“I’m your problem now.”
Her low voice made electricity skitter through his body, even as his spine snapped straight.
“Lola.” He breathed deeply. “How did you get this phone?”
“I had no choice, did I? You’re clearly not interested in taking my calls.”
Rodrigo exhaled, and kept his voice a cold, deliberate drawl. “I’ve been traveling for business—”
“When I married you, Rodrigo, I meant it to be forever. But forever’s not going to be like this.”
And the phone went dead in his hands.
CHAPTER FIVE
WHEN RODRIGO ARRIVED at the beach house, Lola was ready for a fight.
She’d already packed her clothes and the baby’s. Because she knew an ultimatum always came at a price—of possibly being forced to go through with the threat.
But she hadn’t married him to be abandoned. If Rodrigo didn’t intend to actually fulfill his promise to be a good father to their baby, then Lola was taking Jett back to New York, to be around people who actually cared about them. Marriage required two people, not just one.
When Rodrigo burst through the door, he strode into the great room, darkly handsome and a little terrifying. Lola faced him defiantly, holding their baby in her arms.
As usual, he was dressed entirely in black, even in sunny California. Unlike Lola, who now wore a T-shirt and shorts suitable for the weather, Rodrigo never changed, no matter where he was or what country he was in. He expected the world to conform to him, not the other way around.
Sometimes she’d liked that about him,
that he was steadfast and strong, like an oak in a world full of weeds. Today wasn’t one of those times.
“Nice of you to visit,” Lola said coldly. “I thought maybe you’d forgotten you were married. Maybe you do need a ring.”
He dropped his briefcase with a bang on the floor, causing their baby to jump with surprise in her arms. “I was traveling. For business.”
She juggled Jett on her hip. “You got here fast, at least.”
“I arrived in LA this morning. I was at the office when you called.”
It surprised her how much that hurt. “You went there first? Instead of home?”
“Business comes first. You know that.”
“Over family?”
“You were fine. You had Tobias and Lester and Mrs. Lee.”
Lola glared at him. “You’re seriously not this stupid.”
He looked at her incredulously. “Stupid?”
“Is this your idea of marriage, of family, to just dump us and disappear? Because it’s not what I signed up for.”
Rodrigo looked irritated. “It’s only been a week.”
“Our first week. Our honeymoon.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Lola.” His dark eyes glittered. “We’re not in love. Our marriage isn’t based on romance.”
“It should at least be based on respect. We have to look out for each other.” She lifted her chin. “Otherwise, what’s the point?”