UNTAINTED Page 15

  His head shook but he said nothing.

  I threw my arms in the air. "Seriously, Theo! What don't I know about her? What are you trying to hide?"

  "I’m not hiding anything!” His voice was mildly agitated now.

  "So why did Izzy tell me she'd make the divorce hard for you? I thought you said she'd agree."

  "She will agree." He slouched down on the edge of the bed.

  "Okay." I held my hands out and took another step forward, glaring at him. I had to remember that I couldn't get angry. In order for him to tell me I needed him calm. I needed to be calm.

  So I walked closer and then knelt down on the floor, in the gap between his legs. He pushed his hands through his hair, dragging them over his face.

  "Theo." My plea was soft. I grabbed his wrists to stop his rough hands.

  When he finally opened his eyes and looked into mine, he whispered "I'm sorry, Chloe.”

  "For what?"

  "Not telling you everything from the start. I should have. I was going to. I was just—well, shit. Like I said before, I know how she is. She'll sign the papers, but I also know deep down she isn't going to make this easy. She's going to try and make it a fucking nightmare."

  I squeezed his hands tighter, even more worried now. "But how? There's not much she can do. You didn’t have kids together. You have your own career and she has hers. So what she gets a little of your money in the end? I'm sure we'll be fine."

  "No, Chloe. That's where you're wrong. She won’t get a little bit of my money if shit works in her favor. She’ll probably wind up with a lot, and I’ll end up broke, losing all the money I saved up.” I swallowed hard. "I had to add Sheila as co-owner of Black Engine. The loan I needed was too big for me to get alone, with my income back then. I was between jobs, working for people when I moved there instead of for myself. With me still paying off Izzy's student loans, her car, and the mortgage in San Francisco, they weren't going to approve me unless I had a co-signer."

  My grip slacked on his. "Oh."

  "This happened before we were even married. She knew I needed a fresh start, and that I wanted to start up my own shop, so she offered me a deal. She said she'd sign with me and give me my dream, just as long as we got married by the end of summer. She'd been talking about it a lot before. I kept avoiding the subject. I wasn’t ready to be married again—especially to her. I’d just met her. But after what happened with you and me, I felt like I didn't have much else to lose . . . so I did it.

  “But she took advantage of the situation, and I was a fool not to consider the consequences. She wanted to be part-owner of my business, as well, not just the person signing off so I could get the loan. The loan is almost paid off. I've made it a profitable business, and she knows it. She knows how the books run, how much I'm making a week. She knows I don't have to work every day because business is that good. She does interior designing, which only gets her money every few months. Big chunks here and there, but it runs out fast with her. She's a big spender. She shops . . . a lot. Sometimes for shit she doesn't even need. I'd hate to say it but . . ." He trailed off, wary now. Looking at me with an unsure gaze.

  "What?" I asked. I pushed up to my feet and sat beside him. "Tell me, Theo."

  "She's almost like Trixie in some ways, just older. More mature, but still desperate for attention, and definitely selfish at times. When we planned the wedding, she didn't care about what I wanted. She didn't care about any of my ideas or even how expensive it would be. She planned it all with her sister and mother. She was a bridezilla. She didn't even invite my mother to the wedding, and I asked her many times if she'd sent the invitation because I saw her making it out to her. She swore she did, and I figured mom just hadn't received it or got it too late and couldn’t RSVP, but I worked on Sheila’s car once, cleaned it out, and saw Mom’s invitation in her glove box months after the wedding date. She’d never sent it.”

  "What?" I hissed. I was disgusted. "Why would she do that?"

  "Because Izzy is right. Sheila's a bitch. She didn’t want anyone changing my mind, or making me think twice about going through with marrying her. She's manipulative and controlling, and if shit doesn’t go her way she throws a fucking tantrum about it. She hasn't called for two days and, I admit, it has me worried. It means she's probably planning something. It won’t be good.”

  I watched his eyes glaze, not with sadness but with anger. He knew this—all of this—but didn't want to tell me. And I understood why. He didn't want me worrying.

  Because right now I was panicking. She had control of the situation. She could have all or most of his money if she wanted— if she played her cards right.

  "She could accuse me of some bullshit that isn't true," he went on. “And they might believe her. That’s how great of a liar she can be.”

  "Then you'll get a lawyer. A good one. My father knew a ton of them and I still have their numbers in my address books. I can reach out to them," I insisted.

  He shook his head. “If they’re as good as you say, it'll cost too much, Chloe. I’m better off saving what I can now with the guy I already have.”

  “Who cares about expenses? You have the money, Theo. You can fight against her. I can help. My dad left me a great deal of money before he passed away. I haven’t touched it much because it’s my rainy day fund, but I don’t mind taking some out to help you."

  He peered up at me. "Stop, Chloe. You don’t have to do that. Besides, I can't fight her if I don't know what she's up to."

  I blinked rapidly. "So . . . what are you saying?"

  His lips pressed. Silence.

  "That you want to go meet her?" I whispered for him.

  "It would be the wisest thing to do. Talk it out with our lawyers. Make sure she's calm. I will be able to tell if I need to gear up or if I can relax about it and just prepare for a small dent in my pocket. If I need heavier gear, then we’ll talk to the lawyers your father knew."

  I pulled my gaze away, staring down at my lap now. He tilted my chin just as quickly as it dropped and put my eyes on his again.

  “She won't win,” he murmured, tightening his grip on my chin.

  “If you see her and she tries to kiss you or—”

  “She won't.”

  “How do you know?”

  "Because I won't let her get close enough. Besides," he smirked. "She'll smell you on me. She’ll know you’ve been around. I'm sure of it. Should make her want to keep her distance.”

  "Theo, this is serious. If you go see her and it backfires, or she gives you another ultimatum to stay or she’ll ruin your life, what the hell do I do?"

  I shot up to my feet, and he did the same. "Chloe, would you stop?" He watched me pace the room while raking frantic fingers through my hair. "That's not going to happen. It's starting to sound like you don't have faith in me now."

  I looked over and he cocked a brow, demanding a response to that statement. "I trust you," I said firmly. "It's her I don't trust. Izzy says you tolerate her. She feels like she owns you, and I see now it's because she has partnership of your company."

  He sighed again. "Chloe, just calm down and come here."

  My lips trembled, but I walked towards him. He tugged me into his arms and his warm skin pressed on mine, his lips on my forehead now.

  When he tilted his head back to look down at me, he murmured "I was with her for four years. I know enough about her to know better. I know that when she starts to shoot her guns, to have my cannons ready. If you think I'm going to go down like some fucking pussy, you have me mistaken for Sterling. Look, I've talked to my lawyer. He told me it would be an easy and simple case, if I do my part. He's working on getting my name off the contract for the shop. All I have to do is pay the bank $10,000 by the end of the month and then change the name of it.”

  "How are you gonna come up with that much money in such a short amount of time?"

  "I have an account she doesn't know about. A security box at the bank. I've saved money from way back, when Janet
and I were married, just in case a time like this would come. If I'm adding it up correctly, I should have over $65,000 in there. I have a rainy day fund, too,” he smirked. “But it was really for Izzy in case something happened and she needed help.”

  I gasped. "Really?"

  He nodded. "Well, that's great then! But how will paying the loan and changing the name of the shop get her out of it?"

  "I’m the sole proprietor of the business. In the contract for Black Engine, she is only co-owner as long as the shop has that business name. All I have to do is pay off that loan and relaunch myself. I will change the name of my company so she won’t have any ownership over the new one. She can have the Black Engine name, whatever profits are left from it, but I know she won’t bother keeping it running under her own name if I’m not running it anymore. It’s a loophole we found. It’s risky, but we think it will work. Right now she is considered an owner via investment in Black Engine, but if I return her investment, which paying off the loan will do, change the name and get a new business license, the contract we signed together will most likely become null and void. I can keep my garage, but I’ll have to wait a while, get a new name, if she decides to keep the Black Engine name. I’d rather see it run to the ground than let stay it afloat for her benefit, or to use to manipulate me. The whole thing may confuse customers, and I could end up losing some money the first few months from the expenses Black Engine has, but it's a risk worth taking if it means I can spend the rest of my life with you."

  I couldn't help myself then. I blushed and smiled way too hard. "So you've had this planned before you even told her you wanted a divorce?"

  "Yes. And it’s a good thing the contract is freestanding. Means nothing is set in stone and it can be disputed. The house and all the other shit . . . well, for all I care she can keep it and if she doesn’t, I’ll sell it. I don’t care as long as I can get my name off the mortgage.”

  "And you're sure she won't win?"

  "I’m about 99.9% positive. She can pull her stunts, delay the process for investigations and whatever else she can scrape up, but she won't get very far.” He revealed those beautiful dimples. “My lawyer worked out some of those kinks.”

  I smiled. "I hope you're right, Mr. Black.” I looked towards the door, lips pushing together. “When will you go meet her?"

  "Within the next two weeks, maybe. I have to call her. Is that okay with you?" I bobbed my head. He kissed my cheek. "Good."

  "Maybe I should go with you?"

  He thought on it, head tilting a bit as he watched my eyes. "You can come," he murmured. "But if things get too tense, you can't run away. I need you there for me. I need you to fight with me."

  "And I will."

  "Promise."

  "I promise," I whispered, and then kissed the light scruff on his chin.

  “That’s my Little Knight.” He twirled me around and I landed gently on the bed. He climbed between my legs, his groin meshing with mine, and I wrapped my arms around him, hauling him closer, kissing him deep.

  We could do this. We could win.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  CHLOE

  The following afternoon, my eyes burned with unshed tears. I may have been being a little dramatic, but it was harder than I thought, seeing my students off on their last day of school.

  Of course, they were filled to the brim with adrenaline and joy, now that summer was here, rather than the small amount of sorrow that lingered inside me, but it was okay. I was proud of them, and certain I’d see them roaming the halls again next school year.

  “I have waited so long for this,” Kim sighed as she leaned against the wall with me, watching the students nearly scream their damn heads off with excitement as the final bell rang.

  “I don’t know. I’m kind of sad,” I admitted as they whizzed toward the exit. “They’re leaving me for another teacher that may or may not know a little more than I do. I almost feel cheated.”

  Kim laughed, folding her arms. “Hey, be glad they aren’t coming back. It means you did a great job teaching them.” She looked over at me with a tilted smile. “I haven’t heard much since you skipped out for that trip with him. How are things with the silver fox?”

  “Oh, they’re great, Kim. Great with him, and Izzy too. I’m actually meeting her in about an hour so we can get our nails done and catch up a little.”

  “Ooh, sounds like things are getting serious again,” she said, eyes lit with excitement.

  I couldn’t fight my laugh. “Maybe. But there’s still a lot for us to handle. With Sterling, and Theo’s wife.” I rolled my eyes just thinking about it, collecting some of the papers on my desk and stuffing them in a folder. “As soon as that’s out of the way, we’re free. I don’t think Izzy minds so much anymore. She’s not acting too weird about us or anything so I think that’s a start.”

  “It is. Sounds like you have it all planned,” Kim noted.

  “I just think by us moving slowly, taking our time this time, that it helps. Last time it was—I don’t know. Rushed. Lusty. Unfinished. This time, there are fewer interruptions. We don’t really have that fear of someone barging in on us like before and losing each other. And even if someone does, what the hell are they gonna do, you know?”

  She nodded with a smile. “I hear you, girl. Well, let me know how your nail trip goes. I’ll be in my classroom trying to get my shit together so I won’t have to come back to this hellhole more than I need to this summer. You’ll call me?”

  I nodded with a smile as she started towards the door. “Of course I’ll call you. We’ll meet soon to catch up too. I promise!”

  “Oh, please, take your time! I want my details deep, filthy, and long, just like I want my men when I bring them to bed. There’s no rush!”

  Around 4:30 that afternoon, I was being seated in a plush leather massage chair in a salon close to the ocean and slipping my feet in bubbling, warm water.

  This nail salon had a great view of the beach, overlooking the docks, where we could see the boats coming and going, some of the sailors and ordinary people climbing on or off their vessels.

  I grinned as I spotted Dirty Black at the end of the docks, its black sails lightly flapping with the wind. That boat had created so many beautiful memories for us.

  “What are you over there grinning about?” Izzy’s voice cut through and I looked over at her, still smiling as she plopped her feet one by one into the swirling water.

  “Nothing,” I laughed. “Just thinking.”

  “About Dad?” she playfully taunted, tilting a curious eyebrow.

  I fought the smile that wouldn’t go away. “Maybe.”

  “You know you don’t have to lie to me, right, Chlo? I mean we used to tell each other everything. Literally everything. I . . . want to get back to that. Minus the details about the sex and stuff, because that would be weird as shit to imagine.”

  I giggled. “Yeah, it would be.” I sat back as the woman grabbed one of my feet and smiled at me from beneath her facemask. As she started to lightly massage them with a foot scrub, I said, “So . . . how have you been? I mean—it’s been years. I need updates, chick! Theo told me you went on a trip to India two years ago?” I was prying now. Theo told me that, and also the fact that she didn’t come back as the same woman that left him two months prior.

  “Oh.” Her face dropped as she focused on the old yellow nail polish on her toes. “Yeah, it was great. So beautiful there. It was a meditation and renewal trip. A way to cleanse and replenish your spirit, you know? I realized after that whole encounter here with you, Dad, Sterling, and Trixie, that I had been a complete bitch. I mean, I have never spoken to my dad like that before and didn’t think I’d ever become that spoiled, selfish brat, you know? But you want to know what really triggered me to go on that trip?”

  “What?” I asked as she studied her lap.

  “Well, I had this crazy dream about my mom. It was right after I graduated from college and lived with Dad and Sheila in San Franci
sco, before I moved back to New York for my job. I . . . uh . . . I don’t know. It was so strange. I was in this field of blue grass—her favorite color. There were white flowers and I was wearing all white. I saw a bright gold light appear in front of me and her face appeared. When I saw her standing in all that white and shining with gold, I just broke down. I sobbed as she walked my way with the gentlest smile. But she came to me and held me until I stopped. And she whispered in my ear, all the things that I should have known. That she loved my dad, but more like her best friend rather than a lover. That she loved him for giving her a daughter—me. That she didn’t blame him for the night that she died, because he was really tired from working all day and she knew that. She insisted that he go home early that night. She blamed herself for not going home with him. But all this time I’d been blaming Dad, because if he would have waited for her after her party at the bakery, he could have protected her. Saved her. She wouldn’t have been gutted by those thugs.” She let out a deep, shaky breath. “She would be here now. But I thought about it—that if she was still here, would they have been happy now? As happy as my father is to this day? Because I tell you, Chloe, I have never in my entire life seen my father so happy. I’ve never seen him shine so much while around someone. He wasn’t like that with Mom, and definitely not with Sheila. It’s only you.” She waved a hand. “I mean, yeah he has that fatherly glow when he sees me after a few weeks, but no. With you, it’s different. And I saw it that day that I came back to Bristle Wave for the Fourth of July a few years back, but I ignored it. I saw it when we came back here a few days ago and ran into you on the beach, but I still wanted to ignore it.”

  I watched her as she picked at her cuticles. I had no words. No thoughts.

  “Anyway . . . after that dream—which was super vivid by the way—I looked up ways to recharge. To renew. I wanted to become better, not only for myself, but for Dad too. I couldn’t keep putting up a guard against my own father, you know? He’s all I have. I needed . . . help. So I did my research and found out about this meditation retreat in India. After I did a little more digging, I made it an official thing. I was going and I was going to come back a better person. A new person that saw the world differently.”