I blinked. He did? I’d saved it on my laptop, but not my phone. I honestly figured Dane would have stuck the thumb drive in a draw somewhere and shoved the recording from his mind once he’d showed it to the relevant people.
Taking the phone, Kent scooted closer to Jen on the sofa. As they watched the video, he snorted and chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. Jen actually smiled, amused in spite of herself.
Kent handed the cell back to his brother. “God, Dane, your expression was priceless.”
Dane pocketed his phone. “Hmm.”
“Well, it’ll be something to show the grandkids,” said Kent.
It was only by sheer force of will that I didn’t drop my smile. There’d be no kids, no grandkids. Not for me and Dane. I’d be gone in under twelve months. That was almost as sad as the thought of him living in this big house alone, year after year, growing older and older.
I could only hope that, unlike with Hugh, loneliness never eventually struck Dane. I didn’t want him to live with regrets. I didn’t want him feeling alone and empty, even if that meant he never once regretted our upcoming divorce.
After Kent and Jen drove through the security gates a short while later, Dane closed the front door and turned to me. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me nothing. You were good at hiding it from them, but something’s bothering you.”
I was still feeling a little down at the thought of our inevitable divorce. I wouldn’t only leave this house, I’d leave o-Verve … and I’d probably never see Dane again.
“Did Jen say something to you?” he pushed. “Did she upset you? You didn’t look upset when I walked back into the den, but she was wearing her ‘I’m so innocent’ expression. What did she say?”
“Nothing upsetting. She just wants to fix the ‘mess’ she made,” I answered vaguely, not seeing the sense in making things worse between them by adding what a tool she’d been.
“And?”
“And she was hoping I’d let her do that by involving her in the plans for the reception. I suggested she find another way of making it up to you.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What else?”
“Nothing interesting.”
He stepped into my personal space, which he did far too often these days, the bold bastard. “Vienna, tell me the rest.”
I sighed. “She was just being petty, making out like you guys are super close and were once an ‘item.’ I suggested that she stop being so insistent on disliking me and try being civil. You never know, she might actually follow my advice.”
“So, if it wasn’t Jen that upset you, what did? We’re being straight with each other from here on out, remember. So tell me.”
“You’ll just say I’m being stupid.”
He frowned. “I would never call you stupid.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay. Fine. When Kent made the throwaway comment about how the video would be something to show the grandkids, I got to thinking how there wouldn’t be any for you; that you’d forever be here in this massive house all alone. It made me sad to think of you being on your own year after year. Which is silly, I know, because you want that for yourself, so go on: tell me I’m being stupid.”
His steely, dark eyes began to soften, and his frown slowly smoothed away. “Vienna,” he whispered with a sigh, palming the back of my head. His gaze dropped to my mouth and heated. Darkened. Glittered.
I drew in an unsteady breath as the air snapped taut. My stomach twisted, and my nerves went haywire. I felt my pulse quicken. Felt excitement flare low in my stomach.
He stood very still, his nostrils flaring, his muscles tight. It was clear to see he was wrestling with himself. It seemed that common sense prevailed, because he lowered his hand and took a step back. I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed.
I grasped onto an inane subject in an effort to douse the sexual tension. “Anyway, I’d say the meal with my family went well. They didn’t seem worried about us when they left.”
He tilted his head. “You told them not to ask me about my parents, didn’t you?”
Busted. “Only because I knew they would—it’s a mundane question that most see as harmless. I just said it was a sensitive subject for you, the same way I asked you not to mention Corrine or his mother to Simon. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”