“Channing, stop,” I say under my breath.
In rapid fire succession the questions come so fast I can’t even understand the words coming from the twenty-some-odd reporters’ mouths. Channing holds up his hand and they simmer down a little.
“Listen up people. I’m going to say this one time and then we have to get the hell out of here. The life I was leading with Jana was a lie of a life. I may seem like I don’t care that she’s been found dead. I do care. I never wished that on her. It’s a horrible tragedy that she fell overboard that day. I know she’s in a better place and finally has found the happiness she couldn’t find with me. And I have found the happiness that’s been missing from my life as well. This young woman is my life now. We will be married as soon as legally possible and we will get on with our lives as God intends us to.”
I feel as if I might faint as they all break into loud voices asking all sorts of things and Channing pulls me along with him to the car.
This is not going to go down the way he thinks it is…
Chapter 12
CHANNING
Her face is so pale as I drive us home. “Why are you so quiet, Beth?”
“Oh, just preparing for the shit-storm, Channing. That’s all.” Her hands are moving in knots with each other.
I reach over and take the one closest to me and pull it up to kiss it. “Baby, don’t worry about what anyone says. I’m not.”
Her head turns slowly toward me and her eyes are all twitchy. “Are you crazy? I mean it, Channing. Did your shrink do any testing on you? Because you seem to think life is this place where you can do whatever you want to and fuck what people think about it. It’s not that place. Not at all.”
I laugh and smile at her then place her hand back down on her thigh as I keep mine wrapped around it. “Beth, you’re young. I know you think the world gives a fuck but they really don’t. The next thing will come along soon and blow my news out of the way. You’ll see.”
Her head shakes, and she looks out the window. “It looks like it’s going to rain.”
“We can build a fire in the fireplace and cuddle by it as we drink a little wine. You want red or white, Baby?”
“I want you to try to act as if you just had to look at the most disgusting and awful thing imaginable and deal with that. I want you to be normal, Channing. For just a day or so, be fucking normal!” She pulls her hand from mine.
I move my hand back to the steering wheel and think. Am I being abnormal?
Maybe I should call my psychiatrist and ask her. She seems to tell me more often than not that everything I’ve done and felt is normal.
I swallow hard and say, “Beth, I feel like you’re upset with me for not feeling the way you think I should. My therapist has told me over and over again how the things I’ve done and felt are normal.”
“Why would she do that?” Beth looks at me. “Witnessing what you just did should have you beside yourself with grief. I mean even if it was a person you never even knew, that’s horrible. Can’t you see that?” Her hand runs up to take mine. “I’m just so damn worried about you, Channing. You’re making awful decisions. You’ll see. The media will not make this some love story for the ages. They just won’t, Baby.”
“I don’t care what they make it. I just want us to get to hold hands in public and kiss when we feel like it. I just want what I want, Beth.”
“That doesn’t sound like a spoiled rich person at all,” she says with sarcasm laced words.
“I haven’t always been rich. You know that. I’m anything but spoiled. I lived a pretty average life up until I turned eighteen and inherited that money.”
My cell rings and I see my mother is calling me. “Hi, Mom.”
“Son, what have you done?” Her voice sounds worried.
“Mom, I’m in love.”
The sound of her crying meets my ears. “Channing, you are all over every station. Your grandparents are so upset. How could you do this to yourself? We didn’t raise you to be such a callous man.”
“Callous? Do you think I’m callous, Mom?”
I see Beth put her head in her hands and shake her head.
My mother speaks slowly and steadily as she says, “Channing, you just found out your wife is dead and minutes later you announce your engagement to another woman. That’s messed up, Son.”
“I love her, Mom,” I say. “How is it messed up to want to be able to walk around freely with her on my arm? I feel like I’m disrespecting her by hiding what we have.”
“If your love is so true, it can wait. She should never have let herself get involved with you like that. And your personal assistant, Channing. God, can’t you see, she has seduced you. She’s only after your money.”
Beth looks at me and shakes her head. “No, I’m not. Please don’t think that. I never wanted him to come out with this until maybe a year or so from now. I am no gold digger.”
“You’re a young woman with your whole life ahead of you. Quit and lie low for a while. At least until this dies down. When he’s out of the media spotlight then you two can reconvene this relationship. Once his mind is straight. The man just lost his wife for the love of all that’s holy, girl!” my mother shouts.
“That’s enough, Mom! Damn it! Beth didn’t start this, I did. She was very professional. It was me who initiated this whole thing. I won’t have you thinking badly about her.” I pull into the garage just as the rain starts to pour from the sky.
Beth looks shell shocked. “I probably should do what she’s said, Channing. They’re going to rip you apart if I stay around.”
“I have to go, Mom. This shit is about to make the one person who has ever cared for me leave me and that’s the last thing I want.” I hang up and get out of the car and grab Beth up as she tries to hurry into the house.
“Channing, stop!” She kicks her feet and wiggles in my arms.
“No! Stop squirming! I won’t let you run away. We’ll face this together.” I take her inside and put her feet on the floor.
“I don’t know how to fix this, Channing,” she says then starts crying and pounding her little fists against my chest. “You’ve made such a mess of things. Why couldn’t you be patient?”
I hold her tight to me and place my chin on top of her head as I rock with her. “Baby, being patient where you’re concerned has been something I just haven’t been able to control. The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the one for me. I knew the timing was terrible. But I suppose it could’ve been worse. I suppose I could’ve seen you the day I married Jana. I guess that would’ve had been worse timing.”
She laughs a little and I see that as a good sign. “Maybe we could just leave the country, Channing. Go where no one knows us or cares about us.” She looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes.
I kiss her cheek. “We don’t have to run away. This will die down. Mark my words, Baby. This won’t last long. People move on to the next thing. The next tragedy. The next crazy thing to happen. The next crazy couple.”
Her body feels so good against mine and she sighs as her arms move to wrap around me. “I suppose you’re right.”
I kiss the top of her sweet head. “I am right.”
She places her hand on my chest and pushes back. “Let me go wash my face and please make me a glass of red wine and meet me in front of the fireplace.”
I kiss her one last time and let her go. “I love you, Beth.” I watch her walk out of the room.
She looks back at me. “I love you too, Channing. Bring some crackers with cheese too. I’m starving.”
With a smile, I wave her on and turn to get the wine and cheese.
Everything will be alright, I just know it will!
Chapter 13
BETH
Looking at my face in the mirror as I toss cold water on it to aid in stopping my tears of embarrassment, humiliation, and complete panic, I see a woman with a lot on her shoulders.
A lot of weight is there now. I was this happy-go-lucky young
woman with the world at my feet. Then I met this magnificent man.
Somehow, I made him fall in love with me without even trying. Somehow, I made him want to marry me. Even before he’s finished with his current marriage.
I don’t know how I’ve accomplished this. Yet, I’m going to be dubbed by society as a gold digger who managed to swoop in and take advantage of a grieving man.
How I will manage to keep my head up is a complete and utter mystery to me.
Against my better judgment, I turn on the television in the bedroom and have to try to catch a glimpse of the news on us.
What I see as soon as the television comes on stops my heart. I fall to the bed and stare at the screen.
I try to scream but nothing will come out. The remote drops from my shaking hand as I stagger down the hallway to find Channing.
In the den I find him starting a fire in the fireplace. “Channing.”
He looks back at me. “Fuck! Baby,” he says as he comes rushing to me and takes me in his arms before I fall down. “Baby, are you okay?”
I shake my head. “No, and neither will you be.”
His blue-green eyes look into mine with confusion. “Why is that?”
“It’s not her.” I look around the room which is now spinning. “That wasn’t Jana.”
And just before it all goes black I can only think of one thing.
Will this end us?
To be continued…
Dangerous Waters
A Billionaire Romance Mystery Thriller Series
Book 3
THE FLOOD
By Michelle Love
Description:
Surprises. Passions. Threats
Channing’s world is upside down as he learns his wife, Jana, is alive and well in the arms of his father, Morgan.
After Jana goes to the police and tells them Channing attempted to murder her, and succeeded in killing their baby, she goes to the media to slam Channing even harder into the dirt.
Beth is beside herself as Channing is arrested for the crimes he swears he didn’t commit.
Help comes Channing’s way as his hockey team’s number one fan comes to put a security system in his home, and he has some information which proves helpful.
A late night break in by Jana has the couple finding out their marriage is a thing that means Jana can’t be locked out of the home they shared until a divorce is final.
Will Channing have to give up everything he’s worked so hard for to have the life he wants with Beth? Will Jana and Morgan get away with something it seems they’ve planned long before the couple ever married? Or will the truth set Channing free?
Chapter 1
CHANNING
Beth’s shaking in my arms as I run my hand through her hair. “Baby, it’s okay that it wasn’t Jana’s body they found. It doesn’t make anything different.”
Her eyes are wide and there’s a lot of shock in them. “Channing, your wife is not dead. She and your father were just on the news.”
My world stops. Tilts on its axis and turns the other way. “No!”
Her head bobs with a nod. “She’s alive, Channing.”
My cell phone goes off and I manage to stagger to pick it up off the table. The fire has lit up well and the room glows with the amber hue.
Perfectly romantic. And what a great time for Detective Radisson to be calling me at nine in the evening. “Hello, Radisson.”
“Have you seen the news, Mr. Michaels?”
I nod as if he can see me. The shock is settling in nicely now and my body is pleasantly numb.
She’s alive!
“I’m sending an officer to pick you up, Mr. Michaels. He’ll be there very soon. Just get in the car with him and give him no problems.”
“Why do I have to go with him? If you want to talk to me, I’ll come down in the morning,” I fall back on the sofa and Beth sits next to me and takes my hand.
“You’re being placed under arrest, Channing. Haven’t you seen the news?” he asks with a tired voice. As if he’s tired of this mess and dealing with me.
“I haven’t. Beth just told me Jana’s alive. She said Jana and my father were together on the news. Why am I being arrested if she’s alive? If you don’t mind me asking you, sir.” Beth looks at me with concern. Her dark brows furrowed and her foot taps nervously.
“She has accused you of attempted murder. And the murder of your baby.” His words I can hear but I don’t understand them at all.
“Baby? There was no baby, and I didn’t try to kill Jana. I swear I didn’t.” My heart’s pounding so fucking hard I think I might pass out. “I need a lawyer, don’t I?”
“You do, Mr. Michaels. See you down here soon.”
“What should I bring? How long will I be there?” I ask as Beth wraps her body around mine. Her tears are wet against my cheek.
“You don’t need to bring anything. Whatever you do bring will be taken from you, anyway. You’ll be booked and jailed and then I’ll come to your cell and see you. Bye now.” He ends the call as if he didn’t just blow my world apart.
“I have to go with some officer. Jana said I tried to kill her and some shit about killing our baby,” I say as I run my hands through her hair over and over so I can remember what it feels like and smells like as I’m locked away for no damn reason except for the fact my fucking wife is a fucking liar.
“How can you be sure there was no baby, Channing?” Beth asks me.
“Well, I guess I can’t be sure about her being pregnant. I can be sure it’s not mine. I haven’t touched that woman in months and that’s the truth, Beth.” I search her eyes to see if she believes me.
I need her to believe me!
My hands move to her face and I feel her soft skin beneath my palms and pull her to me. I just need to feel her lips meshing with mine before they take me away.
Her hands run around my neck and pull me even closer to her as our tongues move around together. She climbs onto my lap, facing me and straddling me.
Quickly I unbutton my jeans and push them down some, releasing my hard cock. I need her now. More than ever before. I need to be inside her. Where it's safe.
Only wearing a little nightgown, she rises up a little and pushes her panties to the side and slides down on my dick. Our kiss goes hard and intense as I enter her. Her heat comforts me a little.
I place my hands on her waist and lift her to stroke me. My body aches for her and I find myself moving her roughly and very fast.
I’m freaking out about having to leave her here all alone as they take me away. Moving my mouth off hers while I move her up and down the length of my cock, I say, “I want you to make sure the entire house is locked up after they take me away. Never leave it unlocked and call that damn security company first thing in the morning and tell them it’s an emergency and I want the system installed tomorrow. The extra cost doesn’t matter.”
“Channing,” her words come out raspy as I move her fast. Up and down, up and down over me. Her hands rest on my shoulders and she runs them both down to my biceps. “I’m sure I can get you out tomorrow. I’ll call your lawyer first thing in the morning.”
I nod and her mouth crashes on top of mine. The kiss is so hard our teeth clash and I want to get even more inside her mouth as if that’s even possible. The doorbell rings and a simultaneous clap of thunder fills the air.
Savagely, I move her faster. She pulls her mouth off mine as I move her. “Channing! Baby!”
Her head moves to my neck and she bites and sucks at the spot just behind my ear. Then she moans as her body gives in to my demands. I groan as mine releases.
It should be so fulfilling. So fantastic. But it feels almost empty.
I don’t want to leave…
Tangling my hands in her hair, I pull her back and look at her. “Please, no matter what you hear, Beth. Please, don’t believe any of it. Help me get to the truth. I didn’t do anything to her but take her out on that damn boat. I swear. And if there was a bab
y which I highly doubt, it wasn’t mine. Please tell me you’ll stay here and be in my corner through this. Please.”
“I will be here for you, Channing. Don’t worry. I won’t let any of this shit mess with what I know to be true. I love you. You’re no killer. I trust you.” A sweet kiss punctuates her sentence as the doorbell rings again.
“Got to go, Baby. I love you.”
She climbs off my lap and I adjust myself back into my jeans. “I’ll go tell the officer you have to use the bathroom.” Beth runs out of the room and down the stairs to go to the front door.
I make my way to my bedroom and clean myself up and change into a set of sweats. Since I’ll be in a jail cell, I may as well be comfortable.
After pulling myself together, as much as possible anyway, I make my way to the entry room and find Beth wrapped in a white robe, sitting on a sofa as the officer stands and waits for me.
“Channing Michaels, I’m, Officer Simpson. I have to read you your rights, sir then I will cuff you and place you in the squad car. You have the right to remain silent…”
The officer keeps talking but I zone out as I stare into Beth’s deep green eyes. They glisten with tears she’s trying so hard to hold back.
I’m sure she’ll fall apart after I leave, but for now, she’s trying to show me how tough she is and how she’ll be able to handle all this.
The officer stops talking and cuffs my hands behind my back. Beth rises and comes to me. She puts her arms around me and kisses me on the mouth.
A sweet kiss with just the slightest hint of tongue. Then she pulls back. “I love you, Channing. I’ll be working hard to get you out.” Her eyes move to the cop standing behind me. “I want you to know I expect him to be treated well while in your custody. If anything happens to him, I’ll make life sheer hell for everyone in that department. And I’ll hold you, personally responsible. Get me, Simpson?”
He nods. “Yes, Beth. Shit! Do you have to be so damn dramatic?”
In confusion, I look at her. “You know him?”
The Billionaire’s Lighthouse Series: A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance Page 57