She texted him back: Go to hell.
She turned off her cell and climbed into bed. Had Dave seen those pictures? Was that why he left? If only he’d answered his cell. Exhausted, she fell asleep determined to straighten everything out in the morning.
Steph got up early the next morning, turned on the TV, saw her picture on the news, and quickly turned it off. Shit. Dave was not going to like this one bit. She hated it too. She quickly got ready and called the number Griff had given her for her ride. She tried Dave’s cell and his home number, but he wasn’t answering.
She rode the jet home because she didn’t want to deal with the hassle of finding her own way back. Besides, she had to get to Dave as quickly as possible. She had to explain everything. It felt so strange to fly with just one person on the plane. So different from their plane ride out to L.A. She only hoped Dave was waiting for her back home.
~ ~ ~
Dave returned to his townhouse early the next morning after the flight from hell. He hadn’t slept at all on the plane as he was both freaked out and squished into a seat without enough leg room for a six-foot-two guy. Not to mention the toddler in the seat next to him, who cried most of the flight.
He belatedly realized when he got home that he could check his cell voicemail remotely. He listened as Steph’s messages grew increasingly worried, until the last message that said she wasn’t feeling well. His gut churned. What happened to her with Griffin? Had he kidnapped her? That last message had sounded not at all like Steph—strained and almost…scared. Shit. Was she okay?
Dammit. He shouldn’t have left L.A. without her. His temper got the best of him. And, if he was honest, his pride. It just felt like she always chose Griffin over him. But these messages were scaring the crap out of him. Maybe Griffin had done something to her. He never should’ve left Steph alone with him.
He checked his voicemail at home and heard her message that she was on her way back. At least she was well enough to fly home. He called her, but it went to voicemail. Hopefully she was on the plane. There was nothing to do but wait. He tried and failed to sleep while he waited. He tried calling Steph a few more times. His sister called for the latest news and reassured him that things weren’t as bad as they looked. What the hell did she know? But he kept his thoughts to himself because he knew she meant well. He finally settled in front of the TV to wait.
A short while later, a knock at the door had him leaping to answer it.
He opened the door. Steph stood there, suitcase at her side. She looked exhausted, but she was all in one piece and had gone straight to him. His heart soared. “Steph.”
“Dave!” She threw herself in his arms. It felt so good to have her there again he nearly forgave everything.
“What happened to you?” they said at the same time.
“You first,” Dave said. “Are you feeling okay? What happened when you went backstage and after that?” His voice rose in fresh aggravation, even though he told himself the most important thing was that she was okay. His jealous, possessive side reared its ugly head. “I saw pictures of you at a restaurant, at the hotel—”
“Take a seat,” she said. “I’ll tell you everything.”
They sat on the sofa. She took his hand, which felt like maybe she was trying to comfort him for bad news. He couldn’t help but tense up.
“Steph, if you want to be with Griffin, just say so. I can handle it.” He grimaced. “No, I can’t. Just say it. No, don’t.” He jammed both hands in his hair. “What the hell is going on? Please tell me you’re not with him. Did he kidnap you?”
“Would you just listen?” she asked. “The limo driver was this psycho reporter who pulled a gun on us.”
“What!” He crushed her to him. “Omigod. Steph.” He pulled back and cradled her face in both hands. “Are you okay?”
She blinked rapidly, her eyes shiny with tears. “Yes. Griff got the gun away from her and tossed it in the sewer.”
“Where were you when all this happened?”
“Hiding in the back of the limo.”
He crushed her to him again. She tugged on his arms, and he realized he was holding her too tight. He loosened his grip, but still kept her in his arms.
“Where’s the psycho reporter now?” Dave asked. “Did you call the police?”
“She took off. Griff said she’s harmless.”
Dave stiffened. “Like hell she’s harmless. She pulled a gun on you. And now she’s just running free? What if she comes after you again?”
She let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know. I didn’t get a good look at her either. Just the side of her face in the limo briefly before the gun appeared.”
He crushed her to him again. “Dear God.”
She hugged him back. “Griff wouldn’t let me call the cops, but I will now. I don’t even know her last name, but I know where she works.”
“Good,” he muttered. “That’s good.”
They stayed like that for a few minutes just holding each other. Finally, she sat up again. “I know those pictures looked bad, but they were completely innocent. I was freaked out about the gun, and Griff held me to calm me down. Then he gave me a ride back to the hotel. That’s all that happened. I tried to get in touch with you, but your cell went to voicemail, and the hotel phone just kept ringing. I left you a message at the hotel.”
“My cell broke,” he said. “I got in a fight with a security guard.”
“You got in a fight?” she exclaimed.
“He wanted me to get in this car, and I know better than to get in a strange—”
“Griff said he arranged for the car.”
“Oh. Well, he might have let me know about that. Geez. I thought I was being knocked up.”
She looked like she was trying not to laugh. “You mean knocked off?”
“Yes,” he said fervently. “What’s so funny?”
She clamped her lips together. “Nothing.”
He gave her another suspicious look, and she kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her with all the love in his heart. Still, some of the pieces weren’t falling into place in his head.
He pulled away. “I was at the hotel, but they didn’t give me a message.”
“I swear I left one.” She looked him in the eye. “The truth is, I think Griff wanted pictures of us to get out. He might have even been in on the whole gun thing. He acted strangely casual about it.”
“He used you. Bastard. I’ll kill him.”
“So you believe me?”
“Of course I believe you. I should’ve known it was all him. Right from the start, he’s been a total sleazeball.”
She kissed him again. He buried his hands in her hair and kissed her breathless. Then he kept kissing her as he slowly pushed her back on the sofa until he was on top of her, between her legs, wishing there were no clothes between them. He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. There was just one more thing he had to know. “Did you get the signed papers?”
Her eyes shifted to the side, and she turned her face away from him. “Not exactly.”
He held her chin and turned her back to him. “Tell me exactly what happened. Did he weasel out of it again?”
She met his eyes. “Things are complicated financially for Griff. He said in a year a divorce would be easier.”
He released her chin. “Fuck,” he muttered. Fucking Griff, still fucking with them. He got off her. “A year. A whole fucking year. That’s what he got out of you.”
She stroked his arm. “Could you wait that long for me?”
He sat on the sofa, leaned forward and rested his elbows on his legs. “I don’t understand. If you don’t want his money, what’s the difference? How the hell did he get another year out of you?”
She slid her arm around him, but he didn’t want it there. That whole year thing was like a bucket of ice water splashed in his face. He straightened and slid away from her. She dropped her arm.
“He wants to settle out of court once he�
�s stabilized his finances.” She looked up at him with pleading eyes. “I know it’s hard to understand, but I went along with it because Griff promised to take care of Joey. He’s setting up a trust for him. He’ll be taken care of for life. Griff thinks of him as family.”
Dave shook his head. He was done playing by Griffin’s rules. The man used her and used her brother as a bargaining tool. Bastard. “We’re getting you a lawyer. You can settle all of this out of court right now.”
“Paulie D told him not to sign anything.”
“Who the hell is Paulie D?”
“His lawyer.”
He took both her hands in his, trying one last time to get Steph on his side. “Steph, Paulie D doesn’t get to decide about your life. This affects both of us.”
“I’m okay with it. Just as long as Joey is taken care of. Please understand. I can’t afford Horizon Village. Joey would have to move in with me. He’d miss his housemates and all the activities they have there. And I would be a package deal. Anyone in a relationship with me would have to be with Joey too. He’s not that easy to live with. He has tantrums when his routine changes.”
“Why in the world would you believe Griffin would keep his word?” Dave asked.
“He faced down a gun for me,” she said. “If you could’ve heard him…it puts things in perspective when you’re looking death in the face. I know he’ll do this. He really does love Joey.”
“I thought you said he was in on the gun thing.”
“I don’t know that for sure. He really did sound sincere when he promised to take care of Joey.”
Dave frowned. “There must be other alternatives.” He ran his fingers through his short hair and pulled. “Other group homes. Or we could all live together.”
“You’d do that?”
“Yes. I’d like to meet him first, but…Steph, I really can’t deal with Griffin any more. I want him out of the picture.”
She stroked his cheek. “But we can still be together. We just can’t get married right away. That’s all.”
He clenched his jaw. “You’re choosing him.”
“No, I choose you. I won’t even see Griff again. It’ll all be done by the lawyers.” She gestured away from them. “Down the road.”
His earlier anger came flooding back. “Why did you go backstage with him?”
She stroked his arm. “I’m sorry. I had my eye on the prize, the divorce, and I should’ve just told him to go to hell.”
“Damn right.”
He shook his head. He didn’t like that she’d gone with Griffin while he was waiting at the hotel, but it did sound like Griffin’s fault. Asshole.
Still, he couldn’t help adding, “You let him put his hands on you.”
She moved to straddle his lap, running her fingers through his hair. He went instantly hard, which was probably her intention. Distract him from his anger. He had to admit it worked. He was doomed to want her all of his life. Even while she was tied to another man.
“I was scared, that’s all,” she said, her fingers still trailing through the hair at the nape of his neck. “That doesn’t mean I still love him or that I want to be with him.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed into his eyes. “I want to be with you. I’m yours.” She kissed him. Her warm lips, so soft, and her taste enticed him, made him want to give in to it. And he did for a long moment, losing himself in the kiss.
But then he did the most difficult thing he’d ever had to do in his life. He lifted her off his lap and set her away from him. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
“Because of Griff.”
He said nothing. No amount of talking between them would change the fact that Griffin still held sway over Steph, and Dave didn’t want to be caught in the middle anymore. He looked away.
“He’s out of my life,” Steph said. “I swear.”
He turned back. “Who knows when he’ll show up again? Ready to fly you in his private jet. Offering you diamonds. The world. And what do I have to offer you? A townhouse in Eastman. Help grading your math homework. I understand very well where I stand.” He looked at the floor. “I love you so much it makes me crazy, but I can’t live like this, caught between you and Griffin.”
“Dave, please.” Her voice broke, which made his chest clutch. “I choose you.”
He met her eyes, which were shiny with unshed tears. “You let him get away with murder. Until you stand up to him, we don’t stand a chance.”
She blinked rapidly. “I’m not good with confrontation! I’m sorry! I’m working on it.”
“Work harder, Steph.”
“I have to balance things with my responsibility for Joey. Not everything is black and white. There’s a lot of gray out there.”
He stood. He had to remain firm, or he’d forever be caught in the tangle of Steph and Griffin. Forever be jealous, possessive, insane with frustration. That wasn’t him. He was a nice guy. At least he used to be. He’d lost nice once Griffin showed up. He wasn’t convinced Steph wouldn’t see Griffin again either. The man did whatever the hell he wanted. If Griffin wanted Steph, he’d go after her, even if that meant staking out her house. He’d done it before. And Steph had done nothing to stop it. This was fucked up right from the beginning.
“I wish things were different,” he said over the lump in his throat. “Goodbye.”
Her eyes welled up, and he had to turn away so he wouldn’t join her in a massive cry-fest. He heard her footsteps slowly head to the door, the suitcase wheels rolling behind her, the quick open of the door. She paused, and then quietly shut the door behind her. He let out a breath. He’d done the right thing. He was almost sure of it.
He sank to the sofa and dropped his head in his hands in complete misery. Sometimes it really sucked to do the right thing.
~ ~ ~
Steph went straight to Amber’s house with her misery. She found her friend painting in the detached garage she used as a studio in the backyard. The garage door was partially open, and music blared from inside.
She knocked and called to Amber ahead of time so she didn’t startle her. Amber could get lost in a painting and not come up for hours.
“Hey, you!” Amber called, shutting off the music and pulling the door all the way open. “How did it go in L.A.?”
Steph made it all the way to Amber’s side before she broke down. Amber wrapped her arms around her. Steph was a lot taller than Amber, so she tried to make sure Amber could still breathe.
Finally Steph pulled away and took a shaky breath.
Everything came tumbling out all at once. “It went terrible. Griff asked me for another year to divorce because his finances are a mess, and I agreed because he promised to take care of Joey, but Dave doesn’t understand, and he said I chose Griff, but I didn’t, and now Dave doesn’t want to see me!” That last part came out on a wail. “And a psycho pulled a gun on me!”
“What?” Amber exclaimed.
Bare poked his head out the back door. “Everything okay out here?”
Amber waved him away. “I got this, Bare.”
He nodded once and returned to the house.
Steph sniffled. “You’re so lucky you married the right guy the first time.”
Amber smiled. “I know it. So tell me about the psycho first.”
Steph filled her in and then told her all about Griff and their deal for her brother.
Amber listened thoughtfully. “Okay. Now tell me exactly what Dave said when he said he didn’t want to see you.”
Steph went through every detail, working hard to keep her voice calm and steady so Amber could understand her.
“Okay, forget about Griff,” Amber said with a wave of her hand. “We just have to convince Dave to still be with you. Just because you can’t marry him yet doesn’t mean you can’t be together. I think he’s just hurt. Male egos are so fragile, you know?”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.” Amber gestured for Steph to follow her further into the garage to a couple of cha
irs nearby.
Steph sat next to her friend. “Is Bare’s ego fragile?”
Amber laughed. “No. If anything, he’s overly confident.” She shook her head with a smile. “I’m just speaking in general and from personal experience before Bare. My dad couldn’t stand my mom doing anything that didn’t involve supporting his career. Once she made it as an artist, he put down the entire field. He’ll tell anyone that listens that art is a waste of time. I’m telling you—fragile.”
“So what do I do?”
“You have to prove you love Dave and not the A-hole.”
“How?”
“What does he like?”
Steph thought hard. “He likes math. And, um, Shrek.”
“Oh-kay. Anything else?”
Steph crinkled her nose. “The ukulele.”
Amber cracked up. “So you’ll…” She waited for Steph to fill in the blank.
Steph dropped her head in her hands. “I have no idea.”
Amber rubbed Steph’s back. “You want me to have Bare talk to him? Man to man? People are always telling him stuff. He’s like the easiest person in the world to talk to.”
Steph shook her head. “No, but thanks. I guess I’ll just learn to play the ukulele.”
Amber grinned. “Or try calculus.”
Steph groaned. Amber patted her back. “Don’t worry. You’ll think of something.”
Things got worse. The next week was a firestorm of media attention over Griffin Huntley’s secret wife. She didn’t know what had escalated the story, but it was a national sensation. Press followed her to and from work, snapping pictures and firing questions at her. She tried to ignore them with a terse “no comment,” but the questions kept coming:
“Why have you been hiding?”
“How do you feel about his other women?”
“Are you getting back together?”
She was afraid to go anywhere. She went straight home after work and refused to answer her phone. It was just the press calling. All of this attention and the pictures floating around of her and Griff were not helping her case with Dave. She’d even had to sit down and explain herself to the principal. Apparently, a lot of parents were calling the school wanting to know if she’d be leaving soon to reunite with her famous husband.
Almost Married Page 15
