Page 47 of Temporary Wife Temptation

“Home.” He cut her off more brusquely than he’d intended, and he turned to give her a stiff smile. “We’ll talk at home.”

He had to eradicate the notion of a temporary marriage from Natalie’s mind. He’d put it there in the first place, but things had changed—he had changed. Garrett admired and respected her. Burned for her. Couldn’t that be enough? There were relationships based on far less.

And she said she loved him. Something warm and aching tore through his heart at the thought. He was afraid his past wouldn’t allow him to love her like she deserved, but he could offer her and Sophie everything they could ever need. They would never have to worry about money again. He would move to New York with them, and work out of the office there. He would show his girls the world, promise them a future they never dreamed of.

Would that be enough for Natalie? Would she give up her chance to find someone who truly loved her?

But that was just it. Their relationship was more than sex and companionship. They were incredible together. He had never experienced anything even remotely close to the connection and pleasure he felt making love to Natalie. Their passion. That was rare and special. Not only that, but they could also talk to each other and truly understand what the other person meant...as if they had a distinct wavelength that existed exclusively for them.

What they had might not be the stuff of fairy tales, but they were good together. He might not deserve her, but he would fight to keep her.

Sixteen

Garrett had been traveling often the last several weeks to prepare for Hansol’s first joint venture with Vivotex. The trips were short, no more than a night or two at a time, but Natalie felt as though her time with him was being stolen from her.

Natalie took heavy steps to the parking structure, dreading going home to an empty house. Lost in her melancholy, she jumped when her cell phone rang. It was Garrett. She let the phone ring a few more times, trying to work up a cheerful “hello.” After a deep breath, she picked up.

“God, I miss you.” His words sounded as though they’d been torn from him.

Natalie halted as tears blurred her vision. He’d only been gone for two days, but she missed him with a physical ache. She held back the words on the tip of her tongue. I love you. She didn’t regret telling him she loved him, but he never acknowledged her confession. And every time she said those words again, he would disappear behind a wall of indifference. At least he missed her. That had to mean something.

“I miss you, too,” she said. “Hurry home to me.”

“Soon.” The single word, a promise filled with longing, stole her breath.

“Garrett.”

“I’m headed to my next meeting.” A small pause. As though he was waiting for her to say something. Then he sighed softly. “I needed to hear your voice.”

“I’m glad you called.” She swallowed back her emotion with some difficulty. “Go. Don’t be late for your meeting.”

Natalie hung up before she said more than she should. She slid into her car clutching the phone to her heart, and jumped when it rang again, thinking for a second it was Garrett calling back. Laughing at her foolishness, she glanced at her screen. It was the family-law attorney Garrett had retained for her.

“This is Natalie.”

“Mrs. Song, this is Timothy Duffy. I have some great news.”

Natalie’s heart dropped to her stomach. “Yes, Timothy. I’m listening.”

“Congratulations. You’re a mom,” he said with a smile in his voice. “The judge signed the adoption papers.”

“Oh,” she gasped and tears strangled her voice. “I’m a mom. I’m Sophie’s mom.”

“You certainly are. I’ve notified the Davises, and as previously agreed, they will have a week to relinquish physical custody of the baby.” She could hear the smile in Timothy’s voice. “I’ll email you the details. You should go celebrate.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Her phone fell from her limp fingers and tears streamed down her face as her heart tore into two pieces. One part of her heart was so very happy that Sophie was hers and she was Sophie’s. The other half broke and bled. The adoption had been the one last thing that held Garrett to her.

She remembered his words from Ojai only too well. I want you. But this marriage, it still ends once our objectives are reached. If I make love to you tonight, I’m taking your body and giving you mine, nothing more.

But they’d come a long way from that night. Hadn’t they?

One thing was certain. She couldn’t go on like this. She had to tell him she didn’t want their marriage to end—she wanted forever with him.

The next evening, Natalie waited in front of the elevator, her heart thumping against her rib cage. The adoption papers were tucked away in her nightstand drawer. She planned on telling Garrett everything—about Sophie, about wanting them to be a real family and about forever. Her ice-cold hands fisted at her sides.

When the elevator opened, Garrett caught her in his arms and spun her around before kissing her senseless. Her fears and worries melted away. He was home and that was all that mattered.

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