To Have and to Hold by Nalini Singh Read Free Book Online

when he glanced at her and to her relief, his next words were civil. “I think me and Jessie need to talk.”
    Gabriel’s arm became a steel trap. “You want to talk to my wife, you can do it right now.”
    â€œYeah, sure. Later, Jess.” Damon left with the same turbulence with which he’d arrived.
    Jess didn’t speak again until his pickup was a blur in the distance. Then she wrenched herself out of Gabe’s hold to face him, arms crossed. “What did you think you were doing?”
    â€œI thought I was making it clear that you’re now my wife, something you seemed to have forgotten.” His eyes glittered with anger. “How long were you planning to make out with him in front of half the station?”
    Fury prompted her reply. “He’s been my friend for almost as long as I’ve been alive. Did it occur to you that maybe he wanted to talk to me about what’s going on in his life?” She pushed aside the memory of Damon saying he never wanted to let her go, because that did make her feel guilty.
    â€œI don’t care what the hell he wanted to talk about.” Gabe folded his own arms, a solid wall of dominance. “There’ll be no more private chats between the two of you.”
    â€œYou’re my husband, not my keeper!”
    â€œI shouldn’t need to be your keeper. Or do you think it’s perfectly acceptable to throw yourself into the arms of your would-be lover?”
    â€œYou’re twisting everything around!” When she’d hugged Damon, it had been out of the most innocent kind of happiness. But Gabe was making it sound sordid, making her question her every action, her every word.
    His jaw was granite, his next statement icy cold. “I swear to God, Jess, if you try to cheat on me with that useless excuse for a man, I’ll divorce you so fast your head will spin. And then I’ll accept the developers’ offer—they haven’t lost interest.”
    She felt the blood leach out from under her skin. “You wouldn’t.” Even Gabe wouldn’t be so cruel. “I’ve given you everything. ”
    He scoffed. “You signed on for life, not one quick tumble in my bed. If that was what I’d wanted, I could’ve gotten it much cheaper and from someone far more experienced than you, sweetheart.”
    The verbal slap hit so hard she couldn’t find her voice.
    â€œYour land has no real value to me in terms of this operation,” he continued. “I bought it to seal our deal and I can get rid of it as easily if you can’t do your job as my wife. Think about that the next time you have an urge to meet your friend. ” He left without giving her the chance to reply. Though what she would have said, she didn’t know.
    Collapsing into the chair, she cradled her head in her hands. But that didn’t stop her mind from spinning into chaos. Gabe’s threat had shocked her, making it viciously clear that her new husband trusted her about as much as he’d trust an alley cat. Still, she couldn’t believe he’d taunted her with what he knew to be her greatest vulnerability.
    The idea of her parents’ legacy being razed for what the developers had called a retreat for the rich and famous, complete with swimming pool, tennis courts and a golf course, was her personal nightmare. They would destroy the beauty of everything her parents had worked so hard to achieve, an insult to their memory she simply couldn’t bear. Unlike Gabriel, she cherished those memories. They were all she had left.
    â€œJess?”
    Mrs. Croft’s voice startled her into dropping her hands. “What is it?”
    The older woman took in Jess’s expression with concerned eyes but didn’t ask any questions. “You’ve got a call.” She handed over the portable phone.
    â€œThanks.” Jess was about to answer when Mrs. C. made a gesture that had her