Tempting Prince Charming, page 22
The thought of never seeing Veronica again made him feel anxious and hard to breathe. He’d never felt this way about anyone before.
He climbed into bed beside her, listening to the fire crackling on the logs. He noticed the stones in the back of the fireplace held tiny lights, which glowed in the shape of fireworks. He drifted to sleep with the thought that this really was the happiest place on earth, and that the magic truly didn’t end. He vaguely heard his phone vibrate with a notification, but whatever it was could wait until tomorrow.
18
Veronica woke early, her body still attuned to waking for her work schedule. She rolled over in Thad’s arms and gazed at his sleeping face. A warm tingle filled her belly as she studied his features, burning them into her memory. He moved in his sleep, pulling her closer to him and let out a soft, satisfied smile with his lips faintly curved up. Whatever he was thinking of must be wonderful. She wished she could get a glimpse into the land of his dreams.
She leaned in and pressed a kiss to his shoulder, soft enough not to wake him. His body was so warm she felt like she was curled up close to a fire. She wasn’t sure how long she lay there as she enjoyed feeling content for the first time in ages.
A buzz drew her attention to her nightstand. One of their cell phones was emitting the noise. She carefully disentangled herself. Her watch on the nightstand told her it was 5:00 a.m. Chicago time, so 6:00 a.m. in Florida. She dropped her watch and moved back to Thad, but she saw his phone illuminate again and vibrate.
He’d mentioned yesterday he’d been expecting an urgent set of documents to be sent to him immediately from his assistant, Brandon. Worried that might be it, she picked up the phone and was about to give it to Thad in case it was something important. She wasn’t that woman, the one who looked at her boyfriend’s phone, but as the screen lit up again with a new text it was impossible not to read it.
Brandon: Annette Becker sent us the executed sale agreement and deed for the house. I put the deed in the paperwork on your desk for when you get back.
For a long second, Veronica stared at the name. Annette Becker. It couldn’t be. But what were the odds of two Annette Beckers selling a house in Chicago?
The evil sea witch. This was her house. Why was Thad—?
The truth hit her so hard she couldn’t find the strength to breathe. She stared at his phone, her lungs burning as the words “executed sales agreement” blurred before her eyes.
No… No… No…
She moved out of the bed, putting as much distance between her and Thad as she could. He was the one who’d bought her house? Why? No. How could he do this to her? That was her home. Hers and Lyra’s. The betrayal knifed her so deep she clutched her chest, feeling an invisible wound with unspeakable pain.
Veronica rushed into the bathroom, closing the curtains as she wrapped her arms around herself. Shivers rippled through her. Beneath the shock and agony, a wave of anger began to build to a tsunami. She balled up her fists in a silent rage and pummeled the wall of the shower with the heel of her hand until it throbbed.
She had to get control, had to think, had to plan. She turned on the shower and got inside when mist covered the mirrors of the bathroom.
A plan began to form. She would play it cool, act normal, and then when she and Lyra were back in Chicago, they would move out and she would never look back. As the hot water ran down her body, she remembered Thad’s words from last night. “From the moment I saw the cozy world of the Chi-Bean, I knew I wanted to live there.”
He’d stopped his car that day because he liked the house. It had always been about her home and not her. He wanted into her life to see the piece of real estate he was interested in. What better way than to seduce her? She was just another challenge, another exciting adventure for him and this time he would walk away and take her home with him.
God, she wanted to hate him, she wanted to despise him for betraying her and using her, but even as furious as she was, she couldn’t. He’d broken her heart and let her down by what he’d done.
Veronica covered her face with her hands. Her body quaked with silent sobs. She was such an idiot. Men like Thad didn’t change, not for her. Last night she thought she’d woken up from a dream, but she’d been wrong. If last night was the dream, today was the sad reality. She didn’t know him, not like she thought. He just used his money to do what he pleased, but he couldn’t buy his way out of this situation.
Thad’s voice came from outside the shower. “Want company?”
She bit her lip hard enough to taste blood as she tried to suppress the surge of panic inside her. “No! I’m almost done.”
“Oh, okay.” She heard the disappointment in his tone, but she was too hurt to care. She was done being a toy.
She waited for the shadow of him to disappear before she emerged from the shower and snatched a towel off the rack. She exhaled, her shoulders drooping. She would have to face him, there was no avoiding that. She did her best to pretend everything was fine and stepped into the bedroom.
Thad sat on the end of the bed, still wearing his flannel pajama pants and nothing else. His hands rested on his knees as he stared at her. Even now, his beauty was so captivating, so alluring, but it only made her fury at him—at herself—that much stronger.
“Hey, we should talk about last night,” Thad said. “If I said or did something to upset you that made you feel—”
“It’s not that,” she lied. “I’m just feeling shy… Last night was a big step and I might need a few days to process it.” She couldn’t believe she wasn’t crying or flying into a rage. Somehow, she’d found a reserve of control and was clinging to it like a life raft.
“Oh, okay.” His gorgeous hazel eyes were full of concern. She wanted to believe him, to believe he meant it, but how could she?
“You should shower,” she said. “We have to leave for the airport in an hour. I’ll go wake up Lyra.”
“Sure.” He stood, walked a few steps, and reached for her. .
She flinched and he froze in his tracks, hands half-raised. Her heart was pounding, and she forced herself to move toward him and brush her lips against his cheek before she moved past him to her suitcase. She didn’t look back until she heard the shower turn on in the bathroom. When she was sure he was inside, she picked up her cell and went to Lyra’s bedroom, dialing Michelle’s number.
Michelle answered after a few rings. “Hello?”
“Hey, I don’t have time to explain, but I need you and Steve to help me.”
“What? Are you okay?” Her friend sounded more alert now.
“Lyra and I have to move out when we return. We need a place to stay. Can you find us a small apartment? We can put the furniture in a storage unit until I can find a more permanent place.”
“Honey, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
“It’s Thad. He’s the one who bought my house. He made a deal with Annette. I just found out. He doesn’t know I know. When I get back to Chicago today, I’m breaking things off with him and he’ll probably request we leave since he owns the place now. So, we’re going to need a backup plan.”
“Oh my God…” Michelle gasped. “You’re sure? You didn’t even talk to him? He didn’t strike as the type to throw someone out on the street.”
“He said last night he wanted to live in my house ever since he first saw it. Remember the day I had to meet you at the park so Annette could show the house to someone? That had to have been him. I mean, how can he possibly explain that he just bought my house? Why would he do that? Either he always just wanted the house and I was nice bonus, or he is going to use the house so I’ll owe him.” As she said this, Veronica’s stomach knotted and she drew a deep, pained breath.
“But that doesn’t sound like him…he doesn’t seem like a guy who would do that.”
“I’ve seen him doing business, Michelle. He’s tough as steel. Maybe I’ve just gotten a glimpse of his rare soft side and now I’m going to find out who he really is.”
“Honey…you know that sounds crazy, right? He’s a nice guy.”
“Then why buy my house and not talk to me about it?” Veronica demanded.
“I don’t know, but just take a deep breath, okay? And don’t overreact right now.”
“I’ve got to go, Michelle. Text me when you find a place in case we need to move right away.”
“Okay, sure. I’ll wake Steve up right now. God, Ronnie, I’m so sorry. We both really liked him.”
“I know. Me too.” She’d fooled herself thinking she could find love again. But she was starting to realize that what she had with Parker, she would never have again.
Thad was yet another girlish dream that would fade as the clock hands moved past midnight. The magic would end, and this would all be over.
Something was off.
This morning should have been incredible. He’d had one of the best nights of his life. Spending all day at the park with Lyra, feeling like the father to her in the way he hoped someday to be, a romantic dinner with Veronica, and finally making love to that gorgeous woman. It had been worth the wait in a way he’d never imagined. He’d never felt so connected to another person in his entire life, both physically and intimately. Afterward, just holding her in his arms had been the most wonderful and unexpected gift he ever could have dreamed of.
Now he’d heard from Brandon that Annette had signed off on all the papers. Veronica’s home was safe. He’d stopped it from being sold out from under her and when the time was right, he’d transfer full ownership over to her. He just had to find the right time to tell her what he’d done. Yet after all of these perfect moments, something hadn’t gone right. He just didn’t know what it was. What mistake had he made to cast a shadow over this perfect vacation?
Thad tried to make conversation with Veronica on the flight back and the car ride home, but she’d been distracted and quiet. Lyra was still sleepy from the weekend.
“Let me carry her up.” He reached to unbuckle Lyra’s car seat.
“No, I’ll take her.” Veronica gently pushed him aside and got her out. “You should get home too. I can handle her.” Lyra rubbed her eyes as they walked up the steps to the Chi-Bean.
Thad shoved his hands in his pockets and watched them to make sure they got inside safe with their luggage before he went back to the car.
Simons brows knit together in slight concern. “Did something go wrong?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Thad admitted.
He got into the car and Simon dropped him off at the Golden Circle. By that point, he couldn’t wait to text Veronica any longer.
Thad: Everything okay? I’m worried I did something to upset you. Can I see you tomorrow?
It was nearly half an hour later before his phone pinged with a response. He was halfway through a second shower, trying to clear his head.
Veronica: I think I need some time alone for a while.
Thad stood in his bathroom as he stared at the message. He debated a thousand different ways to respond to this before settling on one.
Thad: I can give you all the time you need. I’m here for you and Lyra, whenever you want me.
She never responded.
It was an eerie, unsettling feeling having to wait for the woman he loved to decide whether she wanted him. He was genuinely worried. Having to wait for the woman he loved to decide whether she wanted him. He’d never been in this kind of purgatory before. At least with Victoria, he’d proposed and been immediately rejected.
He dressed slowly, his thoughts replaying events in his head as he pulled open the top drawer of his dresser that held his ties and watch collection. He ran his fingers over the bundled up silks of the various colorful ties before he reached a small blue box from Tiffany & Company.
Thad removed the box from his safe spot and opened it. A pear-shaped cut sapphire surrounded by diamonds sparkled at him. He’d bought it a few days before leaving for Disney World, ready for the right moment when they got back. Now he wondered if that moment would ever come.
He snapped the lid on the ring box closed, nestled it back between the silk ties, and shut the drawer. He picked up his phone again and checked his other messages, hoping work would distract him.
Brandon had texted him about getting the executed deed for Veronica’s house. He started to type a reply when he froze. He noticed the timestamp on the message. It had been sent around the time Veronica had woken up. His phone had been on her side of the bed. If she’d heard it vibrate and picked it up… She might have seen Brandon’s message mentioning Annette Becker and the house.
Shit… what if she’d seen the message? Could that explain her behavior? What would she make of it? Surely, she wouldn’t think he’d used her to somehow get the building? No… but he was at a loss as to why this news would upset her. Maybe if he got a chance to speak to her, to explain what happened and actually give her the deed, maybe he could clear things up.
He dialed Simon.
“Yes, sir?”
Thad dragged a hand through his hair as he tried to fight off the panic that had taken root in his chest. “I need to get to the office as soon as possible.”
“I’ll be right there.”
When he arrived at his office, he searched his desk for the executed deed. Brandon had everything ready, even the transfer documents. All he had to do was sign them. He tracked down a notary on the first floor and executed the transfer that would give the house to Veronica. Then, he had Simon drive him back to the Chi-Bean.
He held the folder of documents tight between his fingers as he came into view of the coffee shop. Zelda saw him and waved as he stepped inside.
“Hey, Zelda, is Veronica upstairs?”
She jerked her head toward the private access door. “Yeah, go on up.”
Thad held the papers tight as he climbed the stairs and knocked on the door to Veronica’s home. The door cracked open. Veronica’s face peered at him through the crack.
“Can we talk?” Thad asked.
“Now isn’t a good time,” Veronica said.
Thad could see she was pale and red eyed. Had she been crying? Fuck, this was all his fault. He should have told her about his interest in the apartment the first night he learned she lived there, but she’d been so sick it hadn’t felt like the right time. Was there ever right time for a talk like that? If there had been, he’d been a fool and missed the opportunity. And later, he’d figured he could possibly surprise her with the deed if things continued to head where he’d hoped they would.
“Please,” he begged.
Veronica sighed, her eyes downcast before she nodded. “Lyra, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” He heard Lyra say. He wanted to go inside and hug the girl, to listen to her talk about Disney princesses all day. And he had a sinking feeling that might never happen again.
This was the end.
It was written all over her face. He broke her trust, and he was never going to get it back no matter what he said. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. He’d been in bad positions before in business. Surely, if he could just make her see that he’d saved her house and wanted to give it to her…then she’d forgive him for hiding the truth.
She opened the door wide enough to step in the hall, but closed it behind her. They stood on the small landing at the top of the stairs, close but not touching. His hands ached to grab her shoulders and hold her tight until she listened to him, to understand the truth and let him back into her life.
“There are some things I need to say, and I need you to promise to listen to me.” He waited and she finally nodded, still silent, her lovely blue eyes shadowed with sorrow, a sorrow he’d caused. He held out the folder of documents. “I want you to have these.”
With some reluctance, she took the folder and opened it, scanning over the papers.
He cleared his throat. “This is the deed to your home. I purchased the townhouse from Annette Becker, and I deeded it to you. All you have to do is file the deed with the County Clerk’s office.”
He waited for a reaction, but she’d closed herself off to him. He could see it in her face; a stony reserve had replaced the usually animated looks he’d come to love. But he pressed on.
“Before I met you, I intended to buy this place and live in it.” He stared at her, even though the words were hard to say. “When we went on that first date, I didn’t even know you were the tenant here. I didn’t know this was your childhood home.” He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but it faltered. “I found all that out the weekend you got the flu. I rescinded my offer to buy this place—until Annette forced my hand.”
“How could anyone force the great Thad Worthington to do something he didn’t want to do?” Veronica’s tone dripped with bitterness tinged with a hint of despair. “When have you ever not had the power to just do as you please in life? You didn’t have to buy my home!”
Something didn’t add up. Maybe he wasn’t explaining things correctly. Thad struggled to find the right words to explain.
“I’d found out Annette had been telling anyone who would listen about my interest in this place to use it as leverage to find other buyers. It didn’t take long for her to find another interested party. So I bought it from under him so they wouldn’t be able to throw you and Lyra out to plant a Starbucks.” He didn’t tell her he’d actually talked Roarke out of buying it, but he was growing desperate. He was certain she’d be happy to learn he’d saved her home, and yet the more he explained, the more disappointed she looked. What had he missed?
“I never meant to hurt you. I was going to tell you. I was just waiting for the right time.” He reached for her hand. She flinched, just as she had in the Cinderella suite, and it cut his heart to shreds.
Veronica clutched the papers to her chest and seemed to almost wilt in on herself as she spoke.
“I can’t pay you for the house. I can’t get that kind of money together. Can you give me a week to move out?”
