by Nalini Singh
Page 22
For the first time, she was alone in her new home. She took the opportunity to call Maggie and schedule another session before thinking over the rest of her day.
Jacksonhad suggested she organize a small dinner party. Though their marriage was already public knowledge, politics dictated that certain people be told in a more private manner. In addition, in a couple of months, they would spend a week inLos Angeles, socializing with those who lived in the heart of the moviemaking world.
Having kept her ear to the ground, she had no problem preparing a list of invitees. By eleven, she had the wheels rolling and was beginning to feel a little more settled. This was work, she realized. Very delicate work.
Jacksonneeded these people to be willing to cooperate with him. Bonnie had antagonized a large number of them and the fallout had hit the beautiful manTaylorhad married. When the papers had ripped into him, not many in the business had come forward to defend him, still smarting from their brushes with his wife, and the coldnessJacksonhad cultivated to survive her.
By the end of the day, she was wearing a satisfied smile, sure of her ability to be the partnerJackson needed. Flush with newfound confidence, she was waiting impatiently at the top of the driveway when her men arrived home - her brother had stayed late to try out for soccer.
"So?" she asked Nick as soon as he got out of the car.
He smiled slowly. "They want me to be goalie. The coach said I had quick hands. "
Excited for him, she hugged his thin frame. "Well done. Now get in there and shower, you muddy hooligan. "
After he'd run off, she turned toJackson. "I'm glad you talked me into letting him try out. " When Nick had asked her to sign the permission slip, her instinct had been to refuse. What if he was hurt? Then she'd glanced atJacksonand the look in his eyes had made her change her mind.
"I'm glad I talked you into marrying me. "
The unexpected response made her very pleased with her Italian husband. She smiled, stood on her tiptoes, and leisurely kissed him. He deserved it.
A flashbulb went off.
Chapter 10
Startled, she jerked back. Jacksonimmediately shielded her with his body. But, before he could speak, she made a judgment call and moved around him. Though she hadn't wanted to be in his world, she now was and had to learn to deal with the repercussions.
"Hello. " She smiled at the defiant man in front of them, wondering how he'd evaded the fence alarms.
"Are you going to use that kissing picture?"
"Yes. " He held his camera protectively, obviously aware that he was trespassing.
"I'd rather you didn't. " Because paparazzi weren't known for their kindness, she asked, "How about a deal?" Feeling her husband's rising temper, she surreptitiously dug her elbow into his rock-hard stomach.
"What're you offering then?" The photographer's accent was distinctly British.
"We cooperate with you for photos and give you a quote. It would be an exclusive on our marriage. "
He looked atJackson. "Good deal if you stick to it. "
"You have to surrender that whole roll of film. "
"Don't you trust me?"
"Not as far as I can throw you," she said cheerfully.
He handed her the film, a wary look in his eye. "Do you want your husband looking like a murderer in thepics ?"
"Give us a moment. " She turned and forcedJacksonto come with her until they were out of earshot.
He looked furious. "What the hell are you doing bargaining with that vulture?"
She could see hurt in his eyes. These people had turned his pain into a spectator sport and here she was, consorting with them. She touched his arm. "Whether we cooperate or not, they'll get pictures. This way, we have some control over the first impression people have of us. "
"Manipulate the media? Dangerous game. " Yet, there was a spark of interest in his enigmatic eyes.
"The truthis, your status in the business means we have to exist in the limelight at times. We can fight the press and lose, or we can use them to our advantage. "
"What do you suggest I do?"
The fact that he was taking her lead made her glow. Unbidden, she recalled her conclusion that her wild husband could be gentled, if not fought. She leaned up and straightened the collar of his black shirt. "You look gorgeous - tall, dark and dangerous. Just act as you'd do if you didn't want to eat a photographer for breakfast. "
She thought he might have smiled. "Right. "
Reaching up, she unclipped her barrette and let her hair fall over her long-sleeved blue top. "Come on. "
They posed withJacksonwrapping his arms around her from behind. The photographer started snapping away.
She stopped him at shot ten. "Enough. "
"Have you got any photos of Nick?"Jacksonasked. Her heart jerked in panic. She hadn't even thought of that.
The photographer's eyes shifted. "Yes. "
"If you use them, the deal is off. "
"People want to know. " It was a halfhearted attempt to justify himself.
"Anyone who uses Nick will find their life being made very difficult. "Jackson's icy calm emphasized the threat. "You know how this works. I can't stop you invading my life, but his is off-limits. "
The man sighed butTaylorthought that he was happy enough. He yielded another roll of film. Ten minutes later, he had his quotes and was gone. Jacksonimmediately rang his security company and ordered them to check the fence alarms now! Then he hauled a surprisedTaylorto him and proceeded to kiss her senseless.
After Nick went to bed that night,Taylortracked down her husband. He was in his study, staring at the front page of an old newspaper. She recognized it at once.
Furious, she snatched the paper from him. "Why are you hurting yourself like this?" This piece of gutter journalism had blamed him forBonnie's death, implying that domestic violence had caused her suicidal depression. Eyes narrowed, she scanned the room and found other newspaper clippings in an open file box on his desk.
"Sometimes I wonder if I could've stopped her. "
Grabbing the file box, she walked over to the shredder in the corner and started feeding in paper. "This is what I think of that ridiculous suggestion. " She was so angry, her hands shook. God, she hated Bonnie.
That woman had hurtJacksonso much that he'd probably never trust another woman enough to love her.
Not that she wanted the complications of love . . . or did she? Did she want everything JacksonSantorini's heart was capable of feeling? Could she cope with such passion?
"Taylor, you don't know - "
"Did you put drugs in her hands? Did you find her a lover to cheat with?" Her words were clipped.
Inwardly, she was cursing the photographer who'd resurrected the past with his mere presence.
His mouth firmed. "Don't go there. "
She finished shredding and swiveled around to face him, throwing the empty box aside. "Why not? Let's have this out, right here, right now. "
"Why?" He'd never sounded more intimidating.
"See me? I'm your wife now, not Bonnie!" She slapped her hand against her chest. "And I don't do secrets. "
"What do you want to know?" Dressed in black, arms folded, he looked exactly what he was - a big, strong Italian male unused to taking orders from his wife.
A male who'd been betrayed by one wife.
Their friendship had eased her way butTaylorknew that she couldn't expect total trust until she'd earned it. But she refused to be the only one in this marriage who was starting to feel in over her head.
"Stop acting like an enforcer for your famiglia and giving me a crick in my neck. Sit down. " She walked around the desk and patted the back of his leather chair, expecting him to balk on principle.
To her complete surprise, he obeyed. "Satisfied?" There was an edge to his voice. For some reason of his own, he was letting her dict
ate to him, but it obviously chafed.
"No. This is better. " Fighting his ability to distance himself, she perched on his lap, relieved when his arm encircled her waist. "Why are you angry?" She hated the way anger made him cold, hadn't realized until now just how dependent she'd become on the attention he lavished on her.
"You're imagining it. " He sounded irritated.
Jacksonwondered why he was allowing her to see his aggravation. He had no intention of revealing that he'd found her practical response to the media a blow to his emotions. He'd made this bargain with her and she was definitely keeping up her end of it. It was his problem that he hungered for more from his wife than practicality and logic. Damn this sudden vulnerability!
"Are you going to tell me?"
"No. "
After a tense moment of utter silence, she looked up and shoved at his shoulders. He held her tight, shocked at the blazing anger in her blue eyes.
"Then keep your secrets, I don't care!" Too late, he remembered his little wife's big temper. "All I wanted to do was protect you and this is what I get in return!"
Protect him?
"A big, brooding man who doesn't appreciate me. Who doesn't care that I'm just trying to keep the vultures happy so they don't peck at him! Who gets mad at me for noreason! " She opened her mouth to continue and unable to think of how else to stop her tirade, he kissed her.
She refused to cooperate, wrenching her head away. "No. Don't you kiss me when I'm angry, Jackson Santorini ! You're not seducing me out of being annoyed with you!"
Jacksonwas stunned speechless. No one had ever accused him of using sex to control. Then again, no one had ever wanted him with the passionate hunger of his wife. " Cara mia. " He was appeased by her confession of protectiveness. "I did not know that was why you did it. "
"Why else would I have done it? I was so worried for you, I didn't even think about Nick. "
"You had no reason to imagine they would sink low enough to exploit a child. "