Hostage to Love

Gray eyes similar to Nick’s sparkled with genuine warmth. “Please, call me Amanda. And I’m so glad to see you well after what you went through. I came as soon as I heard.” She cast a quick glance at Nick, a glance filled with pain and uncertainty.

Nick’s face remained granite-hard, and she felt a rush of sympathy for the other woman. Despite what had happened, and despite Nick’s opinion of her, it was clear the woman loved her son.

“Thank you, Amanda,” Belle replied, then to break the awkward silence which ensued added, “Will you be staying? I’m sure Bertrand can prepare—“

“No, she won’t be staying. In fact she was just leaving, weren’t you, Mother?” Cold eyes demanded only one answer from his parent.

Sighing, Amanda dropped Belle’s hands, stepped back, and went to pick up her purse. “Yes, I was just leaving. But before I do, I’d like to give you this.” She came back toward them, holding up a small package to Nick. “I know today’s your first anniversary, and I hope you’ll accept this small gift.” Her lilting voice held tremulous hope as she looked at her son.

He regarded the present, and Belle prayed he wouldn’t refuse it. After a tense moment, he took it from her. “Thank you. We appreciate it.”

Belle smiled, hoping to ease the harshness of Nick’s curt response. In silence, they walked to the door, and with a murmured goodbye, Amanda left.

Belle turned to Nick as soon as the door shut behind her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I didn’t invite her here, you know. She just turned up,” he said.

“I know, but did you get a chance to talk to her?”

“She did most of the talking. I listened.”

Hope spurted inside her for him. “And?”

His movements were still jerky as he paced to the window and back again. “Things aren’t as clear-cut as I thought. Look, I don’t want to talk about it now, okay? We have just over an hour before our guests arrive. We should be getting ready.”

His mother’s unexpected appearance had obviously upset him, and Belle wanted to comfort him. He tried to hide it, but his body’s tension and the taut blankness on his face belied his calm. Resolving to speak to him after the party, she left him in the lounge to go over last-minute details with Bertrand.

When she entered the bedroom ten minutes later, he was in the shower. Shedding her clothes, she entered the bathroom. He turned when she slid back the shower door, and for a split second, she saw a bleak look cross his face.

Without a word, he took her in his arms. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I don’t want you to be caught in the middle of all of this.”

“I’m in it for better or worse, remember?”

He sighed and nodded.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked. “She seemed happy to see you.”

“Well, she’s good at that, at pretending like nothing’s happened. Like she can just waltz in and pick up where she left off twenty years ago. You know why? Because she’s married. Again. Her new husband probably wants to meet me. God, last year she was Amanda Oldfield, two years before that, she was something else. Do you know every man she decides to marry is always the one true love of her life? Of course, her so-called true love doesn’t stand the test of time, because the moment she feels unhappy, she hightails it to divorce court faster than a speeding bullet.” He stopped, sucked in a huge breath, and cursed. “Damn it, I wasn’t going to do this.

“Hey, I’m glad you did. She hurt you, and there’s no excuse for what she did, but perhaps if you gave her a chance to explain…?”

His smile was tight. “She did. And maybe it’s not even out of the realm of possibility that I buy her explanation. But rational or not, the ten-year old boy inside me isn’t ready to accept it yet.” The pain in his voice was unmistakable.

“I’m so sorry, darling.” She went into his arms and kissed him.

He pulled her closer, deepened the kiss. In uncharacteristic silence, he made love to her.

Afterward, Nick seemed restored to his old self.

“You look breathtaking.” He eyed her new layered hairstyle and the navy blue form-fitting floor-length dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves and plunging neckline she’d settled on.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” she smiled, her appreciative gaze lingering over the designer tuxedo he wore over his pristine white-studded shirt.

“I have something for you.” He plucked the velvet case from on top of his drawer. He opened it, and nestling on the black velvet bed were a diamond and sapphire necklace with a motif depicting two lovers entwined, along with matching sapphire earrings in a bezel setting.

“Oh, my God, Nick, they’re stunning!”

“Not as stunning as you, matia mou. Nothing could ever surpass your beauty, and the joy I feel from knowing you’re my wife again,” he said huskily. “Turn around.”