Contracted to Love

Don't Look Back

Travis DeVine sat on the overstuffed leather sofa and watched his daughter pack up her home office. "What are your plans now?" He asked, genuinely feeling responsible for his daughter's current situation.

"To move back to my place and get on with my life" Tara shrugged. Then she looked and saw her father's expression "Don't blame yourself Dad. I agreed to marry him when you made the suggestion."

"But I never expected it to end like this," He sighed. "Your mother and I had a contract marriage, but we ended up loving each other. I had hoped Edward's son would be like his father, a man of honor and integrity."

"You had a crush on mom from middle school on, and you pursued her even after the wedding. Y'all's story is romantic and beautiful. Travis knew nothing about me, and obviously didn't bother to try and get to know me." Tara sighed and decided to be honest with her dad. "I had hoped for a story like you and mom shared, but he had the limo drop me off here after the reception and didn't even bother to hide the fact that he would be spending our wedding night in bed with some socialite who attended the wedding. I knew then that this would be the inevitable end."

"I'm sorry princess," Travis stood and hugged his daughter, angry at the man that disgraced her so publicly. "Travis Harrison will pay, I promise princess." He kissed her head as she sighed.

"No need for that dad, he already sent over the certified check. I just want to move on and forget these past thirty months."

"So which house will you be going to?" Travis asked as he pulled away.

"I was thinking of the one here in Florida. I see no reason to allow Mr. Harrison to chase me out of my hometown." Tara said with determination.

"And your business plans?" He looked at her with a grin, "I've read your business proposal and find it intriguing."

"Ciconne Transport can use a new division." Tara grinned, "I think it will be a success if I can get the VA to give it their stamp of approval."

The door bell sounded, interrupting their discussion.

"It's probably the movers," Tara suggested as she left the office to open the door for the movers.

She stared at the man on the other side, "Mr. Harrison what are you doing here? The judge gave me thirty days to move out."

Travis ignored her question and demanded "Why doesn't my key work?"

Tara laughed, "The locks were changed the day after we got married." She pointed to the camera above the door, "Not that I need it any more, but your question just proves you haven't been here since we wed."

Travis opened and closed his mouth several times, but he had no retort. She was right, he realized, him not knowing the locks had been changed would have proven his lack of investment in their marriage. "Why would you change the locks?" he asked instead.

Tara shrugged, "To keep your sister and Cynthia out after they barged in while I was unpacking and tried to order me about like some kind of servant."

"They what?" He demanded, shocked.

"You heard me, Cynthia went as far as to try to remove my things from the master bedroom, claiming it her domain. I had the locks changed and the mattress replaced the next day." Tara waved her hand, as if it was an insignificant issue, "You didn't answer my question, why are you here?"

"I thought we should talk" Travis felt more than a little embarrassed by his sister and her friend's actions.

"What do we have to discuss Mr. Harrison." Tara felt her father step in behind her, "You got what you asked for, it's over now. Don't look back now."