Chapter Ten

 

“I want you to sleep in my room tonight,” Mason said. “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor. I want to make sure you don’t have any side effects from that head wound.”

“Really, Mason. I’m fine,” Danielle insisted as they stood outside the doorway to Mason’s bedroom.

“Please humor me then,” Mason said. “I feel bad enough as it is. You nearly drowned today. On our honeymoon, no less.”

Danielle took a deep breath as she peered at Mason’s face. It was touching how worried he was about her. She had to admit, his concern really moved her. She looked away, focusing on the hallway. She had to keep her distance from him and sharing a room to sleep in was not a good way to accomplish it. Mason took her hands and pulled her towards him. He laid one of his hands under her chin and forced her to look at him.

His jet-black hair glistened beneath the hall light. He looked down at her and his deep blue eyes shined, making her warm all the way down to her toes. She peered at his full lips, just inches from her mouth. It would be so easy to lean in and let him kiss her. She knew he wanted to, and she was pretty sure he knew she wanted him to as well. Instead, she stepped back, trying not to stare at the face of the man who’d saved her.

“Mason, I-”

He put his index finger against her lips, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. “Hush, Danielle. I won’t take no for an answer. You almost died today. At least let me look after you tonight.”

The man was tenacious. She’d give him that much. She closed her eyes, imagining everything that could go wrong being in such close proximity to her husband on their honeymoon. Even sleeping in the same room with him was dangerous. Not because she feared physical intimacy, but because she feared getting too accustomed to his company all day and night. That was a quick road to having her heart broken. The lump on her forehead had started to throb, and she unconsciously raised her hand to smooth over the band-aid.

“Is it hurting? Do you have a headache? Feel dizzy?” Mason asked. He bent down and examined her head. “I really think a hospital visit is in order,” he said. “Better to be on the safe side.”

The last thing she wanted was to go to a hospital. “No, I’m fine. I just need a good night’s sleep.”

Mason opened the bedroom door and ushered her in. “You can change into your PJs in the bathroom. I’ll get some blankets and sleep on the floor.”

Danielle dug out a demure set of pajamas and made her way to the bathroom to change. When she came back into the bedroom, Mason was sprawled out on the floor on a pile of blankets. A tinge of guilt hit her at the thought of him sleeping on the hard wood floors while she had a king size bed to herself. And what exactly was she doing in his bedroom? She was supposed to be putting an end to this marriage sham. Sleeping in his bedroom with him only a few feet away was not going to make it any easier.

After meeting Mason’s father, she was pretty certain he’d make their lives a living hell if they stayed married. Whatever plans they’d made and deal they’d struck, clearly wasn’t going to work out. That was crystal clear now. She leaned over and turned off the lamp that sat on the night table.

“Good night,” she said through the darkness.

“Night,” Mason said. The weariness in his voice was palpable.

She turned on her side, trying to get comfortable. Her head throbbed and despite the exhaustion she felt, sleep evaded her. She shifted to her other side.

“Danielle? Are you feeling okay?” Mason asked.

“My head hurts,” she said, figuring the truth was best at this point.

She heard Mason move from the floor and saw his figure rise beside the bed. “Do you want some aspirin?”

“That would be great, if you have some handy.”

Mason went to the master bath and turned the light on. He half closed the door, leaving a sliver of light illuminating the bedroom. She heard him rummaging through the drawers. Finally, he returned with a glass of water in his hand and a bottle of pills.

“I found some ibuprofen,” he said. “That should help.”

He handed her the water and spilled out a couple of pills in his hand and gave them to her. She swallowed them and thanked him, setting the glass next to the lamp.

He flipped the bathroom light off and she heard him moving around, presumably back to his sleeping spot on the floor. She cleared her throat, and the sound was like thunder in the still quiet of the room.

“I still think a visit to the hospital would be best,” he stated.

“I’m fine. I feel bad you are sleeping on the floor. It seems silly for you to be so uncomfortable with this big bed half empty,” she blurted out. She immediately regretted it. What was he going to think? That was an invitation to sleep with her?

“I’ll be okay. I’ve slept in worse places. Unless you want me to sleep next to you. I mean, just sleep, you know?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’d like that. I’m feeling some anxiety about everything that happened today. And tonight.” Had she lost her mind? Too late to take it back now.

Mason rose and schlepped his pillow and blanket to the bed. Danielle moved to the opposite side if the bed to give him room. A man who saved her life shouldn’t sleep on the floor when he had a perfectly good bed he could share with her. But she knew the minute he lay down next to her, it was going to cost her. His masculine scent surrounded her as he sank into the mattress only a few inches away from her. She’d never realized what a big man he was until she was sharing a bed with him.

She felt him shift on the mattress. “Danielle?”

She turned toward him. They lay side by side in the dark, facing each other. She could feel her heart begin to race as she felt his closeness, his warm body heat, the scent of shampoo on his hair. “Yes?” she whispered.

“I’m sorry about the way my father treated you. He’s a real jerk sometimes. Actually, all of the time.”

“It isn’t your fault,” she said. “But I’m worried about you. What if he does something to hurt you. Maybe does something to hurt you financially?”

“He can’t. He doesn’t have any access or right of access to my personal accounts.”

“If he does fire you from the company, then that means, you don’t need me anymore. You won’t need to be married or produce an heir.”

Mason reached out and drew her quietly into his arms, soothing her. “I doubt he will do that. Even his huge ego won’t allow him to ruin the good thing he has going. I am the one who makes The Rutherford Group profitable. Without me, he knows he’ll lose everything.”

The feeling of Mason holding her in his arms was overwhelming. She felt so safe and cared for, which was something she shouldn’t feel in an arranged marriage. “And if he fires you anyway?”

Mason hugged her close and brushed his lips against the top of her head. “We had an agreement that was for the benefit of both of us. If things change on my end, I’m not going back out on my word. I am not that type of man,” he said gruffly.

“But-”

“Shhh, hush now. Let’s get some sleep. There is no use in worrying about things that haven’t happened. Tomorrow is a new day. My father will come around eventually. It is in his best interest. Now, let’s go to sleep.”

“Okay,” Danielle said. She suddenly felt relaxed and could barely keep her eyes closed. Her anxiety seemed to have melted when Mason put his arms around her. She knew it was dangerous to get used to feeling this way, but maybe just this one time, she’d give in and let him comfort her. Within minutes she was fast asleep, drugged with a potion called Mason Rutherford.

~

Mason lay awake listening to Danielle’s breathing, alert to any changes in her breaths. After an hour or so passed, he determined that she was going to be okay. She felt so good laying in his arms, it was like she belonged there. It was a wonderful ending to a perfectly awful day. One that had started with so much promise.

He was certain that his father had tipped off the paparazzi. It was too coincidental. What stuck him as odd was how angry his father had been. He’d asked him to marry and produce an heir. He hadn’t told him who to marry, surprisingly. So, why was he so angry that he’d married Danielle? He’d done a background check on her and she had nothing terrible in her family closet. She didn’t come from a moneyed background, but she had a good job, was self-sufficient, had attended a well-known college and graduated near the top of her class.

He dipped his head down onto Danielle’s hair and breathed in her scent. She had fell fast asleep in his arms, and he took that to be a good omen. He wasn’t going to worry about his father or what he would do. Mason was done with his father trying to control every aspect of his life. In his arms, snuggled up against his chest was his wife, the woman who had shown up in his life unexpectedly and turned it upside down in the best of ways. He was going to savor every second with her, no matter what happened.

The week came and went without another peep from Mason’s father. Danielle and Mason thoroughly enjoyed their honeymoon. They went hiking along the trails in the valley and enjoyed more picnics together than he’d had in his entire lifetime. He’d even began teaching her the basics of mountain climbing. Danielle had insisted on going back to her room after the one night in his room, but he felt like he was making strides. He’d never felt so comfortable in his life, so happy. Now, all he wanted to do was make Danielle happy. What was it they said? Happy wife, happy life? He’d made a promise to Bailey, one he was on the way to fulfilling. But the feelings would have to be mutual for this to work.

It was their last day at Marindell. Tomorrow they would return to the city and back to work. Mason was gathering his courage to ask Danielle if she’d move into his city apartment on Nob Hill. He had a guest room she could sleep in. Living together would give him a better chance at winning her heart.

He ignored the nagging warning at the back of his mind that his father was planning something to tear up this little piece of paradise he’d found. He’d been pretty adamant that Danielle was an unacceptable wife. And then, crickets. Something was brewing behind his father’s silence, he couldn’t deny it. And he wanted to make sure Danielle was safely with him with his father wrath was unleashed.

“Danielle, come here,” he called out from the deck.

Danielle pushed past the sliding glass doors and joined him on the deck. “What it is?”

He patted the space beside him where he sat with his legs hanging over the deck and mountain side. “Look,” he said pointing over the mountain and across the ocean. The sun was setting and the sky appeared aflame with vibrant orange and pink light, melting into the vivid blue of the sea.

“It’s beautiful!” she said as she sat next to him. “I’m going to miss being here.”

“We’ll come back soon,” he said. “I think of Marindell as home. My apartment in the city feels more like an extended workspace.”

“Where do you live in San Francisco?”

He laughed before answering. “Nob Hill.”

Danielle joined him with laughter. “See, I had you pegged right the first time I met you,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say that exactly. I’m really not the Nob Hill type. It’s just a convenient place to live.”

“I’ll say,” she said.

Mason turned to her and grasped her hands in his. “Danielle, when we go back to the city, I think you should move in with me. I mean, you are my wife after all.”

Danielle was quiet. “I hadn’t really thought about it,” she said. “About living together, I mean.”

“So, you’ll do it?”

She looked away past the mountains, a shy blush on her cheeks. “Where would I sleep?”

“I have a guest room you can sleep in if that’s what you want,” he said. “I don’t have any guests coming to visit anytime soon. Not that I know of,” he said.

“But your father? What will he say?” she asked.

Mason looked annoyed. “I don’t know, nor do I care. I can’t see him complaining about my wife living with me. Can you?”

“What if he forces an annulment? Then we aren’t married anymore. I don’t want to give up my apartment. It will be impossible to find another with the good roommates I have now.”

“He can’t do that,” he said. “Not legally. And if you decide you don’t want to stay with me past the time we agreed, you will have enough money to buy your own apartment.”

Mason saw her face fall. Boy, was he stupid. Bringing up their financial agreement was the least romantic thing he could have ever said. He felt like pounding his head into the nearby stone wall to knock some sense into it. “I hope it doesn’t come to that though,” he said quietly. “I’d really like you to stay.”

~

Danielle sat on the deck watching the sunset through the mountain tops and over the ocean. She felt she was living in a fairytale for the last week. Mason was too good to be true. He was kind and considerate. He was handsome and funny. They had so much in common; they liked the same type of music, similar foods and both enjoyed a strange fascination with science fiction B movies. Though she was no mountain climber, he was teaching her, and she could see herself maybe starting to like it- that is if she could get over her fear of heights. She was working on it.

She’d tried to live in the moment and not think of the time when they’d have to say goodbye. That day was coming, she was certain. Mason may want to pretend otherwise, but she knew in her heart, there was no chance of continuing the charade. His father simply would not allow it. She’d known men like Mr. Rutherford before; he was not the type of man to let anyone stand in his way. She felt bad for Mason. While her own father had deserted her, she’d rather have him gone than having him trying to control every aspect of her adult life with such venom like Mason’s father.

She supposed in some ways, she deserved it. She was living a lie married to Mason. Although they had both agreed to the marriage and it has seemed so sensible, so mutually beneficial at the time, she realized once she spoken the vows, it was wrong. The were deceiving their families, their friends and taking vows before God that they’d had no intention of fulfilling long term. If she left this sham of a marriage with a broken heart, if was no less than she deserved. Sooner or later, they were going to have to come clean and by then any hope of true marital bliss would be lost.

“Danielle!” Mason called out to her as he opened the back door of the kitchen.

“Yes?” She tilted her head back towards the back door.

He stepped out on the deck, his feet bare, wearing a worn pair of jeans and a tight blue tee shirt that showed off his muscular build. “Oh, wow. Even more gorgeous than last night,” he said.

She glanced back at the sunset, admiring the glorious pick and tangerine hues. “It’s spectacular.”

Mason settled in the other Adirondack chair next to her. “The sunset isn’t bad either,” he said with a mischievous wink.

She could feel the blush rising to her cheeks. Thank goodness she could blame the sunset’s glow if Mason noticed. She grazed him with a small smile. His blue eyes were bright and cheerful, the color of his shirt made them appear even more vivid this evening. She wished he wasn’t so wonderful. It was going to make it so much harder when they said their farewells.

“I wish we didn’t have to go back tomorrow,” he said, not bothering to hide the wistfulness in his voice.

“Me too,” she said. It was the truth.

“I spoke to your boss and he doesn’t expect you back until Tuesday. That should give you some time to settle in the apartment.”

“Um, about that,” Danielle said. She cleared her throat, stalling for time.

“What about it?” Mason leaned over as if to hear her whisper in his ear.

“I think we should wait. At least until you see your father again. I’m afraid of what he might do.”

Mason pulled back and let out a huff. “We had this conversation already, Danielle. He can’t control me or my life anymore. And it would be absurd of him to expect my wife to live anywhere other than with me.”

“I don’t think he has suddenly accepted your choice. I suspect he has something unpleasant waiting for you when you get back. And probably something awful for me as well.”

Mason put his hand to his forehead and shook his head. “So do I. I’m not a fool. But I can’t see how he can hurt me without hurting the company, without hurting himself and the family name he claims to value so much.”

“People like that will find a way. I hate to say it because he’s your father, but he really did seem livid with you. And anger like that is not a healthy emotion.”

“No, it’s not.” He turned to Danielle and put his hand under her chin and tilted her face up to his. “This is our last night here in paradise. Let’s not ruin it by talking about my father, okay?”

Danielle would have walked on hot coals at that moment if Mason had asked her. She felt lost in his dreamy blue eyes. She was going to miss him so much. Without considering the consequences, she lifted her hands and ran them through his raven hair, nudging him closer. Mason didn’t need any more encouragement than that; he drew her closer and pressed his lips against hers. His mouth was full and soft against hers and he lingered, taking his time as he seemed to savor the joining of their lips, the closeness of their bodies, the warmth of their mutual touch. A shock of emotion flooded Danielle, happiness, excitement and fear. She pulled back from his kiss as the latter of her emotions got the best of her. She had to protect herself from heartbreak and grief.

As she drew back, looking deep into his eyes she realized that it was too late for her heart. She’d already lost it to Mason. “No more kissing,” she said abruptly.

Macon furrowed his brows together in confusion. “What?”

Danielle realized how ridiculous that sounded. If they were supposed to be married and had agree to make a baby in three months, a little kissing was in order. Except she knew this marriage was not going to last three months, probably not even the next three days. She had to protect her heart from being completely destroyed. “I mean, unless your father approves of our marriage, I don’t want to kiss anymore. It will only make things complicated.”

Mason reached across the distance Danielle had put between them. He grasped her hand and held it between his two. “If we are going to convince my father we are a good match, we’ll need to play the part. We need to look as though we are in love,” he said. “Anytime we are in public or in his presence.”

“Okay, but we don’t need to prove anything when no one else is around,” she said.

Mason stood up. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll just keep this what it is: a business deal.” He turned back as he reached the door. “If you don’t want to kiss me, maybe you should stop initiating the kisses then.”

He marched back into the house without another word. Danielle’s cheeks burned. He was right of course. She was sending him mixed signals and it wasn’t fair. She knew she had hurt him, but she couldn’t bear to get attached to him, only to have him ripped from her life. And he’d just crushed her with his comment about their business deal. She dropped her head in her hands and let out a moan. What had she gotten herself into marrying Mason? She should have known a billionaire bachelor would behave like a spoiled brat if he didn’t get his way.

“Business deal,” she huffed as she rose from her chair. She couldn’t believe she’d started to have feelings for that conceited gorilla. “Fine, you will get your business deal, Mason Rutherford,” she muttered under her breath. Two could play this game. If he wanted to convince his father and the rest of the world they were in love, she was going to give them a performance that would win her an Oscar.