Chapter Twenty
Gabriel
“It’s been four days since you talked to the detective. Please tell me you have good news.”
It wasn’t my normal greeting for Mason, but I was sick of waiting around. One more day and I was going to call my fucking realtor and get a different place. Spending weeks in the Honeymoon suite was too much.
Although for the past hour, which I’d spent on the couch with Luna, it hadn’t been all too terrible, nor was any of the time we’d been close. I was beginning to think that the annulment was a bad idea, but wasn’t sure if she felt the same.
“Relax, I come bearing good news.” Mason held his arms out in defense. The guy was impeccably dressed as usual, as if he was out to impress a lady, with his cologne strong and his hair perfectly gelled.
I retreated to the couch where Luna and I had been sitting together for the past hour. Her red cheeks and panting could have gone unnoticed as she collected herself, but her hair and blouse, which were both suspiciously mussed, had Mason’s eyes narrowed.
“You two seem cozy.” He glanced back and forth between us.
We kept our distance, Luna and I, her sitting at arm’s length as I pressed on. “Well?”
He clapped his hands together and flashed a grin that would have made the Cheshire Cat jealous. “The investigation at the hotel is complete; all the different departments have signed off, so you can go there if you want – but more importantly, you’re free to go home.” Luna squealed a sound of relief and moved to the edge of her seat as Mason continued.
“Hatcher wants you to stay in touch and, of course, don’t leave the country. The detective in LA will be checking on you and will filter in any new information. He did admit there is another lead, but no word on who or what. My guess would be that staffer you found on the footage, but I don’t think he’d admit that.”
“I bet you’re right. I’m anxious to hear, but going home is the best news yet.”
Luna was so excited, she threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek. Then she rose to her feet and ran to the bedroom. “I’m going to pack!”
I watched her hurry away with a happy bounce in her step that had me licking my lips. But when I turned to Mason, he glared at me and then toward the bedroom. “What the hell is going on between the two of you? You seem rather chummy.”
It wasn’t that we were hiding anything from Mason, but I doubted he’d be happy to learn the marriage was now official – at least in the sense that we’d sealed the deal with sex.
“We’ve been cooped up in this place; it was bound to happen.” I raised my shoulders and Mason’s expression hardened.
“Well, congratulations, friend: there goes half of your fortune. I hope you’re happy. I warned you it wasn’t the best idea. You may as well get out your checkbook, or better yet, sign away your home.”
I hardly thought it was all that bad. Luna was the one still wanting the annulment, and it seemed to me her best course of action regarding my wealth would be to stay married to me.
“I’m not interested in his fortune, thank you.” She stood at the doorway of the bedroom, her eyes hard and angry, her lip curled in disgust. Neither of us had seen her standing there, and my heart sank that she’d heard him.
She crossed the room and got right in Mason’s face. I stepped forward, placing my hand on her shoulder. She shrugged away from me and turned on us both.
“So, it was bound to happen? Is that right? Thanks for keeping it special.” She spun around on Mason. “And you. I’m tired of your nasty glares down your nose like I’m some sort of blemish. I didn’t ask to be here, and I didn’t marry him for his money.”
Mason leaned forward, shifting on his feet with his hand on his hip. “How the hell would you know? Last I heard, you conveniently forgot the wedding.”
Luna’s mouth popped open, her jaw going slack with shock, but she didn’t back down. “Fine. I’ll sign a contract. I’m sure you’ve got one in that fancy suit of yours. I’ll denounce any tie to his money that’s rightfully mine. And, I might not remember my wedding as more than a drunken fog, but I know I wouldn’t have married him if I didn’t care about him! So go ahead, get your contract. We can call it a post-nuptial if you please.”
“Quick, someone grab a pen!” Mason bit back.
“You know what your problem is, pretty boy? I think you’re jealous. How long have you had your crush on him?”
Luna’s statement sent Mason into a rage. “I beg your pardon? That’s way out of line.” He turned to me, his face glowing red with embarrassment. “I’d suggest you control your wife before you lose a lawyer.”
Something in his body language told me that Luna might not be so far off. I’d seen the man with many women, but who knew what kind of secrets people kept to themselves.
“That’s enough!” I pulled Luna’s arm, keeping her close to me while I put some distance between them. “You’re not signing anything. I don’t think for a minute you married me for my money. If I had thought that, you wouldn’t be standing here. And you,” I spun around to face Mason.
“We’ve been friends a long time and care about each other, so that’s all that matters to me. But you will not talk to my wife that way ever again or you can find another client who will pay you way more than you’re worth. As for how I choose to take care of her financially, it will be on my terms and isn’t any of your business.”
I didn’t feel at all out of line. Mason was highly overpaid, but I’d always felt he was worth it, but I wouldn’t have him treating Luna like she were any less important. For as long as she remained my wife, she’d be respected.
“I’m sorry.” Luna’s apology came out of nowhere and was directed toward Mason. With a stiff upper lip and his jaw so tight the muscles feathered, he nodded.
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Let me pour you a drink, friend.”
He fidgeted with his cuffs. “No thanks. I’m going back to LA. My work here is done. See you back home.” With that, he gave Luna a stiff nod and strode out the door.
As it slammed behind him, Luna deflated, releasing a deep breath as her shoulders slumped forward. She placed her hand on my arm and all the anger went out from me, but I was hardly done.
“You went for the jugular.” As she shrank away from me, I turned and headed to pour myself a drink and text Joe and have him ready to go.
“You can’t tell me you didn’t always suspect that. He beams at you like you’re a God and he’s been downright bitchy to me since day one. Besides, he pissed me off with that money talk. I’m not a gold-digger.” She waited for me to pour my drink then poured one of her own.
“I know you’re not. But I want you to know that I’m going to take care of you. No matter what you decide to do about the marriage-”
Her temper flared again and she was suddenly two inches taller. “What I decide? We’re in this together, aren’t we?”
“Yes, but I’m talking about provisions. Security – and not only the type I sell. I’ve already promised your job is still here waiting, but don’t think for a moment that because we’re going home that I’m letting you out of my sight.
“There is still someone out there killing women tied to me, so when we do get back, we’ll check in on our places and then we’re retreating to my vineyard home. It’s outside the city, but still local enough we can drive in when needed. Plus, it’s got all the security we need.”
I expected her to protest, but she relaxed her posturing and took a step back. “Is this the one in Temecula? My father lives in Murrieta, so at least I’ll be close by if he’d like to visit.”
I tossed back my drink and poured another. “Of course, and I know you were looking forward to having your friend fly out, but once we’re settled, she’s welcome there, too.” She nodded, and I leaned forward, planting a kiss on her cheek. “I want to take care of you.”
“I know. But I’m used to taking care of myself, and even though I’ve been a daddy’s girl, make no mistake that I took care of him as much as he took care of me.”
“I’ve no doubt. But I’ve also got a right to use my money how I want, and I am not taking no for an answer when it comes to making provisions. If you need anything, please ask. Let me do this for you, Luna.”
“Fine. When are we leaving?” The emotion caught up with her as she sagged against me. “I want to go home.”
“I’ve got Joe gassing up the car and asked him to be here within the hour. You better get a move on.” With one last peck on the mouth, she turned and went back to the bedroom.
I followed her into the room, gathering up my things. Her excitement was contagious. “I’m going to call my father and tell him the good news as soon as we’re in the car.” Her smile was ear to ear as the tossed her things haphazardly into her bag.
I took a bit more care, but hurried myself. As ready as I was to get back to my own place, I was more excited to share it with her and have her in my personal space: in my bed, my shower, my home office.
Twenty minutes later, she had all of her things neatly waiting by the door and she paced the floor in front of it as I did a final sweep of the room. “Joe will come up to walk us down, won’t he?”
“Of course; the persistent press is still lingering.” I checked the bedroom and bathroom and peeked inside the shallow closet.
“Why won’t they all go away?” I came out to find her peeking through the peephole. “Do you think they’ll see we’re leaving and follow us home like stray dogs?” I laughed as she backed away and threw me a glance. “Joe’s here!” She turned and grabbed her bags.
I opened the door for Joe, and he wasted no time taking the load from her hands. “I can get that,” he said, taking the larger bag.
I took a final look behind me to the honeymoon suite. My bride deserved so much better, and I vowed then and there to make the rest of our marriage, no matter how short-lived, much better.
Sure enough, as we entered the lobby, the reporters swarmed. I kept a hand on Luna as we made our way through them, tucking her tight against me as Joe muscled our way through to the car. The burning questions on their lips were not as much about the investigation as they were about our marriage.
Finally, we made it to the car; crawling inside was like a birthing experience from the tight crowd. In four hours, we’d be home. Together.