TITUS: Finale Novella; The Trouble Sisters Saga
Page 8
As busy as she’d been since the remarkable night they’d spent together, Rita’s mind was never far away from the riveting man who’d crashed through the seemingly inviolable walls she’d spent a lifetime building. It wasn’t as though she could have forgotten him if she’d wanted to—which she didn’t. A day didn’t go by when missives of various kinds arrived at her home, her office, or even at the courthouse where she was defending a client. Flowers, texts, and, most outrageous, a box of erotically shaped candies were among his numerous gifts. Sexy, hours-long telephone calls when he insisted that she snap naked pictures of various parts of her body and text them to him were a nightly and sometimes midday affair. To her horror, she not only took the pictures he demanded but sent them to him. How could she not? Refusing to do all the outrageous things he urged her to do wasn’t an option. Rita admitted that she’d never known a more demanding or commanding man. She also acknowledged that she’d never been happier or more alive in her life.
After she’d won her case and was packing her briefcase, Rita was startled at her assistant counsel’s surprised exclamation. “Damn, girlfriend! Make that double damn! Who invited Wyatt Earp to court? Tell me, Rita, have you ever seen a sexier-looking hunk? And how could someone that sophisticated looking also look like the baddest badass a helpless little woman like me could lust over?”
Rita followed Marcia’s starstruck gaze and was shocked to see Titus entering the courtroom. She admitted that her swooning colleague’s excitement was understandable. Titus was wearing a black Stetson and hand-tooled black boots that made his six-foot-four height even more impressive. His leather bomber jacket topped fitted trousers and an open-necked shirt. As always, the sheriff’s badge clipped on his belt confirmed his stature. When he took off his hat and ran his fingers through his tousled hair, releasing a sexy lock of dark, silver-streaked hair over his forehead, Marcia gasped and patted her chest. “Dear gawd . . . be still my heart!”
Horrified at her undone friend openly lusting after her man, Rita managed to swallow her chagrin, then tossed her head and glared at the flushed woman. “Sorry, girlfriend, but he’s mine.” When Titus met her gaze and smiled as he headed toward her, Rita poured gasoline on her friend’s feverish fire. “Oh and by the way? His looks are deceiving. You’re only seeing the part of him he shows the world. You should see the rest of him—the way I do.”
After Titus made small talk with Marcia and a group of eager aides and law enforcement personnel, he turned to her. “Are you about ready to call it a day, Counselor? I understand that as always, you kicked ass.”
Ignoring the gasps of her clearly surprised colleagues at his open claim that he’d come for her, Rita closed her briefcase and accepted his outstretched hand. He pulled her next to him and reached for her heavy bag. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he winked at her agog colleagues. Rita knew her life was complete when Titus grinned and said to the flabbergasted group, “I trust you understand that I’m eager to get this impressive woman out of here and into my arms. It’s not often that a humble guy like me gets to spirit away the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Epilogue
Rita took a cautious sip of the outrageously expensive champagne and shook her head. “I . . . I didn’t know that you were coming to Phoenix, Titus. I thought you and Zane were busy ensuring that my hideous former client will spend the rest of his life in prison.”
“That is precisely what the district attorney and I are making happen, Rita. Know that if I have anything to say about it—and I do—Martin won’t be housed in a cushy prison like FPC Pensacola or FPY Otisville. Hell no. I’m making it a priority that Martin spends the next twenty years of his sorry life in none other than our prison in Florence. A prison where he’ll spend his days in gen pop, warding off assaults from men who won’t take kindly to a pretentious prick who spent his life raping and screwing anyone unlucky enough to cross his path.”
Rita nodded in agreement, then glanced around the swanky restaurant, which was by far the most expensive restaurant in the Arizona capital. “I’m surprised, Titus, I didn’t know you liked five-star restaurants.” She grinned. “I thought you were more into takeout, Dante-style.”
He laughed. “Hell yes. As long as you understand that with you, I insist on take-in.” A slight frown erased his grin. “But tonight, Rita, I felt we needed a more auspicious setting. And depending on your reaction to my concerns, I thought other people in the room could provide a buffer.”
“I don’t understand, Titus. What’s wrong?”
He took a sip of the champagne, then put the glass on the table and reached for her hand. “I don’t know how to say this, except to say that it’s not working.”
She jerked back in surprise. Fighting against the painful tightening in her chest, she managed to ask in a relatively calm tone, “What . . . isn’t? Isn’t working?”
He waved his hand from her to him and said, “This. You and me. Listen, Rita, you know I’m the sheriff of Cochise County, based in Sierra Vista. Moreover, my daughters and their soon-to-be husbands—and hell—my grandchildren are all there.”
He made no mention of what she was sure were her flaming cheeks, if the color was anywhere close to the heat she felt burning her heartstrings.
“But, Rita, you can fly to any damn place you have a case or a client. It doesn’t matter where you live. Except that it matters a whole hell of a lot to me. Jesus, I love our sexy phone calls and texts as much as you do. But, sweetheart, they’re not enough. Do you realize I haven’t had my magnificent cock inside your beautiful pussy for ten fucking days?”
“What . . . what are you suggesting, Titus? That I move to Sierra Vista?”
He shook his head. “Only if you agree to my outrageous proposal. You see, I’m tired of my daughters being the only ones who put their hearts in their hands and give in to the commanding men they love—and vice versa. I think it’s time that you and I up the ante on their courage.”
Rita couldn’t hide her surprise. “Are you asking me to move in with you, Sheriff? What would all those ‘roll-in-the-hay survivors’ say about the arrogant sheriff who wouldn’t so much as acknowledge them in the light of day?”
Titus laughed. “Trust me, they’d be heartbroken and mad as hell. But no, Rita. That is not what I’m asking you. I admit, I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy and I have an even more outrageous suggestion.”
****
“What the hell, Tatiana? What are you and the kiddies doing here?”
“I guess I could ask you the same question, Tanya. But to answer you, we’re here because Dad called and asked me to meet him here at four-thirty sharp and to bring Marcie and Max.”
Tanya’s frown deepened when there was a knock at the door and Tara walked in, followed by Hunter and Brooke.
Stepping back, clearly as surprised to see them as her sisters were to see her and the children, Tara said, “What on earth? What . . . what are you all doing here?”
Tanya stepped forward and shook her head, not hiding her concern. “Obviously, we all got a call from our father telling us to come to Judge Mathias’s conference room.” She didn’t try to hide her concern. “I don’t get it. I thought he and I were meeting on a legal issue, probably concerning that freako Martin Powell. As you know, Dad has been consumed with that guy for years but went into high gear after Powell and Rita filed the police brutality charges.” She added with a worried frown, “But neither of you were involved in the suit.” Glancing at the youngsters who were excitedly greeting each other, she asked, “And why did you both bring the kids?”
Tara shrugged. “Because Dad told me to.”
“Same for me.” Tatiana blew out a hard sigh. “I’m worried. Obviously, Dad wanted us all here for something important, but why didn’t he tell us the reason? Unless . . . unless it’s something serious and he wanted to tell us all at the same time.”
Tara agreed. “You’re right, Tatiana. I’ll admit I’m worried too. Dad hasn’t been himself for weeks now. G
od, remember how he literally attacked Rita at your party? That was so unlike him. He’s always a gentleman.”
“Yes, he is, but don’t forget, Rita attacked him, and frankly me, at the heart of who we are—law enforcement professionals.” Tanya sighed. “But I agree, he did go a little overboard.”
“I’m just going to say it. I’m concerned that Dad isn’t feeling well. I’m afraid he might be sick or something.” Tara added with a deeper frown, “He’s been truly MIA, at least with me and the kids. What do you think, Tanya? You’re with him every day.”
“I don’t want to add to your concern, but everyone at the precinct has asked me what’s going on with Dad. A bunch of people have said that he seems distracted, upset about something.” Worriedly biting on her lip, Tanya murmured, “I hate to say this, but what if he called us here to tell us that he is sick, like . . . really sick! And why did he bring us to Judge Mathias’s chambers? Do you think he wants to tell us about his will?”
At that moment, the door opened and Zane, Ryker, and Griffin entered. Responding to the obvious surprise from the women and children, Zane held up his hand. Zane had deferred to Titus’s request that he not tell Tatiana or any of the others about interrupting his rendezvous with Rita, indicating that he was concerned about Rita’s privacy. When he’d called today to invite Zane to the judge’s chambers, Titus indicated that he could tell Ryker and Griffin what was going on but not his daughters.
Tanya rushed to Ryker. “Why are you here, Ryker? Tell me, dammit, tell us, if you know. Is something wrong with my Dad?”
Zane stepped forward and said with a casual shrug that belied the excitement flashing in his eyes, “I don’t know that you could call it wrong, unless being happier than your inimitable father has ever been in his life is somehow wrong. Heck, I’d call it a fucking miracle.”
The door to his private chambers opened and Judge Mathias entered, followed by Rita and Titus. All of the Trouble sisters and the youngsters shrieked in surprise. It didn’t take the usually serious magistrate’s grin to confirm that something special was about to happen. Rita’s stunning white sheath dress that showed off her curvaceous body to perfection telegraphed the intent of the celebration. But it was their father’s glowing expression that spoke a thousand words.
Wrapping his arm around Rita’s waist and holding her next to him, the fearsome sheriff’s radiant eyes were surprisingly damp. Grinning at his three beautiful daughters, he shrugged. “What’s the matter, girls? Did you think only the Trouble sisters could up the ante on outrageousness? Besides, it was clear that someone had to break through the ‘fiancé vise’ the six of you seem to be trapped in.” He smiled down at Rita, whose teary smile was as bright as his. “That’s why the most beautiful, and definitely most exasperating, woman in the world and I decided to show you all how you get it done.”
Titus tipped up Rita’s chin. “How about it, Counselor? Think you’re ready to show these young people what real courage is?” At her teary nod, he asked in a serious voice, “Rita Elaine Davidson, will you marry me?”
Happy tears streaming down her cheeks, Rita gazed up at him. “Yes, Titus Theseus Trouble, I will marry you.”
Five-year-old Marcie spoke for ecstatic group when she shouted, “Yay, now my grandpa will be as happy as my momma and Mr. Zane are. I’m proud of you, Grandpa! You’re the man!”
The room erupted in an agreeing chorus of joyful laughter.
AFTERWORD
Thank you for reading TITUS. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed writing it. I’m always a little sad when I finish writing a series. It’s sort of like I’m saying good-bye to special friends. I particularly feel that way as I finish the Trouble Sisters Saga. I’m crazy about all of the sisters and their terrific lovers, but I have to tell you I love Titus. What a guy. I watched him grow in stature as a father, a mentor, and a formidable lawman. But heck, what was best of all was getting to know him as a man! Whoo-eee! Without question, the Trouble sisters and their amazing father were truly Trouble with a capital T.
If you enjoyed TITUS, do a huge favor for me. Click on this link and write an honest review of the book. Authors live and die by their reviews. The few extra seconds it takes really helps us authors out. Many, many thanks! AND please go to my website www.taylorleebooks.com for my publishing schedule and lots of FREE stuff! Sign up for my newsletter. It is the way I stay connected to my glorious readers.
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