This is my love for you. This is my desire for you. Take everything that I am.

It’s all for you.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

RAINA PICKED UP her phone. Another missed call from Steven. The calls had tapered off after she’d told him to stop calling the last time, but in the last few days, he’d started calling her again.

Before she could think whether it was a good idea or not, she dialed his number.

“You finally decided to stop ignoring my calls,” he answered.

Raina rolled her eyes. “Leave it to you to make yourself out to be the injured party. I thought we’d already agreed that you wouldn’t call me anymore? I hold no ill will toward you, Steven, but I’m happily married now. These calls need to stop.”

“Happily married,” he scoffed. “Raina, I think you forget who you’re talking to. I know you only married Alexander because you wanted a baby.”

“That’s why we got married but that’s not why we’re still married now. We’re happy together. I would think considering all the pain and embarrassment you’ve caused me that you could just be happy for me.”

“That’s why I felt compelled to call. I’ve been struggling with my conscience about lying to you,” Steven said finally.

“I don’t think you’ve had much problem lying to me in the past.”

There was a grunt on the other end of the line. “I meant about Nick. Did he ever tell you that we knew each other?”

Raina stopped flipping the channels on the television. “You know each other? How?”

“I found him in bed with my wife. I actually had to chase him out of the house.”

“Now you’re just making things up.”

Raina knew her husband had never been a saint, but the idea of him being chased out of bed by Steven with his pants around his ankles was too ridiculous to even consider. If anything, Nick had probably romanced some woman that Steven wanted and now he was bitter. That sounded a lot more likely.

“I’m not lying. I know you have reason to doubt my word after everything that has happened, but I have no reason to lie about this. I already know that we’re over and you’re not coming back. I’m just trying to keep you from getting hurt again. I figured I owe you at least that much.”

“Well, I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true. Ask him. If he claims he’s so honest with you then ask him to tell you the truth.”

Raina fought the urge to slam the phone down even as part of her wanted to ask more questions. What if this was really why Nick had been coming home late and been so distracted lately? Was the lure of his old life too strong to resist?

“Even if it’s true, what does that have to do with me? I’ve done things I’m not proud of before, too.”

“Everyone has, but I’m sure those were isolated occurrences. Not a pattern of behavior. I know Alexander has you convinced that he’s this great guy but I don’t want to see you hurt, Raina. Or being used by a man who only wants to exploit you for personal gain.”

“Personal gain? What are you talking about now?” There was a pause and Raina’s stomach tightened.

“You don’t think it’s odd that he was suddenly so anxious to marry you? Did he ever tell you that his foundation is struggling for cash?”

“No, he didn’t,” Raina whispered.

“Hmm. I’m surprised he’s never asked you to donate.” Steven sounded genuinely surprised. “Or to endorse it. I figured he’d have asked you to mention it in the press or on your website.”

“I don’t have time for this, Steven. I’m not going to sit here and listen to you slander my husband. I’m busy growing a human being. I suggest you get busy figuring out how to grow up. Nick would never use me.”

“I just wanted you to know the truth about the man you married and to tell you to be careful. There’s no way a man like that can be faithful. Especially considering our history. I admit that I made things difficult for him after I found out about the affair. Taking you away from me was Alexander’s ultimate revenge. Now that you know, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Raina ended the call and dropped her phone back on the couch next to her. Her head throbbed even worse than it had before. It had been an incredibly stupid idea to call Steven. He was just trying to ruin things for her because he hated to “lose.” He’d been like that ever since she’d met him. Competitive, territorial, and smug.

Why would he lie about knowing Nick?

Surely Nick would have told her if he was acquainted with Steven. Although if he’d really been sleeping with Steven’s wife, maybe he wouldn’t have told her? He’d been trying to convince her to marry him. He wouldn’t have wanted to tell her anything negative.

There was undoubtedly more to the story. The Nick Alexander she knew valued family above all else. He wouldn’t romance a married woman and he definitely wouldn’t make Raina part of some twisted payback scheme. But back before she’d known Nick so well, would she have given him the benefit of the doubt? Probably not.

She didn’t want to go rushing off with a bunch of wild stories and accusations. Nick had been by her side since the beginning, helping her when she was down and celebrating with her when she’d finally gotten pregnant. Was she really going to let Steven’s accusations come between them?

What was Steven trying to prove by even telling her? Was he trying to paint himself as the victim or was he just trying to plant seeds of doubt?