“If you’re happy, that’s what matters to me.”
“I’m thrilled. But…” She winced. “I still want the money from the settlement.”
“On top of paying Mila’s mortgage? All two hundred fifty thousand?”
“Yes. Today, if you can get it to me.”
Jason’s first reaction came from the cynic in him. She wanted money and she still intended to let the divorce happen? Why? Had she decided that she couldn’t live without the swanky shopping? He stared down into those deep dark eyes of hers, the lush rosy lips and paused. Did her reasons really matter? If all he had to do in order to keep Gia was take her to the mall and buy her a few things to line her closet…
He frowned and put the brakes on that thought altogether. Gia wasn’t Samantha. She’d been thrilled that he’d spent his money paying off a family member’s house, rather than try to bribe her with baubles.
“Who needs the money?”
She bit her lip. “It’s complicated. If you’ll at least consider it, take me to your bank, and I’ll show you what I’m thinking. Then…you can decide what you want to do about the money and about us.”
Knowing his wife, the money would benefit someone else far more than her, at least directly. She would probably derive her satisfaction from knowing someone she loved no longer had to worry, but who? Her parents?
“Separate cars? You lead. I’ll follow.” They headed toward the lot.
Gia gave him a sheepish grin. She looked like such a sensual woman most of the time. Her beautiful femininity had caught his eye first. She was all curves and angles, graceful. At the moment, however, she looked a bit like a child with that smile.
“Can I ride with you?”
Jason palmed his keys. “You like the car.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fascinated by the way you drive. It’s aggressive. And…sexy.”
Jason laughed. “Hop in.”
As he pressed the button on the fob, the car beeped and unlocked. He opened her door and helped her in, then shut her inside. Bracing against the car, he closed his eyes for a second, allowing himself a moment of triumph. She didn’t want a divorce.
So what happened with them after this jaunt to the bank? Gia wouldn’t tell him what she had in mind until she was good and ready. But any time he spent with her was a pleasure, so he played along.
Jason slid into the low, sleek vehicle, letting the black leather hug his body as he started the car and let it roar. He backed out of the lot, threw it in drive, then revved the engine. A smile crept up her face.
“You know, Officer Angelotti, I might break a traffic law or two today. Think you want to try to arrest me for that?”
Her smile disappeared, and she turned suddenly somber. “No.”
Hell, what had he said? “Did I upset you? I was just teasing.”
Face pensive, she licked her lips. He got hard at the sight and cursed himself. She was upset. As much as his c**k wanted those lips around him, Jason had to focus on her.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
“It’s okay. It’s not you. I’ll explain after our stop.”
Something still bothered her. Jason examined their conversation from every angle, trying to determine what. Their marriage? This errand? He came up blank.
A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of the bank. Jason emerged and opened her door, curiosity eating at him. Whatever she was about, he wanted this settled so they could deal with their marriage and their tomorrows…and start letting Gia know that she was his.
As they approached the door, she stopped and placed her fingers on his chest. “Before we go in, I want to say a few things.”
He pulled her to the side to let another customer enter the branch and tried to rein his impatience. “Go ahead.”
“Whether you want to give me the money or not, it doesn’t change my decision. I won’t file for divorce. Obviously, I can’t stop you from doing it, and if you still choose to at the end of eight days, I won’t expect more money.”
His silly wife hadn’t yet grasped the way he saw their relationship working, but as soon as he figured out what she was up to, he’d make a few things clear.