Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage (31 page)

“Oh Christ.”

“Holy shit.”

The curses behind him were ignored as Bryce focused on getting his wife calmed down. “It’s okay, baby,” he assured her as he knelt in front of her. “It’s all right.”

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed, reaching for him, blood smeared across her fingers and dripping from her right hand. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

Pulling her into his arms, Bryce forced away all thoughts but getting her calmed and settled in a room. The blood he’d worry about later, the crunch of glass beneath his shoes and the repercussions of Frieda and Char’s actions would be dealt with. Right now, all his energy would be focused on getting Mattie taken care of. Over Richard’s shoulder, he spotted Dayton and Mike. Near the end of the hall, Ben waited. “Get your bag.”

Against his neck, Mattie sobbed, her words tumbling out, making no sense to anyone but Bryce. “I didn’t know what else to do…he was hurting her…and there was so much blood… I promise I’ll be good. I swear. I don’t need a collar… I don’t…not if you love me. I just… Can you tell me that?”

By the time he had Mattie stretched out on the bed, Ben had returned with the medical kit he carried with him for emergencies. Dayton and Mike had been sent back downstairs to help close up early and get the members out to their cars. Richard had told him Char had run out as soon as he’d headed up the stairs.

Mattie had stopped crying, her words stilled as she watched him beside her on the bed.

Ben cursed. “Shit, she’s got pieces of glass—”

“The light blew up.” Mattie looked down at the hand Bryce was stroking, his fingers moving over and around the rings he’d given her. “It sounded just like the rifle. It was hot…”

“Well, sweetheart, it doesn’t look like you’ll need stitches, but I’m going to give you an antibiotic and a sedative—”

“No!” Mattie yanked her hand away, shaking her head. “I can’t… I mean…”

“She’s worried about our baby.” Bryce gripped her wrist. “Let him finish with your hand, Lawrence.”

“But, how…?” She allowed him to return her injured hand to Ben’s care, all the while watching Bryce with wary eyes.

“How many weeks?” Ben interrupted.

“Probably ten,” Bryce responded, his gaze holding Mattie’s, letting her know he’d been aware of the secret she’d kept from him.

With his stethoscope, Ben settled the chest piece on different sections of her abdomen. His expression focused, he listened carefully before moving to another location. Nodding, but not commenting, Ben removed the earpieces and tucked the tool back into his bag before preparing an injection. “It’s only a mild sedative, Mattie. No harm will come to the baby, I promise.”

“I want to go home.” Mattie grimaced at the pinch of the needle in her arm.

Since she was already tired from her ordeal, Bryce didn’t doubt the sedative would work quickly. “Okay, baby. I’ll get you home.” Smoothing her tangled curls, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Just rest now.”

Following Ben, he moved into the hall, leaving the door ajar so he could watch her on the bed.

“I don’t think there’s anything serious, but I’d suggest you get her in to see her OB.”

That drew his gaze to the younger man. “Why? Do you think…?”

Again, Ben shook his head. “I’m just a PA, Bryce. An OB can answer your questions better than I can. The sedative I gave her was mild. I got all the glass out of her hand and knees, but you need to have her keep the wounds clean.”

“Okay.”

* * *

In one part of her mind, Mattie was fully aware of what was happening around her. The first time she woke up, she recognized the floating sensation as Bryce carried her down the stairs and into the car. Her mind drifted, separate from the thoughts spinning through her head. The next time she came to the surface, she knew the flashing lights and cool air on her cheeks came from the streetlights and slightly opened windows as Bryce drove toward the Folly.

Rolling her head away from the window, she blinked into focus the man seated beside her. “I’m sorry.”

Bryce took his eyes off the road for just a moment. “Sorry about what, baby?”

“I thought if I could earn your collar, you could love me.” Sighing, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back. “I just want you to love me, Bryce.”

“Shhh,” Bryce coaxed, one hand leaving the wheel to stroke over her hair. Lowering it to her knee, he smoothed the hem of the robe over her thighs. “Just sleep, darlin’. Just sleep. We’ll be home soon.”

Opening her eyes, she gazed over at him one last time. “I can live without ever wearing your collar if you would say you love me. Just once.”

Her only answer was the hum of the tires against the road and the soft wash of cool air against her cheeks. The warmth of Bryce’s hand on her knee slipped away as he returned his grip to the steering wheel.

Chapter Eighteen

Mattie grimaced as she opened her eyes. Hopefully the images flashing across her eyes were the dregs of some nightmare that had chased her through her dreams. The second she tried to use her right hand to lever herself up in bed, she hissed in pain and realized that the dreams of closets and screaming hadn’t been confined to her sleep. Even worse, as she rolled upward, she noticed Bryce seated next to the bed, dressed and ready for work, with a blue velvet jeweler’s case on the arm of his chair. She realized the pathetic pleas she’d made for his affections had netted her the one thing she’d wanted and now couldn’t accept.

“Good morning,” Bryce greeted, rising from the chair and moving to sit beside her in the bed.

Holding the covers close to her naked breasts, Mattie offered a quiet “good morning” in response.

Placing the box in her lap, Bryce leaned down to kiss her.

Mattie turned away, surprising both herself and Bryce with her refusal.

“I’m sure you’re still a little upset over last night,” Bryce offered.

She simply shrugged, her bandaged hand reluctantly smoothing over the case in her lap. “I’ll get over it.” Her assurance was couched in as cool a tone as she could muster, considering the heat his nearness stirred within her.
Down, girl
.

“Well, I want you to stay home today. Rest up.” Placing his hand over the one on the case, he continued, “I’ve made an appointment with your doctor for tomorrow morning.”

“Why? If you know I’m pregnant, why bother with confirming it again?”

“To make sure you and the baby are okay. After last night—”

“I was scared, okay. I admit it. That’s no reason to go running off to the doctor.” Sliding away from him, she ignored the blue velvet box she left behind as she rose from the bed. Tugging on her robe, she watched as Bryce picked up the box and held it out to her.

“Aren’t you at least curious?”

Hands gripping the belt of her robe tight, Mattie didn’t dare drop her gaze to the case he eased open. “I don’t want it.”

Confusion mingled with frustration on Bryce’s face as he watched her. She could tell he didn’t understand why she’d suddenly change her tune after practically—hell, why not admit it?—groveling for his approval in the form of his collar last night.

“Explain.”

That tone, the one of her master, tugged at her need to please him. After weeks of ensuring his pleasure, Mattie balked at refusing him. But she did it. “No. I’ve said I don’t want it. That should be sufficient.”

“Don’t push me, Lawrence.” Snapping the case closed, he tossed it back onto the bed. “Take a shower; get some rest. Dana knows you won’t be in, and I’ve asked Henrietta to check in on you during the day.”

“I don’t need your housekeeper to babysit me, Bryce.”

“Funny.” Bryce tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, the sides of his suit coat open and pushed back. “Just two days ago she was ‘our’ housekeeper.” Turning away, Bryce strode out of the room, the door closing softly behind him.

Through a shower, dressing, and breakfast, Mattie held off the temptation to open the case, though she carried it with her as she moved from room to room. Wanting to go in to work, but still feeling a bit shaky, Mattie headed into the study to use the computer, the blue case tucked under her arm.

“I’m going down to set lunch for my husband, Miss Mattie,” Etta called from the hall.

Turning, Mattie smiled. “Thanks for everything. I’ll be fine the rest of the day, I’m sure.”

Giving her a decidedly motherly look, Henrietta shook her head. “I’ll be back to check on you by two.”

Chuckling, she gave in. “Okay, Mother Hen.” Mattie waved her off before settling into the chair behind the desk.

The case taunted her from the corner of the desk blotter as she logged into the computer and connected to the company server. Through ten e-mails, she resisted until finally… “All right, all right.” Taking a deep breath, she pulled the case in front of her and snapped it open. Then immediately closed it.

“Damn it.” She sniffed, holding her hands, fingers spread wide, on the desktop on either side of the box. Even squeezing her eyes shut didn’t dispel the memory of the gleaming platinum links he’d chosen for her.

Determined to keep from opening the box again, Mattie tugged open the drawer and started to tuck it inside. Her name on a file folder stopped her.

* * *

“Dana, can you get Henrietta on the phone?” Bryce didn’t look up when he heard the door to his office open. Having just buzzed the receptionist, he assumed it was her entering the room. “I want to see how my wife is doing.”

“I’m doing just fine, Bryce,” she informed him, dropping a file onto the pile of papers in front of him. “But maybe you can explain what the hell this is for?”

Not bothering to open the folder, Bryce leaned back in his chair and shrugged. “Exactly what it looks like.” His gaze drifted over her casual slacks and loose blouse, noting, with irritation, that the collar he’d given her this morning wasn’t around her neck.

“It looks like you were investigating my sexual history,” Mattie snapped, her brown eyes flashing as she crossed her arms over her breasts.

“I was.”

“Why? Wanted a kinky little thrill or two? Or were you looking for the list of lovers so you could make sure I didn’t break rule number one?”

“You were a virgin, Mattie.”

“And did that make you feel like a big, strong man?”

“You know I don't fuck virgins, Lawrence.” His laughter was derisive and cold. “They tend to put too much emotion into a situation that has nothing to do with emotion and everything to do with sensation.”

“You sure as hell married one—”

The memory of their wedding night brought a grin to his lips. “Yes, I did.”

“Then why me? If you knew…” Mattie snapped.

“Business.” He shrugged, the lie rolling easily off his lips. Better to have her pissed at something small than know the truth. “A means to an end, Lawrence. Plus, I was tired of waiting.”

“Waiting for what?”

“You to grow up. Get past the things that happened in your childhood and start acting like a grown woman.”

“You mean stop panting after you like a bitch in heat.” She glared at him, her heart in shreds. “Don't you?”

“If you want to put it like that.” Bryce fought the need to reassure her that those motivations hadn’t been it at all, but his pride refused to let him back down. She’d refused his collar when he offered it. “You're a born submissive, Lawrence, and a smart businesswoman.”

“Don't try to placate me, Halsey.” Mattie pushed back the tears building behind her eyes. That little voice inside her head had been right. He didn't love her, and no matter how long she waited or how hard she tried, his collar would never grace her throat, and he'd never say the three words she needed most to hear.

“We've worked too long together for you to pussyfoot around the subject,” she told him. “You're tired of my attention and my refusing to see the forest for the trees.”

“Lawrence…” he started, but her words ran over his.

Ignoring his attempts to speak, Mattie moved toward the door. “I understand now, Bryce.”

“Where are you going?” Bryce demanded.

“My office for right now.” She laughed, no humor in the sound, just as there was little amusement in her. “After that, we'll have to see.”

“Don't do anything rash, Lawrence.”

“Fuck you, Halsey.” She gave in to the need to vent. Turning what she hoped was a cool, emotionless face toward him, she added, “You don't own me anymore, so don't bother giving me orders.”

The door slid shut without a sound, despite her need to rattle the walls.

Chapter Nineteen

After a week of silence between them, finding the blue velvet case on her desk was the last thing she expected. She’d moved her things into the bedroom usually reserved for the mistress of the house. And despite the cool looks at the office, Bryce had remained friendly when they worked with the horses or prepared dinner at the Folly.

The papers she’d just printed could change all that. Giving in to temptation, she reached for the case. Opening the box took more effort than she thought it would. Actually seeing the delicate links of the platinum collar had her hands trembling. Not daring to touch it, Mattie stared at the final sign of Bryce’s ownership and realized the offering had come too late. Much as she loved him, she’d realized in the last few days that she needed more than he was willing to offer.

She couldn’t get past feeling numb. As if she were encased in ice, nothing seemed to penetrate the shell around her. She came to work, went home, talked to her sister, and carried on conversations with Bryce, but it was all a fog. Hell, she wasn’t even angry about the file she’d found and the realization that her childhood wasn’t as secret as she’d thought it was. Closing the case, she wondered if Lyssa wouldn’t mind company for dinner. She needed to do something, anything, so she could start rebuilding her life. Without Bryce.

Absently, her hand drifted down to cover the curve of her belly. By now he had to have received the report from her doctor. Bryce was nothing if not thorough. He’d know she’d gone to the obstetrician her regular doctor had recommended, and following the blood test, an ultrasound had revealed she was not only pregnant, but carrying triplets. It was very likely Bryce would protest her transfer, especially with the babies, but she’d deal with that later.