Determined: To Win (Determined Trilogy Book 3) (20 page)

Downstairs, David’s black SUV was waiting. I gave a quick nod to Thomas, who I carefully noted was sitting in the front seat. I wasn’t taking any more chances when it came to getting into cars.

“Hey Thomas,” I said as I climbed in, carefully maneuvering my legs to avoid flashing the valet. “Where’s David?”

“He asked us to pick him up, Miss.”

“At his office?”

“No miss, over in SOMA.”

Huh. That was strange. “What’s in SOMA?”

“Not sure Miss. Something for work. I didn’t ask.”

“Oh, ok.” I said evenly. I didn’t want Thomas to know that I was annoyed at David for being at work all day.

Thomas headed south, and I found us pulling up to the curb in a small commercial district.

Thomas’s phone rang and he picked up. “Yes sir,” was all he said before he hung up and turned around to me. “Mr. Keith will be a few minutes. He asked me to send you inside.”

I cocked my head to the side. I was growing impatient. “Inside where?” I asked, staring out at a row of dark buildings.

“Glass door,” Thomas pointed outside with his nose toward a frosted glass door. I could see a dim light on inside.

“Okay. You are going to stay here?” I asked.

“I’m double-parked.”

I got out of the SUV, which was no easy feat considering how far off the ground it was and how tight and short my dress was. As I lowered myself to the curb, I saw the frosted glass door open and a woman came out. Recognizing the tall figure with long blond hair, I stopped mid-way to the ground. Our eyes locked for a split-second, and then she looked down the street and hurried away.
She recognized me.
She recognized me and ran away. I felt a heat build inside me and my heart started to race. This wasn’t the normal charge I felt around David. No, this was the hot anger of jealousy. I gathered myself on the sidewalk, my eyes struggling to find her. She was gone. Vanished. Fuck.

He had said he wouldn’t see her anymore.

My blood was boiling inside as I stared up at the dark building. What the heck was he doing here? It was such a random building; better suited for a secret affair than a venture capital deal. I flexed my hands a few times, trying to relieve the tension I was feeling, but it was no use. I was fuming. Was he really stupid enough to have me meet him at the same place he used for her? A cold wind started to blow, so I gave up any fledgling thoughts of a pursuit, and darted to the entrance, pulling open the heavy glass door. As territorial as whatever-her-name-is made me feel, my real beef was with David.

The front hall was dark, and I had to traverse the tile floor more slowly than I would have liked. To my left was a big, open room, with more of the same tile floor, and high ceilings. I glanced inside only briefly before moving on. I tried a couple of the doors, and finding them locked, I resorted to calling out.

“Hello?” I rasped, my voice hoarse with anger. I was growing more irritated and impatient with every passing second. Where the hell was he? I gave up looking and stood in the middle of the hall, screaming his name louder and louder. “David? David!”

A figure came into view at the far end of the hall.

“Samantha,” as he got closer, I could tell his eyes were worried, “What’s the matter?” He pulled me in close to him. I inhaled his delicious scent, and my knees grew weak in spite of my feelings. I cursed pheromones as I noticed he was dressed in my favorite charcoal gray suit. My body felt at war with itself as I felt his hands glide over me. Normally, they’d serve to calm me instantaneously, but right now I was so angry, I shook them off me, not willing to be talked out of my fury.

“You said you’d stop seeing her,” I sputtered, my words quiet but full of rage.

David pulled back, and his eyes dropped to the floor as he pondered my statement. After a moment he shoved his hands in his pockets and looked back up at me.

“I need you to come with me,” he said evenly.

“Are you kidding me? That’s it? That’s your answer? Did you hear what I just said? I saw her David.”

“Samantha,” he said, pulling out one of his hands and placing it on my shoulder.

“No!” I said, shaking him off me. He knew I was powerless against his touch. “Don’t manipulate me. You lied to me. You said you wouldn’t see her again. But I saw her David. I just
saw her
. What the fuck were you two even doing here? Working? On a Saturday night? Again? Do you really expect me to think nothing is going on?” I was screaming now. No one else was around so I didn’t have to worry about embarrassing myself.

“Samantha,” he tried again. “Let me speak.”

“Why? What could you possibly say? You keep saying how I am supposed to trust you. But then you keep seeing her, even after I asked you specifically to stop. How am I supposed to react?” I started to walk back down the hall toward the entrance.

“Where are you going?”

I didn’t respond and continued out the door, back into the cold January night. I heard David’s footsteps trace mine, and I quickened my steps. I was halfway across the sidewalk when he grabbed me by the arm, spinning me around. His large hands gripped my shoulders, dwarfing them, and his eyes trained on my face. His stare burned so hot I had to look down. I struggled to break away, not trusting myself with his attention. I needed to get back into the SUV and get away. Go somewhere I could think. It wasn’t fair—no, he never played fair. He knew his effect on me. I tried to wiggle free, but his strength was no match for me.

“Let go of me,” I hissed, turning my face back up to match his stare.

“No,” he said steadily. “Not until you calm down.”

“I’ll scream,” I growled. The street was full of people, out for Saturday night diversions. An elderly coupled passed us and shot me a worried glance.

“Samantha, you need to let me explain. One sentence. Then, if you want, you can go.”

“I don’t
need
to give you anything,” I spat before I closed my eyes. I was beyond pissed off, but some part of me hoped that the one sentence was exactly what I needed to hear. The one assurance that could eclipse everything I was feeling. The one thing that would fix my insecurities.

“Please.”

I stilled and tried to calm my breathing. “Fine,” I said, and David released his grip. After a moment, I opened my eyes, and his stare was still locked with mine. He stepped back and ran a hand through his hair. I tried to decode his expression. He pushed his other hand into his pocket and my breath hitched. I ached for what was coming next. What that one sentence would be.

“Samantha,” he said, “this is all for you.” He nodded towards the windows.

I turned my head, looking at the buildings, expecting something dramatic—like lights spelling out ‘Will You Marry Me,’ but nothing was there. I didn’t see anything. The windows were dark inside, and it was clear I’d watched one too many romantic comedies. The wind gusted, and I felt annoyance quickly rise in my chest again. I scowled back at him. “What are you talking about?” I barked.

“The building, Samantha. It’s for you.”

The building? What the hell? I looked over again at the frosted glass door. My eyes travelled up, finally taking a real look at the three story building. It was an older structure that looked like it had been recently renovated. Fresh paint. New windows. I looked back at David, still angry and confused. I raised an eyebrow at him, impatiently.

“What the hell do I need a building for?” I said. I was quickly growing tired of this. If David thought he could make up his transgressions with real estate holdings, he was sorely mistaken. I crossed my arms. “Not the most romantic gift, Chief.”

“Okay, maybe I need more than one sentence. The building is for you. I thought we could turn it into a children’s center. And you could run it. Samantha, the blond is my architect, Melinda Jacobs. She helped me renovate the space.”

I scrunched up my face and looked back at the space in silence. What was he talking about? A children’s center? This was crazy. I was in no mood to think about work. My body was still pulsing with adrenaline.
This
was the big secret? I started to turn red, embarrassed that I thought it was going to be something else, something more. I felt so stupid. I felt my eyes welling up with emotion, and I managed to turn around just in time. The last thing I wanted right now was for him to know how much he meant to me.

His voice turned soft. “Or do whatever you want with it. It’s yours, Samantha. I don’t want to press—” he reached out and touched my shoulder. I jerked and shrugged him off.

“Don’t.”

“Samantha.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Can you tell me one thing,” I asked as David stood behind me. I took a deep breath, fully aware that I was about to put all my cards on the table. “Did you ever really want to marry me, or was it only part of the ruse to get Brian?”

He was quiet for a moment. I could picture him behind me, searching awkwardly for an out to my very pointed question. Finally he spoke. “Samantha, turn around.”

I stayed facing the street, unable to look at him. “Because right now I’m feeling like maybe you and I have run our course.” I hated saying the words, but I didn’t feel like I had any other choice. This man had the ability to make me feel the greatest highs and the lowest lows. And I couldn’t take it. Not anymore. For a while, I denied it, thought I could go without it. But I could no longer deny what I needed. I needed him—all of him. And if he couldn’t provide it, well, then I had to move on.

“Samantha, turn the fuck around,” he said again, more forcefully this time.

I inhaled deeply and wiped my eyes before turning around. “You know, you can be a real ass—”

I turned around and looked down. David was down on one knee. I let out a small gasp. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a ring. “Samantha Sharp, my willful, determined little firecracker, I love you more than life itself. I know I’ve put you through hell during the past few weeks, but if you give me a chance, I would like to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Samantha, would you do me the express honor of becoming my wife?”

It was too much. Feelings flooded over me. Anger. Lust. Hurt. Excitement. Pain. Love. I looked down at him. And as much as I tried to hold on to my convictions, I couldn’t. This man had a power over me that no one else did. I was helpless against him. And here he was, telling me he wanted to spend the rest of his days loving me. He looked up at me, expectantly, his eyes wide and moist.

I reached up and covered my face with one hand. “Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?” I asked quietly, shaking my head at him.

“Come with me.” He stood up and grabbed me by my hand and took me back into the building. He pulled me down the hall and up four flights of stairs before exiting, breathless, onto the roof of the building.

I gasped. The lights of the city were in the background, and the roof had been lit with hundreds of white candles. I turned to David.

“I didn’t say it before, because you, Ms. Sharp, interrupted my plan,” David said, looking down at me, the corners of his mouth twitching up. “Although I suppose I should’ve expected nothing less. I love that you keep me on my toes, and I hope you are willing to do that for the rest of my life.” He dropped down to his knee again. “So, Ms. Sharp. I will ask you again. Will you marry me?”

Tears of joy started to flood my eyes. “Yes,” I managed to whisper.

David’s eyes flashed and his mouth curved. “Really?”

I nodded. He rose to his feet and pulled my hand up to him, and gently slid the ring on.

“I’m sorry about what I said out there,” I motioned down to the street with my chin.

“You mean the part where you called me an ass?”

“I didn’t mean it. I just … I just love you so much.”

David looked down at me and pulled my chin up toward his and kissed me softly. “I know. I love you, too.”

I gazed down at the ring. It was beautiful, stunning actually, and sparkled in the light of the evening. The ring was antique, with a huge cushion-cut diamond.

“It’s my grandmother’s ring,” David said. “Well, Jack’s mother’s ring. I had it resized and replaced the stone.”

“I love it,” I said quietly. It was perfect. “Much better than the rings at Tiffany.”

“I thought so, too. Sorry about that by the way. I could tell you were disappointed. But you are a special woman, Ms. Sharp. I wanted you to have something unique and precious. Because that’s what you are to me. And I want to devote my life to keeping you safe and happy. I’ve never met another woman like you, Samantha. And I know I never will.”

“Don’t you dare try to either, Chief,” I said, smiling as I leaned into him again.

“Not a chance.”

I ran my fingers over my cheeks, clearing them of errant tears. “So, is there actually a birthday party tonight? Or was all that part of the ruse?”

David laughed. “Yes, there is. I’m glad we can go now. After your reaction on the street, I almost thought I’d have to disappoint everyone.”

“You mean—”

“Everyone’s expecting us. Your family, too. Julie was kind enough to offer her special day as cover.”

My heart flew. “You told them? When?”

David’s mouth twisted into a little knot. “A man’s got to have some secrets, Samantha. But don’t worry. Your father gave his permission.” I gazed up at David, marveling at him. “I’m just glad you said yes. It would have been a real bummer of a party otherwise.”

40

Our wedding was the antithesis of what one might expect. There were no limousines, no paparazzi, hell, there weren’t even any flowers, except for the small bouquet of white tulips I carried.

I had woken up five hours earlier, to David staring at me in bed.

“Hey,” I said, my mouth curving into a smile.

“Hey.”

“What are you staring at?”

“Just my beautiful fiancé,” he said as he rolled over and pulled me in to him, spreading my legs and teasing me with his morning erection.

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of hearing you say that,” I said, my thighs wrapping around him and my hands reaching around his muscular back. I closed my eyes again, reveling in the strength and protection of his body.