A Humble Heart (Hollywood Hearts #1)(35)

“Thank god,” Dana mumbled. Edward moved to her side and took her hand.

“Dana, do you have the papers he presented you with on Friday?” Eleanor asked.

“Yes.” She released Edward’s hand and made her way to her laptop bag. Edward watched as Jeff checked her out. The bastard actually licked his lips. His hands clenched into fists. Amy put a hand on his arm and squeezed gently.

Dana handed Eleanor the thick envelope. His mother quickly looked it over. Her mouth tugged up into a triumphant smile. “Counselor, did your client inform you that as of last Monday he has forfeited all rights to Elizabeth and Cole Mathews?”

Jeff’s lawyer threw him a furious look. “No, he did not.” He reached out and took the document. After several minutes he handed it back to Dana. “I’m very sorry for wasting your time.” He looked at Jeff. “Expect a bill and don’t contact us again.” He stormed out of the trailer, leaving Dana and Jeff staring each other down.

“Can we have a moment? I think we need to have a talk, something we should have done a long time ago,” Dana said, keeping her eyes on Jeff.

“I’ll be outside, Dana. I hope you don’t mind, but Amy has arranged for me to sit in during your meetings,” Eleanor said.

“Thank you for everything,” Dana said, unable to stop her voice from breaking with emotion.
“Don’t worry about it,” Eleanor said, smiling warmly as she walked out of the trailer.

“I’m not leaving,” Edward announced.

She sighed. “Edward, I need to talk to him.”

Edward walked over to the couch and sat down. “I’ll sit right here and I won't say a word, but I’m not leaving. I don’t trust him.”

Jeff shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me, he can stay.”

“Fine," Dana said, too emotionally strung out to argue. "Jeff, why did you do this?” she asked, bringing her hands up in the air and dropping them.

“I miss you, Dana. I miss us, the kids, I miss making love to you, kissing you and falling asleep with you in my arms,” Jeff said softly.

“Oh my God, Jeff! Are you kidding me?” Dana said, unable to believe the nonsense he was shoving at her. She folding her arms over her chest, hoping the action would stop them from shaking.

“You can’t tell me you don’t miss me. I remember what my touch used to do to you,” he said, grinning the way he used to when they first started dating. He reached out to take one of her arms. She pulled back out of reach.

“Jeff, the key word is used to. Like nine years ago. Things have changed, I’ve changed and you’ve changed. We haven’t so much as kissed in four years so where is this all coming from?”

He dropped his hand. “Sweetheart, I screwed up. I’m so sorry. I cannot believe what I did. It was my fault. I didn’t appreciate what I had until it was too late.”

“Jeff, where did this come from? You’ve been with Bea for the majority of our relationship and you just married her. What are you doing? Are you even thinking?”

His face contorted into anger. “You cut me off. What the hell was I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know maybe try, you should have tried, damn it!” She covered her face with her hands and tried to calm down. “Jeff, what we had wasn’t a marriage. We were two people legally stuck together. We weren’t in love, we weren’t even friends. It was wrong to get married, but I’ll never regret it because I got two great kids out of the deal.”

“You wouldn’t have them without me. You owe it to me to try now,” Jeff stated.

“No,” she simply said.

Jeff gestured back to Edward. “Is it because of him? I can guarantee you if my screwing around upset you, this will damn near kill you. The guy is world famous, thousands of women want him, models, actresses, women a hell of a lot better looking than you! He’ll cheat on you, too!” he yelled.

Edward waited until Jeff stopped yelling before he spoke. “I would never cheat on her and she is without a doubt the most beautiful woman I have ever met inside and out. So maybe you should keep me out of this and talk to her.”

“Jeff, your cheating on me didn’t hurt. I’m sorry, but I didn't feel betrayed, I feel beyond annoyed that you weren’t man enough to duck out of our marriage before you did it. I didn’t feel that way about you. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? That's just great! I wasted eight years of my life on you, you bitch!” Jeff said.

Edward shot to his feet. “You raise your voice or call her that again and I’ll step in.”

Jeff ignored him, but Dana noted that he took several discreet steps away from Edward. “Dana, please I’m begging for our kids’ sake to give us another chance.”

“No.”

“If he wasn’t in the picture would you give me a chance?”

“No, Jeff. I am saying no because it wouldn’t work. I don’t love you. I don’t like you. We are two completely different people. You moved on a long time ago. You’re only pulling this nonsense now because you don’t want anyone else to have what you can’t have, plain and simple.”

Jeff glared at her for another moment. Finally he left, slamming the door closed behind him.

Edward put his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “Damn you must be great in bed to make a man act like a psycho,” he teased, hoping to ease some of her stress.