Taking Chloe (Vaughn)

“Fine,” he gritted out. He ended the call and waited. A hotel room? Was there another man with her? Merrick’s rage boiled over at the images rolling through his mind. As the phone rang, he snatched it up. “Where the hell are you?”

“Don’t yell at me, Merrick.”

He knew that stubborn tone. He’d get nowhere if he came at her like an angry steer. “Tell me what’s going on, babe.”

“I tried to tell you last night, but you were too tired, as usual. Did you even notice that my bags were packed?”

“I was damned exhausted, Chloe,” he snarled. “I didn’t take an inventory

of the house.”

“Yeah, I noticed. How about my car? Didn’t you wonder why it was in the driveway instead of the garage the way it usually is?”

Merrick hadn’t even seen her car. He’d driven home by rote. He even suspected he’d closed his eyes for a few seconds too long during the drive. None of that mattered now. All that mattered was getting Chloe home, where she damn well belonged. “Come home so we can talk about this,” he urged.

“No. If I come home we won’t talk. Besides, you need to get ready for work. By the way, I’m taking the day off.”

“Damn it, Chloe. What’s going on?”

“We’ll meet for lunch.”

It was better than chatting on the damn phone like strangers. “Fine. Where?”

“Sal’s.”

Chloe’s favorite Italian restaurant. “I’ll be there at noon,” he agreed.

“Okay, and Merrick?”

“Yeah?”

“This isn’t about another man. I…I just wanted you to know that.”

Merrick let out a sigh of relief. “Whatever it is, babe, we can deal with it together.”

“I don’t know. I just don’t.”

Merrick hated hearing the defeat in his wife’s voice. “I love you, Chloe. That’ll never change.”

“I know. I love you, too.”

They ended the call and he stood in the center of the kitchen, chilled to the bone. How had everything gone to hell without him even realizing it? Why hadn’t he seen it coming?

His mind rebelled at the notion that she might not come back. He refused to believe that. He’d envisioned her pregnant with his baby some day. There would be no other, not for him. Chloe was the only woman he ever loved. She would be back in his arms. In his bed.

He looked at the clock on the wall. Any other day he’d be in his car on his way to work by now. His mind would be on the meetings scheduled throughout the day and the clients he needed to finesse. Today, all his thoughts centered on the sadness in Chloe’s voice. Had he brought that on? His gut tightened as he read the note again. The words busy with work jumped out at him. He had been working a lot lately, more so than usual. But having a wife and contemplating a baby had made him think of the future. Specifically, providing for his family and making it so they would want for nothing. He’d had an overwhelming need to give them a life of comfort. Chloe deserved the best and he couldn’t give her that unless he made Vaughn’s Business Solutions a success.

A little voice inside him mocked him for a liar. The business was already a success. He worked himself to death why? He studiously ignored the annoying question and started working on the current problem. He’d meet Chloe at noon and, no matter what, he’d bring his wife home.

Merrick grabbed the phone and dialed information, then called the florist and ordered eighteen long stem roses. Once that was finished, he called his office.

“Vaughn’s Business Solutions, Candice speaking, may I help you?”

“Candice, it’s Merrick. I’m taking the day off. I need you to cancel all my appointments for the day.”

He heard Candice giggle. “Chloe just called in sick, too. You two playing hooky?”

Merrick felt a muscle in his jaw jump in frustration. “No, nothing like that. We just need a day off.”