The Closer I Get to You (Cochran/Deveraux Series Book 8)

by Melanie Schuster

  Chapter Eighteen

  Paris was consumed with embarrassment after the way she threw herself into Titus’s arms. After what Sarah had revealed to her about his past, she felt her heart open up in a way she’d never experienced. The feelings she had for him were all-consuming and she had to touch him; she had to be in his arms. He didn’t seem to be bothered by her display at all; he simply accepted her tender embrace and returned it. His parents, bless their hearts, also acted as though nothing were amiss, they accepted the affection between the two of them as though it was the norm. They had no idea how things really were between their son and Paris. To be accurate, Paris didn’t really know how things were, either, but now wasn’t the time to question the situation. They were still in Charleston, having been prevailed upon to spend the night and despite the fact that the pretenses under which Titus’s family were embracing her were slightly false, Paris had never felt more welcome anywhere in her life.

  Nona and Nicole also spent the night and they had an impromptu slumber party. Paris had been given the guest room, another beautiful room decorated by Nicole. The furniture was mahogany; including a big four-poster bed on which they were all perched while eating Sarah’s delicious teacakes and drinking hot chocolate. The walls were a feminine shade of green and the draperies were the exact same color, a pretty shade of sea foam. The bedding was a lighter shade of the same color in a raw silk with piles of pillows in various shades of pink. Nona referred to the room as the AKA palace, which was appropriate since Sarah was indeed a member of that sorority. A beautiful floral Oriental rug brought the colors together, as did the pictures on the walls, all of them framed in matte gold and all painted by Sarah. They talked for hours, giggling and gossiping and, in Paris’s case, getting to know Titus even better as they regaled her with tales from his childhood. Nona was the better informant as she was older than Titus, but Nicole was the one who told about the ex-girlfriends. Paris was completely riveted by her colorful accounts.

  “He wasn’t one to mess around with a lot of girls,” Nicole told her. “When he had a girlfriend it was just him and her and that was it. But honey, after what that heifer did to him over the junior prom, ooh, it still makes me sick to think about it,” she said hotly. The flash of indignation in her eyes bore this out. Paris naturally wanted to know what she was talking about, and Nicole was happy to supply details.

  “Titus had this girlfriend named Karen and he was crazy about her. Her folks weren’t rich-rich, but they thought they were and they were pretty snotty, but she wasn’t like that. At least that’s with Titus thought. Anyway, he was going to take his girl to the prom and he went all out, honey. He didn’t ask Mama and Daddy for a dime, he earned all the money himself. That boy worked like a Hebrew slave for months so they would have a memorable prom night with a limo and dinner at the fanciest restaurant in town, all that. So the night of the prom comes and he rolls up to Karen’s house all excited and happy and Karen’s father met him at the door and told him his daughter wasn’t going anywhere with some half-breed bastard.” Nicole paused and handed Paris a fistful of tissues to stem the tide of tears that gushed from her eyes.

  “I knew you were gonna spring a leak, I had these ready for you,” Nicole told her. “Hurry up and blow so you can hear the rest.”

  Paris laughed and hurried to pull herself together. “Hang on a minute so I can wash my hands,” she said as she slid off the bed and used the adjoining bathroom to splash water on her face and wash her hands, patting them dry on the soft towel. “You know something, this is amazing. I can’t stand for anyone to see me cry and I’ve done nothing but boo-hoo all day. I’m pitiful,” she said with a sigh.

  Nona gave her a wise look. “That’s because we’re practically family. A few tears here and there don’t matter.”

  “Both of you need to hush so I can finish telling the story,” Nicole said sternly. “Get back on the bed so I can conclude this tale of heartbreak.” She spoke flippantly, but Paris could tell Nicole felt this as deeply now as when it actually happened. She climbed back onto the bed and waited for the end of the narrative.

  “There really isn’t much more to tell, except that he was heartbroken. I was in middle school when he was a junior in high school and I can still remember how humiliated he was over it. And that heifer Karen, ooh, girl, I can’t stand her to this day.” Nicole made an angry face and rolled her eyes. Nona tried for a more temperate approach. “Now, Nicole, she was just a kid, it’s not like she could control her parents,” she said.

  “Oh, please. That heifer knew her father was gonna go ziggety-boom because he’d been telling her for weeks to get rid of the yellow boy and she didn’t do it because he was like a prize or something. All the little girls wanted to go with Titus because he was so fine and so sweet and since she was the one who had him, she wasn’t giving him up. She knew her father was gonna go ballistic when Titus came to pick her up and she could have avoided all of that if she’d been straight about the whole thing. Hmmph, havin’ my brother come up there and make a fool out of himself for her sorry butt.” Nicole’s fury was plain in her face. “I still can’t stand that heifer.”

  Nona sighed. “Yeah, it was pretty foul. The killing part is that the little wench still went to the prom, it turns out she had a back-up date. You’re right, Nicole, she was a selfish little cow. But she was nothing compared to that chick he almost married. That’s the one I can’t stand,” she said moodily.

  Paris looked from one sister to the other and demanded to know the story. “You can’t just keep me in suspense, what happened?”

  Nona told this one and a sorry tale it was. “Titus had just graduated from West Point and there was some girl he’d met in Texas where he was stationed who was supposed to be a real sweetheart. She was smart and pretty, blah, blah, blah and she was supposed to be crazy about Titus. Julie was pretty, I grant you that, but I couldn’t see any of those other positive attributes. But I have to say; I really think he was in love because this was the first woman he’d been serious about since that wench Karen. Julie was always so prissy and perfect when he was around but there was something about her I just didn’t like. Anyway, Titus heard her talking on the phone about how he was going to give her some pretty babies and that’s why she was hooked up with him. She wanted him because she’d been looking for a good looking light skinned man to get some pretty kids like her sister had, can you believe it?” Nona looked as angry as Nicole.

  Nicole laughed wickedly, and nudged Paris with her elbow. “Yeah, but this time we had his back, didn’t we, girl? We were visiting him in Killeen when this all came down and we waited until he went on duty and then we got that witch good. Natalie was with us and we went down to the mall where Julie worked and waited for her to come out to her car. Honey, we chased that little bee-atch down like a dog and caught up with her in the Piggly-Wiggly parking lot. We beat her down, girl, we really did. Mess over my big brother like that? I don’t think so!” Nicole snapped her fingers in the air and looked totally self-righteous.

  Nona hastened to assure Paris it wasn’t as bad as it sounded. “We shoved her around a little and called her lots of names and then we took her engagement ring back. As much money as he spent on that thing if she thought she was going to keep it she had another think coming. We made her write a note telling him she wouldn’t feel right about keeping it and we gave that ring back to him that very night. Miserable wench,” she said with a haughty sniff. Then she burst into embarrassed laughter. “I still can’t believe we did that, though. If Mama and Daddy knew what we’d done…shoot, if Titus ever found out what we did, we’d be dead meat.”

  Nicole was unrepentant, though. “Screw that noise, that heifer made my mama cry. She was so upset over the situation she just broke down and nobody makes my mama cry and gets away with it. Just don’t mess with my family, period. That way you get to keep breathing,” she said fiercely and Paris absolutely believed her. But she was stunned by the stories and said so.

  “I
just don’t get it. Why wouldn’t they want to be with Titus just for Titus? He’s everything a woman could possibly want in a man, he’s like a dream come true,” she said. “He’s smart and handsome and hard-working,” she said dreamily. “And he’s sexy and successful and brave and…”

  “And he’s nosy and sneaky, too,” Nicole said, pointing to Titus who was standing in the doorway with a big cheese-eating grin on his face. “How long have you been standing there, ya sneaky rascal?”

  “Long enough,” was all he would say. “So why don’t you two get out of here so I can say goodnight to my baby? We have a long day tomorrow and she needs her rest,” he said while his eyes caressed Paris.

  Nicole and Nona got off the bed, gathered the plates and cups left from their cocoa and cookies party and headed for the door. Nicole couldn’t resist a dig though, making a face as she walked past her brother. “Why don’t you fasten that shirt up? Nobody wants to see all that there,” she said, gesturing at his broad and muscular chest.

  Nona laughed and pushed Nicole out of the room. “Speak for yourself; I think Paris likes the view.”

  Paris was indeed enjoying the view of Titus standing in the doorway wearing old faded jeans and an equally ancient cotton shirt, which was completely unbuttoned so she could see the smooth golden expanse of his body. She touched the corner of her mouth to make sure she wasn’t drooling, and then remembered she was wearing pajamas. They were cute, to be sure, but they weren’t sexy or slinky, just pale pink classically cut menswear pajamas covered in tiny rosebuds. She was barefoot and also makeup free, having showered and scrubbed her face before the slumber party. She looked at Titus filling up the doorway looking sexier than she could remember seeing him and wished with all her heart that she could crawl under the bed. Titus moved suddenly, crossing the threshold and pulling her into his arms.

  “I needed a goodnight kiss,” he said softly. “You look cute, baby. You’re really gorgeous, aren’t you?” Before she could answer he bent to her lips and took the kiss he’d been craving. When his lips touched hers she melted into him, her hands moving up his chest, touching him the way she’d wanted to for days. Their tongues mated hungrily and their mutual caress went on and on until Titus finally pulled away with great reluctance. “Thank you, Paris.”

  Paris rubbed her face against him until she found his heartbeat and she rested against it, contentment and arousal warring within her. “For what, sweetheart?”

  “For coming here with me to see about Mama Sweet, for pretending to be my girlfriend,” he teased kissing the top of her head. “Just for being your own sweet self.”

  “I think I should get another kiss if I’m that sweet,” she said with a serious look on her face.

  “You can have all the kisses you want any time you want them,” he told her, then proceeded to demonstrate.

  Down the hall, Nona and Nicole watched with avid interest, nudging each other in the side. “Girl, we’re going to have some nieces and nephews pretty soon,” gloated Nicole.

  Nona smiled broadly, and then caught herself. “You know Titus always said he was never having children and you know why.”

  Nicole raised one perfectly arched brow as she looked at the couple locked in each other’s arms. “If that’s the case he needs to cut that out ‘cause that’s where babies come from. You know that, right? That definitely makes babies and lots of ‘em.”

  ***

  Titus looked down at the sweet armful of woman cuddled into his side and smiled. Paris had fallen asleep shortly after takeoff and the way she relaxed into his arms was deeply gratifying to him. They’d had a pretty eventful two days, especially this morning. He had to smile when he thought about how the day started off, with breakfast. Sarah had insisted on fixing them a traditional repast and while she was waiting for the hot biscuits to come out of the oven she innocently asked Paris if she’d like some fruit. Paris had naturally reached for a banana, a selection that caused Titus great pain. He’d taken it from her and gone to the counter with it. In a few minutes he placed a small glass dish in front of her with the banana sliced neatly. He’d drizzled it with heavy cream and sprinkled a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg on top. Paris stared at it for a moment before thanking him and picking up her spoon to taste it. Her eyes closed in bliss and she made a sound of pure enjoyment. “This is delicious, Titus, what made you think of doing it this way?”

  He’d given her a strained smile and said he’d tell her later. The rest of the meal went well and Paris had pitched in with his sisters to get the kitchen cleaned up while he went with his mother to pick up Mama Sweet from the hospital. It hadn’t taken long to get her settled comfortably in her room, and it also hadn’t taken long for her to start interrogating Paris. Titus had steeled himself for almost anything when he realized it was Mama Sweet’s intention to find out everything there was to find out about his so-called girlfriend. Mama Sweet was sitting in the middle of the bed, propped up on big fat pillows looking like a delicate wind could blow her down. Her snowy white hair was beautifully styled as always and she was wearing a pretty bed jacket Sarah had given her. She’d insisted that Paris sit next to her on the bed so she could get to know her better. And Paris had obliged her at once, talking animatedly and answering any question the dear old lady asked.

  Titus had sat in the big armchair between the two big windows and watched Paris, enjoying the play of expressions on her face and the sweet way she talked to his grandmother. Mama Sweet’s yippy little Pomeranian, Pumpkin, was in his lap. This was the holy terror who’d caused the accident and as fair as Titus was concerned the dog was a menace and a nuisance. For some reason Pumpkin adored Titus and assumed the feelings were mutual. Titus pretended he could barely tolerate the fluffy little creature, but he was actually quite fond of the furball. He’d almost drifted off to sleep when he heard Mama Sweet asking when the wedding was going to be. “Because my grandson has a strong nature, baby, and he’s not going to be able to hold out much longer. You all had better make this a summer wedding because my boy can’t keep his hands off you. I can see it in his eyes, sugar, he needs you bad. That poor boy might lose his mind if you don’t do something soon,” Mama Sweet said pertly.

  Titus’s eyes had flown open at the same time his mouth did. “Mama Sweet, you can’t say things like that!”

  Mama Sweet had waved a hand at him. “Hush baby, don’t interrupt me. Now Paris, how many babies are you two planning on? Two big good-looking people like you and Titus are going to make some beautiful ones. Do you want a big family, honey?”

  Titus had turned bright red and almost choked when he heard that. “Mama Sweet! You can’t ask her those kinds of things,” he roared. “You can’t be getting all in her business like that!” He almost dislodged Pumpkin in his agitation and she barked her displeasure in high-pitched yelps.

  His grandmother had looked at him with pity in her eyes. “Button, baby, are you bound up? Have you been getting enough fiber in your diet, you know how you are when you’re not regular,” she said sweetly. She had then turned to Paris and suggested cooking Titus greens at least three times a week. “I started calling him Button because he was a cute as a button when he was little. But he has to eat right, you know. He’s prone to being constipated if you don’t watch his fiber,” she said in a stage whisper.”

  Now safely on the plane and away from those who would render him a child in front of his woman, Titus could see the humor in the situation, something he’d been hard put to find at the time. Paris stirred in his arms, moving closer to his body and murmuring his name softly. “Titus?”

  He stroked her shining hair with gentle fingers and kissed her forehead before answering. “Yes, baby, what is it?”

  “I love your family, they’re all so wonderful,” she said sleepily. He tilted her face up to his and kissed her nose, her cheek and her lips, inhaling her precious scent.

  “They think you’re pretty special, too. Too bad you didn’t get to meet Natalie, but she was out of town on busin
ess. But I have a feeling they’ll be coming to Atlanta for a visit soon,” he said with a wry smile. If he knew his family they wouldn’t be able to stay away, they were too taken with Paris, especially Mama Sweet. He found the prospect didn’t make him uneasy in the least, which was a surprise. For some reason it was okay with him, it really was. What wasn’t okay was the fact that Paris’s stalker still hadn’t been caught. It was way past time for the whole thing to be over. He had a plan, though, a plan he would put into action as soon as they got back to Atlanta. He only hoped that Paris would see things the same way he did.

  The flight to Atlanta was short and the deplaning was easy. Titus collected his Hummer and their luggage and they arrived at Paris’s house in short order. While Titus brought to bags in, Paris went to the refrigerator to get something cold to drink, she always felt dehydrated when she got off a plane. Titus found her standing in front of the refrigerator with a look of utter horror on her face. He dropped her bags and took her by her shoulders. “What is it, baby? What’s the matter?”

  She pointed at the refrigerator with a shaking hand. “He’s been in my house,” she whispered. “He’s been in here, Titus.”

  He turned and looked where she was pointing. The magnetic poetry squares had been arranged in a threat so explicit and vile it was all he could do not to swipe them all away so she couldn’t see them anymore, but he couldn’t do that because this was evidence. He did the next best thing; he held her tightly and assured her it would all be over in a few days.

  ***

  The next day Paris thought her eyes would never focus properly again. She’d spent the day in her office at the complex, watching surveillance tapes until she feared she’d go blind or stark raving mad. Titus had come to her that morning with news. He’d entered her office and closed the door behind him, giving her a smile that melted her heart. His words, “You look very pretty, Paris,” warmed her all over. He’d joined her on her long sofa and they exchanged a tender kiss before he got down to business. “We found Gayle Rodgers, Paris. And you’re never going to guess where.”