She straightened her back and glared at him. “Didn’t you read what I wrote? There’s no more ‘us’, Sloane. And I’m already home, right where I belong.”
“You belong with me,” he growled. “Now let me come in so we can talk about this like adults.”
She sucked in her breath. “What part of ‘we’re over’ don’t you understand? There’s no use talking. I’ve made up my mind.”
“Melanie, you either get in the car now or let me in so we can talk.”
“I’m done talking.” As she said the words she was stepping back and pushing the door closed in his face.
Sloane was not having it. There was no way he was leaving there without his wife. He jammed his foot in the entrance just in time to stop the door from slamming shut then he planted a hand on the heavy mahogany and pushed.
Melanie stumbled back with a gasp of anger. “You can’t do this,” she snarled. “I don’t want to talk.”
“You’re talking,” he growled and before she could sprint away he clasped her upper arm and steered her into the living room. “Now sit and talk.”
She sat but she did not talk. She sat there glaring up at him, her mouth set in a mutinous pout.
Sloane remained standing, arms folded, staring down at her. “I’ll stay here all night if I have to. The quicker you start talking, the quicker we can get this over with.”
She just sat there, her lips tight, and even when he still stood there watching her she would not speak. It took about three minutes of this stand-off before an agonized sigh finally escaped her lips. “I don’t want to fight, Sloane. I just want to end this.”
Her words sliced into him. How the hell had they gone from a happy marriage to this? “Why?”
“Because…” She dropped her eyes and twisted her hands in her lap. “Because I’ve found someone else.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit. I want the truth.”
Melanie’s body jerked and her eyes flew to his. She was obviously startled by his outburst but he didn’t give a damn. He was done with this game.
“I want out…” she said, her voice trailing off.
“Why?” he asked again. “What did I do to make you want to leave?”
She shook her head as she stared up at him, her eyes big and bright with unshed tears. “Nothing. It’s all me. I’m just no good.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Confused and frustrated, Sloane shoved his hands deep inside his pocket and expelled his breath. “What’s going on in that head of yours? And why would you make up a story about some fake man in your life? Are you so desperate to get away from me?”
“I wanted a clean break,” she said, her voice tearful. “I thought that would do it. If I told you the real reason you might try to make me stay.” She shook her head. “But I can’t, Sloane. It’s not fair to you.”
Sloane dropped down onto the couch beside her. “What is this real reason? Tell me.”
She swallowed then drew in a deep breath. “I…can’t have your baby. I’ll never be able to give you an heir.” She sucked in her breath on a sob. “Don’t you see? It’s not fair to you. You need a future. I can’t give you that but someone else can.”
“Melanie, Melanie, Melanie. What am I going to do with you?” Sloane shook his head. “Don’t you understand? You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” He reached out and cupped her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Baby or no baby, I want you in my life. I love you, Melanie. Don’t leave me. Please.”
Melanie blinked and her eyes grew wide. “You…love me?”
“Yes,” he said, releasing her chin. Now that he had her full attention he just wanted her to know the truth. His truth. “I love you more than anything. More than your dream of having a baby.” He reached down to take her hand in his. “When I asked you to marry me it was you I wanted, not your promise of a baby. I married you for you.”
“But…you hardly even knew me.”
Sloane looked down at their clasped hands as his mind wandered back to that day. It was true. He hadn’t really known Melanie at all. “It’s weird,” he said, his speech slow even as he tried to process things himself, “but from the day I saw you back in high school I never forgot you. When you took over your father’s business I saw you in the press from time to time but, even then, you were a distant dream. But when you walked into my office that day, I felt it.” His hands tightened around hers and he looked at her, searching her eyes, trying to make her understand. “I didn’t understand it myself but I knew it was fate. Our destiny. It was the sign I’d been waiting for all my life.”
“So…you didn’t marry me because of the baby?”
He laughed. “Please. I didn’t need to marry you to get a child. Trust me.”
“And…you still want to be with me even though I can’t give you a child?”
“I want to be with you as long as I’m on this earth,” he declared. “And who says we can’t have a family? If you have your heart set on a child, I would be more than willing to adopt.”
That brought a smile to her tear-streaked face. “You would do that? For me?”
“For both of us.” He reached out and drew her close, and sighed in contentment as she laid her cheek against his chest.
“Then I’ll stay with you,” she whispered. “I thought if I loved you I had to let you go but now I’m so glad I don’t have to.”
Sloane chuckled. “Don’t you worry,” he said as he stroked her hair. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easily. You're stuck with me for life.”
And he was looking forward to spending every minute of the rest of his life with his beautiful wife.
EPILOGUE
“You did this to me.” Melanie gritted her teeth and gripped Sloane’s hand as the pain ripped through her body.