“Vanessa… I swear to you, I’ll make you happy…as happy as I know you’re going to make me,” he said.
His gaze was absolutely steady. He wasn’t just talking, carried by the moment. Cold sweat filmed her palms and the back of her neck. Hadn’t Ceinlys often spoken of the madness of deriving happiness from others, how Salazar had let her down? That could easily be Vanessa’s future too. Justin had all the things that had made Salazar irresistible to women: a charming personality, looks, money and power.
And all the beauties who used to grace his arms wouldn’t give up just because he was married. Just look at all those women throwing themselves at Salazar. How could Justin’s situation be any different? Vanessa would be one of many stars that orbited around him, while he was the center of her universe. Panic balled in her gut.
“Vanessa?” Justin prompted.
“Yes?”
“You’re zoning out again.”
“Sorry. I was just wondering…” She took a deep breath, then held the air in her lungs so she wouldn’t start hyperventilating. “How long were you planning to be in Toronto? I need to go back to L.A. on Saturday.”
“Didn’t block out any time for a honeymoon?”
Cringing, she shook her head. “It’s not like we can have one. Our marriage is secret, remember?”
“That sounds so clandestine.” He gave her a meaningful look. “Secret Wife.”
She looked away as her heart squeezed. What a ridiculous reaction. She wasn’t thrilled at being called “wife,” secret or otherwise. This was temporary, and she was not going to end up like her mother.
Because she looked so much like her mother, most people thought she’d marry well and have everything catered to her. Except she knew better. Her grandmother had often lamented about how poisonous and ephemeral her mother’s looks were.
“If Ceinlys had been just slightly less beautiful she would never have been able to marry Salazar. Mark my words, as she grows older, her hold on him will weaken. Fading youth can never keep a man’s heart. One day he’ll wake up and wonder what he ever saw in her. And she’ll be sorry. But by then it will be too late.” She raised a wrinkled but absolutely steady finger. “This is why you look at the pedigree. The character. You never marry a woman solely for her beauty.”
Vanessa pushed aside her grandmother’s conversation. Shirley Pryce hadn’t limited herself to just her sister’s ears. Vanessa also knew how disappointed Shirley was that she looked so much like Ceinlys.
“If only you’d gotten the Pryce eyes or nose…” Shirley had sighed, searching Vanessa’s face. “If you’d been a boy, at least you could’ve had the Pryce profile. Ah well, at least you’re pretty. Good men will marry you for that…assuming you don’t overeducate yourself.”
Vanessa snuffed the memory and concentrated on the present. “Mom’s having a housewarming party on Saturday,” she said to Justin, “and she wants me there. I couldn’t beg off, especially with all my brothers coming.” Short notice or no, they’d wanted to attend. “Well, except for Shane, of course.”
Justin frowned. “Where is Shane anyway? I haven’t seen him in months.”
“You or anyone else. He went to South Africa in May, but since then…nada.” She shook her head. “He’s never pulled something like this. Dad’s thinking about sending men out there to drag him back to L.A.”
“That’s pretty high-handed.”
“I know. Shocking, given that it’s Dad.” Vanessa snorted. “But in this case, I actually agree with the idea.”
Justin shrugged. “Well let me know if I can help. In the meantime, if you want, we can get married today, then fly out to L.A. together tomorrow. I want to see how Ceinlys is doing.”
“But—”
“Don’t give yourself an aneurism, okay? She invited me too.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened. “She did?”
“Yeah. She apparently heard something about my relocating to California.”
“Justin! I thought you were staying in Chicago.”
“Why would I do that when my wife and child are going to be in California?” He gave her a small, smile. “Don’t worry. She won’t have any idea. I’m going to be in San Francisco. I even rented a corporate condo, not that I plan to actually live there.”
“Where are you going to be?”
“In L.A. With you.”
“Everyone’s going to know then.”