Law Of Attraction

by Darlene Fredette

  They parted and she sought out her sister, informing her she and Steven were going to meet.

  “I know you’ll work it out.” Giving a squeeze of her hand, Tanya winked. “Brian explained everything to me.”

  “What did Brian say?”

  “You’ll find out when you talk to Steven. Now go, don’t keep him waiting.”

  ****

  Steven paced the living room of the guesthouse. He discarded his tux coat and tie on the sofa. Getting his hopes up might be a bad idea. This meeting could be Christina’s way of receiving closure. A movement through the window caught his attention. He spotted her walking down the stone pathway and inhaled a deep breath. This was his last chance to make things right because he had no intention of walking out of her life.

  Smiling, he greeted her at the door. “I thought you changed your mind.”

  “I spoke to Tanya. I didn’t want her to worry that I was hiding in seclusion somewhere.”

  She wasn’t in the room a moment before reaching for his shoulders and pulling him against her. Her lips found his and demanded a response.

  Pulse racing, he held her tight and gave in to her challenge, kissing her breathless.

  Christina moved away slightly, touching her lips.

  “That was good.” He didn’t understand where this meeting was going, but reunion was definitely off to a good start.

  “We never did have an issue in that area.”

  Her cheeks flushed in hues of pink. He took her hands in his and brought them to his lips. “As much as I’m enjoying this, we have to talk, and I can’t think straight when you’re in my arms.” Steven held her hand and walked to the sofa.

  She smoothed her dress over her legs as she sat. “You first.”

  He coughed, clearing his throat. Steven Peterson, you are an expert attorney. Just state your case. “My boring life of routine meetings and court cases changed the day I saw you from my office window. You were straightening your skirt over your long legs after getting out of that old jalopy you drove. You took away my breath then, but even more so when you slapped me in front of everyone at the party.”

  She laughed, and then lifted a hand to her throat.

  Steven smiled and continued. “When I caught up with you on the side of the road with your out of gas problem, I knew our meeting was destiny. You were unlike any woman I had ever met. You challenged me…and scared the hell out of me at the same time. I didn’t know how to how to handle the explosion of feelings I felt.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” She shifted forward on the sofa.

  “I didn’t understand the emotions myself, so how could I explain them?” He touched her cheek. “When I saw you with another man, I went crazy with jealousy. To salvage my self-respect, I just wanted you gone. Then I learned the truth, too late.” He lowered his head, praying she’d forgive him. Steven had to convince her they were meant to be.

  ****

  “What really happened between you and Rebecca?” Christina would tell him about the other woman’s phone call later.

  “We dated, but she said I was holding on to the past and gave me a choice—you or her.” He sat beside her and reached for her hand. “I chose you.”

  At the declaration, Christina’s heart soared. Dare she believe him?

  “I had to find you, to find out if what we had was real or just my imagination. The divorce case was the perfect way to walk back into your life. Sparks flew across that boardroom table, and I had my answer.”

  Steven flashed her one of his irresistible smiles, weakening her knees. She leaned in to kiss him.

  He placed his hand on her shoulder, stopping her advance.

  “I need to tell you everything. I’ve stooped pretty low to make sure you stayed single.”

  What now? “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “All those cancelled dates you received, that was my fault. I scared away your dates. One guy wasn’t so easy to get rid of. I had to take out his ex-girlfriend to make him jealous. Something good came out of that, though.” He grinned. “They’re engaged now.”

  “That was you?” She gently punched his arm. Christina wanted to smack him harder for the many days she thought she had been dating doomed, but she slowly accepted that the reason behind his actions is because he cared. “I thought something wrong with me.”

  “I even cancelled Trevor’s dinner reservation, hoping to ruin your date.”

  He had gone to an awful lot of trouble to be with her, and while his actions weren’t admirable, his motive was true to heart. She sighed and stared deeply into his blue eyes. Butterflies flittered in her stomach. “When I lost my job, I thought the rumors I had heard about you were true, that you only wanted to sleep with me. I’ve had five long years to dislike you. Yet, when I saw you again, I wanted to believe in the man I thought you were.”

  Steven knelt on the floor in front of her, holding her hands in his. “What do you think now?”

  I can’t believe we’ve finally reached this point. “You are the bad boy your reputation has labelled you, but you’re also kind and sensitive.” She squeezed his hand. “I was scared to trust you and you kept giving me every reason not to.”

  “I know, and I swear the games and secrets are done. I’m yours, if you’ll have me? My heart has always belonged to you.”

  In a short time, she’d come to realize just how much Steven meant to her. Christina placed her hands on his cheeks, feeling the clean shaven texture of his warm skin. “When I stumbled upon your new office, I saw your future and wanted to be included. I loved you five years ago and I love you now, more than ever.”

  With a loud whoop, Steven scooped her up in his arms and twirled her in his arms. He then kissed her passionately before setting her down on her feet. He rested his forehead on hers, gazing into her eyes. “I was hoping you would say that because if you still refused to believe in us, I would have had to resort to my family’s plan.”

  Oh no, he’d gotten his family involved? Her eyes widened. “And that was?”

  He tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. “To whisk you away to a tropical island where I’d spend every waking moment convincing you how much I love you.”

  A wonderful plan. Christina winked. “Hmm, I like the sound of that.” Her lips claimed his.

  Epilogue

  “Wait, not yet.” Steven pulled her back against the truck.

  I can’t wait much longer. Christina turned. “We’ve been waiting for months.”

  “I know, but now that we’re finally here, we should take a moment to absorb the splendor.”

  He snuggled behind her until she rested against his chest. Together, they took in the unbelievable sight of their new home.

  “This is our future, Mrs. Peterson.” Steven bent his head next to her ear. “Not only are you my partner in business, but more important, my partner in life.”

  Twisting to the side, Christina kissed his cheek. She loved hearing her new name. The past year had seen many changes. Once Steven had declared his love, he asked her to join him on a new adventure. She thought leaving her job and the city would be hard, yet departing had been a simple step forward. Christina stayed with his parents while their house was being constructed, and she opened the new law firm with her fiancé.

  Their families weren’t surprised in the least when Christina and Steven announced their engagement. A wedding followed six months later. They had just returned from that tropical paradise he had promised her, where they spent their days frolicking on the beach and their nights wrapped in each other’s arms in a secluded cabin.

  “I thought our time on the island was the best, but being here and seeing our home completed tops everything.” Grinning, Christina squeezed her husband’s arms.

  “Have I told you today how much I love you?” he whispered in her ear.

  “Once or twice, but don’t stop. I never get tired of hearing those words.” Her heart still beat a bit faster each time.

  Steven lifted her into his arm
s and carried her up the pathway.

  “What are you doing?” She laughed as she held tight to his arms.

  “Tradition is to carry the bride over the threshold.”

  “You’re not superstitious.”

  “No, but I know once you get through those doors I’ll lose your attention to the décor.” He narrowed his gaze on hers. “You’ll want to explore every room and I have other plans.”

  She placed teasing kisses along his neck as he carried her up the front stairs. “And what would that be?”

  “What is it they say about practice makes perfect?” He grinned devilishly. “Tanya and Brian’s new baby boy needs a cousin…lots of cousins.”

  A word about the author...

  Darlene lives with her husband, daughter, and yellow Lab on the east coast of Canada. An avid reader since childhood, she loves to put a pencil to paper and plot out stories of her own. Her writing is a combination of heartwarming, contemporary romance and plot-driven page-turners.

  When Darlene isn’t writing, you’ll find her with her head in a book, visiting the Valley, or sitting outside by the firepit with her family on a warm summer evening. She likes to connect and chat with her readers and writing friends.

  You can learn more about Darlene and her writing at:

  http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/

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