Nailed (22 page)

A very unhappy-looking Kane walked toward her.

She sat up, holding her head. It ached.

He stood by the bed, watching her. Waiting for an answer.

Was he mad?

She squeezed her head, wishing the pounding would stop. “I got to bed really late. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“I told you it was okay to wake me.”

She tipped up her head and locked gazes with him, feeling a little defiant.

“I didn’t
want
to wake you.”

She had been annoyed with him. Feeling that she didn’t meet his standards as a good wife.

“I didn’t mean to come across as demanding last night,” he said. “It’s just that you’re meeting my friends and business associates and I have a better idea of what’s appropriate.”

“I get it. You don’t want them raising their eyebrows and laughing at you because of your choice of a wife. I’m supposed to make you look good, not make you a laughingstock.”

He sat down beside her, the bed compressing under his weight.

“I don’t give a shit what they think,” he said softly. Then he stroked her cheek. “It’s you I was thinking of. Yes, some of them might raise an eyebrow at a purple streak in your hair. And I’m afraid that might steal your confidence. I just thought that it would be easier all around if you just try to fit in.”

She shook her head. “Don’t you get it, Kane? I
don’t
fit in. I’m not like you and I’m not like your friends. I really don’t know why you ever wanted to marry me.”

His jaw twitched and she could just imagine he was regretting his decision about this whole marriage.

She shook her head in resignation. “I’m sorry. I’ve already agreed not to dye my hair, so why don’t we just let it go.”

He sighed. “Okay, I agree to drop it … on one condition.”

Her eyebrow arched. “And what is that?”

Suddenly, he scooped her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her down the hall and laid her on the master bed.

“That you agree to sleep in my bed. Every night.” He leaned in and stroked her hair, his indigo eyes filled with warmth. “I really don’t give a damn about you waking me up. I just want you in my arms.”

Then he lay down and pulled her close.

She snuggled into his embrace, trying not to think, ignoring the pounding in her head, and just let the sound of his beating heart soothe her. Soon she fell back asleep.

*   *   *

By the time Kane got home that night, River had dinner in the oven. It was a premade lasagna.

She was in the kitchen finishing the salad when she heard him in the entryway. He didn’t call out his usual greeting today, so she kept working. She added the salad dressing.

“Hi,” he said.

She turned around to see him standing in the doorway. “Hi,” she answered, then turned back to the salad and started tossing it.

She heard his footsteps as he crossed the tile floor. Then his hands slid around her waist and he nuzzled her neck. Her foolish body quivered with delight, while she tried to ignore it.

“Are you still mad at me?” His words brushed against her ear.

She shook her head. She wasn’t mad. She was … sad.

He turned her in his arms and kissed her. Even if she’d been made of stone, she couldn’t have resisted. She kissed him back, accepting the loving strokes of his tongue, loving the feel of his hands gliding along her back, his fingers brushing through her hair.

He drew back, a smile on his face. “Let’s eat dinner quickly. I want to take you out for a surprise after.”

Over dinner, he talked about some of the plans for the party. It was supposed to be a warm Saturday evening, so the event planner had arranged for lights to be set up on the patio and in the garden, which would be very nice.

After dinner, he helped her clear away the dishes, and then led her from the apartment to his car. She was surprised when he stopped in front of an expensive jewelry store and took her inside.

“I called ahead and had someone bring out a selection for you.”

“A selection of what?” she asked as they walked to the glass counter with an array of sparkling gems inside.

When the man behind the counter saw them arrive, he opened a cupboard and laid a piece of black velvety cloth on the counter.

“Good evening, Mr. Winters. Mrs. Winters.”

He then began to lay out a series of necklaces that sparkled in the light.

“I want you to pick out a nice necklace to wear to the party,” Kane said, his hand squeezing hers.

The man began to describe the necklaces he’d laid out. There was an oval ruby surrounded by diamonds, and a deep turquoise-blue topaz surrounded by pearls. He’d also selected an emerald, a sapphire, an aquamarine, and her favorite, a stunning fire opal, which was a rich blue with flashes of green, pink, red, and orange.

“They’re all beautiful,” she said, a bit overwhelmed. “I don’t know which one to choose.”

The truth was, she didn’t want him buying her expensive jewelry, and this type of thing wasn’t something she’d ordinarily wear.

Kane wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, then kissed her cheek. “I want you to pick whatever you like. I want you to be happy with it. If you want to look at something else, just look around.”

She nodded as another necklace in the display case caught her eye. When she gazed at it, her breath caught.

It was colorful and dramatic, with an array of glittering butterflies of different sizes, looking like they were fluttering away en masse. The palette of colors included shades of blue, purple, pink, red, yellow, and orange. Each butterfly was a single color, but the bodies were set with white diamonds, the delicate lines of their wings radiating outward to deepening tones of the same color.

She loved it. It was so
her.

But she was sure Kane wouldn’t approve.

She sighed and shifted her gaze back to the choices laid out on the black velvet cloth.

“I think the opal one,” she said.

“You don’t sound very enthusiastic. Is that really the one you want?” Kane asked.

Her gaze fell back to the butterflies.

“You want me to wear whatever necklace makes me happy?” she asked.

“Of course.”

She pursed her lips. “What I really like is that one.” She pointed at the necklace calling out to her.

“Excellent choice,” the clerk said as he brought it out and laid it on the black cloth.

River held her breath, waiting for Kane’s look of disapproval.

“That is quite stunning,” he said.

River glanced at him in surprise. “Really? You’re okay with me wearing that to the party?”

He smiled. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? It fits you so well.”

River stood in shock as the clerk packaged up the necklace in a fancy velvet box.

Could it be that all her insecurities about Kane thinking she didn’t fit into his world were exactly that … her insecurities? Had she been blowing his comments out of proportion?

Early this morning, when he’d carried her back to the master bedroom, he’d said he’d only been looking out for her feelings. Not wanting her to be hurt by others’ comments at the party. She had discounted his words, but now realized that his suggestions last night had been because he was trying to protect her. And as much as she’d like to think she didn’t need that kind of protection from him, clearly she was overly sensitive to other people’s opinions of her, even if she chose to fly in the face of those opinions. With this party, it was important to her to fit in, and Kane obviously sensed that.

Kane took the bag from the clerk, and offered his elbow to River with a smile. She rested her hand on it and returned his smile.

Was it possible this marriage could work out after all?

*   *   *

When they arrived at the house Saturday morning, River was amazed by how beautiful everything looked. The inside was beautifully decorated with flowers and candles, and the backyard looked like a fairyland, with minilights, outdoor candles, and lanterns. The event planner had done an amazing job.

They took their bags upstairs, then went for a swim and enjoyed the sunny afternoon together. Kane had arranged for the caterers, who were preparing the hors d’oeuvres for the party, to prepare a nice dinner for them, which they ate on the patio overlooking the pool.

Unfortunately, by the time they finished dinner and it was time to get ready for the party, River was plagued by another headache.

Kane accompanied her to the bedroom and fetched a painkiller and a glass of water while she sat on the bed. He watched as she took it, and stroked her hair back with a gentle touch.

“You just relax.”

She nodded and lay on the bed, waiting for the painkillers to kick in as Kane took his shower.

“How are you doing?” Kane asked as he walked into the bedroom from the en suite bathroom and closed the door behind him.

“It’s a little better, but I’m going to be late getting ready.”

“Don’t worry about it. You can be fashionably late. Just come down when you feel better.”

She watched him slide off his robe, revealing his naked back to her … and his round, firm butt. Then he pulled on his boxers. As he dressed, she concentrated on willing the pounding in her head to go away.

She knew it was just that she was stressed. She tended to get headaches when she was under a lot of stress, and with the total change of her life over the past few weeks, it had definitely been building up.

After Kane left the room, she waited another half hour, but when she heard people arriving, she knew she had to get moving. She didn’t want to let Kane down.

She got through her shower and by the time she’d finished her makeup, the pain in her head was just a dull ache. She pinned up her hair, and slipped on her dress. She peered at herself in the mirror as she stepped into the tall shoes.

Just one thing missing.

She retrieved the lovely necklace Kane had bought her. She fastened it around her neck and gazed at herself in the mirror. The butterflies were attached to the chain near her collarbone on either side, and continued down her chest, the bottom one nestling between her breasts in a provocative manner. The lovely colors and line of the piece, set against the low-cut neckline of the black gown was quite stunning.

She ran her finger over the delicate, glittering butterflies in awe. They were so beautiful. The fact Kane had bought this for her still touched her.

She smoothed down her dress and took a deep breath, then opened the bedroom door. The noise from the party filled the house. Soft music. People laughing and talking. She held the oak banister as she walked down the stairs. She couldn’t see Kane anywhere.

Her stomach tightened. She didn’t like stepping into this crowd of strangers. She caught sight of Will and pressed through the crowd to talk to him.

“You look lovely, River,” Will said as she approached him.

“Thank you,” she said as she stepped close.

He introduced her to the couple he’d been talking to. She shook their hands and immediately forgot their names. She really wasn’t good at this.

“Kane said you had a headache. I hope you’re feeling better,” Will said.

Her fingers brushed against her temple. “It’s not too bad now.”

He slid his arm around her waist and excused them from the other couple as he led her to a chair in the living room.

“You sit here and I’ll get you a drink,” he murmured against her ear, so she could hear him above the sounds of the party.

She nodded her thanks, and found herself sitting in the middle of the party alone.

“Hello,” a tall, platinum-blonde woman said as she sat in the chair next to River.

“Hi,” River responded. The woman was quite beautiful, in a polished, sophisticated way. Her gold dress glittered with scattered, clear sequins and her nails were done in a deep crimson red with a smattering of gold glitter.

“That’s a beautiful necklace,” the woman said with a smile.

River’s finger stroked over one of the delicate butterflies. “Thank you.”

“So do you know Kane well?” the woman asked.

“Yes, we’ve known each other since college.” River knew she should say that she was his new wife, but she didn’t feel comfortable taking the lead as hostess. In truth, she found the woman intimidating.

Will appeared in front of her, holding a flute of champagne. “Here’s your drink, River.”

“Will, sweetheart,” the woman said with a dazzling smile. “I would love a glass, too.”

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

The woman watched Will’s retreating back, her gaze fixed on his ass.

“He is a sexy man. I hope you don’t mind me saying so,” she said.

“No, of course not,” River answered, and realized the woman thought Will was her date.

She leaned in close to River and said conspiratorially, “Have you ever had the pleasure of”—she grinned—“being with both him and Kane together?”

River’s eyes widened.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve shocked you.” She patted River’s hand. “It’s too bad, because I have and I would love to do it again. But if you and Will are…”

“No. Will is just a friend.”

“Ah, good. Then maybe I can arrange to have the pleasure again.”

The woman’s gaze locked on something across the room and River glanced around to see Kane on the other side of the dining room, opening the patio door.

“Excuse me. I’m going to go chat with our host.”

Still in shock at the woman’s revelation, River watched her stand and walk across the room, the glamorous dress hugging her curves seductively. Should she go after her?

Will returned and glanced around. “Where’s Francoise?”

“I don’t know,” River said distractedly, watching the blonde woman go out the patio door. “I haven’t met her yet. I’m sure Kane will bring her over to meet me when she arrives.”

“River, you’ve already met her. She’s the woman you were talking to.” He held up the glass of champagne he held. “This was for her.”

Her gaze shot to his. “She’s the owner of Rapture?”

“That’s right.”

River frowned. “And she had a thing with Kane? And you?”

“She told you that?”