Chapter Twenty-Six #2
Daniel strides towards me almost immediately and reaches for my hand. Our four days apart have made no difference as my fingers instinctively lock with his. Our eyes meet and I ignore the fact there is someone else here, because I’ve missed him more than I ever imagined.
“Hannah.”
My stomach flips the way it always does when he says my name.
This is a very personal moment for both of us and out of the corner of my eye I note our visitor trying hard to find a focus in the room.
We must be uncomfortable to watch so I glance towards her and wait for Daniel to introduce us.
He gets my hint and takes both my hands, leading me to her and gently tugging me to sit at his side.
“Hannah, this is Tabitha West.”
I take in the woman who, according to the gossip columns, was trying to rekindle her relationship with my man.
I swear to God, if I had loaded my eyes with bullets, she would be dead on the spot where she sat.
I remain calm and silent, although my anger at her presence is clear.
I focus on Daniel and wait for his explanation as to why she is here.
“Tabitha has something she wants to explain.” He glances over towards her and signals with a slight nod of his head.
She stares at her clasped hands before she can look me in the eye, and when she does, her smile is awkward.
“First, I’m sorry if you’ve been hurt. It wasn’t what I wanted and until recently, I had no idea Daniel had a girlfriend.
” I still don’t say a word. She looks at Daniel again briefly and continues, “The photograph you saw in the papers, it was a setup.” Now my expression changes to one of confusion.
“I got a call. She told me what to do, and there would be paparazzi outside waiting to take the shots. I didn’t want to do it because I like Daniel and I understand the past few years have been difficult for him.
We were all aware of the mess he’d got himself into and he needed nothing more to add to that.
When Daniel and I parted…” there’s blush to her face, “… it was on good terms and there were no hard feelings between us.”
“You said the voice on the phone was ‘a she’. Do you know who ‘she’ was?” I ask.
“I don’t. At first, I thought it was some nutcase. I nearly hung up on her.” Tabitha is silent as if she’s drifted off into her own thoughts, but I jog her out of them.
“So why do it?”
“She listed information, very personal information. This woman was dangerous and I couldn’t take any chances.” She stands up and walks over to the glass door and looks out over the water.
“For the past two years, I’ve been involved with a married man.
A Politician. Somehow, she found out about it.
We can’t risk our affair being exposed. It would ruin him.
I thought if I went along with all of this, I’d protect our relationship and it would also be a good cover.
Everyone would believe I wanted Daniel again and avert suspicion to the affair.
It was a win-win situation, and she didn’t ask much of me.
I’m sorry if it sounds cruel to you, but she probably could have made me do a lot worse. ”
“Did you get any clue to who it could be? Maybe something in her voice—”
“None. I’m sorry.”
Daniel and I lock eyes for a moment, a knowing look between us. It can only Freya. She was too eager for me to read the newspaper article, even supplying the link.
“How can you be certain she won’t go back on her agreement, especially when she finds out you’ve been here?”
“Jack’s given me his word he will protect us. He’ll see to it personally.”
“Jack? As in Daniel’s driver, Jack? What the hell has he got to do with it?”
Tabitha looks towards Daniel. “Doesn’t she know his history?”
My blood runs hotter and I’m on the edge of blowing a gasket. More secrets? “No, I don’t!” I confront him for an explanation, but it’s Tabitha who answers.
“Jack used to work as a bodyguard, mainly within the Australian Government. He was highly ranked, well respected and very well connected. Daniel sent him out to Melbourne to find me and bring me back here so I could explain what happened. Jack promised to protect my relationship as long as I told you the truth.”
Tabitha comes back to her seat, leans across and touches my arm. “You are so lucky to be loved this much.”
I don’t reply as Daniel takes hold of her hand into both of his.
“Thank you for agreeing to come here and talk to Hannah. Jack will see you get back to Melbourne and make sure you’re kept safe.
He’s waiting for you downstairs.” She nods before Daniel guides her to the front door.
I hear their murmured tones as the door closes.
Daniel saddles up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. He nuzzles his head into my neck and whispers, “Tell me you believe her because I can’t stand this wedge between us any longer. ”
I turn in his arms and lay my cheek to his chest. His heart thumps against my ear while I close my eyes and press my body firmly against him.
His arms wrap around to my spine where he rubs with the palm of his hands.
We break away for a moment and I lead him to sit.
I don’t nestle back into his embrace. I need to make eye contact.
My head swims with endless information. This all seems unreal, like a terrible film.
I’ve got to take in everything that has been said and he knows what’s coming next. “You have some questions, right?”
I nod. “Tell me about Jack.”
“You know most of it now. All I have to do is fill in the blanks.” He momentarily stops, as if looking for the right place to begin.
“As the company grew, dad became more of a target for the paparazzi. He wanted to make sure the family was safe, which is why we use bodyguards as our drivers and not chauffeurs. Each one has been specially trained in some form of protection.”
Then something dawns on me. “The cover-up over Louise’s death, was that Jack?”
We entwine hands and he grips mine just a little firmer.
“I can’t be sure. My belief is he had a lot to do with it. I’ve never asked directly.”
“Is this why Freya won’t talk? Because she knows these people work for you?”
“It helps, but it’s no guarantee.”
“Well, there must be something you can do. The lengths she goes to make sure your relationships fail are extraordinary. I don’t feel safe with her around.”
“I’ll never let anything happen to you, you’re all I want.” He searches my eyes and cups my cheek. “I always protect what’s mine. ”
I breathe in deeply and sit up straight. I have that overwhelming feeling of Déjà vu. “If this is to work, I need to lay my cards on the table.”
“I have so many doubts flying around. The whole thing is scary. I’m just an ordinary girl, with an average job who thought travelling to Australia would be an adventure.
Now I find myself in some bad soap opera with a boyfriend who owns a back catalogue of numerous broken hearts and scorned lovers, one of which is your brother’s wife.
Your family has endless secrets and your drivers, who are actually bodyguards, ensure these secrets are either guarded or buried.
My head hurts with all the drama. I’ve been here less than five months, yet it seems so much longer. ”
I slump back onto the sofa, knowing I have to ask him one more thing.
“Daniel, how are you so certain I’m the right girl for you? How are you so sure I’m strong enough to take all the ups and downs.”
“I can tell you exactly when I was sure.” His tone lowers to a depth I could drown in.
“You’re talking about the moment I caught the fire in your eyes and the pout of those ruby red lips.
” His focus follows his thumb as it runs over my mouth and my breathless reply is met with the sparkle in his hazel gaze.
“You were sprawled on the dirt, giving Storm some serious grief. All I could think was, who is this gritty, beautiful woman?” He brushes his finger along my jaw and down my neck.
Heat rushes to my cheeks when I cast my mind back to what I must have looked like, and I catch his smile.
“I thought you might be a bit of a ball-buster, but I was mesmerised. We’d spent only a short amount of time together that afternoon and it made the biggest impact on me.
I loved your raw innocence, and I’d never met anyone quite so normal.
You were… well, you. I want to say I fell in love with you there and then.
You captivated me for sure. I wa nted you and somewhere deep down I also knew you were the one. ”
“Daniel—”
“Don’t interrupt, Han, I’m on a roll,” he smiles.
“Those other women I’d been with wanted me because of who I was, not the person inside.
It happened a lot. I got to a point where fucking without thinking was too easy.
I knew their game and played it. You were different and blew my mind.
Your innocence and easiness were new to me and for once, you were interested in Daniel Grant, the man.
Even when you thought I worked with horses and was a nobody, you made time for me. ”
I protest, “Now hold on a minute who said anything about a nobody. I was talking to this cracking cowboy bloke. Where did he go by the way? He was hot!”
We exchange a knowing smile and he shakes his head and laughs, “Yeah, yeah. Hilarious.”
He rubs his brow and slides his opposite hand along my leg.
“I’m serious, Han, you and me, we’ve been through so much in just a few months.
You’ve seen my fuck-ups, my reluctance to be in certain places, be with certain people and you’re still prepared to stand by me.
That’s when I was certain I’d found my perfect girl.
I didn’t choose you, Han. You stuck with me and I’m so grateful you took a chance.
I am so in love with you, Hannah May. One hundred and fifty percent. ”
Now I’m the one mesmerised by him. “I… I love you too.”
For a few seconds, he stares at me. His chest heaves to take a breath before he grabs the back of my head and pulls me to his mouth—devouring it with every ounce of his.
With eyes opening slowly, he pulls away. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear you say it.”
I laugh, “Um… I think I might.” I’m engulfed in his arms as we sink into the plush cushions.
I stare out over the view dreamily while I speak my mind.
“I’m sure I’ve loved you for so long, but there was always this fear you didn’t feel the same.
I co uldn’t go through that again. I came to Australia with high hopes of a fresh start.
It was my time to find myself. Then you turned up with your sexy cowboy hat and that all went out the window. ”
I glance up to his beautiful smile, “I wanted to tell you I loved you, the first time you told me, but I was scared and also shocked you’d said it at all.”
“Scared? Of what?”
“I was recovering from a hangover, caused by your so-called reunion with Tabitha. I was scared your love wasn’t real and might be a last-ditch attempt to keep me here. It’s what Rob had tried to do before I left home.”
He pulls me onto his lap and runs his hands up and down my back.
“Never compare me to that fuckwit. I’ve never met the bloke and I hate the bastard for what he did to you.
” His finger glides along my cheekbone. “How the hell could I not love you? You are fucking perfect. You’ve got to know that by now and if you don’t, I’m saying it once and for all.
You’re perfect. Perfect for me, in every way, and I can’t stand back and not fight for you.
I can’t let you go, so for Christ’s sake, put me out of my misery and tell me you will not leave me. ”
His words set my skin alight as I nuzzle my head into the crook between his chin and shoulder.
He’s gone to such lengths to prove he didn’t cheat on me.
By bringing Tabitha here, he’s shown his determination to make this work—to show how much he cares for me.
He could have anyone and it’s me he is fighting for.
I breathe in his delicious scent and realise for the very first time that this is it.
We’ve had everything possible thrown at us and we’re still fighting to be together.
I’ve found my one and there is no way on God’s green earth that I’m letting him go.
“I’m yours, Daniel. Plain and simple, forever yours.”