Stormy Passion (23 page)

David Kapur cleared his throat. “What do you
do for a living, son?”

Dani watched as Adrian took a sip of water.
She was dying to say, “Yes, Adrian just what do you do?”

Finally, he put down his glass and said. “I'm
in property management.”

Dani almost laughed as she thought--like
beach house sitting.

“
Where are you going to
live?” Her mother asked.

“
San Antonio,” Dani
said.

And Adrian answered, “New York.”

Dani's father laughed. “Are you sure the two
of you were meant to be together. So far you haven't agreed on but
one thing.”

“
You know what they say,
Dad ... opposites attract.”

Adrian purposely reached over and took Dani's
hand. “I admit, sir, we do have several points to work out, but
I’ll make your daughter happy. And, of course, the baby --”

“
Baby!” Bonnie Kapur
shrieked. Her eyes widened as the full impact of what Adrian had
said fully dawned on her. The color drained from her face just
before she slumped face first into her dessert.

“
Omigod! She's fainted!”
Dani jumped up and hurried to help her mother out of the chocolate
cake. She tried to discreetly wipe the chocolate from her mother's
face, but it was no use. Everyone in the restaurant stared. It's a
good thing her mother had fainted because she'd die of
embarrassment if she knew just how much she was now the center of
attention.

“
Help me lower your
mother's head,” her father barked. He glanced at Adrian. “Maybe you
had best save any more good news until we get home,
son.”

“
I'm sorry,” Adrian said,
then stood to assist Mr. Kapur as he helped his dizzy wife to her
feet.

Dani gathered her mother's purse, then turned
to Adrian when her parents were out of hearing range. “What are you
doing?”

“
Providing my child with a
name and you with a husband.”

“
Your child.” She carefully
lowered her voice. “Did you not tell me more than two weeks ago
that you couldn't possibly be my child's father?”

“
Yes, I did. But,
apparently, I was wrong. There is a slim chance the child could be
mine.”

“
Slim chance--” Dani was so
angry, she could spit. Instead, she turned and stormed out of the
restaurant.

As she stood at the curb waiting for her
father to bring the car around, the door behind her opened. She
didn't bother to turn around. She knew Adrian stood behind her.
Hadn't she always been able to feel his presence?

“
Go home, Adrian. You don't
belong here.”

He touched her arm. “I belong where you
are.”

Dani’s heart tightened. He was using all the
right words, but she wasn't going to give in. He'd hurt her. It was
going to take more than a lie to make her his. “What are you, my
keeper?”

“
I saved your life. Twice.
In some societies that makes me responsible for you.”

“
In that case, I release
you of your obligations.”

Adrian grabbed her shoulders and turned her
toward him. “You don't understand, Dani,” he said. “I don't want to
be released. Your parents already think we're married, so that will
cover any talk of the baby coming before the vows. We'll get
married and if you still feel the way you do after the baby is born
we'll call it quits. No questions asked.”

“
That was one hell of a
proposal, Mr. Massimino.” Dani frowned.

“
I'm not trying to insult
you, Dani. I was just trying to help.”

She shook her head and turned back to the
parking lot. “Everything is happening much too fast. My life has
been stormy ever since you breezed in. Forgive the pun.” She took a
deep breath before looking up at him. If she married Adrian, she
could get half her trust fund. That meant she wouldn't have to
worry about money so much.

“
I don’t want another rich
playboy like Steven.” She drew in a deep breath. At least, I don’t
have to worry about that with you.”

Adrian shook his head. “Insulting as
ever.”

“
How do I know I can depend
on you?”

“
You can depend on me.”
Adrian stated very clearly. “Let's call this a marriage of
convenience. We'll even sign a prenuptial agreement so that we
won't have any messy lawsuit if we do decide to split. What do you
have to lose?”

My heart, Dani almost said. She wanted to
marry for love. She wanted the groom to look at her with stars in
his eyes. This was all wrong. Even thinking about the money was
wrong. But then, everything that happened when she was around
Adrian was unpredictable, Dani reminded herself. Again, he was
daring her to take a chance.

“
People have started with
less,” he prompted when she didn't respond.

“
You're willing to move to
Texas?”

“
For now,” he said,
nodding. “It’ll take me a couple of months to make some
arrangements, but it'll work out.”

What in the world did a property manager –
have to work out? she wondered. “I--I don't know,” she finally
said. “I need some time to think about this. I do appreciate what
you're trying to do. But I need time. This is a very important
decision for me.”

“
All right, Dani. I'll give
you a little time. After we see your parents, I'll fly back to New
York, make some arrangements, then I'll be back. “But I warn you,
Dani, I’ll not take no for an answer.”

“
How did you get down her
so fast with the holidays?” Dani asked.

“
Marty was kind enough to
let me use his plane.”

“
That’s a good
friend.”

Adrian smiled, kissed her on the cheek and
then he was gone.

“
Dani wasn't sure how she managed to keep the
smile on her face for the rest of the evening while her parents got
to know Adrian. She had to admire how well the man held up. He
could go head to head with any corporate businessman, and he had no
trouble winning over her parents.

At times she had to remind herself he was the
same man from the beach. Adrian seemed completely at ease with her
parents. She'd thought he would be nervous, but he wasn't, and he
definitely wasn't afraid to disagree with them. Despite everything
she had said and did to indicate the contrary, she loved him . . .
even though she knew he'd probably break her heart.

How in the world could she marry him and then
let him go? The baby--that's how she'd do it. She had someone else
to think of now. He hadn't said the first word about love, and she
wouldn't either. She would protect her heart at all cost, even if
it killed her.

In the blink of an eye, Adrian was gone,
saying that he didn’t want to intrude on her family time. It was
almost possible to wonder if he'd ever been there at all.

Two months had passed since she'd last seen
Adrian. He'd called once or twice a week, and to Dani's chagrin,
she discovered that she looked forward to his phone calls and
telling him all about her day.

The chilly winter air seeped through Dani's
heavy sweater as she walked back to the house with her mail. She
hadn't heard from Adrian this week, but she had received a letter
from The Mass Corporation awarding her the advertising contract.
She was on cloud nine, and she couldn't wait to tell Adrian. Funny,
how she thought of him first.

By mid-morning she'd thrown out the second
set of drawings she had been working on for a new account, and her
frustrations mounted. She just couldn't seem to get them right no
matter how hard she tried. Every day, she found it increasingly
difficult to concentrate because one man was always on her
mind.

She rubbed her tired eyes and went to get a
cup of decaf – like that was going to help. She'd just settled back
to her drawing board to try again when the doorbell rang.

She flung open the door just as Adrian raised
his hand to knock. She flinched.

He immediately asked. “What's wrong?”

“
What makes your think
something is wrong?”

“
Because you're frowning.”
Adrian didn't wait to be invited in. Instead, he picked up his
suitcase and stepped inside, heading straight for her bedroom where
he deposited his luggage.

“
Make yourself at home,”
she clipped out before she caught herself. She realized that she'd
secretly convinced herself that Adrian would never show
up.

He came back into the living room smiling
that know-it-all smile of his. “I intend to. Now what's wrong?”

“
Well, for starters, it
would have been nice if you'd called and let me know you were
coming.”

“
I told you at Christmas
I'd be here, and I always keep my word.”

“
I don't know, Adrian. This
all seems so odd. Are you sure you want to marry me?”

“
You’re a bit grumpy, but
yes, I think we should get married right away.”

“
And how is that going to
help?”

“
Haven't we been through
this before?” His eyes rolled upward as if we were praying. “For
one, the baby needs a father. As I told you before, if it doesn't
work out, we'll go our separate ways. I even have--”

“
Will you sign a prenuptial
agreement?” Dani didn't know how she found the nerve to ask
that.

Adrian frowned. Damn, that's just what he was
going to say, but somehow the agreement didn't seem as important to
him as it once did. “If that's what you’d like. I don't want
anything you have, Dani.” Unless it's you, he thought to
himself.

She didn’t respond.

He took her by the arm. “Trust me, Dani. For
once, don't take time to think everything out. Trust me.”

She stared at him for a long time before
uttering, “All right, Adrian.”

“
You're kidding. What? No
fighting?” He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her toward the
door. “Come on, let's go before you change your mind.”

“
Now? Like
this?”

“
Yep. Let's go.”

This can’t be real, Dani thought as she stood
before the Justice of the Peace.

This isn't the way it's supposed to
happen.

“
I do,” Dani repeated,
wishing that things could have been different.

She wanted what all women wanted: a beautiful
white dress, masses of flowers, the groom dressed in a tux waiting
at the end of the aisle, watching her with love in his eyes.
However, that dream had shattered when she looked down at her
navy-blue dress--her large, navy-blue dress. It floated over her
extra-large stomach, reminding her of the very reason her dreams
had ended so differently.

When the Justice of the Peace pronounced them
man and wife, to her surprise Adrian swept her into his arms and
kissed her. Not just a quick kiss, but an earth-shattering kiss
that sent fire racing through her veins. His mouth opened hungrily,
and she responded. God, help her, she responded with all the desire
she'd stored up for this man.

She wondered if she'd ever understand how
Adrian could make her do most anything he wanted. Then she knew. In
spite of his bluntness, there was a gentleness in him that she
loved and needed, and she really didn't want this to be a marriage
of convenience. Maybe she could make him love her. Just like she'd
tried so hard to make her parents love her. This time she would be
successful. There was so much more at stake.

When he pulled back, the magical moment
ended, and she reluctantly opened her eyes. Adrian smiled and
murmured. “Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Massimino?”

A shiver of delight surged through her at the
sound, and Dani looked at her new husband.

He didn't look like a man who'd been forced
into marriage. He looked happy, but she knew better. However, she
liked the sound of her new name, Danielle Massimino.

Dani loved the man, but that was something
he'd never know. She wouldn't lay her heart out in the open until
she was absolutely sure that he felt the same.

After they’d signed the appropriate papers,
they strolled along the River Walk, each quiet with their own
thoughts. The dark water reflected the twinkling light of the
restaurants that lined the river.

“
This isn't too much
walking for you?” Adrian asked. For the baby, I mean.”

“
No, I'm fine. The exercise
is good for me ... I mean us.”

“
Dani, I want to tell you
something.” Adrian stopped and faced her. “Since we've started this
relationship backwards, I'd like to start by getting to know you.
I'm not sure I'm saying this right, but I don't want to have sex
until after the baby is born.”

Dani glanced down at her feet. “I guess I'm
not very attractive with this big belly.”

Using his index finger, he lifted her chin
up. “Don't ever say that again. You're beautiful.” He carefully
laid his hand on her stomach. “And, our child will be beautiful,
too.” Suddenly, he jerked his hand back. “What's that?”

Dani giggled. “That's your son or daughter
moving about.”

“
You're
kidding.”

“
No.” She shook her head.
“The older he gets the more he'll move or so the doctor
said.”

“
That's a--a miracle,” he
whispered, his voice filled with awe. Silently, he took her hand
and they walked on.

Dani couldn't hold back the question she'd
been dying to ask. “Didn't you experience the baby kicking with
your first wife? Why didn't you tell me you had a child?” She felt
the muscle in his arm tighten.