“Is that your way of saying I don’t call enough?” she joked.
“Uh, yeah. Last time I talked to you, your heart was broken and you were on your way to becoming a Lifetime movie.”
Paige couldn’t help laughing. “Just shut up. Listen, I’m getting married.”
There was dead silence on the phone line. “Patrick, did you hear what I said?”
“Is this smart?” he asked. “I mean, what about his ex-wife? You thought they had gotten back together.”
“I was mistaken about that. As a matter of fact, Brian’s ex-wife is the least of my worries. She’s going to be out of his life permanently; she almost got their son killed,” Paige said.
She told Patrick all that had happened after her return to Elmore—the knockdown, drag out in her front yard, Brian’s custody case, and the fire in Atlanta.
“Wow,” Patrick said. “What a total one-eighty. So, things weren’t as bad as you made them out to be, huh?”
“No,” she said. “I kinda flew off the handle, as usual.”
Patrick laughed. “So you and this guy are the real thing?”
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, Patrick. I miss him when he’s not around. And I love his son just like he was my own.”
“Are you happy?” Patrick asked. “Because if you’re happy, then I’m all for it.”
Paige smiled as if Patrick were right there. “I’m happy.”
“When is the wedding and how many carats?” he asked.
“Well, I haven’t gotten a ring yet. I mean, he asked me to marry him last night and I said yes this morning.”
Patrick sighed. “Are you sure you guys aren’t moving too fast?”
“When you’re sure about a person, there’s no such thing as moving too fast,” Paige said. “Just tell me congratulations.”
“Congratulations.” Patrick said. “But he’d better not hurt you again, because if you come crawling back to Nashville again, he’s going to have problems with me.”
“I love you, Patrick,” Paige said, feeling warm that he cared about her. “You’re going to have to be my man of honor or something.”
“Yeah, so you can try and stuff me into a pink dress. I think not. But seriously, I have to come down there and have a heart-to-heart with the future Mr. Paige Grayson. Remember when you said you were going to make your husband take your name?”
Paige and Patrick broke into hysterical laughter. “That was because Professor Danford pissed me off in class that day, talking about the role of women in marriage and what not. I didn’t need to hear that 1950s mess. But you know what, I don’t think I’m going to mind being Mrs. Paige Grayson-Jackson.”
“All right, Paige,” Patrick said.
Paige and Patrick said their goodbyes and she headed for the bathroom to prepare for her date with Brian.
When he knocked on her door, Paige planned to knock his socks off. She walked into her bedroom and pulled a slinky black and white dress from the closet. The dress hit her at the knee and clung to her body, showing off her curves.
Paige ran a hot bath, sprinkling a few drops of almond oil in water. The steam from the bath was going to make her hair soft and curly. Inching into the water, immersing her shoulders, she closed her eyes and let the water swirl around her. She imagined that the lick of the water was Brian’s tongue, kissing every inch of her body. She ran her hands across her thighs, imagining that her hands were Brian’s. Then she stopped herself. If she got lost in her fantasy, she’d never be ready for their date. Wrapping herself in a plush towel, she walked into her bedroom, dried herself, smoothed cocoa butter on her supple skin and then dressed in a red satin bra and thong set.
Well, he said sexy, she thought as she put the underwear on. Paige grabbed her hair moisturizer and squeezed a dime-size amount in her hand and rubbed it through her hair, locking in her natural curl pattern and controlling the frizz.
She sprayed a mist of Estée Lauder’s Dazzling Gold on her neck and wrists, and then slipped into her slinky dress. She looked in the mirror, admiring the way the black and white dress hugged her taut breasts, high behind, flat stomach, and round hips. She looked sexy if she had to say so herself. Paige fluffed her hair before she glossed her lips with a peach-colored MAC lip-gloss. Next, she dipped her finger in a jar of facial moisturizer and rubbed it across her face to give her skin a healthy glow. The reflection staring back at her looked like a woman who was ready to move forward in love and life.
When Brian knocked on the door, it was as if Paige had been transported back to her prom night. She was excited and nervous at the same time and her heart was beating like a conga drum.
“Hi,” Paige said in a sultry voice.
“Wow,” he replied with his mouth hanging open.
“I hope this is sexy enough for you.” She spun around like a runway model.
Brian wrapped Paige up in a tight embrace, brushing his lips against her neck.
She pushed him back. “Aren’t we supposed to be going out?”
“The way you look, I don’t want anyone else looking at you.”
Paige blushed. “Oh, you’re not getting out of this.” She reached for her purse and keys. Brian walked behind her and she could feel him watching her hips sway. Paige stopped. “Enjoying the view?”
He laughed. “You know it.”
She handed him her car keys. “Why don’t we put the top down and drive wherever you’re taking me?”
Brian took the keys, unlocked the car and opened the passenger side door for Paige. She slid in the car, giving him a glimpse of her smooth legs as he closed the door. She heard him inhale sharply as he walked over to the driver’s side.
Brian got in and glanced over at Paige. “You’re so beautiful,” he said as he started the car.
“Thank you.”
He reached over and stroked her bare thigh. A tingle shot though her nervous system; making her close her eyes and will herself to regain her composure. “So where are you taking me?”
Brian didn’t answer. He drummed his fingers along the steering wheel as he drove and hummed a tune she’d never heard before.
“Brian!” she snapped.
“What?”
“Where are we going?”
“I bet you were one of those kids who tried to open Christmas presents before Christmas morning.”
Paige folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “So what if I was?”
“Trust me, you’ll like where we’re going,” he said as he pulled into the parking lot of what looked like an abandoned business.
Paige looked at the small white building. He wanted me to get dressed up to come to this dump?
Brian opened the car door. “Wait here,” he said.
Paige watched him as he walked into the building. She’d passed this place every day, but had never stopped to sample their food. When Brian walked out with a picnic basket and a bottle of wine, Paige crossed her legs and leaned back in the leather seat. We must be going to the lake, she thought as he got into the car.
“All right, we’re off,” Brian said, as he switched the ignition on.
“And we’re going where?” she inquired.
“Patience is a virtue that you certainly don’t possess,” Brian said as he headed down the street. Paige pouted then uncrossed her legs. When she looked out the window, she realized where they were going. Brian was taking her to the park, the place where they’d had their first date. She smiled as he pulled into the parking lot.
“You do realize the last time we were here, things didn’t—”
Brian placed his finger to Paige’s lips to quiet her. “Most of the time, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. But we have a chance to start over. Tonight’s our first date.” Closing his hand around hers, he led her to a tall oak tree and then set the basket on the ground. He pulled out a red and white checkered cloth and spread it over the grass. Paige took her stiletto sandals off and sat down on the cloth as Brian spread o
ut the food—pecan-crusted fried chicken, potato salad, crisp green salad, and chocolate- covered strawberries.
“I never knew that place had this kind of food,” Paige said as Brian poured the wine in two glasses.
“Normally they don’t. But the cook and I are close,” he said as he handed her the wine glass. “Let’s toast.”
They held up their glasses. “Here’s to good food, a beautiful woman, and the rest of our lives,” Brian said. Then they clinked their glasses together.
Paige took a sip of wine, all the while watching Brian as he set his glass down and reached into the basket again. He pulled out the green velvet box.
“I have something else I want to toast,” he said as he opened the box. The diamond ring sparkled in the moonlight.
Paige covered her mouth with her hand as she looked at the ring. “Brian, it’s beautiful.”
“It was my mother’s. The first time I got married, my sister wouldn’t let me have it and I’m glad, because you’re the one who should wear it.” Brian took the ring out of the box, grabbed her left hand and slid it on her ring finger. Paige was shocked that the ring fit her slender finger perfectly.
“See what I mean,” Brian said as he kissed her hand. “Paige Grayson, will you marry me?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Of course I will,” she replied.
Brian pulled Paige into his lap and stroked her cheek. “You’ve made me the happiest man in South Carolina—not just tonight, but ever since you came into my life. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Brian captured Paige’s lips, planting a deep, soul-shaking kiss on her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in the curly hair on his neck. Paige broke off the kiss and looked up at him.
“Maybe we should pack this up and go home. I don’t want to eat now,” Paige said.
Brian smiled. “You won’t get any complaints from me on that.” They began putting the food back in the basket so that they could head home and spend the night making love.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Brian woke up in Paige’s arms. He pressed his nose against her neck and inhaled deeply as he ran his finger down the length of her leg. Paige stirred slightly, but she didn’t wake up, giving Brian a chance to continue his exploration of her body. His hand glided over her hip, up her side, down her spine. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. Brian couldn’t wait until they woke up this way every morning.
“Good morning,” he said before kissing her on the chin.
Paige moaned slightly as she stretched. “Good morning is right.”
Brian cupped her face in his hands and stared into her golden eyes. His heart swelled as she smiled up at him. He hadn’t thought his heart would ever allow another woman inside, but Paige had driven into his life and planted herself firmly in his heart.
“What?” she asked.
“I can’t wait until we make this official,” he said with a smile. “You waking up in my arms, falling asleep in my arms.”
Paige locked her fingers with his. “What time is Mickey coming back?”
Brian looked over at the clock on the nightstand. It was after little at eight A.M. “Not for hours. Why?”
Paige pounced on top of him. “Because,” she gently bit Brian’s bottom lip, “I want to practice for our honeymoon.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” Brian said as he wrapped his massive arms around Paige, flipping her over so that he was on top.
“I love you so much.” Then he captured her lips with his, gently biting her full bottom lip. Brian used his tongue as a tool, examining the inside of her sweet mouth. He savored the taste of her.
His dick hardened as she thrust her naked body into him. Like a jigsaw puzzle, they snapped together—a perfect fit. Brian felt Paige envelop him in her warm valley. The sensation of her tightening against his cock nearly brought him to climax. Closing his eyes, he threw his head back in ecstasy as Paige locked her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper and deeper into her pool of desire. She bucked underneath him, taking every inch of his throbbing manhood.
She nearly brought him to climax again, but Brian reached down and gripped her hips to slow her down. Brian had never felt more connected with another person, never had such a soul tie with someone. What he’d thought was love with Olivia didn’t compare to what he and Paige shared. When he looked into her eyes, he knew she felt the same way he did. He didn’t have to guess how she felt.
Paige wore her emotions on her sleeve and after his relationship with Olivia, he needed that kind of woman. A woman who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, a woman who’d let him know when she was happy, angry, or sad.
That was Paige Grayson and that was the woman he was going to marry.
Paige nibbled on Brian’s ear as he leaned in to kiss her on her neck. She touched one of his most sensitive spots and sent him over the edge. Brian exploded inside of her, collapsing on top of her. He exhaled loudly and shifted his body so that he and Paige lay spooned together on the bed. She reached back and stroked his face.
“I know you don’t want to talk about this,” Paige began. “But when do you go to court again about Mickey?”
Brian sighed. “You’re right, I don’t want to talk about that, not right now.” He ran his finger down her spine. “I haven’t heard from Gerald.”
“Maybe you should call him. The sooner you get that taken care of, the sooner we can plan our wedding,” she said. “We can’t get married in turmoil.”
“I know,” Brian said as he held her a little tighter.
“Wet blanket?”
“What?”
“Did I just throw a wet blanket on the moment?” she asked.
Brian shook his head. “We have to think about this, even if it isn’t pretty. Olivia is going to try to fight this, even after all that she did.”
“She won’t win. Mickey could’ve died because of her.”
Brian could tell she was getting emotional. He stroked her back.
“Baby, calm down,” he said. “You know what? There are three things that are important to me in my life. I’m holding one of them in my arms right now. The other two are at my parents’ house. I’m not going to let anyone take anything from me. Now, why don’t we shower and have breakfast?”
Paige turned around and smiled at him. The devilish look in her eyes told him that food was the furthest thing from her mind. She brushed her lips against his. “Why don’t we make it lunch,” she whispered.
After making love all morning, Paige and Brian finally pulled themselves out of bed and together cooked a brunch of scrambled eggs, fried chicken breasts, pan seared potatoes, and fruit salad. Brian found a leftover bottle of champagne from a past New Year’s Eve celebration. He grabbed two flutes and made mimosas. Before they ate, Brian called his sister.
“How’s Mickey?” he asked.
“He’s fine. We’re about to have some pizza. Do you and Paige want to join us or do you have other plans?”
Brian looked at Paige, who was dressed in one of his Elmore Police Department tee shirts. “Oh, I would say we have other plans,” he replied.
“All right, but I will bring Mickey home at five.”
“Thanks, sis,” Brian said.
“Did she like the ring?” Gabrielle asked.
“Loved it,” he replied. “We’ll talk later.” Brian hung up the phone and watched Paige as she set the plates on the table. The phone rang before Brian reached the table. He didn’t want to answer, but he figured it was Gabrielle or Gerald. “Yeah?”
“Brian, it’s Gerald. We have a court date,” he said.
“When?”
“Three days from now.”
“I hope the judge will have sense enough to give me sole custody this time,” he said.
“I don’t see that as a problem. Olivia really stepped in it. I tried to talk to her attorney and get him to just agree to our terms, but she wants her day in court.”
“She can have her day in court, as l
ong as Mickey comes home with me when all is said and done,” Brian growled.
“I’m sure that’ll be the case this time. I have to call the Atlanta Police Department and see if I can get a copy of the police report. I need to see you in my office first thing in the morning so that we can go over a few things,” he said.
“I’ll see you then,” Brian said and hung up. Paige looked up at him.
“Was that about Mickey?” she asked.
He nodded and sat down at the table across from her. “Olivia is still trying to cling to custody after she nearly killed my son. It’s amazing he didn’t end up in child protective services.” Brian banged his hand against the table. “I don’t get her.”
Paige placed her hand over Brian’s. “There isn’t anything you can do about Olivia, all you can do is love and protect Mickey. And I’ve got your back. We’re not going to let her take that little boy away from us.”
Brian smiled brightly. Hearing Paige talk about Mickey as if he were her son too was heartening. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“Thank you,” he said.
Paige decided to go home after they ate, so that she could do some laundry before she, Brian, and Mickey met for dinner. She planned to cook meatloaf, cabbage, and macaroni and cheese. For dessert, she was going to try her hand at baking a chocolate cake.
When she and Brian got married, Paige was going to make sure to have a Sunday dinner for her family, just like TV. She smiled as she walked through the door of her home, fantasizing about walking into her home after work. Mickey and Brian would have prepared dinner for her and have the table set. Since she’d be late, she would have to bring their favorite ice cream as a peace offering. Before they ate dinner, she and Brian would help Mickey with his homework. Then they would sit down to a nice family dinner.
And after Mickey went to bed, she and Brian would work on giving him a little sister or a little brother.
Paige knew their marriage wasn’t going to be easy. Olivia would rear her ugly head at some point and try to cause problems, but she wasn’t going to let that woman stop her from being in love. She’d had her chance to be Brian’s wife and she’d blown it. Finally, Paige was secure in Brian’s love and knew there was nothing Olivia could do to come between them. But she was going to have to be cordial to the woman because she was Mickey’s mother. Paige knew the importance of a child having both parents in his life. She often wondered what her life would have been like if she had her father in her life. Maybe she wouldn’t have been so angry as a child.
Another Chance to Love Page 21