“I was drunk.”
“True.”
“Imani, I didn’t grow up with parents like you. Life was hard.”
“Tell me about it. Maybe then I can understand.”
“I haven’t even been able to tell my shrink everything.” He gazed into her eyes. “Imani, I want us to work. I just need you to be patient.”
Looking into his eyes, they were pleading with her. She was lost.
He reached for her and kissed her softly on the lips. He attempted to deepen the kiss, but Imani pulled away only to cup his face in her hands. She stared deeply into his eyes. “I love you, and I won’t let you take the easy way out.”
Her words knocked the wind out of him. His heart pounded. He didn’t know what to do or say.
Imani could see the panic in his eyes. She whispered to him. “All I ask is that from now on you are honest with me and that you don’t ever give up on us.”
Garrett couldn’t find words. He nodded.
As much as Imani wanted to feel him inside her, she couldn’t allow it. Garrett needed to learn to express himself differently than making love. Instead, she slid down into the crook of his arms and blew out a very slow breath.
He pulled her close. Hours after she’d fallen asleep, Garrett continued to lay awake as he held her tight. She said she loved him. That was a powerful gift. He needed to trust that, trust her.
*****
Imani woke up to an empty bed. Garrett was already gone when she opened her eyes. She got up, quickly dressed and went over to Garrett Jr’s room. He was still sleeping. Imani wished her life was as carefree as his. He had no idea about the gigantic crap storm swirling about him.
Imani made her way downstairs to grab a quick cup of coffee before leaving for the office. She was surprised to run into Garrett.
“I thought you were already gone.”
“No. Not yet. I have some bad news. I got a call this morning from one of my clients in Dubai. I’m going to need to fly out there.”
Her face fell.
“I was hoping maybe you could come with me. We could possibly make it a honeymoon of sorts maybe even pick out a house together.”
Her eyes flew to his. Excited she responded. “Really? A home in Dubai? I don’t need that. I’d be happy just to spend some quality time with you.”
“I think I can make that happen but only if you can be ready to go in the next few hours.”
She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck. “I’ll be ready sooner than that! What about Garrett Jr.?”
He looked sheepish. “I invited Anna along. There’s really no one to leave him with.”
“That’s fine. I’ll take it.” Imani kissed him hard on the lips and high-tailed it up the stairs to make calls and pack.
Garrett felt good that he was able to do something to make her happy. His phone pinged.
The sappy smile on his face disappeared. His face hardened, and his jaw clenched as he read the headline.
Is The New Mrs. Hadley Already Stepping Out on Her Husband?
Garrett couldn’t help but think from the angle of the picture that it sure as hell looked like it.
Chapter 20
“Have you seen the papers today?” Imani’s personal assistant, Michelle, asked.
She held the phone between her shoulder and ear while looking in a drawer for her sexiest negligees. “No. I haven’t had time. I’m not sure how long we’ll be away, but if anything comes up, call me or send an e-mail. I know the timing of me leaving sucks, but it’s always family first. Just remember there is a fourteen-hour time gap between Chicago and Dubai.”
“Okay. I’ll send over all the sketches for your approval.”
“Good. Oh . . . was there anything good in the paper?” Garrett Jr. was sitting on the bed ignoring his toys and trying his best to get into the empty suitcases.
Michelle hesitated. “There’s an um . . . a picture of you with some smoking hot dude looking lovingly into your eyes with a ridiculous caption.”
Imani laughed. “The press has been relentless lately. Garrett and I make a good-looking pair if I have to say so myself.”
“True, but that isn’t Mr. Hadley in the photo with you. He’s a handsome devil but not as cute as . . .” Michelle cut off her thoughts before finishing her sentence. She didn’t want her boss thinking she was crushing on her husband.
“It’s not Garrett and me? Who is it then?” Imani frowned. Curiosity thoroughly piqued, she stopped packing and plopped down on her bed, next to her laptop, and powered it on.
“You’re not going to like the headline.”
Dread filled her, but she asked anyway. “What is it?”
“It’s silly and so stupid.”
“I’m sure. Tell me.”
Michelle exhaled. “It says, Is The New Mrs. Hadley Already Stepping Out?”
“What! You’re joking?”
“I’m sorry. I wish I were. Let me see if there is a name for the guy.” Michelle read a little further into the article. “His name is Raymond McNeal.”
She’d been holding a pent-up breath hoping it was anyone but Raymond. It didn’t take long for Imani to find the article once she’d turned her laptop on. “This article is complete BS!” She moaned. This was not something she wanted Garrett to see. “Michelle, I’ve got to go. You’ve got my instructions. I’ll make sure to call you once we arrive.”
Michelle was still talking
