Maybe it is the lack of sleep, or maybe the truthful way Duncan approaches every subject, but I can’t go on lying to my family. “There’s something you should know.”
“You’re pregnant,” Mom says excitedly.
“No. Duncan and I didn’t start dating last Christmas.”
Both women look my direction in a strange unity of silence.
“We started dating after Scarlett’s wedding.”
Mom’s expression fills with question as Grandma shakes her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she says.
“It wasn’t real—when we were here before. We pretended.”
“Child, like I said, I could hear your pretending all the way to my room. My teeth haven’t ever been so clean.”
I shake my head, pushing unwanted images of Grandma and her electric toothbrush out of my tired head. “It was pretend. It’s not now.”
We all turn as the room fills with the swish of an opening door. From where they’re seated, Mom and Grandma can see the visitor first. As whomever it is approaches, their smiles grow. It’s the flowers I see first.
Duncan extends the bouquet to my grandma. “Helen, for you.”
As his cologne moves through the stale hospital air, I take him in. Duncan Willis is absolutely breathtaking. He’s the GQ model compared to my rumpled appearance, courtesy of a full night of travels.
He leans down and kisses my grandma’s cheek before turning my way and handing me a single daisy. “And for you. My first cross-country, mad search for my girlfriend. You could answer your phone.”
I can’t stop the smile. “It’s dead.”
“I had you chased down from JFK to Boston to Philly. Why would anyone have three layovers from New York to Indianapolis?”
“Because some of us don’t have private planes.”
“You would have if you’d have let me get it all set up.”
I shake my head.
“Duncan,” my mother says, “we were just talking about you.”
“Judy, good to see you. And Helen…” He lifts her hand and kisses her knuckles. “You had us frightened.”
“Son, I told you not to bullshit an old woman. I need a straight answer from you.”
Duncan stands straight, his broad shoulders back and chest out. “Yes, ma’am.”
“That story you told me about Kimberly Ann coming in your office. My granddaughter is telling us another story. Which one is true?”
His Adam’s apple bobs as he looks from Grandma to me and back. “Both, ma’am. And… only one.”
Her wrinkles grow deeper as she narrows her eyes. “Talk.”
“The day your granddaughter walked into my office was the best day of my life, until the day when she thought she tricked me into coming with her to Scarlett’s wedding as her plus-one, and every day since.
“The honest truth is that I let her think we were pretending so she’d notice me.” He turns my way. “And I hope she notices me now.”
Tears cascade down my cheeks as I nod. Damn sleep deprivation.
I gasp as all at once Duncan Willis turns my direction and falls to one knee.
What the hell is he doing?
In my grandmother’s hospital room.
In front of my mom and grandma.
“Kimberly Ann…” His deep voice echoes through the room. “…I don’t want to wait another minute to say this. I don’t want you to move in with me for one day, plus-one, and plus another. I want you to live with me forever. I want to wake beside you and fall asleep there.” He tilts his head toward the four large eyes watching from over his shoulder. “I want to be able to call your grandma Grandma Helen instead of just Helen. I’d like to be able to call Judy my mother-in-law. I want to be your plus-one forever and never, ever pretend again.”
His eyes sparkle as my exhausted cheeks fill with pink. Obviously, our minds have gone to the same scene, one where we tried role-playing. I wasn’t sure where it came from, but we both went with it… and well…
“Except when—” he says with a smirk.
I touch his lips, fearful he’ll finish that sentence in front of my family.
I look around the small hospital room. The light green walls are slightly scuffed. Beside the bed is a bank of monitors with tubes. Outside the window, the sun shines bright in a sapphire blue sky as the Indianapolis skyline shimmers with the summer’s heat. My mom has the tips of her fingers covering her lips while Grandma Helen is silent for what may be a record.
I swallow. “This isn’t exactly how I pictured being proposed to.”
Duncan’s sexy smirk quirks as he reaches for the flower I forgot I was holding. “Our first proposal.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring. The band is bright gold and the stone is large and plastic. “I promise something nicer. This was the best they had in the gift shop and I didn’t want to wait.” His smile widens. “Do I get an answer?”
My head bobs as I reach for the inexpensive costume jewelry, wrap my arms around his neck, and breathe in his spicy cologne and cinnamon breath. “Yes. I want all of that, too.”
When I loosen my embrace, I look into his eyes. “How did you get here so fast? I thought you had a meeting.”
“Mike is taking care of everything. I tried reaching you. When I couldn’t, I decided to come directly here.”
“But how did you know where to come? Which hospital and room?”
“Kevin told me,” Duncan says matter-of-factly.
My tired mind tries to process. “Kevin? You have my brother’s number?”
“And mine,” Mom says.
“And mine,” Grandma chimes in.
“You’ve been talking to my family?”
“I should have asked your dad in person, but when I make up my mind, I don’t wait. I seize the opportunity.”
THE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS cast colorful hues over the congregation as I take a deep breath and steady my stance.
“Don’t faint,” Mike whispers.
I shake my head as Mike and Kevin laugh at their own personal joke.
Shana smiles at us as she steps to her designated maid-of-honor spot.
“You’re supposed to be here supporting me,” I remind both Mike and Kevin in a whisper as the music grows louder and everyone stands.
“Dunc, man. You’ll make this.”
Kevin’s nickname makes me smile as I take in the crowd. My parents are standing at the front pew, smiling approvingly my way. Trevor and his latest girlfriend are seated one row back with Kelli and the kids. In true, unattached-Willis style, my brother’s eyes have been on Shana more than on the woman by his side.
On the other side of the aisle is Judy, her cheeks ready to split from alternating between smiling and crying. She has Grandma Helen beside her on one side and a space for Oscar on the other. Susan and baby Matthew are one row behind. Out farther, I see other familiar faces and many tiny heads. In the last year, Scarlett and Kurt have had a little girl, while Jimmy and Sheila had a boy. Jimmy can’t stop talking about him, and neither can his big sister.
A lump forms in my throat as the door at the back of the church opens and Kimbra and Oscar come into view. It’s my vision from over a year ago, but better. That’s what Kimbra is to me, my every fantasy but more.
My mouth goes dry and pulse races as they come closer. Kimbra is absolutely stunning in her long, flowing white gown, a vision of radiant beauty, better than any model and more spectacular than my imagination. The woman walking my direction is my fantasy and my friend, my past and my future.
With each step, she’s the epitome of a blushing bride. Damn, I love how her cheeks glow. For only a moment, I break eye contact. My chest fills with a deep breath as I take in the scooped neckline of her dress.
Have I mentioned that I love her tits?
When our eyes meet again, Kimbra’s cheeks are even rosier and her smile is knowing.
I lift and drop my shoulders with a smirk.
I have no defense. I’m a man who loves breas
ts, and my soon-to-be wife has the most perfect ones I’ve ever seen. I’ve heard that they will grow when she’s pregnant. For that reason alone, adding another little one to this family would be worth it.
The music stops as she and Oscar halt before me.
The pastor’s voice fills the church. “Who gives this woman to be wed?”
Oscar looks from Kimbra to me and back. “With great pride, her mother and I.” He lifts his daughter’s hand from his arm and places it in my open palm. “She’s my everything, son. I’m trusting you.”
I nod. “I’ll do my best.”
“If I doubted you, we wouldn’t be here.”
It’s maybe the most I’ve ever heard Oscar say at one time. I know that I won’t let him down.
Kimbra smiles and shrugs. “Sorry,” she mouths.
Tucking her hand close, I shake my head. There’s nothing to be sorry about. Oscar is right. Only now, Kimberly Ann Jones is my everything, too.
I turn to Mike as he hands me one small white lily. It’s the one part of the ceremony we didn’t practice. I couldn’t let this pass without another flower for our bouquet. With a smirk, I add the lily to her already beautiful bouquet. “Our first wedding,” I whisper.
Her eyes glow as her smile grows. “Our only.”
The pastor begins. The rest of the ceremony is everything I expect all the way until the reception. Our dinner is complete and toasts are about to begin when I spy Grandma Helen walking our way. I nudge Kimbra. “Here she comes.”
“Oh, no,” she says as the pink that I love fills her cheeks.
Grandma Helen’s smile grows as she bounces on the balls of her feet, obviously excited and proud of what she’s about to do. “When I heard you’d chosen mint as one of your colors, I was worried. But then…” She reaches into her giant purse. “…I learned that mint really means blue-green. And you know that Amazon has lots of color choices and with Prime…”
My smile grows as Kimbra’s cheeks continue to redden.
“Grandma.”
Grandma Helen hands Kimbra the package. “I wrapped it.”
It doesn’t matter. We both know what’s inside.
She winks and leans close. “Be sure to come and see me before you leave on your honeymoon. I have batteries in this purse somewhere.” She smiles at me. “I bought a whole pack. You can thank me later.”
As she walks happily away, I take the package. Squeezing the surface, I try to decipher the shape and size.
Shana leans close to Kimbra and whispers. “I’d say there’s length and girth.” Before Kimbra can respond, she adds, “Stop thinking about your man for one second. I’m talking about the gift your grandma just gave you.”
Kimbra shakes her head at her best friend and then reaches over and takes our gift. “Under the table with that.”
“For now,” I say with a grin. “But a whole pack of batteries!”
“Stop,” she whispers. “I don’t know why you’re so excited. We already have one of these.”
“Oh, but, Mrs. Willis, it’s always good to have one, plus-one.”
THE END
I hope you’re smiling just as I was when I finished writing Kimbra and Duncan’s story.
Thank you again for indulging in my lighter side!
My dark is not forgotten and I promise that I have plans. Please let me know that if along with the dark, you’d like more of Leatha, the lighter side of Aleatha.
Thank you for reading.
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INFIDELITY SERIES:
BETRAYAL
Book #1
(October 2015)
CUNNING
Book #2
(January 2016)
DECEPTION
Book #3
(May 2016)
ENTRAPMENT
Book #4
(September2016)
FIDELITY
Book #5
(January 2017)
RESPECT
A standalone Infidelity Novel
(TBA)
THE CONSEQUENCES SERIES:
CONSEQUENCES
(Book #1)
TRUTH
(Book #2)
Released October 2012
CONVICTED
(Book #3)
Released October 2013
REVEALED
(Book #4)
Previously titled: Behind His Eyes Convicted: The Missing Years
Re-released June 2014
BEYOND THE CONSEQUENCES
(Book #5)
Released January 2015
COMPANION READS:
BEHIND HIS EYES—CONSEQUENCES
(Book #1.5)
Released January 2014
BEHIND HIS EYES—TRUTH
(Book #2.5)
Released March 2014
TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE SERIES:
INSIDIOUS
(All books in this series are stand-alone erotic thrillers)
Released October 2014
DUPLICITY
(Completely unrelated to book #1)
Release TBA
THE LIGHT SERIES:
Published through Thomas and Mercer
INTO THE LIGHT
(June 14, 2016)
AWAY FROM THE DARK
(October 2016)
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF ALEATHA:
PLUS ONE
Stand-alone fun, sexy romance
(May 2017)
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.
In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller
publisher in 2016.
2017 brings Aleatha’s first “Leatha, the lighter side of Aleatha” with PLUS ONE, a fun, sexy romantic comedy.
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
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