“How did it go?” Traci asked rushing up to him. “When can we see Cherise and the babies?”
“Everything went perfectly,” Lee grinned. “Kade and Duncan are beautiful. Cherise is doing perfect. The nurses are getting them cleaned up and taking Cherise to a room. Give them a few minutes and then everyone can see my handsome sons and beautiful wife.”
Brad stood towards the back watching all of his brothers talking to their wives and he was thrilled for Lee and couldn’t wait until he got to see his new nephews, but he was a little envious that it wasn’t him standing there.
Lee got his wish for Christmas with the additions of his sons. He’d be damned if he wasn’t going to get his too. After he saw the babies and congratulated his brother along with Cherise he was going to put his Christmas wish into motion. Because the time was running out with Christmas fast approaching.
Chapter Forty
Christmas Eve
Walking around the kitchen, Alicia enjoyed a glass of eggnog as a batch of Christmas cookies baked in the oven. She had been home for about seven days since her trip to New York and she had to admit that she felt so much better.
All of the nervous energy and not being able to keep anything down had passed. She honestly felt like a new woman and she loved it a lot.
The first night she came back home she had gone into work to see about taping the last part of the Shades of Love special, but Tiffany had informed her that the Brad called the station and told them Cherise had the babies, so it would have to be postponed for a while.
Alicia couldn’t be happier for Lee and Cherise. Without a doubt, those two little boys were going to get a lot of love. She didn’t want to but she did wonder how Brad was doing. When she got home there had been several messages on her phone from him asking to see her, but she hadn’t returned any of them.
She had to stay away from him and that’s why she had made that phone call to him. Brad had jumped to all kinds of conclusions without listening to her. She couldn’t be with a man like that; it didn’t matter how much she still loved him.
The timer for the cookies buzzed and Alicia went over to stove and took them out. As she was setting the cookie tray on the counter the doorbell rang.
Who in the world was that? She wasn’t expecting anyone. All she had planned was to drink eggnog, nibble on warm cookies and relax with by the fireplace. Who had decided to mess with her night?
The doorbell rang again causing Alicia to rush from the kitchen. “I’m coming,” she yelled right before she opened the door.
Brad
Alicia’s eyes widened from shock as her brown eyes connected with a pair of blue eyes that haunted her dreams practically every night.
“Brad,” Alicia whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“Hi, Alicia.” His deep voice sent familiar shivers down her body. “Happy Christmas Eve.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked again.
Alicia was trying her best not to drool at the sight of Brad in his blue jeans, black shirt and leather jacket. He looked almost too good for words. What in the hell was he doing on her porch at eight o’clock at night on Christmas Eve?
“I bought you a present,” he said, holding up a medium box in his hand covered in Santa Claus wrapping paper.
“I don’t know,” she replied, glancing at the box and then back up at him. “I wasn’t expecting you. I think you should go.”
“Please Alicia. Just let me come in for a few minutes.”
Alicia glanced back into her warm, cozy house and then back at Brad. She didn’t know what would happen if she let him inside her home. He had already broken her heart, so why was he here with a present looking too sexy for her to think straight? Well...she might as well let him in to find out.
“Come in.” Alicia moved to the side, so Brad could walk in.
“Thank you,” Brad said as he strolled past her looking gorgeous as usual.
Once he was inside, she closed and locked the door behind them. “So, what can I help you with on this cold night?”
“Can I at least have a seat?” Brad laughed making his blue eyes sparkle. “Will you at least offer me a cookie because they smell delicious?”
“Go right ahead.” Alicia waved toward the couch and waited while Brad took a seat. She moved in the direction of the chair, but Brad’s voice stopped her.
“Will you sit next to me on the couch? It will make it a lot easier for me to give you your present.”
Great! How could she sit that close to him with him smelling so good? Stomping across the room, Alicia took a seat on the couch but she left enough room between them so they weren’t touching.
“Alicia, I love you,” Brad said staring at her with a tense longing in his eyes. “I was a total ass to you and we both know it. I didn’t even give you a chance to defend yourself against what Richard told me. I assumed you were the same woman who had used me to make Max jealous, but you aren’t.
“You’re loving, caring and beautiful. You went out of your way to get me a meeting with Ivan Graf, who by the way agreed yesterday to become my partner in Perfect Match, my new business.”
“Congratulations, Brad. I’m so happy for you. I knew how much you wanted to have your own business,” Alicia said. “I know you will do an outstanding job. Ivan is lucky to have you and that’s all I wanted was for you to get everything you wanted.”
“Well, I only have about twenty-five percent of what I want then,” Brad said as he handed the box to her.
“What is this?” Alicia noticed how heavy the box felt. What in the heck was inside it and should she even open it?
“It’s a present for you and me,” Brad whispered as he slid closer to her on the couch. “Open it.”
A present for both of them? Brad wasn’t making any sense.
“I don’t know. This might be something that I can’t accept since we’re no longer together.”
“Please open the box. I love you and I know you still love me. Just open it.”
Alicia stared into Brad’s face and it was like an open book. She saw the regret, hurt, sadness but most of all she still saw the love there that he felt for her. Her heart jumped in her chest at the thought she might be about to get back what she had with Brad.
Tearing open the box, Alicia stared at the bridal books on the inside and when she glanced back at Brad her hands flew to her mouth as she found him down on one knee with an open ring box in his hand with a diamond the size of a small island.
“Alicia, those books are for you to start planning our future. Baby, I’ve never been so lonely as I was those weeks you weren’t in my life. I kicked myself every day after I tossed you out of my life. I’m hoping you find it your heart to forgive me and overlook me being a jealous ass. I almost let the best thing in my life slip away.”
“Yes, I’ve Perfect Match now, but it won’t be anything if you aren’t there to share in the wealth with me. I love you more than I could ever have thought possible. The years I waited to get you as my girlfriend were worth it, but now I’m ready to take the ultimate leap and make you my wife. Alicia Hart, will you marry me?”
Tossing the box down on the couch, Alicia got down on the floor and wrapped her arms around Brad’s neck. “YES! I would love to become your wife.”
“Thank God!”
Brad took the ring out and dropped the box to the side with the magazines. He slid the ring on her finger and planted a long, slow kiss on her mouth. As he tried to lower her to the floor, she pushed at his shoulders.
“Wait,” she said moving away from him. “I’ve a present for you too.” Getting off the floor, she raced into the kitchen and came back a few seconds later with her hands behind her back.
“How can you have a present for me if you didn’t know I was coming?” Brad asked as he got up off the floor.
“Hey, do you want it or not?” Alicia grinned.
“Of course. Show it to me.”
Moving her hands from behind her back, Alici
a handed the book to Brad. He glanced down at the book and then back at her several times without saying a word making her afraid that he was in shock.
“45,000 Plus Baby Names,” he whispered. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded her head and Brad tossed down the book and yanked her to his body. “Sweetheart, I’m so happy. I promise now that I have you back that I’m never going to let you go.”
“I hope not since we are going to add another new addition to the Drace family next year,” Alicia said as Brad looked down at her with love shining bright in his gorgeous blue eyes.
The End
More Than Friends: Brad Page 17