Secret Vows (Hideaway (Kimani))

by Alers, Rochelle

  * * *

  A soft sigh came from Greer, her eyelids fluttering as she came awake. She felt a crushing weight over her belly before realizing Jason’s arm was holding her down. “Good morning,” she mumbled, yawning.

  “Is it?” asked the deep drawling voice behind her.

  She smiled. “It would be even better if you moved your arm. You’re a lot heavier than you look.”

  He withdrew his arm from her waist, splaying his hand over her hip. “How much do you think I weigh?”

  “You’re at least two hundred.”

  “Close. I’m two-ten.”

  “How tall are you?”

  “Six-three.” Jason pressed his mouth to her hair. “How tall are you?”

  “Five-seven. And you better not ask me how much I weigh because I’m not going to tell you.” There was a hint of laugher in her voice.

  “What’s up with you women not telling your weight as if it’s top secret?”

  “You men don’t need to know unless they’re going to buy a woman something to wear. Then they should know her height, weight, dress, shoe and ring size.”

  Jason chuckled softly. “That’s a lot.”

  “That’s because there’s a lot to us. I thought you would’ve known that.”

  “Why would I know that?”

  “Haven’t you ever bought clothes and jewelry for your mother, sisters or girlfriends?”

  “No. I’d tell them to let me know what they want and the price, and I’d give them the money.”

  “That’s no fun. You take out the element of surprise.”

  “I don’t like shopping.”

  Greer turned to face Jason, her thigh brushing against his groin with the motion. Her breath stopped in her throat when she registered the look of desire in his eyes matching the growing hardness in his groin. “I’m sorry about that.”

  Cupping her hip in his hand, Jason pulled her closer. “I’m not.”

  “Jason?”

  “Hush, baby. I’m not going to do anything to you. Especially not in someone else’s house. Plus I don’t have protection with me.”

  Greer rested her hand on his furred chest. She wasn’t an ingenue when it came to men, but she also wasn’t so worldly that she’d slept with more than she could count or remember. “It’s been a long time for me.”

  Jason kissed her forehead. “Don’t you think I know that?”

  She closed her eyes, shutting out his intense stare. “I want you to make love to me, but when you hear my reason, you may change your mind.”

  “Nothing you say will make me change my mind.”

  “I know it may sound selfish...” Greer couldn’t finish because she cared for Jason, and she didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want to use him just for sex. He deserved more than that.

  “You want to know how it feels again, don’t you?” he asked, smiling.

  Her eyes flew open. He’d read her mind. “How did you know?”

  “I don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know you haven’t slept with anyone since your divorce.”

  A nervous smile trembled over her lips. “Am I that transparent?”

  “No, baby. It has nothing to do with transparency. You had a tumultuous marriage and a hellish divorce. It would stand to reason you probably wouldn’t want to deal with another man for the rest of your life.”

  “You’re right about that. But then you came along.”

  “No, Greer. You came along, and I didn’t know which end of my life was up or down. I told myself I didn’t want you, that I didn’t need you, but I was lying to myself. If not for you, I’d be more than content to spend the next three months holed up in the studio writing and occasionally sitting in with Doug and his band. But when you’re not at the house, I find myself wishing I had magical powers so I can conjure you up.”

  Greer realized Jason had given her the opening she needed to fulfill Chase’s directive that she should remain close to Jason. As close as she could without arousing his suspicions. “What if I fulfill your wish?”

  An expectant expression crossed Jason’s features. “What?”

  “If you want, I can move in with you.”

  He went completely still. “What did you say?”

  Greer knew it was too late to retract her words. “You heard what I said, Jason.”

  “Say it again?”

  “What do I get if I say it again?”

  He smiled, dimples deepening in the stubble. “Just say it,” he crooned.

  “Would you like for me to move in with you?” Rapid Spanish rolled off his tongue and Greer only caught a few words. “You’re going to have to translate that for me.”

  “I said I’d love for you to live with me but on one condition.”

  It was Greer’s turn to hesitate. “What is that?”

  “That if everything turns out well, then we should think about making it a permanent arrangement.”

  Her eyes narrowed as she groaned inwardly. Greer thought he would’ve welcomed her suggestion without conditions. “How permanent? And what’s the time frame?”

  “I think after three months we should know more or less whether we should get married.”

  She shook her head. “No! No marriage!”

  “I am not your ex.”

  Greer glanced over his shoulder so she wouldn’t see the rage darkening his eyes. “I know you’re not.”

  “Then stop treating me like him. I told you before, people don’t hurt those they love.” Pulling her closer, Jason buried his face in her hair. “I’ve denied it more than once when asked if I love you.”

  “Who asked you?”

  “First Chase, then Pepper. Last night he told me that he knew I was in love with you.”

  “You love me.” Greer didn’t recognize her own voice. It was soft, childlike and barely audible.

  Moving over Greer, Jason straddled her body. “Yes, I love you. Why is that so hard for you to accept?”

  “We haven’t dated. We...we haven’t even made love. What if we turn out to be totally incompatible in bed?” She wanted to ask him about his declaration for her to take all the time she needed because he wasn’t going anywhere and neither was she. But that was before she’d asked him to make love to her and before she had made the overture to live with him.

  Jason pressed her body down to the mattress. “What makes you think it’s not going to be good? Because you say so? Well there’s only way to find out. We’re going to get up and go to your place where you’ll pack enough to last you at least a week. Then we’re going out on a date and, when we come back to our place, we’re going to make love over and over until we get right. It may take only one time or it may take all night. But there will be one thing for certain and that is we’ll know whether you want to continue to live with me as my future fiancée or whether you’ll continue to live in your uncle’s house. Cole men are raised not to shack up with women unless they’re willing to commit.”

  He rolled off her body and the bed, landing lightly on his feet and extending his hand. “Let’s go, princess. Destiny’s calling.”

  Greer slipped out of bed, her arms going around his waist. “You’ve outlined the rules without asking my input, so I’m going to set down a few of my own.”

  “What are they?”

  Tilting her chin, she met a pair of eyes so much like her own. “I want you to start taking care of yourself. No more staying up all night and trying to get by on three or four hours of sleep. My uncle is cutting back his hours, so that means I’ll probably spend more time at the restaurant. Because I won’t be home to distract you, you should use that time to write. Don’t worry about going out to shop for groceries because, whatever we need, I’ll bring home from the restaurant. I also want you to take at least one day off d
uring the week to relax completely. I can’t have my man breaking down on me.

  “I have a standing appointment on Mondays at a full-service salon to get my hair and nails done. I want you to come with me so you can take advantage of their services for men. They also offer mani-pedis, facials and massages. Not only will you look incredibly handsome, but you’ll also feel wonderful. How does that sound to you?”

  “What are you trying to do? Turn me into a metrosexual?”

  She patted his chest. “You’re already one. You just haven’t acknowledged it. What do you think of my plan?”

  Jason stared down at the woman who’d turned his predictable world upside down. She was the first woman who’d offered to take care of him and his needs and not the other way around. “Why are you doing this?”

  Going on tiptoe, Greer touched her mouth to his. “You’re not the only one who’s falling in love.”

  His smiled was dazzling. “Don’t tell me the love bug bit you, too?”

  She nodded. “Big time.”

  Bending slightly, Jason swept her up in his arms. “Let’s get out of here so we can put our plans into motion.”

  Greer giggled like a little girl when he carried her to the bathroom. She was still laughing to herself when they stopped at her place where she filled an oversize quilted duffel with enough clothes to last more than a week. Jason had mentioned marriage and the mere mention of the word frightened her more than staring down the bore of a loaded gun. The man who’d held her to his heart appeared too good to be true. It had been the same with Larry before she had exchanged vows and took his name. However, things would be different with her and Jason because they would live together first, and if it didn’t work out, then they would go their separate ways to live separate lives.

  * * *

  Greer was surprised when their date began with a visit to a local nondenominational Christian church. She’d been raised to attend services every Sunday with her mother, brother and grandmother, and her father whenever he wasn’t working, but lately she’d been what her late grandmother would’ve called a backslider. Jason told her that he’d been raised Catholic, had taken all the sacraments, had been an altar server and that old habits were hard to break. Even if he’d stayed out Saturday nights, arriving home at sunrise, he’d always stopped by a church to hear mass or say a prayer. Both of them complained of hunger by the time the service ended, although there were sweet rolls, bagels, coffee and tea for the churchgoers to enjoy before and after the service.

  The rain that had tapered off started again as everyone raced to their cars. Greer sat beside Jason staring at the torrents slashing the windshield. She shivered noticeably until Jason turned up the heat inside the vehicle.

  Resting his arm over the back her chair, Jason’s eyes made love to Greer’s profile. “Where do you want to eat?”

  “I wanted to go into Portland and eat at this café with outdoor dining, but that’s not going to happen with this weather.” She turned to meet his stare. “Why don’t we go home and fix something together before I start Sunday dinner?”

  Jason ran the back of his hand over her cheekbone. “Are you certain that’s what you want to do?”

  She gave him a tender smile. “Yes. I like lazing around in the house whenever it’s raining.”

  Jason removed his arm, shifting into Reverse as he backed out of the parking space. “Home it is.”

  Within minutes of walking into Serenity West, Greer changed out of a pair of navy-blue tailored slacks, red jacket, a white silk blouse and black patent leather kitten heels and into yoga pants, a loose-fitting T-shirt and flip-flops. When Jason joined her in the kitchen, he’d exchanged his slacks and sweater for a pair of paint-spattered walking shorts, T-shirt and leather sandals. She glanced at his hair, noticing the ends were beginning to curl over his ears.

  “What do you feel like eating?” she asked, opening the refrigerator’s French doors and checking bins filled with fruits and vegetables.

  He stood at the coffeemaker, grinding beans. “It all depends on what you’re making for Sunday dinner.”

  Greer peered over her shoulder. “What do you want for dinner?”

  “Anything, baby.”

  She glared at him. “That’s not telling me what you want.”

  “Chicken or fish. It’s your call.”

  Opening the freezer drawer, Greer found plastic bags labeled with their contents and wrapped in butcher paper. She picked up a package of chicken cutlets. “I’ll make chicken marsala, roasted vegetables and linguine with garlic and oil.” The double wine rack on the countertop was stocked with wines ranging from whites to full-bodied burgundies.

  “That sounds good.”

  They’d settled on dinner but now she had to decide what to prepare for brunch. “Do you eat grits?” she asked Jason as the aroma of brewing coffee filled the kitchen.

  Folding his arms over his chest, Jason found himself awed by the sight of a woman moving around his kitchen. The scene of domesticity would be imprinted in his memory forever. It was definitely something he could very quickly get used to.

  “Does a cat lick its whiskers?”

  She smiled, scrunching up her nose. “I take it that’s an affirmative.”

  “Can I help you with anything?”

  “I could use your help dicing an onion and green pepper.”

  “Are you making shrimp and grits?”

  “No. I’m going to make red gravy with sausage. Once the pork is cooked, I’ll remove it from the casing and add it to the sautéed onion and pepper.”

  Jason pumped his fist. “Da-yum!” he crowed. “What have I done to deserve someone like you?”

  “If you don’t know, then I can’t tell you,” she teased.

  Greer couldn’t explain, even though she’d agreed to live with Jason, why she felt more married to him than she had in the two years she was married to Larry. She rarely cooked because Larry utilized the services of a cook that had prepared his meals before they were married. He had a very sensitive stomach and required a bland diet. Greer had found herself adding condiments to what she considered barely palatable dishes. It had been another reason why she’d been so thin. After several bites, she found it impossible to finish even the smallest portion.

  The coffee finished its brewing cycle, and Jason topped it off with steamed milk drizzled with pure Mexican cocoa syrup. He gave the first cup to Greer, kissing her forehead. “Enjoy.”

  She took a sip, her eyebrows lifting a fraction. “Nice. Why does your coffee always taste so good?”

  Jason brewed another cup for himself. “The beans are Jamaica Blue Mountain.”

  “It’s no wonder. It’s the most expensive coffee in the world.”

  “Yes. But I get a family discount because Cole-Diz International Ltd. has coffee plantations in Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Mexico. A couple years ago they bought a large share of Regina’s husband’s coffee plantation in Bahia, Brazil.”

  “I thought Aaron was a pediatrician.”

  Turning slowly, complete shock freezing his features, Jason stared at Greer. “Do you remember everything I say to you?”

  She lifted her shoulders under the oversize white T-shirt. “I told you before, I’m a good listener.”

  Jason shook his head. “No, Greer, it’s more than that.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “I have an uncle who remembers everything he sees and hears.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Greer knew she sounded defensive because she preferred Jason to be direct rather than evasive.

  “I’m saying, like my uncle Joshua, you have the ability of total recall. He attended West Point, and after graduating, he was recruited for army intelligence because of his special gift and the fact he was fluent in five languages other than English. Tell me now.
Am I living with an intelligence agent?”

  Greer rolled her eyes. “You’re either addicted to Homeland or you’ve seen too many James Bond movies.”

  “Why are you avoiding the question?”

  “I’m not avoiding it, Jason. And, no, I’m not an intelligence agent. Does that answer your question?”

  The tightness around Jason’s mouth deepened. “No, it doesn’t. You told me you took French in high school and college, yet you claim you can remember only a few words.”

  Greer cursed Jason for his perceptiveness. He may not have total recall, but it was apparent he did have above-average intelligence. This was evident when he was able to play any piece without sheet music. “I hated French. I used to tune out the lessons. I learned enough to pass, and I didn’t care if it lowered my GPA.”

  “Why didn’t you take another language?”

  “I had a choice between Spanish, Italian and German, and by the time I wanted to change my schedule, it was too late. The other classes were filled, so I was stuck with French. Can you please take out an onion and a green pepper and dice them?” she asked, deftly steering the topic away from her.

  Jason gave her a snappy salute. “Yes, ma’am.” Picking up the remote, he turned on the receiver with the iPod programmed with more than a thousand of his favorite music selections. He sang under his breath to Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar” as he peeled the onion and diced it.