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the conference, too. Did he tell Nadine that?’ Sunny demanded sharply, annoyed that her youngest sister had gone behind her back to Derek, instead of waiting for her to come home.

      ‘Hey! I didn’t do it,’ Alyssa protested. ‘I just thought you might want to know Derek had left your husband’s company. Pride, I guess.’

      A niggle of concern made Sunny ask, ‘Has he got a job somewhere else?’

      ‘He said he was going to work for the opposition. Beat Templar Resources at their own game. He was angry. You can’t exactly blame him.’

      Yes, I can, Sunny thought, remembering how he had ignored and neglected her in favour of roulette and blackjack and whatever other games he’d played.

      ‘After what he did in Vegas, resigning was probably the best move he could make. He was well on the way to inviting being sacked, in my opinion,’ she remarked stonily.

      ‘That bad, huh?’

      ‘Yes. I just hope he can stay out of casinos and get his life together again.’

      ‘You still care for him?’

      ‘No. Derek killed off any caring when…’ She stopped, shying away from the ugly memory of the confrontation in the MGM lobby. She took a deep breath before firmly stating, ‘I really don’t want to talk about Derek, Alyssa. That’s over.’

      ‘Okay. That’s fine with me,’ came the quick reply. ‘I’m really looking forward to meeting Bryce tomorrow.’

      ‘Good. We’ll be at Mum’s about ten. See you then, Alyssa.’

      Still vexed over Nadine’s action, Sunny had no inclination whatsoever to call her other sister. Nadine could wait for tomorrow for whatever fuel she wanted for more gossip. She spent a couple of happy hours telephoning her long-time girlfriends, telling them her news, giving them her new address in Santa Monica and promising to keep in touch. The contact lifted her spirits. She wasn’t cut off from her old life. It was simply a matter of making adjustments.

      Bryce came back from the office in good spirits, too, pleased with the meeting he’d had with the managing director, and the business being done in this branch of Templar Resources. They had an early dinner and talked over what position Sunny could take on in the Los Angeles office, discussing various exciting options.

      All in all, Sunny went to bed that night a happy woman, and her happiness with her new husband was shiningly evident at the family gathering the next day. Bryce’s personal charisma was so powerful, doubts about her hasty marriage were obviously squashed within minutes, wariness switching almost instantly to pleasure in his company. Even her brothers-in-law were impressed, keen to ask Bryce’s opinion on anything and everything.

      He was especially good with her sisters’ children, paying kind attention to the toddlers when they demanded it. Sunny was highly gratified that he fitted in as one of the family, though she doubted Bryce was used to sitting in an ordinary middle-class home, nor having the kind of rowdy lunch her family engaged in.

      ‘Well, he’s certainly something,’ her mother acknowledged, when the four women were in the kitchen cleaning up after a very elaborate and celebratory meal. Her eyes twinkled delighted approval as she gave Sunny a hug.

      ‘A hunk plus!’ Alyssa agreed, rolling her eyes appreciatively.

      ‘Yes, I can see why Derek got his nose out of joint when Bryce stopped him from seeing you,’ Nadine dryly commented.

      Sunny gave her an exasperated look. ‘Bryce didn’t stop Derek from seeing me. Derek waylaid us and did his nasty best to turn Bryce against me. Which, I’m thankful to say he failed to do.’

      Nadine grimaced. ‘I meant the night before when Derek followed your luggage to the MGM Hotel. He wanted to make up with you, and Bryce blocked him out.’

      Sunny’s mind whirled, remembering Bryce had left her in the bath, saying he’d been called down to the lobby to deal with an urgent problem. Derek…demanding to see her? Wanting to right the wrongs between them?

      What had Bryce said to him?

      Was this why Derek had been so virulent the next morning? So virulent, she had agreed to marry Bryce then and there!

      ‘To be faced with Bryce…’ Nadine went on with a shrug. ‘…poor Derek simply wasn’t a match for him.’

      ‘No, he’s not,’ Sunny grated. ‘And I wish you’d drop the subject of poor Derek, Nadine. I was running a very poor second to his gambling addiction before I even met Bryce.’

      ‘Sorry. I just meant…well, I’d choose Bryce, too.’ She grinned to smooth over her gaffe. ‘Who wouldn’t?’

      It was a question Sunny kept asking all afternoon—who wouldn’t?—but the sparkle had gone out of the day for her. Bryce hadn’t exactly lied about Derek’s first foray to the MGM Hotel, but he had certainly omitted telling her. She might not have chosen to see Derek that night, but Bryce had clearly removed any choice, ruthlessly removed it, intent on keeping her with him until…until she married him.

      Why?

      Not out of love for her.

      He needed a wife to please his father.

      Kristen was demanding too much.

      He preferred Sunny…the bargain basement bride!

      It was difficult to keep up a facade of happily wedded bliss while this inner torment churned through her, but Sunny managed it. Pride made her keep pretending everything was perfect, though she barely kept her own tears at bay when her mother got teary at their leave-taking. It was an enormous relief when the chauffeured limousine pulled away from her cheerfully waving family and she could relax back in the plushly cushioned seat and close her eyes.

      ‘Exhausted?’ Bryce asked sympathetically.

      ‘Yes,’ she muttered, keeping her eyes shut, not wanting to look at him.

      As he had in the plane, he took her hand, interlacing their fingers in a possessive grip. Sunny raised her lashes a little to stare down at the linked hands, at the emerald ring glinting up at her. She was married to this man, committed to having a family with him. If she didn’t have his love, at the very least she needed honesty from him.

      ‘I thought the day went well,’ he commented.

      ‘Yes, you handled my family brilliantly.’

      It was what he’d said of her meeting with his father. He’d probably handled her brilliantly, too, all along, from the moment he decided she should be his wife instead of Kristen.

      ‘It wasn’t hard. They’re nice people.’

      ‘I’m glad you think so.’

      ‘Need some quiet time now?’

      ‘Yes.’

      He said nothing more until they walked into their hotel suite and the door was closed behind them. Sunny was working herself up to confront him with what Nadine had told her when he softly asked, ‘Want to tell me what’s wrong?’

      The question hit all the raw places in Sunny’s heart. She swung on him, words shooting out of her mouth in a bitter spurt. ‘What? So you can fix it, Bryce?’ Her eyes hotly accused as her tongue ran on. ‘You’re very good at that, aren’t you? Fixing things to be how you want them.’

      ‘And you, Sunny,’ he said in a calm, quiet tone. ‘I care very much about how you want them, too.’

      ‘You have no right to decide that for me, Bryce,’ she retorted fiercely, inflamed by his air of unshakeable control.

      He lifted his hands in appeal. ‘What have I decided without discussing it with you?’

      ‘Derek! You stopped him from seeing me and didn’t even tell me he’d come to try for a reconciliation.’

      His face visibly tightened.

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