The Temporary Bride

by Marquita Valentine

  Someone had to listen to him because he was about to fucking lose it. He felt different… in a good way. The four days he’d spent with Haven had been the most incredible times of his life. And the sex… it was mind-blowing. Life altering. There was more involved than just her very sexy body taking him inside of her. Emotions he didn’t think were possible for him to feel were starting to emerge, and while it scared the hell out of him, he didn’t want to shy away from it.

  He wanted to talk to Haven, to see if she felt the same, but her cold dismissal wouldn’t allow it. Yet, he refused to let her end things like she had.

  As he walked up the drive, he could hear the squeals of little girls as they ran around the house. Nothing but girls for his former racecar-driving brother. Four to be exact. Melanie, his sister-in-law, had always been vocal about her wish for a large family. Since Carter gave his wife whatever she wanted…they had been blessed with four blonde-haired, brown-eyed princesses.

  “Bath time, girls,” his brother called out, followed by muffled shout and, “Who in the he—”

  “Language,” Melanie shouted as she ran in the front yard and scooped up a toddler covered from head to toe with mud.

  “Heck left every Lego known to man on the back deck?”

  His sister-in-law flashed him a smile. “Grab a kid, will you—it’s bath time and the munchkins want to keep playing.”

  A flash of blonde hair zoomed by Heath, and he grabbed the bundle of giggles up in his arms. “SmithAnn. Did you leave all the Legos out?”

  The five-year-old charmer threw her arms around his neck. “Uncle Heath!”

  Just then, his brother rounded the corner, with two more toddlers—one under each arm. His determined face broke into a smile. “Thanks. This part of the day is a crazy time around here.”

  Walking up the front porch steps, Heath kept a hand on his niece and opened the door to let Melanie and Carter go in first. “I can see that.”

  “They love baths though, so once they’re in…it’s all good. It’s just getting them there that’s the tricky part. Plus, someone brought home a new puppy,” Melanie said, her brown eyes twinkling at she glanced at her husband.

  Carter sliced his gaze to Heath. “I needed to even up things a little. It was five against one, but with the puppy, we can get some more testosterone in the house.”

  Heath laughed, knowing full well that his brother adored his little girls. “Good for you.”

  “Let me help Melanie with the girls, and then I can—”

  “Get the twins in the bathtub, and I’ll take care of the rest,” Melanie said. She winked at Heath. “I’ve been gone all day at a photo shoot, so he needs a break.”

  “That’s not the only thing I need,” Carter said.

  A look passed between the two of them. Something all at once hot and sweet. Something he wouldn’t ever have with Haven. It shouldn’t have bothered him, but for some reason it did.

  And that bothered him even more.

  Giving SmithAnn a kiss, he set her on her feet and she ran to the back of the house. A few minutes later, Carter appeared in a fresh shirt and jeans.

  “Sorry, there was more water out of the tub than it, and I had to help Melanie clean it up.”

  Heath nodded. “It is a little crazy around here.”

  “Wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Carter moved to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and pulled out two bottles of beer. “Let’s go on the back porch.”

  “Need help cleaning up?”

  “Yeah, that’s why I’m bribing you with beer.”

  Heath took the beer and followed his brother outside. Setting the bottle down, he and his brother cleaned up the toys left by the girls and then sat down in cushiony chairs.

  “Shouldn’t you still be on your honeymoon?” Carter said.

  Heath shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “The two of you have a fight?”

  “We always fight.”

  Carter’s green eyes shone with concern. “I don’t mean to question you, but if that’s the case for y’all, then why get married?” His eyes widened. “Shit, you didn’t get her pregnant.”

  Heath nearly spit out his beer. “Why does everyone assume that?”

  “Because there are only two reasons why people get married so quickly—one, they’re drunk in Vegas, or two, she’s pregnant.” Carter set his beer down and leaned forward. “You didn’t get married in Vegas.”

  “She’s not pregnant,” Heath said flatly. The thought of Haven pregnant with his child didn’t give him the warm and fuzzies. It fucking terrified him. And yet, that first time with her, he’d given absolutely no though to protection. “Besides, there’s a third reason people get married. They need something that they can’t have without it.”

  “Care to enlighten me?”

  “Not really.”

  “Okay.” Carter sat back in his chair and started drinking again. “October’s finally cooling off.”

  “Didn’t want to talk about the weather either.” Heath set the bottle down. “I don’t know exactly what I want to say.”

  “The truth is always a good place to start.”

  “Yeah… I only married Haven so she could get Chesson House in her name, and to get our mother off my back about my single status.”

  Carter blinked at him, his mouth falling open slightly in shock. “Wow.”

  “That’s it?”

  “What else you want me to say?”

  “I don’t know. Guess I was hoping for some brotherly advice.”

  Carter looked at him helplessly. “This is way out of my realm of knowledge. Plus, you still haven’t told me what the problem is.”

  Heath thought for a moment, mulling over his words. “I agreed to divorce her after the house is in her name, but I don’t feel…right about it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I actually had a good time with her on our honeymoon. She’s not what I remember, and she’s not like other women. Not even like…” He swallowed, refusing to allow the comparison to be said out loud. Haven deserved better, even if it was true. “She’s not like any woman I’ve known.”

  Carter laughed. “The sex is talking for you.”

  A hot flush worked its way up his neck. He hadn’t felt so awkward since his brother set him down and talked about proper condom use. “It’s not the sex talking. Hell, I don’t give a shit about sex with Haven. I mean, I do—we do…Good Lord.” At his brother’s confused and slightly disgusted look, Heath sliced his hand through the air. “Damn it, Carter… the sex isn’t talking for me. I just think there’s a chance.”

  “A chance for what?” This time, there was no laughter in his voice. His brother was serious and listening to him.

  “That this could be something more.”

  “What’s stopping you?”

  Heath exhaled. “She is. I dropped her off at Chesson House. Haven fully expects us to go on like nothing happened.” But everything had happened.

  “Little brother, I’m going to be straight with you. Your problem is that you’ve never had to chase a woman in your life. They’ve always come to you, including Bella.”

  “Don’t see where that’s a problem,” he grumbled.

  “Because most people have the opposite problem. No one ever pursues them.”

  “I’ve been chasing after her.”

  “So chase harder and don’t let her push you away.”

  “Pretty sure that’s illegal and creepy.”

  His brother shot him a look. “I don’t mean stalk her, dumbass.”

  “Then what do you mean?”

  “She’s your wife, Heath. Try living with her.”

  “I can’t force her to let me move in, much less become a part of her life again.” She wouldn’t allow it, not even after he’d made her cry out his name over and over. Not even after he’d gotten a glimpse at the real Haven.

  Carter let out a long-suffering breath. “Rent a room from her.”

  Heath stared at his brother
for a minute. “That’s fucking brilliant.” He jumped to his feet. “Thanks for the beer.”

  “I thought you wanted to talk.”

  “Yeah, I did. Good talk, bro.” He gave his brother a punch in the arm. “Later.

  Chapter Twelve

  ‡

  Methodically, Haven checked each upstairs bathroom. She replenished towels and washcloths, shampoos and soaps. It was slow going. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, and she was sore in places that reminded her of her time with Heath.

  “I’m done with the downstairs,” Willow said, appearing in the bathroom doorway. “Anything else I can help you with?”

  “No,” she mumbled, refusing to look at her friend.

  Willow sighed. “I wish you would talk to me.”

  Haven sniffed, a tear dripping on the sink. “There’s nothing to talk about. We had a good time, and now it’s over. Thanks for taking care of Gotham”

  “Did Heath have to go back to Greenville?”

  “Yep,” she lied. The entire ride home had been uncomfortable. The silence deafening. Tension radiated from both of them in great waves, putting an emotional distance between them.

  But it was for the best.

  You are such a liar.

  I know.

  “Are you sure—?”

  “Positive.”

  Willow grabbed her hand, squeezing it once before letting go. “If you change your mind, I’m here.”

  “I know.” She finally looked at her best friend. “It’s one of the reasons I love you.”

  Willow’s blue eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too.” Then she caught Haven up in a hug, whispering, “I’m so sorry it didn’t work out. I thought he was perfect for you.”

  “I know.” Haven pulled away, shooing her friend out of the bathroom. “Go home. I’m boring and almost done. I plan to do nothing but take a bath and glom every episode of Daredevil on Netflix.”

  Once Willow had left, Haven took a deep cleansing breath and made herself put her memories away.

  *

  After checking off the last item on her to-do list, she moved to the top of the stairs.

  “I’d like to rent a room,” Heath said from the bottom.

  Her foot froze halfway from the next step, her heart leaping in excitement. “No vacancy.”

  “That’s not what the sign says,” he pointed out.

  “I haven’t had time to change it.”

  Heath crossed his arms. “I’m not leaving you.”

  “Then I’ll call the sheriff.”

  He shook his head. “I mean emotionally… I mean our relationship. Our marriage.”

  “I can’t.” Taking a deep breath, she walked down the stairs and brushed past him with Gotham on her heels. “You knew up front what I wanted from you.”

  “That’s before I knew the truth about you.”

  Her eyes widened, but she refused to turn around and look at him. “What would that be?”

  “That you’re a woman who needs to be pursued.”

  Some of the tension in her shoulders and neck began to ease. “I don’t want to be pursued,” she lied. Yes, she did, and hadn’t he been pursuing her with every kiss, every touch, ever question asked about what she thought?

  His large, warm hands cupped her shoulders and gently turned her around. “You deserve to be pursued. I had a talk with Carter, and he had to hit me over the head a little so I could see a tiny bit of the bigger picture, but on the drive over… everything came into focus.”

  “What did you see?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

  He cupped her cheek. “You. Us. Our future. I want that… I want you in my future.” He shook his head, his gaze clear. Serious. “I need you in my future. I need you now.”

  “But I…” Her resolve was weakening.

  “Give us a chance. Give me a chance to love you.”

  Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.

  “I want to make love to you. I want to wake up with you. Go to bed with you.” He dipped his head. “Give me a chance, Haven.”

  “You just want me for sex,” she pointed out.

  “Not just for sex,” he said with a low laugh that reminded her of the three nights she’d spent in his arms. “Have you talked to your lawyer yet?”

  “No.”

  His smile was triumphant.

  “I ended up talking to her partner.”

  Triumphant gave way to determination. “How much time do you have before your guests show up?”

  “They won’t be here until tomorrow—they got too late of a start and—” Heath hauled her up in his arms. He plucked the to-do list out of her hand and flung it away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Continuing our honeymoon.” He stalked to deeper into the house, down the hall marked private, and to her bedroom where a single light shone by the bed.

  He’d been to Chesson House countless times before with Bella and Daisy when they’d come over to hang out, but this was the first time he’d ever been in her bedroom. She’d never allowed him in there before. He’d always waited in the kitchen for them to get ready.

  Gently, he laid her in the middle of the bed and began to strip her clothes off of her. Slowly. As if he was giving her time to say no, or order him to leave.

  She should do both, but did she? Oh, no. Instead, she sat up and helped him undress her, watching him as he watched her with a hawk-like gaze. Tossing her clothes across the room, she laid down on the bed again and purposefully stretched.

  “You’re sexy as hell,” he simply said. “A fucking wet dream.”

  Heath wasn’t the kind of guy to give her poetry or pretty words. He said what he meant and meant what he said, which meant more to her than flowery language.

  “Your turn.”

  He tugged his shirt over the back of his head, revealing his golden skin, wide shoulders, and ripped stomach. His jeans rode low on his hips, the indentations on each side making her hot. She’d spent time kissing him there, licking him until he squirmed and laughed.

  She loved the sound of his laugh. She loved him.

  Peering at her from beneath his lashes, he pushed his jeans and boxers down his long, muscular legs. When he stood, his cock was mouthwateringly erect, standing at attention, and waiting on her.

  She crooked a finger at him, and the look he gave her made her nipples tighten.

  “Why?” she asked as he climbed on the bed and began to run his hands up her calves. Her thighs spread as he came ever closer to where she was already wet and needy for him. “Why did you come back?”

  Heath glanced up at her. “I’m not sure exactly,” he admitted.

  “So everything you said…” she gasped as his thumbs expertly parted her sex, “was just to get me in bed?”

  A lopsided grin covered his face. “Not everything.” Then his expression turned serious. “I think you and I could have something more.”

  Like love? “What kind of more?”

  “I’m still working on that part.” He dipped his head and his tongue slid over her clit. She bucked against his mouth and he smiled.

  “Don’t you dare laugh,” she panted.

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” He lowered his mouth once more, and she couldn’t concentrate or think of anything but what he was doing to her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‡

  Over the next few weeks, Heath did everything in his power to pursue Haven like she deserved.

  He took her dancing, flew her out to Comic Con so she could meet the new cast of the Runaways comic books that were being brought to the big screen, and made love to her every chance he got.

  “What did you think of the girl who’s playing Karolina?” he asked over dessert at some fancy restaurant that was known for celebrity watching.

  Haven shrugged. “Fine, I guess. I won’t know until the movie comes out.”

  “I could get us tickets to a private showing,” he offered.

  Excitement flared in her eyes
, but just as quickly, it was snuffed out. “That’s really thoughtful of you, but I can’t commit to something like that. I have a business to run.”

  It was all he could to do not to point out that she owned the damned business and could rearrange her schedule however she wanted, just like she had done to fly out to California. “If you change your mind, let me know.”

  She stirred the melted caramel in the bowl. “You’re going to a lot of trouble for nothing. Chesson House is in my name now. You don’t have to do any of this for me.”

  “I know.”

  With a sigh, she set her spoon down. “Then why?”

  “Like I said, I think this could be more.”

  “More isn’t a description that I can count on.” She stood, tossing her napkin into her chair. “I need some air.”

  He watched her go outside and pull her phone out of her purse. She began texting in earnest, her thumbs flying. He wanted to join her, but he knew his presence wouldn’t be welcomed. Besides, what could he say to her?

  What kind of answer did she want from him? She wasn’t exactly an open book herself. Then again, neither was he.

  Since the beginning, he’d relied on their past to get them through the present, only she hadn’t thought very much of him then.

  Maybe that was the problem.

  Haven walked back inside, eyes bright with unshed tears.

  Anger clawed at him, not at her, but at himself. He had no clue what to do. “Ready to go?”

  She nodded, her lips smashed tightly together, as if she spoke, she’d probably something she would regret.

  At that point, he was ready for her to say anything, but he knew she wouldn’t. She would continue to build her walls to keep him out.

  Unless he did something different.

  *

  Nothing was working with Haven, not even when he changed plans and started finding excuses for them to hang out with his family instead of spending money.

  She refused to have family dinners at his parents’ house, always claiming that she was too busy getting ready for next weekend’s event. While Heath knew and had witnessed firsthand how hard she worked, he thought it was bullshit.