by Lauren Wood
She was with me until I mentioned the money and just giving it to her. I knew that she didn’t want to hear it, but it had to be said. I wanted it all to work out between us and this way she wouldn’t have to wait for what she wanted. It had been a few months now. It had been long enough.
“You hate watching these shows, just as much as I do. Why don’t we just save ourselves and end this.”
“You really don’t get it, do you? I don’t want your money. I want to earn it myself and to start up a restaurant that is mine. No one will be able to say anything because I will have no loan hanging over my head.”
“You’re my wife Deirdre, nothing is going to be held over your head.”
“I want to believe you, but I don’t.”
“Diedre, you are worth way more in a divorce. The money is yours already. There was no pre-nup, so all of my fortune is on the line. You would get half of it and that’s way more than a million.”
I know that she was thinking about my words, but at the same times I could see that my words weren’t helping anything. If anything, she was getting more irratated. The show was about to go on and I wanted to turn it off because it was only going to make things worse.
“Why don’t we go out and talk about this? I don’t want to watch this Diedre.”
“I don’t want to watch it either, but I have to. You know, that right?”
I did, and I knew that it was because she wanted to know what everyone else knew, so that she wouldn’t be put on the spot like she was before. I felt bad about it all, but there was little hope that this night would be uneventful.
“Yes, I suppose I do.”
The show started, and we sat back on the couch. I didn’t want to watch it, I really didn’t, and I quickly wished that we hadn’t. The show was taking some very liberal creative decision making and my wife wasn’t happy about it. More footage of Elaine was used. Not because it was new, but they were trying to tag me with her.
When I went to a reproductive hospital and it made it seem like it was right after a conversation I had with the woman. I remembered that meeting from months ago, thinking she had been acting strange that day. Now I was starting to see that it was all because of the show. They’d had this planned out ahead of time.
Deirdre looked over at me and her mouth was open. She couldn’t believe it and I couldn’t fathom why she would trust what she just saw. Nothing was said until the credits ran.
“You’re right Danny. We need to get off that show, now.”
I was relieved. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day. We can get you started with the restaurant as soon as you want. I have had a friend look into some properties to rent. It’s going to be great.”
She nodded her head, but she didn’t meet my gaze. I’d gotten my way and she had agreed, so why did I feel like something was going to happen? Something bad.
Deirdre
“Do you want to tell me what this is?”
It was bound to happen. I knew that my lawyer was going to get ahold of Danny eventually, but I still didn't like the expression on his face. Nothing had been the same since the show aired the first time, but things have settled down. After the third show when we decided that we were going to leave the competition altogether, I knew that things were going to change a lot more.
“What do you mean?”
“You know damn well what I mean Deirdre. These are divorce papers!”
“Yes, they are. I thought you would understand what the point of that was. We are obviously going to get divorced.”
“Why is that obvious?”
“The whole point of being married with to get the money. That was the whole reason I got on to the gameshow to begin with. I didn't think that I'd actually get a lasting marriage out of it. So, this is the next step. You wanted to get out of it, so you're out of it now. All you have to do is sign on the dotted lines.”
“I meant to end the show, not the marriage.”
It was one of those times that he was saying all the right things and at this moment, it really made me mad. He made it all seem like everything was perfect, but it wasn't. It was a mess and even though we had left the gameshow and he had somehow managed to get them to remove us from any other show that were going to air, it didn't mean that all of it had gone away. I was going to have to deal with this for a while to come.
“The marriage was the show Danny. This is real life and I need to get back to mine and I’m sure you’ll be more than happy to get back to yours.”
He started to come towards me and I knew that he wanted to pull me close and change my mind. The fact was that he was too damn good at it and I needed to keep my distance. There was nothing else I could do at this point, but I kept my distance and hoped that I didn't break down completely when it was all said and done. The last thing I wanted was a divorce, but this wasn’t a real marriage. I hated to think about it, but Elaine had been right when she’d said it.
“I love you Deirdre and I know that you love me. Why are you fighting this?”
“I'm not fighting this. I have just came to accept it. There is a big difference between the two and there is nothing wrong with finally understanding that this was a mistake.”
“You don't mean that.”
“I do. We don't even know each other. We just got thrown in together and now it's time to be real. I will only ask for the money I was going to get from the show. You have agreed to that. I know that you say I can get more out of you, but I don't want it. I just want my restaurant.”
“You can have your restaurant. You can have ten restaurants Deirdre and you don't have to divorce me because of it. I will give you whatever it is that you want.”
He just didn't get it. He didn't understand that I wanted to make it myself and because of that there was no talking to him. For a moment I thought that there was something real between us, but I had learned very quickly that it was all a ruse.
“What I want is a divorce Danny. If you really care about me, then give me what I want. “
I left the room and hoped that he would listen to me. I didn't want to have this conversation because it hurt too much. Thinking about leaving was bad enough, but knowing that I had to finally go was even worse. I was supposed to have left a week ago, but I kept waiting. I don't know what I was waiting for, but now I couldn't wait any longer. It was time to go whether I wanted to or not.
After Danny went to work, I packed all my stuff up and went back to my apartment. It was strange to be back after being gone for so long, but it was exactly how I left it. I had tidied up last time I was here but that was over a month ago. Now it was all foreign to me and I got a little homesick.
The more I thought about everything, the more upset I got, so I tried to forget about it. It was all happening. It was out of my hands now. The marriage was a farce and it was time to end it. I was the stupid one that had fallen in love. That was my own fault.
Danny
After she gave me the divorce papers, I came home that evening and she was gone. I had known that she would be, but the realization that she had actually left was a lot harder than I had realized it would be. She was gone. My wife was gone and now she was trying to make it, so that she wasn’t in my life anymore. There were so many things that were wrong with that.
My lawyer called a couple of times, wanting to know what I wanted to do. I would give her whatever it is she wanted is what I told him, but as the days went by and the court date loomed, I started to have a change of heart. Deirdre was gone, and I wanted her back in my life. I didn't want to waste my time thinking about what it was going to be like without her. I'd never been one to accept what the world gave me. This time wasn’t going to be any different.
This time, I'm just going to have to force my will onto the universe. It wouldn’t be the first time that I had to do it and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Of everything that I have fought for, I knew that the most important thing was my wife. I didn't want to be without Deirdre. It was just a simple.
I tried to get a hold of her to talk this all through, but she did not make it easy. Not only had she changed her number, but she had also changed her residence. When I finally got up the nerve to go over to our apartment and talk to her, someone else had answered the door. She had apparently rented the place out and the other person told me that she didn't know where Deirdre was. Whether that was true or not, I didn't really know. All that came out of it, was the fact that I couldn't talk to her and I couldn't straighten it out.
I was running out of options and in the end, I had to wait until the actual court date to speak to her. I saw her outside waiting for our name to be called and then I was finally able to pull her to the side.
“Danny what are you doing?”
“I need to talk to you Deirdre. This has gone too far. You have been impossible to get ahold of, so I have to do this here and now.”
Her eyes flitted around and I had no idea what she was looking for. Was she looking for someone to help her?
“Do it here? They are about to call us Danny. We need to be standing here when they call us Danny. The lawyer was very clear about that. Said he didn’t want me running off.”
“They can wait a few minutes.”
“I know that you think your money buys everything, but it doesn't Danny. They are not going to wait a minute for us, because you have a little bit of money to throw around.”
“I have a lot more than a little bit. But I want to talk to you and the worst that they can do is charge me with contempt. I'll spend a couple of nights in jail if that's what it takes, for you to hear me out.”
She was not happy to see me that much was clear, but she finally agreed to listen whether she wanted to or not. If that was all that I was going to get, I was going to have to take it and run with it.
“I don't want to get divorced. I know that we don't know each other that well, but I know enough. I know that I love you and I have never felt the way I do about anybody. You are the only woman I've ever loved, and I can't just let you walk away. How could I let you divorce me, when is the very last thing that I want? We were meant to be together. I know that sounds cliché as hell, but it’s true. That’s why people say it.”
“You are just telling me this now?”
“I have been telling you this whole time, but you don't listen. You're quite hard headed that way. I don't know if you know that or not, but you are. If you would've just listened to me before, none of this would've happened. I know that you want things to be a certain way, but there not. It is better this way. With us together. Why does it matter what the magazines or experts say? They don’t know us Deirdre.”
It wasn't working. She was still looking around and her mind was working far too well for my liking. I was going to have to try a different tactic and instead of pleading my case with her, something that I didn't want to do anyways, I pull her in for a kiss. She resisted me for a moment, but not for long at all. Her body molded against mine quickly and I knew that I’d finally won her over.
I waited for her to tell me to stop. I was dreading it really. I was so sure that she was going to tell me to stop that I got a little ahead of myself. I deepened it, pushing her against the wall, letting my body tell her how much I missed her.
Her lips broke free and she gasped out loud. I had pulled her to hallway that wasn't as busy, but there was still a couple of people there. One of them in particular was a woman that was watching us and gawking at she passed.
Deirdre pushed against me.
“What are you doing Danny?”
“I am taking my wife back. No matter how I got to do it, you're coming back with me Deirdre, you’re mine.”
I wasn't going to give her an option and I told myself right then and there was anything but a ‘yes’ answer, I was going to kiss her until I got a new one. I was done waiting for her to come to terms with everything. Deirdre had been given enough time and I needed my wife back. Sleep didn’t come without her by my side. She was meant to be there and that’s it.
“Let’s get out of here. You are not going to get rid of me this easy.”
“What about the lawyers and the judge? Don’t we have to say something?”
“No, nothing at all. They can take care of it.”
I started to pull her away and I took her outside. I wasn’t going to let her get away. I refused. Not even a moment was given to Deirdre to change her mind.
“We can’t just leave Danny. That wouldn’t be right. What are we going to do?” ”
“You’re my wife Deirdre, so we can leave. I’m going to take you home and remind you over and over again of that fact, until neither one of us can walk straight. None of the rest of this matters. It’s just you and me.”
“You think that way because you have money.”
I smiled at her and shook my head. Deirdre really didn’t get it.
“It’s our money, Get used to it. And I think that way because you did something to me, the moment I saw you in that bar. Sun shone, clouds opened and all that crap. It was you from the beginning.”
She smiled and though I didn’t give her a choice, she knew that it was hers in the end and she didn’t disappoint me. Deirdre never did.
“All that crap, huh?”
I sighed as we walked out. “That’s all you got from that?”
* * *
THE END
CHRISTMAS WISH (SAMPLE)
BLURB
Two full length Holiday stories are wrapped up for your enjoyment!
* * *
CHRISTMAS WISH
* * *
The holidays weren’t always my favorite time.
Everyone was cheerful, but I was reminded of the one thing that I didn’t have, family.
I had more than enough of everything, except the one thing that mattered during the holidays.
All of that changed though, when I met Cara.
She was smart-mouthed and not afraid to tell me exactly what was on her mind.
Paired with an incredible body and eyes that called to me, she was just what I was looking for.
Before I even knew I was looking.
Our kisses were electric and I wanted more.
Cara was reluctant at first, because of our professional relationship.
But nothing was off limits to a guy like me.
I am Nick Sampson; Billionaire business man and the biggest playboy in the city.
I always get what I want.
This year, all I want for Christmas is Cara.
* * *
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
* * *
She was a present that I was dying to open.
Watching my friend fall for his wife was hard to see.
They were so happy.
It made me realize that something was missing.
The women in my life were just temporary and I was looking for something more concrete.
But finding that special one was hard.
Then I met Celia and all of that changed.
Her smile was soft and her mouth was sassy.
She was everything that I was looking for in a woman.
I just had to convince her that I wasn’t the man she thought I was.
She was my Christmas Present from the universe and I wasn’t going to mess it up this time.
I had to make her fall for me and all I needed was one chance to get my hands on her.
I was going to make her scream until she was hoarse.
Then there would be no running.
She was going to be mine.
But she did leave and I was going to need a Christmas miracle to get her back.
Celia would be mine once more, wrapped up with a bow.
* * *
**End Of Preview**
* * *
Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited or purchase for only 99 cents in the kindle store! Continue reading Christmas Wish – A Bad Boy Secret Baby Romance
A Note From The Author
Thank you very much for downloading!
I hope you enjoyed my book! If you did, may I ask you to please write a review HERE? Your reviews will help other loyal readers.
* * *
In fact, if you liked this book, you can also check out my full Amazon Book Catalog HERE!
* * *
If you are OBSESSED with bad boys, you can find him here of all kinds. My alpha males are strong enough to make the hard decision in life but sweet enough to melt for his mate. I write about smart, sexy, sassy and hot alphas. If you are a passionate romance reader and love reading bad boy books, then stay in tune.
Connect Me
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenWood/
* * *
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorLaurenW
* * *
Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2koGuQV
* * *
I care about quality, so if you find something in error, please contact me via email at [email protected]
* * *
Love,
Lauren