“I still want you to come when we leave.”
“You don’t want me, Alaric.”
“You’re reading my mind now?”
“I don’t have to. You thought I was a brainless fool less than a week ago.”
“I’ve since altered that perception.”
“Have you?” She stared hard at me. “Or do you just like fucking me?”
“That’s not fair.”
“Sure it is. It’s an honest question. If all you want is my body, then say so. It’s at least honest.”
I gritted my teeth to prevent a sharp, acid retort from spewing from my lips. Yes, she asked a fair question. And, yes, she’s right to ask it. I married her in order to satisfy the demands of my father’s will. Not for any romantic notion of being in love with her. Or her with me.
I sighed. “Look, I don’t know where this – marriage – will take us. I was upfront about it, no secrets as to why I needed to marry you.”
“You could have asked anyone. So why me?”
“Willow likes you.”
Hayley stared hard at me for a long time, her mouth opened. “You askedme, out of everyone you know, to marry you, because Willowsaidso?”
I shrugged, embarrassed. “Well, yeah.”
“Great God in heaven, I am in trouble.”
“Yeah. So let’s get some dinner. Fights with Medusa make me hungry.”
Chapter Nine
Hayley
He drove on, his chilly gray eyes flicking here and there as he watched the traffic around us. “Is there a decent place to eat around here?”
I nodded. “There’s a steakhouse a few miles further on. It’s expensive though, but it has great food.”
“I can afford it.”
I worked to keep the acid out of my voice when I said, “Of course. You have your inheritance now.”
Alaric snapped a sharp look at me. “Are you going to keep throwing that at me? Like it’s something I lied to you about?”
“Sorry, but I’m feeling a bit used,” I replied, ignoring the dangerous glint in his stormy eyes. “You have what you want, now you’re going to fly off home like I’m nothing. Like I wasn’t ever anything to you.”
“You were paid,” he snapped. “Quite well, in fact.”
I shrugged, gazing out my window. “There’s more to life than money or fancy houses. My ex-boyfriend pursued it like the holy grail.”
I resolutely watched the cars outside my window, focusing my attention on the buildings and storefronts, feeling about an inch high. Alaric will surely regret marrying me now. If Brad didn’t love me, only wanted my body for his own pleasure, why would Alaric be any different? I must be damaged goods.
“I can end this marriage tonight if you want.”
I said nothing until after we reached the restaurant.
***
