The Secrets of Paradise Bay (22 page)

“I don't intend to ever allow that to happen,” Clyde assured him. Not when he suddenly had so much more at stake than just his personal welfare. Only he feared that Willie Munroe was hell-bent on doing whatever he could to create havoc in his life.

Clyde managed to catch Stefani's last song before the break, which got her a standing ovation. He found himself clapping too for this very talented woman who helped him forget about the darkness and hone in on the ray of light who suddenly made his life worth living.

“How about a trip to Fiji or the Bahamas?” Stella suggested.

Trey looked up at her across his desk. “You think Ivana would like that as an anniversary present?”

“What woman wouldn't want to escape to a tropical paradise?”

Trey liked the idea of it. He had to believe that spending some time on a beautiful, secluded island far away from home might be just what they needed to not only spice up their sex life, but continue the process of rebuilding their relationship. The fact that their anniversary was still a month away meant he had time for Ivana to get used to the idea.

“You could also consider taking Ivana on a cruise,” Stella offered. “There are some fantastic ones at this time of year, so long as she's not prone to getting seasick.”

They had never gone on a cruise before. As far as Trey knew, Ivana had no problems with the water and getting seasick, having done a few modeling gigs out at sea. Perhaps a cruise could work as well.

“Those are all great suggestions,” he said. “I know Ivana's always loved Hawaii. We went there the second year of our marriage. I know there are some Hawaiian cruises. Maybe we can take one and get double the pleasure.”

“Now you're getting innovative, Trey.” Stella smiled at him. “Women love when their men take the initiative and do something really special.”

“I'll make a note of that.” Trey imagined that with things going well with Clyde and his new lady, his brother might also benefit from a romantic getaway, something the old Clyde was too busy getting into trouble to ever consider. Wedding bells might not be that far off either, mused Trey. And children thereafter.

Trey considered that he and Ivana might try again to have a child. Whatever issues they had, he knew they would be great parents and brought a lot to the table in terms of passing on a legacy. Even adoption wasn't out of the question. He wanted only to make Ivana happy and complete, whatever it took.

He turned his attention back to business and directed Stella to carry on with her thoughts before he had intruded in seeking a woman's perspective on the perfect anniversary gift.

 

 

Clyde had his arm around Stefani as they sat in a movie theater, courtesy of Trey. The movie premiere, a thriller, was only so-so. He was far more interested in the woman beside him, who, in a short time, had become his best friend and lover, along with the star attraction at Clyde's Jazz Club. He couldn't have imagined a few short months ago that he would get out of prison and turn his life around to this degree.

I just pray I don't wake up and find this whole thing has been a dream. Someone else's dream
.

Stefani grabbed a handful of popcorn and put some in Clyde's mouth. She giggled as he chewed it and then kissed her. She looked super-sexy to him, even in a dark theater. He imagined peeling off her clothes and taking her right then and there. That was how much he had come to desire the woman, her scent, taste, feel—everything.

As far as Clyde was concerned, there was no limit to how far this relationship could go. He wouldn't have it any other way. He sensed Stefani felt the same way, and that was enough for him to continue to do what he needed to make this work in every way.

“Can't get into the movie either?” Clyde asked as they continued to smooch.

Stefani smiled. “Not really. Maybe we should cut this short and find something more entertaining to do with ourselves.”

“I'm with you there.” He could think of a few ways that might entertain him. Or should he say
them
.

They left the theater, hand in hand, and ended up going to a museum of natural history. This was followed by a Chinese restaurant, before going back to Clyde's loft, where they made love for hours on end and never seemed to tire of satisfying one another.

The next day, Clyde invited Stefani to move into the loft, feeling he wanted to go to sleep at night and wake up every morning with her in his arms. She readily agreed, and he couldn't have been happier. He saw no downside of living with someone he couldn't seem to get enough of. He looked forward to sharing his space, while not crowding Stefani or taking away her freedom.

Though he had yet to say the words, there was little doubt in Clyde's mind that he had fallen in love with Stefani McNeal. And something told him that he and Stefani were very much on the same wavelength. In spite of this, Clyde treaded carefully, unwilling to jump the gun in moving too soon in what was uncharted territory for him.

Also standing in the way of his joy was the belief that Willie continued to lurk out there, looking for some sort of warped revenge. In the process, Clyde didn't doubt the crazed man might try to go after Stefani in spite of being warned to stay away. Until he could be certain that Stefani would be safe from harm, Clyde felt it best to take a wait-and-see approach while being guardedly optimistic as to what the future held.

 

 

Ivana was drunk, and she didn't deny it to herself or the housekeeper, Emily, who had made a habit of sticking her nose where it wasn't wanted. At least not by Ivana. Fact was, the latest bout of drinking allowed her to forget everything not right about her life. She was a total screwup as a wife, potential mother, and ex-model who had always been a little insecure about her looks, even when others felt she was beautiful and perfectly proportioned. What did Trey see in her, anyway? Would he still feel the same if he knew her deepest secret?

None of it mattered, she told herself, sipping on another martini, the alcohol coursing down her throat and making her mellow. All she wanted to do now was sleep. Or was that too much to ask when she could barely make it to the stairwell without falling flat on her face?

Ivana suddenly threw the wineglass against the wall and watched it shatter. Emily came out of a room.

“I'll clean that up,” she said.

“Forget the damned glass,” Ivana slurred. “I don't need your pity.”

“I just want to help.”

“If I needed your help, I would ask for it,” Ivana said, trying to maintain her balance while feeling woozy.

“Do you want me to call Trey?” Emily voiced with concern.

“No, I don't want you to call Trey,” Ivana said in a mimicking voice. “Just leave me alone.”

Ivana reached the stairs and somehow, some way, managed to reach the second floor and stumble to her room, unsure what to do next.

 

 

Trey was already on his way home when he got the call from Emily to say that Ivana was inebriated and, as she put it, “out of control.” He wondered what it was this time that had made her get wasted. Not that she needed a reason these days. Seemed like alcohol had become her best friend, and it was high time he did something about it, before she hurt herself. Not to mention destroy any chance they had to get their marriage where it should be and keep it there.

So much for talking about anniversary plans this evening
, Trey thought, knowing Ivana likely wouldn't remember in the morning.

When he entered the house, Emily was there to greet him.

“Where is she?” he asked succinctly.

“In her room. I didn't dare go in there and have her bite my head off.”

“I understand,” Trey said. “Your housekeeping duties don't include dealing with my wife's alcohol problems.”

Emily filled him in on Ivana's temper tantrum and other behavior while under the influence.

Trey heard all he needed to. He mounted the stairs for his confrontation with Ivana, wishing it hadn't come to this, knowing he should have done something a long time ago.

He opened the door to the room they once shared and found Ivana passed out on the bed. But not before she had done a number on the bedroom, tossing items on the floor haphazardly as if searching for something she never found. Trey scooped her up into his arms and carried to the shower. She never woke up along the way, which pretty much put things in their proper perspective as far as he was concerned.

Continuing to hold her firmly, Trey cut on the cold water, bracing himself as it sprayed onto both of them. Ivana jumped when the water splashed into her face and over her body. Her eyes opened.

“What are you doing?” she screamed. “Let me go!”

“Not yet,” said Trey. “I want to make sure you're at least halfway sober to hear what I have to say.”

Ivana fought to be released but Trey was too determined, ignoring her wailing and flailing. Finally when he felt his mission had been accomplished, he carried her back to the bedroom and tossed her onto the bed, soaked, as was he.

She glared. “Have you lost your mind? What the hell was that about?”

“It's about you and your drinking,” he retorted. “It's gone too damned far this time.”

Ivana looked around the room she had trashed. “I'll clean it up—or get Emily to do it.”

“Forget about the damned room.”

She ignored this. “That bitch—she called you, didn't she? I want her fired!”

“This isn't about Emily,” Trey said. “And she's not going anywhere. But you are.”

Worriment crossed Ivana's face. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“It's means this has gone on long enough. You're an alcoholic and it's time we did something about it.” He paused, peering at her, wishing it hadn't come down to this, but it had. “I want you to check yourself into a substance-abuse treatment center.”

“I'm not checking myself into any damned treatment center,” Ivana argued, “and I'm not an alcoholic.”

“You are and you will,” insisted Trey. “This isn't up for debate.”

She flashed him an icy look. “Who made you my master?”

“I'm not your master. I'm your husband and I love you too much to let you kill yourself.”

“That won't happen.”

“Damned right it won't,” Trey told her. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”

“You can't make me go somewhere I don't want to go,” Ivana said hotly.

“Maybe not, but if you refuse . . .”

“Then what?” she challenged him.

Trey considered his next words carefully, knowing this could be a turning point in their relationship one way or the other. In the end, he had to take a stand that was in her best interests and his. “If you turn your back on getting professional help, then this marriage is over!”

Ivana swallowed nervously, “You don't mean that?”

“Yes, I do,” he assured her painfully. “The choice is up to you.”

She got to her feet and met his gaze. “I can stop drinking, I swear, if you'll help me. But here at home.”

Trey stood flat-footed as she wrapped her wet arms around his waist, laying her head on his chest. For an instant, he nearly succumbed to Ivana's attempt to get him to back down and put his trust in her to do what she clearly was incapable of doing on her own. And he surely was not qualified to rid her body of the alcohol craving, even if he was with twenty-four/seven.

He pulled Ivana away and peered into her eyes. “The only way to get this under control is at a treatment center,” he told her. “I want the lady I married back, sober. It's our only chance to make our marriage work for the long term. If you do this, you'll prove to me that you're as committed to that as I am. I'll make some calls and find the right place for you.”

Trey kissed the top of her head. “Better get out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold. I'll do the same.” He paused. “I love you.”

He left the room on that note, hopeful that she would do the right thing, and that they could successfully move on to the next chapter of their lives.

Trey sat with Helene in a small café, drinking coffee and sharing in friendship the latest turn of events in his marriage. He welcomed the opportunity to discuss Ivana's drinking problem with an outside person who had proven to him that she could be both objective and understanding.

“I had to twist Ivana's arm, so to speak,” Trey finished his monologue, “but she's agreed to seek treatment.”

“I recommend you try the Sea and Shore Retreat,” said Helene. “It's a posh detox center in nearby Garden Hills. My brother spent time there to treat his alcohol addiction. He came out a different man.”

“I want the same Ivana to come out—that is, the one I married who enjoyed a drink every now and then, but never used it as a crutch.”

“We all have our crutches, Trey. Alcohol is one of the easiest to lean on. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to lose the child you both wanted. I don't blame you for that, but some women are never the same thereafter.”

Trey gazed at her over his mug. “You're saying Ivana may never be able to shake that, even if she's no longer alcohol dependent?”

“Not at all,” Helene told him. “She won't forget, but doesn't mean she can't keep put it behind her. She's still a young and generally healthy woman, from what you tell me. There's no reason why you can't take another crack at having a child.”

“I'd like that,” Trey said. “Once this ordeal is over, Ivana and I can talk about trying again.”

“Grant and I may be headed in that direction too.”

“Oh, really?” Trey's head lifted. Somehow he hadn't thought Grant DeCroch would be interested in having any more children, seeing that he already had two adult ones from a previous marriage.

“We're exploring the possibility,” Helene stated. “If it's to happen at all, we'd want it before Grant reaches the point where he feels he'd be too old to appreciate being a father again.”

“Thankfully I've got a lot of years left on me to take up that role,” Trey said dreamily. “But first things first. We have to get Ivana sober and take it from there.”

“I really hope it works out for both of you. It's obvious how you feel about Ivana, and I'm sure her feelings are just as strong for you. Every marriage hits a few snags, mine included. That's what love is all about—being able to forgive each other and remember what brought you together in the first place.”

“I agree.” Trey sat down his coffee and smiled. “We'll be all right. I'll give this Sea and Shore Retreat a ring and go from there.”

He wanted Ivana to have the very best in treatment and comforts during her stay. But he also wanted it to be as short as possible so they could take the next steps in their marriage and future.

 

 

Ivana sat on the indoor chaise lounge, a martini in hand to calm her nerves. She was expecting Trey at any moment, having already phoned to tell her about a rehab center that he'd made arrangements for her to check into. The thought of being put away in such a place frightened her. But not as much as dealing with guilt of betrayal that threatened to engulf her. She couldn't hold it in any longer, even though confessing what she'd done might well destroy any chance of her and Trey making a clean slate after she completed her rehab.

I don't want there to be any more secrets between us
, she thought, her lips quivering while sipping the drink.
Please don't hate me, Trey. I couldn't live with that, not after everything else we've been through
.

“Ivana . . .”

She looked up at the sound of Trey's voice. “Didn't hear you come in.”

His expression was one of disappointment. “Couldn't you lay off the booze? Or did you feel the need to get soused one more time before you get treatment?”

Ivana sat the glass down, resisting the urge for one more taste. “I'm sorry.”

“So am I, but we'll deal with it.”

“I don't know how to say this. . . .” she spoke uneasily, feeling the courage beginning to wane.

“You don't have to say anything,” Trey told her gently. “There will be plenty of time to talk later. Let's just get your things and—”

“I slept with your brother—”

Trey's face contorted. “What did you just say?”

The words even sounded foreign to Ivana. Her eyes watered. She could read the anguish in his face, which made this all the more difficult. But it was too late to turn back now, as she needed to own up to this.

“Clyde and I had sex,” she reiterated, her voice cracking.

“When was this?” Trey asked quizzically. “You hardly ever leave this house, and he's hardly ever here.”

“When you were in Vegas,” Ivana explained nervously. “It only happened once. We'd both been drinking and, I don't know, things just went too far—”

“Too far!” Trey snapped. “You're telling me that you had sex with my own brother and try to justify it by saying that things just went too damned far?”

Ivana stood up on gimpy legs, reaching out to him. “I never meant to hurt you, Trey. Or maybe I did. I hated you for what you did to our marriage. Clyde was everything you weren't, and he wanted me. I was lonely; so was he. I know that's no excuse, but you insisted on bringing him into our home—”

“And that's how you pay me back—by taking Clyde to bed?”

“It wasn't like that. And I didn't take him to bed. We took each other to bed,” she needed to make clear. Ivana touched Trey's face. “I still love you. I understand that now. I've always known it in my heart. Can't we please just forget this ever happened?”

His jaw clenched, Trey pushed her hand away. “How could you do this? he asked in a disbelieving tone.

“I didn't plan it,” she responded contritely, knowing how hollow it sounded. “Neither of us did.”

“I gave you everything, including my love and this is what I get in return—bedding my brother behind my back?” Trey's face contorted. “You disgust me!”

Ivana watched as Trey began to leave. “Where are you going?” she asked, though suspecting it was after his brother.

“To kick Clyde's ass, if you must know!” he confirmed. “He's as much to blame for this as you, and I won't let him get away with it.”

Ivana ran after her husband, but he was too quick and determined to do bodily damage to his brother. Would he actually kill Clyde once he got his hands on him? Or would Clyde kill him instead?

She found herself praying like never before, while second-guessing herself for telling Trey the truth about her and Clyde.

I only wanted to do what was right. Now it all seems so horribly wrong
.

Ivana hoped she could somehow avert disaster. She went back inside and grabbed her cell phone. Calling Clyde was the last thing Ivana wanted to do, and felt she was the probably the last person he wanted to hear from. But what other choice was there with so much at stake?

She got his voice mail and imagined he was probably preoccupied with the apparent love of his life. The last thing Ivana wanted at this point was to come between Clyde and Stefani. She hoped when all was said and done they could get past this, difficult as it may be. Ivana wanted more than anything to somehow salvage her own relationship; for both her and Trey to learn from their mistakes and errant judgment.

But was it too late now for any of that?

She left Clyde an urgent message, and could only hope he got it in time to at least prepare himself for coming face-to-face with a very hurt and vengeful-minded Trey.

 

 

Trey was livid, while finding it hard to wrap his mind around what Ivana had told him. He wanted to believe this was some kind of cruel nightmare that he would wake up from and realize none of it was true. But that wouldn't be the case. His wife and brother had done the unthinkable—engaged in sexual relations with each other. This trumped anything Trey had done to either of them, even if it didn't excuse his affair with Helene. He would never have slept with Clyde's woman, whether married to her or not.

He'd given his brother everything, and Clyde had taken away the most important thing in the world to him: his wife's fidelity. Trey gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles ached. All he could think of right now was letting his fists pound Clyde's face 'til it hurt like hell, the way Trey was hurting. He had no illusions that his brother would take it like a man, given Clyde's fierce pride and own temper. Nor was Trey sure he could take him in a fair fight, since Clyde was a bigger man and battle tested. But he sure as hell would try and make his brother very sorry for his act of betrayal. And what it would cost him.

As for Ivana, Trey didn't even want to think about what this sorry revelation might mean to their marriage. Or her rehab, which for the moment was no longer his primary concern. Right now, he couldn't even bear to look at Ivana, much less think about her getting sober and resurrecting their marriage. Trey wondered if this was something that could ever be forgivable. Or was it too much to overcome, effectively ending their life together as husband and wife?

Trey's thoughts returned to the other half of his utter disappointment. Did Clyde really think he could have a piece of Ivana and then wipe the slate clean by turning his attention to Stefani?