It had been a matter of days, and she was on a date.
He listened to what the others were saying all the while observing his wife and the guy she was with. Halfway through the meal John got up to use the restroom. Wayne kept staring. His leg bounced to an uneven beat as he debated with himself.
Tony’s words came back to haunt him.
“How are you going to be able to cope with seeing her with another man? You’re giving someone else an opportunity to take what is yours. A stepfather for your children.”
“No, that’s not going to happen,” he said aloud.
“Mr. Brown?” the other guys said.
“I’m sorry to have to do this. I’ve made a mistake, and I’ve got to go and deal with it.” Wayne wiped his mouth on the napkin then threw it down. He got up from the table and made his way to Lily. John had gone back to the table while he’d been fighting with his own demons.
“Lily,” he said as he stood next to her by their table.
She gazed up at him, all the pain and hurt clear for him to see. His heart was torn out of his chest at the look she gave him. He hadn’t anticipated what his actions would really do.
“Wayne,” she said before turning back to John.
“We need to talk.”
“We do? I don’t think so. I’m going to enjoy my meal with John. You made your decisions without consulting me. Now, go back to what you were doing.” Her back was stiff, and her gaze was fixed forward.
“Please,” he said.
“No.” He saw her grit her teeth, and he knew her defences were wobbling. The other diners had stopped eating to watch them. Wayne knew she hated the attention. He crouched down to her.
“I swear I never meant to hurt you.”
A tear slipped down her face.
“I’m sorry, John, I’ve got to go.” Lily got up from her chair on the other side of the table and made her way outside. John went to leave, but Wayne stopped him.
“I was an ass**le. I see that now. She’s my woman, and I’m not giving her up without a fight.”
“Opal and Scarlet figured it would take seeing a man with her to change your mind. No harm done ... yet. You either fix this, or I’m going to take a chance with her, Wayne. She’s a good person.”
“Why not take her from me now?” Wayne found himself asking.
“Look, I care about her. She’s a lovely person, and with the work I do I like being around someone who likes to laugh and smile. Lily is a kind-hearted woman who only wants to see people happy. I love her, Wayne. If you don’t fix this then I’ll be fighting for her, and I will win. She’s more than just great company.”
Wayne saw the fight within John’s eyes. He didn’t like it and refused to go down without a fight himself.
“You better put those feelings to bed, friend. Lily is mine, and I’ll be damned if I let you take her from me.”
“Then keep her. Otherwise, she’ll be mine.” John signalled the waiter. Wayne took this as his opportunity to follow her.
Lily was taking her jacket from the maitre d’ when he walked through the door. He moved the other man out of the way to take over.
Like so many times before, he cupped her neck turning her to face him. Tears streamed down her cheeks. He stroked her cheek hoping she was able to forgive him.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I thought that was all it was going to take for me to forgive you, but I can’t. This hurts, Wayne. You made love to me then left me with nothing but a stupid note. All the years we’ve spent together, and you just walked away. I’m not going to be able to forgive you that easily.” She pulled away from him. Wayne didn’t know what to do to keep her in his arms. Each second he let her take a step away it was a second he was losing her. The pain he’d caused might never be healed.
What the hell had he done?
“Lily, wait.” He grabbed his coat from the guy waiting and followed her out. She was trying to grab a cab. “Stop this. I’ll take you home.”
“No. I thought I’d be able to do this, but I can’t. You hurt me, Wayne. You promised me forever, and then you left me. This is not fair. I can’t handle this. Leave me alone.”
He took her arm in his.
“Let go of me.”
“No. I promised you forever. Our friends did this tonight to gain my attention. Do your dramatics, but I’m taking you home.”
She pulled her arm out of his grip. “I don’t have to let you do anything. You’re divorcing me.”
“I’ve not gone through with it, Lily. You’re mine, and you’re staying mine. Now start walking to my car, or I swear to God I will put you over my shoulder, and when we get home I’ll spank your ass.” He growled the words at her getting right up close.
She pushed him away.
Wayne snapped. He knew he’d f**ked up, but he wasn’t letting her get away with it anymore. With a speed he thought he’d gotten too old for, he walked in front of her and lifted Lily over his shoulder. The jacket she wore covered her generous ass as he moved toward his car.
She screamed and began pummelling his back. The small fists did no lasting damage. He was proud of her anger. Lily had grown some fire in her over the last few years. She was no longer the shy, virginal woman he’d taken. He wanted her claws and her fight.
One of the valet guys walked over.
“Don’t even think about intervening, pal. I’ll have your job and your life. She’s my wife.” The other guy nodded holding up his hands in surrender.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s a jerk,” Lily said. Her voice rose with each word.
He dumped her in the passenger side of his car making sure the child lock was on so she wouldn’t escape.
Within moments, he started the car and pulled out onto the main road and was driving them home.
She folded her arms staring out of the window. The anger inside him didn’t dissipate. When they got home he was going to put her over his knee. He’d threatened her enough times. Wayne knew he was going to do it. The air around them was thick with anger and arousal. A quick glance at his woman and he saw her ni**les were puckered and pressing against the front of her dress.
He put his foot down on the accelerator. He didn’t care about the rules he was breaking. Within twenty minutes he was pulling up to his home. There were a few lights on. She kept trying to open the door. When he got out and walked round to her side, he saw her frustration.
Wayne opened her door. She got out making her way for the front door. He followed behind her the tension inside them driving them both crazy.