Page 20 of Room Twenty-Nine

Chapter Five

Two Days Later

Rancho Mirage

Not for the first time, Chantelle wondered if she was doing the right thing. She could feel her heart racing to the point she felt like she couldn’t breathe, and she had to close her eyes and focus on taking in oxygen.

This was going to be fine. She was going to get what she wanted and she was going to walk away with her head held high. Wade couldn’t argue with her if she laid it all out for him with witnesses present.

That had been her mistake before. Telling him she wanted a divorce without witnesses. Wade always made sure he was on his best behavior with people around him.

“You okay, Miss Mallows?” Her lawyer touched her arm. “Do you need a moment? We’ve got time before your husband gets here.”

“I’m fine.” Chantelle let out a slow breath and opened her eyes. “I just want him to listen to me this time.”

“I’m sure he will.” Mr Paulson gave her a gentle smile, something that made his eyes glitter. “He’s not going to have a choice.”

Chantelle hoped that was the case. But she was sure she wouldn’t be able to do this if she hadn’t been able to hire the sharpest lawyer in the county. Ben Paulson was a shark, and he had a lot of bite. Chantelle needed someone to keep her focused and to make sure Wade didn’t do anything stupid.

She wished she had hired Mr Paulson in the first place.

She checked her watch again. Wade should be turning up any minute now. He was already ten minutes late. Then Chantelle could get this over and done with, and she could go back to New York.

Back to Matt, Darren and Cedric. If they would have her back. After sneaking out of their house while they were sleeping and not contacting them for two days, they had to think she had been scared away.

That wasn’t exactly far from the truth, but Chantelle wasn’t about to explain it to them. She still needed to digest what had happened, even now. And how she felt about Matt’s final words to her before they fell asleep.

I love you.

That was what he said, and what had Chantelle waking up so suddenly. He said he loved her. Whether that had meant to slip out or not, she had no idea, but it rocked her to her core. It had spurred her to get up and sneak out while they were still asleep. She could figure out a way to get her car back later.

She still needed to figure out if it was the declaration of love that had spooked her or the fact the sex was so incredible she was still craving it. Or maybe it was because they figured out that she got turned on looking into a mirror during the actual act.

Forty-eight hours, and she still didn’t know how to work it out.

“Miss Mallows.” Mr Paulson nudged her. “Mr Thurston is here.”

Finally. Wade was not normally late; he hated it when things weren’t on time. Chantelle had a feeling it was his way of making her wait. That he was in charge.

Not anymore.

She didn’t get to her feet as Wade approached, looking very splendid in jeans and a pressed white shirt. He did cut a very fine figure, and Chantelle could see a couple of ladies at a nearby table looking him over. She had done the same thing when they first met.

But she had seen what he was really like. And it wasn’t pretty.

“Chantelle.” Wade gave her a charming smile and leaned towards her. “You’re looking as lovely as ever.”

Chantelle turned her head away, his lips barely grazing her cheek.

“Wade. We were supposed to meet at eleven, not when you feel like it.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was that urgent.” Wade settled into the chair across from her, still wearing that damn smile. “And you know how busy I am, darling.”

“Miss Mallows has better things to do than to pander to you, Mr Thurston.” Mr Paulson said sharply. “And if you were concerned at all about your marriage, you would arrive at the agreed time.”

Wade’s smile flickered, his eyes narrowing as he glowered at her lawyer.

“Her name is Mrs Thurston. I don’t know who you are, but you need to address her properly.”