Here Comes My Woman: Book Three (The Woman I Love Series 3)

by G S Binkley

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  “Make yourself useful, Mark. Hand me that needle.” Gage studied the lining in Lacy’s hope chest.

  He did as directed but couldn’t help but tease his friend. “Little miss homemaker.”

  “For that you get to sleep in the shed.” Gage carefully stitched the lining back into place. “Lacy got this from her grandmother. She keeps all her treasures in here. Her grandmother’s broach and other trinkets she collected through the years. Take note here, Mark. You could learn something. This will score me lots of points.”

  “Hmmmm. I don’t think Julie’s kids have a hope chest.” Mark sat on the edge of Gage and Lacy’s bed.

  “Mark…. about her kids… I was thinking. Why don’t you and Julie and the kids, of course, come back here on the 4th of July. I’ll put in a good word for you.” Gage winked. “And, if that doesn’t do it, I’ll sic Dani on them. She loves you. You own the boat after all. She’ll get them to change their minds.”

  “It’s a thought.” Mark shrugged, not really giving much merit to the suggestion.

  “Maybe Lacy will have some ideas. You’re staying the night?” Gage was carefully closing the lid of the chest when a hidden latch popped open, revealing a secret compartment. “Well, what do you know?” Ducking her head into the chest, Gage perused her newfound discovery.

  “What I know is that I’ve got to find some way to get the kids to accept me. I can’t ask her to marry me until I do.”

  Jerking her head up sharply, Gage hit the top of the chest. “What? When did this come about?”

  Raising his arms to stop her questioning, Mark answered. “It hasn’t happened yet and won’t unless things change.”

  Gage dropped the chest lid down and then sat on it. “Mark, you can’t let that stop you from getting what you want. I know Julie loves you. She told Lacy and she told….. well, you know.”

  “I love her, too. Very much.” Dejected, Mark fell silent.

  Jumping up, Gage paced the floor. “I can’t believe you, Mark Calico. Where’s all that self-confidence? I’ve seen you go into meetings and stand firm even as those corporate sharks tried to surround you. You never backed down.” When Gage finished her tirade, she was standing right in front of her friend.

  “I told you earlier I had to go to New York.” Gage nodded. “My VP there… is having some personal problems with his marriage. Part of it is that his wife’s son from her first marriage… I think he’s sixteen now… has gotten in with some gang, drugs and other things. Apparently, the whole gamut.”

  Gage backed away, reclaiming her spot on the chest. “That’s tough. I worry about Lacy’s… our kids getting older and being around stuff like that.” That was one of the main reasons Lacy and Gage decided to make their home in St. Troy.

  “Anyway, they’re having disagreements about what to do about him which is causing problems in the marriage. Jett’s loving every minute of it. He never did like Mitch.”

  Mitch? Now that name takes me back. “You think that could be you in a few years.”

  “Not a few years… now. He’s the same age as Jessie and Joe’s eighteen.” Mark stood, walking to the huge bedroom window that overlooked the lakeshore. “We live in LA. That kind of stuff is all over just like in New York. Julie’s already had a few problems with Joe.”

  Having very little experience with kids except for a few years she worked with teenagers, Gage felt helpless to offer her friend any kind of sound advice. Telling him about my teen years wouldn’t be helpful… not after everything I did. It would only worry him more. So, instead of proffering some hollow counsel, Gage hugged her friend.

  “Should I be jealous?” Lacy stood at the doorway to her bedroom.

  Whipping around, Gage smiled. “Only if I could benefit from it somehow.” The blonde walked away from Mark toward Lacy.

  Yet, upon seeing the tall man covertly wipe away an errant tear, Lacy bypassed her lover heading directly to Mark. She whispered in his ear as he hugged her. “Julie loves you more than life itself. Whatever it is, the two of you will make it through….together. Trust me.”

  Mark wasn’t surprised at Lacy’s words. He knew Julie and Lacy had become fast friends in the last two years. His girlfriend was a very intelligent woman. Julie surmised Mark’s fears and more than likely discussed them with Lacy. “Just like you and Gage?”

  “Yes. Just like me and….” Lacy’s piercing blue eyes shifted toward her lover who was vigilantly watching with a perplexed look on her face.

  “Should I be jealous?” Gage mocked her partner’s earlier words.

  Chapter Three

  Before Mark Calico headed off to New York to help his VP, he made another deposit at the doctor’s office. As Lacy and Gage waited patiently in the examining room for the doctor, the blonde fidgeted while debating on whether to bring up the subject on her mind.

  “Lacy, the movie starts in a couple of weeks and I was thinking……”

  Lacy cut her partner off. “Me, too. Why don’t we pack Sammy up and head out to LA early? I miss the kids so much. We’re staying at Mark’s place so that’s not a problem.”

  Seeing the bright smile on her lover’s face, Gage happily agreed. “Exactly what I was thinking.” But, it wasn’t exactly what Gage had swirling around in her blonde head. Her mind was focused on the medical procedure Lacy was about to undergo once again. Baby, if this doesn’t work this time, I don’t want to see you hurting again. It breaks my heart.

  As if reading her partner’s mind, Lacy reassured Gage. “Sweetheart, have faith.”

  Faith was something Gage desperately lacked. For years, as a child and even into her young adulthood, the blonde stayed the course in her belief that one day everything would fall into place and she would finally understand why her life went the way it did. Ultimately, that vessel of belief crashed down around her, leaving her to drift in the choppy waters of life without any real course or direction. It wasn’t until Lacy Levine walked into her life years ago that she finally found reason to hope, to believe that everything that ever happened to her happened for a reason. And, it was that reason that led her to her soulmate.

  The young doctor entered the room after a brief knock. “Lacy, shall we give it another go?”

  The dark haired woman offered a shake of her head, indicating the doctor should proceed. Oblivious to the doctor but not to Gage was the slight hesitation in that nod. She hurried to Lacy’s side and kissed her cheek, whispering. “This time, for sure, we make a baby…. together.”

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  Gage slowed the jeep, cautiously negotiating Benton’s Pass on their way back home. When a black Jaguar passed her on the curve, the blonde erupted. “Damn it! Did you see that?”

  Even Lacy felt grave concern as the impatient and reckless driver took the curve too fast.

  “This whole thing needs to be revamped.” Gage fumed.

  “I don’t know why this pass bothers you so much, Sweetheart. It was just one crazy driver. Most everyone else drives safely…. not as safe as you but…”

  “It has a bad blind spot.” The blonde countered.

  “Maybe you should be on the city council. Get it changed.” Lacy suggested, eyeing her partner’s reaction carefully.

  Offended, Gage shot back. “Maybe I will.”

  “Next time, I drive.” Gage cast her smiling partner a wary look. “I know you love to drive. You can be the passenger just once, right?”

  “Right.” Gage smirked. The blonde driver was not a very good passenger. She loved to be behind the wheel. She considered it her job in the family.

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  Lacy and Gage lazed on the deck of their new thirty foot boat, enjoying the setting sun. “Dani’s gonna love this.” They were anchored in Pin Oak cove not far from their home. It was on the secluded and quiet southern side of the lake. The cove extended close to a mile before it opened up to the main channel. Lacy and Gage owned the land on either side of the cove. How
ever, the cove itself was open to the public.

  The younger woman’s fingers slid down Gage’s arm, lingering there. “It was a good idea to leave Sammy with mom.”

  “I figured since we’re leaving tomorrow that it would be nice for them to spend some time together.”

  “Mmmm Hmmm….” Her disbelief showed.

  Ignoring her partner’s doubt, Gage continued. “We won’t be back till the fourth of July, you know. By the way, I invited Mark and Julie.”

  “I know.” Lacy stood. Giving her partner a come hither look, she grasped Gage’s arm and yanked her up. “Come with me.”

  A goofy look adorned the blonde’s face. “Anytime.”

  Lacy led her willing partner to the sleeping quarters below deck. The thin blue swim skirt dropped to the floor, revealing a very shapely behind for Gage to gaze longingly at. The thong bikini her lover wore hardly covered anything except the bare essentials and Gage didn’t mind one bit. However, had they been in public the jealous blonde would have had to erect a tent around her lover to ward off inquiring eyes.

  The dark haired woman lounged on the bed, showcasing her sexy long legs and offering an invitation to Gage that she would never resist. Gage stripped off her top and cut off shorts in record time. Lacy welcomed her lover’s undivided attention.

  When the roaring sound of a speeding boat whipped past them, Lacy’s mind turned elsewhere. Thinking about her kid’s safety, she asked. “Did you talk with Hank?”

  Desperately trying to untie the knotted string holding Lacy’s top on, Gage grunted. “Hank?” Her lips dipped between Lacy’s well-endowed breasts. “Yes. I talked with him about the security system and he has a friend that’s going to upgrade the whole thing.” Gage mumbled before capturing the newly revealed nipple.

  Lacy moaned but remained coherent. “You think I’m being silly?”

  “No!” Gage’s head shot up. “I should have thought about it way before this.”

  The wake of the speeding boat rocked them. Rolling in each other arms, they gazed deeply into each other’s eyes until the rocking boat stilled. Then the blonde resumed her sexual onslaught. Her hand slid between them, removing Lacy’s thong, letting it fly across the small cabin. “Now I have you.” Gage wedged her body between Lacy’s long legs.

  “Yes, you do.”

  Gage kissed her lover deeply.

  A simple request. “Love me.”

  “Always.” A promise for eternity.

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  Darkness fell on the quiet cove as Lacy and Gage lay in each other’s arms. “It’s been nice… just the two of us this evening.”

  “Mmmmm….” The blonde cuddled closer. “I could never get enough of you.”

  Running her hand through her lover’s short blonde hair, Lacy shared her thoughts. “Does having the kids make….”

  Shaking her head against her lover’s chest, Gage assured Lacy. “No. They don’t take away from us. As a matter of fact, having them makes things…. I don’t know…even better.” Gage lifted her eyes to meet blue ones. “I love each and every one of them. And, watching you with them, taking care of them, loving them….you’re a very sexy mother.”

  “Ha!” Lacy laughed.

  “I mean it.”

  “You think I’m sexy, huh?” Lacy’s dark eyebrows shot up. “When I had baby spit all over me?”

  “Yes.” Gage swept in for a tender kiss.

  “Chasing the kids around in the morning even before I’ve combed my hair? With no make-up!”

  “Beautiful.”

  “How bout when both Dani and Derek had the flu… sniffling with Kleenex everywhere. Sammy was crying because he was cutting his first tooth and there I was sitting with all of them… a total mess and then you walked in. Yes, it was such a pretty picture.” Lacy spat sarcastically.

  Remembering that very night, Gage said seriously. “Lovely. That’s what I thought, it was a lovely picture.”

  Lacy scoured her memory for a long moment. “What about the time I was cooking dinner… Derek zoomed by and the spaghetti ended up all over me and the kitchen floor.”

  “Now, that was disgusting.” She held the serious look for as long as she could before she burst out laughing. “Lacy, there hasn’t been a single moment since I’ve known you that I haven’t thought of you as the most beautiful, alluring….. intelligent.” She quickly inserted. “And, the sexiest woman ever.”

  Lacy rewarded her lover with a kiss. “I think the same about you.”

  “Damn straight.” The older woman laughed then thought about it for a moment. “Well, with a slight curve.”

  “I love your curves.” Lacy admitted and decided then and there to intimately examine every curve her shapely lover had.

  Chapter Four

  Gage and Lacy, carrying Sammy, followed the servant though the mansion and out onto the patio deck that overlooked the swimming pool. After arriving in LA, they headed straight to David Levine’s home. Lacy wanted to surprise her two older children by their early appearance.

  Dani was the first to notice the newly arrived couple. “Mom!” The waving twelve year old yelled. “Watch.” The dark haired girl executed a perfect dive off the board.

  Scrambling from the edge of the pool, Derek raced to his mother and Gage. Hugging his mother like a drowning man upon finding a life preserver, the six year old smiled brightly then turned to his favorite person. “Hi, Gage.” Jumping into her waiting arms, he gave the blonde a hug and a quick kiss. Then leaned over to do the same to his mother. “I’m glad you came to get us.”

  David took serious note that his son’s ever-present gloomy face brightened upon seeing his guests. Walking up to the couple, he addressed Lacy and deliberately ignored Gage who had his son wrapped around her. “Hello, Lacy.” The thirty-six year old executive leaned in, giving his ex-wife a peck on the cheek. “Here. Let me have him. Come here, Sam.”

  The two year old finally succumbed to his father’s bequest. Juggling his wiggling youngest son in his arms, David relented and put his drink down on a nearby table. The dark haired woman noted the time of day and the apparent contents of his drink.

  When Lacy’s arms were free, Derek hopped from Gage to his mother. Derek leaned in and whispered. “Can we go home?”

  Kissing her son, Lacy’s reply met wild enthusiasm from Derek. “Right now?” She nodded then he slipped from her arms, waiting patiently between his mother and Gage.

  Suddenly appearing on the deck was the beautiful fair skinned actress, Hayston Rawlings. “Darling! It’s Ron Griffen on the phone.” She sidled up to her lover, draping her arm over his shoulder. When David started to hand Sammy to her, she pursed her lips and withdrew ever so slightly.

  Noting this, Gage stepped up, taking the young child from his departing father. “I’ll get him.” To her surprise and relief, he didn’t resist. Maybe he does like me.

  The twenty-five year old actress debated following David. Hesitatingly, Hayston nodded to her ex-co-star of the television show, CRACKDOWN.

  “Hayston, how are you? I hope the kids didn’t give you a hard time.” Lacy conversationally quizzed.

  “Oh, no.” The light haired woman answered with a fake smile. Thank God the nanny was here. Hayston Rawlings grew up the only child of loving but poor parents. She wasn’t used to sharing the limelight. Having two of David’s children visit for the last week threw a wrench in her plans to spend that time alone with him.

  The jubilation Gage felt when Sammy easily came to her only lasted a few seconds until Stella Smith reached out to the young boy.

  “Hello there, Sammy.” The sixty-two year-old woman stroked his soft cheek, causing him to giggle. It didn’t take long for him to reach for his nanny. Taking her young charge, Stella greeted the couple. “Hi, Lacy.” She turned to the blonde. “Gage.”

  Gage frowned. “Stella.”

  “Dani!” The mother yelled. “Get over her and give your mother a hug.”

  Hurrying across the pool are
a, Dani wrapped her wet arms around her mother, then laughed. “Wanna go swimming with me, Mom?” The young girl stepped back, looking her mother up and down and said. “You might as well you’re already wet.”

  “Mmmmm.” Lacy’s mock frown turned into a loving smile, hugging her daughter tightly again.

  “Hi! Gage.” The soaking wet girl opened her arms wide and with an impish glint in her blue eyes asked. “How bout you?” Not waiting for Gage to reply, Dani stalked her prey.

  Gage dashed off with Dani hot on her heels. It didn’t take long for Derek to take off after them. “Wait for me. Hey!”

  Lacy, Stella and Hayston stood silently watching the mayhem before them when David arrived, breaking the ice. “Honey, could you hand me that drink?” David winked at his live in lover when she complied with his request. “Ron’s pushed back that movie till the fall.” Taking a long sip, he continued. “Summer’s shot unless…..” Turning to Lacy, he speculated. “…there’s a part for Hayston in your movie. What’d you say, Lacy? Anything interesting?”

  “David!” Hayston admonished him with a forged smile. She circled her arm around his, pulling him closer. “Why don’t we just take the summer off? We haven’t had any time alone lately.”

  The cold glare he shot his lover froze her in place. “We’ll talk about it.” Patting her hand, David turned his attention to his two older children’s antics. Nodding at Gage as she frolicked with the kids, he remarked sarcastically to Lacy. “You always wanted a houseful of kids.”