Falling for Her Husband (14 page)

Chapter Twenty

“You must go back home and speak to her,” Stasia urged, giving his shoulder a firm shake. “Listen to me, Vince. I can tell when you’re not paying attention.” They were sitting at her kitchen table drinking coffee. She’d tried to push breakfast on him, but Vince had refused. Since last night, he hadn’t had much of an appetite. He hadn’t slept well either. No surprise.

Waving a hand at his sister, he shrugged away from her touch. He wasn’t in the mood to listen. Since his sister wouldn’t let him wallow in bed all day, he figured he’d rather sulk and watch mindless TV, something he rarely indulged in. When did he have time for television? Even when he did, he’d rather sit and talk to Amber. Or take her back to bed and make love to her through the night.

Vince grimaced. Damn it, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. How much her words, her lack of trust in him had wounded his heart. He knew he shouldn’t hold it against her. That she’d had every right to be angry with him…

“She needs time to cool off,” he muttered, sending a glare in Stasia’s direction when she rolled her eyes. “What?”

“Please. More like you’re the one who needs to cool off. So you come hiding out over here, hoping I’ll tell you that you were right and she was wrong and the two of you are a big mess.” Stasia rolled her eyes again and he growled, hating how she dismissed his feelings with a few choice words.

He and Stasia had always been the closest, since they were near in age. This also meant they fought a lot, especially when they were kids. They were older now. Stasia was a wife and mother, for God’s sake. Yet he still wanted to yank her hair and call her names for rolling her eyes at him.

Great. Now he was reverting to his twelve-year-old little boy ways. What the hell was wrong with him?

“What would you tell me, then?” he asked through gritted teeth. He braced himself, waiting for the brutal truth.

“I would say that you both hurt each other in your own way, but if you go to her first and apologize, this entire problem would most likely disappear,” Stasia said. “She does love you, you know. And I know you love her too.”

She made it sound so easy. “You believe our problem is that simple?”

“I know it’s that simple. I’ve been in this sort of situation before. My husband and I fought before we were married. Gavin and I even split up for a short period of time. Both of us were too stubborn to realize how much we were hurting without each other. How stupid it was for us to stay apart when clearly we belonged together.”

Vince frowned. He’d come to Stasia’s last evening and stayed the night. She hadn’t asked many questions and Gavin had asked none at all, which Vince appreciated. When he’d finally confessed to Stasia that he and Amber had a fight, she’d grown irritated with him but left him alone.

His wife hadn’t left him alone, though. Amber had texted a few times, but he hadn’t answered, prompting Stasia to call her and let her know where her husband was.

His sister had always been a meddler. She hadn’t changed a bit.

“She needs to apologize as well,” Vince said, knowing he sounded like a hurt, whiny boy. “She’s the one who believes I would actually shove her in front of a moving car so I can try to kill her,” he said, his voice laced with disgust.

“Give her a break. She’s had much emotional upheaval these last few months. First with trouble brewing between the two of you, the car accident, how quickly you two came back together and then her pregnancy. I’m sure her hormones are on an epic rollercoaster ride and she can hardly keep up.”

Another thing his sister was so damn good at—making him feel like absolute shit. “So you’re saying I should be the one who apologizes first.”

Stasia smiled. “Ah, there’s my smart brother. Yes, you should push aside your pride and your anger and tell that poor wife of yours you’re sorry. You’re going to have a child together, Vince. You’re in love with each other. Don’t let a foolish little fight ruin your marriage.”

“The fight didn’t feel so foolish when it was happening,” he defended.

“They never do, right? It’s when you can step away and really examine the situation that you realize just how silly you’ve been,” Stasia observed.

Gah, her words of wisdom were going to drive him up the wall. He didn’t need the lecture. “You’ve turned into Mama.”

Now it was Stasia’s turn to frown. “What?”

“The way you’re talking to me. You sound just like Mama. Someday you’ll drive your children just as crazy as she drives us,” Vince said with a rusty laugh. It was the first time he’d felt something other than complete despair in the last twenty-four hours. But as soon as he started laughing, it dried up. His sense of humor had disappeared.

“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult,” Stasia muttered, getting up to pour herself another cup of coffee.

Vince started laughing again, and he was thankful for it. He needed to get over feeling so awful. He needed to get back to his wife more than anything. “I would say both.”

“You’re just trying to change the subject.” She returned to the table, sitting across from him so she could pin him with her intense stare. “Shed your pride and go apologize to your wife, Vince. She needs you. Now more than ever.”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

“Oh, please. I spoke to her last night. And this morning.” At Vince’s shocked look, Stasia continued. “Yes, she called this morning, checking up on you and making sure you were all right. I told her your stubbornness will always ensure you’ll be just fine. You’re too much of a pain in the ass to fall apart completely over something like this.”

“Something like this?” He snorted. “You make it sound so minor.”

“Because it is!” Stasia pounded her fist on the edge of the table, making it rattle and startling Vince. “I’m serious. She had dreams and they scared her. They made her doubt and question what was memory and what was her subconscious conjuring up phony images or whatever. You cannot hold this against her. It would be petty and mean if you did so. You know how confused she’s been.”

He didn’t say a word. Everything Stasia said was true, but it was hard to face. More than anything, it was hard to admit.

“Would you risk your relationship for something so minor? Risk the safety of your unborn child?”

“What does our unborn child have to do with this?”

“Oh my God, how can you be so dense? The baby has everything to do with this. If you split up with Amber, then your baby will come from a divorced family when he or she is born,” Stasia said with yet another roll of her eyes. “Do you really want to do that to your child?”

“I have no plans on doing any such thing, despite what you think. I love Amber. We’re having trouble. Let us sort it out. We don’t need your meddling.” He didn’t care if he offended Stasia by calling her a meddler. He was tired of talking about his private problems.

“Fine. If you don’t need my meddling, then call her,” Stasia suggested irritably.

“What?”

“Call her.” She grabbed Vince’s phone from where it rested on the kitchen table and slid it toward him. “Right now. Call her and say you want to come home. That the two of you need to talk.”

He stared at the phone, fear and trepidation bouncing in his gut. He wanted to call her. He
needed
to call her. But what would he say?
I’m sorry I’m a complete asshole?
She might appreciate that.

Then again, she might not.

“If you’re not going to call her then just go back home. Apologize to her in person. That’s the best way to do it, if you ask me,” Stasia said, not that he’d asked her. But she was offering her opinion anyway, as usual. “Saying those words face to face will be far more effective.”

He knew Stasia was right. He should go home. Running away from his problems wouldn’t solve them. Facing them head on was the only way.

But apologizing? He wasn’t sure if he was ready for that yet. She could spit in his face. Stomp on his foot. Say she hated him and lock him out. Threaten him that he would never see her or their unborn baby again.

They didn’t even know what they were having. She’d gone to an ultrasound appointment, but the baby kept his or her back to them the entire time, making it impossible to decipher what sex he or she is. He was starting to wonder if he even wanted to know. He’d almost rather be surprised, just to be different. He thought it would be a lot more fun that way.

“Go to her.” Stasia reached out and rested her hand over his. “Stop prolonging the inevitable. Arguments happen. Even…distrust happens. But the two of you can overcome this. You need to. Not only for your sakes, but for the baby’s.”

His defenses went up yet again, like he had no control over them. “I’m not getting back together with Amber just for the sake of the baby. No marriage does well if the parents stay together for the sake of the children yet fight all the time,” Vince pointed out.

“You’re right. And I never said you were staying with Amber only for the baby. I’ve never seen you fight. There were problems before, but after the accident, I thought the two of you were stronger than ever. You and Amber are madly in love. It’s sickeningly obvious every time I see you two together,” Stasia said with a low laugh.

He would never admit it, but his sister was right. He and his wife
were
madly in love. Since the accident, their relationship had grown stronger. They were starting a family. Yes, their disagreement was serious, but they could overcome this. They couldn’t let his dishonesty and her mistrust destroy what they had.

“I’ll go to her,” Vince said, turning his hand up to give his sister’s a squeeze. “I’m man enough to face my problems and not run away from them. I just needed…distance first. To figure out what I was going to do.”

“You’re going to say you’re sorry first, right?” she asked gently.

“Definitely.” He nodded. “I can admit when I was wrong.” Most of the time.

“Well, look at you admitting such a thing. I don’t expect to ever hear Rafe or Matteo say such a thing,” Stasia said with a low mutter.

Vince started laughing all over again. “So very true, little sister. So very true.”

Chapter Twenty-One

She missed her husband.

From the moment Amber watched Vince walk out of their apartment with hardly a backward glance, her entire body ached at the loss. How could she have doubted him? Yes, they’d had their troubles. Yes, their marriage hadn’t been perfect. But after the accident, when they both realized they could’ve lost each other…

Their relationship had become stronger. Healthy. She needed Vince by her side. And she knew he wanted her by his side as well. They were a family now.

Rubbing her hand absently over her belly, she gazed down at herself. It seemed to grow with each day that passed, and the baby had started to shift and move. A miraculous little flutter that her husband hadn’t felt yet, which made her sad.

Tears formed in the corner of her eyes and she blinked hard, wishing them away. She’d cried enough tears over their argument. She needed to focus on the positive.

Like how she would apologize to Vince. And how they could make their marriage work.

Debbie had tried to call, but she ignored her. She couldn’t trust her agent anymore. Debbie’s supposed good intentions didn’t feel true. More than anything, Debbie made her feel uncomfortable. She didn’t need that sort of unease in her life.

It was better to just walk away from it all.

Her mom had called as well, leaving a frantic voicemail that her father had disappeared and could Amber possibly send some money so she could hire a private detective?

Amber had sent her mom a simple text in reply.

I can’t help you anymore. You need to figure this out on your own.

No response from her mom, which didn’t surprise her. She was probably angry. Good. So was Amber. Vince had been right all along. She needed to stop allowing her family to take advantage of her.

Denying her mother’s private detective request was the first step.

“You’re on the right track,” Dr. Harris said. They’d had an unscheduled appointment this morning, Amber having called her first thing to see if she had anything available. She needed to hear from an objective source that she was doing the right thing. She needed Dr. Harris to tell her that everything was going to be okay.

“I am?” Amber asked, still smoothing her hand back and forth over her stomach. “It doesn’t feel like it.”

“Your mom needs to learn how to handle these problems on her own. Your father leaving her isn’t your problem. That’s her problem. You can’t constantly bail them out.”

“I know. You’re right.” Amber nodded. “It’s just hard to...stop helping them.” She was still tempted to call her mom and say she changed her mind but she couldn’t. It was wrong.

“You’re enabling them,” Dr. Harris said gently. “It’s unhealthy. You may think you’re helping them, but it never works. They keep coming back for more and you keep letting them. They’re using you, Amber.”

The words sank in, slowly but surely. “Yes, they are. I let them use me. It’s what is expected of me.”

“Not any longer. You’re a grown woman. You can do what you want.”

Those words repeated in her head during the taxi ride home. They’d spoke more of her parents and of her argument with Vince. It all came together at once, overwhelming her completely, and she needed to discuss the details with Dr. Harris in order to sort everything out. It had all become a jumble in her brain…

Not anymore, though. She had focus. Goals. The first one being that she needed to reach out to Vince and tell him she was sorry for distrusting him.

That was the right thing to do.

The moment she entered their apartment, she sensed that Vince was there. She didn’t know if she could smell him, feel him or what, but he was nearby. Walking deeper into the apartment, she looked through all the rooms, not finding him anywhere until she came to their bedroom.

The light shone from beneath the closed door of the master bathroom and she could hear water running. The shower. Her husband was home and taking a shower.

Deciding to be brave, she went to the door and slowly pushed it open.

The bathroom was a decadent, large room, Italian travertine tile everywhere, with a shower that could easily fit four and a whirlpool bathtub. It was her favorite room in their home. She loved taking baths. Loved even more showering with her husband.

She wished she could step into the shower with him now. Run her hands over his warm, wet skin, soap him up, kiss him everywhere…

“Amber?” His deep voice rang over the sound of the running water and she paused, reaching out so she could grip the edge of the counter. “Are you there?”

Clearing her throat, she answered, “Yes. Um, hi.” She kept her back to the clear shower door, the steam from the hot water obscuring it some, but she could still make out his tall, lean form in the mirror that she faced. He propped open the door, peeking his head out, and their gazes clashed in the mirror.

“You came back.” He paused for a moment, dripping water all over the plush rug in front of the shower. “I was going to call you when I finished.”

“You were?” She still didn’t face him, choosing to speak to him via the mirror, which was silly. But she couldn’t help it.

If she turned around and drank in all his naked glory, she’d probably run to him and beg his forgiveness. She needed to remain calm.

Strong.

“I wanted to speak with you,” he said, his deep voice extra low, rippling along her nerve endings. She loved when he spoke to her in that particular voice. All husky and sensual. “I wanted to…apologize.”

She turned to face him, shocked that he would say such a thing. “Apologize?”

“For not telling you the truth. For not letting you know that we discussed divorce before the accident. Not that I ever wanted it,” he rushed to add. “That all came from you. Not that I’m putting any blame on you either.”

“I-I know.” She smiled faintly. “I still can’t remember everything, but I do know I was frustrated. And feeling caught between you and my family. I couldn’t stop working because I needed to take care of them, you know?”

“I do know. I understand now.” He opened the door wider, a closed-lipped smile on his face. “Join me.”

Hope rose within her. She would love to join him, but maybe they should talk some more first? “I don’t know…” She hesitated.

“Come now.” His smile grew. “We could make up to each other all the wrongs we caused. Just…come into the shower and we can talk here. It’ll relax you.”

More like it would arouse her, being so close to her naked husband, watching the water droplets slide all over his olive toned skin. “I’ve been to Dr. Harris’.”

“Oh?” He cocked a brow, his eyes darkening when he realized she was starting to strip. “Did you talk about what happened?”

“Yes, and something else happened too.” She shed her pants and shirt, until she was standing before him in just her underwear. “She told me I needed to apologize.”

“Stasia said the same thing to me.” His gaze ran over her body, so intent it felt as if he’d actually physically touched her. “Your belly has grown.”

“I know.” Her hand automatically dropped to her stomach. “The baby kicks now.”

“Really? And you didn’t tell me?” He sounded almost wounded.

And she was so tired of wounding him. Of feeling wounded with him. Love wasn’t supposed to hurt so much, was it?

Only when there are secrets and lies…

Well, no more of that.

“With everything happening the last few days, I haven’t had the chance.” She reached behind her and unhooked her bra, letting the little scrap of fabric fall to the floor. “Maybe if you’re lucky, you can feel the baby kick right now.”

His gaze never left her as she stepped out of her panties and strode toward the open shower door. “How did I get so lucky?”

She paused before entering the shower. “What do you mean?”

“A gorgeous, smart, forgiving wife, my unborn baby growing in her belly, a marriage that hopefully will become stronger than ever.” He took her hand and led her into the giant shower. “I am the luckiest man alive.”

“Yes, you are,” she agreed, making him laugh as he pulled the heavy glass door shut.

He slipped his arms around her and hugged her close, making her shriek. The water was cool, yet his skin was so hot. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his wet hair as she clung to him. They couldn’t be as close as usual, what with her swelling belly in the way but it didn’t matter.

It felt good to be back in her husband’s arms again, pressed against him skin to skin. He ran his hand up and down her back, his mouth close to her ear as he murmured Italian endearments that made her skin prickle with awareness.

“No more secrets,” he said in English. “No more lies between us ever again, my love. I can’t stand the thought of us being apart like this. We are meant to be together.”

“Yes, yes.” She lifted her head just as he bent his, their mouths meeting in a decadent kiss. “I missed you,” she murmured against his warm, soft lips.

“I missed you too. And I’m sorry, so sorry that I kept everything from you. It was eating me up inside.” He kissed her again, deepening it, until she was moaning in his arms and pulling away before they became too caught up.

There were other things she needed to tell him first.

“My mom asked for more money,” she said, feeling him stiffen against her—and not in a good way. “But I told her no. I can’t keep doing this, Vince. It’s not healthy.”

“You’re right,” he agreed solemnly. “I’m glad you stood up for yourself. What did she say?”

“Nothing.” She slowly shook her head, her gaze fixed on the smooth, muscled wall of her husband’s chest. She drifted her fingers along his skin, settling right over his pounding heart. “She’s angry, I’m sure. She’ll probably call and harass me. I’ll need to remain strong. She…knows how to push all of my buttons.” And then some.

“I’ll help you with that. Support you.” He lifted his hand, ran it over the top of her head. “Whatever you need, whatever you want, I’m here for you.”

“I know.” She leaned into him and closed her eyes. “I love you.” It felt good to say those very simple yet complex words.

“I love you too. I can’t stand the thought of ever losing you,” he whispered fiercely against her hair. “You and the baby are everything to me.” He rested his hand on her stomach, his fingers gentle as they caressed her skin.

“You won’t lose me or the baby ever.” A jolt moved through her when his hand wandered upward to cup her breast, his thumb brushing against her straining nipple. “I promise.”

The water beat down on them but she didn’t care. She was lost in her husband’s touch, the words of love he whispered, his hands all over her. He caressed her stomach once more, slowly, and at that very moment the baby moved, a gentle roll right where Vince’s hand rested.

His head jerked up and he took a step back, his gaze locking with hers. “Was that…?”

“Yes.” She nodded and began to laugh at the wide-eyed wonder written all over her husband’s face. “The baby. He just moved.”

“He?” A brow rose as he dropped his gaze to her stomach once more. He stared at her lovingly, his awestruck expression tugging at her heart. “You believe it’s a boy?”

“I don’t know. I think you’d like a boy,” she whispered.

Leaning in, he dropped a kiss to her forehead, reaching around her to shut off the water. “I don’t care what we have as long as the baby is healthy. That’s all that matters.”

“Hmm, I agree.” She shivered. “Now grab one of those thick towels and dry me off, husband. Then I’ll dry you off and we can take each other to bed.”

Vince laughed and reached for a towel. “You got it, wife.”

She did have it. Happiness. Love.

Everything.