Page 56 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
He frowned. “Why? And not while you’re pregnant. You should stay until after the baby is born.”
“I don’t think so. I might come back, but I want out for now,” she said, afraid the control she had over her emotions would give way and she would cry. “My move won’t jeopardize your seeing Michael if you want to, or Eli seeing Michael.”
“’You know I’m good for Michael.”
“You can see Michael whenever you want.”
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Is this because I was shocked over the news we’re having a baby?” Nick asked.
“Not your shock. I was shocked, too. I don’t think you want to be a dad to two. Actually, I can’t do this relationship without a commitment from you.”
“We’re married, Grace. That’s legally binding.”
“We’re wed, but it isn’t a real obligation. You’ve told me that over and over.” She gave him a direct look. “I want it all. I’ve fallen in love with you,” she admitted, barely able to get her voice. “I want your love in return. Otherwise, I don’t want to stay.”
Silence fell while they looked at each other and for just a moment her heart drummed with hope and anticipation that he would again ask her to stay or make some kind of declaration. Instead, he stared at her in silence until he finally tilted his head to one side.
“Grace, I can’t give you the declaration you want. Or the full marriage. I’m just not ready for that. This baby wasn’t planned. I can’t automatically fall in love. I’m leery of a real commitment after watching all the shallow relationships my dad has had.”
They gazed at each other in silence and she could feel the clash of wills and see the wrath in Nick’s dark eyes.
“Damn it,” he whispered, and pulled her close to kiss her.
Angry and hurt, trying to resist him, Grace stood stiffly while he kissed her. Then his tongue stroking hers rekindled fires. She wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him in return and was hopelessly carried away by passion. Finally, she ended the kiss and stepped away from him. “You know my cell number. I can afford what I want. I have a condo not far from Aunt Clara. She asked me to stay with her, but I wanted my own place. I need time and space to think about the future,” she said.
She left and he didn’t stop her. By the time she reached her car, she was blinded by tears and hoped she wasn’t making a huge mistake. Crying, she drove to her condo in a gated area filled with tall oaks. Once inside her place, she sat crying, hating the loneliness and the silence, but she had to get a grip on her emotions if she wanted to go visit her aunt. She thought about Nick, standing in his back entrance, his charcoal jacket unbuttoned and his tie loosened. He had looked angry, hurt, yet incomparably appealing. She was going to miss him dreadfully and if she wanted to go back, she should return soon because it wouldn’t take Nick long to move on with his life.
Each time she considered stepping back into a loveless marriage, hot sex or not, she didn’t want to do it. She wanted Nick’s love and his heart was locked away behind impossible barriers that she hadn’t managed to overcome.
“I love you, Nick,” she whispered, crying softly and already missing him terribly.
Nick stood in the empty entry hall, staring after Grace. He was hurt and he was angry over her leaving. She was being unreasonable, ridiculous. If she wanted his love, why didn’t she stay and give their marriage a chance?
He knew the answer to his own question. Because she wanted his love. He’d told her from the first that he wasn’t into a lasting commitment. “Damn it,” he swore. He hated her leaving, particularly at this time. She was pregnant and she ought to stay until after the baby was born and let him help with Michael and then with both babies. Michael was only eight months old now. The babies would be close in age and she would need help.
He reassured himself that Grace had enough money to hire a nanny and a cook and whoever else she wanted. He left, heading back to the club and not wanting to stay home alone.
Two weeks later he lay in the darkness staring into space. He hadn’t slept peacefully since the night Grace walked out. He didn’t know how many times he had picked up his phone to call her, thought about it and put away the phone. It was pointless. Neither of them would change.
He turned to look at the empty bed beside him, seeing Grace, remembering her smiling at him, kissing him, recalling the touch and feel of her body. He groaned and sat up. He’d tried working out for hours and pouring himself into business, but he couldn’t keep his mind on his work. Anything to forget her, but he couldn’t. His dad asked about her constantly and mentioned her and Michael’s visits.
Nick had seen her when she had dropped Michael off three or four times and they had spoken coolly. She was coming tomorrow to bring Michael. Each time he saw her, Nick’s heart had lurched violently. She looked gorgeous and still had her figure. There was no way yet by looking to tell she was pregnant.
Groaning again, he raked his fingers through his hair. He missed her. He admitted it to himself. He missed Michael. Seeing Michael once a week was different from living in the house with him and seeing him daily except when he traveled. He missed both of them badly.
He thought about the dinner he’d had with Tony recently. Tony had squinted his eyes and studied Nick.
“You look like hell, Nick. Why don’t you try to get Grace back?”
“She doesn’t want to come back. She wants it all, a real marriage. I’m not into love and real commitment.”
“You look like a man in love to me.”
“How would you know?” Nick snapped.
“Hey, don’t take my head off. You’re in love with your wife. Go get her and tell her.”
Nick had glared at Tony and changed the subject, but now he mulled over the conversation. “…you look like a man in love…you’re in love with your wife…go…tell her…” Was Tony right? Nick stared into space. Had he fallen in love with Grace? Real love? He didn’t think that would ever happen to him in his entire life. It was a pitfall that he expected to avoid because it led to huge heartaches, but that’s what he was suffering now. Was he actually in love with his wife? He’d never expected to fall in love, but had that made him too blind to see it?
