
Kayla walked in the room. “You know if strangers or aliens were listening to this rant of yours, they’d think you were nuts. Frankly I thought you two would be in bed together after two weeks.”
Andrew cringed. “I gave you four, just because Toni can be really stubborn.”
Stubborn? No kidding.
She destroyed my condo.” He shook his head. “Destroyed is not the right word. Redecorated. Redecorated is the word.”
“She was trying to get your attention.”
Richard turned to Kayla and for the umpteenth time that day, shock washed over him. “My attention?’
Toni’s best friend blinked then studied him before guilt washed over her face. “Yeah, she just wanted you to notice her and hopefully go back to that brief period of time when you were getting along.” She darted a look at her husband then met Richard’s gaze. “Toni has had to give up everything.”
Kayla’s words hit him hard. “She thinks I’m cheating on her and actually thinks it’s with a model or an actress.”
“You’re never there, you keep strange hours.” Kayla sighed and shook her head. “I would think the same thing if I knew your past and with your current behavior.”
The words sunk in. “I’m crazy about her—I hardly know her—but what I do know I really like.” Realization hit. She knew about the women he dated. “How did she find out about me?”
“That thing called the internet,” Andrew told him with a solemn expression. “She is a girl for research. Has been ever since I met her.”
Kayla smiled and shrugged. “Ever since we were teenagers, Toni’s been nosy and curious and likes to have answers. You’re married to a nerd.”
“A hot nerd.” He offered with a smile. “I like her in her glasses.” He paused and digested everything then met Kayla’s gaze. “I have no reason to cheat. Toni, from what I can tell, is the whole package, and that’s why I’ve avoided her.”
Andrew cleared his throat. “Can I say something here?”
He nodded. “By all means.”
“Do you hate what she did with the condo?”
“It was this incredible shock—but no. Actually, I could make a huge profit off it, if I sold it as is, furniture and all. It’s like something out of a magazine and it’s her attention to small details.” So, he had overreacted. Maybe. “She got kittens.”
Kayla laughed. “She actually adopted Boxter and Vette. Wow, she went all out. She has been looking after them the last few weeks when she volunteered at the animal shelter. Their mom was killed when they were almost four weeks old. There were six in total, but Vette and Boxter were the smallest and didn’t look so good for them. Toni became focused on them and they did well.”
“Seriously?” he bounced his look between Kayla and Andrew then rested it on Kayla. “She volunteered her time at the animal shelter and put her energy into orphaned kittens—which she named after her cars.” Unbelievable. Totally unbelievable. Of course, he would’ve known this if he had been around.
“Are you okay, you look a little grey there, buddy.” Andrew sounded concerned. He had every right to be.
“I’ve really messed things up with her.” He debated a moment and thought. “Tell me about the real Toni, tell me something, if I was to run her name on the internet that wouldn’t come up.”
“What difference would it make?” Kayla cast a level gaze. “Richard, you’re married to a woman who is the whole package. I know damn well she’s attracted to you and honestly I think that’s why she’s a bit out of whack. Her whole world changed and the one person who should have been there for her wasn’t.”
“I have a year with her, I know she’s hurt and I want to fix it. Please Kayla.” He sounded desperate. Of course he did. He was desperate, he wanted things better.
Kayla shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ve already said too much.”
“Just over eighteen months ago Kayla got diagnosed with breast cancer. No one saw that coming.”
Richard turned to Andrew and blinked then glanced to Kayla. “Are you okay?”
“I am now or at least for now.”
Relief washed over him and he turned back to Andrew. “Please, go on.”
The other man nodded. “Anyway Kayla and I had been together three years at that point and I had just asked her to marry me. I thought my world was going to fall apart.” He paused and the emotions were close to the surface. “Toni, gave up her social life, work, everything and was there for us.”
“She used to have really long hair,” Kayla started and he turned to the woman who his wife cherished like a sister. “She cut it off, so I could have real hair when I started to lose mine.”
The pieces started fitting together. “The pink streak in her hair…”
“Was for me. She cut off the hair, got the pink streak and was so strong through it all. She never looked back.” She shook her head and tears came to her eyes. “Richard, the two of you are married—it doesn’t have to be a sentence. Maybe it has the chance of something more.”
“Kayla’s right.” Andrew agreed and he turned to the man who had fast become a friend. “You two have a prenuptial. If you end up filing for a divorce in a year, instead of an annulment, so what? But don’t miss the chance to find out what could’ve been.”
He was at a loss and more than anything he wanted to talk to Toni. “I am so thankful for you both.” He swallowed back the cyclone of emotions raging through him. “Thanks for being good friends to Toni and me.”
“You’re welcome.” Andrew smiled. “I already know you’re a good guy Richard, you just need to show Toni.”
He stood and nodded. “I’m going to go home and talk to her.”
“She’s not there.”
Richard turned to Kayla who wore a sheepish expression. “What do you mean she’s not there?”
She shook her head and thinned her lips. “She went into the office to work. Toni does that a lot. When things get tough—she submerges herself in work.”
Wonderful. We’re more alike than I thought.
“Okay, I’m going home, changing my clothes, going to check out a few things on the internet—other than my email, and then heading over to talk to my wife.” Richard smiled and debated. “Hopefully we can kiss and make up.”
“I would definitely go for the kissing,” Kayla giggled. “She might surprise you and kiss you back.”
He grinned. “I plan on going for a lot more than that.” He wanted Toni more than ever and after hearing what he had tonight, he wanted to know even more about her.
Andrew winked. “Smart man.”
I’ve been an idiot and hope she forgives me.
Chapter Seven
What were we thinking?
Toni studied the different roller marks on the wall in front of her. Three different shades of blue and she couldn’t make up her mind. This wasn’t rocket science, this was a wall color. She was getting tired and her mind wasn’t on work, but instead the angry man to whom she was married. Things had been great in the beginning. They had gotten along fine. Finally, tonight he had decided to surface before she was in bed and they fought.
At least I got his attention.
She wondered how the kittens were and debated going home. Though she was hungry, she didn’t have much appetite for food. I
nstead, she wished life would go back to when she and Richard got along. Before their wedding and before they shared that kiss.
“Well, this is a surprise.”
A chill ran down Toni’s spine as she turned to the office door at the same time Hank stepped deeper into the room. “Hank, hi.” Instantly, she wasn’t comfortable. She needed to leave—now.”
“I find it strange that a newly married woman would be here working rather than at home in bed with her husband.” He drew closer to where she stood and more than anything she wanted away from him. Something in his tone sent a nervous sensation through her and settled in her stomach.
“I just wanted to check on a couple things, I was just leaving.”
He stepped in front of her and the close proximity unsettled her nerves even more. “I don’t believe you. Come on Toni. There’s no way Richard satisfies you. His finger caressed her upper arm and then and there she swore she was going to throw up on his expensive shoes.
“You pervert! Don’t touch me!” Toni struggled but his grip tightened.
“Please, don’t touch me.” Her voice cracked. She wanted Richard, she wanted her husband—and that wasn’t happening anytime soon. Coming here this late was a bad idea, but she never dreamed she’d run into Hank.
“Don’t be a prude.” He warned and stepped even closer. Toni backed away right into the wall. She had nowhere to run. Hank’s hand curled around her upper arms and panic hit.
“Stop! Don’t touch me!” Toni struggled but his grip tightened.
“I’m going to do a lot more than touch you,” Hank leered.
Fear slammed her heart to a halt. “I’m happily married—I’m sorry you’re not.” She tried to pull away from him, the room and the building, but he didn’t release his hold. She twisted and lurched from side to side, trying to shake his hold on her “Get away from me!” she nearly screamed.
“Let go of my wife before I break both your arms.” Richard’s voice was feral.
Hank released her, stepped away and turned to the door. Toni finally inhaled a small breath and swallowed back the bile. Her knees were shaking so badly she thought they were going to give out. She glanced at her husband, who wore a lethal expression. His angry blue gaze, however, remained fixed on Hank. His long legs took even, slow strides as he approached the other man.
