For You I Do (27 page)

Collin’s lips curled upward and he rubbed his palms together eagerly. “Well, good. I guess she sent you over with the check.

Sorry, buddy, but if you’re going to be raising that little crumb snatcher as yours, it’s going to cost you.”

It took everything London had not to punch him in the face right then and there. Instead, London chuckled and moved over to the bar and helped himself to a small bottle of Hennessy.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. If you think my wife and I are going to pay you one cent.”

He glared over at him. “If she doesn’t, I’ll tell everyone I am the father of her child and the last thing she wants is a long, drawn-out custody battle.”

“Actually, we’re looking forward to it.”

“What?”

“Sure. Just make sure you invite your wife, Kathy.”

“My wife?”

“I’m sorry… I meant
wives.
We need to tell Charlene, as well.”

Collin grew still.

London set down his drink, then reached inside his breast pocket and pulled out a small manila envelope and tossed it on the counter.

“I’ve been doing some checking on you. Go ahead—take a look.”

With hesitation, Collin moved over to the counter and looked inside the envelope.

“You’ll find your marriage certificate to Kathy and one to Charlene just last year. She was the pretty woman I spotted you with in Chester. After I went and talked to your chief master sergeant, I discovered that the military was only aware of your marriage to Kathy.”

Collin swore and his face turned a shade paler.

“Bigamy is a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and punishable by law.”

“Well, I…” He couldn’t find the words.

London came around the counter, then took Collin by the collar and slammed him against the wall. “You made a big mistake when you tried to mess with my family. That’s my wife and child. If you ever go near either one of them again, I’ll personally make sure you never see another day.”

Angie Daniels

213

“I’m sorry. I’ll leave town tomorrow.”

“No, you’re leaving this afternoon.” London shoved him once more, then released him. He removed a document from the envelope, then reached inside his pocket. Collin ducked and shielded his head before he realized that London was holding a pen.

“Here, I need you to sign these papers, giving up your parental rights.”

Collin didn’t bat an eye as he reached for the legal document on the counter and signed and dated every spot indicated with an
X
. As soon as he was done, London folded up the document, stuck it in his pocket and walked out the door without uttering another word. As soon as he was at the end of the hall, London nodded at the two men standing there waiting and said, “He’s all yours.” As he pushed the down arrow for the elevator, he watched the military police walk into the suite and arrest Collin.

Collin would never mess with his family again. Now it was up to him to get them back.

Chapter 36

London rang Debra’s doorbell. He wasn’t sure how Bianca was going to react when she saw him, but it was a chance he had to take.

Bianca opened the door, realized it was him and pursed her lips.

“What do you want?” she asked, gripping the doorknob tightly.

“You. I want you. Please tell me that we still have a chance.”

Ignoring him, she turned on her heels and walked into the living room. London followed and stood in the doorway as she returned to the couch, curling her legs underneath her, and resumed watching a television program.

London moved closer, feeling just an inkling of hope. She hadn’t slammed the door in his face, so that had to be a good sign.

“Bianca, listen to me. I was wrong. I saw you in the hotel lobby with Collin and jumped to conclusions.”

She turned, her eyes wide with surprise. “You thought I wanted Collin back?” When he nodded, she turned her head, clearly disappointed.

“I know. I was wrong.” He saw tears in the corner of her eyes and it nearly killed him. “I want you back home with me.

I miss you.”

Angie Daniels

215

“Why do you miss me? Like you said, it was only a business arrangement, so what difference would it make to you if I was there or not? Obviously, if it was that easy to say that our relationship was a mistake I couldn’t have meant that much to you.”

“You are important. Very important.” He walked over to the couch and dropped down on one knee in front of her.

“In the time that we’ve been together, I realized I can’t live without you.”

She shook her head. “And when did you come to this realization?”

“When I no longer had you in my life.”

She dragged her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on top of her knees. “I don’t think it’s going to work out between us. That whole arrangement stuff was kind of stupid.”

“I don’t want you to be with me because of the arrangement.

I want you to want me for me. And to make sure there is nothing standing between us, you don’t have to worry about Collin ever again.” London reached inside his pocket, pulled out the legal document, then told her everything that he had found out about Collin, the bigamist.

The look on her face was a combination of anger and relief.

“So we don’t have to stay married a year.” It was a statement not a question.

London shook his head. “No, we don’t have to. But I want to.” He took hold of her shoulders, pulled her close to him and looked into her eyes. “I want you—and not for just a year. I want you for a lifetime.”

“London,” she began, as a single tear ran down her cheek. “I don’t know…”

“Sweetheart. It can work between us. I know it can. I want a real marriage. I have fallen in love with my wife. Please come home with me.”

The room began to spin as Bianca stared at her husband, down on the floor begging her to come home with him. His chest was heaving and fear was in his eyes. He was so handsome and he had just confessed that he was in love with her.

She tilted her head slightly as if in a dream “What did you say?” she breathed.

216

For You I Do

“I said come home—”

“Before that,” she said, her voice strained as she lowered her feet onto the floor. His warmth penetrated her as she brushed up against his leg. “The first part,” she questioned him.

“I said it can work between us.”

She placed a hand on his arm. “Say it again,” she pleaded, her voice soft and unsure, almost nervous that she had misunderstood.

There was emotion in his expression as he leaned forward and drew her closer.

“I love you.” He gathered her up into the strong warmth of his arms and took a seat on the couch with her lying across his lap. The steady drum of his heart reached straight to her own and mixed until they beat as one.

“I love you, too, London,” she breathed, drinking in the scent that was so distinctly his.

He kissed the top of her head and whispered again that he loved her. “I want only you Bianca…all of you. To share my bed…to share my life.” He pulled her into the circle of his arms and stroked her arm gently. “Bianca, let me give you my heart.”

“Yes, London.”

He placed her back onto the couch and nuzzled her neck as he whispered once again the words of love she had so longed to hear. She thought of all the days and nights they would spend together…him…her…their child.

Bianca recalled how many nights she had wondered what it would be like to really share a life together and for London to love her as she loved him. But her fantasy hadn’t come anywhere close to this blissful reality.

T M

ISBN: 978-1-4268-3267-3

FOR YOU I DO

Copyright © 2009 by Angie Daniels

All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Kimani Press, Editorial Office, 233 Broadway, New York, NY

10279 U.S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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• About the Author
  
• Title Page
  
• Dedication Page
  
• Chapter One
  
• Chapter Two
  
• Chapter Three
  
• Chapter Four
  
• Chapter Five
  
• Chapter Six
  
• Chapter Seven
  
• Chapter Eight
  
• Chapter Nine
  
• Chapter Ten
  
• Chapter Eleven
  
• Chapter Twelve
  
• Chapter Thirteen
  
• Chapter Fourteen
  
• Chapter Fifteen
  
• Chapter Sixteen
  
• Chapter Seventeen
  
• Chapter Eighteen
  
• Chapter Nineteen
  
• Chapter Twenty
  
• Chapter Twenty-One
  
• Chapter Twenty-Two
  
• Chapter Twenty-Three
  
• Chapter Twenty-Four
  
• Chapter Twenty-Five
  
• Chapter Twenty-Six
  
• Chapter Twenty-Seven
  
• Chapter Twenty-Eight
  
• Chapter Twenty-Nine
  
• Chapter Thirty
  
• Chapter Thirty-One
  
• Chapter Thirty-Two
  
• Chapter Thirty-Three
  
• Chapter Thirty-Four
  
• Chapter Thirty-Five
  
• Chapter Thirty-Six
  
• Copyright Page