Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (27 page)

“
I really don
’
t want to talk about it, Vanessa.
”

“
You have to. I can see it in your eyes, Dawson. You need to. And I need to understand. Please tell me.
”

He takes a deep breath.
“
She always had issues with her family. Her sister, Winnie, was her mother
’
s favorite and could do no wrong. Even though I told her over and over that what her family thought didn
’
t matter, she was always trying to impress them. To get back in her mother
’
s good graces. I traveled a lot for my job. We had a nanny that helped her take care of the kids, but because I worked a lot, a lot of the household duties were left to her, like paying the bills. Anyway, she invested all our money into some fund her mom told her about. It was Winnie
’
s husband
’
s deal, and she was trying to help.
 

“
She never felt good enough for her family and this was one thing she could do. I get her motivation, but she never asked me. Obviously, you never want to invest all your money in the same place. Even her mother didn
’
t invest that much.

“
Turns out brother-in-law had gotten mixed up with some shady people. She lost everything, but never told me. Not even when it was on the news. Not when he was arrested. When he was set to go to trial about six months later, I came home and found her in tears. She suffered from depression and tears were common, but she sat me down and confessed that she had gotten notice that our house was being foreclosed on because she hadn
’
t paid the mortgage in months. Then she told me the truth about investing all our money and that we had lost everything.

“
I was upset. Stormed out of the house to think. Digest it. Figure out what the hell we were going to do. Once I calmed down, I realized she was scammed by her family. It didn
’
t excuse what she did, but I understood why she did it. I went back and told her it would be okay. That somehow I
’
d make it okay.
”

“
Did you know how to make it okay?
”

“
Not really, but I knew my family would help. A week later, I was working on getting the foreclosure stopped when she called me at the office and told me she had sent the girls to my parents
’
house for the evening. That we needed a night alone.
”

He stops speaking, a pained faraway look filling his eyes. He closes them tightly and shakes his head, willing some memory away.

“
When I got home, I found her. In the garage. Dead. When she killed herself, part of me went with her. I was a wreck, her parents had the nerve to blame me, and the girls cried and cried because they didn
’
t understand where Mommy went. My parents suggested we let the house go into foreclosure and move in with them. I was too devastated to argue, but it turned out to be a good thing. I don
’
t know what I would have done without them. I
’
ve spent the last two years being a dad. When Keatyn offered me the job again, they told me it was time.
”

“
I don
’
t understand how she could leave you and those beautiful girls.
”

“
I can understand why she left me. Maybe I wasn
’
t a good enough husband. Maybe we never should have gotten married. I don
’
t know. But I cannot for the life of me understand how she could do that to our children. So now you know why I have nothing to offer you.
”

“
Dawson, if you truly believe that money is what
’
s important to me, we probably should call it quits. But I think you know love is all you need in life.
”

“
I already learned that love is all you need, Vanessa. That
’
s why I quit work and spent two years with my daughters. They were more important than my pride, than money, than anything. I just didn
’
t know if you knew. Especially when I saw all your jewels.
”

“
I
’
m sorry if I made you feel like you weren
’
t enough.
”

He slides a small box out of his pocket and gives it to me.

I hold the box in my hand. It
’
s the size of a ring box. If I were with Bam, I would open it and be dazzled by another jeweled bauble.
 

I flip the top open to find a dainty, hand-stamped silver necklace
—
a delicate butterfly whose carved wings form an infinity symbol.
 

“
I know it
’
s not much,
”
he says softly,
“
but the butterfly symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings, and the infinity symbol
—”

“
Means we
’
ll be together forever,
”
I finish.

“
Mostly, it reminded me of us.
”
He taps the center of the design with his finger.
“
We started out here and went on separate paths, but both ended up back here in the middle. I hope our paths don
’
t separate again.
”

“
It
’
s the most special thing anyone
’
s ever given me. Will you help me put it on?
”
I ask, tears welling up in my eyes.

I stand in front of his mirror.
 

Put my hand over it.
 

Press it into my chest.

Then turn and look at him.
 

The corner of his mouth is turned up, like he
’
s not sure if he should smile yet.
 

I kiss him, still holding the necklace against my chest.
 

“
I
’
ll cherish this forever, Dawson, and I have no intention of our paths parting. I want to stay right here in the middle.
”

He kisses me again. Then traces the infinity sign.
“
How about this time, we go down the same path together?
”

Tears fall down my face as he holds my hand and kisses it.
 

“
I love you,
”
I tell him.

“
I love you too.
”

“
This is all I want. Your love. Your heart. Your faithfulness.
”

“
That
’
s good,
”
he says with a chuckle.
“
Because that
’
s about all I have to give.
”

“
Do you know that out of all the jewels and gifts that Bam has bought me, there
’
s never been a reason. Never a story behind what motivated him to buy it. Your thoughtfulness and the meaning behind this necklace make it worth more than any jewel I own.
”

Shelby
’
s Bungalow - Sunset Boulevard

SHELBY

I
’
m sitting at the bar eating dessert and plotting.
 

I just know Riley is at Keatyn
’
s vineyard for the weekend.

And I’m almost positive that the preppy bitch is going to be there with him.
 

And, more than likely, they are talking about their future. Based on the snippets I heard, I’m guessing she hurt him and he’s not over it but he still loves her.

But if he does, why has he been fucking me all week?

All I know is that I can
’
t let her get in my way.

Somehow, I need to find out more about this Ariela girl. Who she is, how they met, where the hell she came from, and how to get her to go back.

A handsome man sits down at the bar next to me,
accidentally
brushing my thigh with his. Men think they are subtle, but they really aren
’
t. I
’
ve seen him staring at me from across the room for most of the night
—
as are most of the men in the bar.

I
’
m dressed to kill, had my hair blown out, and am ignoring everyone but the bartender.
 

Which makes me a mystery.

I put a spoonful of chocolate mousse in my mouth, close my eyes, and savor it, making a contented sigh. The mousse here is so good eating it is practically a religious experience. I know the guy is watching me and thinking he
’
d like to make me that happy in bed.
 

And I just might take him up on it. He
’
s wearing a suit with an expensive sheen, a watch that cost more than my apartment building, and a large diamond pinkie ring. When he speaks to the bartender, he has a vague European
—
or Spanish, maybe
—
accent. He
’
s not big like Riley, but he oozes wealth and culture.
 

And there is nothing wrong with a girl having a plan B.

“
I
’
d offer to buy you a drink, but I
’
m thinking chocolate may be the way to your heart,
”
he says, pointing toward my empty dish.

“
Are you trying to win my heart?
”
I ask, playing coy.
 

He takes my hand in his.
“
I like women who believe in living life to its fullest.
”

“
By eating dessert?
”

“
You, my love, were not simply eating. You were allowing the chocolate to pleasure you. I found myself wishing I were made of mousse. Would you care to join me in my suite where we could pursue the endeavor in private?
”

“
That
’
s a nice offer, but I don
’
t even know your name,
”
I reply, even though I fully intend to go anywhere this man wants.

He brings my hand to his lips and says,
“
My name is Juan Fabio Martinez, but my friends call me Bam.
”

“
And what do you do, Bam?
”

“
Whatever you would like, my dear.
”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th

Asher Vineyards
—
Sonoma County

VANESSA

I wake up curled into Dawson
’
s arms. I feel a little bad that we didn
’
t go back out last night and join our friends, but I know they will understand.

I kiss his neck to wake him up.
 

“
Morning,
”
he says, his voice gravelly.
 

“
Last night was so incredible. I love you.
”

“
I love you too. Having you know everything makes me feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
”

“
Our past relationships have definitely taken their toll on us. Here
’
s to new beginnings.
”
I give him a sweet kiss since we don
’
t have drinks to toast with.
“
Are you ready to get up?
”

He pushes against me.
“
I think I
’
m already
up
.
”

I slide my hand down his hard torso and discover that he is correct.
“
Well, I
’
m sure my bridesmaid’s duties can wait a little longer.
”

“
A lot
longer,
”
he says, rolling on top of me.
 

“
You take the word
cock
iness to a whole new level,
”
I tease.

“
Damn right, I do.”