“It’snotyour fault, David.” I wanted to comfort him, but his stiff bearing kept me where I was. “You didn’t know.”
“I should’ve. I let them down. I tried todefendhim.” He swallowed audibly. “And at some point, you could’ve been alone with him, too.”
I resisted going to him, assuring him with my touch that he would’ve done something if he’d even the smallest inkling. But I didn’t think he wanted comfort right then, so I just said, “You did the right thing.”
“He not only crossed the line, but he put the business in jeopardy, too—which means he gambled withmylife. Andourfuture,” David continued. “Those girls could sue us.”
I crossed my legs under me. “And what about your partnership flipping houses? Will you see that through?”
He gave me an incredulous look. “I’ll never work with that piece of shit again. He’ll dissolve our contract without a peep if he’s smart. I don’t care how much money either of us loses.”
His vehemence relieved me. I’d be thrilled to never be in Arnaud’s presence again. But something he’d said snagged my attention. It was no secret David had a temper. Even now, hours after the fact, fury radiated from him. And the wrong decision in the heat of the moment could change everything for him. “What did you mean when you said you used a littlepressureon Arnaud?”
“I didn’t hit him,” David said calmly, “even though I wanted to. If it’d been you in his office, I would’ve.” He took a step. “But I focused on you. On what losing control could mean for me and how it would affect you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“But I shook him up a little,” he said, then amended, “well, a lot.”
I could picture it too easily, Arnaud’s slight frame pitted against David’s massive one. It made me want to smile, but I said, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he said. “I should’ve listened the first time you told me how you felt about him.”
“What about Clare?” I asked.
“I apologized, said I had no idea about Arnaud. She’s going to reconsider the lawsuit, but I assured her I wouldn’t blame her if she proceeded with it.”
“I wouldn’t, either.”
He cocked his head. “She’d be coming after my money, too,” he said. “That doesn’t worry you?”
“No.” I didn’t have to consider it. “I told you already. I didn’t need any of this. I only wanted you.”
“Wanted?” he asked.
Want. Desperately. But showing him that would only make this harder. I clenched my teeth to stem a wave of tears. David had seen me cry enough and not being able to comfort me hurt him. “Can we go to bed now?”
“We’re not finished.”
My heart thudded once with his clipped tone. What if . . . was it possible he’d already gotten the answer he’d been looking for?
“Did I, or did I not,” he said slowly, “tell youseveraltimes not to go see Bill without me?”
Shit. I’d known David wouldn’t like that, and also that he’d find out eventually. My throat was suddenly dry so I nodded. “Yes. You did.”
He gave an empty laugh. “But why the fuck would you listen to anything I asked of you, right?”
“I went to Bill’s office, where I knew it would be safe,” I said defensively. “He’d never jeopardize his job for me, and he didn’t. He was perfectly compliant.”
“It doesn’t matter,” David said. “I want to be there. It’s not just about whether he gets physical. If he’s shitty to you, if he calls you names, I promised I’d be your shield. Why won’t you let me?”
Exhaustion rolled through me. I didn’t want to fight. “But it was good news,” I said. “He’ll grant the divorce sooner and without a trial. He agreed to the six months.”
“Six months, and your share of the savings. Jerry told me.”
“It only makes sense,” I said. “It’s my money.”
David took a step toward me, and my breathing shallowed. “You’ll do whatever it takes to keep one foot out the door.”
