Shayla Black - Forever Wicked

She scanned it. “What’s this?”

“Read it,” he encouraged with a bob of his head.

With a frown, she did. Her expression changed from impatience to confusion. Finally surprise overtook her face, complete with a gasp. “You didn’t!”

“What?” he asked innocently.

“You paid off my sister-in-law’s house?”

She screeched the question, and he took a step back. “You’re mad? I’m not trying to buy you, if that’s what you think. I just thought that since you always worry about Mila and the kids—”

“Thank you!” Gia threw herself at him, arms encircling his neck, legs around his waist, squeezing tight.

Damn, the minute she touched him, he wanted to tear her clothes off, restrain her, and get as deep inside her as possible.

Not far away, he saw a few moms watching over their kids stop and stare at them. Public scenes were nothing new to him…but definitely not with kids nearby.

Jason cleared his throat and gently eased Gia to her feet. “Baby, as much as I’d love to do every fabulously dirty thing to you I can think of, now isn’t the time.”

She sent him a little scolding glance with a laugh, but she still blushed. “I know. I just… Wow, I know you paid off Mila’s mortgage for me, and I can’t think of anything that makes me happier.”

Relief wended its way through his bloodstream. “Thank God. I finally figured out this morning that you wanted the divorce settlement to help your family, so I just took care of it. I know I didn’t consult you first.”

“It’s the most thoughtful thing you’ve ever done for me.” She grinned from ear to ear. “Mila is happiest being a stay-at-home mom, and even with my salary and the proceeds from the sale of my house, I could barely keep up financially. I didn’t want her worrying about affording the house or wondering how they’d find the money to eat. Now, without a mortgage, she’ll have enough left after Tony’s death benefits to take care of their necessities and save a little for the future. She’s going to be so incredibly happy.”

“If you’re happy, that’s what matters to me.”

“I’m thrilled. But…” She winced. “I still want the money from the settlement.”

“On top of paying Mila’s mortgage? All two hundred fifty thousand?”

“Yes. Today, if you can get it to me.”

Jason’s first reaction came from the cynic in him. She wanted money and she still intended to let the divorce happen? Why? Had she decided that she couldn’t live without the swanky shopping? He stared down into those deep dark eyes of hers, the lush rosy lips and paused. Did her reasons really matter? If all he had to do in order to keep Gia was take her to the mall and buy her a few things to line her closet…

He frowned and put the brakes on that thought altogether. Gia wasn’t Samantha. She’d been thrilled that he’d spent his money paying off a family member’s house, rather than try to bribe her with baubles.

“Who needs the money?”

She bit her lip. “It’s complicated. If you’ll at least consider it, take me to your bank, and I’ll show you what I’m thinking. Then…you can decide what you want to do about the money and about us.”

Knowing his wife, the money would benefit someone else far more than her, at least directly. She would probably derive her satisfaction from knowing someone she loved no longer had to worry, but who? Her parents?

“Separate cars? You lead. I’ll follow.” They headed toward the lot.

Gia gave him a sheepish grin. She looked like such a sensual woman most of the time. Her beautiful femininity had caught his eye first. She was all curves and angles, graceful. At the moment, however, she looked a bit like a child with that smile.

“Can I ride with you?”

Jason palmed his keys. “You like the car.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m fascinated by the way you drive. It’s aggressive. And…sexy.”

Jason laughed. “Hop in.”

As he pressed the button on the fob, the car beeped and unlocked. He opened her door and helped her in, then shut her inside. Bracing against the car, he closed his eyes for a second, allowing himself a moment of triumph. She didn’t want a divorce.

So what happened with them after this jaunt to the bank? Gia wouldn’t tell him what she had in mind until she was good and ready. But any time he spent with her was a pleasure, so he played along.

Jason slid into the low, sleek vehicle, letting the black leather hug his body as he started the car and let it roar. He backed out of the lot, threw it in drive, then revved the engine. A smile crept up her face.

“You know, Officer Angelotti, I might break a traffic law or two today. Think you want to try to arrest me for that?”

Her smile disappeared, and she turned suddenly somber. “No.”

Hell, what had he said? “Did I upset you? I was just teasing.”

Face pensive, she licked her lips. He got hard at the sight and cursed himself. She was upset. As much as his cock wanted those lips around him, Jason had to focus on her.

“Sorry,” he murmured.

“It’s okay. It’s not you. I’ll explain after our stop.”

Something still bothered her. Jason examined their conversation from every angle, trying to determine what. Their marriage? This errand? He came up blank.

A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of the bank. Jason emerged and opened her door, curiosity eating at him. Whatever she was about, he wanted this settled so they could deal with their marriage and their tomorrows…and start letting Gia know that she was his.

As they approached the door, she stopped and placed her fingers on his chest. “Before we go in, I want to say a few things.”

He pulled her to the side to let another customer enter the branch and tried to rein his impatience. “Go ahead.”

“Whether you want to give me the money or not, it doesn’t change my decision. I won’t file for divorce. Obviously, I can’t stop you from doing it, and if you still choose to at the end of eight days, I won’t expect more money.”

His silly wife hadn’t yet grasped the way he saw their relationship working, but as soon as he figured out what she was up to, he’d make a few things clear.

“All right. Anything else?”

She nodded, then took in a shaky breath. “Last night, I gave a lot of consideration to my future, all parts of it. I took a long, hard look at my job and decided that I can’t keep working for a precinct where no one cares if justice is being served. When money becomes more important than right, I have no business being there. I talked it over with my dad. He understands. This morning, I quit.”

The words stunned him. Happily, of course. He never thought he’d see the day that Gia gave up the pursuit of order and goodness. He loved the idea that she wouldn’t be risking herself in the line of duty and possibly wind up a casualty like her brother, suddenly gone because some street punk had pulled the trigger. But Jason remembered their argument in his kitchen yesterday morning. She needed purpose in her life.

“If it’s a decision you’re happy with, then you made the right one. If you want my support, you’ve got it.” And he would totally provide for her. If she never wanted to lift a finger again, he’d be happy to give her everything she needed.

“That’s where the money comes in,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself as a breeze whipped through her sweater.

“So it’s a nest egg for the future?” Did she think she’d remain married to him but live separately?

“No, it’s the beginning of my new purpose. If I’m not going to be a police officer, I’ve got to do something good with my life. So I’m going to start a fund to help the families of slain officers. It will provide assistance for everything from burial expenses to child care to financial planning for the future. And grief counseling, definitely. Whatever these survivors need, I want to make sure they get. The money from the settlement will allow me to get a good start on fundraising and assisting others.”