CHAPTER ONE
TAYLOR
Wife?
“Wait! You'rewhat?” Taylor was sure that she hadn’t heard Victor right, but when she looked up at him, she noticed that the color had completely drained from his handsome face. His expression was that of dazed confusion. “Victor?” Taylor called, in an attempt to wake him from the trance that the beautiful blonde had placed him in.
“Rosemary,” he breathed, completely ignoring Taylor.
Taylor cringed at the way he’d said her name. And she certainly couldn’t hide the feeling of sadness and abandonment when Victor left her side and hurried across the living room. When he pulled her into his arms, Taylor felt what could’ve been the equivalent to the sharp, hot pain of being shot in the chest. She folded her arms, in need of a hug, even if she had to do it herself.
Victor stepped back and took Rosemary’s face in his hands. He was studying her as if he were trying to make sure that she was real. His hands on Rosemary’s face made Taylor feel faint. She shivered, feeling instantly cold. Tears swam in her eyes at the very thought of losing Victor.
Even though Victor had told Taylor that he was never in love with Rosemary, he had admitted that he’d had great affection for her. He’d often said that, together, they’d made a great team. Their relationship was supposedly more of an alliance than a marriage. As she looked at the two of them, and the way they interacted, she was consumed with jealousy. But when Rosemary’s hand rose to Victor’s chiseled jaw, jealousy turned torage.
“Victor!” Taylor gritted angrily.
Victor turned toward Taylor quick enough to avoid Rosemary’s caress. Taylor crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. Although his wife’s return from the dead may have been a miracle in Victor’s eyes, to Taylor, she was simply a woman in the arms of her man. Victor walked over to Taylor and placed a hand on her arm.
“Taylor, babe, it’s just that…well, we all thought—”
“I know what you all thought,” Taylor snapped. “You were all obviously wrong.”
Taylor looked over at Rosemary. Victor’sdeadwife was a pretty woman. Closer to Victor’s age, she possessed a graceful elegance that said she was from Victor’s world. She was slim but curvy. She had thick, lustrous hair, and sparkling blue eyes. She was dressed impeccably. Her slacks were white, and her blouse was powder blue. She couldn’t have been more contrary to Taylor, and her more relaxed style. Taylor glared over at Rosemary.
“What do you know about the shooting?” Taylor asked, staying on point.
Rosemary smiled at Victor. “Your wife to be is quite extraordinary, beautiful, and filled with fire. You chose well, Victor.”
“Indeed,” Victor agreed, placing his hand on the small of Taylor’s back.
Taylor was not moved by Rosemary’s flattery. She hadn’t answered the question. “How are you not dead? And what do you know about me getting shot?”
Without answering, Rosemary walked over to Taylor’s sofa and sat. “Do you have wine?” she asked in a bored tone. “I could use a drink.”
“Are you fucking serious? Don’t play with me, bi—”
“Taylor,” Victor interjected. “Yes, we have wine. Let’s calm down and have a rational conversation.”
Taylor couldn’t believe her ears. She was looking at Victor as if he’d grown a third eye. Why was he so fucking calm? It was hiswifewho had ascended from the grave. “Victor, what is wrong with you? The woman just waltzed her ass in here as if she didn’t have a funeral, and you seem totally okay with that. Why aren’t you freaking out?”
Victor rubbed Taylor’s shoulders while looking her in the eye.
“Because I want answers, my love. Don’t you?”
Taylor blinked up at him. “Of course, I do, but—”
Victor smiled, exposing perfect, white teeth and adorable dimples. “I am surprised, Taylor, but I’ve seen entirely too much in my lifetime to let anything shock me into disbelief.”
“Fuck that!” Taylor snapped. “She just ’Walking Deaded’her ass into my living room after…how many years? And now she wants to kick back and sip wine?”
“Taylor, baby, calm down. How can we get answers if you aren’t willing to listen?”
Rosemary crossed one leg over the other and smiled at Victor. “I like her, Victor. She’s feisty.”
Rosemary looked up at Victor, and in her eyes, Taylor saw what appeared to be sorrow, maybe even regret. She turned her attention to Taylor and patted the sofa next to her.
“Taylor, we need to talk. Please sit down so I can explain. I can prove to you that I am not the enemy. I only returned because I was afraid that you and Victor might be in danger.”
