He grabbed her wrists and held them as he pushed her onto her back, then rolled on top of her. Still holding her wrists, he nibbled on her lips before covering them with his and tasting the inner recesses of her mouth.
Miranda’s giggles soon gave way to a rising passion as she felt his penis come to life against her thigh. As she raised her parted thighs to cocoon the man she loved with her body and felt him slip inside her, she began to feel that he might not have been kidding when he said there would be no sleep…
Chapter 31
Seven Months Later
Angeline Lawson stood hand in hand with her new boyfriend. All was right with the world. What great timing that the new guy in IT she’d had her eye on noticed her just as management threw out that rule about employee dating. They’d only been seeing each other since the summer, but in her heart she felt he was The One.
Now that she was so happy in the season of peace and good will toward men, she felt pretty bad about calling the Integrity Hotline last winter to report Jon Lindbergh and Miranda Rhett in violation of corporate policy. She’d just been so upset when she saw them dancing together at last year’s holiday party at work, because it was apparent to her that they were an item. When she saw them on TV being interviewed after they’d been passengers on a turbulent flight together, she’d been furious and called the hotline that same day. It made her so mad to think that he’d said he was too old for her. Maybe Jon was a little old, but he’d only used that as an excuse. But now she had Eric, and everything was perfect. It hadn’t bothered her a bit when she saw Jon and Miranda dancing at this year’s Christmas party, smiling at each other with obvious fondness in their eyes. She and Eric looked at each other the same way…
Angie had acted out of vindictiveness, but at least the job struck down that silly rule, freeing up Jon and Miranda to see each other openly…and making for no problems when she started dating Eric.
Eric let her hand go when he pulled out his wallet to purchase tickets for the movie. Angie linked her arm through his and let out a dreamy sigh. Sometimes true love couldn’t be denied. Funny how things had a way of working out.
Ralph Holm whistled as he typed out his resignation letter. He’d gotten the director’s position he’d applied for in Fargo. It was just as well that he was leaving Bismarck and memories of his cheating ex-wife. He’d be starting fresh, and he’d finally landed the job he always wanted. Best of all, he didn’t have to grin in the face of that Jon Lindbergh, who’d taken the job he should have gotten.
Ralph had hoped that Jon would have left the company after he reported to the hotline that he was having a relationship with that black girl from the rehab unit. He’d seen that news report. Sure, the girl might have said she was continuing on to Milwaukee while Jon’s destination was Minneapolis, but it was clear to Ralph that they were in the midst of a hot and heavy affair. Their body language gave it away. Jon stood real close to her, and his arm had been around her shoulder. Platonic coworkers wouldn’t take a stance like that.
Ralph had eagerly provided a link to the segment where it was stored on the Internet, then awaited the announcement of Jon’s resignation, poised for his chance to take over the department, but nothing happened. Jon remained employed. Annoyed, Ralph realized that management must have decided that coworkers being on the same flight proved nothing. But last April, when Jon informed the staff that he would be taking a week’s vacation, Ralph had called the rehab unit and asked to speak with the girl he suspected Jon was sleeping with, that Miranda Rhett. Her Voicemail stated she was on vacation for a week…just like Jon. That cinched it for him; there was no way management could ignore a simultaneous vacation, not when suspicions had already been raised. But what did the big bosses do? They announced that employees could date each other if they wanted to, but that no undue influence would be permitted. Jon and Miranda then went public about their relationship.
Maybe it was for the best, he thought. If management hadn’t seen fit to give him the job of director before they hired Jon, they might overlook him again if Jon left. That doggone Kate Conradt would probably never let him live down that mistake he’d made with the budget while he was acting as director. Ralph had been forced to take action and apply for jobs out of town. Now he would begin anew, with a new job in a new city, and hopefully, a special woman. From the looks of things at the corporate Christmas party this year, Jon and Miranda were still an item. Ralph wanted what they had.
And now he could honestly say that he stood a good chance of getting it.
“Gina and I hope you’re enjoying this year’s Snowball,” said a tuxedo-clad Anthony, the co-owner of Hot to Trot Dance Studio, his voice amplified by a microphone. “Tonight is your chance to shine on the dance floor. The orchestra—” he gestured toward the twenty musicians they had hired to provide the music—”will be playing selections for every dance you’ve learned here at Hot to Trot. So whether your class just wrapped up or you took lessons five years ago, this is your night to get on the floor and strut your stuff.” He cleared his throat. “Now, it just happens that the winners of this year’s spring competition, Jon Lindbergh and Miranda Rhett, are here tonight. Maybe with a little prodding we can get them up here for a repeat performance of the routine that won them the trophy, Dancing in the Dark.”
The guests broke out into enthusiastic applause and cheers.
“How about it, Jon and Miranda?” Anthony asked, holding out his hand in invitation.
Jon rose, buttoned his tuxedo jacket, and stood in front of Miranda with his hand outstretched. She looked around at the expectant faces, heard their urgings, and got to her feet. He led her to the center of the floor. The music began, and they began the routine they had practiced all last winter and performed at the competition last May, just days after resolving the issue that had nearly torn them apart. At the competition they had been cheered on by family and friends: Nina and her boyfriend, Birgitta, Jae and Brian, and Chelsea and Ryan. Now it was their fellow classmates and other students at the school who shouted encouragement.
Miranda and Jon moved in the center of the floor, easily falling into the steps of their routine. It felt as natural as walking across a parking lot, and they did it flawlessly. Oohs and ahs sounded from those who hadn’t been present at the competition, and the applause started just before he dipped her for the finale.
Eventually they made it back to their table, which they shared with the other members of their class. They accepted good wishes from everyone as the others got up to dance, leaving them alone at the table. Miranda sat into the chair Jon pulled out for her. “We’ve still got it, Jon,” she said proudly.
“You bet we do. Tell you what. We’ll make coming here an annual thing. Not only will it keep our skills sharp, but it’ll be our chance to dance in front of an audience other than Stormy.” They often danced in the kitchen while cooking, while the dog looked on.
She smiled at him. “I like the sound of that. Our little season together really seems to be stretching out, doesn’t it?”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “Drink your wine.”
Miranda’s eyes sparkled as she reached for her glass, holding it by its stem. She took a sip, and as she lowered the glass she saw a flash of light in the bottom of it. “Oh, no. There’s something in my drink.” She delicately dipped her thumb and index fingers into the liquid. Her mouth dropped open when she pulled out an antique platinum ring, with a large round diamond in the center and three small diamonds in the band on each side. She turned stunned eyes to Jon.
“I hope you like it,” he said casually.
“I don’t know what to say.” She held the ring by its band, awestruck by its beauty.
He reached for her left hand. “That’s easy. Say you’ll marry me, so we can have dancing nights for the rest of our lives.”
“I never thought…never expected…This is so sudden,” Miranda concluded lamely.
Jon chuckled. “That’s the most clichéd thing you said since you told me so
me of your very best friends were white.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Now you have the perfect opportunity to back up those words. So how about it?”
Miranda forced herself to lower the ring. She searched Jon’s face. “You have no idea what a shock this is to me, Jon. I’m comfortable with being in love, but the last I heard, you didn’t believe in marriage.”
He lowered her hand to the tabletop but continued to hold it. “I don’t blame you for being shocked. It came as a huge surprise to me as well. But I’ve been incredibly happy since last winter, and now we’re in winter again. The way I figure, why not keep it going?” He squeezed her hand. “Before you I’d never been in love before, and these last months I’ve been asking myself what I really want out of my life.” He shrugged. “Believe me, I thought about this long and hard, and the conclusion I came to is that what I want out of my life is to spend it with you.”
Miranda blinked back happy tears, but her cautious nature prevailed. “But Jon, we don’t know if we want the same things out of life. We’ve never talked about the future.”
“Why don’t you tell me what it is you want,” he suggested quietly.
She opened her mouth to speak, and the words flowed with surprising ease. “I want to get married. I want my husband to be my best friend. I want fidelity.” She shook her head “Jon, I know I have all your attention now, but I also know you’ve dated a lot of women, including one who was married. It’s important to me that you make a complete and lasting commitment.”
“Miranda, from the day I decided I wanted to spend the winter with you, there’s been no one else. I had to take many a cold shower while I was trying to get you to change your mind. You satisfy me totally, both in bed and out of it. I’ve never experienced that before, either, and when you have a relationship like that there’s no need to stray.”
She swallowed hard, knowing in her heart that he meant every word. A quick look at the center floor revealed that their table-mates were still dancing. “What about children?” she asked. “I look at my brother and sister-in-law, and Brian and Jae, and I can’t help feeling envious. All their jokes about how no one sleeps with a baby in the house aside, they all look so happy.” Miranda’s nephew would be having his first birthday in another month, while Brian and Jae’s daughter had been born the week before Thanksgiving. “I do want children, Jon. Two, a boy and a girl.”
“Well, I can’t make any promises about gender, but I would love to have children with you, Legs.”
She felt as if she would burst with happiness, but there was one more thing she had to know. “Do you want to raise them here in Bismarck? Much as I like it here, there’s just not a lot of the diversity that growing children really need.”
He was silent for a moment. “I hadn’t thought of that, but I think you’re right. Our children may have some unique issues that neither of us can really relate to. We owe it to them to raise them in the most healthy environment possible. And it’ll be nice to have some family around, too, so I guess the obvious choices would be the Minneapolis metro area or Greater Milwaukee. But we don’t have to put the house up for sale just yet, do you think?”
She’d been holding her breath, having been a little worried that relocation might be a deal breaker for Jon, who loved it here in Bismarck. Now she laughed, the anxious moment having passed. “No, of course not. We’ve got plenty of time for that. It won’t be an issue until they’re ready to start school. But these are the things we have to discuss now rather than later, to make sure we’re in agreement.”
He kissed the back of her hand. “Like we said last spring, it’s all about keeping communication open.”
“I’m so happy, Jon.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “There’s so much to think about, like where we’ll be married…who our attendants will be…hey, is Garrett still dating Cliff’s daughter?”
“Last I heard. Why?”
“No biggie. I just thought he might be good for Aislinn. What a coincidence that is, your good friend dating the daughter of your mother’s boyfriend,” Miranda mused. “However do you suppose they met?”
“My understanding is that Garrett went by the studio to see my mother about something, and Amanda was there with her daughter. She caught his eye, and he asked Mor to introduce him to her. I’m just glad he’s got his own girl, so he can leave mine alone,” he said with a chuckle. “Uh, do all your questions mean your answer is yes?”
Miranda gingerly picked up the ring from the table and broke into a happy grin. “Absolutely and unequivocally. I’d love to marry you, Jon Lindbergh.”
He took the ring from her, and with his eyes glued to hers, he took her left hand. They both watched as he slipped it on her finger.
It was a perfect fit.
“It’s amazing that you got the right size,” she said.
“Not so amazing. I grabbed one of your rings and traced the inside of it on a piece of paper.” He brushed his lips over both her finger and her ring.
They smiled at each other warmly, then simultaneously leaned toward each other, sharing the briefest of kisses.
“Hey, you two,” Helene Linehan said and she, her husband Mitch, and the others returned to the table. “You going to sit out the rest of the night and let all this dreamy music go to waste?”
Miranda quickly slipped her arm through Jon’s, sliding her hand beneath his. She wasn’t ready to announce her engagement, not until her friends and family knew about it first.
“Why not? We already got the trophy,” Jon joked. “As a matter of fact,” he said as he slid his chair back and got to his feet, “I think I’ll take both of my prizes and call it a night.” In a swift action he bent, lifted Miranda and swung her over his shoulder, just as he had done that night at the bowling lanes last fall, and again last spring when they made up. Miranda barely had time to grab her purse from the table as Jon carried her out of the room with long strides, as their fellow dancers looked on in astonishment.
He draped Miranda’s coat over her like a sheet and hung his own over his free shoulder, then carried her out into the bitterly cold December night, careful to avoid the patches of ice in the parking lot from the most recent snowstorm.
“You really like carrying me off like this, don’t you?” Miranda asked.
“But this time it’s different. Tonight I’m bringing you some place neither one of us has ever been before.”
“Oh, yeah? And where might that be?”
He remotely unlocked the Equinox doors and settled her in the passenger seat. “Into the sunset,” he said, his eyes fastened on hers. “Where you and I will live happily ever after. We’ll be following a well-established path in your family, and setting a new one in mine.”
He bent and kissed her lips, then went around to the driver side, started the engine, and drove them into their future.
The End…
…but keep reading for an excerpt from bestselling author Angie Daniels’ sexy contemporary romance Say My Name, as well as excerpts from three of Bettye Griffin’s contemporary romances!
Have You Read These Other Books
by Bettye Griffin?
Women’s Fiction Titles still available
TROUBLE DOWN THE ROAD
A NEW KIND OF BLISS
ONCE UPON A PROJECT
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR
Contemporary Romance Titles still available
A LOVE OF HER OWN
THE HEAT OF HEAT
SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST
About the author
Bettye Griffin is the author of eleven contemporary romances and six works of women’s fiction. Originally from Yonkers, New York, she now makes her home in Southeast Wisconsin.
You can contact Bettye through her web site, www.bettyegriffin.com, or the old-fashioned way at P.O. Box 580156, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158.
A Note to the Reader
A Kiss of a Diffe
rent Color is my third original contemporary romance I have published independently. If you enjoyed this story about a woman whose frightening but economically necessary move to the prairie landscape and harsh climate of North Dakota changes her life forever, please feel free to share your high opinion with other readers, either orally or in the form of a written review on Amazon, BN.com, Goodreads, or Shelfari!
Through Bunderful Books (because good writing is always in fashion), I plan to continue bringing you brand-new stories of both women’s fiction and contemporary romance, as well as re-releases of previously published novels.
Please visit my self-named website (www.bettyegriffin.com) and that of Bunderful Books (www.bunderfulbooks.com), to stay current with the latest news on upcoming books, and please do “like” the Bunderful Books page on Facebook.
As always, I wish you good reading! But it’s not over yet…keep reading for an excerpt from Angie Daniels’s exciting novel Say My Name, available in all eBook formats. Enjoy!
Bettye
A Kiss of a Different Color Page 32