In Pursuit of His Wife
Kristi Gold
One
Seated in a wicker glider on the mansion's stately porch, Nasira Edwards admired the beauty of the Wild Aces, the ranch her brother, Rafiq, had bought his beloved bride-to-be, Violet. Nasira appreciated the way landscaped lawns gave way to green pastureland. She relished the warm May breeze, the climate so different from London this time of year. When she had originally traveled to Royal, Texas-home to the legendary Texas Cattleman's Club-she had done so to prevent Rafe from exacting revenge on his friend, Mac, for a mistake she had made over a decade ago. She had come to clear the air, right past wrongs, and fortunately she had succeeded. Yet that had not been the only reason behind the journey. She yearned for the peace this place could provide, yet peace had not come. The lingering pain of loss was simply too overwhelming.
In response to the memories, she withdrew the bracelet from the pocket of her dress and studied the tiny silver rattle charm she had received upon confirming her pregnancy. A surprising gift from a husband who had not embraced fatherhood. Still, she had viewed the welcome gesture as a symbol of hope for a bright future, until the day all hope had been splintered like shards of fragile glass.
Her palm automatically came to rest on her abdomen, now as barren as her life had been for a while. The baby she had so desperately wanted, and tragically miscarried, had changed her completely. Odd how she could miss someone she had known for such a brief time. And strange how badly she missed Sebastian, though he had been emotionally absent for the past six months. She had had no choice but to continue to put physical distance between them in an effort to reassess their future.
When the door opened to her left, Nasira expected to find her brother, Rafiq, checking on her welfare. Instead, Rafe's friend, Mac McCallum, stepped outside and gave her a pleasant smile. "Are you doing okay?"
She did not deserve his good humor or respect after what she had done to him in the distant past. "I've been enjoying the Texas sunset."
"Looks to me like that old sun has been gone a while," he said. "My sister sent me out here to tell you dinner will be ready in a few."
Food held little appeal in recent days. "I appreciate Violet's hospitality, but I am not very hungry."
"Suit yourself, but if you keep going this way, you'll be blown to New Mexico if the wind picks up steam."
She smiled reluctantly and stood. "I suppose if that is a possibility, I should attempt to eat something. Are you staying for dinner?"
"Not tonight. I'm meeting up with Andrea."
Nasira suspected Mac had feelings for his personal assistant that went beyond the boardroom, even if he could not admit it to himself, according to her future sister-in-law, Violet. "Is this business or pleasure?"
He frowned. "Business, of course."
"It's rather late in the day for that, is it not?"
"Unfortunately it comes with the territory of McCallum Enterprises."
When the discussion lulled, Nasira saw her chance to verbally make amends for past mistakes. She studied the wooden planks beneath her feet for a moment before regarding him again. "I wanted to extend another apology for what I did to you all those years ago. The guilt has been unbearable."
Mac lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "Hey, you were young. We were both young. You were just trying to get out of an arranged marriage to a man twice your age."
That ill-fated visit to the university to stay with her brother had set a horrible course that had led to Rafe's need for revenge. "Yet I was wrong to use you to achieve that goal, especially when I climbed into your bed for the sole purpose of having my father discover us. And because our father blamed Rafe for not looking after me, that led to his determination to seek revenge on you. I shudder to think what might have happened had I not come here to intervene."
"It all turned out okay," Mac said. "He's no longer trying to buy up the town to get back at me, he's going to marry my sister, and we're going to be one big happy family."
Nasira was happy for them all, but still... "Even after Rafe's torture and confinement for years due to my errors in judgment, he has forgiven me. I suppose I need to know if you will forgive me as well, though I would understand if you would not."
"Consider it done, Nasira. That's old water under the bridge now that Rafe knows I didn't really sleep with you. And since he's marrying my sister, I consider us all one big happy family."
Relief washed over her, though she couldn't claim to be happy over the state of her own marriage. "I so appreciate your understanding."
"No problem. Mind if I ask you something?"
"Not at all."
He raked a hand through his dark blond hair. "Don't take this wrong, but I'm wondering what the hell your husband was thinking when he let you get away?"
The course of the conversation made her somewhat uncomfortable. "It is rather complicated. Sebastian is complicated. After ten years of marriage, at times I wonder if I know him at all."
"One thing I do know. When a man doesn't realize the value of his wife, that's borrowing trouble. I just hope he comes around soon and realizes what he'd be giving up."
If only she could believe Sebastian had the capacity to be transformed into someone who would fight for their relationship. "I truly appreciate your concern and understanding, Mac."
"You're welcome. Guess I'll be heading home to the Double M now." He started toward the steps but paused and faced her again. "Before I leave, I'd just like to say it's fairly clear you don't need another big brother, but if you ever want a sounding board, you know where to find me."
How nice to come upon such a benevolent man. She certainly had not received so much compassion from her own husband in quite some time. "Thank you."
Mac returned to her and rested his palms on her shoulders. "Keep your chin up and keep standing your ground. You deserve the best."
Until six months ago, she had believed she had been blessed with the best of everything. Almost. "For the sake of clarification, Sebastian is not mean or cruel. He is simply too controlled and at times, distant. I have often wished he would lower his guard and demonstrate some sort of emotion, but I've accepted that it will most likely never happen-"
"Unhand my wife, you bloody bastard!"
Nasira barely had time to comprehend what she had heard before her estranged husband rushed onto the porch, drew back his fist and hit Mac in the chin, knocking the rancher backward against the brick wall.
When Mac gave Sebastian a menacing look, Nasira returned to reality in time to step between the men. "What are you doing, Sebastian?"
He pointed at Mac and sent him a menacing glare. "I'll not allow another man to grope my wife."
Never had she'd seen Sebastian act this way, and as much as she deplored violence, and despite her shock over his sudden appearance, she was pleasantly surprised, albeit somewhat mortified. "Oh, for goodness' sake. He is only a friend and he was not groping me."
Mac pushed away from the wall, rubbed his chin and glared at Sebastian. "If I didn't think so highly of your wife and her brother, I'd invite you to take this out into the yard and finish it, you jackass."
Sebastian balled his fists at his sides. "I would be glad to finish this."
Nasira spun on her husband. "Stop this right now, Sebastian. No one will be fighting if I have any say in the matter, and I do." She turned back to her friend and sent him an apologetic look. "Mac, I am so very sorry for my husband's behavior. I assure you he's not normally so impulsive with total strangers. And if you would not mind, I would like a few moments alone with him."
"No problem," Mac said before turning an acrid look on Sebastian. "I'm going to give you a pass, Edwards, and only because you're Nasira's husband. But don't push your luck by trying something like that again."
Sebastian straightened his tie and smirked. "If I find you touching Nasira again, I cannot promise there won't be a repeat performance."
"Just take better care of your wife and you won't have to worry about me."
After Mac disappeared into the darkness, Nasira prepared for a confrontation. "What were you thinking, and why on earth are you here?"
Sebastian opened and closed his fist. "I wasn't thinking, only reacting to a man with his hands on my wife. A man from her past, no less. And I have come to escort that wife back to London."