Page 17

"MRS. SUTHERLAND WOULD like you to know she's waiting for you at the study, sir." Thomas' face was somber as he relayed the message, and Nicholas' face hardened.

So this was it, he thought grimly. Just two damn days until she was properly free to leave his home, and she couldn't even wait that long.

Was she really that in love with Drake? The mere thought of another man touching her was enough to put him in a violent mood, and he remained on edge even as he entered the study and found a nervous-looking Tabitha seated on the couch.

She looked beautiful in her rose-printed dress, the fabric fit enough to blatantly advertise the pregnant curve of her belly. As always, the sight of it made him hard, hence the loose trousers Nicholas had recently taken to wearing.

"Hey." The smile that formed on her lips was as tentative as the tone of her voice.

Nicholas knew she was hoping he would smile back, and he almost laughed at how damnably optimistic she was. Did she really think he could smile, knowing that she had come here to let him know she was leaving him for another man?

Not on your life, baby.

He might not be able to force her to stay with him, but he was damn well going to make it as hard and awkward for her to go.

Bee's heart banged nervously against her chest as Nicholas sat next to her on the couch. It was the closest he had been since she had temporarily moved back to the ranch, and oh dear God, it was making the butterflies in her stomach do the craziest things.

He was just so, so beautiful. Still the most beautiful man in her eyes, really, and oh, how she ached to once again have her fingers running through the silky golden locks—-

Stop that, Bee!

Their marriage had never been real, and so she had never any right to touch him.

"Well then, wife..." Nicholas saw her visibly start at how he had addressed her, and he asked mockingly, "Is something wrong?"

Bee could only shake her head silently.

"It seemed so long ago," Nicholas murmured, "when you would've replied differently every time I called you that. You'd be blushing and smiling at me, and you'd address me with that one word you're so inordinately fond of. Husband, wasn't it?"

A stricken look crossed her face. "Why are you doing this?" Her voice shook, pain chipping away at her heart with every memory his words were forcing her to remember. "I know I've made a fool of myself—-"

"Is that why you decided to turn the tables," he asked flatly, "and make a fool of me this time?"

Bee paled, her hurt all but forgotten at the realization that Nicholas, unlike her, knew what everyone had been saying about her and Drake. "I'm s-sorry," she stammered. "I didn't know people were talking about us that way."

Nicholas' jaw clenched. She was sorry that people had talked...but she wasn't sorry about falling in love with another man?

"I would never want to shame you."

No. She wouldn't. She wasn't that type of girl, and maybe...maybe it was also time to accept that he wasn't the type of guy who deserved her.

Nicholas suddenly felt weary. "Why did you want to talk to me, Tabitha?"

She swallowed hard. "I just thought...it was time to go."

"There are only two more days left."

Her throat tight with sobs that were suddenly struggling to come out, she could only speak in a stilted voice. "I know."

"Just two more days," he repeated, and the bleakness in his voice made Bee bite her lip hard. But even so, she could only stay behind the protective walls of her heart.

"Is my company truly that unbearable to you?" Nicholas asked dully.

Her heart hurt. God. If only he knew. But all she could do was say the same thing over and over again. "I'm sorry."

He gazed at her, and he couldn't remember feeling this sick, this fucking weak. The moment she left him, the moment she became someone else's, his life would never be the same again—-

And before he knew it, he was on his knees, and she was crying. He took her hands in his, and she cried harder.

"I love you, Tabitha."

But his wife only cried, her dark eyes telling him she didn't believe a word he was saying, and terror and desperation grew inside of him. "Tell me." His voice was raw with emotion. "Tell me what to do so you'll believe me—-"

"I just can't—-"

"At least give me a fucking clue—-"

"I'm so sorry—-"

"I don't need your apologies," he said hoarsely. "I need you to tell me how to fix this. Didn't you tell me I'm the world's sexiest husband? Am I not that to you anymore? Does Morrison have more abs than I do? Is that fucking it—-"

"Nicholas, please!" It hurt to hear him say such things. "It's not like that—-"

"But it looks exactly like that," he said bitterly, "as far as the rest of the world's concerned."

"Nicholas, no." Pain was eating her alive at seeing him so broken, and it wasn't right. It just wasn't right, and it hurt. "It's not like that at all—-"

"Then stay. Please fucking stay. I'm begging you. Please stay."

"Nicholas—-"

"I love you, Tabitha—-"

It was too, too much. She could feel herself weakening, and it terrified her.

"I'm sorry."

And then she was running out of the room. Away from him. Maybe even for good.

Leaving him on his knees. His heart in pieces.

He really had lost her.

Bee ran and ran, but the pain didn't leave her, and she fell to her knees with a sob.

God. Oh God. She had thought she was doing the right thing, setting him free.

But now she was no longer sure. All she could see was the ravaged expression on Nicholas' face.

All she could hear were words that he had spoken, words that he should never have said—-

Tell me what to do so you'll believe me.

At least give me a fucking clue.

I need you to tell me how to fix this.

She was leaving him because she believed he was only making the best out of the situation -— Didn't you tell me I'm the world's sexiest husband?

Am I not that to you anymore?

Does Morrison have more abs than I do?

Is that fucking it?

And her pride hadn't been able to stand that. Her pride. Not self-respect. But pride.

The only time I see you happy is when you're talking to him.

Oh God, all this time she had been protecting her pride while unknowingly forcing him to lose his—-

Then stay.

Please fucking stay.

I'm begging you.

Please stay.

Her heart threatened to shatter.

I love you, Tabitha.

Nicholas heard the footsteps first, but he couldn't make himself look up, couldn't risk looking up only to find out it was not her. Because if that happened—-

"Nicholas."

And then she was there, kneeling in front of him, her hands cupping his face.

"Husband."

His green eyes were wet when they met hers, and more tears rushed down her cheeks.

"I love you." A smile wobbled over her lips. "I love you so, so much—-"

His arms closed about her, his mouth taking her in a sweet, hard kiss that said the rest, and she kissed him back even as she cried and wrapped her arms around his neck.

And the kiss went on forever, as it should be, for it was the happy-ever-after Bee had often read about, and it had now come true.