by Suzanne Hart
“Someone said something about cheeseburgers at the food court,” he mentioned, and Cici squealed with joy. I couldn’t believe he wanted cheeseburgers. I couldn’t believe that we were going to do something this normal as a family. When Felix kissed my forehead again, I knew everything was going to be all right.
Epilogue
Felix
Two Years Later
I woke up and when I blinked my eyes open, I turned to my left, like I did each morning. Nora was right there, nestled between my arm and the assortment of pillows she liked to sleep with. Her hair was longer now, still shining golden in the sunlight that streamed in through the thin white curtain.
The diamond on her finger glittered in the light, and I reached for her hand. I lifted it to my lips and I kissed her fingers gently. She was all mine now; she was going nowhere.
She felt my kiss and her eyelids fluttered.
“Good morning, Mrs. Stone,” I said, and she smiled.
“Good morning, Mr. Stone,” she echoed huskily and we kissed. I clutched her face tightly, breathing in her sweet scent, weaving my fingers into her silky golden hair. With a grunt I slid over her, pressing her body down into the bed with my weight. My cock was rock-hard and throbbing between my legs as I moved against her. Nora spread her legs wide, wrapping them around my waist. I could feel the dampness of her panties, and I moved harder against her.
I nibbled on her lower lip, sucking on it and then licking her skin, down her small mouth and her neck. Nora moaned and then pushed against my chest with her hands.
“We don’t have time, Felix. I have to get Cici ready for school,” she protested. I groaned, nibbling on her earlobe, and she giggled before finally giving me a gentle shove, and I slid down beside her.
“You’re up early!” she said, swinging her long legs off the bed. I watched her, the way she moved, her ass in the short silk nightdress she was wearing. My cock was still throbbing for her. I couldn’t get enough of this woman…my wife. I felt like the luckiest man alive.
“I woke up because I was dreaming about you and I wanted you,” I said, fluffing up the pillows behind my head.
Nora was slipping on a robe, and she tied the cord tightly at her waist.
“But now I have to go,” she said mockingly.
“But you’re coming back,” I added, and she giggled.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she walked around the room.
“You remember Helen is arriving today, right? Cici and I are picking her up from the airport in the evening,” she said, and I sat up in bed.
“Yes, there was no chance of me forgetting because she’s been texting me every day to remind me,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “Cici shouldn’t have taught her how to text!”
Nora laughed and then she skipped over to plant a quick kiss on my cheek.
“Don’t be grumpy, she hasn’t visited us since the wedding,” she said and started walking to the door.
“No, I’m not, I’ve missed her,” I said, and Nora turned with her brows arched.
“Okay, who are you and what have you done to my husband?” she exclaimed. I shrugged my shoulders, even though I knew exactly what she was talking about.
“Are you, Felix Stone, actually expressing some real emotion?” she said with a laugh.
“I’m just saying what I’m thinking,” I replied and Nora was still laughing as she left the room.
I slid back into bed. These days, I didn’t go to the office till much later, never before ten. I had too many things at home to keep me happy and occupied, and I didn’t feel the need to work. I had worked hard all my life. I’d amassed wealth and success already. Nora had taught me how to relax and just enjoy the good things I had going: most importantly, my family.
I could hear Nora, Cici, and Anne talking outside. It was always a task getting Cici out of bed and ready for school. These were little things I had learned about my daughter in the past two years which I had no clue about before. Cici was not a morning person, just like me.
I could still feel the presence of Nora in the room, and I pulled the covers up to my chin. Even though we had been together for two years, living together for a year and married for six months…I still felt a strange emptiness when she wasn’t in the room with me. I knew I was addicted to her; she was like a drug. This was what love felt like, what had been missing in my relationship with Natalie, what I had been searching for all my life.
Asking Nora to marry me didn’t come as a surprise. Within the first few months of our relationship; I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. That she was the woman who completed me. I knew she felt it too, because when I went down on one knee in front of the whole kitchen staff at the hotel, Nora said yes immediately, without hesitation. We fit each other like a glove. Our marriage was the most obvious thing in the world.
I dragged myself out of bed eventually and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. I knew Cici would be ready by now and at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. In two years, she had never left for school without a goodbye kiss from me, and I hadn’t missed a single dinner with her or Nora. That was what I wanted; I didn’t know why I didn’t do it before…it hadn’t taken me much time to discover that fatherhood wasn’t such a difficult thing after all. It was the most natural thing.
I owed it to Nora. Everything I had now, I owed it to her, and apart from loving her forever, I knew I would be grateful to her too, for saving me.
Nora
Helen was her usual cheerful, talkative self, and I was glad that she was doing her part of keeping the conversation going at dinner. I had a lot on my mind.
“No, Cici, you can’t have dessert yet, not till you eat all the peas,” I heard Felix say, interrupting my thoughts.
“Nora!” Cici turned to me, pleading, and I shook my head.
“Listen to your father, bug,” I said, and Helen sighed.
“It is so good to be here, at this table again. Brings back good memories of when I met you for the first time, dear,” Helen patted my hand, and I smiled at her.
She fell into conversation with Felix, about some new property she wanted to invest in Florida, and my mind drifted again. I stared at Felix as I ate, keeping an eye on Cici’s plate at the same time. This man only got more handsome with time.
In his late thirties now, Felix had some graying at his temples, and I thought that made him sexier. If it was even possible. His jaw was as strong as ever, his green eyes glittering and deep. I didn’t know how I’d gotten so lucky. Why he had chosen me to spend the rest of his life with.
Felix was a wonderful father, he was the best father he could be to Cici, and she was a happy child now. She was blossoming into a wonderful, thoughtful girl and she amazed me every day that she grew.
But then…it wasn’t just Felix, it was also my career. I was working full-time in the kitchen at Stone Hotel now. I had enrolled myself in Culinary School part-time, and Pedro was mentoring me. My life was busy; I was going places, I was content and satisfied with what I had…I didn’t know if I was ready, if there was time, if Felix would be happy. The news I was withholding from him was huge; it would change our lives.
“Nora?” I heard Felix’s voice and I snapped around to look at him. They were all staring at me, and I looked down and saw that I’d spilled a lot of gravy on my dress. I had the spoon in my hand but I wasn’t eating from it; instead, I was dropping all the food on my clothes.
“Are you okay?” Felix stood up from his chair, panicking that something was wrong. I gulped and shook my head.
“Yes, yeah, I’m fine,” I protested as he came over and crouched down beside my chair.
“If you’re not feeling well, you should go and lie down,” he said in a soft, gentle voice. When I looked into his eyes, I felt the tears bubble up. Why was I keeping this a secret from him? I could see how concerned he was, how upset, thinking that I was sick.
“Yes, he’s right, dear. You shouldn’t force yourself to stay,” I heard
Helen say.
“Nora?” Cici chimed in, and I breathed in deeply.
“I’m pregnant. I’ve been pregnant for five weeks,” I exclaimed before I could stop myself. The words came pouring out of me and I heard Helen gasp, her knife clattered on her plate. Felix looked shocked too; his eyes grew wide as he stared at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asked, reaching for my hand on my lap. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
“I didn’t know how you would take it…I didn’t know what…” I struggled with the words. He reached for me, pulling me by my neck to his chest. I could hear his heart beating as I pressed my cheek to him; his fingers were in my hair, and I felt safe there.
“Silly girl,” I heard him say and I looked up at him, still struggling to keep the tears at bay. He was smiling.
“Why would you think that I would be anything but happy with that news?” he asked.
“I’m going to have a brother?” Cici squealed.
“Or sister, sweetheart. We don’t know yet,” Helen replied. I could hear the joy in their voices as Felix held me.
“So, you’re not mad?” I whispered, and he kissed the tip of my nose lovingly.
“Why would I be mad, Nora? I love you; you’re my wife, we have a family together. I love being a father,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.
I hugged him tightly, relieved that I was just being foolish to overthink this. I should have known that he would be thrilled, just as happy as I was.
All the rest of it didn’t matter…my work and time…I could work around it. All that mattered was that Felix was going to be the father of my child, that Cici would have a sibling, that I was going to be a mother and we would continue being happy.
Felix kissed me then, a deep warm kiss that took my breath away. I could sense that he was trying to reassure me, he was trying to make me see how happy he was with that news.
He didn’t have to try hard. I could see it on his face, in the glitter of his eyes. The loud laugh he gave when he popped open a champagne bottle in celebration. I watched him as he hugged Cici tightly, unable to control his excitement. In the way he threw his arms around his mother and then came to kiss me again.
I knew then, what I had always known deep down, since that afternoon at the mall, that I could trust this man. That I should allow myself to love this man. I must have done something good in my life to deserve him and Cici, and this new gift that he was giving me.
Her First Game (4 Chapter Preview)
I held on to my virginity for the first thirty years of my life.
But never imagined I was saving it for him…
Dahlia
Taking this job with the Dallas Cowboys was the bravest thing I’d ever done.
Which wasn’t saying a lot
My focus was protecting the players,
But I never imagined I would fall for the owner of the team.
A billionaire that made my knees weak,
Made me feel things I never knew I could feel.
But there is something sinister lurking behind the scenes,
And I don’t know if I can be apart of it.
Chet
I was always content with being the billionaire heir...
That is, until I inherited the company.
I didn’t know what I was doing,
But I knew I had to have her.
This is a standalone novella. No cheating, no cliffhanger, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Includes bonus content!
Dahlia
“Dr. Ralph Little will see you now.”
Oh God, it was happening. I glanced up to see the secretary that had taken my name standing in the doorway. Her office was right between the waiting room and the head of Health and Safety for the Dallas Cowboys. I adjusted my suit jacket. I had purchased it from White House Black Market on a whim when I had landed at the airport just to get a little confidence flowing.
I nodded and stood up, allowing my stomach to roll with the storms of anxiety and the rumble of anticipation. This was my first job outside of my fellowship, and I was determined to get it. “Thank you.” My trembling lips wrapped very oddly around that phrase as if they didn’t recognize it.
I smoothed out my black pants and followed her through the small islet she called an office. She paused in front of the Dr. Little’s door long enough to knock. When she opened it, I caught sight of the man sitting at his desk, a white coat on over his white button down and black tie ensemble. His crusted lips stretched into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes as he stood up and extended a hand to me.
I brushed past the secretary, a tight smile on my face as I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you-“
“-Pleasure.” We both said at the same time.
He sat back down behind his desk, gesturing at the chair on the other side. I let my eyes drift as he pulled out what I recognize was my resume and started pouring over it, an expensive-looking pen in hand. My gaze landed first on his wrinkled fingers, his thick, bushy eyebrows, his grey hair. Then, to his desk, the bachelor’s of science, medical doctor and residency certificates displayed in sturdy, oak frames for all to see.
He cleared his throat when he looked up at me again.
I widened my eyes and tried to seem open. Someone told me that I had a beautiful smile, once; it would take me places.
“So, tell me why you decided to become a doctor.”
I huffed a quick breath and retrieved the organized answer from my file of interview questions. I had built it over years of being asked this question by recruiters and admissions committees. “I’ve always wanted to help people.” I made sure it was punctuated with a smile.
His face never moved. “But of course, you know that’s not the only way to do it. Why, specifically, medicine?”
I nodded. “Because I’m a talented, studious person. And this is the way to take my whole self and put it into something I care about.”
He nodded, smirking at the confident answer. “So, why sports?”
Because, my first love, surgery, died to me after I couldn’t make a good residency. “I love sports.” I lied through my teeth.
He took a sip from the cup of water I just noticed sitting next to his desktop. I only had a second to wonder why he hadn’t offered me one when he said, “What do you like most about sports medicine?”
That I’m overqualified. “The athletes. I think it's amazing to watch them defy physical possibilities and to be apart of it.”
He raised one of those bushy eyebrows, clueing me in on the fact that I was exactly on point. “So, what has been your biggest challenge as a doctor?”
“Well, I take my job very seriously. I always try to do the right thing.”
“And that’s a challenge, why?”
“Because not everyone is like that. And not everything is so very black and white.”
“Well, that is very insightful.”
I raised an eyebrow, anticipating the next question. The pounding of my heart had subsided. This was going as well as any interview might.
“So, in any given situation, how do you decide what is right or wrong?”
This had taken an unexpected turn, but I tried not to make that evident on my face. I trusted my years of training to expect the unexpected to keep me composed. I proceeded with the answer as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “I always ask what my dad would say. If I can’t explain it to him with a smile, I shouldn’t do it.”
He pursed his lips in thought. “Well, that seems like a foolproof method.”
There was a sinister gleam in his eyes that gave me an unfamiliar and uncomfortable chill. He closed my file and folded his hands on top of it. “So, what would your father say about you working for the NFL?”
I gulped. This organization had a long and colorful history of bending the rules. Enough books and newspaper articles had told me that there was a culture of superiority and lawlessness within these metaphorical walls. This was the hard question, th
e one I rarely asked myself because the answer was so laughable. “Well, he’s dead. But if he were here, he’d say they’d be lucky to have me.”
There was a dense silence right before his crusty lips stretched into a smile. He let out a slow round of applause. “Wow. What an answer.” He started shifting in his chair, telling me it was about time for me to stand up.
We both stood at the same time, and he gestured for me to follow him to the door. “From an impressive candidate as well.”
It was the after statement that really told me what he thought.