Page 29 of Dante (Members From Money Season 2. #153)

"I believe I said that in front of God and witnesses.

" He understood where she was going, because he was feeling the same way.

This morning as he was getting dressed, it hit him that he was going to spend the rest of his life with a woman he was irrevocably in love with.

She was it for him. For the rest of his life, she would always be the only one for him.

"Dante..." Her breath caught inside her throat, and she had a difficult time swallowing.

"I know baby," he tilted her face up. "I feel it too."

He worked furiously so that he could carve out two full weeks for their honeymoon.

When she told him she had never traveled outside the US, he made it his mission to correct that.

He took her to Europe where she was dazzled by the wonders of Italy.

In Rome, there was the Sistine Chapel, Forum and Colosseum as well as the Vatican museums. In romantic Venice, they explored the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square and the Basilica.

He included Florence and Sicily and finished off with a two-day stay at his vineyard in Tuscany.

Even though he had made countless trips over the years to these places, he found that seeing them through her eyes made a lot of difference.

She had this childlike wonder about her and was not afraid to express her wonder and amazement.

He was also compelled to shop for her, everywhere they stopped.

Brushing off her protests, he heaped her with gifts and clothes.

Paris was visited on their way to Ireland.

She was dazzled and overtaken with the lights and fashions of the narrow streets and said nothing when he took her to the Champs Elysees and vintage outdoor stalls.

And Ireland with its wide-open spaces and incredibly green and verdant landscape made her want to stay longer.

He had introduced her to a lifestyle she had only seen on the internet or in magazines. A lifestyle that had changed her perspective forever. It made her love him even more, if that was at all possible.

"I got in touch with Ms. Carstairs." He made the announcement two weeks after they returned from their honeymoon. They had settled into marriage seamlessly with her taking over the household duties and coordinating with Ms. Hughes to deal with menus and things like that.

"Oh?" She looked up from the memo she was typing as he stood at her desk.

His eyes lingered on her lovely face and admired the cashmere sweater she wore over her dark blue pants. She was easily the most beautiful pregnant woman he had ever seen and wanting her was not decreasing. He made love to her every night and was starting to wonder if he should ease off some.

"Her sister is doing much better. She's coming home." He waited a beat as she stared at him. "I've asked her to come back to take up her position."

"I see." She finished the memo and sent it off. "You contacted her without discussing it with me. I thought this was my position."

He rubbed a frustrated hand at the back of his neck. "You're seven months pregnant..."

"And I'm as healthy as a horse or so the doctor told us.

But that doesn't matter to you, does it?

You want me gone from the office." Her eyes flashed fire.

"Is there a reason for that? Am I cramping your style?

I've noticed the women giving you inviting looks and not to mention I happen to be very pregnant and not attractive to you right now. "

His temper snapped like a twig, and he had to take a deep breath to steady himself.

"I will not entertain your paranoia because you know that I cannot keep my hands off you.

It's time for you to stay home. I will not have my wife working when there's no need for her to do so.

And yes, if you don't comply, I will fire you. "

Shoving from the desk, she rose. "Go to hell." Grabbing her jacket and her purse, she brushed past him.

"Where are you going?" he demanded.

Whirling at the door, she gave him a haughty look tempered with anger. "I'm assuming I still maintain the right to live my own life. I'm going for lunch and don't even think of having one of your drivers follow me." With that, she slammed out of the room.

Dragging his fingers through his hair, he stared at the closed doors and was tempted to go after her and haul her back. Damn her obstinance!

She stopped at a small diner a few miles away and decided to grab a pastry and some herbal tea. Which turned out to be a bad idea, because she was instantly recognized.

Taking her order to go, she hurried out of the crowded café and into her car. She was merging into traffic when it occurred to her that she was near her former home. And she still had the keys to the place. Ignoring the ringing of her phone, she journeyed there.

A feeling of nostalgia hit her as she drove into the cobbled drive.

Winter had wreaked havoc on the plants she had carefully tended.

Exiting the vehicle, she wrapped her jacket around her as the wind sliced through the cashmere.

She had left here as plain Courtney Vernon and was now Courtney Livingston.

Climbing the steps, she noticed that her brother had replaced the worn chairs that had been on the porch since she bought the place.

In their place was a rocking chair. Shaking her head, she unlocked the door and disengaged the alarm.

Shrugging out of her jacket, she hung it along with her tote on the coat tree and wandered into the living room.

And noticed more changes. He had gotten rid of her sofas and put in his tan leather ones and a Barcalounger near the faux fireplace.

"Well," she stood in the middle of the room and wondered if she approved of the changes. And had to remind herself that it was no longer her home. She had given up all rights to it and signed it over to him.

Leaving the living room, she went into the kitchen, gratified that at least here, her stamp was still noticeable.

The pots of herbs were still on the windowsill.

Filling the watering can, she started watering.

She then went through the entire house and tidied up.

At least, he was no longer a slob, she noted.

She only had to pick up damp towels off the bathroom floor and spread his bed.

Going back downstairs, she decided to cook. Rummaging through the fridge, she found vegetables and took them out to make a stew.

When it was finished, she sat at the dining table by the window and stared out at the bleakness of the evening.

She had been gone for almost two hours and had not called her husband.

He had told her he would fire her if she did not do as he ordered.

The nerve of the man. The unmitigated nerve of him!

She stabbed at her vegetables angrily. He had only to ask her, but no, being him, he did not deign to do any such thing. It had to be his way all the damn time.

Finishing the meal, she went back into the living room and felt the exhaustion coming over her. Getting the blankets from the closet, she spread one over the supple leather. Lying down, she covered herself with the other blanket and was out like a light.

As soon as Caleb saw her car in the driveway, he pulled out his phone.

"I found her."

"Where the hell is she? Is she okay?"

"At my place. Her car is in the driveway."

"I'm on my way."

Shaking his head, Caleb drove in and parked behind her. Livingston had called him sounding frantic and reported that he could not find Courtney anywhere.

"She's not answering her phone. We had one bloody argument where I told her she had to stop working and she stormed out.

She could be involved in an accident or lying in a ditch somewhere.

If she's okay, I'm going to murder her. And don't tell me you're a cop.

I don't give a damn. Bloody woman makes me want to strangle her. "

He had wisely refrained from saying anything.

Letting himself into the silent house that smelled enticingly of stew, he went into the kitchen first and then the living room. A smile curved his lips when he saw her stretched out and fast asleep.

Crossing to the sofa, he sat at her hip and shook her hard enough to have her eyes flickering open.

"Caleb?" Confusion covered her face as she eased up a little.

"Hiding out?"

She squirmed slightly. "Something like that. What time..." She glanced at the clock and sat bolt upright. "Oh my God! It's almost eight."

"Your husband has been calling down my phone and demanding I call for backup. He's worried about you. We've both been calling and you're not answering your phone."

She had the grace to look guilty. "I turned it off."

"I called him when I saw your vehicle. Good thing I decided to swing by and grab a few things. I'm working over tonight. He's on his way." Caleb grinned. "Said something about strangling you."

Shoving the covers off her, she rose, just as headlights sliced through the darkness.

"Ah, perfect timing."

"We had an argument."

"So I heard."

He stepped back when footsteps pounded through the hallway. He stopped inside the doorway for a few seconds and stared at her. Caleb had a feeling the man did not notice him standing there.

Crossing the room, he simply hauled her into his arms and wrapped her up against him.

"Dante..."

"Quiet," he whispered raggedly.

She was about to say something when she realized he was shaking.

"I'm so sorry."

"I thought something had happened to you." Lifting his head, he cupped her face. "I'll kill you later," he murmured before crushing her lips with his.