“When?”
“Later next week.”
I can tell that he’s pissed with the idea of mixing business with Bennett, and understandably so. He pulls me into his arms, tucking my head under his chin as he sits back, and lets go of a heavy sigh. “I want you far away from that man,” he grits.
“I know, but I also know him and what he’s capable of.”
His arms are tense around me as I nestle my head against his hard chest. “It fucking kills me to sit at home and wonder if he’s laying a hand on you. Do you have any idea what that does to me? I feel like a worthless bastard for sending you back to him.”
“Don’t. You’re not.”
He takes my hand and pulls it up to his lips and kisses the bandage around my wrist, before looking at me, saying, “I’m a bastard for this.”
“I should have told you when you blindfolded me that I was feeling panicky.”
“I need you to always be honest with me, especially during sex. It worries me that I could be hurting you.”
When I nod my head, he leans down and gives me a tender kiss, sucking gently on my bottom lip before pulling away. He keeps his head close, nose against mine, and with my eyes still closed, he breathes in a low rasp, “I love you.”
The tremolo of my heart excites me, to know that he’s feeling this way, but it also hurts, because he’s become someone I like. I hate that I’m about to destroy this person for my own benefit, but it needs to be done. I almost feel guilty knowing that he’s having these feelings for me that I don’t share, but that’s part of the game. That’s part of revenge. I’ve never felt bad for Bennett, but Declan is a good guy. It’s a shame that I have to do this to him, but I do.
I open my eyes and look into his, running my fingers behind his neck and up into his hair, giving the sentiment in return, only mine is laced in candied poison when I say, “I love you too.”
THE ABRASIONS ON my wrists healed quickly. Luckily Bennett had left for Miami the morning after my freak out, so I was able to hide my wrists from him for that one night by simply wearing one of his long-sleeved t-shirts and telling him that I was feeling sick. We always have sex before he goes out of town, but because he thought I wasn’t feeling well, I was able to keep the scabs hidden from him as we just cuddled together in bed.
I spent the few days he was gone with Declan. He continues to grow closer to me, opening up more and telling me about what it was like for him to grow up after his mother had died. His father treated him like a piece of shit, always belittling him, giving him a sense of worthlessness that he now overcompensates for in his aggressions.
I’ve met Cal on several occasions and have always thought him bastardly. But with everything Declan has told me, it makes my stomach turn knowing that I have to put on my good graces while in his company tonight. We arrived in New York two days ago, and even though Bennett has had a couple meetings with him, I haven’t been present.
Tonight, Cal has invited us to his home for dinner. So while Bennett was in meetings today, I spent my time shopping for a new dress to wear this evening. Nothing fancy, just a feminine, navy shift dress with a lace overlay that I have paired with nude pumps. Bennett looks his usual, wearing a tailored suit and tie, and when the door opens, a woman who can’t be much older than me greets us.
“Welcome,” she says warmly, looking polished in her ivory slacks and purple, silk top, the color making me cringe. Her raven hair is pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck. “You must be Bennett and Nina. Thank you for joining us for dinner. Cal speaks highly of the both of you. I’m Camilla, by the way.”
Bennett shakes her hand and greets her with a kiss on the cheek before she extends her hand to me, which I take in a polite shake as we exchange pleasantries.
“This is a lovely home, Camilla,” I remark as we step into the foyer.
“Thank you. We just finished a remodel. For the past few months we’ve been living in a construction site,” she says in playful displeasure.
I snicker at her mock exasperation, and she turns to me with a smile and adds, “You have no idea how many filthy ass cracks I had to look at during the process.”
We both laugh at her crass words as she leads us through the impressive house.
“Cal, the Vanderwals are here,” she announces as we walk into a large home office which looks to double as a library as well, but I immediately stumble when I see Declan standing next to his father in front of the large, wood-burning fireplace.
“Bennett,” Cal calls out as he walks over to us, but my eyes remain locked on Declan.
What the fuck is he doing here?
My neck heats in anxiety, almost instantly, as I stand arm in arm with my husband. Declan’s eyes are dark as he looks at me with Bennett, and I give him the best “What the hell are you doing here?” look I can muster without drawing attention to myself.
“Nina,” Cal greets, snapping me out of my nonverbal exchange with his son, and when I turn my attention to the silver-haired man, I smile.
“Mr. McKinnon, it’s so good to see you again. It’s been far too long.”
“Enough formalities. Call me Cal and do an old man a favor,” he says, opening his arms to me for an embrace. As I give him a hug, I look over his shoulder to Declan who is taking a long sip out of his brandy glass. When Cal draws back with a pleased grin, he looks to Bennett, saying, “You’re one lucky man.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Bennett remarks. “She’s stunning.”
My eyes turn to Declan as my husband speaks his doting words. His face has a hard set to it as he begins to walk over, and in a powerful tone, he speaks to Bennett with his eyes remaining on me, “Entirely stunning. Yet somehow she married you.”
I narrow my eyes at him before he looks to Bennett. His jealousy, if he doesn’t get it under wraps, could ignite danger in this delicate situation, but Bennett takes it as manly banter and responds, “Indeed. Maybe it was a moment of weakness when she said yes to my proposal, which is why we married within months. I couldn’t risk losing her when she finally came to her senses.”
As awkward as it is, I have to keep the jig up as his wife, so I turn to him, laughing in false amusement, giving him a taste of the sass he enjoys so much. “Please, I had already figured you for another helpless man in need of a woman’s influence before we ever said our ‘I do’s.’”
“And yet you still married me,” he laughs.
“Smart woman,” Cal boasts.
“And why’s that?” I ask slyly.
“Well,” he starts as he steps towards Bennett, clapping his hand on to my husband’s shoulder, “most men only strive to be half of what he has become, and they still fail. I can only admire a man who works hard for everything he has. No handouts taken.”
I note the underlying passive aggressive statement. That he’s implying Declan is of the latter. His remark irritates me, and the need to speak up and defend the guy I feel is becoming a friend of mine pangs at me, so I snap in haste, “If nobody took those handouts, Cal, then everything would simply be left to die. Is that what you want to see? The death of everything you’ve worked so hard for? Or rather, you could take pride in the person who gives a shit enough to step in to ensure your dream continues to thrive. Seems you’ve got priorities a tad misappropriated and you should start respecting those that don’t follow in your macho do-for-yourself attitude.”
The look on Cal’s face is of priceless shock that I would speak so bluntly to him. The two of us just look at each other when Bennett finally speaks. “Honey—”
“Don’t,” I snap, interrupting him. “Don’t defend his way of thinking. It’s sophomoric.”
“You’ll have to excuse her. She’s a feisty one,” he remarks, trying to lighten the tension I just created.