“Rick.” Tears pricking her eyes, she looked up at him. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to shame you, I didn’t—”
Reaching out, he jerked her into his arms and kissed her. Hard. Deep. Long. And in the background, above the pounding of her heart, she heard the clapping. One clap, two, more than obvious by the whoops that accompanied the clapping that Nancy and Tim thoroughly approved. Then she heard nothing as Rick’s presence swept her away, his arms so strong around her, cradling her close, keeping her safe.
When he lifted his mouth from hers, she had to cling to him because her knees shook.
“I am so proud of you.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“I couldn’t be prouder.”
“I’m pressing charges!” A furious voice shrieked from their left.
Cherry turned her head to see Annabelle standing with a towel wrapped around her slim body, her hair bedraggled, her dress a ruin, her make-up running down her face. Her father, the General Surgeon, stood beside her. He was furious, his face red, his lips pressed tight. Mrs. Forbes was as white as a sheet.
“You assaulted me, Cherry Williams!” Annabelle accused shrilly. “I’m pressing charges!”
“Shut up, Annabelle,” her father growled.
“She pushed me in the pool!”
“How about counter charges of verbal abuse?” He snapped back at her. “We heard everything, Annabelle. Your mother and I are so ashamed of you.”
“But, Dad—”
“You’re not pressing charges against an innocent woman. You’re not going to ruin anyone’s life or career. Let’s go.”
“But—”
“You’ve done enough damage to your standing in society, girl, now shut the hell up and get in the damn car!” Grabbing her arm, he hustled her through the archway.
Dr Clarke inclined her head regally at Cherry, a small smile hovering around her usually set mouth, and then she, too, left the courtyard with Mr. Shaw by her side. The remaining few guests trailed behind until the only two other people standing in the courtyard apart from Cherry and Rick, were Tim, who gave Cherry the thumbs-up, and Nancy, who was giggling.
Cherry glanced up at Rick. “Um…”
“Well, you know how to make a lasting impression on people.” A dark brow quirked in amusement.
“I’m usually really well behaved.” The adrenaline was starting to fade and she leaned against him, tucking her head under his chin. “I promise.”
Strong arms cradled her close and the familiar feeling of safety swept through her. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes.
“So.” His voice rumbled in her ear. “You love me and you’re going to keep me, hmm?”
Cherry froze, her eyes popping open. She had said that! He’d heard everything, including that part!
“That’s good to know,” he continued. “It sort of tops my announcement, though.”
“You-you’re announcement?”
“I was going to say that I know it’s only been a short time since we met, but I’ve fallen in love with you and want you to marry me. But I like your way of announcing it much better.”
Stunned, Cherry tilted her head back to gaze up at Rick. He smiled down at her, and his eyes were so full of love that her heart practically melted on the spot. “You love me?”
“Every yummy bit of you, Cherry. So, will you marry me? Shall we do the whole thing – love, marriage, and a baby carriage?”
“Oh, Rick.” She thought her heart would burst with happiness. “You really love me?”
“Maybe I should be asking if you really love me.” He regarded her soberly. “Nancy saw Annabelle coming into the courtyard, and she heard Annabelle plan with her date to get me away. The phone call was just to ensure you were alone so she could verbally savage you. Nancy caught up with me in the house and told me, and I hurried back here with Dr Clarke right on my heels. Obviously we attracted some attention. I guess running will do that.” He didn’t smile at the memory. “We heard Annabelle’s vicious words, and I was already coming to your rescue, but Tim held me back. He knew she’d be up to something, and he wanted her to hang herself with her own words, which she did. But God, Cherry, when I saw your face, the hurt in your eyes…” He hugged her tight, burying his face in her neck. “I could only pray it was worth it.”
“I’m fine.” She hugged him back. “Really.”
“I’m so damned proud of you, love. You stood up to that jealous bitch and you showed her that you’re worth more than a hundred of her put together. I have never been so proud in my life.”
She laughed a little. “I can’t promise to be brave all the time.”
“You’re the bravest woman I know.” He kissed her neck softly, sending flickers of flame through her. “You know what’s important, and you pick your battles. You faced up Dr Clarke when you knew you were right.”
“I shook like a leaf the whole time.”
“You stood up for what’s right. You always do.” Lifting his head, Rick cupped her cheeks in his hands and rubbed the tip of his nose against hers. “And you’re mine, now and forever.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to marry you.”
“Too bad. You’re going to.”
Cherry laughed.
~*~
Chewing her bottom lip, Cherry gazed out at the night beyond the curtains. Rain pattered lightly on the pane, and she watched the rivulets run down the window.
“Everything all right, love?”
She turned from the window and smiled at the man leaning back against the pillows in her - their - bed, a book in his lap. Rick watched her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Frizz and Sugar slept soundly at the end of the bed. Her cats had accepted him, being won over by his spoiling of them. There was a definite attachment between them all now. She smiled as she crossed to the bed and crawled in beside him.
Immediately his arm came around her. “Want to talk about anything?”
“No.”
“Work okay?”
“Work’s fine. Everything’s fine, Rick.” Picking up her own book, she kissed his cheek and rested her head on his arm. Opening the book, she started to read.
Or tried to, but the niggling problem bugging her affected her concentration.
“You’re sighing,” he said.
“Am I? Sorry.” After she’d stared at the same page for at least five minutes while internally wrestling with her problem, Rick flipped his book shut and did the same to hers. Startled, she looked at him.
Calmly folding his arms, Rick arched a brow at her. “Spill.”
“Pardon?”
“Something’s bothering you. Tell me.”
“It’s nothing. It’s just…nothing.” When he continued to simply gaze steadily at her, she turned in the bed to face him and knelt on her knees. Grabbing the cover between her fingers, she started to wring it nervously. She couldn’t keep the damned secret any longer. “Promise you won’t be mad.”
“Sounds ominous.”
“It’s not good, what I’m about to tell you.”
“Really?”
Heart sinking, she nodded. Damn this bloody secret. Damn Susie. “I’m going to tell you something that’s going to piss you off, I just know it.”
“No point beating about the bush then. Tell me, I’ll be pissed off, then we can get back to normal almost immediately. Because I really want to boink you right now.” He grinned wickedly. “I can wait a few minutes to calm down.”
“This is no joking matter, Rick.”
“I might get mad, Cherry, but I won’t stop loving you. And I won’t stop wanting to boink you. So confess and let’s be done with it.” He arched that brow again. “And why the confession time, anyway?”
“We’re getting married next week. I don’t want this to come between us later.”
“Love, the only thing coming between us is these covers.”
“Rick.”
“Okay. ‘Fess up, Cherry, what did you do?”
&
nbsp; She wrung the cover between her fingers. “Not really me. It was Susie, I swear.”
“Tattling on your friends?”
Exasperated, she glared at him.
Rick mimed zipping his mouth shut and throwing away the key. His eyes twinkled with amusement, but she had no doubt that amusement wasn’t going to last long.
“She had you investigated,” Cherry blurted in a rush, wanting the whole sordid confession finished. “To see if you liked big women.” She held her breath, waiting for the indignant fury.
“Is that all?” Rick drawled. “I knew that.”
“Huh?” She stared at him.
“Susie’s cousin is one of my friends. I knew as soon as she’d done it.”
“I feel like such a fool.” Cherry collapsed face forward on the bed and groaned into the cover. “I’m going to kill her.”
A big hand rubbed her back comfortingly. “Now, now, love. She had your best interests at heart.”
“How can you be so accepting of it?”
“Because I knew why she’d done it. It made sense when I saw how you were around me. Sure, initially I was pissed off, but my friend told me why she wanted me investigated and I admire her.”
“But he took photos of your family.” She peeked up at him.
Rick shrugged.
“You admire her?” She came up on her elbows. “Truly?”
“She’s a little weird, your Susie, a little overprotective of her friends, but I can live with that.” He waggled his brows at her. “Now you’ve made the confession, I get to give you the punishment.”
She rolled her eyes. “Paging Doctor Discipline, are we?”
He shoved the covers back. “I’ve a better idea.”
“Do tell?”
“Mmmm.” He rolled onto his side and grinned wickedly at her. “I’m the male escort and you’re the virgin.”
She blushed.
He patted the bed invitingly. “Now don’t be shy, miss, I’ll make sure your first time is enjoyable.” His eyes glittered. “For both of us.”
She had no doubt about that, going by the impressive bulge in his boxers. Falling into the game, she raised one brow haughtily. “You owe me.”
“Pardon?”
“I paid four hundred dollars before, and I didn’t get that back. So this better be good, stud.”
“You cheeky chit!” Rick dived for her.
Cherry squealed and tried to back away, but he was faster, lunging forward to grab her arms and pulling her down, rolling them both fast so that she was beneath him.
She couldn’t stop laughing as he growled into her neck and gave her loud, smacking kisses.
Dimly she heard Frizz and Sugar thump down off the bed, no doubt disgruntled at having their peace disturbed, but then her focus was on those wicked lips butterfly-kissing her jaw line.
“I don’t think escorts are supposed to do this.” She giggled.
“Change of game.” His hand was at the hem of her nightgown, tugging it up. “We’re back to doctor.”
“Doctor Discipline?” She blew in his ear, grinning when he groaned and thrust against her, his heavy erection pressing against her thigh.
“Not discipline.” His tongue swept up her throat and he nipped the pulse pounding beneath the fragile skin. “Honey, you’re the doctor’s delight, and I’m going to eat you up.” He lifted his head and his grin was decidedly wolfish. “Be prepared to be devoured.”
####
Biography
Angela Verdenius lives in Australia, where she is ruled by her cats, adores reading, and thinks a perfect day is writing and drinking Diet Coke, followed by reading or a good horror movie.
To date, she has written 18 novels, 2 novellas, and several short stories. Her books have won many reviewers’ awards, as well as having been on the Fictionwise best-seller list and winning the Golden Rose Award.
Visit her website at http://www.angelaverdenius.com/,
her blog at http://angelaverdenius.blogspot.com/
and at Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/angelaverdenius
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