Fair Play (18 page)

Dani pushed her hands against his chest and moved back. “You’re not starting that again. Every time I don’t agree with you, you kiss me senseless. It’s not fair.”

“I’ve always told you, I don’t play fair.” He pinched her butt, then moved away. “Hurry up and cook, woman, I’m hungry,” he teased, changing the subject.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” He opened the refrigerator to take a couple of items out. “I picked up a bottle of your favorite champagne, and some caviar to go with it. Hand me a couple of glasses, will you?”

While she placed the glasses on the counter, he spooned some caviar on a cracker. The minute he neared her lips with the cracker and caviar, she covered her mouth with her hand and ran to the bathroom.

By the time he joined her in the bathroom, she was rinsing her mouth. “You threw up again, didn’t you? You told me the doctor said you were all right? Vomiting all the time is not normal. What’s going on, Dani? What is it you’re not telling me?”

Heat rushed to her face as she moved past him to go to the kitchen. “I’m fine, I told you.”

He grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Look at me while you tell me that lie.”

Defeated, she gestured toward the living room. “Why don’t you sit down? I need to discuss something with you, but I have to go turn off the stove first.”

Summoning her courage, she sat opposite Jace on the couch. “You know that I love you, and want to marry you?” At his nod, she continued. “We’re going to have to postpone our marriage for a little while.”

He clutched her hands. “You’re not sick or something, are you?”

“No, I’m not sick.”

He stood up, then poured himself a drink. “You’re not going to start believing that I don’t want to marry you, are you? Would you care for a drink?”

“No, I can’t drink.”

His head tilted and his brow furrowed.

“Jace, I’m pregnant.” She held her breath and waited.

Understanding crossed his face. “The reason you wanted those damn prenup papers was because of the baby, wasn’t it? I’d think that your pregnancy would be more reason
to
get married.”

“I can’t marry you until I’m sure you want me to be pregnant. We’ve never talked about having children. I’m not even sure you want any. Before you say anything, I’m telling you up front, I won’t have an abortion. It’s not even an option. If you don’t want the baby, I’ll raise it by myself. Don’t even think of lying to me, because if I ever find out the truth, I’ll divorce you so fast, you won’t see it coming.” She rose from the couch and peered out the window.

He came up behind her and turned her around. “I hope we have a little girl who looks just like you, so I can hold her, and tell her how much her daddy loves her. But if it’s a boy, I’m sure he’ll love his mother as much as I do.”

“Oh, Jace, I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you love me, but I thank God every day.”

“Forget about cooking dinner. Go change, and we’ll go out to celebrate. I want to show off my pregnant soon-to-be wife.”

Where were they? Dani looked at her watch for the tenth time. Anxious, she paced as she waited for the limo to bring her parents. When she saw Jace walking toward her, she hurried to meet him.

“They’re late. They should’ve been here by now.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the limo pulled in, and she rushed to greet her parents.

“I’ve missed you. How’ve you been?” Not waiting for an answer, she rambled, “Wait till you see your room. Jace reserved the penthouse suite for you, with all the amenities. You don’t have to pay for anything.”

“Jace, thank you so much. That’s very generous of you.”

“I think I’m getting a good bargain for my money. After all, I am a businessman. In return for the amenities I extend to you, I get your daughter as my wife, and I’ll also make the cost back twofold with all the money you’ll lose in my casino.”

Charles remarked with a smirk, “I think you’re mistaken, son. You forget that I’m a broker and know how to
make
money. It’s going to cost
you
at the tables.”

Maureen gazed at Dani, then caressed her face. “I think marriage is going to agree with you, if today is any indication. You’re positively glowing.”

“It’s because I’m really happy, Mom. Come on, let’s show you to your suite.”

Dani stretched and remembered it was her wedding day. She had spent the night with her parents because she and Jace had decided to follow tradition and not see each other until they met at the altar. She grinned, took a leisurely bath, then went into the kitchen to have breakfast.

“Did you sleep well?” Charles sat at the table sipping his coffee, and looked up as Dani entered the room.

With a sunny smile, she poured a cup of coffee, then settled in the chair opposite of her father. “I had a great night, and now I’m ready for one of the most wonderful days of my life.”

Maureen stared at Dani intently. “Do you really love him?”

“Mama, I love him completely. He’s considerate of my feelings, kind, generous, loving, and stubborn to a fault. I wouldn’t want him any other way. He’s my one true love, and I can’t imagine life without him. I wake up every morning thinking about him and how happy he makes me, and go to sleep every night thanking God for giving him to me.”

Her eyes misted with tears, and her mother placed her hand over Dani’s. “When I held you in my arms for the first time, I caressed your rosy little cheek and thanked God for blessing me. As I rocked you, I tried to imagine what your life would be like when you grew up, hoping you’d find love and happiness, and never know sorrow.” She sighed. “When I lost you, a part of me was lost.”

She sipped her coffee, then continued. “When you knocked on my door, I felt myself wake up and happiness flood in. When I met Jace, I knew in my heart he was the man for you. Since then, my feelings have only gotten stronger. He loves you deeply, and will make you happy. Treat him kindly, remind him often of your love, never go to bed mad, and always resolve your differences, because you never know what life has in store for you.”

Dani listened to her mother intently, knowing in her heart that everything she’d said about Jace was true.

Maureen stood up and poured herself another cup of coffee, then continued. “Someday, God willing, you’ll become a mother, then you’ll know the joys that your children will bring. Your heart will expand for them, and your love will be unconditional. Cherish every moment of their life, because you only have them for a short while. Before you know it, they grow up and find their own life to experience.”

She sat back down. “We were cheated of some of our time together, and I’ve been trying to squeeze in as much time as I can with you. I’ve been so afraid I wouldn’t see much of you, because you live so far away. The other day Jace came here to talk to me about you.”

Baffled, Dani wrinkled her forehead.

“I’m telling you this, because I want you to know what kind of man you’re marrying. Jace, in his wisdom, somehow knew what I was feeling. He assured me you would spend every holiday with us, either here or in Chicago, and would also keep in touch in between times. When you have children, he promised they’d spend time with us. He wants them to grow up knowing their grandparents, and would like us to teach them the things only grandparents are able to teach.”

Tears trickled down Dani’s face. She needed to add wise and thoughtful to her list of Jace’s good qualities.

“I never thought I’d find happiness until Jace came into my life and changed everything with his love. No matter what life has in store for us, we’ll make it through because we love each other.”

Maureen took her husband’s hand in hers, but addressed Dani. “I know you’re unsure of your father, that’s understandable. He’s my one true love and has been since the day I first saw him. I hope with time, you’ll be able to love him as I do.”

While drinking her coffee, Dani processed what her mother told her. She saw the love in her parents’ eyes for each other and how happy her mother was. Maybe it was time to let her father into her life, too.

Dani turned toward father. “I hated you, unfairly, for things you never did. I don’t know you very well, but I do see how much you and mama love each other. We have a long way to go before we get to know each other as we should, but what I do know of you, I love.”

She stood up and hugged him. “I’d like to ask you for something that would mean the world to me. It’s tradition for a father to walk a daughter down the aisle. Would you walk me down the aisle and give me away?”

He took her in his arms, and answered with a shaky voice. “I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”

Jace paced in their apartment, anxious to go to the church. He’d been dressed and ready to go for a half an hour, and would be leaving in about fifteen minutes. As he checked his watch again, he opened the door when a knock sounded. He was handed a wedding present addressed to Dani. Strange, usually wedding presents were addressed to the bride and the groom. Curious, he unwrapped it, finding a digital picture frame with no card. Placing the present on the end table, he made a mental note to ask Dani about it later. Right now it was time to go to the church.

After weeks of fretting and stress, when Dani arrived at the church, she was calm. Today, she was marrying the man she loved. She stood in the vestibule, waiting for the music to start. Dani glanced at her father, and, noticing his nervousness, touched his arm. “Relax, it’s almost time. Everything’s going to go smoothly.”

“You amaze me. You’re as cool as a cucumber. It should be me comforting you, instead of the other way around.”

When the doors opened, she hooked her arm through her father’s, then waited for the music to start.

Charles lightly covered her hand with his. “You’re breathtaking. Are you ready to join your husband at the altar?”

“Yes. This is one of the happiest days of my life.”

Her heart skipped a beat when she spied Jace standing at the altar waiting for her. Her eyes met his, and everyone disappeared but the two of them. He stood tall and proud, with love shining in his eyes. She felt her heart beat faster with each step. When they reached him, her father kissed her and handed her to Jace saying, “I give her to you to cherish.”

Jace took her arm and answered, “With my whole heart.”

They recited their vows, loud and clear for everyone to hear. When the minister pronounced them husband and wife, they kissed to seal their vows. Dani beamed at her mother, whose eyes sparkled with tears.

When the limo pulled up to the casino hotel, Dani spied the marquee lit up with their names announcing their marriage. They walked through the casino to the ballroom.

He watched them as they walked through the casino, his eyes narrowing as they passed him.
So the slut thinks she’s won her prince with her lies and deception. I wonder if the stupid bastard knows how devious she is.
He’ll find out soon enough, but it’ll be too late.

He would taste her one more time before he snuffed the life out of her, and this time, he would make her admit how much she wanted him.

He studied her husband.
Stupid fool, you let her twist your feelings and fell in love with her, but she’s just a witch casting her spell on you
. Her husband’s stupidity would be his downfall. He’d let the bastard think she was coming back, but she’d never return. After he got the money, he was going to kill her slowly, making sure she begged and screamed.

Oh, he’d make her believe her new husband could save her with his money, then watch fear fill her eyes as he told her she’d die. Taking one more look before he left, he mumbled to himself, “Enjoy her while you can because soon, very soon, I will have her, and then she’s mine.”

Dani gasped when she walked into the ballroom. Kathy had created something out of a fairytale. The room was decorated in white and blue. White roses in crystal vases adorned the tables, and crystal-fluted glasses etched with their names sat at the head table. A four-tiered cake decorated with blue, diamond-shaped candy sat in a corner at the back of the room with a porcelain bride and groom, crafted to resemble them, atop the last layer.

Champagne flowed freely from a three-tiered fountain, fashioned to resemble the one decorating the front of the casino. The band members, dressed in black tuxedos, played softly during dinner, making it easy for Dani to talk with Jace and the wedding party.

Dani and Jace laughed when they were toasted by various members of the wedding party as most of the toasts were suggestive. They started the dancing by having their first dance as husband and wife, then circulated among the guests, thanking them for helping them celebrate their marriage.

Dani and Jace were returning to their table when they were approached by Maureen and Charles. Charles looked at his daughter, then stated, “I’m very happy for you. I know you’ve picked the right man for you.” He extended his hand to Jace. “No hard feelings? I didn’t mean to pressure you into marriage, but it seemed like you were going to drag your feet forever.”

Jace ignored his hand, then gave him a hug and pat on the back. “You’re a sly old dog and I’ll have to keep my eye on you. Thank you for the push and your wonderful daughter. I couldn’t be happier.” He put his arm around Dani’s waist.

She gazed at him with love in her eyes and a glow of happiness. “I’m the lucky one, because I now have a husband and a lover. Or maybe not. Two of you is really going to be hard to please,” she teased.

Dani’s father handed Jace an envelope. “We didn’t know what to give a couple who owns a casino, so we came up with this. It’s just a little something that will hopefully bring you many happy memories.”

Jace opened the envelope and showed Dani. “They gave us a vacation home in Carmel, California.” Humbled by their generosity, he hugged Maureen, then shook Charles’ hand. “Thank you. You’ll have to join us to make some of those memories.”

Dani rushed into her father and mother’s arms, hugging them both at the same time. Kissing their cheeks one at a time she murmured, “Thank you. The first memory we make there, will be with your first grandchild.”

Maureen stared into her daughter’s eyes, and Dani nodded.

“I can’t believe it. I am so happy for you both.”

Charles scratched his head. He glanced at his wife, who wore a huge smile on her face. “What in the hell is going on? Did I miss something? Why am I always the last one to know anything?”

Jace turned toward Charles. “Today you became a father-in-law, but in about seven months you’re going to be a grandfather.”

Charles’ mouth dropped, then split into a wide grin. “A grandfather? I’m going to be a grandfather?” He hugged Dani gently.

At the door of their apartment, Jace picked Dani up and carried her over the threshold, before setting her down. He shut the door and took her in his arms as he kissed her softly. “So how does it feel to be Mrs. Jace Diamond?”

She twirled with her arms extended out and exclaimed, “It feels wonderful.”

He swooped her up, then brought her to the bedroom, placing her on the bed as he followed her down. In awe, he gazed at her, then touched her stomach reverently. “You’re carrying our child in there. I still can’t believe it. I feel like I’m in a dream.”

She framed his face with her hands, then she peered deeply in his eyes. “Are you really happy that you’re going to be a father? Do you think you’re ready for this, or are you feeling overwhelmed?”

“I’m definitely feeling overwhelmed, but with love and happiness. I want this child very much. When I first realized I was in love with you, I knew then you were the only woman I wanted to have children with. Making me a father was the best present you could ever have given me.” He kissed her gently, but thoroughly.

“Is it safe to make love at this stage of your pregnancy?”

“Of course it is.”

“Are you sure I can’t hit his head or hurt him in there?”

Dani laughed. “Even though you are adequate in that area, I really don’t think you can hurt him.”

“Adequate? Are you complaining now that you’re my wife, and I’m stuck with you?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Stuck with me? So you think you’re stuck with me, huh?” She laughed. “Well maybe you’re better than adequate. Well-endowed ... no ... huge, enormous, alarming.”

They laughed, then Jace sobered and stared at her. “I missed you last night. I couldn’t sleep without you.”

She caressed his face. “I missed you, too. I could hardly wait for tonight, so we could be together again.”

“Are you ready to show me how much you missed me?”

She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down to her lips. His mouth and tongue moved over her mouth sensuously, slowly drinking in her taste, feeling her tongue entwine with his. Flames of desire licked at his body, searing his blood and sending it blazing through his veins. His hands glided smoothly over her skin, caressing, exploring, touching all the secret places he’d previously discovered, bringing forth a moan from her lips.

Passions ignited, hearts pounded, as mouths and hands moved frantically over each other, seeking relief from the fierce tempest taking over their souls. Reaching new heights as they loved with the sweetness of vows made, they rode the roller coaster to the top, then plunged over the edge together.

Their heartbeats slowed as they floated down from the rapture of their joining, neither one capable of moving until their breathing returned to normal. Jace raised his body to rest on his elbows so as to not crush her or the baby. He gazed into her eyes with love. “Is making love to me different now that I’m your husband?”

Her eyes skimmed over his face, and her hand caressed his cheek. “It’s entirely different. It’s so much more. Knowing that we pledged our love to each other, it’s almost ethereal.”

That night, they slept in each other’s arms, steeped in their happiness. Had they known what the next twenty-four hours would bring, they wouldn’t have slept a wink.