Forever Wicked: A Wicked Lovers Novella (1001 Dark Nights) (12 page)

“Do you really mean to give up on us because I won’t say three silly words? Other than that one conversation, we’re getting along perfectly. I’ve enjoyed this time with you more than I can express. Until this morning, I believed you felt the same. Am I wrong?”

Lying wouldn’t solve anything. “No.”

“Good. Having a realistic view of marriage in no way negates the fact that I care about you. You’re not just a trophy or a body to me. I believe we can have a good life together. I’ve got nothing against roses and champagne. I’m happy to buy you all the lace you want. I’m too direct to ever compare your eyes to stars or whatever romantic drivel people spout. Beyond that, no two people should have their world revolve entirely around the other.”

“None of that is love.” Was he really that clueless? Where did he get these notions? She had a suspicion… “You know, we never talked about your parents. Tell me about them.”

“Let me put your wedding ring on your finger and I will.” When she opened her mouth to object, he shushed her. “If you lose it, it’s insured. I’ll replace it. Any other objections?”

At the moment? “No.”

In truth, the ring was beautiful, but it was dangerous to entertain the fantasy they were a loving husband and wife out together for a relaxing afternoon before they returned home to cuddle on the couch to watch TV or make love.

“So what’s the problem? Do you want to avoid wearing my ring more than you want to hear about my parents?”

With his tight jaw and down slashing brows, he turned away angrily. But when Gia curled a hand around his elbow and nudged him to face her, he looked more hurt than anything. Her resistance melted.

“I do want to hear.” Gia dug into her purse and laid the cheerful blue box in her palm.

Jason’s big fingers curled around hers, her ring sandwiched between them. When they touched, the electric contact gave her a jolt. He curled his other hand around her neck and cradled her head. God, she always got so lost in his eyes…

During their year apart, she’d often had dreams about him. No matter what happened during those episodes, when she woke, it was his eyes that haunted her. But she loved so much more about Jason.

His sophisticated precision and the relentless way he attacked life had always fascinated her, yes. He cut through the BS and simply said what others only dared to think. Once he’d zeroed in on her, he’d quickly snagged her attention and conquered her heart. Since then, he hadn’t let go. Gia thought she had, but now she wasn’t so sure.

“Baby…” he murmured as he bent to brush a kiss over her lips.

Gia closed her eyes, soaked Jason in, and opened to him. With something between a sigh and a groan, he took her mouth, plunging deep, his grip tightening on her. He took her breath as he stole her heart all over again.

She grabbed his shoulders, wriggling closer and fusing herself against him. How could she want him again so desperately? But like always, the moment their lips met, the passion sparked to a blaze that quickly became a conflagration.

Because she loved him. But according to him, he would never love her in return.

Damn it, what was she supposed to do about that?

As he let go of her hand and gripped her wrist to bring her closer, someone jostled them and cleared her throat. Gia looked up to find an elderly woman silently scolding them as she passed.

Jason smothered a laugh. “Guess she doesn’t believe in PDA.”

“Public displays of affection weren’t big in her day. My parents don’t mind indulging, but I remember my grandparents. OMG, the moment my mom and dad would kiss, my granddad would bluster and rail.”

“That sounds nice, actually. I never knew my grandparents.” With a sad smile, he plucked the box from her palm and opened it. “Give me your hand.”

With her heart thumping, she did. When he removed the ring, he snapped the little case shut and pocketed it before sliding the gorgeous jewel on her finger. The moment hovered, breathless and profound as he settled the ring in place. It still fit perfectly, and the diamonds glittered in the light. Just like the first time she’d seen it, Gia fell speechless.

“I really will get you something else if you don’t like it.”

“Is that what you think?” She looked up at him, blinking in shock. “I love it. If I never told you that, I’m sorry. Wearing it terrifies me. Losing it would be crushing because it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Jason breathed what looked like a sigh of relief. If he didn’t have deep feelings for her, if it—like her—was just a status symbol, would her opinion even matter?

“Tell me about your parents.” She squeezed his hand.

His smile looked tight and cynical as he squeezed back and let go, strolling deeper into the mall. “Well, my father married my mother, his assistant, after he got her pregnant. He was fifty-five. She was twenty-three. He divorced his first wife, leaving her and their three college-aged children. My mother wanted wealth, and he wanted an upgrade on his piece of ass.” He cocked his head and sent her a challenging glance. “Are you thinking, ‘poor little rich boy with the scarred psyche?’”

Actually, yes. She might have grown up knowing her family watched every penny, but she’d never had any doubt they loved one another.

“Were they happy at all? Ever?”

He shrugged. “Mom was happy when she was shopping. I think my father was happy when he was showing off his pretty, young wife so everyone could see what great taste in women he had. They ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ that he could afford her. To this day, she’s very expensive looking.”

“None of that is happiness,” she pointed out.

“I’m well aware of that.” He took her hand in his.

“So they weren’t affectionate?”

“The ‘affection’ my parents shared was outlined in their prenuptial agreement. If my father wanted more, it usually cost him at least a new Louis Vuitton bag.”

“So basically, he bought her?”

Jason paused, then nodded. “I suppose, but she wanted it that way. He didn’t object.”

That explained why he spent ridiculous amounts of money on her and why he didn’t believe in love. Why he’d been trying to buy his way into filling her womb with his children. He only understood what he’d seen.

“That’s not the way marriage should be,” she murmured.

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” He sent her a brittle smile. “Now, what do you need at the mall?”

Biting her lip, Gia vacillated.
Tell him? Don’t tell him?
If she spilled, he’d insist they go to her father’s party. The family would learn her secret…and there would be trouble. Besides, if she introduced Jason to everyone and they didn’t stay married, she’d shock her parents and break their hearts. Her mom and dad were fairly hip about lots of things, but they were still Catholic. They didn’t believe in divorce.

On the other hand, no one had ever shown Jason real love. Maybe he needed her far more than she knew. Or maybe she was inventing reasons to stay with him because she wanted to so badly.

She needed time to think.

“Just a little something for my dad,” she hedged. “It won’t take long.”

He said nothing, just led her through the mall. Gia had the vague sense that he was disappointed. Or maybe that was just her guilt talking…

* * * *

It didn’t take too long before Gia found a nice pair of wool-lined leather gloves and a striking plaid scarf for her father. She protested their expense and moved on. Since pinching pennies in Neiman’s was counterintuitive, the second she sought the restroom, Jason went back and purchased the gift for her father. Marco Angelotti was his father-in-law, even if the man didn’t know it. Besides, Jason had an ulterior motive.

Bag in hand, he waited for Gia at the end of the hallway outside the restrooms. She came out with fresh lipstick and a smile.

“I was thinking, if we start heading toward my parents’ house, there’s a sporting goods store Dad likes to browse that—” She peered at the bag in his hand. “What did you buy?”

“The items you think your father will enjoy. And don’t say a word. He’s important to you, so he’s important to me. End of conversation.”

She pursed her lips together. “It’s not. There’s no way I can afford those, so he’ll know they didn’t come from me.”

“Take the price tags off and say you got a great deal.” He shrugged. “Of course, you could always tell him the gift is from his daughter
and
son-in-law.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. The first thing they’ll want to know is if you love their little girl. If you can’t say yes and mean it, they won’t be welcoming.”

If they had a drop of practical blood in their veins, they’d realize he could provide for her and any children they had in great style. They might not be thrilled that he’d joined the family, but he’d bet they’d be smart enough not to object.

“Leave that to me. I can be very convincing.” He took her by the elbow.

Gia tensed, and Jason had no doubt she was flustered. Time to take his pretty wife in hand and start persuading her that love was just another four-letter word. She mattered to him. They could enjoy one another and build a solid foundation on which to raise children. And he’d spend every moment they had left together proving it.

“Come with me.” Jason led her toward a section filled with clothing that looked well-made and stylish with a hint of sexy.

“Where are we going?”

“Indulge me for…” He glanced at his watch. “An hour or two. You don’t have to be at the pediatrician’s office for a while.”

She frowned, still agitated about her dad’s gift. “All right.”

He grinned and led her to a rack of sexy black skirts that would hug her ass in the best possible way.

“Can I help you?” a very manicured fifty-something saleswoman asked them.

“No. We’re just browsing,” Gia answered.

“Yes,” he contradicted. “My wife wants to try this skirt on.” He spotted a shimmery blouse in a champagne shade that would look fabulous against her skin. “And that. I’d like to see some casual clothes, too. Classic, but not stuffy. Something age appropriate.”

“Of course.”

“She also needs lingerie and shoes.” He rattled off her sizes.

Gia gaped at him. “Jason!”

He patted her hand. “Don’t worry. We have time.”

Because he wasn’t going to hear a damn word about money. His subtle warning glare should tell her that.

“Will your wife need a purse or two? Any jewelry or cosmetics?” the woman asked.

“Yes. If you’ll bring the purses with the outfits to the dressing room so she can see how everything looks together, I’d appreciate that. Also, we’re going to need this block of dressing rooms to ourselves. My wife is very private, and I respect her modesty.”

“Of course.” The woman bowed her pale head deferentially. “I’ll call some other associates and we’ll be happy to bring you everything you requested.”

“Excellent.” He grabbed Gia’s hand. “We’ll wait for you inside.”

The moment the woman hustled away, no doubt adding up her potential commission, Jason led his shocked bride to the fitting rooms against the far wall.

As soon as they walked into the partitioned area and saw that they were alone, she stopped and gaped at him. “Are you crazy? I don’t need all that. I certainly can’t affor—”

“Stop. Right. There.” He glowered. “I asked you to indulge me and you agreed.”

“I thought you wanted me to look at something interesting.”

He shrugged. “Consider me spoiling you the most fascinating subject ever.”

With a roll of her eyes, she sighed. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but you don’t need to buy me anything.”

Jason studied her with a frown. She would spend every day and night until their anniversary with him for a healthy divorce settlement, but wouldn’t accept his gifts during their marriage? “I didn’t need a new Porsche last month, but it made me happy. Not everything is about necessity.”

“Have you ever heard the words ‘frugal’ or ‘economical?’”

“I have. They only apply when I wish them to. Don’t worry about money, Gia. I have nine zeroes in my bank total. I can handle a day of shopping.”

“I won’t wear any of this when I go back to work.”

Her argument was somewhere between tiring and insulting. “So I should not wish to buy things for my wife for the express purpose of seeing her look good or smiling?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then explain. If I had to guess, you think that if I spend money on your clothing, I’ll demand something from you in return.”

“It feels a lot like you’re trying to buy me, the way your father did your mother.”

So she wanted his money without strings? That made sense to the cynic in him, but every other part of him protested that Gia wasn’t mercenary.

Jason snorted. Either he was getting soft or his wife had played him well.

“Not at all. Let me put it to you this way: Would your mother ever object to your father if he wanted to do something nice for her?”

Gia paused, obviously trying to think of some way—any way—she could say yes to that and mean it. Finally, she gave a little huff. “No.”

“Because if your father told your mother they could afford something, she would just accept that as fact.”

Her long sigh told Jason he’d hit a bull’s-eye. “Yes.”

“Can you give me the same courtesy?”

“My father would never buy her all the things you’re suggesting,” she argued.

“He likes to make her happy, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then if he had the means, I guarantee he would buy her everything in the store she wanted. Hell, you make it sound like he’d give her the world.”

“He loves her.”

“He values her above all others.” And now they were playing a game of semantics. “Just like I value you. I fail to see the difference.”

The sales associate saved him whatever argument Gia had on the tip of her tongue by coming in with an armful of bright but warm clothes for the coming winter. She set them in the first dressing room then disappeared and returned moments later with two fellow employees, who each carried in shoes and bags and a stack of lacy panties, sheer bras, and even a pair of stockings or two.