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“Really?” she asked.
He chuckled, amused by the shock on her face. “Yes. I didn’t want to embarrass myself at my own wedding.”
Oh. His wedding. That made sense.
They hadn’t really talked about his marriage or his ex-wife beyond the basics. Ali stared at his bowtie as questions swirled in her mind. They were together now. It would be okay to ask questions about his previous relationships, right?
Daniel brought their joined hands under her chin and tilted her head up so he could look into her eyes. “Ask me.”
“How long were you with your wife?”
He released her chin but kept their hands tucked between them. The back of his hand rested against her chest, and it made Ali wish they were alone instead of surrounded by all these people. “We were together for twenty-two years. Married for almost twenty.”
She tried not to be jealous of this woman she didn’t know, but it was difficult. He’d obviously loved her. Why else would he have stayed with her for twenty years?
Ali was trying to figure out what to ask him next without it sounding weird, but he seemed to know what was on her mind. “We were very much in love. Then, our lives were taken over by the kids. Over time, we lost each other, and we couldn’t get it back.”
“Do you still love her?” Ali asked, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
“No. I haven’t felt that way about her in a long time.” He guided them toward the edge of the dance floor. “We’re friendly for the sake of our kids, but given they’re all adults now, we rarely have contact with each other. The last time I saw her in person was at James’s high school graduation.”
So, Ali probably wouldn’t come face-to-face with the ex anytime soon. That was good news.
Again, seeming to be able to read her mind, Daniel pressed a kiss to her temple and whispered in her ear, “There’s no need to be jealous, sweetheart. She and I haven’t been together for fifteen years.”
She knew he was right, but it didn’t change the urge she had to tear off all his clothes and stake her claim on him. For two years she’d wanted him, and now that he was hers, she had every intention of keeping him.
But one question plagued her—one he hadn’t answered yet. “How did it end?”
Daniel dropped the pretense of dancing and took her by the hand. “Are you ready to go?”
A little taken aback by his sudden desire to leave, it took her a little longer than it should to respond. She nodded and let him guide her out to the lobby.
They retrieved their coats, then made their way downstairs. She stood beside him as they waited for the valet to bring their car around, curiosity eating at her.
A young man drove Daniel’s SUV to a stop in front of them, climbed out of the vehicle, and jogged over to them. He handed the keys to Daniel, and in return Daniel handed him a tip.
“Thanks,” the young man said.
After helping her into the passenger seat, Daniel walked around the vehicle, opened his door, and slid into the driver's seat. He eased them into traffic, then picked up the conversation where they’d left off as if time hadn’t passed. “Jessica, my ex.” He glanced over at Ali before refocusing on the road. “She found someone else.”
Ali’s eyes widened. “She cheated on you?”
“No.” He paused. “At least, she says she didn’t. But we’d drifted apart, and she’d fallen in love with someone else.”
Given how Ali felt about Daniel, it was hard for her to imagine a woman not loving him. He was extremely lovable. Polite. Charming. Protective. “So the divorce was her decision?”
“It was.” He paused. “Looking back now, I can understand. We were just occupying the same space. We barely talked unless it was about one of the kids. That isn’t the way to have a lasting marriage.”
There was one more thing Ali wanted to know about his past relationship. “Was she your submissive?”
Daniel guided the vehicle onto the highway out of town. “We dabbled, but it wasn’t anything formal.”
“So you embraced the lifestyle after your divorce.” It wasn’t really a question. He’d implied as much.
“Yes. When I started dating again, I realized I needed to find women who liked the same things I did in the bedroom.”
Ali was trying to process all the information she’d obtained in the last hour. For some reason, she’d pictured his ex as a horrible person who’d been a nightmare to live with. It was easier that way.
