New Beginnings

by Lori Maguire

  “The devil herself,” I mumbled, glancing down at my watch. It was just 1:15. “You got time to grab a quick something to eat?” I asked Devlin.

  “Sure. You gonna tell me what the devil herself was doing in Neiman Marcus shooting you a look to kill?”

  “Sure. Let me get out of this dress.” I murmured.

  Devlin and I were able to get into Mariposa, which is a contemporary restaurant located in Neiman Marcus. We opted to sit at the bar in lieu of a table since we only planned on sharing an appetizer or two.

  As we walked through the crowded restaurant, I admired how brightly lit it was. It was beautifully decorated with all the walls, flooring, and tables in a pale gray, but the pea green accents had to go.

  The long, black bar was fairly empty. Devlin pulled out one of the high bar stools for me offering his hand so I could climb up into the seat. The bartender was a tall, attractive brunette with big, blue eyes. She placed some menus before us.

  “Hi. My name is Elizabeth. What can I get you to drink?” She had a wonderful British accent.

  “A spiced iced tea for me, please,” I said.

  “I’ll have the same,” Devlin said.

  Devlin also ordered the crab cakes for us to split. As soon as the bartender walked away, Devlin turned toward me.

  “So, who was the she-devil? How does she know you?” he asked.

  “She’s an old friend of Xavier’s whose father used to work at his firm.”

  “An old friend or an old girlfriend?” he asked.

  “An old friend. Well, there was once a time she hoped to be more, but that never happened.” I replied.

  “She didn’t seem like Xavier’s type. I mean if he goes for an incredible woman like you, I don’t see how he could possibly be attracted to someone like that.” He gave me a shy smile.

  I hung my head as my face heated from his compliment. He placed his left arm behind my chair and leaned in close to me.

  “I’m sorry. Am I embarrassing you?” he asked softly.

  For a brief moment, I was uncomfortable with his close proximity. I pulled back a little. “No. Xavier is always telling me I need to learn to accept compliments. It’s just hard for me to do so sometimes,” I said as I lifted my head. Feeling parched, I gulped down half of my iced tea.

  “I’m making you uncomfortable. I’m sorry,” he said. He sat back in his chair.

  “Devlin, why did you stand between me and Carline like that?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I know you don’t need protecting. You seem like the kind of girl who can take care of herself, but there was just something about her that seemed … I don’t know … evil?”

  I snorted. “That’s an understatement,” I said.

  “Donna is little like you, but she’s a fragile girl. She’s someone who needs protecting. I guess it was just instinctual after being with her for so long.”

  “You’re a great guy, Devlin. She’s lucky to have you.” I smiled at him.

  Our crab cakes arrived at that moment. They were lightly fried and moist inside. They didn’t have an overpowering fishy taste like crab can sometimes have. They were quite delicious.

  My phone started vibrating in my purse. I reached in to grab it and was pleasantly surprised to see it was Xavier texting me.

  “By that goofy smile on your face, I would have to assume it’s from Xavier,” Devlin said.

  I smiled widely just at the thought of Xavier as I looked up at Devlin. “I’ve got it that bad, huh?” I wrinkled my nose at him.

  He nodded at me. “Oh yeah, lady. You’ve got it pretty bad.”

  The smile got wiped right off my face when I saw Xavier’s text. My stomach flipped and my heart dropped. Typed in all caps making it look angry the text said:

  YOU’VE GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO WHEN YOU GET HOME

  The photo attached with his text was of Devlin and me while we were sitting here in the restaurant. Devlin had his arm on the back of my chair, and he was leaning in so he could whisper to me. To hide my embarrassment from his compliment, my head was angled down. It looked like he was leaning in to kiss me behind the ear. I could only imagine what Xavier was thinking.

  “Hey, is everything okay?” Devlin asked. He was frowning at me.

  “Yeah, everything’s okay. He just has to work late. We had plans. I’m a little disappointed,” I lied smoothly. I made eye contact with him briefly before I casually glanced around the restaurant. I didn’t see anyone I recognized though.

  “Guess that’s the price you pay when your fiancé is a successful man.”

  “Yeah. I suppose I should get used to it. I’m sure this won’t be the first time plans get canceled,” I said, shrugging.

  Waving the bartender over, I asked for the bill. Of course, Devlin tried to fight me over who was paying for it, but I was faster with the credit card.

  “I should get going. Renatta is back on Monday so I don’t know when we’ll be working together again. Take care,” I said.

  “Right. Take care, Ella. You’ve got my number. Call me if you ever just want to talk. I like to consider both you and Renatta as friends,” he said.

  “Thanks, Devlin. I’ll see you around.”

  Marissa was waiting outside the restaurant for me. I sulked behind her as we walked to the car. Taking my iPhone out again, I looked at the picture Xavier sent when a sudden thought hit me.

  “Marissa, have you heard from Xavier today?” I asked.

  “No, ma’am. Should I have?”

  “No. I was just wondering. He’s been rather quiet today. You haven’t sent him any text messages?” I asked feigning innocence.

  “No, Ella.” She gave me a quizzical look in the rearview mirror.

  “Okay,” I said casually. I glanced out the window wondering who the hell sent that picture to Xavier if Marissa hadn’t.

  When we pulled into the parking garage, Xavier’s black SUV was parked in its marked spot. I took a deep breath before I climbed out of the car and made my way to the elevator. Marissa didn’t ride all the way to the condo with me, which told me Xavier would be standing in the hall as soon as the doors swung open. Much to my surprise, the hallway was empty.

  Immediately heading into the bedroom, I deposited my camera bag and pocketbook on the bed before I set out looking for him. Bev was not in the kitchen nor was any kind of a meal being prepared. He wasn’t in the living room, but there was light coming from his office. Carefully, I rounded the corner only to find the chair behind his desk empty.

  Before I could even begin to wonder where he was, an arm wrapped around my waist from behind like a steel band. He pulled my back tight against his front. He weaved his other hand into my hair. Jerking my head to the side roughly so my neck was exposed, he trailed kisses slowly down my neck. He nipped the skin at the base of my neck, causing a shiver of pleasure to rock my entire body.

  “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said in a voice full of sin. Before I could answer he pressed his lips to the sensitive skin of my neck.

  “I can see,” I said breathlessly. “I thought I had some explaining to do.”

  “Just tell me. Who do you love, Ella?” He continued to kiss and suck at my neck holding my head firmly in place.

  “You know who.” My heart was pounding in my chest as my breathing became rough. He released my hair and slid both hands up under my shirt. Trailing them softly up over my stomach, my ribs, and my breasts. He stopped and hooked his fingers into the cups of my bra.

  “Is it Devlin, Ella?” He roughly pulled both cups of my bra down. I sucked in a breath as both of my breasts sprung free. “Is he who you love?” he asked, pinching my nipples between his thumb and index fingers.

  “No!” I gasped.

  He unbuttoned my jeans and pulled down the zipper slowly. His hands rested just inside the waistband. “Answer me, Ella. Whom do you love?” he asked. He guided me into his office with his hands firmly on my bare hips. “Tell me,” he demanded, stopping ri
ght before his desk.

  “You, Xavier. I love you.” I said panting.

  He pulled his hands out of my pants and spun me around to face him. Strong, warm hands dove into my hair and held my head in place as he claimed my mouth. When he pulled away, he gave me a heated look. His eyes were smoky and his pupils were dilated. He grabbed my face once again. “Who has your heart, Ella?” he whispered, a wild look in his eyes.

  “You do. Only you, Xavier,” I breathed.

  “Good answer, sweetness,” he whispered back. He reached behind me and in one fell swoop every item that was on the desk directly behind me was pushed off. The sound of paper rustling to the floor and pens landing and rolling around on the hardwood instantly reminded of the time in the mountains when we didn’t make it past the kitchen table. That was the first most erotic encounter of my life. This just turned into the second.

  I was sitting on the edge of his desk. My legs were still wrapped around his hips. He leaned his sweaty forehead into mine until our breathing slowed.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “For what?” I asked surprised.

  “For attacking you the way I just did.”

  I chuckled. “Are you kidding me? I love these crazy, unbridled moments with you.” I could feel my face heat.

  “Damn it. I’ve done it,” he said, feigning sadness.

  “Done what?” I asked.

  “I’ve scandalized you,” he said in mock horror.

  I laughed. “Oh, Mr. Hart. I’m sorry to tell you, but I am far from innocent.”

  “Come. Let me run you a bath,” he said softly.

  With him still buried inside me, he lifted me off his desk and made his way to the bathroom. Gently, he set me down on the counter. I grunted in protest when he pulled himself free causing him to smirk at me. I openly ogled his fine form as he walked around the bathroom preparing our bath.

  Once we settled in the hot, soapy water together, I decided it was time to talk seriously.

  “I think we need to talk about that photo you sent me,” I said.

  “Ella, I trust you. There’s nothing to talk about, sweetness,” he said, running my wet poof gently across my shoulders.

  “I disagree. You sent me a pretty angry sounding text along with what looked like a questionable photo. You obviously didn’t trust me when you first saw it. Where did you get it from?” He didn’t answer. “Did Marissa send it to you?” He still refused to answer. “Do you have someone else watching me that I don’t know about?” When he still refused to answer, I turned around to look at him with such force that water sloshed out of the tub and onto the floor. I got up onto my knees and grabbed his face in my hands. “Talk to me,” I demanded.

  “Carline sent it to me.”

  “Oh. I should’ve known,” I muttered. My hands dropped from his face and I rested back on my heels.

  “Yes, I was angry at first, but then I realized she was probably just sending it to me in hopes that I would get angry with you. I didn’t stop to think about it until after I sent you my text. I belatedly realized how much I trust you. I know there isn’t anything going on between you and Devlin. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me like that,” he said sincerely.

  “No, there isn’t, and I definitely wouldn’t. I’m glad you realize that.” I ran my hands up his torso, resting them against his chiseled chest. Leaning in, I pressed my lips to his. Gently, I sucked in his bottom lip before pulling away. “We finished work before lunch, and he asked me if I wanted to get something to eat. I told him I had to go shopping for a dress for tomorrow night. He offered to come saying he could give me an honest male opinion.”

  “Ella, you really don’t need to explain.”

  “Let me finish, please,” I said, holding a finger against his lips to silence him. “He wanted me to show him the dress when I tried it on. He took my hand and asked me to turn around. He said you were a very lucky man.” I gave him a small smile. “Then we had the pleasure of running into Carline. Afterwards, we went to Mariposa to grab something quick to eat. He asked who Carline was. When I told him she was just a friend, he said she wasn’t your type. He couldn’t see you being attracted to someone like that when you are attracted to someone like me, because I was such an incredible woman. His compliment embarrassed me. He just leaned over and asked if he was making me uncomfortable.” I paused for another moment. “Truth is he was making me uncomfortable,” I admitted.

  “He’s attracted to you, Ella. I keep telling you that you are such a beautiful woman. Then when people get to know you, they soon find out how beautiful you are on the inside, too. I can’t say that I blame him,” he said sadly.

  “Well, he’s shit out of luck.” Xavier raised his eyebrows at me. “You own me completely. Body and soul, but you already know that.”

  “Come here,” he said gruffly.

  I straddled his legs. He ran his hands through my wet hair then dragged me to him for a long, deep kiss. We both pulled away breathing heavily.

  “Hey! I thought we were supposed to be getting clean,” I said breathlessly.

  “Later,” he growled.

  Saturday afternoon Xavier had to run to the Fairmont Olympic to meet with the staff to finalize all the plans for the party this evening. I took advantage of my alone time.

  The last several days I had been nauseous in the morning. While Marissa and I were out yesterday, I asked her to stop at a drug store for me. I was now locked in the bathroom staring at the pregnancy test box in my hand. I knew what I had to do, but for whatever reason, I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to know what the result was.

  The first time I found out I was pregnant it was so unexpected. It was such a shock. Then that run-in with Stephen happened. Hell, I never really did have a chance to think about and appreciate what it meant for me to be pregnant. Now that I was faced with the possibility of being pregnant again, I found myself scared to death. Was I ready to be a mother? Could I handle being a mother? Xavier and I aren’t even married. Maybe we should have waited. I chuckled to myself. It very well may be too late for waiting now.

  I ripped the box open and took out the pee stick. It looked innocent enough. The result would be clear. If the plus symbol appeared, you were pregnant. If the minus appeared, you weren’t. I took a deep breath and administered the test. Within two minutes, I was staring dumbfounded at a little plus sign. I’m pregnant? Holy shit! I’m pregnant!

  I sat on the edge of the tub. My heart was pounding in my chest. What the hell do I do now? Should I tell Xavier right away? Maybe I should wait to tell him until after the doctor confirms the pregnancy. No, I knew exactly when I wanted to tell him and it wasn’t going to be today. I had some shopping to do first.

  I also needed to call Dr. Ellington to schedule an appointment. I didn’t know how far along I was. My hand floated down to my abdomen. Already this pregnancy seemed different. I haven’t had any bleeding, and no upset stomach, other than a few mornings of feeling nauseous. There’s been no cramping or pains. Actually, I felt pretty good. The differences I noted filled me with hope. Hope that this little mystery guest would one day be revealed.

  Putting the cap back on the pregnancy test stick, I placed both the stick and wrapper back in the box. I then hid the box in an empty make-up bag that was under my sink. I was pretty sure Xavier didn’t snoop around in my stuff, but I didn’t want him to accidentally come across it. That would ruin the surprise I had planned. The biggest challenge was going to be keeping my mouth shut.

  I suddenly ached for my best friend. Tom and Renatta were due back from their honeymoon in Hawaii this evening. I could share the news with her. Actually, I’d have to since she’ll most likely be with me when I go to the doctor. It’s something I’ll have to do during the week. Shit, Marissa will also be with me. There will be no getting around her knowing. I know she won’t tell Xavier, but will she act differently around me knowing that I am pregnant? Will she tell Stewart? Ugh! This is too much to think about right now.


  As if he could sense my stress, Xavier suddenly knocked lightly on the bathroom door. “Ella? Are you in there?”

  “Yes. I’ll be out in just a minute.” I quickly flushed the toilet before dashing to the sink to wash my hands.

  “Is everything all right?” He sounded concerned.

  I quickly opened the door, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. “Everything is just fine. Did you get everything squared away at the hotel?”

  “Yes.” He studied me carefully. “Are you sure you’re all right? You look pale? Are you feeling sick?” He ran his hand across my forehead.

  “I really wish you would stop worrying so much.” I admonished him, pushing his hand away. “I’m fine. I feel … terrific.” I smiled widely.

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “I’ll never stop worrying about you. What’s with that smile?” he asked suspiciously.

  “You need to stop. You’re going to end up having a heart attack before you’re forty, and I need you to be around for a very long time. And since when can’t I smile?” I asked innocently.

  “No, of course you can smile. As a matter of fact, I adore your smile. There’s just something different about you today,” he said suspiciously. He started walking towards me.

  “There’s nothing different,” I insisted. I backed away from him smiling like an idiot.

  “I think you have a secret, Ms. Martin.” He raised an eyebrow at me as he continued to stalk me in the bedroom.

  I bit my lip in an attempt to hide the surprise that registered on my face. How did he know something was different? It never ceased to amaze me how well we knew each other. How attune to each other we were. “I’m crazy for you,” I said.

  “That’s no secret, Ella.” He gave me his adorable half smile. My heart skipped a beat. “I might have to torture it out of you,” he said, as he lunged for me.

  I squealed and turned to run, but my efforts were futile. He easily caught me around the waist and tossed me on the bed. He walked over to the bedroom door and kicked it shut. Then he slowly turned to face me. Leaning against the closed door, he bent down and untied his shoes, casually kicking them off to the side.