"My life has just gotten ten times more complicated. And two hours ago, I wouldn't have thought that was possible." Annie sighed. "I think I feel a migraine coming on."
"Have you eaten anything?" When Annie nodded, she said, "I figured as much. Why don't you run up and take a shower? I'll fix you some breakfast. Then, I think you need to try to get some sleep, honey. I figure you didn't get much last night. Maybe later, after you've had some rest, things will look better. You'll be able to think more clearly."
"Thanks, Angela. And thanks for giving me the heads-up on Russ. I would have hated to have run into him unexpectedly."
"No, that wouldn't have been good," Angela agreed.
Annie followed her friend's advice and went back in to take a shower. When she came out, Angela had prepared cheese omelets, adding some veggies she'd found in the fridge, and toast. She'd even made a fresh pot of coffee. When she sat down, Angela handed her a plate of food and a glass of juice, refilled her mug, and then joined her with a plate of her own.
"This is so good. Thank you. My headache is better after the shower. I'm sure the food will help, too."
"I want you to rest after I leave. I'll do the dishes and let myself out. Call me if you need anything."
"I will, I promise," Annie said, grateful she had Angela to depend on in times like these. They'd been friends since high school, always there for each other. Heck, when she'd made the decision to pick up and move to Florida, Angela hadn't hesitated a bit about coming with her.
After they'd finished eating, Annie curled up on the sofa with a pillow and blanket. She napped for most of the afternoon and didn't even hear Angela leave. In fact, she was sleeping so soundly, she didn't hear Dane slip in to pick up more of his things. He quickly repacked his bag with more clothes. As he was getting ready to leave, he couldn't help but walk to where she lay on the couch. He watched her sleeping, kissed her on the forehead again and left, quietly closing the door behind him.
Annie stirred and woke. I must have been dreaming about Dane, because I could swear I just felt his kiss on my forehead, and I know he's not really here. Oh, my sweet Dane, please come home to me, where you've always belonged.
The next week, Annie went to work every day, returning home each evening to an empty house. She waited until bedtime, each night, for a call from Dane that never came. She almost called him several times but always chickened out and ended the call before it rang through. She had to talk to him, especially with Russ around town. It was only a matter of time before Dane found out from someone or ran into him.
When Angela called on Friday afternoon, urging her to get out of the house, she reluctantly agreed.
"I thought we could check out that new club downtown. I hear there's a band playing tonight that's supposed to be pretty good," Angela said.
"I'm not really in the mood for a crowd, but I can't sit here alone one more night waiting for Dane to call. I'll go, but I won't guarantee I'll have fun," Annie replied.
When Angela picked her up later, Annie ran out the door and got into her friend's white Chevy Cruze. After buckling her seat belt, she said, "I don't know why I let you talk me into this. I'm really in no mood."
"Because you need to get out of that house, at least for a few hours," Angela replied. "I don't know why you don't just call Dane. The longer you wait, the harder it's going to be. Not to mention, the chances increase that he will run into Russ. That won't be a pretty sight."
"I just can't. Every time I try, I'm not able to go through with it. Anyway, he said we needed space, and I'm giving it to him. He and Russ don't run in the same circles, so what are the chances in a city this big, they'll even see each other?"
"But, he thinks you want the space, to go chasing after Russ," Angela reminded her gently.
"He said in his note that we'd talk when the time was right, so I'm waiting for the right time."
"Annie, you're as stubborn as he is. It's no wonder the two of you butt heads over the silliest things."
When they arrived at the club and walked in, the two girls found a table near the stage. After ordering drinks, they settled in to wait for the band to begin playing. When Angela looked around the room, she gasped.
"What's wrong with you, Angela?" Annie asked.
"Don't look now, but Russ is on the other side of the room, and I think he just spotted us," Angela replied with a grimace.
"Oh, crap, that's all I need," Annie replied, rubbing her palms on her jeans as she looked down. "Maybe he didn't see us."
"Too late, he's heading our way."
The waitress brought their drinks, and Annie took a sip of her beer. She told Angela to talk to her.
"Okay, let's just act normal."
"How in the world can anything be normal about this?" Annie asked as she took another drink.
"Annie, Angela, how are the two of you? I can't believe my luck, running into you here tonight," the deep masculine voice said.
"Hello, Russ, what brings you back to town after all this time?" Angela asked in an attempt to spare Annie from having to speak.
"I thought it was about time I came back for a visit. Annie, it's good to see you, babe."
"Hello, Russ," Annie replied in a low voice.
"Mind if I sit?" he asked.
"Suit yourself," Annie replied. She allowed her gaze to wander over his magnificent features. Still muscled and tanned, hair bleached by the sun, she had to wonder where he'd been spending his time, and with whom.
They engaged in small talk, catching up on the happenings in Jax, until the band started to play. When a slow song began, Russ looked over at Annie and asked, "Dance with me, babe?"
Annie shrugged. "I guess one dance won't hurt anything." She wanted to know where he'd been since he'd walked out on her. A dance would give her a chance to find out, without Angela, or anyone else, listening to the conversation.
As they walked onto the dance floor and he took her in his arms, he said, "Annie, how've you been?"
"I've been fine, Russ. How about you? Where've you been hiding all this time?"
He pulled her closer and replied, "I haven't been hiding anywhere, babe. I've been in Miami Beach, surfing, soaking up the sun and running a surf shop on the beach. My kind of life, you know. The old nine-to-five just ain't my thing."
"How well I know," she replied.
"I guess you're still sitting at a computer every day, crunching numbers? I don't know how you do it."
"I enjoy my work, Russ, I always have."
"I hear rumblings about trouble in paradise, babe. I know you didn't waste any time finding a guy to settle down with after I left. Has to make me wonder if it was me you wanted back then or just any guy to marry."
"I wanted you back then, Russ. When you made your feelings quite clear that you didn't want a life with me, I moved on. I met a wonderful man, and we got married, because we both wanted to."
"Ah, but I guess you found out I was right about the whole marriage thing, after all, babe. I mean… I heard you and Mr. Wonderful split. The whole happily-ever-after thing isn't what it's cracked up to be, is it?"
"Contrary to any rumors you may have heard, my husband and I have not split. We've had some issues, but it's all going to work out."
"Ever the optimist, aren't you, Annie? I think you should just shuck the whole crazy idea of staying married, leave the boring desk job, and go back down south with me. We could have the life, babe, living on the beach, doing what we want, when we want. You could help me run the surf shop."
"Maybe that's not what I want, Russ. You always seem to forget about what I want. It's always been about what you want."
He leaned his face close to hers, and as the song ended, he kissed her. When he released her, he said, "Tell me that didn't spark something, babe."
She stood in the middle of the dance floor and glared at him. "Don't you ever do that again, Russ Casey. I'm a married woman. I don't go around kissing random guys on the dance floor."
"I don't think you'
re as married as you say you are, and I don't think I'm exactly a random guy."
She walked off in a huff. When she got to the table, she picked up her purse and said to Angela, "Take me home now, or I'm calling a cab."
"Okay, okay, don't get your panties in a wad. I'll take you. Bye, Russ." Angela got up and walked out with an angry Annie.
Russ chuckled. "Bye, girls, I'll be seeing you around, Annie."
"Don't count on it, surfer boy," Annie hissed in reply.
When they got to the car, Angela asked, "What the hell happened in there?"
"That… that jerk… heard that Dane and I split, and he made a move on me."
"He made a move on you? Are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm not kidding. He asked me to go to Miami Beach with him and be a beach bum. And he had the audacity to kiss me on the dance floor. What an ass."
"He's still interested, after all this time? He's having regrets about leaving you?"
"He thinks he's having the last laugh about the whole marriage issue. He actually thought I'd admit I made a mistake and go back to being his lover, no strings attached."
"Oh, Annie, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. I'm so over him, it's not funny. I know who I want, and it's damn sure not Russ Casey."
"You need to call Dane."
"I… want to… I just can't," Annie replied tearfully.
When they arrived at Annie's house, Angela asked, "Do you want me to come in with you?"
"No, I just need to be alone. I may try to call Dane. I don't know," Annie replied.
"Call him, Annie. You need to make things right with him before Russ causes more problems than you already have."
"I know, Angela. I just don't know why Russ had to come back to town. Not now, of all times, the worst time he could have done it."
"Call if you need to talk."
"Thanks, Angela."
Annie unlocked her front door and went inside. The house was quiet and empty, as it had been for the past week. She sighed as she kicked off her shoes and walked toward the bedroom. After she'd undressed and settled under the blankets, she looked at Dane's pillow. The bed seemed huge without him in it. She picked up her cell and dialed his number. It immediately went to voicemail.
"Dane, it's Annie. Please call me. We… need to talk," she said as she left a message for him.
She tried to stay awake, watching a movie as she waited hopefully for him to return her call. She finally gave up at one o'clock. She turned off the television set and turned off the light on the table next to her bed. When she rolled over and pulled up the covers, she allowed the tears to flow once more. Oh, Dane, I need you so much.
Chapter 3
Dane walked into the club with Dax and looked around as his eyes adjusted to the light. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this, little bro," he said as they grabbed a table and ordered a couple of beers.
"It beats sitting at home listening to you moan and bitch about your wife," Dax replied sarcastically. "Really, man, if you miss her that much, why don't you just call her?"
"I told her I'd give her some space. I can't call begging her to take me back. She has to make a choice, Dax. I told you that."
"What makes you so doggone sure there's a choice to make?"
"Since when are you on her side?" Dane asked as he took a swig of his beer.
"Since I saw the two of you together, making it work, that's when. What the hell happened to you guys?"
"I don't know, I really don't. Things were great, until a few months ago. She started bitching about the stupidest things. We'd argue and fight, but we always had fun making up. I guess I was partly to blame. I was in a funk, things were crazy at work and I took it out on her. Then there was the baby thing. We talked about having a baby, but when things got bad, I got the feeling she really didn't want to have a kid with me. That's when I began to think she never really got over her ex, the one who ran out on her."
"Do you really believe that? Because the Annie I've gotten to know is head over heels in love with you, or so it seems. I'm telling you, man, you should have taken her in hand from day one. I can't believe you gave up the lifestyle for her without even trying to see if she was open to it."
"I had hoped she was in love with me, but now I just don't know. And as for the lifestyle, I never got that far with her. Maybe you're right, and I should have introduced it right from the start. When things got bad, I didn't even try."
"Well, about the second time she started bitching and moaning, I would have had her across my knees in a heartbeat. You got soft, brother."
Dane took another drink of his beer and looked toward the dance floor. He froze as his worst nightmare became a glaring reality.
"What's wrong with you? You look like you've seen a ghost," Dax said, following his brother's gaze.
"Well, I'll be a son of a bitch. I was right all along. Didn't take her long to find the asshole and get him back to town."
"They look pretty cozy; I'll have to admit. I'm so sorry, bro. I just didn't believe Annie could do this to you. Not the Annie I thought I'd gotten to know."
"I guess she had us both fooled. Oh… my God, get me the hell out of here before I do something I'll regret."
Dax looked at the blond man and redheaded girl on the dance floor again and saw the man lean down to kiss the woman. He stood up and said, "Come on, Dane, I don't feel like going to jail tonight. Let's go home."
Dane stumbled to the parking lot. When he reached the car, he leaned his head down. "I'm going to be sick."
"I'm sorry, bro, I had no idea they would be here tonight. Are you okay to get in the truck and go home now?"
"Let's just get the hell out of here."
Dax drove his brother back to his place hurriedly. When they were inside, he sat Dane down on the couch.
"Damn it, Dax, I've lost her to that no-good bastard. How could she choose him after what he did to her? Wasn't I better for her, better to her?"
"You are better than that beach bum. I thought Annie was smarter than that. I really did. I know I gave you guys a hard time at first, but I had really grown to like having her in the family. What are you going to do now? Are you going to talk to her?"
"No, it's too late for that. I can't bear to hear her tell me it's over. I'll see a lawyer on Monday and start the paperwork. I said I wouldn't stand in her way, and that's a promise I'll keep. I can do that much for her."
"Dane, fight for your wife, man. You can't give up like this," Dax urged. "You need to take some brotherly advice from me and go get her. Take her in hand before it's too late. I don't believe it is. I think you can still salvage this marriage. But you have to take control and fast."
"I gave her the freedom to find him. I'd hoped she wouldn't take me up on it, but I saw with my own eyes tonight, that's what she wants. I have to let her go. It's killing me, but I'll survive somehow."
"Dane, you're making the biggest mistake of your life if you don't tell her how you feel. You don't know but she might choose you. What happened to my dominant big brother? The Dane Daring I know would march into that house and let her know how it's going to be."
"Dax, wake up and smell the coffee. My wife was on the dance floor, kissing another man tonight. Does that sound like she wants to work it out with me? What good would it do for me to Dom her now, when she so clearly doesn't want to be with me? She never truly submitted to me."
"If she was my woman, my wife, my sub, I'd damn sure tell her what I thought about that little scenario. Right before she went over my knee for the blistering of a lifetime."
"But she's not your woman, not your wife, and definitely not your sub. Apparently, she isn't mine anymore, either. She never was my sub." Dane stood up. "I'm going to bed."
"If you need to talk, you know where I am."
"Goodnight."
Dane went to his room. As he took his phone out of his pocket, he noticed he had a voicemail. He listened to Annie's message and sighed. "Well, baby, I'm going to make it easy
on you. You don't have to tell me."
He spent the weekend wallowing in self-pity. On Monday morning, he called an attorney to make an appointment. Before the day was over, he had the papers drawn up to end his marriage to Mrs. Ann Margret Daring. She could go back to being Ms. Slade or Mrs. Casey, whichever she preferred these days. Dane told the lawyer to give her anything she wanted. As he walked out of the office and put on his sunglasses, he told himself, I'm doing this for you, baby. I love you, and I only want you to be happy.
He knew the papers would be delivered to her office the following day. He resigned himself to the fact his marriage was over, went to work and attempted to move on with his life.
Dax kept quiet when he told him what he'd done, but Dane knew he didn't agree with him.
"Dax, don't say anything. I know you say you'd handle things differently, but until it happens to you, you really don't know what you'd do. You've never been in love. When you love someone the way I love Annie, you do whatever you can to make her happy, even if it means giving her the freedom to move on with someone else."
"No, man, I don't agree one bit, but it's your life. I'm going to order a pizza." Dax walked away, leaving his older brother staring at the wall, deep in thought.
The next afternoon, Annie was sitting at her desk when a messenger arrived in the reception area.
"Annie, there's a delivery for you. Can you come up front?" the receptionist asked when she called Annie's extension.
"Okay, I'll be right there." Annie hung up the phone and stood up. She walked to the reception area, where a young man held a manila envelope.
He handed her the envelope, asked her to sign for it, and said, "Good day, Mrs. Daring, you've been served."
"What… did you s-say?" she stammered.
The messenger walked out of the building, leaving a stunned Annie in his wake. She looked at Kate, the receptionist, and said, "What do you suppose he meant by that?"
"You'd better open the envelope and find out."
Annie opened it, took out the papers and began to read. "Oh, no, Dane, what are you doing?"
The Daring Doms Page 3
