Chapter Twenty-Seven

Via’s foot began to tap in the car. “Why can’t you ever tell me where we are going?”

“I am treating my wife to an amazing dinner. What is the harm in that?”

Shaking her head, she looked over and scowled. “I know how you operate, Mister Rayner. You fancy this whole keeping me in the dark thing way too much!”

I couldn’t help but grin. “You have a problem with worrying too much. Please trust me on this. You are going to love it.”

Without saying a word, she leaned back into the seat and stared out the window.

Pursing my lips to restrain myself from laughing at her, I pulled the car into a hotel along Coconut Beach.

“You dragged my ass out of the house to bring me to a hotel?” She began roaring with laughter.

“Oh Ryan, I love you dearly, but you really need to work on the whole what is considered to be a surprise and what is not!”

Playfully rolling my eyes, I put the car in park and killed the engine. I strolled around the car, tossed the keys to the valet, and opened the passenger door for my wife.

“The surprise is waiting inside, Mrs. Rayner.”

“Of course it is,” she groaned as she took a hold of my hand.

My grin resurfaced at the thought of this agitating the shit out of her. Leading her closer to the building, the doorkeepers opened the doors for us. I picked my bride up and carried her across the threshold.

To my utter amazement, she didn’t smart off as I placed her back upon her feet.

She stared at me in confusion the second I placed my hand on her forehead. “What in the hell are you doing?”

“You didn’t say anything smart. You must be getting sick!”

“I am sparing you by not ruining your moment. Duh!” She rolled her eyes.

* * * *

The hostess escorted us to our private dining table.

As we walked, I peered over my shoulder to familiarize myself with the surroundings. I almost tripped over my own feet the second I recognized her face, after blinking multiple times, of course. Thankfully, she didn’t say my name aloud. Via would have, without a doubt, blown everything out of proportion.

I sat down after holding my wife’s chair for her, ordered the wine, and was itching to find out why in the hell she was here!

“I have to excuse myself to the restroom. Do not move a single muscle, Mrs. Rayner.”

Standing up, I left the room and slid the door shut behind me.

I spotted her chatting with the bartender and sipping on bottled water. “How is married life treating you, Ryan?” she asked the moment I strolled into earshot.

Shaking my head, I ignored her question. “Outside, now,” I hissed, leading her out of the restaurant and clear from everyone’s, including my wife’s, view.

“Oh, I like it rough. How sweet of you to remember, Mister Rayner.”

My lips snarled at her, “What in the hell are you doing here, Ashley? We agreed to never speak to each other!”

She grinned. “Don’t get your panties in a wad! I am here on vacation with my husband. See.” She flashed me her ring.

“I heard you were going to be here on your honeymoon, and let’s just say you are not the hardest person to track down. There is no need to go into hysterics Master Rayner.”

Before I could say a word to the woman who had been my submissive before Jennifer, my cell phone rang.

I looked at the ID, sliding the screen with my fingertip to answer it.

“What?” I shouted into the phone.

My eyes widened in horror at the words spoken into my ear. “We will discuss this when I return!”

Hanging up, I shoved the phone back into my pocket.

“Are you having problems on the home front, Ryan?” Ashley wondered, staring at me with worry.

I ran my fingers through my hair, tears pushing the rims of my eyes. “My wife is going to kill me.”

“It can’t be that bad. What did you do, impregnate a woman?” Ashley snickered.

The expression on her face went from sarcastic to horrific in a matter of seconds once she saw me cringing as if I was in pain.

“Holy fucking shit! You did!” she exclaimed, her jaw almost hitting the floor.

I stood there, shaking my head in bewilderment. “I’m a fucking dead man…”

Snapping her fingers, she brought my back from my horrendous thoughts.

“Ryan, listen to me, no matter who you did this to, you have to tell her. Keeping a secret like this from her will only get you into deeper shit.”

Shit! Damn! Fuck! If I had known Jennifer was not on any contraceptive, I would have never even… ugh! Via is going to go ape-shit. Wait… It is going to be much worse! You might as well kiss your sorry ass goodbye, Rayner! My thoughts were becoming darker as I walked back into our dining room.

Ashley is right. You have to tell her now and not procrastinate on it.

Sliding the door open, my breathtaking wife smiled the second she saw me. “There you are. I was beginning to think you got lost.”

I sat down and ran my fingers through my hair. “No baby, I didn’t get lost.”

“What’s wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost.” She was gazing at me with concern in her eyes.

Not yet, but getting ready to!

“Jennifer called. She’s pregnant.”

Via took a bite of her salad, obviously not thinking much of what I had just said.

“Jennifer is having a baby? She and Jason must be happy. I bet William and Sarah are through the roof with the whole two grand babies being expected.”

She paused to gaze up at my restless face. “Wait, when you say Jennifer is pregnant…”

“I mean the child she is carrying belongs to me, not Jason.” I finished her sentence, fidgeting in my seat.

My heart pounded against my chest as I waited for her response. To my surprise, she didn’t say a single word. Picking up her wine glass, I had expected her to chuck it across the table at me. Even though all she did was take a sip and set the glass down, my body still ached. I know silence is deadly, but my wife’s stillness is fucking lethal!

* * * *

Via remained quiet throughout dinner and the ride back to the house. Shit! Damn! Fuck! You have fucked things up this time, Rayner!

She still refused to talk as she walked into the house, and made her way into our bedroom. I watched from the doorway as she pulled her suitcase out of the closet, and packed her clothes into it.

“Baby, please, I am begging you, do not do this.”

She picked up her bag and stood right in front of me. “Out of my way, Ryan.”

Her tone was furiously bitter as she glared at me. I had no choice but to step out of the doorway.

I followed her outside. “Baby, please talk to me about this. Don’t leave angry.”

She stopped to turn around and stare at me. “Don’t leave angry? Fine!”

Forcing a smile on her face, she walked backwards. “Are you happy now, Ryan? I’m not leaving fucking angry. I’m not shitting anything but rainbows and bunny rabbits over here!”

I tried my damnedest not to crack a smile as I crept closer towards her. “If you want to leave, we can leave. We arrived here together, we are leaving together.”

She gripped her suitcase tighter. “I want to go home! Back to where life was much simpler. I wish I had never met your fucked up ass!”

Understanding her spiteful words were out of anger, I nodded. “At least let me drive you to the airport.”

Without saying a word, she walked to the car and settled herself into the passenger seat.