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"This is Larissa Nielsen … Danforth. May I speak to Peter?"
"Just a moment, ma'am."
"Hi, Mama."
Tears burned the back of her eyes. God, she missed him. They'd never been apart before this. "Hey, baby. I miss you."
"Me, too. I'm having so much fun here. I'm going to see some horses today."
Peter's happiness was palpable on the phone. Realizing she'd given her son something he never should have been denied made all the sacrifices worth it. She had to remember her marriage to Jake was for Peter. It wasn't for her and it certainly wasn't for Jake. "Good."
"When will you be home?" he asked.
Larissa wasn't sure of the exact time since Jake had their tickets but he'd said some time this evening. "Before bedtime."
"I love you, Mama."
"Love you too."
They said their goodbyes and she talked to Miranda briefly about what time to expect them. It felt weird to be discussing her son with someone else. She hung up and sat on the edge of the coffee table where she'd taken the call.
"You okay?" Jake asked from the doorway. He wore a pair of chinos and a shirt in a flattering shade of blue.
She nodded.
"Who was on the phone?"
"Ted Larson. I took his number for you. I called to check on Peter."
"How's he doing?"
"Great. They're going to see some horses today."
"That would be the stables near the house. Does he ride?"
"Jake, he's three."
"So?"
"No, he doesn't ride."
"We'll have to teach him," Jake said.
"Is this going to work?" she asked without thinking.
"Yes, Rissa, it is. I'm angry right now, but I'll get over it and we're going to work things out," he said, and there was a promise in his voice that she trusted.
"For Peter?"
Jake crossed the room to her side and tipped her head back with his knuckle under her chin. "For us."
Then he slipped away to make his phone call. She cautioned herself not to believe him but she couldn't help it. Hope had been born and she believed they had a chance at forever.
Eleven
« ^ »
"Oh, no," Larissa said as they pulled to a stop in front of his town house a little before ten that night. Peter was sleeping fitfully in the back seat and Larissa had been in a quiet mood since they'd left Vegas.
"What's the matter?"
"I recognize that car," she said.
Jake waited.
"It's Jasmine Carmody. What's she doing here?"
Jake reached over and patted Larissa's hand. "Probably checking up to see if our marriage is a real one."
"Let's go to my place. We can hide out until she leaves."
"I'm not hiding from anyone. Especially a reporter."
"I guess you're right."
"Of course, I am."
Jake pulled into the driveway and shut off the car. Larissa nervously twisted her fingers together. "Calm down. We're in this together."
He leaned across the seat and brushed his lips over hers. She sighed into his mouth and he hesitated, then deepened the kiss. He'd decided in the shower this morning to let Larissa set the pace for their marriage. She had too much sensuality in her to keep them apart for long. And once he'd gotten past his frustration, he'd realized she had a good point. Sex between the two of them was a convenient way to avoid talking.
Hell, he'd been the first one to use it that night in Atlanta when they'd conceived their son.
"Ready?"
"I guess."
"Chin up, Rissa. We're a team now and I don't think one determined reporter can defeat us."
She smiled at him and he felt ten feet tall. He climbed out of the truck.
"Mr. Danforth, I'm Jasmine Carmody with the Savannah Morning News. Can I have a few minutes of your time?" the stunning African-American woman asked.
"For what?"
"To discuss the circumstances of your recent marriage."
"What do you want to know?" Jake asked. Larissa got out of the truck and walked around to his side. Jake pulled her close to his side and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
"Very touching," Jasmine said. "I'm curious about something."
"What's that?" Jake asked.
"How does it feel to know you're the second generation of wealthy Southern gentlemen to be deceived by a Nielsen woman?"
Larissa stiffened under his arm.
"I didn't deceive Jake."
"Of course, you didn't, Ms. Nielsen."
"It's Mrs. Danforth," Jake said. "And Larissa didn't trap me into marriage, Ms. Carmody. I trapped her."
"Do tell," Jasmine said.
"That's private and personal. I don't think we have anything further to say."
"I'm not giving up," Jasmine said. "I'm going to write this story with or without your cooperation."
