Blackwell felt his cheeks heat so he looked down. “She tried to show she was the better choice and disrobed herself and my fiancée walkedin.”
“Ahh.” Lord Bright said and Blackwell looked up. Bright cleared his throat and continued, “I will go see Gigi now. It sounds like you have somewhere else to be as well, YourGrace.”
Perfect. His business with the Brights was completed, though he might be best man at his friend’s wedding to another, if Remington asked. For now, he needed to see Donna. He nodded his goodbye to both men. “I’ll have my courier send over the check. Thanksagain.”
He left and his shoulders feltlighter.
Donna needed to understand. He’d not hurt her by choosinganother.
He drove his Ferrari home without obeying the speed limit. A few minutes later he parked in front of his estate and ran inside faster than he intended. She wasn’t in the living room. “Donna!”
Her friend, Beth, popped out of the chair behind the stairs with a book in her hand. “She doesn’t wish to talk to you. Where wereyou?”
Donna had trust issues, but she trusted Beth, perhaps more than him. He took a breath that went deep into his chest and said, “Discussing the contract withdrawal with Chelsea’s father. I’m now free to marry Donna within the hour, if she’ll haveme.”
She put the book on the side table and stared at him. “She said you cheated onher.”
This was stupid. He’d never hurt her. Just last night, he’d promised to cherish her by kissing every inch of her skin. He stepped toward the stairs. “I need to talk to her.Now.”
“Did you?” Bethasked.
He turned and stared over his shoulders. The last thing he needed was accusations all his life. For now, he stood firm. “No.”
She pointed toward the stairs. “Then she’s in your bedroom,packing.”
He rushed up the stairs. They needed to talk. This had to end as he felt like he spun in circles by her lack of trust. He threw open the door and saw her zipping a black suitcase. He went beside her and lifted her chin so they were eye to eye. “Donna, I need you to start trusting inme.”
She jutted her chin out like he was being an idiot. “Chelsea didn’t have her shirt on. If I gave you another five minutes, she’d have beennaked.”
True, but he’d have thrown her off before she ever went that far. Chelsea had taken him by surprise. He stood with his feet wider. “I didn’t expect her to strip when I told her I intended to marryyou.”
“Ugh.” She stepped away from him. “She was in yourarms.”
No. He puffed his chest—he had a clear memory of what had happened. “My arms were at myside.”
“Don’t use semantics.” She waved her hand in front of her, like she didn’t want to hearhim.
He reached out and brushed her arm gently as he stared down at her. “Donna, please start trusting me. I don’t know how to handle you running away or using Harry’s mistakes againstme.”
Her face blushed and she trembled. “I’m not running and not blaming you. She was in her bra. Blacklace.”
Her doubts weren’t healthy for him either. He took his hand back but leaned forward. “And I didn’t touch her; I didn’t ask her to do that. I didn’t even know she was going to attack me toshowme what I was missing because I chose you.” He stepped back. “But I can’t spend my life defending myself toyou.”
Silence hung in the air. He’d rather move his mother back to Colorado than deal with his integrity being questioned for the rest of hislife.
He turned to leave when Donna asked in a small voice, “That’s what reallyhappened?”
He flipped around, angry and uncertain. “Yeah. You walkedin.”
She stared at him though her gaze began towater.
He steeled his spine against more tears, though hers always affected him. He lovedher.
She let out a sigh. “I’m sorry I judgedyou.”
He nodded, relieved that she’d listened to him. “I’m sorry too—I didn’t realize what was goingon.”
Neither one of them moved. Blackwell remained wary. She hurt him by doubting him every time something happened. She’d shared her past, and he’d met that idiotHarry.
She stepped forward and touched his arm. “If I promise not to overreact again can we kiss and make up? It’s just that I care about you somuch.”
Donna was still in his heart. He felt like he deflated once he let his own anger go. He took her hand in his. “You swear you’ll give me the benefit of thedoubt?”
She nodded, clearly eager to start again. “I will.” She brushed his cheek. “Seeing another woman in your arms made meangry.”
“If the situation was in reverse, I’d be jealous.” He leaned closer, and rested his forehead against hers. Donna was everything he’d ever hoped to find in a woman. He held her in his arms. “Okay, Donna. I loveyou.”
“And I love youtoo.”
He didn’t need anything else. He claimed her lips as his own and led her toward the bed. He needed her and she accepted easily. Soon, they’d plan the wedding and he’d have her every day and every night in his bed. Perhaps then he’d haveenough.
