Page 59 of Malicious Marriage

“Oh, Frankie.” She rubs at her eyes. “I feel so guilty for putting Bobby in these situations when he has a family.”

“I won’t speak for him, but I get the impression that he includes you in that family.”

She smiles sadly. “I’m lucky.”

“Well, I know you want to sink into your own bed, but I must insist that you come home with me. In fact, I won’t take no for an answer, so don’t even think about arguing.”

Clover doesn’t look as happy as I’d hoped at my suggestion, but she doesn’t fight it either. Instead, she nods and her gaze falls away. “That sounds good because actually… there’s something really important that I need to talk to you about.”

“Oh?”

26

CLOVER

Dean insists on driving me home before we talk. I can’t tell if he knows what I have to say is important or if he thinks I’m going to tell him something about the crash. Either way, he whisks me out of the hospital within half an hour and before I know it, I’m seated in his kitchen under low light while he stands on the other side of the counter and slowly stirs a warming pot of milk.

How do I tell him?

How do I just blurt out that the baby he’s looking forward to might not actually be his? After such a terrifying night, anything that risks Dean walking away from me doesn’t feel like the best plan. I want him here with me. I want his arms around me and his warm chest soothing every tremor that jolts through me. I want him to look at me with those gorgeous eyes and tell me he won’t ever leave me.

A complicated desire given the planned divorce in our future. Is the crash making me feel this way? Am I just aching for comfort because for the first time in my life, something traumatic happened and he wasactuallyhere for me?

No one was there for me when my father died or when my sister went missing. Bobby did his best but after my father’s death, my uncle was firing so many of the security teams and replacing them with people of his own that Bobby got fired twice and sent away just before my sister vanished. He welcomed me with open arms when my uncle kicked me out, but it wasn’t the same kind of comfort that Dean is giving me. I didn’t know just how much I craved to be held and soothed until Dean’s arms were around me in the hospital, and now I’m about to break his heart.

“I have something to ask you,” I say softly, unable to stop my voice from wavering.

Dean’s attention is mostly down on the spoon as he stirs to ensure the milk doesn’t skin. “Ask me.”

“It’s about Bobby.”

Dean’s eyes flick up and he holds my gaze. “You’re worried about his medical bills, aren’t you?”

Oh. “Yes.”

“But not your own?”

My lips remain parted as my tired mind runs through excuses, but I find none and shake my head. “I’m worried about my own, but Bobby has a family and he’s hurt because he was saving me. I know I’ve already asked you for a lot?—”

“Clover. It’s taken care of. For both of you.”

“Really?”

“Mmhmm. We’re about to be married. Did you really think I would let you and those you care about suffer until there’s a ring on your finger?”

My hands twist together in my lap and I finally look away to the milk in the pan. “Honestly, everything about this is so new to me that I didn’t really know what the rules were.”

“There aren’t rules, so to speak. But I reasoned that with your uncle’s gambling problem creating such a hole in your finances, unexpected medical bills aren’t accounted for.”

My uncle’s gambling? What is he talking about?

I suddenly remember the brief conversation we had at the gala where my uncle’s reputation was brought to light. Has Dean assumed that’s the reason for my financial troubles? He’s never asked me for details, presumably to not offend me, so I don’t correct his assumption. If it works for now, then that’s all that matters. After all, even one tidbit of the truth will cause this whole thing to unravel for both of us.

“Does anyone account for unexpected medical bills?” I chuckle softly but lack any real amusement.

“My mother did.” Dean pauses his stirring and moves to the microwave, removing a small bowl of melted chocolate. Returning to the pan, he tips the bowl and slowly lets it pour in. “She had a medical-only fund because my brother and I were always getting ourselves into trouble. Scraped knees, dislocated fingers, broken arms. I’m surprised she didn’t just have a doctor live with us.”

“A family of rough-housers, huh?”