Stephanie Doyle - Suspect Lover

Don’t think about her.

“Hey there,” Steven greeted him with a wave as he entered the office and shut the door behind him.

“You were in my office and moved some folders.”

Steven stopped, startled by Dominic’s response. “I needed the figures on the print ads we’re thinking of running in some of the industry magazines next month.”

Dominic nodded. “You should have called me.”

“Uh, hello? Newlywed. You were off for a romantic dinner. I think you were actually smiling about it.” Steven laughed. “Not exactly the kind of thing you needed to be bothered by.”

“Nothing about my work bothers me and that isn’t going to change because I have a wife.” He wouldn’t let it.

“Got it.” Steven shrugged. He took the seat in front of his desk. “I wanted to talk about Denny. Do you know what project he was talking about at your party? He’s been locked away for over two months in his office on what he said was software enhancement. Then it turned into something else. He told you it was the biggest project of his life. Now all of the sudden it’s not important. I’m trying to get answers but he’s gone hermit again and won’t reply to any of my e-mails.”

Dominic remembered the conversation but hadn’t given it that much thought. Denny was always working on something big. It was possible that he’d overestimated how important it was. Or maybe he couldn’t get it to work. Still, it was unlike him to drop something unfinished.

“I’ll talk with him today about it.”

“Thank you. I swear I can’t communicate with him. All he cares about are his programs. You try to have a conversation about anything else and forget it. He’s such a geek. It’s like he can’t even look me in the eye when he talks.”

“He’s been through a lot.”

“Like what?” Steven asked. “I’m in business bed with this guy-you, too, for that matter, and it didn’t dawn on me until your wedding reception how much I really don’t know about either of you.”

“You know we’re good at what we do,” Dominic said softly. “What else do you need?”

Steven stood and ran a hand through his blond hair. “Look, I’m sorry. It’s just Russell is on my ass to make sure this company gets that government contract and makes good on his investment. Sometimes I think I never should have taken his money, but I know this business is about to explode. Did you see the article in the New York Times ? Someone cracked the encryption code on data being sent to a major insurance company in Los Angeles. It’s the second incident this month. That kind of bad publicity for our competitors is gold for us. Especially now.”

“I know.”

“So I can trust Denny. When he says the code is foolproof, it’s foolproof, right?”

“You can trust me. I wouldn’t let Denny put out a product I didn’t know he believed in. As for his special project, if I think it’s worth his attention I’ll convince him to pursue it again.”

Steven nodded. “Okay.” He turned to leave but stopped. “So it’s been three weeks. How is married life treating you?”

Wonderfully. Horribly. How the hell was he supposed to answer that? “Fine.”

“It’s got its perks. But it can also be a kick in the pants.”

“I’m discovering that,” Dominic said.

“Anne wants to have you two over for dinner. Do something a little more intimate than the party she sprung on you.”

“That sounds okay.”

“Not that it will matter.” Steven shrugged with a smile. “I doubt they’re destined to be BFFs.”

Dominic’s gut clenched. “What makes you say that?”

“It’s obvious. Anne is Anne. She’s like a force of nature. Caroline seems more like the reserved type. Quiet.”

An irrational anger zipped through Dominic at the mere thought of comparing the two women. It startled him so much he deliberately didn’t defend her. “Caroline is quiet. Yes. But like you said we’re partners in this business. In bed together figuratively. That means our wives are too, to some extent.”

Steven nodded. “I imagine you two are probably going to want to start a family right away.”

The personal nature of the request surprised Dominic but he couldn’t say it was out of character. The longer he knew Steven, the more he realized he was coming to count on the man as a friend as well as partner. Now having something in common other than the business, Steven had been making an effort to take that relationship further.

Or he could have another reason entirely for asking him the question. Either way, Dominic figured he deserved the truth.

“Yes.”

He smiled a little sadly. “Anne wants to wait a bit longer. Says she’s not ready to be anyone’s mommy yet.”

Dominic didn’t know what to say in response. But when Steven didn’t leave he tried to sound encouraging. “Soon. I’m sure.”

“Thanks. You’ll let me know what happens with you and Denny.”

“I will.”

Caroline watched the clock on her desk. The short hand pointed to the seven and the long hand tipped past the twelve. Long since done working, she turned off her laptop and tried not to think about how little she had accomplished.

She hadn’t eaten much all day and, given the time, knew she should be famished, but she wasn’t. Her stomach was too filled with dread. He’d be home eventually. He would walk through the door like he’d done since she’d been living in his house-her home-and what?

Would he lean down and kiss her as he’d gotten into the habit of doing? Would he apologize for being an ass and fall at her feet begging for forgiveness? Would he say that he’d lied and she didn’t really suffocate him?

Or would he simply behave as if nothing had happened. As if he meant it.

That would be the real lie. She’d been sleeping in the same bed with him for over a month. If she moved away at all during the night, he would either follow her or pull her back against his side. He’d never felt suffocated before.

Five weeks, she thought desperately. Five weeks of knowing him, three weeks of being married to him and already she was crazy. Angry and hurt.

Afraid.

Slamming her hands down on the desk, Caroline stood. Unapologetic that she’d startled Munch.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. She didn’t want all this. Less isolation. Less fear. Maybe a family. That’s all she wanted. All she imagined she could have when she’d decided to be something else besides a coward.

Instead he invaded her thoughts throughout the day. He was in her dreams at night. When he touched her, she felt things that she never thought were possible. Making love to him had taken on an importance she’d never believed possible.

And with a few short sentences, he’d wreaked havoc.

Now the fear was back and it made her want to leave him. To go home now before he could hurt her any more.

But she wouldn’t go. She knew she needed to hang on. To fight. For him as much as for her.

The front door opened and Munch leapt up to welcome her master home. Caroline watched as he patted the dog’s head and dropped his briefcase in the foyer. He looked around and saw her. She’d set up her office in the living room.

“Hello.”

She lifted her hand negligently. “Hey.”

“You’ve been working.”

Not really. “Yes. New project. I like to outline first.”

“Have you eaten?”

This was awful. Her heart shouted at her. Say something. Do something. You are married to this man. Fight for him!

But Caroline just shook her head. “There’s some leftover pasta from last night. I can heat it up.”

“I’m just going to change.”

Change, she thought. How about from the cold distant man who was standing in the foyer back into the one who last week had come home after a day of work and lifted her onto the kitchen table and made love to her until she’d screamed with ecstasy?