The Billioniare's Bought Bride (Contemporary Romance) (18 page)

She put her hand on her belly. The flutters had to be the baby kicking. He knew about his child and yet had turned down visitation. She remembered his face that day, how angry he’d been, how much he’d wanted his child. The impact of Dylan’s actions hit her.

He’d given her everything. He’d finally learned sacrifice. She picked up the phone, dialing the number of her lawyer.

“I was just about to call you,” Tony Tosco said. “Do you have the original papers there?”

“I have them,” she replied.

“Highly irregular, sending the papers to you. They should have been sent directly to me.”

She wrapped the phone cord around her fingers. “Why? Is there something wrong with them?

“No, they’re fine. I’ve got photocopies here on my desk. You own everything free and clear. He can’t take it from you now that he’s given it away. But they should have sent me the originals. I can’t finalize your divorce until I file the original papers with the court. I can’t file photocopies.”

“So I’m still married?”

“Until you get those papers to me.” Tony sighed as if this were all a big
inconvenience. “I’ll drive up there tomorrow.”

“No,” her denial rushed out as she made her decision. “I won’t be here.”

“What do you mean you won’t be there?”

“I won’t be here. I’m taking a bit of a Christmas vacation. I’ll call you when I return.” She set the phone back into its cradle, ignoring Tony’s plea as she ended the call. She paced for a moment, joyous in the implications.

Dylan had given her everything. She had her grandfather’s hundred-acre wood, and more. She had her own mini-kingdom, the one she’d pretended to rule when she was a girl with a child’s foolish fantasies. Only then she’d had a prince to go with it.

Her prince had given her everything, including her freedom. He’d let her go, not because he had to, but because he’d wanted her to be happy, even if he wasn’t. If she returned to him, if she stayed, it would be her choice. Not because she had to, but because she’d chosen to do so herself.

Madison experienced the first glimmer of hope she’d had in quite a while. She had her child. She had her money. She had her land. The only thing missing was her prince.

She grabbed the papers and held them to her chest. She picked up the phone and managed to get Cindy on her cell phone. “It’s me. May I borrow your extra four-wheel drive?  Yeah, the one with the crappy heater.” 

Madison laughed at Cindy’s next words. “You’re exactly right, Cindy. I’m going to find a husband.”

Dylan paced the great room of the apartment. Night had fallen over the city, and he’d given up waiting. She wasn’t going to call. He’d set her free, and she’d flown the coop.  So much for that old saying, that if you love something, set it free, and if it comes
back to you, it’s yours. Madison wasn’t going to ever return to him.

Perhaps he should have remembered the rest of the saying—if it doesn’t return, it wasn’t meant to be.

He glanced at his Rolex
. He had a holiday party he had to attend in half an hour. He didn’t want to go, but he knew he couldn’t sit around waiting and driving himself crazy.

Had giving her everything made her happy?

He had to hope
so
, and
he
had to accept that he might never know. He
gazed at
the lights of the city. For the first time in over a week the night was clear, not a snow cloud in sight.  Even the wind had died down, as if somehow knowing the citizens of Chicago could use a break for Christmas.

Be happy, Madison, he whispered to the still night. He grabbed his coat and headed for the door. Be happy.

It had taken all day, but Maddy’s feet finally pounded over the marble lobby floor. Even though she was exhausted from travel, she had to keep herself from running. She had to see Dylan. She needed to see his face, and determine if they could carve out a future.

She saw his gesture as one last chance for the brass ring, and she knew she had to grab it. She owed herself that much.

She waved at Charley, the desk clerk, and raced to the express elevator. She managed to jump inside before the doors closed, and gave the startled couple inside her floor number. The man pressed the button and Maddy’s stomach gave a little lurch as the lift shot upward.

She stepped out on her floor and grabbed the passkey from her purse. Her hand shook so much that it took two tries to get the thin plastic card inserted properly. She
waited, and the light remained red. She tried again, but the green light remained dark.

The third time’s the charm, Madison encouraged herself.  Maybe I’m just doing it too fast. She slowly put the card in, but the stubborn red light refused to yield to green.  She shook the door handle, but the door remained locked.

Madison buzzed, but no one answered. She buzzed several more times, and nothing. She slumped onto the floor, adrenalin spent.

“Mr. Blackwater!” Dylan heard the call, but upon glancing around, he didn’t locate the feminine voice. He frowned as he reached the revolving doors. He could see his car waiting, and he didn’t have seconds to spare.

“Mr. Blackwater!” The voice was closer, and as he turned around, he saw the front desk clerk rushing up as fast as her petite legs would carry her.

“Mr. Blackwater.”  Charley gasped for breath.

“Charley,” Dylan replied. “Whatever it is, it’ll have to wait. I’m on my way out and I’m late.”

She swallowed, trying to slow her erratic breathing.  “Your wife.”

Every nerve ending immediately went on alert. Party be damned. “Did Madison call?  Is she on the phone? What is it?”

“She’s here.”

“Here?” Had he heard her correctly?

Charley nodded. “She got into the elevator right before you came down in the other one. I saw her.”

Madison was here? That meant she’d be upstairs…but he wouldn’t be. “Don’t let her leave. If she comes back down, stall her. You must not let her leave. Do you
understand?”

“Yes, Mr. Blackwater. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Dylan raced to the express elevators.  “Emergency,” he bit out to the people waiting. “Sorry.” He wedged past them and pushed the door close button so that he was the only one in the lift. He couldn’t waste seconds stopping at their floors, not when Madison was upstairs.

Finally the doors slid open. He saw her immediately, huddled on the floor, her head on her knees. She was crying, and it broke his heart.

“Maddy.” He leaned down next to her and lifted her up. 

“Dylan?” She asked, her voice mumbling as if she didn’t believe he was really there.

“Yes darling. It’s me.” Somehow he managed to hold her, slide his passkey in the lock and push the door open. He carried her inside and placed her gently on the couch. 

He traced his finger across her cheekbone. Her blonde hair was the color of grain, contrasting against the black leather sofa. Never had he seen a sight so beautiful.

She stared at him, tears in those blue eyes. How many times had he dreamed of her? “My key didn’t work.”

“They change them monthly, remember the security features?” He smoothed her brow with his hand. She appeared absolutely exhausted. “Let’s get you out of your coat. You need rest.”

She shrugged out of her coat sleeves, but he didn’t move the coat from behind her. “I’ve been up all day,” she said. “Flew from Rice Lake. Horrid bumpy commuter plane.”

“Shh.” He twisted a loose strand of her silky hair around his finger to make sure she wasn’t a vision. “Tell me later. All I care about is that you’re home. Home for
Christmas.” 

He couldn’t help himself. He reached forward, placing his hand on their child. Beneath his hand he felt movement.

At that moment he broke. He didn’t care who saw the tears that flowed from his eyes: for the rivers washed the pain and sorrow away and became tears of joy. Crying didn’t make him less of a man. She’d come home. It was more than he deserved.

He traced an imaginary line on the ceiling in an attempt to gather himself together. Failing, he gazed at his beautiful Madison. She remained staring at him, her own fresh tears brimming on her blond lashes.

“I’m so sorry.” The words choked forth from his lips.  “I’m so sorry, Maddy. I was so wrong.”

A lone tear carved a path down her cheek. “I know you are. I believe you. I’m sorry I doubted.”

“You had good reason. I see that now. But know that I’m nothing without you. I love you so much.”

“You love me,” she repeated. He gathered her into his arms and pulled her to his chest.

“I love you,” Dylan repeated. His tears blended with hers. He didn’t need to be tough and strong. He didn’t need land. He only needed his wife. She made him complete, the man he’d always hoped to be. Madison touched his lips.

His gut clenched. He’d almost lost her forever. “I could give you some lame excuses, like unless I tricked you into marriage, unless that somehow you needed me, you never would marry me. The truth is I was wrong. Wrong for pursuing pointless vows. Wrong for not loving you properly, for not what you needed. I can only hope that you will
someday love me.”

“I never stopped.”

He cupped her chin and stared into her eyes. “I don’t deserve you, or another chance. I can only ask you—please choose to stay.”

“You’ve changed.”

“I have. I’ve had a long time without out to think. I’ve realized I’m nothing without you. Nothing else matters.” He gestured to the room. “Not this. Not possessions. Only you, our baby and our love. I’m not afraid to admit it.”

She pulled back slightly. “Hand me my purse.”

He handed it to her. She reached into the large leather satchel and pulled out some folded documents.  With a swift yank of her hands, she tore the legal paperwork in two and dropped it. “There, that’s done. I can’t be a princess without my prince. That’s our divorce.” 

Dylan’s mouth formed an O. He was the luckiest man alive. He captured her lips with his, tasting renewed hope and joy. As he kissed her, he realized one more thing he’d gotten wrong. Marriage wasn’t a business deal. Love wasn’t overrated. Those three simple words were the words that made his world complete. I love you—those words made him into the man he’d always vowed to be. A man who could love, and be loved. And with Maddy’s love, he was the richest prince in the world.

Epilogue

The sun was high in the sky, shimmering on Knollwood Lake and the regatta of boats that paraded by as they did every year to officially open the summer. Maddy sat on one of the Summerhaven docks, waving at the people as they putted by, their festive pontoon and runabout boats all decked out with American flags and other festive decorations.

“I brought you a glass of water.”

She started, and somehow managed to keep her very pregnant body from falling into the water. “I’ll never get used to you walking without a sound!”

Dylan laughed and settled down next to her. She took a long sip of cool water, the ice tinkling against the glass. “Thanks,” she told him. “Exactly what I needed.”

“I told you I’d always take care of you.”

“That you did,” she said mildly, secure in his love for her.

“So would
Summerhaven’s
Royal Highness like a foot rub?”

She slipped easily into their favorite game of pretend.  “Her Royal Highness cannot turn down that offer.”

He lifted her feet from the lake and dried them on a towel before beginning his massage.

She closed her eyes. “Ooh, that feels wonderful.”

“I want to make you happy.”

“You do.” She reveled in the moment, enjoying the touch of strong hands that worked magic. She’d tell him in a few minutes that she’d started her contractions earlier. She’d just wanted to see the parade, and the people bringing their boats by to view Summerhaven in all its restored glory.

The rustling above her made her open her eyes, and her eyes found the eagles
instantly.

“A male and a female,” she whispered as the two birds dived and spiraled in their mating ritual. “It’s a good sign.”

Dylan leaned to kiss her, his lips tender with promise. “It certainly is.”

They sat in silence, watching the birds soar to the heavens and beyond until they flew out of sight, heading to the nest on the point. 

“I’ll check the nest for eggs,” Dylan said.

Maddy dipped her toes back into the cool water. Like Dylan, the eagle had returned to the lake and he had mated for life. Her world was almost complete. Just one more thing…

The twinge started low, and sharpened before subsiding. “There’s at least one eaglet.”

He arched a brow. “Really?”

“Yes. Ours. It’s time to go.”

Dylan stood and scooped her up. “I love you,” he said as he carried her off the dock, and up the stone steps leading to the lodge.