“June, one thing that really annoys me is when someone starts saying something and then decides to stop midsentence and not say it. And two words that I hate hearing—never mind and whatever.”
“Got it.” June nodded.
“So, what is it you wanted to say? If you say never mind, I’ll wring your lovely neck.”
“Okay. Well, this started when I was young. When my dad leaves the house, he always gives my mom a kiss—or whoever is leaving kisses us.”
Henry raised an eyebrow. “You want me to kiss you every time I leave. Is that it?”
“Yes. No!”
“No?” Henry grinned.
“Sheez. You’re making this difficult.” She wrung her hands. Lord, she was embarrassed. “Well, I think our tradition warrants merit. What if I got really sick and ended up in the hospital where I lost all sense? What if my health turned for the worse and I couldn’t open my eyes to see you, or hear you talk anymore? At least we would have said a proper goodbye. I’ll take your kiss with me wherever I would be going and—”
“You always talk too much when nervous.” Henry reached her in three long strides. He cupped her face, then he kissed her.
She’d thought he’d give her a quick no-nonsense kiss, not one that was laced with hunger. June nearly shattered when desire raced through her as Henry slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Standing on tiptoe, she replied to his demand and touched his tongue with hers. Groaning, Henry took her mouth with savage intensity. Spirals of sweet ecstasy went through her, producing an ache deep in her belly. June wrapped her arms around Henry’s waist, pulling him against her.
“June…” Henry left her mouth to kiss her neck then stopped. Sighing, he stared at her. “Bye, Juniper Ivy Colchester. Lock the doors. I’m not sure when I’ll be home.”
“I’ll leave a lamp on.”
She remained standing in her spot, listening to the sound of the car pulling out of the driveway. Just like that and she found herself alone. Yes, alone. But she felt like screaming with joy. If their marriage was going to be an empty one, she’d settle for a kiss once in a while.
Feeling a little better, she climbed the stairs to change, repeating her name as she went.
“Juniper Ivy Colchester.”
Chapter Thirteen
Henry lay sprawled on John’s couch. His head buzzed from too much vodka. Stacey had texted him five times already, leaving three messages on his cell urging him to come to her place and have dinner with her. He looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. Surely, Stacey had already eaten. He should call her back, but he didn’t want to talk to her right now. His mind was filled with regret and confusion.
He had already apologized to June about Stacey, but he still felt like a monster. He’d hurt June. Sorrow had registered in her beautiful gray eyes when she’d said she’d never ask anything from him and only wished that he’d love the baby. She hadn’t mentioned herself. Maybe she didn’t care at all about Stacey. Didn’t she say it wasn’t her plan to get him involved? But she’d asked him to give her a goodbye kiss. Only couples who cared and loved each another did that. So, she cared? Damn it. She was so hard to read, so convoluted and fucking beautiful.
Memories of their wonderful nights together sat on his frontal lobe. Had been there since they’d said their goodbyes two months ago. He’d lost so many nights thinking about her and he’d waited for weeks at the marina hoping she would come back. His friends said that he’d been acting like a man in love. Now she was his. They could have a repeat of what they had shared while in his yacht. He could fulfill his fantasies, give her everything, take her someplace he knew she’d love to see. But they were in a different situation now. Besides, why do those things? In six months, she wouldn’t be his wife anyway. Why create more memories together when their marriage was founded on some bizarre conditions.
Despite the weirdness of their situation, though, his attraction for June had not diminished. In fact, it had hit the roof. He thought of nothing but making love to her.
It had taken great strengths to leave her in the middle of their living room. God knows he didn’t want to, but getting physically involved with his wife would make things more complicated. If he could avoid sleeping with her, their separation would be easier. It would be tough but he could do it. Henry wondered if they could even be friends.
If they’d met in a different time, different circumstances, he could have easily fallen in love her with her. No doubt. Too bad it was deception that had brought them together. June’s callous attitude had only made him see the best in Stacey. Not once had Stacey betrayed him. She was upfront, honest and fair. Right now, though, he couldn’t bring himself to go to her.
His mind kept going back to his delectable wife. She was like a sweet candy that he slowly unwrapped until he began to salivate, her skin so smooth and smelling of lavender. Her neck, long and slender, begged to be nibbled. And fucking shit, he wanted to cover her whole body with his again.
Henry groaned. His mind was so screwed-up.
“Good God, man. I’ve been watching you for the last ten minutes. In that short time, I saw different emotions played on your face. You look so confused and torn.”
Henry had forgotten that he was in John’s apartment. “I’m both.”
“Tough life, eh. Couldn’t decide whether you should go to your fantastic mistress or your cock-rising gorgeous wife.” John filled his glass with vodka. “What are you going to do?”
“Don’t know yet. But I’m leaning on jerking off instead.”
John let out a guffaw. “Whew! I would cut off my pinky to be in your situation. Two beautiful women on hand. Lucky.”
“Too many choices are never good. Makes things complicated.”
“Did June really catch you in the act?”
“I was kissing Stays. Hardly considered an act.”
“Where were your hands while kissing Stacey?”
“Fuck you.”
John laughed. “Dude. It was an act. You cheated on her on your wedding day. That’s cold, man.”
“Shut the fuck up. You’re not helping. Did you get Vivienne’s number?” He quickly changed the topic.
“She refused to give it to me.”
“Of course she would. Vivienne hates me.”
“Ah, that’s why she said I’m friends with Satan.”
Henry grinned. “You should be glad. Vivienne is another mermaid, if you ask me. She’s the one who lured me into seeing June, remember? Really. Stay away from her if you don’t want perilous events to come knocking on your door.”
“A night with her would definitely put me in the middle of a monsoon. I’m sure she’s not passive in bed.”
June wasn’t.
The first time he’d touched her, she’d shivered and tried to cover herself. But as the night had gone on, she’d become uninhibited. She’d scored his back and ass too. Yeah, she hadn’t been a virgin, but wasn’t an expert in bed either. The look on her face that night had told him that she’d never seen a real cock in her life. But then, that could be an act too. Fuck. Henry’s head buzzed. He lay on the couch then sighed. “Sell me this couch, John.”
“Damn, what’s up with the couch? You can get the same one online or at the store.”
“I tried but this one is already broken. Broken like a hide.” Like a woman’s body that molded perfectly to his.
“You mean like a woman.”
“Exactly. I’ll pay you cash.”
“Five grand.”
“Fuck you.”
John laughed.
He took the throw pillow and used it to prop his head. The moment he closed his eyes, an image of his wife telling him about her family tradition appeared. She looked so pink from embarrassment. June blushed easily, like a virgin.
Henry tried to think of other things besides June. He imagined his business, the number of jobs he and John would create, the three ships that they were ready to purchase. He wouldn’t ride the desk. That would be John’s job. He’d travel. Ah, to feel the wind against his skin, to smell the salty sea in the air. To watch the sun’s reflection on the water as it began to set. Nothing better. He covered his eyes with his arm to block the light and tried to forget his wife.
* * * *
The sound of a vacuum running woke him from deep sleep. Henry tried opening his eyes, but the bright sun had him covering them with his arm. “What the hell.” Did he fall asleep? But he had just closed his eyes only a minute ago.
The vacuum stopped. “It’s a Sunday, Sir Henry. It’s a time for worshiping God.”
Sunday? He got married Saturday. Shit. Henry looked at John’s housekeeper. “Good morning, Maria. Where is John?”
“Good morning? No, no. Afternoon, Sir Henry. Sir John left after lunch. He said to tell you he would be at the new office.”
Henry sat up and rubbed his face with his hands. “After lunch? What time is it?”
“Almost three.”
“The fuck!”
“Oh, Jesus Mary and Joseph. It is Santo Domingo, Sir Henry. Church day.”
“Sorry.”
“Do you want lunch?”
Three in the afternoon?
Fuck, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d stayed this late in bed or on the couch. “No, thanks, Maria. I’ll grab a cup of coffee somewhere.”
“Americans. Coffee in the morning, noon and night.” Maria started the vacuum again then pushed the machine close to his feet.
His stuff had been moved to the apartment. Most likely all was still in suitcases and boxes. He supposed home would be where June was. Damn. His cell rang. He didn’t have to look at the screen. He knew who it was.
“Maria, please stop vacuuming for a minute.”
“Okay, Sir Henry.”
As soon as the noise stopped, he answered the phone. “Hi, Stays.”
“I’ve waited all night long, Henry. You promised you were coming over.”
“I’m sorry. Kind of busy.”
“Are you at your wife’s apartment?”
“No. I’m at John’s.”
“He told me.”
Henry frowned. John had already told Stacey where he was, but she’d still asked. Jealous?
Stacey sighed. “You okay?”
“Got a headache.”
“Aww, sorry. I’d have a headache too if I’d had to go through that wedding. You coming, darling?”
He supposed seeing Stacey couldn’t be avoided. “Okay. I’ll be there.” He tossed the phone on the coffee table. Maria turned on the vacuum again. Fuck, the noise made his head throb.
Chapter Fourteen
Just until the brat is born.
God! She’d have to wait that long? She could not fucking believe it when Henry had told her about the contract between him and the Greenwalds. Marry that JC Penny woman because she was pregnant with Henry’s baby so they wouldn’t blab and tarnish the Colchester’s name. What the hell? Richard could have done something other than agreeing with the Greenwalds. Like counter-threaten them. But no. The freaking old man had made Henry sign the contract.
I hate that bitch!
Why hadn’t she thought about getting herself pregnant? Oh, wait. She didn’t want a brat running around. And what else? Henry had told her he wasn’t ready to have a family just yet. His mind had been focused on the business that he’d wanted to start since before he’d become an ordinary seaman. Now that he had finally been elevated to the rank of captain, some ditz who had worn forty-dollar shoes to her wedding came in the picture and snagged Henry.
Who would have thought that this could happen?
Henry was hers and no one else’s. They’d been together for a long time. He’d been the only man who understood her mood swings, likes and dislikes, and he’d been there for her no matter what. Just one call and he would set aside whatever he was doing to come to her. Henry knew he wasn’t the only man she’d been sleeping with, but he didn’t care. He was that…amazing.
For months, he’d been a perfect friend, lover and go-to guy. But watching him get married had made her realize that she’d just lost someone special. Temporarily, yes, but she still hadn’t thought it would hurt this fucking much to know that he’d married someone else. The only consolation she could cling to right now was knowing that she hadn’t lost him totally. Henry didn’t love the JC Penny bitch. He wouldn’t have kissed her on his wedding day if he cared for June. Now it was up to her to make Henry seek her bed and not his wife’s. Ha! That cheap bitch would never have Henry in her bed. Not now, not ever.
Last night, when Henry hadn’t shown up, it was a test of how much he meant to her. She’d paced and wondered what he was doing, if he would come and sleep with her, or if he had been spending time with his wife celebrating their wedding. God, she’d been pissed.
If John hadn’t told her that Henry had spent the night on his couch, she would have driven to the apartment where he’d stashed his new wife.
Opening her purse, she took out her lip gloss and quickly applied it to her lips. As soon as the brat was born, Stacey would do everything to have Henry’s ring around her finger. She’d play her cards well. Beginning tonight. Here.
She glanced once in the mirror then left the room. She nearly tripped on her high-heeled shoes.
Damn it. The housecleaner hadn’t shown up yesterday because someone was sick in the family. She’d tried calling another agency, but no one could come as early as tomorrow morning.
Who in the fucking world would have thought that?
Those maids driving around like ants on an anthill couldn’t even come because they were busy. The economy wasn’t as bad as the liberals were painting it to be. She kicked the stilettoes toward the chair then slipped on the open-toed low heels that she found under the coffee table. As she tied her hair, she heard keys jingling. She didn’t wait. She reached for it to open.
“Hello, stranger. You finally found your way to me.” She didn’t waste time wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Sorry.”
“You look like someone who slept on a couch.”
Henry pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fell asleep.”
“At least one of us got some sleep. Me? I waited all night for you. Worried something horrible might have happened. You didn’t even call.”
“But you called John, right?”
“Yeah. He told me you were at his place. But getting a call from you is different.”
“Sorry. John and I brainstormed. We’re finally moving.”