Claiming His Wife (Unlikely Love) (15 page)

“What you saw back at the apartment wasn’t how it happened,” he said
,
moving closer and ignoring her question. They were becoming a spectacle.

“I know what I saw, and you don’t have to explain it to me.”

“Yes, I do,” he shouted. “You ran before you would even listen to my side of the story. We had a fight. You know which one, and I stormed out and left. I went to the nearest liquor store and bought as much booze as I could. When I got to the apartment, I started on what was there, then moved onto what I bought.”

She wanted him to shut up and stop talking.

“As I drank my way down my second whiskey bottle I wanted to phone you. My dad came to see me at my office. I don’t want to tell you everything, but that man makes me lose my mind. He came to me and talked to me for about ten minutes if that, and then I go home to you and treat you that way. How could you even look at me afterwards? Losing myself in alcohol wasn’t the answer. I looked round at the mess I made and knew I’d made a mistake. I went to bed but knew when I woke in the morning I was coming to get you. I sent you the flowers and the card that night. I went to bed alone. Rita bribed the hotel manager, snuck in, and you know the rest. I wouldn’t touch her even if she begged me.”

“You don’t have to tell me this,” she said, a sob catching in her throat. “You told me plenty of times how unsuited we are.”

“I never meant a word of it. Please, Opal, I’m begging you to come back to me,” he said.

She took a look around at the hospital and shook her head. If she gave in now, what would happen when he broke her heart again? Her life was finally getting back on track. She had a job and a small apartment. Stuff she never imagined she could have.

Shaking her head, she went to turn around.

“Don’t,” he shouted.

If people weren’t watching before they were now.

Opal stared in shock as Tony walked toward her, closing the distance between them. He collapsed onto his knees, tears streaming down his face. He took hold of her hand and begged for her to come back.

“I love you, Opal. More than anything you’ll ever know.”

“You don’t have to do this,” she said. The moment he
had gone
down on his knees she knew all of his declarations of love had been nothing but the truth. Nothing else mattered. It didn’t matter about the people watching them or what the outside world thought. Tony Hunt was on his knees begging her to have him back. The man who claimed he would never beg anyone for anything was begging her.

“I have to do this. I have to make you see. I can’t go another day without you. I love you, Petal. Always have and always will. You can’t get rid of me, please.”

His arms wrapped around her waist. She gasped as he kissed her stomach and her hips.

“Please, I’m begging you.”

She tried to push his hands away.

“No. I’m not letting you go. I can’t.”

Opal fought with him until she went to her knees in front of him. She cupped his face in her hands. “No more naked women in your hotel suite,” she said.

“I only ever want you. I love you, Opal. You’re my whole world. Please, say something.”

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. “You’ve always had me.”

Tony grinned, leaned down and kissed her. Cheers and applause erupted from the nurses and their friends.

“I’ll never let you go. I love you so much.”

“That’s good because I won’t ever go. I love you, Tony Hunt.”

He wrapped his arms around her, and she went to him willingly. Life was too short to give everything up. Scarlet was safe, and Tony was hers.

Epilogue

Five years later

Opal lay in her husband’s arms. They’d all decided to celebrate their anniversary by going for a picnic in the local park. Wayne and Lily had brought all four of their children and the bump that was their fifth. Scarlet and Richard brought Harry and the kids. Tony wrapped his arms around her. They had decided to wait for children, taking the time to be together. They both wanted children but had decided to wait. She knew the real reason was because Tony didn’t want to share her with a baby. Kids demanded too much of an adult’s time. After the way their marriage had started she could understand waiting.

“I would like to propose a toast, to my lovely sister and my crazy-ass friend. You’ve been married for seven years and still look as happy in love as always.” Richard raised his glass.

She smiled as all gave a round of applause and knocked back the alcohol. Tony had an orange drink the same as she did, neither of them drinking alcohol.

“Happy anniversary, baby,” he whispered against her ear. She giggled as he nibbled the lobe.

“Get a room. You’re mauling my sister in front of my eyes.”

“She’s my wife.”

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you.” He kissed her head. The five years together hadn’t been easy. After the set-back, it had taken them time to get used to the fact neither of them was leaving. They loved each other and wanted to be together.

As with all things, time together had healed old wounds. The press had found a new couple to begin hassling, and she and Tony could simply enjoy their time together. She hated when one of his ex-girlfriends wanted money and would do a kiss and tell for the papers. He would explain everything and swear he loved her. She smiled. After a time, she didn’t care. She loved hearing him say the words.

“Let us leave these lovely ladies for a moment,”
Wayne
said.

Tony kissed her on the lips, and she watched him walk across the picnic field.

“What do you think they’re going to do?” she asked the other two women.

“Probably talk about how amazing their women are. The crap we take from them. You know I still can’t believe I married ‘The Beast’,” Lily said.

“Speak for yourself, I fell for the guy who talked me into a contract to sleep with me and then ended up married to the guy.”

“This is too much information about my brother. I don’t want to know.”

“Come on, Opal. Spill you story. This is therapeutic.”

“Okay, how about this? I can’t believe I almost married a jerk when I’ve been in love with my brother’s best friend all of my life. Not only did I end up marrying the man I love, but he started to love me back.”

“Honey, you’re too smitten with that man. You’ve got to keep him on his toes,” Scarlet said.

They all laughed.

****

“You know they’re talking about us?” Richard said.

“Let them. I love my wife and know she’ll love me no matter what happens,”
Wayne
said.

Tony smiled at his friends and stared back at his wife. She looked gorgeous with the sunlight streaming down on her, the glorious colour of her hair shining in the light. He glanced down at his wedding band and smiled. She’d finally given him a wedding ring. A token of her affection.

“Can you believe three guys like us managed to get three such amazing women?” Tony asked.

“I never thought married life could be so amazing,” Richard said as he, too, looked back at his wife.

“Three men who women were most unlikely to full in love with, married and happy. I’ll say we should have a toast.”
Wayne
raised his glass, and the other two men followed suit. “To unlikely love.”

“To unlikely love,” Richard and Tony said together. They raised their glasses and drank deeply. 

The End

www.samcrescent.wordpress.com

Other Books by
Sam Crescent
:

Blackmailed by the Beast

Contract of Shame

Crossing Boundaries

Belonging to the Steer Brothers

Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com