Once in the master bedroom she now shared with Cord, Stacey sat on the edge of the bed and tried to sort things out. Cord told her again last night in no uncertain terms he wasn’t ready for this. She should pack and go home. Knowing how he felt about family and kids, she knew he would feel obligated to marry her. But he couldn’t if he didn’t know.
Having made her decision, she was packing when she heard the entry door buzzing as someone entered. Stacey hoped she would be gone before he got back.
“Sweetheart, what are you doing?” Cord stopped short when he saw the open suitcase on the bed and her tossing clothes in.
“I need to go home—for a while,” she managed then the tears started flowing down her face in spite of her efforts to hold them back.
“But why? What’s wrong? Is it Lucy or Sam?” Cord moved up behind her and reached to turn her toward him. He saw the tears and really became worried.
Stacey pulled away abruptly and moved to the other side of the bed. She couldn’t do this if he touched her. “They’re fine, but I—I miss them. I want to go home for a while and think about all of this. I can’t go on like an irresponsible teenager. I have a job and a life to get back to. It’s time to face reality. I’m sorry you spent the money for the ring.” Stacey jerked it off her finger, brought it around the bed, and held it out to him. “Maybe the jeweler will give you your money ba-ck,” her voice broke and she sobbed harshly.
“Parker, that’s a bunch of bull and you know it. For an honest person, you just told an unholy pack of lies,” he grinned, slamming the door closed. Then he knocked the suitcase off the bed, grabbed her, and started kissing her.
Struggling at first, Stacey quickly gave in to the familiar rush of feelings flooding through her at his touch.
Cord’s demanding mouth on hers elicited a passionate, almost desperate response and he urged her backward, lowering her to the bed. After several more kisses, she was clinging and moaning in his arms. He rose up slightly to look into her sad, damp face.
“What made you think I would let you leave me?” he asked hoarsely. Even though he knew something was very wrong, it still hurt.
“I have to, Cord. It’s for the best, even if I don’t want to,” she sobbed and tried to hide her face in his shirt.
“Why? Is it something the doctor said? Oh, God, Stacey. Are you really sick? Some kind of serious illness? Have I hurt you?” His face paled and he touched her cheek gently.
“No, nothing like that,” she whispered and reached up to place her hand along the side of this fierce face she loved so much. “You could never hurt me. But there is a problem. I need to go home to work it out.”
“What did the doctor say?” He tangled his hand in her hair and wouldn’t let her look away. “You are not going anywhere until you tell me. Is it something serious? Do we have to stop sleeping together? I can take that if I have to. For God’s sake, what is it, Stacey?”
The tears started falling faster again and she took a deep breath. “We don’t have to worry about messing up and I don’t need birth control,” she blurted out and closed her eyes to avoid his intent gaze.
“You can’t have children? It’s okay...”
“Cord, stop.” She used both hands and pushed him away from her so she could sit up. Men could be so dense. Angrily she blurted, “I’m already pregnant. I’m not sure when it happened. You were always so careful at first.” Her anger quickly died and she went on, “I’m sorry, Cord. I’ll go back to Idaho. No one here has to know. Mom and dad will help me and you can visit the baby whenever you want, if you want to be included. I’ll deal with this. I’m accepting full responsibility. I should have been more adult and seen a doctor before I came here. I knew what was likely to happen.”
Cord moved away farther and fell back on the bed. A baby? It must have happened that first time he messed up after the shower. I’m going to be a father. My woman is carrying my baby. Instead of the fear and desperation he expected to feel, warmth, pride, and a possessiveness that was totally unbelievable swept through his whole body.
Stacey moved to get off the bed. It cut her to the quick when he pulled away from her. “I’ll finish packing and call the airport—Cord, what are you doing?”
He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her down to lie on top of him. He played with her hair and tugged her face down to his for a sweet, tender kiss. “We’ll go visit your parents if you want to. As a matter of fact, the lodge would be the perfect place for our honeymoon. I’m sure your mom would be glad to help with the plans.”
“No, Cord,” she argued trying to push away, but he refused to let her. “I don’t want it this way. You shouldn’t have to...”
“Stacey, listen to me. I don’t have to. We could do it your way if that’s how we really wanted it. I know you could make it. I’m not good with telling people—how I feel. Expressing emotions—well, that’s always been hard for me. But I know I want you with me and I’ve tried to show you, even if I couldn’t say it. The weeks we were apart were the worst time of my life. And now, I get this extra bonus. My baby is growing inside you. I can’t believe I’m saying this either, but I want it all, Stacey. You could raise our child and do a great job of it, but I want to be part of it. If you leave me, I will follow you and hound you until you change your mind. Am I making myself clear, Parker?”
“Are you trying to say you do love me, McConnell?” she asked hesitantly and stared into his warm brown eyes.
“Yeah, I think that’s what I’m saying. And we are getting married, soon,” he told her in a tone that would accept no argument.
“You know you are eventually going to have to say the words,” she smiled through her tears and gave him a kiss.
“I’d much rather show you. I’ve always been a man of action,” he teased and rolled her beneath him.
CHAPTER 21
A week later Cord and Stacey flew to Idaho with a very thrilled Stanley in tow.
Her mom and dad greeted Cord as if he were already their son when they arrived.
Stacey had asked Lucy for help and they flew into a flurry of activity to get everything ready. Stacey was trying to decide what to do about a dress when Lucy dragged her up to the attic. Opening an old wardrobe in the corner, her mom pulled out an ivory wedding gown. Stacey remembered finding the gown as a child and knew it was her grandmother’s.
Lucy didn’t get to wear it because she and Sam eloped. “Try it on, honey,” Lucy insisted with a gentle smile.
It fit like it was made for her. “Oh, mom, are you sure you want me to wear it? It’s so beautiful.” Stacey wiped away tears as her mother did up the buttons in the back for her.
“I’m sure, honey, but only if you want to.” They hugged and cried a little more then got back to the wedding arrangements.
Stacey chose the lobby in front of the fountain as the location for the wedding ceremony. She arranged for several baskets of white roses to be delivered and ordered tiny white rosebuds and baby’s breath for her bouquet. The dining room with the French doors opening onto the back deck would be used for the reception. Wanting to keep things simple, Stacey decided on luncheon finger foods and desserts instead of a formal dinner.
At Stacey’s request Stanley immediately began helping the chef at the lodge prepare the food for the reception. They got along like long-lost friends as they compared recipes and, to Stacey’s delight, quickly provided enough food to feed an army.
Cord put in a special call to Senator Whitmire, when Stacey handed over the responsibility of finding someone to perform the ceremony to him. The senator gladly agreed to officiate over the ceremony and to bring Ricky and Don with him to the festivities.
Stacey finally tracked down the Haley’s at Morris’ brother’s ranch in Texas. As soon as Cathy came to the phone she said, “Cathy, I’m getting married.”
There was total silence for a minute, then an ear-splitting screech. “You’re what?”
“I’m marrying Cord on Sunday afternoon and if you want
to be my attendant, you’d better get back here,” Stacey told her best friend. Stacey held the phone away from her ear as Cathy shouted the news to Morris and everyone within a ten mile radius. “You’re sure? I mean you haven’t bumped your head or anything? This Sunday, really?” Cathy’s questions almost tumbled over each other.
“I’m sure. I’m even wearing an engagement ring. No, I haven’t bumped my head, but I am deeply, blissfully in love if that counts as the anything. And yes this Sunday. Can you be here? And wear the turquoise dress you wore to the charity thing last summer?”
“Hold on, I have to tell Morris again. I think he fainted.” Stacey laughed and heard Cathy and Morris discussing her news at the other end of the line.
“Stacey, Morris says he has to see this. We’ll be there by Saturday at the latest,” Cathy promised.
* * * * *
Stacey was happy the sun was shining Sunday afternoon. Her mom helped her into the antique ivory satin wedding gown and did up the long row of fabric covered buttons in the back. Cathy brushed her hair and helped adjust the beautiful lace veil over the strawberry curls she left loose at Cord’s request. With a quick hug, Stacey shooed them out to take their places. She was ready to marry her black knight.
Her father offered his arm and they walked down the stairs to the landing. “You’re sure about this, honey?”
“Yes, daddy. I love him,” Stacey said simply.
“Okay, let’s get you married off, then.” Sam escorted her down the remaining steps.
Cathy waited at the foot of the stairs and preceded her slowly through the lobby to the sounds of the traditional Wedding March playing softly in the background.
When Stacey’s eyes met Cord’s as he waited for her near the fountain, she forgot to be nervous. Those chocolate brown eyes spoke of his love for her and almost burned her with passion everywhere they lingered. She couldn’t wait to get to him.
Cord obviously felt the same way as he took several steps toward her. Her father took her hand from his arm and placed it in Cord’s outstretched hand. Cord and Stacey took the last steps to stand before Senator Whitmire together, hands clasped tightly.
As the senator performed the traditional ceremony, Cord and Stacey gave their responses and repeated their vows clearly and solemnly. When it was time for the ring, Cord turned to Stanley who was honored to serve as best man.
Stanley very carefully placed the ring in Cord’s hand then stepped back.
Cord added the gold wedding band set with small sapphires to the ring already on Stacey’s finger and said, “With this ring, I thee wed. Be it a symbol of my pledge to you this day.” Then he placed a kiss on her ring finger.
Stacey surprised Cord by turning to Cathy and accepting a ring. She reached for his left hand and placed a wide silver band on his finger. “With this ring, I thee wed. Be it a symbol of my eternal love and my pledge never-ending.” Stacey leaned toward him and whispered so only he could hear, “and to keep the she-wolves away.”
Cord fought back a laugh as they turned to face the Senator once again. “By the powers vested in me and under the laws of God and man, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
As they kissed, Cord whispered, “You still never fail to surprise me, Parker.”
“If you would face your family and guests, please,” the Senator instructed. When they did as he requested, he announced, “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Cord McConnell.”
Sam and Lucy were the first ones to reach them for hugs and kisses then they were overwhelmed with congratulations and hugs and kisses. Stacey couldn’t remember all the names or even the faces after the first few minutes. Several people she didn’t know were Cord’s guests and every guest and employee of the lodge attended. She did get to hug Don and Ricky and speak to them a few minutes as they all went into the reception. Marcus and Marie were already at the dessert table, she saw, stuffing down cookies.
Halfway through the reception, Cord could stand it no longer and whisked her away to the honeymoon suite upstairs. He hung out the Do Not Disturb sign. With the excuse that she looked tired and should go to bed, he carefully removed her ivory satin wedding gown with the lace trim and seed pearls. He slid off her one-piece teddy and her hose. Slowly and methodically, he kissed every inch of her exposed skin until she was wild for him. Their first time together as man and wife was exhaustingly, explosively perfect.
Cord snuggled with her afterward and decided it was time to bring up his surprise. “Are you ready for your wedding present?”
“Wasn’t that it?” Stacey murmured into his shoulder.
“No, that was my wedding present,” he chuckled.
“Okay, McConnell. Where’s my present?” She lifted her head and looked at him. He had a happy smile on his face. He looked years younger.
“Well, Mrs. McConnell—I like that. Mrs. McConnell. Yes, I really like that. It has a nice sound to it, don’t you think?” he teased.
“Cord, tell me. What’s my wedding present?” She reached out and gently pulled the hair on his chest. “What did you get me?” When he didn’t answer she tugged harder.
“Ouch. Okay, okay,” he laughed and caught her hand so she couldn’t do any more damage. “I’m changing jobs. I don’t want to be away from you and the baby. I’m getting too old for fieldwork. An old friend needed a partner for a new international security firm he wants to start. You met him downstairs.”
“That tall man with the blond crew-cut? The very polite one with the funny name?” At Cord’s nod, she went on, “But you don’t have to stop doing what you love. You’re giving up so much for us already,” Stacey protested as she rose up to look into his eyes.
“Yeah, like being alone, living in stark, cold rooms, being called away at all hours to who knows where, dirt, sand, sweat, getting shot, and wondering if I’ll make it home to you again. I think I can give up those things without too much trouble,” he grinned. “Sweetheart, I’ve put in my time and I’m ready for a home. That meeting last week was about drawing up the partnership agreement. I agreed to sign before I ever found out about the baby. The final hold-up was the two of us agreeing to train a team to take my place going after kids, but we worked it out. You sealed the deal for me. When you let me slide my ring on your finger without any hesitation, I knew I would never be the same again. I can’t take the chance of getting killed now. I have too much to live for. Will you still want me—and love me when I work in an office all day?”
“Just try to make me stop loving you. I love you, not your job, McConnell. And I love the idea of you being close instead of off in some foreign country risking your life. Where will this company be located?”
“New York, at first anyway. If it’s successful, we’ll open an office in Dallas later. Do you think you can live in New York City for a while?”
“Hey, I’m trained in survival. As long as you love me, I can survive anywhere,” she assured the love of her life.
Cord put his forehead to hers, took a deep breath, gazed into her deep blue eyes and whispered, “I love you, Stacey Parker McConnell.”
Not the end, but a new beginning...
# # # # #
Meet the Author:
Rebecca J. Vickery has been married to the same very patient man for 34 years. She has one son and three wonderful grandchildren. Her black toy poodle, Dixie, thinks she is actually a fourth grandchild and expects to be treated accordingly.
She lives in South Carolina, USA, and slips away to go camping at Myrtle Beach whenever possible. Long walks on the beach help her to unwind and often ignite her imagination with new stories.
She enjoys the challenge of adding a special twist to her stories of romance. Usually they involve the paranormal, mystery, adventure, suspense, or a bit of fantasy along the way to a happy ever after ending.
Recently Mrs. Vickery has branched out into speculative fiction and has several short stories published in that genre. Soon she will be writing romance short stories for publication
in anthologies through Victory Tales Press.
You may visit Rebecca at these sites online:
www.romancewithatwist.com
rebeccajvickery.webs.com
www.rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com
victorytalespress.lefora.com
She loves to hear from readers and fellow authors.
Surviving With Love Page 34