Page 45 of Completely Captivated
“When I first met you, I sensed you were a good-hearted man.One who would honest to God take care of my girl, but more importantly, shower her with the type of love she’s never had.You’ve been given a rare second chance with me, Aaron.Don’t screw it up.”
“I’m sorry, Delilah.I’m still trying to catch up with you.Where’d you come from?Are you alone?Is someone helping you?”He turned to look out the back window of the car.
“Stop looking for my babysitter and wheelchair.The only reason Christa had to help me that day was because I was still recovering from a minor surgical procedure.I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.Now, what do you intend to do to win her back?”
“That’s exactly what I was just thinking about—I don’t know yet.I tried to apologize to her a couple of minutes ago.But all I managed to do is make her even madder, and for reasons I didn’t even think about before I showed up here.Wait—how’d you know I was even here?”
“My name is Delilah Cushing Hayse.Ring a bell?”
“Oh.Shit.”
“So, you do know my name.”
“Definitely.You started out as a real estate tycoon, but there’s not much you’re not involved in and influence today.You’ve moved more into the financial arena now.Whatever you buy or sell impacts the stock market.Major investors follow your lead.”
“That’s right.That also means I have friends in all kinds of places—high, low, and everywhere in between.Friends who have information I need, favors to repay, and a willingness to help an old lady out whenever she needs it.Good thing I called off that help when I saw you pull up here with your heart on your sleeve.Here’s what you’re going to do to win her back:whatever it takes to make her happy.Figure it out.I’ll be watching.”
With that advice, I exited his car and left him to wonder who my sources were.To be honest, Christa had been under my protection since the day I met her.She reminded me so much of myself when I was her age.Her timing couldn’t have been better since I was in the office closing another real estate deal when she contacted a corporate Realtor on my staff about the vacant bakery building.
With the phone call on speaker, I knew how unfair life had been to her the second I heard her voice.I’m not usually overly sentimental, but something in her tone resonated with me.Determination.Grit.The drive to rise above her circumstances and be what no one believed she could be.That was when I decided to handle the terms myself and instructed my Realtor to let her have it at a ridiculously low price for such a prime location.Per normal protocol, we conducted a thorough background check on her—much more in-depth than the standard.Every aspect of her life was investigated, giving me a full picture of her current and past circumstances.
That was when she became my personal responsibility, though I’ve never told her.That was when I decided anyone who hurt her would deal with me.
.
Just Friends
Christa
“Jared, Aaron just came to see me.”I blurted out the news the second he answered the phone, barely giving him enough time to say hello.
“What did he say?Don’t leave anything out.”
I repeated the entire conversation, including Aaron’s claims to have hit his head and suffered a seizure that robbed him of any memory of our wedding night.
“At first, I was genuinely concerned about him.I thought he had total amnesia, and I couldn’t imagine how terrible that would be.Then he so nonchalantly said only the week before our wedding was missing.
“But then what he didn’t say hit me.What about the rest of the time we were together?Those memories were still intact.Yet he had no problem throwing me to the wolves—or wolf, in this case.
“The more I thought about what he said, the harder it was for me to believe a single word of it.I’ve been vacillating between hurt, anger, and disbelief.Then he urged me to call Logan to verify his story, as if Logan wouldn’t lie for his best friend.”
“Did he say what his doctor’s name is?”Jared asked, bringing me back to our conversation.
“Yes, he said he went to Dr.Batton.”
“It’d be almost impossible to subpoena his medical records and get them back in time at this point, especially since he’d have to agree to release them without a court order.But we can use this information to help your annulment request.He hit his head before the wedding, and he doesn’t remember any of the events surrounding it now.He wasn’t of sound mind during the ceremony and proposed a settlement to get you to agree to a divorce.”
“Thank you, Jared.I’m sure you’re busy with other work and don’t need my drama right now.But I really do appreciate your help.”
“You’re not bothering me, Christa.In fact, I’d love to see you tonight.How about I pick you up around eight and take you out to eat?”
“That’s so sweet of you.I’d really love to, but I wouldn’t be very good company after today.We’ve been so slammed in the shop.I haven’t been off my feet all day, and they’re killing me.I’ve already planned a hot date tonight—with a good book and an entire bottle of wine.”
“You’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t have dinner with me.I’ll have to sit there all alone.”
I conceded with a soft sigh.“Fine.Only because you’ll guilt-trip me forever, otherwise.”
“Great.I’ll pick you up at your place.See you tonight.”
