Marriage by Law (18 page)

"That reminds me,” Jake said, looking in my direction. “How is your garden going, Ivory?"

Darius looked at me, raising his eyebrows, and I could feel heat rushing to my cheeks. Jeez, Jake, did you have to blurt that out loud?

"Eh, it's fine," I said, shrugging as I sat down. The waiter came toward us pushing a tray.

"What would you like, chicken or seafood, ma'am," he said. I opened my mouth and saw James in the corner watching us.

"Seafood," I replied, frowning. The waiter nodded and placed a plate in front of me. I looked up to see the smirk wiped off James's face. If he still thought he knew me, he was wrong. Alicia raised her eyebrows at me in question. I ignored her, looking down at the prawns in front of me.

Here goes nothing. 

I was the only one at our table who had ordered seafood and now, looking at them all eat their succulent chicken, I was annoyed. Damn it, Ivory, you should have just gotten the damn chicken. But of course, my pride was far too big for that. I looked up, my eyes roaming till I spotted him.

James was sitting a table away from us with his mother as he talked to people around him. He was always someone who had their way with words, always making a good impression.

Stop thinking about him! I placed a prawn in my mouth and chewed on it, trying not to let it rise back up. Just swallow, chew and swallow.

"Are you okay?"

I looked up to see Darius staring at me, his eyebrows knotted in confusion. I nodded, placing my fork on the plate.

"I'll be right back," I said. I got up quickly, ignoring Alicia's worried look as I rushed to the bathroom. I could feel everything around me crushing, my resolve breaking. God, why did he have to show up? Just when I have finally started putting my life back together, here he was again.

Alicia was right. I needed to tell Darius. But how will I tell him? I can't just simply walk up to him and say, ‘Oh by the way, your new business partner? He’s my ex.’ I can’t do it. Darius is moody as hell, not to mention bi polar. The second I tell him, all hell will break loose.

I splashed water on my face, washing all my makeup off. It was cold and refreshing. I stared at my somewhat pale reflection, my brown eyes looking scared. The only colour on my face was my cheeks that were slightly pink from the cold water.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Come on, Ivory, dinner, maybe a dance with your husband and go home. I can do this.

Fixing my hair one last time, I stepped out of the bathroom in a hurry and bumped into someone. What happened to the lights?

"Sorr-"

"Don't you look beautiful as ever." 

I froze.

I stared into those eyes and forced my legs to move. Come on, you can do this. But he blocked my way, pushing me against the far wall to shield me from everyone.

"Surprised to see me?"

"Move," I hissed through my teeth and pushed my hands against his chest. He caught them easily, holding my wrists and leaning forward. His body towered over mine, making it near impossible to move. The more I struggled, the more he seemed to enjoy it, so I slumped against the wall.

"Move, James."

"Let me explain, Ivory. You never let me explain," he said, his finger brushing against my cheek, making me wince. The touch I once used to love made bile rise up my throat.

"I don't need an explanation," I snapped, glaring up at him. His eyes softened as they looked into mine and I gritted my teeth.

"Ivory, I miss you."

Oh god. Not this again. I gave him a harsh push which made him stumble backwards. Without so much as a glace in his direction, I quickly rushed back to the table. Dinner seemed to have been finished. I surely hadn't been gone that long, had I?

Darius was just getting up when I came to the table. Our eyes met.

"There you are. We- You okay?" he asked as I stood by the chair. I nodded without looking at him. I was going to pull the chair out when he grabbed my arm and pulled me.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he tugged me across the floor toward the entrance. Oh god, did Alicia tell him something? I shouldn't have told her.

He called over for the driver, shielding me from the cameras again. When the car arrived, he gently pushed me inside.

"Darius?" I asked as he slammed the door shut and took off his jacket. He looked up, his green eyes sparkling.

"Where are we going?" I asked as the limo started up again.

"You'll see," was the only thing he said. I looked out the window, if only to avoid his intense gaze on me. The ride was quiet and every time I glanced at him, he was staring at me like he was trying to figure me out. I can't believe he just dragged me out like that!

And I can't believe I let myself be caught in a moment like that with James. How dare him! He wanted to 'explain' things. Yeah, he should have explained why he cheated on me. I could feel my throat clog up again and willed myself not to shed a tear. He didn't deserve it.

"We're here," said Darius, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I asked as his hand found mine and pulled me out of the car.

"Where ar-" The question trailed off as I stared out at the waves in front of me. The beach?

I looked up at him and found him smiling at me.

"You didn't look like you were having much fun there," he said, rubbing the back of his neck again, something which he always did. I bit my lip to keep from smiling.

“How?” I asked, surprised we were at the beach. Was it a coincidence or did he know I love the beach? Either way, I didn’t care right now. It was exactly what I needed.

“Your dad,” he replied with a shrug and I smiled before bending down to remove my shoes.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, surely you didn't bring me all this way to just stare at the waves, did you?" I tugged at his hand and pulled him along. 

Darius’s laugh echoed in the quiet night as he followed me. I felt the warm yet rough sand under my feet as I walked toward the waves. I wasn't getting in. That was for sure. It was way too cold and windy. 

But just watching the moon at the horizon was perfect. I sat down on the sand.

"Aren't you going to ruin the dress?"

"Oh well," I said as I hugged my knees. After a moment, Darius sat down beside me and I raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you afraid you're going to ru-"

"If you aren't, why should I?" he cut me off, smiling. His eyes twinkled as he smiled. It was different from all his other smiles and I let out a soft laugh when I looked back at the moon. We both lay on the sand, looking up at the dark sky.

"What are you thinking?" his voice asked, a soft whisper barely heard in the wind.

"The stars, how peaceful they must be," I told him. 

He chuckled and I turned my head to glare at him.

"The stars," he said, turning his head. His eyes were like the stars now, shiny and bright as they stared at me. I shrugged.

"Yea, stars. They're just… perfect. They shine all the time. That one." I pointed to a star that has a dull colour. Which probably meant it was a red star.

"It’s probably already dead, but we won't find out for another million light years or whatever," I said, not knowing the exact figure.

“Isn’t light years a unit of length, not time?”

I froze and shrugged as I waved a hand. “Same thing, old man.”

"That's re-assuring," he told me and I nudged him with my elbow.

"They're beautiful, though," I said in defense of the stars.

"Yes," he agreed and I smiled. At least someone can share my obsession with stars with me. I shivered, cursing myself for not bringing a jacket. 

I felt a hand on mine as he pulled me up and I stumbled.

"What?" I asked as he smiled. I didn't like this smile.

"Oh no," I said as I saw him staring out into the water. It was freezing out there! If it was this cold and windy now, imagine what it would be like there. I took a step back as his laughter filled the air, and he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against this chest.

I shivered, not sure if it was because of the heat from his body or the cold wind as it pushed against us.

"Darius, it's freezing."

"Well, we did drive all the way out here."

And before I knew it, he was dragging me toward the water. The clumsy fool that I was, I tripped and fell and soon the cold water enveloped me into a hug. 

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I felt his hand pull me up and I gasped, my hair coming undone and falling down my shoulders. The dress clung to me like second skin.  I looked daggers at him as he laughed.

"What is 
wrong
 
with you?" I shoved his body playfully. My body started shivering as he stood on the shore. I noticed that just his feet got wet, and he was still laughing at me.

"You fell in," he managed to say while laughing. I shivered as another wave hit me, making me wade out of the icy water. The shivers took over my body; he stopped laughing and looked at me with concern, the fun ending.

"Are you okay?"

"No," I mumbled, my teeth chattering. "It was beyond freezing."

The wind picked up. I felt his arm around me before I realised he had wrapped his jacket around me. I looked up at him and he winked.

"Next time, bring your own jacket," he reminded me as he gave my hand a tug. I couldn't help smiling. Of course he had to ruin the moment. My teeth, however, wouldn't stop chattering, and my body wouldn't stop shivering. Oh please, don't get me sick, I thought as I followed him to dry land, my feet barely keeping up with him. It was too cold to move!

His wink replayed in my head and I mentally groaned. Even his wink was sexy. Was there anything about this man that wasn't?

Apart from his serious attitude problems toward me, it was like one second he despised me and then the next he played the perfect role of a loving husband. But how much of it was really true?

I sneezed as he ushered me into the limo.

"You're going to get a cold," he said, frowning for all he was worth.

"Your fault," I told him. I slipped my shoes back on and sat, embracing myself to try to keep warm. I felt the heat in the limo rise up as the heaters were switched on but that didn't help.

I closed my eyes and placed my head against the window. My body wouldn’t stop shaking. Oh god, suck it up and stop shaking, I quietly berated myself.

Darius bringing me to the beach was a nice gesture, and I really did appreciate it, but did he really have to throw me
in
the water?

Even though it was playful, it would have been better in summer.

I could feel the fatigue of tonight’s events take me under. I felt something warm cover me and something warm on my cheek push me against a shoulder. I shivered, huddling closer to it. At least it smelled nice, whatever it was.

It was too soon when I felt something poke me, waking me up. I turned around glaring.