The Only Choice (The Choices Trilogy #3) (43 page)

“Don’t even fucking think about finishing that sentence Sofia, if you don’t expect me to drag my wife back out of that damn car!” Daniel growls his interruption and Sofia may not notice but I see the fire in his eyes and his jaw start to tense. This is hard for him, I know and not because he doesn’t trust me. He has proven over and over that trust is no longer an issue but he still blames himself for not protecting me from Angel. Saving me was only a minor sop because for him, she should never have gotten to me in the first place but to me, saving me was the only thing that mattered. I nudge Sofia hard in the ribs but she chooses not to tease him anymore. A wise decision because if you can hear the reverberating anger of the hornets’ nest within, it is best to put the fucking stick down. Peter takes the timely decision to slowly pull away and I blow him a kiss and wave like a crazy fan at a concert. I sit back and try to process the swirling riot of emotions driving away from my family evokes.

I am grateful my wish for Groundhog Day never came true. I am grateful I didn’t have to repeat my wedding day on a promised grander scale because mostly I am grateful that my wedding day and every day since has been more treasured than the one before. When Daniel left me to take his place at the front of the tiny chapel in the hospital I couldn’t have been more amazed at how perfect,
our perfect,
was. Marco opened the doors and because there was no way I was being wheeled up the isle Marco and Tom escorted me the short distance to Daniel. The sight took my breath away and only made my decision conclusively inevitable. The sight and scent of a thousand avalanche roses couldn’t mask the love and excitement from everyone there who had played a part in Daniel and I reaching this day. Ethan stood smiling to the side of Daniel, the room was filled with everyone I loved and cherished as my own family. Sofia, Paul, Marco, Tony and Viv, Joe and everyone from the restaurant; Jack Wilson and his wife, Lili, Gaby, Saskia and Sam, Jason and even Colin, Daniel’s PA. I know even if I couldn’t see them at the time because my eyes were glassing up, I knew everyone I loved was there. I remember trembling as Daniel held my hands in his and before the Priest could begin he swept me into his arms and softly consumed my lips with his, before he grinned and whispered that he wasn’t sorry that he couldn’t wait.

My vows were to the letter a repeat of the priest, as I was unaware this was my wedding day I had nothing prepared but judging by the grin of Daniels face he was more than happy with my declaration especially as the outdated ‘promise to obey’ had snuck back in. Daniel had had a little more time to prepare and he stole my heart again with his vow:

Bethany, you are my light, you are my fire,

I don’t deserve you, I know

But somehow you chose to give me your kindness, your love, your soul and

Just so you know, you have mine, all that I have and all that I am, only means a damn because your are mine, I breathed my first breath when you walked into my life,

And I promise to spend every moment of the rest of my life trying to justify that you made the right choice,

You may obey me but you also own me, slay me and hold my heart,

So have mercy because you are my life, my world, my only choice.

I love you Bethany, with all my heart. Always.

How could I possibly want a re-do when he got everything so right.

The honeymoon we spent travelling the Mediterranean on his yacht. Never too far from the mainland because he was a nervous wreck about my pregnancy, because I was apparently the first woman to have a baby. He spent this time handing much of his workload over to Jason because he wanted to be more Dad than businessman and that was perfect because I still wanted to finish my studies but didn’t like the idea of handing our baby over to strangers, however well qualified. But when Lucas Jack Anthony was born it never looked like that would be an option. Daniel barely let him out of his sight for a moment and with Auntie Sofia and Uncle Marco and the grandparents all champing at the bit to babysit, calling on strangers was entirely unnecessary. It turned out Jack was Daniel’s fathers name and Tom’s middle name and when I put a stop to ‘Daniel’ being the second of our sons middle names, Jack Daniel is funny for about five minutes, then we settled on Anthony in honour of my other dad.

There is only fourteen months between Lucas and Leia Rose, we call her ‘L.’ Her middle name is after my mum and her first because it means
choice
even if her arrival was anything but. Not such great planning but perfect all the same,
our perfect
but it did mean it took me the full five years to finish my degree. It was a promise I made long ago not only to myself but for myself and it may not be necessary for my life now, but it is mine, it was my choice and no one can take that away from me. I work part time in the Stone R & D department but with two under five year olds that is mostly for my sanity and as crazy as Sofia might think I am she will understand exactly what I mean in about four months’ time.

“I’m sooo freaking excited!” Sofia squeal’s in my ear and I flinch and cup my hand against my ear a little too late to protect my hearing.

“You know we’re not really going to Vegas right?” I turn to face her utterly shocked expression making me laugh out but bite my lip as her face turns to a scowl. “Oh come on Sofs you’re nearly six months pregnant and you want an eleven hour flight for a five night stay, you’re nuts! Besides I promised Paul, he was really worried about the distance and—”

“Fuck!” Sofia interrupts dramatically, throws herself back hard against the seat and I flash a quick glance at Peter who raises as brow in the rear view mirror. He has been witness to one or two tantrums in the back of this car but not from a fully grown woman. “It’s not fair. It’s not like he’s all swelled up like a balloon. I should be allowed a little fun, a little R and R, a little
me
time.” She huffs and it’s my turn to raise a brow because from what I have seen, her pregnancy has been all about the R and R and quite a bit about the ‘me time.’ “Don’t look like that, I know I’m being a brat but I figure I have only got a few more months I can get away with it so I’m making the most.” She pouts and crosses her arms for effect.

“Do you want to know where we are going or do you want to sulk?” I can see she’s not really pissed but she’s a little like an infant in the ‘surprising’ stakes. It seems that surprises are great as long as you know about them otherwise they are just a bit disappointing. A surprise Disney trip for Jack and Leia last year was disguised as a normal visit to see Nanna Viv and Grampa Tony but the aftermath of the revelation was tears and desolation at not actually visiting Nanna and Gramps not joy and uncontainable excitement at visiting the six foot mouse and friends; lesson learnt never to be repeated. She mumbles something about ‘go on then’ and I take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze. “All right then, we are heading to that spa just outside of Milan, you know the one you wanted to go to for your hen weekend. So lots of R and R and lots of you time, I promise.” She tilts her head against my shoulder and sighs.

“It sounds wonderful but why did you say Vegas?” Her tone indicates her complete turn around and it makes me smile she can be placated so easily.

“Oh just keeping my husband on his toes” I quip and gain another raised brow from Peter in the rear view mirror and a snort from Sofia.

“Oh yes because that always works out so well. Trying to get one over on that man is like trying to get one over on Santa; he just knows and he doesn’t tend to react very well to surprises either as I recall. Do you remember the time we tried to do a surprise dinner with cake for his birthday and because he couldn’t get hold of you he practically had the restaurant on lock down and surrounded by armed guards and all because you were up to you elbows in cake mix and couldn’t answer the damn phone; Geeesh!” We giggle at this but to be fair this was only six months after the Angel thing and one month before Jack was born. He has relaxed a little since then, well I think he’s relaxed a little since then. We arrive at the airport and Peter takes our bags to the plane.

“The captain said Daniel has already called to check the flight details and once you have taken off he will have to submit the correct flight plan and Daniel will know you are not going to Vegas. He also said he hoped he doesn’t lose his job because he quite likes working for Daniel and I kind of think the same.” He pulls me in for a hug.

“He’d have to get rid of me first Peter.” I give him a wink

“Well, in that case I’m safe then aren’t I?” He chuckles and waves us off as we climb the narrow steps to the small but utterly luxurious plane.

I don’t think we even make it to the channel before my phone starts to vibrate. I slide the screen open to accept the call and take a sip of my champagne as Sofia scowls and sips her sparkling elderflower water.

“Mind telling me where you are going Mrs Stone?” His stern gravelly tone sends delicious shivers all over my skin.

“Vegas?” My reply is more a tentative question and I bite my lips together to prevent a snicker.

“Oh you want to play?” The air conditioning in the plane is going to need to kick up a gear from his tone alone and I struggle to swallow the instant lump in my throat.

“I have company,” I whisper and Sofia does her best to pretend she is reading a magazine but her lips are curling to the side and I know her quick glance has just added to the flame of my cheeks.

“And that makes a difference because?” His question is rhetorical and I feel a shift of heat from my face to between my legs because I know it doesn’t make a scrap of difference where I am or with whom. I smile when I hear him groan at the same time a small moan escapes my mouth. I shift in my seat and decide I need to change the course of this conversation or I am going to be spending the rest of the flight in the bedroom ‘playing’ and I think that might be the height of bad manners.

“Ok so not Vegas, we’re going to the spa in Italy. The one we were supposed to go to for Sofia’s hen weekend before it changed to Ibiza.” I add because it was a long time ago, I’m sure he doesn’t remember.

“The one near Milan?” He asks, his tone brusque and I shouldn’t be surprised he’s like a computer for holding information.

“Yep.” I hesitate when the call goes quiet. “I thought you’d be pleased. You know, no wild parties, dodgy tattoos, drugs or hookers.” I add as a joke but he remains silent. The seconds tick by and I can just see his hand raking through his untamed dark locks. He’s worried and it’s not because of the drugs, hookers or inappropriate tattoo opportunities because none of that is real. He is worried because he doesn’t like uncertainty when it comes to me, when it comes to my safety. The fact that I know I am safe is irrelevant, this is his job and I have taken that away from him. I draw in a deep breath, “I’m sorry.”

“Oh I will make sure of it.” His tone laced with sensual intent; a direct shift from cool and stern. “Enjoy your rest Bethany, you are going to need it and Bethany?” He pauses and I hold my breath before I realise I need to reply.

“Yes.” I exhale.

“No more surprises.’” His words are more a command than a statement.

“No.” I reply softly. I know he is holding on for more so I quickly stand and walk through the door leading to the bedroom. “Sir.” I add as I close the door behind me.

The next five days are heaven, I mean pure undiluted heaven. Every day we have peen pampered and preened, massaged and manipulated, in a good way. We have been served food of the Gods, decadence fit for a deity, did I mention it was heaven, good, because after five days I’m actually in hell. I miss my husband and I miss my children and I know I sound ungrateful but I am more than happy to be ungrateful as long as today I am going home, to them. My bag is packed and I am waiting in the foyer while Sofia has one more treatment because the car isn’t due for another hour. Daniel has been in meetings all day and I can’t wait to speak to him, I have Skype called every day, sometimes with the children sometimes alone which makes me all the more eager to actually get home and have some
real
face time. Sofia finally appears and seems a little sad to be leaving where as I am pushing the doorman aside and carrying my own bag to the damn taxi. It’s my turn to be giddy with excitement.

I don’t pay much attention to the drive until we exit the motorway and start to climb the narrow winding road up through the mountains. Sofia asks where we are going because even if I could ask I wouldn’t be able to interpret the reply; my Italian is very basic and very slowly spoken. I relax when we are told it’s a change of route because of some road works but when we pull off the main road and start to work our way down a dirt track I quickly grab my phone because now I know this isn’t right. Daniel answers on the second lengthen dial tone. It takes only a moment to know he is abroad and only a second more to know that is why we are parked outside the most amazing Italian mountain villa.

I gasp and scramble to open the door as he appears on the wide stone steps that lead up to the arched porch with ornately curved terracotta tiles on the sloping roof. The wooden slated window shutters are all open and I can hear a riot of noise coming from the rear of the villa. I run flat out, Sofia forgotten, into his waiting arms and relish the strength and feel of his body as he wraps around me and holds me tight. Secure before his hand creeps into the hair from the back of my neck and up, he grips and winds his fingers in a firm hold pulling me back with a growl. His dark eyes are fierce with lust and I wouldn’t care who was watching at this moment because I know my lust for him is matched with the desire in his eyes and the heat from his iron hard length pressed against my light cotton skirt. I gasp again as he tightens his grip and his mouth covers mine, we both moan. God, that was a fucking stupid idea to go away but this is fucking amazing now that we are back together. He lifts me easily with one arm and I wrap my legs around his narrow waist. He turns and walks with purpose through the villa.