Chloe shook her head. Pushing back her chair, she got up and walked out of the café. If Michael thought so little of her, she didn’t want to be near him. That he could think she would make love to him all night and then pine after another man the next day was unthinkable. She just didn’t want to face Ramsey because it was going to be awkward, she simply wanted more time. Why couldn’t he understand that?
She’d walked around the corner before she realized she was crying. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she took in her surroundings. The baby store Michael had mentioned was two stores ahead. Walking to the store, she looked in the window. The tiny outfits and baby blankets brought fresh tears to her eyes. She pressed a hand to her stomach and felt the baby move.
A hand on her shoulder startled her.
“Easy, it’s just me,” Michael said.
“You scared me,” she said quietly.
“I’m sorry, and I’m sorry for what I said in the café.”
She didn’t say anything, just stared at the window display.
“What do you want me to say, Chloe?”
“That you’re an idiot.”
Michael grinned. “You’re right. I’m an idiot. I have a beautiful wife, a baby on the way, and I’m acting like a jealous ass.”
Chloe turned to face him. “You don’t have anything to be jealous about, Michael.”
“When I think about the time you spent with him…”
She put her fingers over his mouth. “It’s in the past. I won’t lie, I had feelings for Ramsey, but I left them at his house where they belong. I went into this marriage with an open mind and an open heart. I only hope you can do the same.”
Michael kissed her fingers and hugged her. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but doubted she would believe him. “Do you want to go in the baby store?”
“Can we?”
“We can do whatever you want to do today, Chloe. We don’t have to go back to Ashton Grove until the morning.”
She smiled and pulled him into the store.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Later that day Chloe and Michael were cuddled on the couch together watching a movie. A storm had moved through the area and lightning lit up the sky outside.
“I’m sorry we had to call it a day a little early,” Michael said.
“It’s okay. I was getting tired anyway,” she said as she rubbed her stomach.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been rubbing your stomach a lot today.”
“I’m fine. The baby’s just been moving a lot more today than usual. It’s a little uncomfortable at times.”
Michael kissed her forehead. “As long as you’re sure you’re okay.”
She nodded and snuggled closer to him.
“We should probably get up early tomorrow so we’ll be home by lunch.”
Chloe groaned. “What if the storm hasn’t passed?”
“Then I guess we’ll see how your new car does in the rain.”
“Do we really have to go back so soon?”
“I’m afraid so, honey.” He rubbed her back. “I told you Ramsey won’t be there.”
“I know. It was just nice to get away for a little while.”
“Maybe we can take another vacation after the baby’s born. I don’t like being away from home while you’re pregnant. It makes me nervous.”
She smiled at him. “Remind me to set a doctor’s appointment when we get back. You can go with me if you’d like. They’ll do an ultrasound and we can see the baby.”
“That reminds me, I still need to add you to the insurance at work.”
“I guess I better wait until after you do that.”
Michael shook his head. “No, you go ahead and see the doctor. I’ll pay for the visit if the insurance isn’t taken care of yet.”
Chloe winced and rubbed her stomach again.
“What’s wrong?”
“The little one seems more active than ever. I think that must have been a foot in my ribs or something.”
“Maybe you should lie down.”
“I’m fine…”
“I don’t want to take any chances.”
She sighed, but gave in. Letting him help her to her feet, she followed him into the bedroom. She changed into her nightgown and climbed into bed. When Michael got in beside her, she moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Michael?”
“Hmm?”
“I know you married me because Gabriel told you to, but do you think we have a chance? I mean a chance at a normal marriage?”
Michael pulled her into his arms. “Of course we do. Regardless of the circumstances of our marriage, I care about you Chloe.”
It wasn’t love, but it was something. Chloe decided that caring was better than nothing. “I care about you, too, Michael.”
When he didn’t say anything, she decided to be brave. “Michael, do you think you could ever love me? I don’t mean right now, but maybe someday?”
“Yeah, I think I could definitely love you, Chloe,” he said softly.
“Good,” she replied. Because I think I love you, she thought to herself. Chloe lay quietly in Michael’s arms. She listened to his even breathing until she fell asleep.
The next morning, Michael loaded the car while he waited on Chloe. The sky was still dark from the storm, but thankfully the rain had stopped. He shoved his hands in his pockets and wandered around the yard. What was taking her so long?
He was about to go back inside and get her when she slowly walked out onto the porch, his cell phone in her hand and a dark look on her face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I think we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“I know our marriage was rushed, but maybe you could change your voicemail greeting to something along the lines of ‘Hi, this is Michael. I’m married now so if you’re a single female looking for some fun, go look for it somewhere else.’”
Michael winced.
“You left your phone on the bed. When it rang, I answered without thinking.”
“Honey, I…”
Chloe held up a hand. “I won’t be making that mistake again. I made that mistake at Ramsey’s, and it caused all sorts of problems. You’d think I would have learned my lesson, but apparently not.” She stomped down the stairs and handed the phone to him. “Sarah said to call her. Apparently you missed your date.”
Michael grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “Chloe, I’m sorry. Things happened so fast that I didn’t think to call and cancel.”
“So you did have a date this weekend.”
“Yeah, I did.”
Chloe turned her head to look out over the rolling hills, hoping Michael wouldn’t notice the tears burning her eyes. She should have known, a leopard didn’t change its spots.
“I’m sorry that I hurt you, Chloe. I’m sorry that I’m a jerk.”
“You are who you are, Michael. I knew that going into this relationship.”
“I promised to be faithful to you, and I will be.”
She looked at him as a tear slipped down her cheek. “Please don’t make me promises you won’t be able to keep.”
He wiped the tear from her cheek. “Honey, please don’t cry. I can’t stand it when you cry.”
“I can’t help it. It’s my stupid hormones.”
“It’s more than that. I’ve upset you. I didn’t mean to.”
She shook her head. “You can’t help who you are.”
“I don’t want to be that person anymore. I told Gabriel that the day we told you who we are. I told him that I wanted to be a father to our child and that I wanted to be there for you. And I promise you that I will be faithful to you. When I said that I would honor and cherish you during our wedding vows, I meant it.”
Chloe buried her face against Michael’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Michael tipped her head back and brushed his lips against hers. “I meant what I said. I’m going to be
there for you and the baby. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that to you.”
Chloe reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “Starting with calling Sarah?”
He grinned at her. “Starting with calling Sarah.”
With his arm wrapped around his wife, he called Sarah and apologized for not cancelling their date. He told her he was married and wouldn’t be calling her anymore. Sarah screeched and ranted and raved at him. When he finished the call, he slid the phone back into his pocket and hugged Chloe.
“You know there’s going to be a lot more of those,” he said.
“I know, but it was a good start.”
“Come on, if we don’t get on the road soon, it will be late when we get back home.”
***
It was just after lunch when Chloe and Michael arrived home. Michael drove straight to his house without thinking. When he pulled into the drive, he realized Chloe only had her small bag she’d taken on the trip.
“We still need to get your things from the apartment.”
“I can go and pick up a few things to get me through the night. I’m not up to moving today,” Chloe said.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. “I’m sure. Besides, it will give me a chance to drive my car.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
Chloe hesitated. Michael had said Ramsey wouldn’t be around. She should be fine going to the apartment by herself. “I think I’ll be okay. I’ll just pack an outfit or two and come right back.”
Michael looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
She smiled and kissed him and got out of the car. “Let me put my things away, and I’ll just use this bag.”
Michael got their bags out of the car and carried them to the bedroom. He tried to convince Chloe to let him go with her one more time, but she was being stubborn.
“You said Ramsey wouldn’t be there.”
“He won’t. Gabriel said he was sending him out of town for a little bit.”
“Then why are you so worried?”
He shrugged. “I just don’t like the idea of you going over there alone.”
“I’m a big girl. I think I can handle picking up a few things and coming back home.”
Michael grinned.
“What?” She put her hands on her hips. “I swear if that grin is a crack about my weight…”
He shook his head. “I’m grinning because you called my house home.”
“Oh,” she said, her hands dropping to her sides. “Well, that’s what it is, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was just nice to hear you call it that.”
She smiled and walked over to him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she kissed him. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chloe pulled into the driveway at Ramsey’s and immediately spotted his Hummer. Her breath caught in her throat and she wished that she hadn’t made Michael stay at home. She felt like a fool.
Getting out of the car, she grabbed her bag and headed straight for her apartment. She climbed the stairs carefully, stealing furtive glances at Ramsey’s house from the corner of her eye. It looked dark. She hoped he had left his SUV in the driveway and taken a plane to wherever the alpha had sent him.
Unlocking her door, she pushed it opened and stepped into the dark apartment. She felt along the wall for the switch and flipped on the light. A screech tore from her throat when she realized someone was in her apartment. “Ramsey, you scared me half to death!”
He took a step toward her and stopped. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I know I’m not supposed to be here, but I had to see you one last time.”
“Why?”
“I had to make sure you were okay.”
Chloe stepped into the apartment and closed the door. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
Ramsey drank her in, his eyes travelling from the top of her head to the tips of her toes before resting on her eyes again. “I know Michael has a temper. I just wanted to make sure he hadn’t hurt you.”
“He’s been a perfect gentleman.”
Ramsey nodded and looked away.
“Is that all?” she asked quietly.
“It tore me apart when I got your letter. I went to Gabriel’s hoping to get there in time.”
“In time for what?”
“In time to stop you. I wanted to stop the wedding.”
Chloe walked over to the couch and sat down. “You were going to stop the wedding?”
He looked down at her and clenched his fists at his side. “I wanted to tell you that you were wrong, that I did care about you – do care about you. But I didn’t get there in time. You’d already married Michael and left.”
“I’m sorry, Ramsey. You hurt me when you left for Colorado. I didn’t know want to think or feel.”
He nodded. “I know that now. If I could go back and change things, I would.”
Chloe didn’t know what to say.
“Are you happy?” he asked.
“I think so. I don’t really know yet. He says he cares about me.”
“That’s good.” Ramsey reached out and gently ran his fingers through her hair. “I hope he takes good care of you, Chloe.”
***
Michael was flipping through the TV channels when his phone rang. Seeing it was his brother he answered.
“Hey Gabriel, what’s up?”
“Are you back in town yet?
“Yeah, we got back about thirty minutes ago. Chloe just went to get her things from her apartment.”
“By herself?”
Michael went on alert at the strain in his brother’s voice. “Why?”
“I got a call from Luna. It seems Ramsey hasn’t shown up in Mississippi yet.”
“Shit. I’m on my way to Chloe’s now.”
Michael hung up the phone and grabbed his keys. Running out of the door, he jumped in his Corvette and sped out of the driveway. He glanced at his cell phone ever few minutes hoping Chloe would call. When he neared Ramsey’s house, he saw both the Hummer and Chloe’s new hatchback in the driveway. Parking behind his wife’s car, he jumped out and ran up the stairs to the apartment.
Opening the door, the saw Ramsey run his fingers through Chloe’s hair. Michael saw red and a growl rumbled through him.
“Get your hands off of my wife!”
Chloe gasped and turned toward the door. “Michael!”
She stood and took a step toward him.
“Stay where you are, Chloe,” Michael said. “This is between me and Ramsey.”
“But you don’t understand…”
“I think I understand plenty. He had his hands on you.”
“No, please stop.”
Michael stalked further into the room eyeing the man behind his wife. He should have listened to his instincts and come with her. If he had, she would have been safe.
“Chloe, I think you need to go downstairs,” Michael said.
She shook her head and stepped closer to him. “You aren’t listening to me.”
Ramsey decided to intervene before Michael did something that would hurt Chloe. “I just wanted to tell her bye, Michael, and that I hope she has a happy marriage.”
“Sure you did,” Michael said. “I heard you showed up at the Victorian to stop the wedding.”
Ramsey nodded. “I did. Wouldn’t you have done the same thing?”
“Maybe,” Michael relented.
“I won’t lie. I love her. Which is why I’m going to do as Gabriel asked and go to Mississippi,” Ramsey said. “I can see how much she cares about you.”
Michael looked like he’d been punched in the gut. “You love her?”
“Yeah,” Ramsey said quietly as he looked over at Chloe. “But I’m going to do what’s best and leave. She belongs with you.”
“How do you know she belongs with me?” M
ichael asked.
“Because I can see now that she’s in love with you.”
Michael looked from Ramsey to Chloe. She looked scared and pale. He felt like a monster for being the one to put that look on her face. Slowly he walked over to her. Cupping her cheek, he asked, “Is that true? Do you love me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Why didn’t you say something before?”
“I was afraid to.”
“Chloe, you don’t have to be afraid of me. I would never hurt you.”
“You already have,” she said quietly, thinking of the times he’d broken her heart.
Michael wrapped her in his arms and held her close. “I’m so sorry, honey. I didn’t know.”
Ramsey cleared his throat. “I’m going to leave you two alone,” he said as he headed for the door.
“Wait Ramsey,” Michael said.
Ramsey stopped.
“I think Chloe would like to say goodbye if you’re leaving for Mississippi on your assignment.”
Letting his wife go, he watched as she walked over to Ramsey and gave him a hug and told him goodbye. It hurt, but he knew now that she wasn’t going to leave him.
***
After Ramsey left, Chloe turned to face Michael. “Thank you for letting me say goodbye.”
“I’m sorry I came barging in here like a jealous ass,” he said with a sheepish grin.
“You thought you were protecting me.”
“It still doesn’t excuse my behavior. I scared you and that’s unforgiveable.”
Chloe wrapped her arms around him. “I’m a little tougher when I’m not pregnant. You’ll find me harder to scare after the baby’s born.”
He grinned. “Oh yeah?”
“Definitely.”
“So back to this whole you-love-me bit. When exactly did you know you loved me?”
Chloe bit her lip. “I think I started falling for you when you got me pregnant.”
Michael raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.
“But then you stopped calling, and I became so furious with you that I pushed my feelings aside. Then I started to care for you again when I moved in with you.”
“But then you moved in with Ramsey,” Michael pointed out.
“Actually I moved in to this apartment. You pushed me into dating Ramsey when you acted like an ass and showed up at that restaurant with that woman. You claimed she was just a friend, but she seemed like more than that.”
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