Wild Ride: Lance and Tammy

by Lietha Wards

  She was crying now.

  He reached up and rubbed away her tears with his fingers. “If anything, last night showed me what I’d lost. Maybe I should have been more open about what I wanted, but I honestly didn’t know. For the first time in my life I can say that.”

  She hiccupped and he smiled.

  “You deserve to be happy Tammy.” He shifted and took her hand.

  Then she felt him slip something back on her finger. It was the ring she’d left by the sink of his bathroom. Her eyes met his in stunned silence.

  “I deserve to be happy too,” he added.

  Her other hand covered her mouth and she sobbed.

  “I also never gave you permission to take off the ring.”

  Her sight became blurry with tears as she tried her best to see if he was serious.

  “So, what do you say?”

  She nodded, tears pouring down her face.

  He embraced her tightly and kissed her ear.

  “You love me?” she sobbed.

  “Oh baby, I do. I really do. I couldn’t possibly settle for anyone less genuine than you are.” he answered deeply. Then he moved her back cupping her shoulders. “First, you need to understand a few things.”

  She nodded too overwhelmed and choked up to speak.

  “You know I like control—structure in my life.”

  “Alpha male.” She softly repeated his words back to him. He’d told her that when they first came to New York together. Trust me Tam, I can see another alpha male a mile away

  His eyes glittered. “Very. Now, no more of these work schedules that you insist on.” She started to protest and he held up his hand. “Do you understand? I will not come second in your life, Tammy. The only time that will happen is when our children are born.”

  She smiled widely. Children! What a wonderful feeling that caused. All her protests were lost at the mention of children.

  “Secondly, we will be making regular visits here so you can be with your family more often. Family is important, and you will not be avoiding them anymore.”

  “Okay Lance.”

  “Third, I promise—” he swallowed hard. “I promise to make you happy Tam.”

  She flew into his arms sobbing.

  He held her tight lowering his face in her hair. “Finally, and most importantly…honesty from now on.”

  She nodded not able to produce words anymore.

  He held her for a long time until the tears had stopped and she just dry heaved.

  “This was probably not a good time to propose.”

  She lifted away from him and shook her head rapidly. “Don’t you ever say that Lance. This was the best time. I was at one of the worst moments of my life where I thought nothing could make me happy again. You are everything to me.”

  He smiled, bent his head and kissed her.

  “I’m all wet-faced.”

  “I don’t care,” he murmured against her mouth. “I still think you’re beautiful.”

  His phone buzzed. “Shit.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “It’s probably Royce.” He pulled it out saw the number and nodded. He answered it. His eyes went to Tammy. “We can be there under an hour. “Really? I’ll tell her.” He hung up.

  “How’s mom?”

  “Your brother said she’s doing really well. She is actually talking about making the funeral arrangements herself. She got up early and called the lawyer, and the funeral home already. Royce said she even had breakfast by the time he and Anne found her. That’s a good sign Tammy.”

  “It is. Apparently my mother is stronger than I’ve given her credit for.”

  “Maybe you get that from her.”

  Maybe she did. She never thought about what characteristics she inherited.

  “Your father’s humility and your mother’s strength. The best of both of them.”

  She smiled. He may be right about that. She just never thought of it that way.

  “He still wants us there though.”

  “Of course.”

  “Go wash your face. Mavis has some breakfast for you, and I want you to eat too.”

  “Okay.”

  He kissed her again before he got up and left the room.

  ***

  Royce greeted his sister and Lance at the door. He gave her a hug. “I want to thank you for keeping your cool last night. I think it inspired our mother.”

  “I wouldn’t know about that, but honestly Royce, it’s what I do best in that situation. And you’d probably take that back if you saw me this morning.”

  He gave a questioning worried look to Lance. Tammy knew he was wondering if something else was going on. Lance enlightened him.

  “Two days, two plane trips, a death and no sleep,” he said as if it explained everything.

  “Yeah, I guess that sums it up better than anything.” He turned his attention back to his sister. “You’re okay though?” he asked with concern.

  “Better, much better.” She smiled slightly. She felt as strong as an ox emotionally after Lance had proposed for real.

  “Mother is in the sitting room with old Ed Brackman.”

  “He’s our parents’ lawyer,” Tammy explained to Lance.

  “Yes, their lawyer since the dawn of the dinosaurs. Jesus, I keep thinking he’s going to stroke whenever he moves. He should have retired twenty years ago, but still works, and is still sharp as a tack.”

  Tammy was surprised. “He’s got to be near eighty. I remember him looking pretty old when I was a young girl.”

  “A hundred and eighty,” Royce corrected leading them through the apartment toward the room.

  She laughed again.

  He opened the large double doors and motioned his arm for her and Lance to enter.

  Ed stood up, albeit very slowly, when Tammy walked into the room. Her sister was already there.

  There was another man, mid-sixties there also. Royce introduced him as the funeral director Peter D’Amato. He was balding with grey hair and bright blue eyes that made him seem younger than he was. She first walked over to her mother and gave her a hug weather she wanted it or not. Elizabeth surprised her by returning the embrace. “I’m glad you’re here,” she added quietly.

  “Miss Van Allen, I assume.” Peter stood and shook her hand before Lance’s.

  Tammy didn’t correct him to Easler. Her mother didn’t need any more stress.

  “How nice to see you Tamara. We were waiting for you to discuss his wishes,” Ed said in his shaking elderly voice. “Your father already had all of the arrangements made. He was a very organized man.”

  Lance moved her to a small sofa in the room and sat beside her. Royce sat on the arm next to her.

  Arrangements? “What did you say Ed?”

  He gave her a look of sympathy. “Your father had a heart condition. He kept it from you three, but Elizabeth knew.”

  Her mother nodded. “It was his wish that none of you found out so you wouldn’t have worried about him.”

  Well, that did sound like him.

  Anne came through the doors at that time carrying a tray of tea. She set it on a table against the wall and began pouring cups and handing them out. Tammy thought she really was a gem.

  She took her cup and thanked her. Anne gave her a warm reassuring smile. Lance declined but thanked her also.

  Over the next hour Ed and Peter discussed her father’s wishes. Her mother was very particular about some things that she wanted and Peter said he would make it happen. The service would be the day after tomorrow. Her father wanted it quick and sweet, but her mother insisted that all his friends be notified. Her uncle was away on business and couldn’t get home until tomorrow.

  After Ed and Peter left, her mother took her aside. “You look tired.”

  “So do you.” Tammy smiled.

  She looked past her to Lance for a moment. “I’m fine Tamara. You should go home and get some rest.”

  She knew her mother was addressing Lance so he would make
sure.

  “Okay.” She turned to leave when her mother said her name again.

  “I wanted—I meant, I heard about Richard. I’m sorry Tamara. I didn’t know.” She studied her daughter’s cheek.

  Tammy knew then she could see the faint outline of a bruise. She could see the shame in her mother’s expression. “Who told you?”

  “Richard told Melanie. She told me. She’s really sorry. We all are.”

  “It wasn’t that bad mother. He was remorseful.”

  “It’s not just that Tamara. It’s when you were younger. I mean, I didn’t believe you and I should have. I never thought he was capable of such a thing because he was always so charming. He always reassured your father and I that he was deeply in love with you and would take care of you.”

  “Some people are really good at acting. Richard was one of them.”

  “Melanie is so ashamed of his behavior. She broke the engagement.”

  Tammy instantly felt horrible for her sister. She never said a word through the entire discussion, and she just realized, wouldn’t even look in her direction.

  “Tell her, I’m fine and the last person I could possibly be angry with is her.” Even though Melanie did some terrible things to her when she was younger, like sleeping with Richard when he was engaged to her, she was certain the pain she was feeling now didn’t need anything added to.

  Elizabeth smiled. “I’ll do that.”

  Tammy hugged her mother again before they said their goodbyes.

  “How do you feel?” Lance asked once they were back in the car.

  “Like a thousand pounds were lifted off my shoulders.” She smiled at him.

  “Where to sir?” Vern asked from the front.

  “225 Court Street.”

  “Very good sir.” Vern smiled.

  Tammy tilted her head at him. “Where?”

  “You’ll see.”

  The car pulled up in front of a quaint building. She leaned over and read the sign on the storefront. Her eyes went to Lance in question.

  “I would like to get married in September when the leaves start to turn orange and gold. I would like for it to be at the ranch.”

  She started weeping.

  His eyes went over her face. “So, I was thinking we’d better choose the invitations and get them out as soon as possible.”

  She launched herself at him and he held her tightly. He was making this a reality for her. They were sitting in front of a very posh wedding stationary store. “Are you sure?” she sobbed into his neck.

  “Of course I am. I want children Tam, and I want them as soon as possible, but I want to make this legal before you have a baby.”

  Baby! She couldn’t possibly love this man any more than she did at that moment.

  He pulled her away from him so he could look into her eyes. He used his thumb to gently wipe away the tears. “We don’t have to do this today. I just thought with what you had to go through with planning your father’s funeral; you needed something to cheer you up.”

  “This is perfect,” she sniffed.

  By the time they got home that evening Lance took her to his room, undressed her and tucked her in his bed. She was exhausted, and fell asleep right away.

  She awoke sometime later, lifted up and looked around. His side of the bed was empty. She blinked the blur from her eyes and saw that it was just after midnight. Where was he?

  She got out of bed and pulled one of his dress shirts over her head that was lying on a nearby chair. It was late and she knew he was pretty tired even though he never said anything.

  She started wandering throughout the penthouse and finally found him upstairs. She stood in the foyer and saw him stretched out on the sofa talking on the phone. He was wearing a pair of sweats, but was bare footed and bare chested. He was quite breathtaking. She was staring at him stupidly until she heard him say Marianne’s name.

  Why on earth would he be talking to her in the middle of the night? He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck while walking over to the window that overlooked the city.

  Tammy couldn’t make out anything else and felt oddly intrusive. She started to back up, when he turned and saw her.

  “Tam?”

  She paused.

  “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow,” he said into the phone and hung up. He slipped his phone into his pocket and started walking toward her. “What are you doing up?”

  “I—I woke, and you weren’t there.”

  He smiled and moved his arms around her. “I got a call.”

  “Marianne?”

  “Yes.” He pulled back and looked down at her. “Don’t worry. It’s just wrapping up charity stuff.”

  “This late?”

  “She’s a late person.”

  “She’s in love with you Lance.”

  He shook his head. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  He moved his arm around her and started walking her down the hall to the stairs. “Well she can love me all she wants, but my heart belongs to you.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

  “You know how to make a girl feel beautiful,” she murmured.

  “How about I make you feel desirable?” he said huskily.

  “Oh yes, please.”

  He chuckled. “Good, because you wearing my shirt and showing those flawless legs has me as hard as granite.” She squealed as he bent and swept her up effortlessly into his arms and carried her to his room.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The next few days were hard on her. The funeral, then the reading of her father’s will. Each of the children received a portion of his wealth, but the majority went to her mother, which it should have. After that, they had a wonderful family dinner together. For the first time since Tammy could remember, they acted as a real family. There was wine and laughter. Tammy was surprised at how strong her mother was. She couldn’t have been happier.

  It was her mother who hugged her when Lance and she were leaving. “Please don’t be a stranger dear.”

  Tammy felt her eyes water. “I won’t.”

  “Call me more often, okay?”

  She nodded too choked up to say anything. If there was something she could take away from her beloved father’s death, it was that her mother and she were closer.

  “I have to meet Marianne tonight,” Lance said once they were back in the car.

  “I know.”

  “Did you want to come?”

  She turned her head to look at him. “I need to be able to trust you Lance. I don’t think I need to be there.”

  “I was worried about leaving you alone Tammy.” He smiled. “I haven’t given you a reason not to trust me and I know you’re more mature than that.”

  She smiled back at him. “That doesn’t mean I trust her. I have an image of her answering her door in a negligee.”

  He chuckled. “We’re meeting at a restaurant. I assure you, that even she wouldn’t be that bold.”

  “Good thing. I suppose I can call Eli.”

  “Eli?”

  “The fashion designer—” his expression changed to disproval “—the gay one,” she laughed and he relaxed. “Now who’s mistrustful?”

  “Like you said—it’s not you I distrust. Men fall all over you.”

  “Lance Hartley, that is not the case!”

  “No? As I said, I’m an alpha male and I can recognize another predator.”

  “You are seeing things.”

  “And that is why they fall all over you. Your humility is astounding.”

  She flushed.

  He embraced her. “I just can’t touch you enough.” He sighed heavily. “I’ll be late. I’m sorry. There are papers to sign, and a lot of matters to discuss. I should be spending this with you, but we’re leaving tomorrow. The sooner I can hand everything over, the better. I was going to do it on my trip next month, but seeing as we are getting married, I’d rather get this out of the way n
ow. You have my cell number.”

  “I do. I’m okay with it, honestly.” And she was.

  ***

  After Lance left that evening, she did call Eli. She didn’t want to be alone. She shouldn’t have been surprised when he told her to take a cab to his apartment. Apparently he was having a party.

  “Wear something stunning!”

  She laughed, “I will.”

  “Be prepared darling, there are a lot of freaks here, including myself. If you want, bring that man of yours.” He made a delicious sound. “I’d climb that hunk of meat like a monkey to a tree.”

  “Eli!” Oh God, she was laughing so hard now.

  She decided on the red dress she wore to her brother’s wedding. It was the only thing she had at Lance’s apartment.

  She took the cab to Greenwich where Eli’s address was. It was a remodeled Methodist Romanesque church made into condominiums and incredibly perfect for someone as eccentric as Eli. She rang the number on the digital com by the door. It instantly buzzed and opened the door.

  She went up the stairs to the top floor. The music was loud and it reverberated in the hall. It was Eli who answered the door, and he was completely inebriated. He was dressed in white shimmery pants that were tight as snakeskin, a white shirt, black bowtie and a ridiculously multicolored checked suit jacket. She loved it. He let out a squeal of delight.

  He kissed both of her cheeks and took her hand pulling her in.

  “Won’t your neighbors be upset at the loud music?” She asked.

  “No, darling. They’re all here.” He laughed. “Now let’s get you something to drink. Marianne told me your father passed away, so we are going to celebrate his life!”

  A half an hour later, she remembered nothing.

  ***

  “I will figure out a way to punish you for the stress you put me through last night, but you need to shower. We leave in less than an hour to catch our plane.”

  Through a fog, a throbbing migraine and blurry eyes, she heard Lance’s deep voice. Lance’s restrained anger was evident in the tone. She groaned and rolled over. What the hell did she do last night? And, how did she get home?

  “Tam?”

  “Uh-hmm. I heard you.”

  “You’re in shit.”

  “Okay.” She couldn’t argue with him because she wasn’t quite sure what she did. She sat up slowly. Well, she was in his bed so he couldn’t have been so angry as not to want to sleep next to her.