Magic Moment (27 page)

The color drained from his face. “Everything I’ve done was to first help a human being, then keep safe the woman I love.”

“If you love me, you’ll stay with me.” The haughtiness in her tone covered her fear. “Tell Saunders to go find another lackey, or you’ll find yourself another wife.”

Turning her back to him, she stared at the wall and waited for the answer she wanted.

“I don’t like ultimatums, Laura.”

Maliciousness wasn’t motivating her attitude, but angst and helplessness. Swallowing the bitter nausea rising in her throat, Laura feared losing her husband one way or another. “We all have to make choices. I’m giving you one.” She turned and faced him.

The silence hung heavy in the air.

“Goodnight, Laura,” he said and strode out of the room.

“Go ahead and leave. Walk away,” she called after him. “That’s what you do when things get tough.”

Laura lay in bed, sniffling back the latest round of tears. A quiet Baby Donovan rested inside her. She was convinced he had felt his parent’s tension earlier, and had concluded tonight wasn’t the night to disturb Mommy with his baby aerobics.

“Mommy and Daddy had a bad argument.” Her hand passed over her belly. “Grownups do that sometimes. Our words had nothing to do with you. Your daddy and I love you, Baby Donovan.”

Chase getting mixed up in his father’s schemes was so painful her tears refused to stop. Every time she decided she had no more left, a fresh batch started. She understood why Chase wanted to get involved; she regretted he felt he had to.

She shuddered, recalling the awful, hurtful barbs she had thrown. Where did they come from? Her tears launched another free-for-all gush.

Chase had lied to her. Although he’d had this foolish notion that his actions were for her best, he had still lied. But her reaction hadn’t been any better. Insinuating he had only helped her to stoke his ego. Accusing him, taunting him, insisting that he prove he loved her.

Although Chase’s actions were shameful, her words to him were deplorable. First, after Saunders had put irrational thoughts in her head, unfounded ideas she had actually considered. Then, because Chase hadn’t been honest with her. Her reaction was based on fear, consistently motivating her severe responses. Only, Laura couldn’t figure out what she was afraid of.

While she and Chase shared an intense passion and need for each other, Laura realized they still had a lot to learn about one another. On the boat, they had shared some childhood memories. While Laura’s had been of two affectionate parents, particularly with each other, Chase recalled a father who was critical and a mother who had been ridiculed, maybe even physically abused. Michelle Donovan cried behind closed doors, overheard by a son who felt powerless to help her. One thing Laura now realized about her husband — he despised feeling powerless.

Between her dread, and knowing she had hurt the man she loved; the man who loved her … Laura’s nose and throat burned from crying. The man, who no matter how illogical his thinking, felt he had to risk his life for them to have a life. She recalled her panic that day on the boat as he ran after the man who had been watching them. She shuddered, feeling the panic once again, the terror burning through her like acid, fearing she would never see Chase again.

Misguided though her husband may be, Laura knew in her heart whatever Chase did was for her and the baby. She had nearly lost him once before. She feared she might lose him again, forever.

She waited for the recent stream to stop, then slid out of bed. He hadn’t left the house, but instead had gone into the spare bedroom he had used when first returning to Sea Tower. When they were finding their way back to each other, he had said. The thought made her smile. With a hand massaging her stiff lower back, she padded across the hall. Without even a light knock, she opened the door. A slight creak announced her visit.

Chase lay on his side, unmoving, his back to the door. The dark quilted bedcover was drawn, covering him to the waist. The small lamplight on the end table bathed his form with a yellow glow. She admired his smooth bare back. The mere sight of him — he didn’t even have to do or say anything — caused her heart to flutter and a warmth race through her.

Stepping into the room, Laura would let him sleep. She slipped into bed. Pressing her head against his shoulder, her arm glided around his waist. Her round, full belly brushed his back. He was wearing his boxer shorts, and she grinned at an image of his taut buttocks, hard stomach, and muscular thighs. When Chase woke up in the morning and found her in bed, he would know she was sorry. She loved him. No matter how badly they disagreed over current circumstances, he had her support. She was his wife.

“I’m a married man,” he said, his firm voice startling her. “If you’re not my wife, you better leave this bed.”

Her small grin widened. “This
is
your wife,” she teased back. “Your one and only.”

“The only one I want.”

Laura closed her eyes. His tone so tender, she fought back tears of a different kind.

“You’re the only husband I want,” she whispered.

“Good. Because you’re stuck with me.” He brought the hand slung leisurely around his waist to his lips, and kissed her opened palm. “Did you bring the baby?”

“Yes. We’re a package deal, remember?” She laughed.

“Best package I ever received.”

The tenderness in his voice stroked her heart. “Baby Donovan and I were lonely across the hall.” And she couldn’t sleep with harsh words wedged between Chase and herself.

“I was lonely, too, honey,” he said softly. “You stole my plan. I was waiting for you to fall asleep and sneak into bed with you.”

“Let’s make a pact,” she suggested. “Since we’ll be married for years and years, this probably won’t be our last argument,” she said with regret. “Let’s promise no matter how bad the disagreement and how angry we are, we’ll always sleep together. No one uses another bedroom.”

He rolled over, gathering her in his arms and cradling her. “We fall asleep like this, holding one another.”

She kissed him lightly. “I like that.”

His tender eyes met hers. “I love you, Laura.”

“I love you, too. I’m sorry for those awful things I said,” she whispered, her heart still aching. “I don’t know where those words came from. Panic, fear. I opened my mouth, the words fell out, and I couldn’t take them back.”

“Been there, done that.” He recalled his vile remarks at the condo. “I drove to Atlantic City trying to understand why I said what I did. I certainly didn’t mean it. And, the lying, honey. About my father’s visit. I was trying to spare you some anxiety. And seeing Saunders; I didn’t want to say anything until I had spoken to him and knew what we were dealing with.”

“We have both done hurtful things. Me, listening to Saunders in Philly, refusing to hear what you had to say. And you not being honest with me about your father and meeting with Saunders. But all is forgiven for the both of us?”

“You bet.” His head dipped, and his lips met hers.

The tension left her body. Chase’s arms around her, holding her close, comforted her. They were silent for a while, soaking up the calm they gave to each other.

“Chase, what did you do while we were apart those months? After you left the condo?” They had never actually discussed that short period in their lives. It had been too painful, and she had always assumed she was better off not knowing.

“I was in Atlantic City. I drank. Gambled. Tried to forget I loved you,” he said. “Too proud to call and say ‘I miss my beautiful wife.’ Too afraid you’d tell me to go to hell.”

Laura grunted. “Beautiful wife? Look at me. I’m a shrew who resembles a whale in the Atlantic.”

“Oh, no, you’re not,” he said, his tone insistent. “No one insults my wife. Not even my wife. Agreed?”

She smiled. “Agreed.”

“Honey, you’re as beautiful today, if not more, than the day we were introduced at the warehouse. I remember that day like it was this morning. I was in awe.”

“Get out of here.” She laughed. He loved teasing her. “We hardly said ‘hello.’”

“You were standing at the copier.”

Laura rummaged through her memory. “Yes. I was.” She was amazed he remembered.

“It was spring. Beginning of May,” he went on. “A clear, sunny day. You wore a green blouse that matched your eyes.”

Yes, it had been spring, May sixth, when Laura had started working for Dick Donovan. The emerald silk blouse she had purchased online still hung in the condo’s bedroom closet.

“I walked in the office,” Chase continued. “Holding a cup of coffee from the diner, because Rachel makes lousy coffee.”

Laura thought back. She had been at the photocopier. He remembered exactly and, yes, Rachel did make lousy coffee.

“My father introduced us.” He stroked her hair, affection in each touch. “You smiled real fast and went back to your copying.”

“You were so handsome. I didn’t want to stare.”

“I stared.” He chuckled. “I took one look at your gorgeous face, framed by all that golden hair, and I reminded myself of my no-fraternizing rule. I couldn’t believe we had such a hot number for a bookkeeper, and I had to keep my hands off.”

“Not anymore,” she whispered.

His hand cupped a full breast, covering the swelled softness and caressing the quivering peak. She would never be able to get enough of his touch.

“I had lots of reasons for wanting to marry you. Besides loving you and wanting to protect you.”

“Lots?”

“Sure. You make better coffee than Rachel,” he joked.

Laura laughed with him.

“After the first time being with you on
Madre
, I liked making love to you,” he said simply. “I wasn’t chancing your actions were an impulse, and one night was all I was getting. I had to marry you.”

“If this is true confession time, I’m next.”

“Nah, you’re coming up with something to return a polite sentiment,” he scoffed.

“No, no. This is true,” she insisted. “Many times, at the office, I would watch you play on the computer.”

He feigned insult. “I wasn’t playing. I was working.”

“You were online, reading
ESPN
or
CNN
.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you were aware,” he said sheepishly.

“Anyway, I watched you — and wished you fraternized.”

“You did?” He laughed. “Well, well. What they say about those quiet gals is true.”

Chase’s mouth touched hers, and Laura knew she was always meant to be his. Why Jack hadn’t worked out, why no other man had held her interest. Because she had been sitting next to Chase Donovan nearly every day, watching him intently, her instincts telling her there was a special man behind the jokes, charm and those blue eyes, and he was the man she wanted.

He took a deep breath. “Honey, you understand why I need to be part of Saunders’ operation, don’t you?”

“No,” Laura said plainly. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t support you. You’re my husband. I love you. You do whatever you need to do. I’ll always be here for you. Just promise me no more holding back. No more thinking keeping stuff from me is for my own good. I want to know everything.”

“I promise. This husband stuff is new to me,” he said with a quiet laugh before his lips brushed her temple. He turned serious. “Everything will work out. You have to trust me.”

“I do.” It was Dick Donovan, his cronies, and even Saunders she didn’t trust.

“Chase, I think I lash out because I’m afraid we’re too good to be true. We’re so happy, and I’m just waiting for Fate to say ‘gotcha.’” She paused. “Maybe it’s my wacky hormones.”

He chuckled. “Well, you just tell Fate, and your wacky hormones, that we’re the real deal.”

She tilted her head upward for a kiss. Chase closed his mouth over hers, his tongue slipping inside and touching hers. Laura concluded, when they were old, completely gray, and sitting on porch rocking chairs, his kisses would still leave her weak.

“Laura, I have to tell you.” He pulled her closer. “When I found you on the boat, I was wrong for not taking you to a hospital, not notifying the police.”

“I didn’t want to go. You respected my wishes.”

“You needed help in dealing with what had happened, and I didn’t help you very much.” He told her of his conversation with Lonnie in the condo hallway. “My common sense told me I needed to take you to professionals, but I didn’t. I wasn’t acting in your best interest.”

“Chase, it wasn’t you. It was me.” She wasn’t letting him shoulder all the blame. “I was ashamed.”

“Ashamed? You didn’t do anything to be ashamed of.”

“I was foolish. I knew your father was into something shady. I shouldn’t have gotten into the car with Ron.”

“Honey, Ron was someone you knew,” he said. “What happened wasn’t your fault.”

“Then it wasn’t your fault you had a boat for them to take me to.” She had suspected these months that his guilt over the use of his boat ate a hole right through him.

Reaching up, Laura stoked his stubbled cheek. “There was nothing wrong with refusing to accept your father would attempt murder. Who wants to believe horrible things about their father? If nothing’s my fault, it’s not yours, either.”

They were silent for some time, lost in their own thoughts while secure in their embrace.

“When is this jamboree with Saunders?” she asked.

“I’ll know tomorrow. He needs to run the deal past his supervisor. Soon, though.”

Chase, she knew, couldn’t concentrate on what lay ahead if he worried about her. “It won’t be like the last time you went away. I know you’re coming back.” The need for positive thinking. She was amazingly proud of holding back her tears. “When you get home, Baby Donovan and I will be waiting.”

It was nearly the dinner hour when Chase arrived in Philadelphia. He parked the olive-colored rented Honda sedan alongside the parking meter, switched off the ignition, and took a few minutes to catch his breath. The past forty-eight hours raced before him.

Saunders and Morgan had been uncomfortable with Lonnie and Laura remaining in Sea Tower. If his father knew where Laura was, so did the others involved. Once the players were aware Chase was back in Philadelphia, Saunders insisted the women were easy targets.