Diamond stood spellbound. The beauty of the setting sun nearly took her breath away. She didn’t think she would ever get tired of such a beautiful view, and from this window you could see it all. She wondered if that was the reason Jacob had placed his bedroom on this side of the house and at this angle so that at any given time he could stand at this window and be reminded of all he owned—all the land he had been blessed to inherit from his family.
“Home,” she said softly. Whispering Pines was home. No matter where she went or what other places she traveled, here with Jacob was where she preferred being above all else.
She didn’t bother to turn around when she heard the bedroom door opening. As always, she sensed her husband’s presence. After his family had left to return to their homes, he had gone riding the range to help his men look for a few strays.
Gently grabbing her by the shoulders, he slowly turned her around to him. “What are you thinking?” Jake asked her.
Diamond sighed and looked up at him. “Everything. Too much. Not enough.”
He dropped his hands from her shoulders and raised a questioning brow. “Translate.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m thinking of everything because this place is so beautiful and I love it so. Then I’m thinking too much, because no matter how much I try I’d never be able to fully appreciate just what you have given me here. And I think not enough because I don’t think there will ever be enough words to tell you just how I feel. I have so much to be thankful for. You, your family, Blaylock, the men who work for you. All of you are so special to me, Jacob. For the first time in my life I feel so very blessed.”
She smiled up at him. “Like last night, for instance, when I spent the night at the cabin with your nieces. That time was very special for me.”
Jake gently pulled her into his arms. “You never told me what you all did last night and what all you talked about.
Diamond laughed. “Because, Jacob Madaris, you never gave me the chance.”
He joined her in laughter. “No, I didn’t, did I?” he said, remembering how he had arrived at the cabin on horseback right after breakfast to claim his wife. A night at the cabin was all he had agreed to. He’d had no intention of his nieces imposing on his day with Diamond, as well. He had walked into the kitchen, nodded good-morning to all those present and walked straight over to Diamond and picked her up in his arms saying, “I came for my Diamond.” He had carried her outside and placed her on his horse behind him and had ridden off, totally ignoring the surprised and shocked look on his nieces’ faces.
Instead of taking Diamond back to the ranch like he’d originally intended, and where he knew his nephews were still sleeping off a long night of playing poker, he had taken her to his private place where he had shown her just how much he’d missed her.
“Well, what did you ladies talk about?”
“Umm,” Diamond moaned contentedly. “You know, girl stuff. Movies, fashions, trips we’ve taken, the men we love, Syneda’s pregnancy, our weight…that sort of stuff. We had such a good time that we’re planning on doing something like that again. I invited them to spend some time at our place in California since we’ve decided to keep it even after I move here permanently.”
Jake nodded. Ever since their marriage, everything that had been “his” and “hers” had automatically become “theirs” and “ours.” There had never been any discussion about it. There was a silent understanding between them that they would share their love and everything else that came with it.
“I would love for them to go with me to Jackie’s Spa and Resort,” Diamond was saying. “You know, the place I told you about that’s tucked away in the heart of the California mountains. I think it would be a perfect place to relax, enjoy a little bit of pampering and unlimited use of the spa’s facilities and activities.”
Diamond paused, lifted her gaze to his and smiled. “What do you think?”
Jake leaned down and kissed her lips. “Besides thinking you’re beautiful, I think the ladies will enjoy it.” A somewhat serious expression then crossed his features. “And I think that we need to talk about something.”
Diamond saw his expression and immediately became concerned. “What is it, Jacob?” She touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Clayton just called. He thinks it would be a good idea for us to hold a press conference tomorrow.”
Diamond’s heart slowed for one tiny millimeter of a second. “A press conference?”
“Yes. We need to either confirm or deny what everyone has been reading in the papers for the last two days. Since we’ve had this phone number changed and Sheriff McCoy is doing a good job at keeping reporters away, the media are in a frenzy. There are a lot of questions on everyone’s mind. You disappeared seemingly off the face of the earth, right after that incident in California. Your multitudes of adoring fans are concerned. Now they read in the papers, two weeks later, that you’re married to me, who just happens to be a very close friend of Sterling Hamilton’s, the man who’s been your alleged lover for the past two years.” Jake couldn’t help but chuckle. “To some people, all of that is more interesting than the most top-rated soap opera.”
Diamond nodded. “There’s something else, too, isn’t there? What aren’t you telling me, Jacob?”
Jake took a deep breath and captured Diamond’s hand in his. “It seems that when some of my family returned to Houston they found reporters camped out on their lawns.”
He felt Diamond tremble and tightened his hold on her hand.
“Oh, Jacob, I’m sorry. This is what I didn’t want to—”
“Shh, baby. It’s okay. My family knows how to handle this. They dealt with the media before with that incident involving Syneda.”
“But I wanted to protect all of them from this. I wanted to protect you.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Like I said, the Madarises can handle the heat, trust me. But I think you and I need to officially announce our marriage so people can stop guessing and stop hunting for answers.”
Diamond nodded, knowing he was right. “I’ll contact Robin and let her set up things.” Robin Weston was her publicist. “Do you have a preference as to where you want to hold the press conference?”
“Let’s hold the first one in Houston. Then we’ll fly out to California and hold another one there the following day.’
Diamond’s shoulders sagged. “But that will take you away from the ranch.”
Jake shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Getting this done is more important.”
She nodded as she reached up and slipped her arms around his neck and gazed adoringly into his eyes. “You’re a wonderful man. Do you know that?”
He pulled her into his arms. “Only because you’re constantly telling me that I am. You, Mrs. Madaris, are pretty good medicine for my ego.”
She smiled. “And you, Mr. Madaris, are fantastic medicine for anything and everything that ails me.”
“I think you’re making a very wise decision, Diamond,” Robin was saying over the telephone. “I didn’t want to call and bother you about what’s been happening here, but it’s been crazy ever since the story of your marriage broke. Reporters are calling every three seconds. I spoke with Edward Stewart, Sterling’s attorney, and he said things are just as crazy over there. It’s a good thing Sterling is at his home in the North Carolina mountains so the reporters can’t get through to him.”
Diamond nodded. “I’ll give Sterling a call to give him a heads-up as to what Jacob and I will be doing. Make all the arrangements, Robin. Jacob and I want to hold the first press conference in Houston.”
“Got it. I’ll call you back after everything is set and ready to roll.”
“Thanks, Robin.”
“And Diamond?”
“Yes?”
“For all it’s worth, I think it’s about time you let the world know about that gorgeous hunk of Texan you’ve been hiding. The two of you make a beautiful couple. Every time I’m arou
nd you and Jacob, I feel so much love radiating between you two. You are a very blessed woman. And I’m sure everyone who sees you two together, especially all of your adoring fans, will be happy for you.”
“Thanks. It’s not my fans I’m worried about, Robin, it’s the media. You know how they can be at times.”
“Well, I think with Jacob Madaris by your side, you have nothing to worry about.”
After Diamond had hung up the telephone she took a long, deep breath, not understanding why she was feeling so nervous. She had done press conferences before, numerous times, first with her father, then later alone or with other actors and actresses. She and Sterling had done several in the past two years, denying rumors of their alleged affair. She couldn’t understand why she felt so uneasy about this one.
In her line of business, press conferences were expected. Whenever celebrities had major changes in their lives, the media felt they had a right to know about it. It was better to face a ton of them in an organized and formal setting than being cornered by them at the airport or on your front doorstep.
She and Samuel had done a press conference to announce their engagement the day before the Indy 500, in which he was a participant. They had done another press conference three months later to announce their marriage. The media had asked probing questions, which she thought were none of their business. But Samuel had answered them anyway. That had been the cause of their first argument. She had later learned that he enjoyed the media attention and that he would use anything, including the intimate details of their marriage, to get it.
Diamond took another deep breath. She needed all the strength she could muster for the press conference.
Jake had known exactly what he was doing in setting up their first press conference in Houston, where most of his family resided. It was decided it would be held on the campus of Texas Southern University in the Barbara Jordan Auditorium; an auditorium that Dex’s company, Madaris Explorations, had provided funding to build.
As expected the place was packed. Among the members of the Madaris family in attendance were community leaders, members of the Cattlemen Association and long-time friends. All had been specifically invited and were there to give their support.
Jake and Diamond walked into the auditorium together holding hands and appearing to everyone like the epitome of a picture-perfect couple. He was dressed in a dark gray suit, and she was wearing a very chic, very stylish tailored blue pantsuit and looking like she had just stepped off the cover of a magazine. Even before they had stepped in front of the microphone it was obvious that they had dazzled the members of the media.
The reporters went into action and began firing their questions amid the flashbulbs exploding all around them. Conrad Ammons, a reporter known for his tenaciousness and hostile interviewing skills, started off by asking, “Is it true that you and Jacob Madaris are married and have been for nearly a year and a half? If so, why did you hide that fact, and why did you and Sterling Hamilton deliberately make fools of the media by leading us to believe the two of you had a thing going on?”
Before Diamond could respond, another reporter asked, “And if you are married, how does your father feel about it since to this day he still maintains a relationship with your ex-husband?”
A third reporter requested, “And could you please give us details about that attack on you in your home in California.”
Diamond smiled up at Jacob and took a deep breath. When she faced the crowd to everyone’s eyes she looked totally ravishing and in complete control. “One question at a time, please,” she said in a deceptively calm voice. “First, to answer your questions, Mr. Ammons.”
She glanced again up at Jacob and gave him an adoring smile. He smiled back at her and tightened his arms around her. “Yes, Jacob Madaris and I are married and have been for eighteen months, four days, three hours and—” after glancing at her watch added, “—twenty-four minutes and twelve seconds.”
At everyone’s chuckle, she continued. “The reason Jacob and I decided to keep the news of our marriage a secret was to preserve our privacy for as long as we could. And as for Sterling Hamilton, he’s a very close friend to the both of us. Jacob and I hold him responsible for bringing us together, and we will be indebted to him for the rest of our lives.”
She then glanced around the room, letting her gaze light on the numerous reporters present before speaking again. “Sterling and I have told all of you on numerous occasions that there was nothing between us and that we were just friends. But a number of you didn’t believe us and wanted to make it out to be more. You couldn’t accept the idea that a man and woman could be close friends without there being anything sexual between them. So we gave up trying to convince you otherwise. You printed what you wanted to believe and nothing Sterling and I ever told you. I didn’t lie to you, Mr. Ammons. You lied to yourself and your readers by printing the untruth.”
Diamond knew that she had effectively put Conrad Ammons in his place. She also knew that doing so would probably come back and haunt her one day. The man had a history of holding grudges against various members of the entertainment industry if he felt they had crossed him in some way. She took a deep breath in accepting that she was now probably on his list. She blinked when what she thought was a smile curved his lips. She quickly thought she must have been mistaken.
She swung her head toward the reporter who had asked the second question. “As for my father, you’re right. He does have a close relationship with my ex-husband, Samuel Tate. However, although I can’t speak for my dad, I believe he’s very happy for me.”
Looking at the reporter who had asked the third question, she said, “There’s nothing to add about the young man who broke into my home other than to say that I wasn’t injured, just scared out of my wits.”
“Mr. Madaris, how do you feel about being married to Diamond Swain?”
Jacob’s arms around Diamond tightened even more. “I feel like an extremely lucky and happy man.”
“Ms. Swain, there’s a rumor that you’re thinking about giving up acting to become a rancher’s wife.”
Diamond smiled at the reporter who had asked the question. “I’m already a rancher’s wife, and I am thinking about it,” she said, not ready to tell them of her decision. It would be her and Jacob’s secret for a while. Telling them would lead to too many other questions. “It is my and Jacob’s dream to one day have a family. And when that time comes, I will gladly trade my role as an actress to become the mother of his children.”
“So you want more than one?”
“Yes, I was an only child, so I want my child to have a playmate. Jacob says we’ll have at least two, maybe three.”
“What do you have to say?”
She glanced up at Jacob and gave him a brilliant smile. “I’m going to try my best to convince my husband that we need at least four.”
After that a number of other questions were asked. Some of them were directed at Diamond, others to Jake and some to the both of them. The final question was asked before it was decided to wrap up the press conference.
“Mr. and Mrs. Madaris, I’m sure there are a number of magazines that are just dying to do an exclusive story on you two. Everyone is interested in knowing how you met, fell in love and managed, quite nicely I might add, to keep the news of your marriage from the press.” The reporter shook his head, smiling in admiration. “I must take my hat off to you two for a job well done. Have the two of you made any decisions as to what magazine will be doing that exclusive story? I’m sure your fans are dying to know.”
Diamond looked up at Jake. “I think we’ll keep that information a closely guarded secret for as long as we can.”
After that statement, Robin Weston announced to everyone that the press conference was over. Afterward the photographers had a field day, taking numerous photos of the stunning couple.
“Well, how do you think I did?” Diamond asked Jake.
Instead of answering her, he kissed her in front o
f the cameras, among all the flashing lights. When he released her, she smiled at the photographers.
“I guess that’s Jacob’s way of saying that I did okay.”
The news conference in California the following day went just as smoothly, although Diamond was asked more detailed questions regarding the incident of the irate fan breaking into her home.
As usual, Conrad Ammons was again one of the reporters. Diamond had hoped that she had answered enough questions to suffice for the reporter at the press conference in Houston, but evidently, that had not been the case.
“I’m glad that’s over with,” Jake said when they had returned to their hotel room in Beverly Hills. He ripped the tie from around his neck. “What it is with that Ammons guy? He’s like a dog with a bone. Once he gets a hold of something, he can’t let go. He needs a life. Does he usually follow you around like that from press conference to press conference?”
“Yes, a number of reporters do. It’s their job.” Diamond smiled, then yawned. “Today was a hectic day, and I am tired.” Diamond wasn’t too tired to notice the agitated look on Jacob’s face. “What is it, Jacob? What’s bothering you? Is there anything you want to talk about?”
Jake shook his head. “There’s nothing bothering me. Like you, I’m just tired.” He walked over to her and kissed her nose and pulled her into his arms. “Come on, let’s get ready for bed. We both need a good night’s sleep. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be just as tiring.”
Later that night Jake lay awake for a long time, holding Diamond in his arms. He watched the moonlight that was peeking through the curtains shimmer softly across her sleeping features.
Secret Love (Arabesque) Page 17