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Authors: Sandra Marton

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Oh, Nick, Annie thought unhappily. She rose to her feet and put her hand on his arm. “Look, I know what you both would like to hear me say, butâ”

“Just say there's a chance,” Nick said, his eyes pleading with hers for time, for hope, for understanding. “Even a little one.”

Annie could feel the delicate pull of the quicksand at her toes. “Chase,” she said urgently, “please, say something!”

Chase swallowed hard. It was years since Annie had looked at him this way, as if he were her knight in shining armor. Dawn, too. He couldn't remember his daughter turning to him since she'd stopped skinning her knees playing softball.

Both his women needed him to come to their rescue.

It was a terrific feeling. Unfortunately he hadn't the faintest idea how to do it.

Think, he told himself, dammit, man, think! There had to be something...

Dawn's eyes filled again. “Never mind. You don't have to spell it out for me. I'm old enough to understand that a kiss isn't a commitment.”

Annie let out a breath that felt as if she'd been holding forever.

“That's right,” she said.

“It was stupid of me to think that you guys were going to give it another try.”

Annie smiled at Chase over their daughter's head.

“I'm glad you understand that, sweetie.”

“There are no second chances, not in this life.” Dawn wiped her nose and looked at the trio gathered around her. “That's from Kierkegaard. Or maybe Sartre. One of those guys, I forget which.”

“Your philosophy course,” Annie said grimly, mentally ripping in half the tuition check she'd just mailed to Easton Community College.

“Of course there are,” Chase said sharply.

“No,” Dawn said, sighing, “there aren't. Just look at you two, if you want a perfect example.”

“All right,” Chase said, “I've had enough.”

“Chase,” Annie said, “don't say anything you'll regret.”

“Mr. Cooper, sir, as Dawn's husbandâ”

“Dawn Elizabeth Cooper... Dawn Elizabeth Babbitt, you're behaving like a spoiled child.” Chase nudged Nick aside, put his hands on his hips and glared down at his daughter. “This is all nonsense. Marriage statistics, divorce statistics, and now quotes from a bunch of dead old men who wouldn't have been able to find theirâ”

“Chase,” Annie said sharply.

“âtheir hats on their heads, when they were still alive and kicking.” Chase squatted down in front of Dawn. “You and Nick love each other. That's the reason you got married. Right?”

“Right,” Dawn said, in a small voice. “But, Daddyâ”

“No, you listen to me, for a change. I gave you your turn, now you give me mine.” Chase took a deep breath. “You loved each other. You got married. You took some very important vows, among them the promise to stay together through the bad times as well as the good. Think about that promise, Dawn.” He took her hands in his and looked into her teary eyes. “It means, you've always got to give it a second chance. It means, love doesn't die, it only gets lost sometimes, and if you loved each other once, there's always damn good reason to think you can find it again.”

Dawn nodded, the tears streaming down her face.

“Exactly,” she said. “That's why, when I saw you and Mom together I thought, isn't it wonderful? They've decided to give themselves another chance.”

“Dawn,” Nick said, “please, darling. You're upset.”

“I am not,” Dawn said in a shaky whisper.

“Let's get out of here. Let's give us a chance.”

“What for? So we can break our hearts someplace down the road?” A sob caught in her throat. “You're asking me to take a terrible gamble, Nick, and to do that would take a miracle.”

“Yes!” The word seemed to leap, unbidden, from Chase's throat. Every head in the room snapped in his direction.

“Yes?” Annie said. “Yes, what?”

Chase stared at his former wife's pale face. It was a terrific question. What had he said yes to? Despite all his arguments, he knew his daughter was right. A frighteningly high percentage of marriages failed. And the breakup, when you'd loved someone as deeply as he'd once loved Annie, was the worst pain imaginable.

But how could he let his daughter and her groom fail before they'd even tried? Nick had the right idea. He and Dawn had to get away from here. They had to be alone and unpressured. They had to go on their honeymoon, and Chase could think of only one way to make that happen.

His daughter wanted a miracle? Okay. He'd give her one.

“Yes, you were right, about your mother and me.”

“No,” Annie said. “Chase, don't!”

“We didn't want to say anything until we were certain, because it isn't certain yet, you understand, it's far from certain, in fact, it's very, very uncertain and altogether iffyâ”

“Chase!” Annie cried, her voice high and panicked, but hell, he'd gone too far to stop now.

So he ignored Annie, gave Dawn his most ingratiating smile and shot a quick prayer in the direction of the ceiling, just in case anybody who kept track of white lies was listening.

“No promises,” he said, “and absolutely no guarantees because, frankly, I don't think the odds are too good but yeah, your mother and I have decided to at least talk about giving things between us a second chance.”

CHAPTER FIVE

C
HASE WATCHED as Annie paced the length of the living room.

It was almost hypnotic. She went back and forth, back and forth, pausing before him each time just long enough to give him a look that had gone from anger to disbelief to a glare that would have brought joy to the heart of the Medusa.

Aside from a quick burst of fury after Dawn and Nick had left, she had yet to say anything to him, but that was hardly reassuring. Another explosion was just a matter of time. Her white face, thinned mouth and determined pacing told him so. And he could hardly blame her.

What in heaven's name had impelled him to do such a stupid thing? To even suggest there was a possibility of reconciliation had been crazy. It was wrong. Hell, it was unfair. Dawn, falsely convinced she'd had her miracle, had gone off with hope in her heart...

But at least she'd gone. That was what he'd wanted, after all, to give his daughter time to be alone with her husband, time to realize that the future of her marriage was not linked to the failure of his and Annie's.

Just because one generation screwed things up didn't mean the next one would, too.

Chase felt the weight lifting from his shoulders. What he'd done had been impetuous, perhaps even outrageous. But if it gave Dawn time to find her own way through the minefield of life and marriage, it was worth it. Who had he hurt, really? When the kids got back from their honeymoonâhappy, he was certain, and concentrating on their future instead of his and Annie'sâhe'd explain that he'd misled them, just a little bit.

“And just how do you think she's going to feel, when you tell her you lied?”

Chase looked up. Annie had come to a stop in front of him. Her sweatshirt inexplicably but appropriately featured a picture of Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch. Her face was white, her eyes shiny and she was so angry she was trembling.

Angryâand incredibly beautiful.

A lifetime ago, she used to tremble that way when she lay in his arms. When he touched her. When he stroked her breasts, and her belly. When he moved between her silken thighs...

“Do you hear me, Chase Cooper? How do you think our daughter will feel, when she finds out her miracle is a bucket of hogwash?”

Chase frowned. “It isn't as bad as that.”

“You're right. It's worse.”

“Look, I was just trying to help her.”

“Hah!”

“Okay, okay. Maybe I made a mistake, butâ”

“Maybe?” Her voice shot up the scale, her eyebrows to her hairline.
“Maybe
you made a mistake?”

“The words just came out. I didn't meanâ”

“Can't you even admit you were wrong?”

“I already did. I said maybe I made a mistake.”

Annie snorted. “You still don't see it, do you! A âmistake' is when a person forgets an appointment. Or dials a wrong number.”

“Or says something, in the heat of the moment, that he thinks mightâ”

“You lied, Chase. There's a big difference. But I'm not surprised.”

Chase rose to his feet. “And what, exactly, is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” Annie said coldly, and turned away.

“Dammit!” He grabbed her shoulder and swung her around to face him. “If there's one thing I never could stand, it was that word. âNothing,' you always say, but even an idiot can tell you really mean âsomething.”

Annie smiled sweetly. “I'm happy to hear it.”

Dark color swept into his face. He clutched her tighter and leaned toward her.

“You're pushing your luck, babe.”

“Why?” Her chin lifted. “What are you going to do, huh? Slug me?”

Annie saw Chase's eyes narrow. What had made her say such a thing? They had quarreled, yes. Fought furiously with words. By the time they'd agreed to divorce, they'd hurled every possible bit of invective at each other.

But he'd never hit her. He'd never raised his hand to her. She'd never been afraid of him physically and she wasn't now.

It was just that she was so angry. So enraged. He was, too. And just a little while ago, when he'd been mad and she'd been mad, he'd ended up hauling her into his arms and kissing her until her toes had tingled.

For Pete's sake, woman, are you insane? Are you trying to tick him off so he'll kiss you again?

She stiffened, then twisted out of his grasp.

“This isn't getting us anywhere,” she said. She walked to the sofa and sat down. “I just wish I knew what to do next.”

“Why should we have to âdo' anything?” Chase said, sitting down in the chair.

“Dawn's going to have such expectations...”

Chase sighed and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. He put his head in his hands.

“year.”

“How could you? How
could
you tell her that?”

“I don't know.” He straightened up and passed his hand over his face. “Exhaustion, maybe. I haven't slept inâwhat year is this, anyway?”

“To tell her such nonsenseâ”

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, “okay, you made your point” He frowned and shifted his backside on the cushion of the contraption Annie called a chair, where he'd spent the last hour being tortured. “What's this damn chair stuffed with, anyway? Steel filings?”

“Horsehair, which should be just right, considering that you are, without question, the biggest horse's patootie I ever did know!”

Chase gave a bark of incredulous laughter. “Patootie? Goodness gracious, land's sakes alive, Miss Annie, what out and out vulgarity!”

“Dammit, Chaseâ”

“Oh my. Better watch yourself, babe. Your language is slipping.”

“Don't âbabe' me. I don't like it. Just tell me what we're supposed to do now.”

Chase winced as he got to his feet He rubbed the small of his back, then massaged his neck, and walked slowly to the window.

The sun was a slash of lemon yellow as it rose in the deep woods behind the house. Dawn was almost hereâand his Dawn was almost there, in Hawaii, beginning her honeymoon with Nick. He smiled and thought of sharing the play-on-words with Annie, but he suspected she might not see the humor in the situation.

“We wait until the kids come home,” he said, turning around and looking at Annie, “and then we tellâ
I
tell themâthat I should never have claimed we were going to give things another try.”

“The truth, you mean.”

“The whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Yes.”

Annie nodded. She stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Chase followed her.

“I suppose that will clear your conscience.”

Chase eased onto a stool at the counter.

“Look, I know it won't be that easy, butâ”

He winced as Annie slammed a cupboard door shut.

“Unfortunately,” she said, “it won't do a thing for mine.”

“If you're going to make another pot of coffee or teaâ”

“That's exactly what I'm going to do.”

“Not for me.” He put a hand against his flat belly. “The last dozen cups are still gurgling around in my stomach.”

“Maybe you'd rather have something else. Hot chocolate?”

Chase's brows lifted. “Well, yeah, that might beâ”

“Hemlock, perhaps. A nice, big cup.”

“There's no need to behave like that, Annie.”

“No?”

“No.” He stood up, went to the refrigerator and opened it. “Isn't there any beer?”

“There is not.” Annie slid under his arm and slammed the fridge door shut. “I,” she said self-righteously, “do not drink beer.”

Chase looked at her. “I'll just bet the poetry pansy doesn't drink it, either.”

“The...?” Annie flushed. “If you mean Miltonâ”

“How about some diet Coke? Or is that beneath you, too?”

Annie shot him an angry glare. Then she stalked to the pantry door and pulled it open.

“Here,” she said, jamming the can of soda at him. “Have a Coke, even though it's only six in the morning. Maybe it'll clear your head enough so you can come up with a plan that'll work.”

“I already did.” Chase yanked the pull tab on the can and made a face as he downed a mouthful of warm soda. “I told you,” he said, as he took a tray of ice cubes from the freezer, dumped some into a glass and added the Coke. “When the kids come back from their honeymoon, I'll tell them that we stretched the truth a little for their own good.”

“We?” Annie said, in an ominously soft voice.

“Okay. Me. I did it. I stretched the truth.”

“You're stretching it now, Chase. Say it. You lied.”

Chase took a long drink, then put the cold glass against his forehead.

“I lied. All right? Does that make you feel better?”

“Yes.” Annie frowned. “No.” She looked at him for a long minute. Then she turned and stared at the coffee, dripping slowly from the filter basket into the carafe. “You lied, and what did I do?”

“Look, I don't know what you're trying to accomplish here, Annie, but we just went around with this, remember? I was the black-hearted horse's whatever-you-called-me that started us on this path into the pits of hell.” He sighed, then laid the hand clutching the glass of Coke over his heart. “You want me to swear I'll come clean? I will. You want my word I'll make it crystal clear you didn't do anything? I'll do that, too.”

Annie folded her arms over her chest. “But I did.”

“Did what? God, I have been up for more hours than there are in a day, and my brain is starting to whimper. What's wrong now? I said I'd tell Dawn it was all my idea. I can't do any more than that, babe, can I?”

Annie plunked herself onto a stool. “Don't call me that,” she said, but without her usual fire. She sighed deeply. “You can't tell her I'm not part of it because the truth is that I was.”

“Was what?” Chase said, trying to keep his patience. He looked at his half-filled glass of soda, and wondered if there was more caffeine in it or in a cup of coffee. “I'm tired,” he muttered. “I need to lie down, Annie. I'm worse than tired. I could have sworn I heard you sayâ”

“I did.” Annie put her elbows on the counter and scrubbed her face with her hands. “I said, I'm as responsible for this mess as you are.”

“Don't be ridiculous. I was the one who lied.”

“At least you're admitting that it was a lie.” She sighed, scrubbed her face again and then looked up at him and folded her hands neatly on the countertop. “Dawn's going to ask me why, if I knew you were lying, I didn't say anything.”

“Well, you'll tell her the truth.”

“Which is?”

“Which is...” Chase frowned. “I don't know what we're talking about anymore! The truth is the truth.”

“The truth isn't the truth. Not exactly. I mean, I heard you tell her that we're thinking about a reconciliation. I could have said âThat isn't so, Dawn. Your father's making it up.'”

Chase felt a tightening in his chest.

“But you didn't,” he said.

“I didn't.” Annie looked at him, then at her hands, still folded before her. “I kept quiet.”

“Why?” Her hair had fallen forward, curling around her face. He fought the urge to reach out and touch the soft, shining locks.

Annie sighed. “You'll call me crazy.”

“Try me.”

“Because, in my heart, I knew it was the only way to get her to stop comparing herself and Nick to us. It was a foolish thing for her to be doing. Just because you and Iâbecause we fell out of love, doesn't mean they will, too.” She looked up, her expression one of defiance. “Welt?”

Something indefinable swept through him. Relief, he told himself. Hell, what else could it be?

“I won't call you crazy.” He smiled. “But you've got to admit, you're up to your backside in the murky waters of what's a lie and what's a fib, the same as me.”

Annie nodded. “Well then, when they get back, we both admit that we fudged the truth and hope for the best.”

“I suppose.”

Annie's mouth trembled. “Dawn's going to be hurt. And angry.”

BOOK: The Millionaire Claims His Wife

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