Stormy Passion

by Brenda Jernigan

  In the blink of an eye, Adrian was gone, saying that he didn’t want to intrude on her family time. It was almost possible to wonder if he'd ever been there at all.

  Two months had passed since she'd last seen Adrian. He'd called once or twice a week, and to Dani's chagrin, she discovered that she looked forward to his phone calls and telling him all about her day.

  The chilly winter air seeped through Dani's heavy sweater as she walked back to the house with her mail. She hadn't heard from Adrian this week, but she had received a letter from The Mass Corporation awarding her the advertising contract. She was on cloud nine, and she couldn't wait to tell Adrian. Funny, how she thought of him first.

  By mid-morning she'd thrown out the second set of drawings she had been working on for a new account, and her frustrations mounted. She just couldn't seem to get them right no matter how hard she tried. Every day, she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate because one man was always on her mind.

  She rubbed her tired eyes and went to get a cup of decaf – like that was going to help. She'd just settled back to her drawing board to try again when the doorbell rang.

  She flung open the door just as Adrian raised his hand to knock. She flinched.

  He immediately asked. “What's wrong?”

  “What makes your think something is wrong?”

  “Because you're frowning.” Adrian didn't wait to be invited in. Instead, he picked up his suitcase and stepped inside, heading straight for her bedroom where he deposited his luggage.

  “Make yourself at home,” she clipped out before she caught herself. She realized that she'd secretly convinced herself that Adrian would never show up.

  He came back into the living room smiling that know-it-all smile of his. “I intend to. Now what's wrong?”

  “Well, for starters, it would have been nice if you'd called and let me know you were coming.”

  “I told you at Christmas I'd be here, and I always keep my word.”

  “I don't know, Adrian. This all seems so odd. Are you sure you want to marry me?”

  “You’re a bit grumpy, but yes, I think we should get married right away.”

  “And how is that going to help?”

  “Haven't we been through this before?” His eyes rolled upward as if we were praying. “For one, the baby needs a father. As I told you before, if it doesn't work out, we'll go our separate ways. I even have--”

  “Will you sign a prenuptial agreement?” Dani didn't know how she found the nerve to ask that.

  Adrian frowned. Damn, that's just what he was going to say, but somehow the agreement didn't seem as important to him as it once did. “If that's what you’d like. I don't want anything you have, Dani.” Unless it's you, he thought to himself.

  She didn’t respond.

  He took her by the arm. “Trust me, Dani. For once, don't take time to think everything out. Trust me.”

  She stared at him for a long time before uttering, “All right, Adrian.”

  “You're kidding. What? No fighting?” He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her toward the door. “Come on, let's go before you change your mind.”

  “Now? Like this?”

  “Yep. Let's go.”

  This can’t be real, Dani thought as she stood before the Justice of the Peace.

  This isn't the way it's supposed to happen.

  “I do,” Dani repeated, wishing that things could have been different.

  She wanted what all women wanted: a beautiful white dress, masses of flowers, the groom dressed in a tux waiting at the end of the aisle, watching her with love in his eyes. However, that dream had shattered when she looked down at her navy-blue dress--her large, navy-blue dress. It floated over her extra-large stomach, reminding her of the very reason her dreams had ended so differently.

  When the Justice of the Peace pronounced them man and wife, to her surprise Adrian swept her into his arms and kissed her. Not just a quick kiss, but an earth-shattering kiss that sent fire racing through her veins. His mouth opened hungrily, and she responded. God, help her, she responded with all the desire she'd stored up for this man.

  She wondered if she'd ever understand how Adrian could make her do most anything he wanted. Then she knew. In spite of his bluntness, there was a gentleness in him that she loved and needed, and she really didn't want this to be a marriage of convenience. Maybe she could make him love her. Just like she'd tried so hard to make her parents love her. This time she would be successful. There was so much more at stake.

  When he pulled back, the magical moment ended, and she reluctantly opened her eyes. Adrian smiled and murmured. “Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Massimino?”

  A shiver of delight surged through her at the sound, and Dani looked at her new husband.

  He didn't look like a man who'd been forced into marriage. He looked happy, but she knew better. However, she liked the sound of her new name, Danielle Massimino.

  Dani loved the man, but that was something he'd never know. She wouldn't lay her heart out in the open until she was absolutely sure that he felt the same.

  After they’d signed the appropriate papers, they strolled along the River Walk, each quiet with their own thoughts. The dark water reflected the twinkling light of the restaurants that lined the river.

  “This isn't too much walking for you?” Adrian asked. For the baby, I mean.”

  “No, I'm fine. The exercise is good for me ... I mean us.”

  “Dani, I want to tell you something.” Adrian stopped and faced her. “Since we've started this relationship backwards, I'd like to start by getting to know you. I'm not sure I'm saying this right, but I don't want to have sex until after the baby is born.”

  Dani glanced down at her feet. “I guess I'm not very attractive with this big belly.”

  Using his index finger, he lifted her chin up. “Don't ever say that again. You're beautiful.” He carefully laid his hand on her stomach. “And, our child will be beautiful, too.” Suddenly, he jerked his hand back. “What's that?”

  Dani giggled. “That's your son or daughter moving about.”

  “You're kidding.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “The older he gets the more he'll move or so the doctor said.”

  “That's a--a miracle,” he whispered, his voice filled with awe. Silently, he took her hand and they walked on.

  Dani couldn't hold back the question she'd been dying to ask. “Didn't you experience the baby kicking with your first wife? Why didn't you tell me you had a child?” She felt the muscle in his arm tighten.

  “I don't have a child. My wife miscarried.” Adrian's voice was rough. “She wasn’t a nice person, Dani. Someday I’ll tell you the entire story.”

  Those few words ended their conversation and the easiness she'd felt before. Not only did she have the answer to her question, she had gleaned some additional information. Adrian had married her for the baby. Could he actually have thought she would do away with her child?

  With the brief glimpse of what his wife had been like, Dani realized she'd have a hard road ahead to prove she was a very different person than the first woman he’d married.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Adrian sat with his back to his desk looking out the picture window of his new office in San Antonio. He had to admit that things had worked out better than he first thought. He'd found an office with a picturesque view of the river, and some days he'd fly to New York for meetings and back in the same day with Dani never being the wiser.

  Adrian knew he should tell her the whole story of who he was, but he wanted to wait until they got to know each other better. He wanted her to know him, the real him, and not the corporate machine he was portrayed to be, so he simply told her a small lie that he'd gotten a construction job at the new amphitheater. And he really was working there, only not as the hired hand he'd led her to believe.

  Today Adrian had to go down and check on some final touches for the theater. He'd forgotten how good it felt to be build
ing something again instead of buying companies and splitting them up for profit. How easy it had been to sit behind a desk and become the cold, calculating corporate machine he’d come to be known as. He reached for his hard hat just as the phone rang.

  “Hello.”

  “How's married life treating you?” Marty asked.

  “Not bad. How's things up there?”

  “Just received the final papers on the new municipal building in Munich. It will soon be yours.”

  “Good.”

  “You never did tell me why you wanted that building.”

  “I've had a good tip that Munich is expanding the airport next year, and that will make our building's value soar. I was thinking about converting the building into a mall.”

  “Smart move, but then all your ideas are smart,” Marty admitted. “How's Dani?”

  “Growing bigger every day.” Adrian chuckled. “She only has a couple of months to go, and then she'll be back to her normal size. Her biggest complaints these days are--she's hot and her feet are too big.”

  “Gee, you sound married.”

  “I am married,” Adrian said. “And tonight, I get to experience my first baby class. Can't remember what you call it. She's been going with her friend Susan, but she's sick, so I'm the substitute.”

  “Oh, how I'd love to get a picture of that.”

  “Knock it off. Was there pressing business you needed to talk to me about?”

  “There is one small matter.”

  “Well--”

  “You've been summoned by Coffee Advertising to appear in court next week.”

  “And just why are they suing me, might I ask?

  “They're not suing you. They are suing Kapur and Associates. You're to testify in Coffee's behalf.”

  “That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! Does the Coffee Agency really think this suit will endear them with me?”

  “I don't think so. Sounds like the old man is after your wife. Evidently, they don't know she's your wife.”

  “Probably not. And Dani doesn't know that I'm the Mass Corporation either.”

  “I thought you were going to tell her.”

  “Somehow I never got around to it.”

  “Well, there's no avoiding the problem now.”

  “Guess not,” Adrian agreed. “Talk to you later.” Adrian said, but thought. This doesn't look good.

  He'd have to tell Dani tonight.

  And, he hoped she'd understand.

  Dani stood in the shower, trying to grasp the bar of soap she'd dropped for the third time. The cool water felt good on her overheated body. May had brought hotter than normal temperatures and, with them, her feet had begun to swell big time. She dusted herself with powder, then donned a white smock with gingham trim and an appliqué of Raggedy Ann on the pocket and white slacks. Then she went to the living room and settled herself on the couch.

  Things had gone well over the last few months, better than Dani had ever thought. She enjoyed having Adrian around more than she'd like to admit. She especially liked snuggling with him as they slept. That was the one time when she truly felt like a wife and not a cheap imitation.

  Adrian had been true to his word. He'd not pressured her about sex as he promised, but it left her wondering if he desired her at all.

  Dani sighed and patted her stomach. She didn't feel very sexy in this stage of her pregnancy, anyway. In fact, she was damned tired of being fat. It had been a long time since she'd been able to look down and see her toes. She gasped as the baby gave her a swift kick.

  “Am I late?” Adrian asked as he laid his hard hat on a chair by the door, which was his custom. That familiarity gave her a contented feeling every time he walked through their front door.

  “No. I just finished dressing. The shower's all yours.”

  “Good.” Adrian leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “It's been a long day. I'll be just a minute. Did you have a good day?”

  “Yes. I finished my sketches for Mama Rosé’s Dress Store.” Dani picked up the stack of mail and motioned to Adrian. “Go ahead and get ready. We don't want to be late for my Lamaze class. I'm going to read the mail.”

  “Be back in a flash,” Adrian said as he exited into the other room.

  She thumbed through the bills, then her favorite--junk mail, until she came to a cream colored envelope hidden under a flyer. Nothing could change her good mood, or so she thought until she focused on the last letter in the stack. She went cold all over. The letter was from Jones and Jones, Coffee Advertising's legal firm. Carefully tearing open the envelope, she pulled out a legal document, then swore as she scanned the page.

  “They did it.” Coffee Advertising had made good on their threats. She'd have to appear in court in two days. Jumping to her feet, she said. “Those dogs! They have some nerve.” She began to pace, too agitated to sit still.

  “I'm ready sweetheart.” Adrian appeared in the doorway dressed in a blue shirt and jeans. “What's wrong?”

  “What makes you think something is wrong?”

  “Because you're as pale as a ghost.” He moved closer to her, the concern evident on his face.

  “Coffee Advertising is suing me for conflict of interest. They said I stole their ideas. Their ideas! They were my ideas from day one. I did an incomplete set of drawings for them, but the ones I presented where completely different.”

  “Now I see why you're upset.” Adrian held out his hand.”Let me see.”

  “Never mind.” She threw the document on the table. “You can look at it later tonight. Right now we have to get to class, and I don't move quite as fast as I used to. We’d better get going. Did you remember that object I'm supposed to focus on?”

  “I got it.” Adrian held the door open, chuckling as he did so. “Waddle would be a good word to describe your movements.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  They walked the six blocks to class along the beautiful waterway, and the tension eased as Dani put the letter to the back of her mind. She'd think of some way to get out of this mess later.

  “This place kind of grows on you,” Adrian remarked as Dani preceded him through the door to the recreation center.

  “I've always thought it was beautiful here. Not as pretty as Sea Horse Island, but a close second.”

  “Dani. You're just in time.” Rene walked over to them. “And this is?” She held out her hand.

  “The baby's father,” Dani said, then added when Rene looked at her quizzically. “I mean my husband.”

  “Well, we're glad to have you both here. You picked the perfect night. We're going to see a delivery film.”

  “Thank you, I think,” Adrian said. He guided Dani over to where the woman pointed for them to sit on the floor. He sat down on the thick mat and spread his legs like the other couples, so Dani could sit down and lean back against him.

  The light went low and the film started. He felt just like he was back in school. Until they got to the delivery room clips, that is. They had never showed anything like this in school. The woman's legs were in stirrups, and the doctor held a scalpel. He lowered the knife and cut.

  “Omigod,” Adrian moaned.

  “Shsss.” Dani turned to him. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

  “Look at all that blood.” Adrian grimaced just as a baby slid out into the doctor's arms.

  “There's supposed to be blood,” Dani whispered. “Now, be quiet so I can watch the film.”

  Adrian didn't know it, but he'd just voiced Dani's exact thoughts. The whole thing looked painful, and with Adrian's responses, she wasn't too sure he was going to be her tower of strength she needed. More than likely, somebody else would be picking him up off the floor where he'd fainted. Who would have thought this big, strong man would be a coward when she needed him most?

  The lights came back on. “I want the coaches to be thinking of an object that your wife can focus on during delivery. Something that will make her feel happy and make her forget,” Rene said to the
group.

  Dani looked at her husband, wondering what object he'd brought. She hadn't given him any suggestions.

  She watched him reach into his shirt pocket and pull out a small object. He opened up his hand and there sitting in the palm of his hand was a tiny pelican.

  “I hope this will do. Captain Bass gave it to me the day you left Sea Horse.”

  Dani eyes moistened, but she was determined not to cry. “It's perfect,” she whispered. She took the wooden figure from his hand. “Perfect.” She swallowed and looked at him again. “If you dare laugh while I'm panting like a dog for the next half hour, I'll personally kick you.” With his grin, the sentimental moment was broken.

  “All right. All right.” Adrian held up his hands, but keeping that promise proved to be difficult.

  When class was finally over they went for ice cream cones, then started for home. They were strolling back when a voice called out.

  “Hey, little mama. Want a free ride?”

  “Thanks, Lopez. My feet can use the rest.” Dani took Lopez's hand and carefully stepped into the boat. “Is this your last run tonight.”

  “Sí.”

  “We'll be glad to pay you,” Adrian commented when he took his seat beside Dani.”

  “Your money is no good with me, gringo. When is the little bebe due?”

  “June sixth.”

  “If it's a boy you can name him after me.” He pointed to himself. “Lopez.”

  “If it's a boy, she'll name him after me,” Adrian stated stiffly.

  “Don't I get any say-so in this?” Dani asked. She was a little surprised by the fearlessness in Adrian's voice. Then she reminded herself that the baby was the main reason Adrian was with her. She wished things could have been different, and they had married for love.

  Now as her time grew near, she had to face the fact that Adrian might leave after the baby was born.