Fair Play (17 page)

He took Dani’s hand and sat her to the couch. “I’ve never thought you unfaithful. You said you love me. I’ve waited to hear those words from your lips even though I felt it long before your admission. I know when you gave me your love, you wouldn’t give it away.

“Love is a strong emotion, and with it unfortunately comes other strong emotions,” he said. “I can’t promise you that I won’t get jealous, because I’m not sure of anything where you’re concerned. I can’t promise you that I won’t piss you off, because I know I probably will. The only thing I can promise you is I will love you forever, and never be unfaithful to you. I love you so completely, it scares the hell out of me. If the day ever comes that you don’t want me, my life is over, because you are my life. I want forever.”

He knelt down, then held out a black velvet box. “You are the other half of me that makes me complete. I need you to share your life with me, not as a possession on a shelf, but at my side as my wife and equal partner. Please tell me it’s not too late. Will you marry me?” He opened the box and nestled inside was the most beautiful diamond ring she’d ever seen.

Her heart soared, like an eagle gliding in the sky, as tears of happiness trickled down her face. “It’s never too late. I love you with my whole being, and can’t imagine life without you. I promise that I will always love you, even when you piss me off.” Hands shaking, she reached over and closed the box. “But I can’t marry you. My father pressured you into asking. I will give you forever, whether we marry or not, but please don’t ask me to marry you, unless that’s what you really want.” She grasped his hand, helped him up, then kissed him.

He lifted his head and opened his mouth, but before he could speak, she put her fingers to his lips.

“Please think about it. Let’s go up and pack our bags so we can go home.”

Jace argued about marriage when they got back home. “What is it with you? Why don’t you want to talk about it?”

“Because I think you’re still under the influence of my father’s high-handedness, and I don’t want you to make a mistake you’re going to regret.”

“I’m not a child. I’m a grown man, and know my own mind. I want to marry you.”

She turned on him, hand on her hip. “If that’s the truth, then tell me why you didn’t ask me to marry you before you met my father?”

He raked his hand through his hair. “Your father did not force me. He merely made me realize that I want to marry you.”

She threw her hands in the air. “Exactly! You would’ve never asked me on your own if he hadn’t forced you.”

“For God’s sake, Dani, give me a break. He did not force me.”

Dismissing his words, she put her shoes in the closet, then came back to the bed to hang her dresses. “You just admitted that you realized you wanted to marry me because of him.”

Jace grabbed her hands, making her drop the clothes she held. “I want to marry you, and not because of your father, but because
I
want to.”

As if he were a child, she patted his cheek. “I told you I won’t leave. I’ll live with you, whether we’re married or not.”

“Will you please just agree to marry me?”

“No ... not until I know for sure that you really want marriage. Until then, we’re living together.”

“You are the most exasperating woman I’ve ever met. I don’t understand it. Any other woman would be thrilled that the man she loves wants to marry her, but not you.” He put his hands on her shoulders, and turned her to face him. “Okay then, what about this? Let’s get engaged, but not married until you’re sure I want to get married.”

“You promise that you won’t push me to get married if I become engaged to you?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Okay, but you have to ask me all over again, and I want romance.”

He picked her up and twirled her around. “There’s never a dull moment with you.” He put her down, then swatted her butt. “Get dressed and we’ll go out to dinner so I can romance and entice you into being engaged to me.”

She wanted romantic, he’d give her romantic. He took her to the restaurant where they’d had their first date. Afterward, they returned to their apartment where he’d arranged to have a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket, candles lit, and red rose petals strewn around the living room. “Oh, Jace, when did you do this? It’s so romantic.”

“Earlier today, while you were getting ready to go out.” He led her to the couch to sit, then he got down on one knee. “I love you with all my heart, Dani, and can’t live without you. I’ll always try to make you happy. Will you become engaged to me so that we can someday get married?” He opened the black velvet box in his hand.

Tears shone in her eyes. “Jace, I love you so much. I can’t imagine my life without you, either. You put up with all my shit and still try to make me happy. Yes, I’d love to marry you.”

He slid the ring on her finger, lifted her in his arms, then brought her to the bedroom.

He laid her on the bed and looked deeply in her eyes. “Did you just agree to marry me?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes, I believe I did.”

“Finally!”

They laughed, kissed, then made love in celebration.

What a week! Dani collapsed on the bed. She was exhausted. Between the medical convention and making plans for their upcoming wedding, she was at her wit’s end. Thank God for Kathy. If she hadn’t volunteered to make all the arrangements for the grand ballroom, including dinner, decorations, and music, Dani wouldn’t have found the time to do anything. As it was, she had to squeeze time in to shop for her wedding dress. As maid of honor, Julie would be shopping with her today. She was going to need the help.

In the bridal shop, she tried a few dresses, with no success. Julie carried one in and the moment Dani saw it, she knew. It was perfect. Made of lace with a Mandarin keyhole back, fishtail train, and scalloped edging, it was exactly what she’d seen in a magazine. She studied the flow of the train in the mirror.

“I still can’t believe I’m getting married.”

Julie rolled her eyes. “Really? I knew it the first time I saw you two kiss. There was no way in hell all that fire burning between you wasn’t going to make you both stupid.”

Dani shook her head. “As if you’re not stupid over Steve.”

Julie crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not stupid over Steve. He’s stupid over me.”

“Mark my words. It’s not going to be long before you’re in my place.”

“Sheesh, ever since you’ve been with Jace you have a one-track mind. Now can we change the subject?”

“Spoil sport. Do you like this dress?”

Julie’s eyes misted. “You look beautiful. That’s the one.”

Dani swallowed past the knot in her throat. “Yes, this is the one, and so is Jace.”

As they exited the bridal shop, Dani glanced across the street. Her fingers started to shake, and her packages fell from her hands that had gone cold. In a reflex reaction, one hand flew to her throat in fear. Could that have been her stepfather she’d glimpsed briefly, too quickly to be sure? She searched frantically up and down the street, looking for confirmation, but found none. She shook her head. It must be bridal nerves and her imagination gone wild. She bent to pick up her dropped packages.

“Are you okay?” Julie asked, concerned.

Her voice cracked as she replied. “I’m fine. I thought I saw someone I knew, but I was mistaken.” Her stepfather would have no idea where she lived, so why couldn’t she shake the feeling he did?

That was too close. He needed to be more careful. He wasn’t ready to give up the game yet. This morning he’d read the announcement in the paper about her wedding to her rich casino owner. Did she really think that by moving to Vegas, and changing her name to Danielle he wouldn’t be able to find her? He was a lot smarter than she gave him credit for.

He’d bet his last dollar she wasn’t yelling rape with her casino guy. As long as her boyfriend was paying the bills, she was giving him everything he wanted until they get married. Once they get married, she’ll be just like her slut mother and become an ice queen.

His plans had to change a bit, now that she was getting married. He’d been almost ready to put his plan into action when he read the paper, but it wouldn’t be too much longer before he got his revenge. In fact, if he played his cards right, this could turn out to be very profitable, as well as satisfying, for him. He had something very special planned for both Danielle and her mother. He whistled as he walked down the street. Yep, very profitable.

The next two weeks went by quickly. Dani didn’t have a minute to even breathe. It was finally all coming together, with only one thing left to do. Jace’s ring. She was on her way to get it now. With only one week until the wedding, if she didn’t pick out his ring today, it would be too late.

She reached for the door handle and bumped into someone, dropping her purse. She turned to excuse her clumsiness, but no one was around. Strange, they must’ve been in a hurry. She shrugged, then entered the store. She picked out a gold band with three diamonds for Jace, then ordered an inscription,
Fair
Play
. Pleased with herself, she headed for their apartment.

Placing her purse on the coffee table when she got home, Dani thought about her encounter at the jewelry store. That same feeling of eeriness she’d experienced in Chicago had engulfed her briefly when she accidently bumped into whoever it was. Even thinking about it now made her get goose bumps. Her hands rubbed up and down her arms as her hair stood on end. She shook her head. She was being foolish. It was probably due to her hectic schedule these last two weeks and pre-wedding nerves.

After another long day of finalizing plans, she couldn’t wait until the wedding. Jace was relaxing in the living room when she opened the door to the apartment.

“You’re home early. Must’ve been an easy day.” She sauntered over and gave him a kiss.

He pulled her down on top of him, and gave her a long, slow kiss. “Hmm ... missed you.”

She rose up on her elbows to look at him. “I’m going to have to be missed more often if that’s the kind of reaction I get.” She lowered her lips for another kiss. The man could sure scramble her mind and turn her body into jelly at the same time. “I missed you, too.”

She tried to get up, but he pulled her back down to him. She laughed. “Jace, I need to get some dinner cooked for us. I’m starving.”

He succeeded in bringing her down for another melting kiss that had her wanting more.

“I’m hungry, too, but it isn’t food I want. Are you going to feed me?” His mouth and tongue sent hot chills shooting throughout her body as he explored her ear and throat.

She reached down, unzipped his pants, and found him thick and swollen. “I think I can accommodate you. What exactly did you have in mind? I hope it won’t be something too hard for me to handle.”

“It’s never too hard,” he moaned as his hands fondled her breasts. In one deft movement, he reversed their positions and was undressing her. The zipper on her pants was stuck, so he ripped them off.

“You’ve ruined my pants,” she said in alarm.

“Don’t worry, I’ll buy you new ones.”

His hands and mouth moved over her hungrily, inflaming her blood and drugging her senses. It was always like this with him, this gut-wrenching need, one that made her greedy for everything he had to give. He took her quickly, with no soft caresses, or gentle kisses, but she wanted none. She grabbed his hips as she thrust upward, urging him faster, feeling him hurling them toward the pinnacle. With one shuddering moan, he poured his soul into her as she flew into the heavens.

They lay there in a tangle of clothes and limbs, completely sated, waiting for their heartbeats to return to normal. Jace lifted his head, which had been resting next to hers. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? I couldn’t seem to get you fast enough. The minute I touched you, I knew I had to have you.”

“No, you didn’t hurt me. You weren’t alone. I needed you just as much as you needed me. Now let me up. I need to fix dinner so we can get our strength back because I’m going to need you again later,” she said saucily.

As she gathered her clothes to change, he smacked her butt and grinned. “You’re insatiable. You’re going to be the death of me yet, but what a way to go.”

He strode to the kitchen and grabbed a cookie out of the jar on the counter. Dani was preparing dinner, so he leaned against the counter to watch her. “How’ve you been feeling? Have you vomited again today?”

“What a thing to ask me while I’m cooking. I’m fine.”

“Did you go see the doctor today like you promised? I swear if you didn’t, I’ll take you tomorrow myself.”

“Will you stop worrying? Yes, I did go to the doctor, although, I didn’t have to. And before you ask, he said I’m fine.”

Dani slapped his hand when he reached for another cookie. “Save yourself for dinner.”

“Good. I’m glad you went. Have you talked to your parents about when they’ll be arriving?”

“They’ll be here Sunday. I can hardly wait.” While she was stirring the sauce, she spotted him sneaking another cookie, and grinned. Such a boy.

“You’re not upset that we have to postpone our honeymoon for a couple of months are you? If the gaming commission had been a little more flexible, we wouldn’t have had to wait, but if I don’t meet with them, they’ll close the casino down until I do.”

“No, that’s fine, I’m in no hurry. Speaking of the wedding, did you bring the prenup papers like I asked?”

“Yes, but I keep telling you that we don’t need them.”

“Jace ... I’m not marrying you unless we sign prenup papers, and you know it.”

He went into the living room, and brought back papers with him. “Here.”

She reached for the papers. “Did you make sure it included the clause, that everything you own before our marriage is yours in the event of a divorce? And that any children we have together will be included in your will and can’t ever be written out?”

“Dani, this is ludicrous. We are never getting a divorce.”

“It doesn’t matter.” She started reading the papers. “Good, I see they’re here.” She signed both copies, then handed them back to him to sign.

“Now you don’t have an excuse not to marry me.” He grabbed another cookie.

She glared at him. “You’re going to ruin your appetite with that junk you’re eating.”

He smirked. “My appetite’s fine if you recall.”

She laughed. “You’re too much. What does the gaming commission want with you? I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“No, it’s standard practice when ownership changes hands. They have to make sure the paperwork is filled out properly and recorded legally.”

Startled, she stopped stirring the sauce, then glanced over at him. “Did you sell the casino? I don’t care if that’s what you want, but I hope it wasn’t because of me.”

“Actually it has everything to do with you. I’m giving you half ownership.”

Her heart dropped. “Jace, no, I don’t want it. That’s one of the reasons I wanted the prenup. This casino is yours, and I want to make sure it stays yours. I don’t want your casino or your money.”

He hugged her from behind. “I’m giving it to you because I love you, and everything I have I want to share with you.”

She rotated in his arms and kissed him. “I love you, too, but I still won’t take it.”

His lips moved sensually over hers until all thoughts left her mind. “Good. I’m glad we agreed. We’ll probably have to sign the papers in a couple of days.”

“You’re not listening. I won’t ... ” Before she could finish her sentence, he kissed her again until she responded.