by Judith Stacy
It was one thing to see her in his office every day downstairs, dressed properly, quite another to have her asleep in his bed, mussed and tousled from their lovemaking. Both pictures were worthy of a lifetime of remembering.
All this business of experiencing his emotions she’d talked to him about—of not hiding behind his desk and his work—made sense to him. He hadn’t known he was doing it until she’d pointed it out.
He wasn’t sure he liked it, though. It hurt. But with Caroline it was a pleasurable hurt.
Stephen didn’t know if he could change in the way she wanted him to. He’d lived his life for a long time as he was. But he’d try.
The one thing he was certain of was that he couldn’t live without Caroline.
She roused from her light sleep a few minutes later and smiled as soon as she opened her eyes. Stephen’s heart thumped a little harder.
He rolled out of bed. “Come with me.”
Caroline pushed her hair off her shoulder. “We’re going somewhere?”
“Come on.” Stephen hunted around the room until he found his drawers and trousers, and pulled them on.
“What are you up to?” she asked, grinning.
He caught her hand and pulled her to her feet, sighing longingly at the sight of her naked body. “I really hate to do this, but…” He dropped her nightgown over her head.
“Stephen, what on earth is going on?” she asked, closing the buttons.
“Don’t act so surprised,” he said. “It was your idea.”
“My idea?” Caroline reached for her robe, but he shook his head.
“Just as you are.” Stephen took her hand and led her out of his room.
Being the middle of the night, it was unlikely anyone in the house would be up and about, but still Caroline felt a little strange walking the halls in only her nightgown, with her hair loose around her shoulders, and Stephen beside her dressed only in his trousers. She went with him, though, willing and a little curious.
They went downstairs and out the back entrance of the house. Stephen stopped on the porch, still holding her hand.
Faint light from the moon lit the lawn. The night was cool and crisp. Flowers from the garden scented the air.
Stephen walked down the steps and onto the lawn. He stopped and looked down at his feet. He wiggled his toes, shifted from one foot to the other, testing the feel of the cool grass.
“Well, I don’t know,” he said thoughtfully. “I suppose it has its merits.”
Caroline smiled and slid her arm around his waist, remembering that it had indeed been her idea to run barefoot across the lawn. She looked down at her own feet.
“I like it,” she said.
Hand in hand they strolled through the grass, soaking in the silence, the chill of the dew, the warmth of their entwined fingers.
At the fountain, Stephen sat down on the marble edge of the bottom tier and rolled up his pant legs. He stuck his toe into the water.
He sucked in a quick breath. “Cold.”
Caroline sat down beside him and gathered her nightgown up to her thighs. They looked at each other, then both stuck their legs in up to their knees.
Both gasped at the cool water. Caroline shuddered and snuggled against him. Stephen circled his arm around her.
They sat together for a long time, swishing their feet, leaning their heads against one another.
“It was good of you to leave Joey with Kellen,” Caroline said.
“He belongs with his mother, as you said. But I’ll miss him.”
“Kellen won’t keep him from you. In fact, in time she might even move back here.”
“I could see that happening,” he agreed.
“You ought to look into investing in her brother’s orange groves. They’re quite profitable.”
“Richard and Brenna really are in love with each other. I realized it when Joey was kidnapped.” Stephen kissed the top of Caroline’s head. “Don’t you get tired of being right all the time?”
“It wears me out.”
Stephen chuckled and kissed her again. “Any more observations?”
“Well,” Caroline said, “I know how to solve your Johannesburg problem.”
“All right, let’s hear it.”
She looked up at him. “Send Richard to replace Girard.”
“Richard?”
“Yes, he’s perfect for the job. He knows your business inside out. And you can trust him, Stephen, you know you can.”
“But he’ll need money to establish himself there. Richard can’t afford that.”
“Then give him some money,” Caroline said. “Call it a bonus or something. You’ll get it back ten times over in profits, and peace of mind.”
Stephen grunted.
“And that way, he and Brenna can get married.”
Stephen chuckled. “That’s what’s really behind this whole idea of yours, isn’t it?”
“Things will be different for them in Johannesburg. It’s not like society here in Los Angeles, or New York, or San Francisco. And with Richard there to take over your holdings, he’ll have instant credibility, regardless of Brenna’s background.”
“And what am I supposed to do for an assistant if Richard leaves?” Stephen asked.
“That’s simple,” Caroline said. “I’ll be your assistant.”
“Ha!” Stephen laughed. “That will never work.”
She chucked him on the arm. “Why not? I’d make an excellent assistant.”
“It wouldn’t work because I’d never get one damn thing done. I’d be chasing you around the office all day. We’d end up penniless, living on the street, destitute.”
“Stephen, you’re being silly.”
He touched his finger to her chin and tilted her face up to his. “I don’t want you to be my assistant, Caroline. I want you to be my wife.”
She gasped. “Your—wife?”
Stephen caught her hand and pressed her palm against his chest. “Can you look into my heart and see what’s written there, Caroline? I love you.”
He pulled her into his embrace and she came against him, smiling and happy.
“I love you,” Stephen said again.
Caroline leaned back, looking up at him. “Are you sure, Stephen? It’s love and not just lust?”
He grinned. “I’m sure I’ll be lusting after you for the rest of my life, married or not. But I do love you, Caroline. I’m sure it’s love. So, will you marry me?”
“Oh, yes.”
She tried to go into his arms again, but Stephen held back. “Only a few weeks ago you didn’t want to get married. Are you sure this is what you want?”
“I’m very sure.”
They kissed, then Stephen pulled away. He frowned slightly.
“We’ll probably have children, won’t we?” he said.
“If things keep going the way they have tonight, we’ll have one soon.” Caroline took his hand. “Is that all right with you?”
He nodded thoughtfully. “It may take a while for me to get used to the idea. I don’t want to be a father to our child the way I was an uncle to Joey. I want to be more involved. But I’m not really sure how to go about that.”
“We’ll start slowly,” Caroline said. “One baby at a time.”
“I think I can handle that.” Stephen kissed her again. “I can do anything with you, Caroline.”
That afternoon Stephen sat at his desk in his office, trying to work. He might really end up penniless, he mused, pushing away the report in front of him, because he really couldn’t keep his mind on his work. Caroline, of course, occupied his thoughts. Caroline and their night together.
She’d taken it into her head to go shopping this afternoon, otherwise he’d still be upstairs in bed with her right now. He needed to be. Stephen shifted in his chair. Even after last night, he hadn’t gotten enough of her.
A little commotion drifted down the hallway and Stephen sprang from his desk, hoping it was Caroline returning. He hurried to the doorway, n
ot caring if he looked anxious or excited. He saw her in the vestibule removing her hat, directing the driver to carry her packages into the house.
Stephen folded his arms and watched her walk toward him. She had on a pink shirtwaist with a big bow at her throat. He couldn’t wait to take it off of her.
“I missed you,” he said, as she came into the office.
She paused in the doorway and stretched up to kiss his lips. He caught her waist and pulled her close, kissing her and sighing heavily.
“I bought you something,” she said, pulling away and walking to his desk.
He followed her like a little puppy, and didn’t care. “Neckties more to your liking?” he asked.
She smiled knowingly. “Not neckties, but something I hope you’ll like even better.”
Stephen latched on to her waist and pulled her against him. “Show me now.”
“Not so fast.” She grinned and walked her fingers up his jacket. “Did you talk to Richard while I was gone?”
“I did. And after he got over the shock, he agreed to take the Johannesburg position.”
“That’s wonderful.” She stroked her fingers over his chest. “Did he tell Brenna?”
“I’m pretty sure that right now they’re upstairs rolling around in her bed, celebrating their upcoming nuptials.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, Stephen. They’re upstairs in bed?”
“Does that shock you?”
“No, I just wish it were us.”
“Oh, Caroline…” Stephen pulled her against him and laid claim to her mouth with a hot, wet kiss.
Intrusive throat clearing came from across the room. “Excuse me, Mr. Monterey.”
Stephen growled and released her. Charles stood in the doorway.
“You have a visitor, sir. Mr. Russell Pickette.”
“Pickette?” Stephen moved away from Caroline, his playful mood gone.
“Shall I tell him you’re not available, sir?” Charles asked.
Stephen glared at the butler for a moment. “Send him in.”
When Charles disappeared, Caroline went to Stephen. “I looked at those documents and—”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll handle Pickette.”
“But Stephen—”
He held up his hand for silence. A moment later, Russell Pickette came into the office holding his battered hat, but standing straight and proud. He nodded politely to Caroline, then turned to Stephen.
“You come to a decision yet, Mr. Monterey?” he asked.
Stephen studied him for a moment, then walked to his desk and took out the land contract. He glanced over it, tapped it against his palm, then presented it to Russell Pickette.
“This document is authentic,” Stephen said.
Pickette’s eyes widened as he looked down at the papers in his hand. “Well, thank you, Mr. Monterey.”
“I’ll have my lawyers complete the transfer tomorrow.”
“Thank you kindly, sir. Thank you.” Pickette offered his hand. Stephen shook, sealing their deal, and Pickette left the office.
“Stephen, are you sure?” Caroline asked.
“I’m sure. Pickette should tend to the farm he’s built, raise his children, enjoy his life,” Stephen said. “Because that’s what I’m going to do.”
Caroline went into his arms, pleased that he’d made the right decision without knowing what she knew—that the document was genuine.
“You continue to surprise me,” she said.
Stephen grinned and kissed her neck. “Can we go upstairs now?”
She pushed him away. “Not yet. I want to give you the gift I bought you in town first.”
He fidgeted. “All right.”
Caroline left the office, then returned a moment later with a huge box wrapped in white paper and tied with a red bow. She set it down on his desk.
“I was thinking of all the years that have passed already,” Caroline said. “Special occasions in your life that I missed. You just had your birthday and I didn’t get you anything. So I bought you a gift.”
Stephen raised an eyebrow at her, then at the box. He pulled loose the ribbon, ripped away the paper and pried off the lid.
“Oh my God…” he wheezed.
Stephen reached into the box and pulled out a pair of ladies’ high buttoned shoes and a wide-brimmed hat trimmed with ribbons and an ostrich feather.
“Happy birthday,” Caroline said, and took the hat and shoes from him. “Lock the door, Stephen, and clear off your desk.”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-5948-8
WRITTEN IN THE HEART
Copyright © 2000 by Dorothy Howell
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