by Tia Wylder
Barnes stepped closer and smirked. His sheer physical bulk sent shivers down my spine. When I looked down at his giant hands, I shuddered with arousal as I remembered how it had felt when Barnes had touched me for the first time.
“Dating so soon?” Barnes asked archly. “Because I really hope you’re not. I don’t want you to see anyone else, Gianna.”
His arrogance was both arousing and incredibly annoying. I stood there for a second feeling like a deer in the headlights before crossing my arms and leaning against the wall.
“No,” I said. “I’m just going home.”
“Your home is with me,” Barnes said with a low growl. “Or have you forgotten that?”
I bit my lip. In my spare time at the Crown Jewel, I’d come up with retort after retort, all in preparation for a moment like this. But now that it was actually happening, I felt tongue-tied and twisted. I couldn’t think of a single intelligent thing to say.
“No,” I said. I swallowed. “I mean, I can’t go home. Not with you, Barnes.”
Barnes sighed. He stepped closer and focused his gaze on me. “I love you, Giana,” he said. “Please come home with me. Please. I’ll beg you if I have to.”
I stared at him. In that moment, I suddenly missed him so much that I wanted to throw myself into his arms and forget about everything. But then, seconds later, my father’s words came rushing back to me, and I knew that I couldn’t. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to go back to that condo without seeing the shocked look on my mother’s face, or my father’s angry scowl.
“I can’t,” I said. “I…”
“You love me,” Barnes said in a low voice. “I know you do. So, stop fucking around and come home. I miss you. I need you with me.”
The pleading look in his eyes was heartbreaking. I knew that if I didn’t get away from Barnes soon, I’d be reduced to tears.
“I can’t,” I said stiffly. “I can’t even think about you without thinking about my parents! What if you plotted this whole thing?”
Barnes gave me an incredulous look. “Gianna, you're stupid,” he said. “And you’re not a stupid woman,” he added in a firm tone. “You’re the actress – not me. Don’t you remember how shocked I was when you started telling me all about your parents and how they treated you? Don’t you remember how I laughed and said that was no way to grow up?”
The memory made me shudder. It had all seemed so innocent back in the days when I never dreamed that Barnes and my parents would actually meet.
“That doesn’t matter,” I said flatly. “I still can’t believe I fell for their stupid trick!”
Barnes reached out and grabbed my hands. “You didn’t fall for anything,” he said. “You fell in love. With me. And we got married because we love each other.”
My mouth went dry, and I fell silent.
“Barnes, I—“
“Gianna, don’t make excuses,” Barnes said. He stepped even closer and twisted his fingers with mine. “I know you love me. I know you want to come home. So, please. Just do it.”
Every inch of me wanted to believe him. Every cell, every pore, every nerve in my body wanted to throw myself at him and kiss him. But the anger was still there, and as much as I wanted to forget all about it, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to do so.
“No,” I said, pulling my hands away and stepping backwards. “Barnes, I’m sorry. I can’t.”
And with that, I turned on my heel and ran. Barnes called after me, but I ran until there was a stitch on my side. As soon as I was outside the studio, I dove into the backseat of a cab.
“Where to?”
“The Crown Jewel,” I said. “Actually, you know what? Forget that. Where’s the nearest bar?”
The driver gave me an odd look.
“I don’t care what kind of bar,” I said. “Just take me there, okay?”
The driver rolled his eyes but pulled away from the curb. I had to force myself not to look back because I knew that if I did, I’d see Barnes standing there, begging me to return with his intense gaze.
The driver dropped me off at a seedy theme bar with telephones on the table and drink-specials all under five dollars, which was practically unheard of in LA. As I walked in, I felt the eyes of every single man turn to me and drink me in as if I were a cheap drink, too.
I ignored them. Going to the bar, I perched on an empty stool and drummed my fingers on the countertop. It wasn’t very late – only seven-thirty – but I had a feeling that the bar was as crowded as it ever got.
The bartender appeared in front of me with a piña colada in a frosted glass. Frosty white liquid spilled over the sides and there was a bright green cocktail umbrella perched in the drink.
“I don’t want that,” I said.
“Well, it’s a gift from that guy over there,” the bartender said. He sounded like he couldn’t possibly care less about what I wanted. When I didn’t answer, he added: “So, you gonna take it or not?”
“Um, yeah, I guess,” I said. I took the drink and sipped. It was overwhelming cold and sweet, and yet, after today, it was exactly what I needed. “Thanks,” I muttered.
The bartender shrugged. “Don’t thank me,” he said. “Thank him.”
I turned to look at my generous benefactor. He was on the younger side of forty, with thinning hair and a sports jacket. He looked sort of like a friend of my father’s, and the idea filled me with repulsion. Just like Barnes, I thought. Thinking about Barnes’s name was enough to tug at my heartstrings, and I took a rapid sip of the drink, guzzling so fast that I felt the painful sting of brain-freeze.
“Shouldn’t drink so fast,” a male voice said. “A little slip of a thing like you – you’re gonna pass right out.”
I turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “I have a high tolerance,” I lied, taking another sip of the sickly-sweet drink. “Thanks for this.”
The man eyed me. “I’m Robbie,” he said.
“Grace,” I lied. When he held out his hand, we shook. Then Robbie leaned closer.
“So, Grace,” Robbie said. “What kind of work do you do? Lemme guess – you’re a dancer.”
“Actress,” I said. I drained the rest of my drink and set the empty glass down on the counter.
“Oh,” Robbie said. He smirked. “I like actresses,” he added. “That’s really sexy.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Were all men this cheesy and corny when it came to hitting on women? Suddenly, I felt a sharp pang of a memory – Barnes and me laughing on our honeymoon, reclined in the warm sands of Malibu.
“Oh,” I said. “Um, thanks.”
“So,” Robbie said, leaning in close and raising an eyebrow. “You wanna get out of here?” He smirked. “I know you actresses are all…easy.”
“What?” I squinted at him. “What the fuck? I just met you!”
Robbie leaned back, looking deeply offended. “And I bought you a drink, you uptight bitch!” He snapped. “What the fuck is your problem, can’t be nice to anyone?”
I glared at him, wishing that I hadn’t finished my drink so there would be some left to throw in his face. “You’re disgusting,” I said. “You bought me a five-dollar cocktail, and you expect me to sleep with you?”
“Well, yeah,” Robbie said. “No shit, princess!”
“Fuck you,” I snapped. Grabbing my purse, I stormed out of the bar and hailed a cab. When I got back to the Crown Jewel, I threw myself down on the bed and cried, feeling as if I’d truly ruined everything for myself.
Chapter 16
Barnes
I was desperate to win Gianna back, and I knew that I’d have to take extreme measures to get her attention once again. As soon as I could, I packed up and sold the condo. I didn’t want Gianna feeling like she couldn’t be with me in a place that had been tainted. I wanted to surprise her. I wanted to do more than that – I wanted to remind her that I was still the man she’d fallen in love with, and the man that would do anything for her.
After two weeks and no
word from Gianna, I called Thomas Winsell. His divorce had been finalized the week before, and he’d been begging me to meet with him.
“Barnes, we should go out for a good meal and some drinks,” Thomas said. “Life as a free man is great, even if I did wind up giving Candy almost everything.”
“Sometime soon,” I promised. “But not right now. Thomas, sorry, this isn’t exactly a social call. I’m calling to ask if you know a good real estate agent.”
“Tons,” Thomas said. He yawned. “What’s the matter? I thought you were happy in that little condo.”
“I need something bigger,” I said, picturing the giant house in Malibu where Gianna and I had stayed on our honeymoon. “Something fit for a famous actress.”
Thomas snickered. “I have to warn you about getting involved with one of those,” he said drily.
“Candy left me high and dry.”
“This is different,” I said. “Of course, with all due respect to you.”
Thomas laughed. “Yeah, yeah,” he said. “Look, I know someone great. Why don’t I give you her information?”
When Thomas and I got off the phone, I sat down and thought of a plan. It wasn’t just that I wanted to buy Gianna a new house – it was that I wanted to give her a whole new idea of what married life could be. And since we’d never had a real wedding, only a courthouse ceremony, I decided to go all out and plan the biggest wedding of the century.
A week later, I stood with my wedding planner, Mary, in the lavish backyard of a mansion I’d just purchased in the Hollywood Hills. There were three infinity pools, each smaller than the preceding, that flowed into a hidden saltwater grotto. The grotto could be turned into a hot tub at night, and there were flowers and ivy planted all around the water.
“I want to have a wedding, here,” I said, pointing to the landscaped terrace by the side of the largest pool.”
Mary frowned. “And you said you wanted it to happen next week? I must have heard wrong because that’s impossible,” she said.
I narrowed my eyes. “If I need to pay you more, I’ll do it,” I said. “I could even pay double.”
Mary blinked – clearly, she’d been expecting a different type of response. “And how many guests?”
“Everyone,” I said. “Everyone I can think of. So, probably about five hundred people. Does that sound manageable? And flowers, and catering – I want it from the best sushi place in Los Angeles.”
Mary’s eyes bulged. “Did you say that you could pay…double?”
“Triple,” I offered. “I don’t mind. Nothing is too good for the woman I have in mind. Hell, if you need four times your usual fee, I can do it. And I want to do it.”
Mary flushed and cleared her throat. “Well, I think with some very careful planning, it can be done,” she said cautiously. “But Mr. Harrington, if I may ask, who are you so keen to impress? Surely you’re not planning this for yourself,” she added.
I smirked and pushed my sunglasses up on my head. “I’m planning it for me and my wife,” I said. “And it better impress her like nothing ever has.”
--
Exactly one week later, I sat behind the driver’s seat of a brand-new convertible, staring at myself in the rear view mirror. Well, it wasn’t brand-new – it was vintage, from the sixties – but I had a feeling Gianna would get a kick out of it. That is, assuming she agreed to give me the time of day. I’d been parked outside the Crown Jewel for two hours, waiting until I knew the time would be perfect. Looking down, I checked my watch.
It’s now or never, I told myself, climbing out of the convertible and puffing out my chest. Gianna, I love you. I pasted a confident smile on my face as I strode through the Crown Jewel lobby, casually glancing around for any glimpse of my wife. I didn’t have to ask about her at the front desk – if Gianna was still the same woman I knew, there was no doubt that she’d stay anywhere in the hotel but the penthouse suite. I walked over to the elevator banks and pressed the call button. For a moment, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. After all, this plan could backfire…horribly. It could make the difference between having Gianna come around eventually or having her ignore me for the rest of my natural life.
But none of that mattered now. I was in too deep – all I wanted was her, and I wasn’t going to be happy or satisfied until I got her back.
When I got to the penthouse floor, I took a deep breath before knocking on Gianna’s door.
“Room service!” I called loudly.
The sound of light footsteps on the other side of the door made my heart start to pound. When it swung open, I saw Gianna standing there, looking radiant in a pink silk chemise. Her red hair was wild around her shoulders, and her lips looked luscious and pink. A bolt of lust shot through me. This is the perfect woman in the world, I thought as I stared at her. And she’s my wife.
“Barnes,” Gianna said flatly. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to speak with you about Heaven Cove,” I said, making my voice as serious as possible. It was hard not to crack when Gianna was standing in front of me, looking like a goddess, but I knew I had to try. “It’s important.”
Gianna frowned. “Why now? Why didn’t Eric call me? Is everything okay?”
It was damn hard work to keep my face looking so stern, but I did it anyway.
“Just come with me,” I said. “Get dressed.”
Gianna blinked.
“The sooner, the better,” I added, tapping my watch. “Come on.”
Gianna closed the door in my face. I frowned, unsure of whether that was a dismissal or a request to wait for her. Either way, it didn’t bode well – I was her husband, and I’d seen her nude body more times than I could count. But a few moments later, the door swung open and Gianna stood there in a pair of distressed jeans and a light sweater.
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s go.”
I led Gianna outside to my car. She glanced at it, running a hand over the fins in the back.
“This is nice,” Gianna said. “New?”
I nodded. Again, it was so difficult not to grab her and pull her into my arms. But I resisted the urge, and when I climbed in without opening her door for her, I noticed that she looked slightly hurt.
I drove out of Beverly Hills, towards the Hollywood Hills. As soon as we passed the studio where Heaven Cove filmed, Gianna turned to me and frowned.
“Barnes? Where are you taking me?”
I shrugged. “It’s a surprise,” I said.
“Barnes!” Gianna yelped. “What the hell is going on?”
“You’ll like it,” I promised her. At least, I hope you will, I added in my head. Because god knows I don’t have many other ideas.
It took almost an hour before we arrived at my new home, the mansion I’d purchased with the help of Thomas’s realtor. When we pulled into the driveway, I could tell Gianna was impressed. She covered her mouth with both hands, uttering a little gasp.
“Is this…?”
“Mine? Yeah,” I said nonchalantly, pushing my sunglasses on top of my head. “You like it?”
Gianna flushed. “Yeah,” she said softly. “I do.”
I could sense the wall between us was lowering – Gianna’s defensive behavior was starting to fade, and I knew that the time had come for me to seize the moment. Reaching across the seat, I took Gianna’s hand in mine.
“Gianna, I love you,” I said in a low voice. “This house, everything – it’s all for you. I bought it for you.”
Gianna stared at me for a long moment, her lips slightly parted. I could tell that she was breathing hard and her pulse was beating rapidly in her throat.
“Are you…are you serious?”
I nodded. “And there’s something else, too,” I said. “Come with me.”
Gianna looked breathless as she climbed out of the car. With our hands still twined together, I led her inside. When she saw the beautiful, expensive floral arrangements all over the staircase, she turned to me with a look of surprise.
<
br /> “Barnes, what is this?” Gianna asked. “What did you do? Is something going on here today?”
I nodded. ”Yes,” I said.
“What?”
“Come upstairs.”
Caterers and hired staff were making their way through the mansion, carrying trays of lobster and sushi and every different type of seafood that I’d been able to think of…and then some! Huge trays of champagne were being whisked around from room to room, and there were so many flowers inside the mansion that the scent was almost nauseating. I led Gianna down the large main upstairs hallway, then into the master suite where a large dress box was arranged on the bed, covered in rose petals.