In Too Deep_ Husband Material & the Sheikh's Bargained Bride - Brenda Jackson [7]
His gaze narrowed and she wondered if perhaps she’d pushed him too far. But she couldn’t help saying how she felt. The amount of time he’d spent away from her would always be a wound that wouldn’t heal.
He began moving toward her in that slow, precise walk that could make women drool. She wished she didn’t notice his sex appeal or just how potently masculine he was. She had to get a grip. Her objective was to make him regret ever taking her for granted, to give him a taste of his own medicine, so to speak. She intended to turn her back on him like he’d done to her.
Carmen swallowed when he came to a stop in front of her but she refused to back up—or down.
“You,” he said with deep emphasis, “are not staying here. I think things were pretty clear in the divorce settlement. You wanted to end our marriage and so you did. Under no circumstances will we stay under the same roof.”
Carmen saw the hardness in his features. This face that once looked at her with so much love was staring at her with a degree of animosity that tore at her heart.
“Then nothing is different, Matthew, since we seldom stayed under the same roof anyway. I’m not leaving. I was almost mobbed by the paparazzi getting here and they are probably hanging around like vultures waiting for me to leave. Your recent love life has caused quite a stir and they are trying to bait me into giving my opinion.”
“The media isn’t giving me any more slack than they’re giving you. And your affair with Bruno Casey isn’t helping matters, either. I’m sure if you return to California, he’ll be able to put you up for the summer in that place he owns off the bay.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him nothing was going on with Bruno, but she decided it was none of his business, especially in light of his ongoing affair with Candy. She refused to bring the other woman up since the last thing she wanted was for him to think that she cared. Which she didn’t.
“Bruno is shooting in Rome and this is where I want to be. I love it here. I’ve always loved it here and the only reason you didn’t agree to let me have this place during the divorce was because you knew how much I wanted it. For spite, you were intentionally difficult.”
“Think whatever you like. I’m leaving to catch the last of the polo matches. I want you gone when I return.”
“I’m not leaving, Matthew.”
His expression turned from stony to inexplicably weary. “I’m not going to waste my time arguing with you, Carmen.”
“Then don’t.”
They stood there staring at each other, anger bouncing off both of them. Then, without saying another word, Matthew turned and walked out. Carmen held her breath until she heard the front door slam shut behind him.
Matthew decided not to return to the Seven Oaks Farm for the match. Instead, he went for a drive to clear his head and cool his anger. Carmen was being difficult—she hadn’t behaved that way since the early days of their courtship.
He had pursued her with a single-minded determination he hadn’t known he was capable of, and she had put up a brick wall, refusing to let him get close. But he’d known the first moment he’d laid eyes on her that he not only wanted her to star in his movie but he wanted her in his bed and wouldn’t be satisfied until he got both.
She’d gotten the part in the movie, earning it fair and square. Getting her into his bed had proven to be difficult and before he got her there, he’d realized he had fallen in love with her. He wasn’t certain how it had happened, but it had. He’d loved her so deeply, he knew he wasn’t capable of ever loving another woman that way.
She’d stood before him in that church and promised to love him forever. So what if he worked long hours—didn’t “till death do us part” mean anything to her? And if he hadn’t worked so hard, he would not have earned the reputation of being one of the country’s up-and-coming film producers.
A throbbing