Cherishing Mrs. Right

by Debbie White

  all like that? We have bad people, we have bad

  situations. Look what happened to us back in

  creeepsville!”

  Darla gazed into his eyes. “I know that place was

  less than ideal, and I for one didn’t want to stay there

  one more minute than we had to. But … I was with

  you, we had food, we had a roof over our head, and

  more importantly we had a plan. I’m a survivalist,

  Cody. To survive as I have, I have to see the positive

  in all things, or I would have shriveled up and died in

  a corner in some worn-out apartment building, or

  maybe even worse, along the road somewhere.”

  Cody furrowed his brows and paused before

  speaking. His mouth felt dry and sticky. Ice cream

  did that to him. All he could think about right now

  was a tall cold glass of water. But he wanted to

  address what Darla had mentioned.

  “I think we need to talk about some of your past.

  I need to know what I’m dealing with. It sounds like

  both of us have been in a war.”

  Darla’s eyes watered. She nodded. She clenched

  his hand tightly and pulled it into her lap. She gazed

  out at the vast blue ocean, and as she watched the

  waves, her mind went to a place that she didn’t visit

  very often lately.

  “His name was Pierre. I met him when I was

  going to interior design school.”

  Cody quickly turned his head. “That’s right. You

  did say something about that.”

  Darla nodded. “Yep. I didn’t always tell

  fortunes,” she laughed.

  “Go on,” he said softly.

  “He was the love of my life. I’ve never loved

  anyone completely as I loved him, until …”

  Cody squeezed her hand.

  “Anyway, it’s a long story, and it would take

  much too long to tell you, but suffice it to say that he

  broke my heart and since then I’ve found myself in

  the arms of men who were easy to be with because I

  didn’t feel anything for them.” A tear dribbled down

  her face.

  Cody locked his gaze on one wave as it rolled in.

  His heart was beating fast, and he knew he was about

  to hear more of Darla’s past life than maybe he was

  prepared for. He didn’t expect her to tell him

  everything, but he wanted to know what made her

  who she was.

  Darla moistened her mouth. “Anyway, bad guys,

  a little too much alcohol, and soon I didn’t give a

  damn about anything or anyone—especially myself.

  “That’s why I choose to see happiness and all

  things positive—because it wasn’t always that way

  for me. Then there is Bryan. That’s a whole other

  story. I needed help, but he wasn’t in any shape to

  offer me support. Hell—he had his own issues. So I

  went on the run—again. And … well … you know

  how that ends.”

  Cody let out a breath he’d been holding for a

  long time. “My momma used to say it’s not where

  you’ve been but where you’re going that is

  important. If you’re ready to put the past in the past,

  then I’d say you’ve come a long way, baby,” he said,

  smiling at her.

  “Cody, I’m broken. Do you really want a broken

  person in your life?”

  Cody put his arm around her. “Broken? You’re

  not any more broken than me. Are you ready for my

  story?”

  Darla locked onto his eyes. She nodded.

  “I joined the Marines after 9/11. I wanted to

  make a difference in the world. I had an idea what

  my life was going to be like, yet I didn’t have a clue

  what I would see and do. Does that make sense?”

  Darla scooted closer to Cody, their thighs

  touching. “Yes,” she said softly.

  “After my second deployment, I decided to get

  out. You know the rest.”

  Darla furrowed her brows. “No, I don’t.”

  “I bought the restaurant,” Cody said.

  “What about in between? Didn’t you have any

  relationships?”

  Cody lowered his head. He rose to see her staring

  at him. He raised his eyebrows. “I’ve dated

  occasionally, but there was only one who broke my

  heart, too.”

  Darla waited in anticipation of what Cody was

  about to say. Her breathing was heavy and labored.

  What would he reveal?

  “Her name was Christine. We’d dated off and on

  for about a year when I asked her to move in with

  me. Things were going great, but I was having

  nightmares and other troubles all related to my tour

  with the Marines. One night while I had a bad dream

  I accidently reached out and hit her—right in the

  face. I bruised her lip and gave her a black eye. I felt

  awful. I immediately enrolled in a support group and

  got medical attention for my post-traumatic stress

  disorder, but it was too late for us. She didn’t want to

  stick around and see if I was helped. One day I came

  home, and she was gone.”

  “Do you feel that you’ve been helped?” Darla

  whispered.

  “I do. But I still go to the support groups, and I

  still go to my VA doctor appointments. It will be part

  of my life forever. Just as it will be a part of

  Bryan’s.”

  Cody looked deeply into Darla’s eyes. “If you’ll

  have me, broken and all, I will have you, broken and

  all.”

  Darla’s eyes watered. “Oh, Cody. Of course, I’ll

  have you. You’re a great guy. I think with time, we’ll

  be happy as clams,” she squeezed his hand.

  “Okay. So that’s the positive spin, and our plan,”

  Cody said, smiling.

  Darla stood up from the bench, pulling Cody up

  with her. “Yep. Let’s head back to the mansion and

  wait for Gabe and the gang.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  

  Cody wrapped his arms around Gabe and gave

  him a manly hug. “Man, it’s good to see you again.”

  Cody eased back from the hug.

  Gabe reached out and shook his hand. “How long

  has it been? I guess it was when I brought Ryan by to

  meet you?”

  Cody nodded. “Yes. And his wines are doing …

  were doing well in the restaurant.”

  “We’ll have the restaurant up and open before

  you can say …” Gabe trailed off.

  “In no time at all, sir,” Cooper said.

  Cody looked over his shoulder and saw that

  Darla, Ronnie, and Camie were all chatting, and he

  smiled. He was happy they seemed to be hitting it off

  okay.

  “Care for a drink?” Cody asked, as he made his

  way into the living area.

  He stopped suddenly and whirled around. “This

  is awkward. This is your house.”

  Gabe smiled. “You’re my guest. I’m glad you

  found where the good stuff was hidden,” he said.

  Cooper hurried ahead of the two men and went to

  the bar, placing glasses on the marble top and eyeing

  the bottles. “Scotch?” he piped.

&nbs
p; Cooper poured the amber colored drink into the

  glasses. The men each took a glass and plopped

  down on the comfy sofa and chairs.

  Gabe held up his glass. “To friends.”

  “Friends,” Cooper and Cody bellowed.

  “I know a great seafood restaurant. The best

  shrimp and grits ever,” Gabe said. He licked his lips

  after taking a sip of scotch. “This is good stuff.”

  Cody frowned. “Hmm, seafood …”

  Cooper flashed a quick look at Gabe then to

  Cody. “Sir? Don’t you like seafood? I’m sure they

  have other things on the menu.” Cooper looked over

  at Gabe for reassurance.

  “Oh yeah, man. They have steaks, chicken, and

  all of that. But the shrimp and grits are to die for,

  right, Cooper?”

  Cody swallowed hard. “Darla is a vegan.”

  Cooper flashed a smile. “A vegetarian, sir?”

  Cody nodded.

  Gabe looked at Cooper then abruptly started

  laughing. Soon Cooper was laughing loudly too, and

  Cody couldn’t figure out what was so funny.

  Cody reached over and set his glass down on the

  coffee table. “What’s so funny?”

  Gabe tried to speak in between laughs. “She’s a

  vegan … and you … you own a steakhouse.”

  Cooper roared. Gabe grabbed his stomach, he

  was laughing so hard. Gabe brushed his hand across

  his mouth and then downed his drink. “I’d say this

  calls for another round.”

  Cooper jumped up, gathered the glasses, and

  headed for the bar.

  Cody crossed his leg over the other. “Yeah, it

  does kind of sound funny. But she’s made me some

  tofu recipes that were rather good.”

  Gabe’s eyes widened. He listened on.

  “We even introduced a veggie burger on the

  menu and a few other things at her suggestion. And I

  might add, did very well,” Cody said, puffing out his

  chest slightly.

  Cooper handed the guys their drinks and sat

  down next to Cody.

  “Sir, I think it’s admirable that you chose to take

  the high road and experience these new food

  choices.” Cooper nodded toward Gabe.

  Gabe swallowed. “Yes. Cooper is right. That’s

  what relationships are all about.

  “On a serious note, though. Darla will find

  something she can eat at this restaurant. They have

  great salads, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Chef

  Peters has a vegan dish on the menu,” Gabe said,

  softening his eyes.

  Cody looked over toward the hallway that

  adjoined the living room with the kitchen. He could

  hear the ladies laughing, and it brought a smile to his

  face. He was so grateful for Gabe’s and Cooper’s

  friendships, and although they lived in different

  states, they knew they could always count on one

  another.

  “When I sent Darla to your restaurant, I had no

  idea she was a vegan. I wonder why she chose your

  establishment? I gave her plenty of other choices,”

  Gabe said.

  “She said the fact that both you and Bryan

  echoed your sentiments of me is what made her come

  out to Texas. That and she’d never been to Dallas

  before.”

  “How is Bryan?” Gabe asked.

  Cooper listened as the two guys talked about

  Bryan.

  “We’re on our way to see him. That was until we

  got in an accident and ended up at the Bates Hotel.”

  Gabe narrowed his eyes. “Yeah about your

  truck—it should be arriving here in two days. That

  guy drove a hard deal. He wouldn’t release the truck

  until we paid him ten thousand dollars.”

  Cody widened his eyes. He tossed his drink back

  and placed the glass on the table with a thud. “That’s

  highway robbery. I’m gonna …”

  “It’s done. I’ve paid him, and you’ll get your

  truck. And, if it’s not in tip-top shape, I’ll be making

  a visit,” Gabe winked.

  Cooper crossed his legs. “Yeah. We’ll send out

  our crew to have a little talk with that bugger,”

  Cooper laughed.

  The ladies bounced into the living room, each

  one with a wine glass in her hand.

  “So that’s what all the giddiness was about—

  wine,” Cooper said.

  Darla plopped down on the other side of Cooper.

  She laid her hand on his leg. “I just love your British

  accent.”

  “Why thank you, madam.” He took her hand into

  his and lightly gave it a kiss.

  Darla giggled. “And what a gentleman.”

  Cody pursed his lips. “You mean what a suck

  up.”

  The entire group erupted in laughter.

  Ronnie sat down on Gabe’s lap and whispered

  something in his ear.

  Gabe cleared his throat. “We’ll take our luggage

  up to our rooms and get ready for dinner. Then we

  can watch the fireworks. I know the perfect place.”

  Darla jumped up. “Groovy,” she said, twisting

  and turning with delight.

  Camie walked around the table and took Cooper's

  hand. She was keeping her eyes on Darla. She was a

  little bit too frisky with her boyfriend.

  Darla reached out and gently put her hand on

  Camie’s arm. “You’re one lucky lady. You and

  Cooper are perfect for each other.”

  Camie softened her stance. “Thanks, Darla.”

  Camie softly tugged at Cooper’s arm to get him to

  follow her. “Let’s go upstairs and get ready, darling.”

  “With pleasure, my lady,” Cooper said.

  Darla and Cody watched as the foursome headed

  up toward the mahogany and marble stairway.

  “I hope they won’t mind we took the master,”

  Cody said, planting a kiss on her forehead.

  * * *

  After a magnificent dinner, the three couples

  headed to the Charleston Marriott rooftop bar. Gabe

  knew the manager and was able to get everyone in on

  such a busy night. They’d have the best view for the

  firework display.

  After two or three rounds of cocktails, the first

  wave of colorful display filled the sky. Cody held

  Darla tight as they watched. The pride he felt for his

  country was overwhelming and the patriotic holiday

  all ablaze with beautiful sounds and colors brought it

  home for Cody. He leaned down and whispered

  something in Darla’s ear. Her smile widened and a

  small tear formed on her bottom lid. It slowly made

  its way down her cheek, nearing the corner of her

  mouth. She caught the salty liquid with her tongue. It

  was tears of happiness.

  * * *

  With one foot, Cody shut the door behind them.

  Darla was fiercely holding onto his neck and kissing

  him all over. He walked her back toward the bed,

  carefully trying to focus on the hot and steamy kisses

  as he did. They both fell onto the bed, neither one

  letting go. Finally Darla let go of her grasp and

  scooted herself up toward the headboard. She opened

  her arms fo
r him. Cody eased his body on top,

  shoving his hands into her tousled locks that framed

  the pillow. She let out a soft moan. She arched her

  back and Cody could feel her desire building beneath

  his hard body. He studied her eyes, and every inch of

  her face. Her eyes glazed with need. He lowered his

  face and met her open mouth, devouring her with

  sweeping strokes of his tongue. Her body moved

  beneath his. She ran her fingers down his chest and

  soon began unbuttoning his shirt. He followed her

  lead and soon they were flesh to flesh. Cody and

  Darla were one. Darla burrowed her head in his neck,

  pulling him deep, gasping and moaning as she did.

  Cody never took his eyes off of her. She clung to his

  broad shoulders feeling his hard chest against her

  bare breasts. She could feel the steady beat of his

  heart, it thumped like a piston. He moved with such

  ease but it was powerful, too. She wrapped her legs

  around him as they continued the slow and steady

  motion.

  With Darla lying in his arms, Cody listened as

  she breathed softly. He gently ran his hands up and

  down her arms. She pressed her body into his. He

  looked down at her angelical face.

  She put one hand on his chest. She could still feel

  his heart beating heavily. So this is how it felt. It had

  been a long time since she felt this way. She opened

  her eyes and studied his face. “Did you mean what

  you said?” she softly asked.

  He lowered his head and softly kissed her

  forehead. “Every word of it.”

  Her smile widened. “I love you, too.”

  Their lips met, and he tenderly kissed her. He

  rolled back over on the pillow. “I hope we weren’t

  too loud,” he chuckled.

  “I tried to keep it under wraps, but boy you sure

  know how to bring the O out in me!” She propped

  herself up on one elbow, staring at his chiseled face,

  eventually gazing at his powerful hands. The

  powerful hands that just moments ago explored every

  inch of her body.

  “On to D.C., right?” she asked.

  “Yep. I had an idea.”