Whatever the Price. Jules Bennett

By his side.

      “I understand,” he told her. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t stop fighting for you and this family we’ve been given.”

      Charlotte’s sad smile made his chest tighten. “This changes nothing, Anthony. And now you’re ready to step up for this child, it breaks my heart even more because I wanted for so long to have a baby with you. So I’m staying for Lily. Not you.”

      Anthony knew his wife had a breaking point, and he knew in these upcoming ninety days he’d probably reach it. “We need to at least put up a united front until we can see where to go from here. And I don’t think ninety days is too much to ask. Give me a chance, too, Charlie. I need you, and Lily’s just had her mother taken from her and needs that motherly bond.”

      Anthony tamped down the hurt of losing his sister. He couldn’t fall apart. Not now when his life was at stake and Lily needed him to be strong. The stable ground he’d stood on for so long was crumbling beneath him and he’d be damned if he wouldn’t fight with everything he had.

      He could mourn for his sister later, in private. Right now he needed to get his family back on track. Lily may be an unexpected issue, but she was also a blessing and a silver lining. He’d almost lost Charlotte to his selfishness and now that he was given another chance, he planned on winning her back.

      God help them all. Babies certainly weren’t his strong suit and since he was being honest with himself, babies terrified him.

      Charlotte’s eyes misted. “I can’t replace her mother. No one can.”

      “I’m not asking you to replace her,” Anthony replied, stepping forward and taking Charlotte’s hands in his. “I’m asking you to love her and care for her. I’m asking you to just keep an open mind as far as we are concerned. I never wanted to lose you, Charlotte. Never.”

      Charlotte’s lids fluttered, sending one lone tear sliding down her porcelain skin. She looked back up into his eyes, determination overriding the sadness. “I’m only moving in under certain conditions.”

      Conditions he could live with. Conditions he could break through—and get her back where he wanted her. In his bed, their bed, and in his life forever.

      “Name them.”

      She stepped back, breaking their brief contact. “I won’t sleep in your bed. Ever.”

      That one was too easy. He knew just how to manipulate her when it came to seduction. Knew where to touch, what to say. Best not to mention that and just let her think things were in her control—as any good husband would. Too bad he’d learned that lesson so late.

      “Okay. What else?”

      “This is only temporary until we can work on a custody arrangement. Once the ninety days is up and the court approves the guardianship, our lawyers will draw up a mutually agreeable plan.”

      So she had talked to her attorney. No matter. Three months was plenty of time for him to win her back. “Fine.”

      “This baby and our living arrangement changes nothing between you and me. Lily has to be top priority now. Are we clear?”

      His eyes roamed over her body, a mental image of her curled beside him in their bed making him smile as he leveled her gaze.

      “Crystal.”

       Two

      “Welcome back, Mrs. Price.”

      Charlotte cringed, but smiled at Monique, the maid who’d been with them for nearly five years. “I’m not actually back, but thanks.”

      Monique nodded with a grin and continued her cleaning regimen in the formal living room. The very room where Charlotte had hosted numerous parties for the hardworking employees of the Children’s Hospital. Those parties always took place when Anthony was out of town. Supporting the hospital filled a huge void in her life, her heart.

      At the start of Anthony’s career, she’d been so proud of his work, his talent, and she’d attended every premiere and awards ceremony, no matter how small. But when his dreams became his sole focus and she became nearly invisible in their marriage, Charlotte resigned herself to the fact that her dreams were never going to come true. So she’d started staying behind the scenes and throwing herself into her volunteer work at the Children’s Hospital.

      Charlotte pulled a sleeping Lily tighter against her chest, refusing to be drawn back into a world she needed to say goodbye to. Every room held so many memories—both good and bad. The past several years played over in her head like a silent movie.

      Hating all the emotions swirling around over being home, Charlotte focused on the sweet-smelling baby in her arms and moved forward into her home.

      No, she couldn’t think of this place as home, not if she wanted to hold on to the small hope that she would be fine in her new life without Anthony once all this was over. But how could she move forward if she still considered this her home? She’d never make it through the next few months if she didn’t keep the mind-set that this was temporary, only until the court approved the guardianship and they could work out a custody arrangement. She knew he wanted to try to salvage their relationship, but she highly doubted he’d be able to put forth the effort a strong marriage required. He certainly hadn’t done so before, so why should this be any different?

      Charlotte sighed, taking in the beautiful, open foyer with curved staircase and marble pillars separating the living area. Just this morning she’d been house-sitting in her best friend’s condo, evaluating how she could move on fast and far without the pain following. But now she was back and the pain sliced even more deeply.

      “I’ll have your stuff put into the room with the balcony overlooking the pool, as you requested,” Anthony told her as he led her upstairs.

      Charlotte moved up the grand staircase that she’d loved since they’d moved in. A large, crystal chandelier descended from swirling artwork on the high ceiling, sending a kaleidoscope of colors all over the marble floor in the center of the staircase.

      “I’m surprised you agreed so easily to my being in a separate room,” she told him as they reached the landing.

      He took her elbow, turning her to face him. Those mesmerizing eyes bore into hers, making her heart skip a beat. “While I respect your wishes, I should warn you. I won’t stop trying to win you back. I’ll never give up.”

      Fear washed over her. Not fear of him. Fear of herself and what would come in their time together. How could she resist him on a physical level? She’d never been able to, and it had been a month since she’d touched him—a rare occurrence for them.

      But she had to have some willpower, some self-control in order to make Lily’s life strong and stable.

      Stable was something she deserved, too. But the welfare of the baby came first. And hopefully, if she could focus solely on the innocent baby, maybe she wouldn’t have to deal with how just one look, one brief touch from Anthony still had her tingling inside.

      Charlotte moved down the wide hallway, breaking free of Anthony’s strong grasp. She walked into the room where the designer had quickly transformed a guest room into a nursery. The pale pink walls made the new white furniture and crisp eyelet curtains pop with a fresh, calming ambience. A lump of sorrow consumed her. This was the room she’d always hoped would be a nursery for their child. The size was perfect and the crib by the window would let in the morning sun, welcoming any child to a new day.

      It was one year ago she’d miscarried, and holding on to Lily brought all of those painful memories to the surface.

      Charlotte stared down at the baby as tears gathered in her eyes. The thought that Rachel would never see Lily take her first steps, never see her off to school or marry one day really hit home. Charlotte had wanted all those things and more with the baby she’d lost. But fate had brought her and Lily together for a reason.

      “You okay?”