by Ginna Gray
Soon, amid laughter and teasing and squeals of delight, paper, boxes, bows and ribbon were flying. Within moments, they were knee-deep in the stuff, and the living room looked as though it had been hit by a bomb.
Although Alissa had warned Dirk what to expect, she nevertheless watched him anxiously throughout the frenetic ritual. To her surprise, he did not appear at all ill at ease or put off. If anything, he seemed fascinated by the mayhem, his keen gaze taking it all in, missing nothing.
"Oh, man! Look at this! It's from Uncle Dirk!" eight-year-old Bobby Werner shouted, holding up a new baseball mitt.
Stunned, Alissa turned her head and looked at Dirk. No one had expected him to bring gifts. A week ago he hadn't even known he would be spending Christmas with her family, nor had he ever met any of them. She hadn't even known the gifts were in the car. "How…? When…?"
Before she could say more, another child let out a shout and held up a present from "Uncle Dirk." One by one, everyone, children and adults alike, discovered a gift from him in their pile.
"Oh, Dirk, this was so sweet of you, but you didn't have to. No one expected you to bring anything," Alissa murmured in his ear during a lull in the noise.
"I know, but I wanted to. I figured if I'm going to be part of your family I'd better join in."
"How on earth did you manage it? You must have sent poor Lucy scrambling all over Houston to find those gifts at such short notice."
He turned his head, and impaled her with a steady look. "My secretary had nothing to do with the shopping. I bought every gift myself."
Alissa's jaw dropped. The knowledge that he had fought the crowds of last-minute Christmas shoppers to personally buy gifts for her family touched her so deeply she was speechless.
Even more amazing, though professionally wrapped, each of the gifts—the savings bond for baby Emma, the toy stroller for the doll that "Santa" had brought Maude Ann, the suede vest for Susan, the new computer game for Todd, the bridle and curry brushes for eleven-year-old Ethan to use on Hercules, the steer that was his 4-H Club project, which he hoped would win the top prize at the Houston Fat Stock Show in February, and every other item—was perfect for the recipient.
Alissa realized that over the past weeks she had talked to Dirk about her family a lot. Evidently he had stored away every single detail in that steel-trap brain of his and had used the information when he went shopping. The incredible thoughtfulness of that brought tears to Alissa's eyes.
"Oh, Dirk, I can't believe you did this," she said, her voice quavering.
"Hey, you're not going to cry, are you?" He frowned. "Look, I'm new at this family thing. Was this a mistake? Did I do something wrong, or somehow upset you?"
"No. Of course not."
"Then why are you crying?"
She sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks with the backs of her hands. "Because I'm happy."
He looked perplexed and a shade disbelieving. "Oh, yeah? Then why haven't you opened your present?" He nodded toward the unopened gifts in front of her.
Alissa looked down, and there on the top of the pile was a slender box, wrapped in bright red foil, with a green ribbon adorning the top.
"How did you get all these gifts into the house without me seeing you?" she asked as she slipped the ribbon from the package.
"I waited until everyone was asleep. Then I sneaked out to the car and got them out of the trunk."
"You want to be careful doing that around here. Roger keeps a shotgun under his bed, you know. You could have gotten yourself sho—" She sucked in her breath and stared into the box she had just opened. "Oh, my goodness."
"Do you like it?"
"Like it? It's … it's gorgeous. But, Dirk, it's much too expens—"
He leaned across and stopped her with a kiss. Ignoring the hoots from the other adults and the gagging sounds made by several of the children, he took his time, lingering over the caress until he felt a shudder ripple through her. When he raised his head, her eyes were glazed and her breathing was shallow.
He smiled and lifted the diamond tennis bracelet from its bed of blue velvet. "Here, let me put it on you."
"You know, if you two keep carrying on like that, I may get that shotgun of Roger's myself and march you to the preacher," Joe growled.
Alissa chuckled along with everyone else, but she suspected that her oldest brother was only half joking.
"When is the wedding, by the way?" Tyler asked, with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
"Oh, we haven't decided on a da—"
"In two weeks."
"Two weeks!" Alissa looked at Dirk as though he'd lost his mind. "We can't possibly get married that soon! There's too much to do. I have to buy a dress, and we have to talk to the minister, and there's invitations and—"
He turned those intense silvery eyes on her, cutting her off in midspate, his face deadly serious. "Two weeks. That's all I'm prepared to wait."
Alissa stared at him, unable to breathe. The look in his eyes left no doubt of what he meant, and a delicious shiver of excitement feathered down her spine.
For a few seconds, they stared at each other, oblivious to the rest of her family, all of whom were avidly taking in the exchange.
"Whoo-ee! Somebody's hot to trot," Tyler hooted, breaking the spell. "Rog, maybe you'd better go get that shotgun, after all. As anxious as Dirk is, I'm not sure he'll last two weeks."
Roger, Jennifer and Dolores chuckled, but a slight frown creased Joe's brow.
"Tyler Forrest, you hush!" Callie scolded, as Alissa turned the color of a beet.
She should have known that Tyler would embarrass her. Joe, the oldest of Alissa's siblings, was the salt of the earth—serious, hardworking and steady, the rock that everyone in the family leaned on when times got rough. Tyler, on the other hand, had been a tease and a scamp from his cradle days.
Her youngest brother's restless spirit had rebelled against becoming a farmer like his father and grandfather before him. Tyler had always craved excitement and challenge. His penchant for speed and risk-taking had concerned the whole family. They had been worried that he would either end up in serious trouble or dead before he reached thirty. Luckily, he had found his niche in the navy. Landing jet airplanes on the deck of a carrier in rough seas seemed to provide him with all the excitement he wanted.
Without taking his gaze from Alissa, Dirk replied, "I'm more than willing to visit the preacher right now. It's up to Alissa."
"All right! Now we're getting somewhere." Tyler rubbed his hands together. "Whaddaya say, sis? You wanna go get hitched?"
Every eye in the room turned on Alissa. Even the children stopped investigating their loot long enough to wait for her answer.
"I…I…"
"Knock it off, Tyler. Not everyone is as impulsive as you." Joe got to his feet and instructed the children to clean up the mess. Then he fixed his gaze on Dirk.
"If I know these women, they're going to start cooking Christmas dinner as soon as breakfast is over. Trust me, you don't want to hang around here while that's going on. Why don't you come with me, and I'll show you around the farm?"
Instantly, Tyler's expression also turned serious. He glanced from his brother to Dirk. "Sounds like a good idea. I think I'll join you."
"Me too," Roger echoed.
Though it was couched as an invitation, when Joe used that tone, he was issuing an order. Alissa knew full well, as did Tyler and Roger, what was behind this one. Joe considered himself the head of the family, and before any marriage took place, he meant to have a serious talk with his sister's fiancé.
That message was not lost on Dirk.
He studied Joe's expression, meeting his future brother-in-law's gaze without so much as batting an eye. Finally he nodded. "Sure. That should be interesting."
Alissa fretted the entire time they were gone. "Where are they?" she muttered, looking out the kitchen window for the tenth time in as many minutes.
"Just relax," Callie advised. "They're not g
oing to hurt him, you know. They're only talking."
"That's what I'm worried about."
"Well, don't. They put Tom and Roger through the same wringer, and they both survived. So will Dirk."
"I just wish they all hadn't gone. Three against one—that's not fair."
Dolores looked up from basting the Christmas ham, her face rosy from the heat of the oven. "Honey, with a man like that one, I'd say that makes both sides about even."
Kimberly giggled. "I'll say. Whew. That is one hunk you've got there, Alissa. And I think it's so romantic that you've worked with him for all those years, now all of a sudden you fall in love."
Alissa cast her sister-in-law a wan smile, and looked out the window again, searching across the fields of winter stubble for a sign of the pickup. She was in love, but she wasn't sure about Dirk's feelings or his reasons for wanting to marry her. He felt affection for her and desire, but did he want her enough to endure her brothers' cross-examination?
"They've been gone so long. What could they possibly be doing after all this time?" she murmured to herself.
"Oh, for heaven's sake." Callie grasped her shoulders, propelled her to the table and pushed her down onto one of the chairs. "Here. Make yourself useful and stuff these," She ordered, shoving a platter of celery and a bowl of some sort of cream-cheese mixture into Alissa's hands.
"For goodness sake, don't let her do anything involving a knife," Dolores warned. "She might cut off her fingers."
"Oh, very funny." Alissa made a face at her other sister-in-law and stuck out her tongue.
A short while later, she had just stuffed her thirty-third celery stick when they heard the pickup rattle up the drive and stop beside the back porch.
Alissa abandoned her work and hurried to the door, licking the cream-cheese mixture from her fingers as she went. Callie followed, and as Alissa peered anxiously out the window, her sister said dryly, "See? Didn't I tell you there was nothing to worry about?"
All four men looked exactly as they had when they left the house earlier, except that now they were laughing and slapping one another on the back.
Alissa gaped. Then, with a huff, she crossed her arms over her midriff. Here she had been worrying herself sick for nothing. At the very least, she had expected to see a few black eyes and bloodied noses, but by the look of them, anyone would think they had been bosom buddies for life.
Men! Who understood them?
* * *
Chapter 8
« ^ »
Two weeks later, in the small church in Brenham where she had been baptized and had worshiped most of her life, Alissa married Dirk.
It was a small affair, with only her family and a few friends from work and Henry and Francine Battle in attendance.
Callie was Alissa's matron of honor. Much to her surprise, Jack was Dirk's best man.
He smiled and gave her an encouraging wink as she came down the aisle on Joe's arm. Beside him, Dirk watched her with an intensity that sent a shiver through her, his silvery eyes glittering in his dark face.
Her hand shook as Joe placed it in Dirk's and stepped back to join the rest of the family on the first two pews. The flowers she clutched in her other hand quivered as though they were connected to a vibrator. So did her pale apricot dress and the short veil on her matching broad-brimmed hat. She could feel Dirk watching her, but she was too nervous to look at him.
Behind them, the discreet sounds of shuffling feet and whispers provided a background for Reverend Alcott's mellifluous voice as he conducted the ceremony.
Alissa stared at the good reverend in a daze, not quite able to believe this was really happening.
The past two weeks had been exhausting. She had spent them working out her notice and training her replacement, a nice young woman named Betty Dawson, who had worked for a middle-management director for the past seven years. She had been thrilled to receive the promotion and was capable and eager to learn.
In the evenings and during the previous weekend, Alissa had crammed the months of preparations necessary for a wedding, even a simple one like theirs, into the two short weeks Dirk had allowed her.
In addition, she had listed her house with a real estate company and begun the tedious process of sifting through the accumulation of seventeen years living in the same place.
She and Dirk had decided that they would live in his apartment, at least for the time being. It was roomier and closer to the office, and more in keeping with his position. Actually, it had never occurred to her that he would move into her modest home.
Alissa had yet to see the apartment. Dirk had been out of town for most of the previous two weeks, and she had been too busy with preparations to use the key he had given her. Besides, even though she would soon be living there as his wife, she hadn't felt comfortable about entering his home when he wasn't there.
Dirk wanted her to keep all her furnishings, although she had no idea why. She was grateful, of course, as most of her possessions had sentimental value for her, but she had nothing of any real monetary worth, and she couldn't imagine that any of her furniture would be suitable for his elegant apartment. He was insistent, however, and she didn't argue. When the house sold, she supposed, everything would go into storage.
As Reverend Alcott reminded them of the seriousness and sanctity of the commitment they were making, Alissa glanced covertly through her veil at Dirk. He looked elegant, dressed in a dark charcoal suit with a pale gray shirt, a tasteful silk tie in rust and gray, a discreet rust-colored handkerchief tucked in his breast pocket. The splash of color blended beautifully with her attire and dramatically accented his dark coloring. Looking at him, no one could possibly have guessed that this impeccably dressed man had once been a homeless street urchin.
Dirk's deep voice sounded firm and sure when he recited the vows after Reverend Alcott, and his intense gaze never wavered from hers. Looking into those silvery depths, Alissa suddenly found it difficult to breathe, and her pulse began to pound as she thought of the night to come.
In a few short hours, he would make love to her, and she would share with this imposing man the most intimate of acts. The thought ignited a fire deep in Alissa's belly that sent a wave of heat through her.
In the past couple of weeks, Alissa had been so busy and she'd seen so little of Dirk that she hadn't given much thought to that aspect of marriage. Now, as she gazed into that harshly handsome face, she realized that she wanted him quite desperately, and her body went weak with longing.
Dirk's grip was sure and steady as he slipped the plain gold band on her finger. Then, suddenly, it was her turn.
Alissa's voice shook so, she barely got the words out, and she fumbled the ring twice before she succeeded in sliding it onto his finger. In a daze, she heard the reverend pronounce them husband and wife.
Very much in control, Dirk turned to her with a purpose, lifted her veil, then drew her into his embrace and kissed her. It was a lingering kiss, full of possessive ardor and promise, that went on so long it finally elicited a discreet cough from Reverend Alcott and laughter from their witnesses.
When Dirk raised his head, for an instant Alissa saw a look of such fierce satisfaction in his eyes that her heart turned over.
The look vanished as everyone crowded around them to offer congratulations.
When it was Jack's turn, he shook Dirk's hand, then he turned to Alissa and gripped her shoulders, his gaze running over her glowing face.
"Sweet heaven, you're so beautiful you take my breath away." Smiling gently, he gave her shoulders a squeeze. "You do know that I wish you only happiness, don't you?"
"Yes. I know," she whispered, fighting tears, and lifted her face for his kiss.
It was no chaste peck, as the others had been. Jack took full advantage, savoring her lips in a masterful kiss that lingered almost as long as Dirk's had. He did a thorough job of it, as well—so thorough that Alissa's head began to spin and she had to clutch the front of his shirt for balance.
; Around them, others began to laugh and hoot, until Dirk tapped Jack's shoulder and growled, "All right, break it up. That's enough."
Raising his head, Jack shot him an impish grin. "Just congratulating the bride. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Not this time. But that's your one shot. Do that again and you'll be eating teeth."
"You'd do it, too, wouldn't you? You'd really knock my teeth out."
"I don't make idle threats. You know that."
"You see?" Jack appealed to Alissa. "Didn't I tell you he was a ruffian?"
He turned back to Dirk, and his grin faded. "All right, I get the message. Now let me give you one. Be good to her, buddy. Because if you ever hurt her, you'll answer to me."
Dirk's eyes narrowed, and for the space of several seconds they stared at each other. Finally he nodded. "Fair enough."
Then they were shaking hands and laughing and slapping each other on the back like fools. Watching them, Alissa shook her head. Men! If they weren't the strangest creatures God ever made, she didn't know what was.
Dirk had reserved a private dining room at the Brenham country club, and everyone was invited to the wedding dinner. Since Brenham was farming and ranching country, a feast of steak and all the trimmings and an excellent champagne seemed appropriate. Alissa's family and their friends and co-workers tucked into the meal with relish, but she was so nervous she barely touched a thing on her plate. However, with every toast she took a sip of champagne, and before long she had consumed almost two glasses of the wine on an empty stomach, and was feeling light-headed.
Throughout most of the meal, Dirk held her right hand firmly in his grasp and resting against his thigh under cover of the white linen tablecloth. There was something so intimate and possessive about the gesture, it warmed Alissa's heart, and she made no effort to withdraw her hand from his grasp. It was not at all the kind of behavior she expected of Dirk. In all the years that she had known him, he had always been so remote and businesslike, even with the women whom he dated.