Never the Bride (Dilbury Village #1)

by Charlotte Fallowfield

  ‘I’m pretty sure I can,’ he confirmed, then I heard the crackle of his walkie-talkie. ‘Hey, Luciano, it’s Thomas down in the lobby. We’ve got a lady stuck in turnstile four, can you back it up for me? … Yes … No, you aren’t seeing things,’ he chuckled. ‘Yes, it is a pretty brightly colored outfit .... No, she’s a VIP, here to see Mr. Davis. Great, thanks. Ok, Miss Carter, steady yourself,’ he called.

  ‘Steadying,’ I called back. Jesus, I was going to pass out in a minute. This was hotter than lying on the beach in Mexico. I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard a clunk and my right leg dropped to the floor, then I had to make another concerted effort to work my way back out of the narrow channel to return to the lobby.

  ‘Right, I’ll let him know you’re here,’ Thomas advised, putting my basket back over my arm.

  ‘Can you … I know I’m asking a lot, but is there any way you can get him down here without him knowing it’s me?’

  ‘If he tries to fire me when he gets down, you’d better put in a good word for me,’ Thomas warned.

  ‘I promise, I’ll tell him I made you do it,’ I nodded.

  ‘Please don’t. I’m highly trained to deal with unwanted visitors, admitting that you forced me to do this would make me come off in a much worse light.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I stated sincerely as I heard him walk away. I turned to squint and saw him at the reception desk making a call. Then he returned a short while later. ‘Ok?’

  ‘He’ll be down in a minute, but he didn’t sound very happy that we weren’t able to sort out the crisis I faked ourselves. Come on, let’s move you back a bit, give people space to get in and out through security, ok?’

  ‘Will you tell me when he’s here? I’m having a lot of trouble seeing clearly. I’m so hot I’m sweating, and I think my mascara has run in my eyes too,’ I huffed. What had I been thinking? All of a sudden I felt nervous and panicky. What if I really did come off as a complete fool, too big a fool for Miller to take me seriously? What if this made him walk away for good? I swallowed hard and tried to compose myself. We weren’t together now. After this, we either would be or we’d be over for good. At least one way or the other I’d know and could stop torturing myself.

  ‘He’s here,’ whispered Thomas, spinning me slightly.

  ‘What’s going on, Thomas?’ came Miller’s annoyed voice. ‘I had to interrupt an important call for a … a … what the hell am I looking at?’ he demanded, confusion saturating his tone.

  Hardly surprising, really. I’d imagine that it wasn’t every day that a CEO of a company was summoned down to his lobby, only to be faced with a giant yellow Winnie the Pooh bear, complete with a red “Pooh Bear” t-shirt, pudgy hands and feet, rotund stuffed stomach and bottom, and a life-like head with a pot of “Hunny” balanced on top of it. I could barely see anything through the mesh eyeholes and film of disintegrating mascara in my eyes, but I took a deep breath of hot recycled air and prepared myself to sing.

  Elvis – Teddy Bear

  I grimaced as I heard how out of key I was, and heard the laughter and chatter rising around me. Then I remembered some dance moves I’d practiced with Georgie, Daphne in tears of laughter as we’d come up with something not too taxing for someone in a costume like this. I got into my groove, tapping my large feet as I swayed, then doing a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree spin and shaking my plump stuffed backside at him. People starting cheering, egging me on as I screeched away, Elvis probably turning over in his grave as I slaughtered his short, sweet love song. I had no idea what Miller’s reaction was, if he knew it was me inside this yellow suit, or if he was even still there as I finished and panted.

  ‘I want to be your teddy bear, Miller. Will you be mine?’ I called, then wobbled as someone turned me around, presumably Thomas, to make sure I was facing him.

  ‘Abbie? Is that you?’ Miller exclaimed, surprise and wonder in his voice. I nodded, then gasped in some fresh air as the head of my Pooh suit was lifted off me and another round of cheers came up from the crowd that was circling us.

  ‘Hey,’ I smiled as I saw Miller standing in front of me, his face a picture as he shoved the head into Thomas’s arms.

  ‘Hey,’ he said warily, holding my gaze, his brown chocolate pools setting my tummy on a washing cycle of emotional spins. I couldn’t believe how much I’d missed him. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘You said you wanted someone to make a fool out of themselves for you, so here I am, doing just that,’ I announced, throwing my padded arms out to the side.

  ‘I thought … I’m confused, Abbie. You made your feelings for me pretty clear when you walked away from me at Tracey’s wedding, then left the country and ignored my calls,’ he added quietly.

  ‘I was shocked, hurt, and upset, so I ran, without my phone. I didn’t get any of your messages until I came home. But I’ve had time to think, to decide what I want, and it’s you, Miller. I want you. So badly that I’m even prepared to give up everything to move here to be with you.’

  ‘You are?’ His eyebrows raised in surprise as he put his hands on his hips, making me lick my lips. He looked so dashing in his three-piece tailored business suit. We must look like such an odd couple right now. The hardcore businessman and a sweaty, make-up-streaked padded bear.

  ‘I am,’ I said firmly, slowly dropping down to one knee on the floor and setting my basket to the side of me as people started to whisper in the background. I tried to throw back the red and white checked cloth covering the contents of the basket, but with my fake hands I couldn’t, so I looked up to Thomas and gestured with my head to the cloth, which he quickly bent down to whisk away. I heard Miller take in a sharp breath through his teeth as he saw the contents. I’d baked six white chocolate chip cookies, his favourite, in the shape of hearts, then I’d written on them in red icing and carefully laid them in the basket in order. I felt myself tear up as I looked up and read to him out loud the words I’d written on them. I Love You, Marry Me Miller.

  A collective gasp went up around us, but I didn’t look away. I kept my eyes firmly on his, trying to read his expression as he stared down at me, his gorgeous eyes moist with emotion. I just wasn’t sure what that emotion was right now. I probably looked a state, with sweaty Pooh helmet hair, running mascara, and a big fat yellow tummy. Was he embarrassed, was he mortified, was he touched, what?

  ‘Miller?’ I whispered, my bottom lip starting to wobble as his mouth repeatedly opened, then closed, no words coming out. How stupid was I going to feel if he said no now, and I had to pick up my basket and my Pooh head and shuffle out of here, then get another load of abuse from the next rude cab driver?

  ‘Abbie, I …’ He shook his head and ran his hands up over his face and into his hair, leaving it in that ruffled mess I’d always loved so much. ‘You’re really willing to leave Dilbury, to leave England, for me?’ he asked, astonished.

  ‘Yes,’ I breathed, with no millisecond of hesitation. I wanted him to be sure of my feelings for him. He swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded.

  ‘And you want to marry me? You’re asking me to marry you?’

  ‘Yes,’ I said firmly. He nodded again, and I could see the cogs in that brain of his whirring, then he chewed his lower lip for a moment as he studied me.

  ‘Then no. My answer’s no,’ he replied with a firm shake of his head.

  ‘What?’ I cried, my heart exploding into a thousand pieces as everyone around us gasped, and I heard a few murmurs of sympathy. I choked back some tears, wishing I was in a position to get up and run from here as fast as possible, but Miller dropped to his knees in front of me and clasped my face. ‘Don’t, please don’t touch me,’ I whispered, a few tears breaching my defences and rolling down my cheeks. He’d just rejected me. Feeling him touching me, seeing his handsome face so close, smelling his cinnamon-bun aroma, it was all too much right now.

  ‘I’m saying no, not because I don’t love you, Abbie, but because I do and because I’ve been an idiot,’ he stated
earnestly as he held my gaze. ‘I’ve been too scared to take the next step with you, letting my fears come between us. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you be the man in this relationship. If anyone’s going to propose, it’s going to be me, and I’m going to do it properly. So no, right here, right now, my answer is no. But you’d better say yes the moment I ask you, ok?’

  ‘You’re … you’re saying you’ll ask me?’ I whimpered, more tears cascading down my face. I was on the emotional rollercoaster of my life this year, most of it having happened in the last ten minutes.

  ‘I am,’ he confirmed, and a loud cheer almost lifted the roof of the lobby off, then people started applauding as I sniffed and laughed, then whacked him with one of my huge paws.

  ‘You just nearly gave me a heart attack,’ I moaned. ‘And I’d better be clear, I want to get married soon. I wasn’t proposing to have some ridiculously long engagement if you’re thinking you can string this out. And I want a baby. Again, soon.’

  ‘A baby Davis?’ he queried, his eyes going wide. I swallowed and nodded, wondering if I was pushing him too hard. We’d never really had a proper discussion about children, about how he felt about them, or if he even wanted them.

  ‘Soon, to it all,’ he agreed, a soft smile breaking out on his face. ‘No stringing, though I am having a hard time taking you seriously right now. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look in that outfit?’

  ‘Well, duh!’ I scoffed with a roll of my eyes. ‘That was the whole point.’

  ‘Thank you, thank you for making a fool of yourself and proving to me that I wasn’t alone in this.’

  He dipped his head and lay a passionate kiss on me, still clutching my face, our lips merging in a heated and fiery, and long overdue, reunion. I melted, sagging against him as everyone’s clapping intensified and the cheering got louder. I flung my arms around his neck, never wanting to let him go, but we had to break the kiss, both of us laughing, when I realised I’d just nearly knocked him out with my paws. ‘God I love you, Abbie Carter,’ he murmured. ‘But after this little public display, where you’ve totally emasculated me, I’m never going to be able to pull out the tough and hardened boss card or command the respect of my employees ever again.’

  ‘You could go all caveman and dominant, toss me over your shoulder, spank me, then carry me up to your office,’ I suggested. He guffawed with laughter and had to let go of me as he clutched his sides.

  ‘You’re the size of a small house! How the hell did you get here? Please tell me you didn’t fly over in that?’

  ‘No,’ I giggled, ‘though I got some funny looks at customs when they opened my case, and they sent a load of drug-sniffer dogs to check it out. I was worried they were going to call me into a private room for a rectal examination. I arrived last night and stayed at The Domville, then created quite a scene in their lobby as I waddled out dressed like this and dived head first into a cab. Thomas was an angel pulling me out when I arrived, you owe him a big thank you.’

  ‘An angel. I’ve heard you called many things, Thomas, but never an angel,’ Miller winked up at him.

  ‘There’s a first time for everything, sir,’ he nodded, still dutifully holding Winnie’s head.

  ‘Can you call my driver for me? I’d like him to escort Miss Carter back to The Domville.’

  Thomas nodded and headed over to reception to make the call.

  ‘I’m not staying with you?’ I pouted. I’d missed him so much, and now that we were seriously doing this, I wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms tonight.

  ‘Unfortunately I have a few urgent calls to make that I can’t put off. Why don’t you go and get out of this,’ he gesticulated at my sweltering suit, ‘and change into something a little sexier. I’ll pick you up later to take you out to dinner. Pack to stay with me and we can talk then, ok?’ He planted a tender kiss on my forehead, lingering for a moment, and then helped me up. I blushed as I saw everyone watching us, some of the women with soft looks on their faces, others looking distraught that he was taking himself permanently off the market. ‘It really means a lot that you did this for me, Abbie,’ he repeated as he held my gaze.

  I smiled shyly at him, feeling a cocktail of emotions as we just stared at each other. We were doing this, really doing this. I wanted to do my Teddy Bear dance again, I was so happy. Mixed up in my joy was a tiny sliver of sadness as it sank in that I’d be leaving Dilbury behind, only returning from time to time. New York was going to be my home now.

  ‘Sorry to interrupt, Sir. Guido has just left the parking garage, he’ll be pulling up outside any moment,’ Thomas advised as he sidled up beside us.

  ‘Then I’d better walk Miss Carter out,’ Miller stated.

  ‘Thank you, Thomas, so much. Would you like a cookie?’ I offered as I managed to hook my paw through the basket handle and lift it up.

  ‘I couldn’t possibly, they’re very special and very personal cookies,’ he replied.

  ‘Then I’m going to bake you some special “Thank You” ones, as I couldn’t have done this without you.’

  ‘Well, if you insist,’ he grinned. ‘I’m rather partial to peanut butter ones.’

  ‘Consider it done,’ I confirmed.

  ‘Many congratulations on the upcoming engagement.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I smiled, managing to get close enough to give him a peck on the cheek, which made him blush. I took Miller’s arm and he roared with laughter as I shuffled along, polishing his marble floor with my big padded feet as I swayed, my stuffing-enhanced hips bouncing off his firm ones.

  ‘I’ve missed this, us,’ he admitted.

  ‘Me too. And I have so many questions for you, including all about Quinn. You have a twin sister!’

  ‘I do,’ he nodded with a proud smile on his face. ‘I think you’re going to get along really well, she’s a really sweet girl, despite the crazy haircut and piercings. I’m so sorry about the wedding. I was going to come and talk to you at some point, but I saw how jealous you looked to see me with Quinn and I saw the chance to get back at you, which was very immature of me. I just wanted to make you feel like I did when I found Heath at your house. I didn’t expect the whole cat fight, cake wrecking, fleeing from the country scenario to go down.’

  ‘Apology accepted, but in the future, let’s talk to each other, no more running,’ I suggested, as we stepped out of the air-conditioned building and the heat of the New York summer slammed into me, taking my breath away. I was going to need some serious hydrating as soon as I got back to the hotel, and it was going to take some adjusting to a new climate.

  If Guido the driver was bemused by the appearance of his boss with a headless Winnie the Pooh and Thomas carrying the oversized stuffed head behind us, he didn’t show it. He just tipped his cap and opened the back door of the black town car. I assured them all that after getting in on my front, then struggling to roll over and sit up to get out, I was best going in bottom first to lie on my back. After a few minutes of me trying to force my backside in the car, and them pushing me from the front, it was clear it wasn’t working.

  ‘Why are we messing around? Let’s just unzip the suit,’ Miller suggested, reaching behind me to tug on it.

  ‘No,’ I cried, batting him with my paws. ‘I’m only wearing underwear. I can’t walk into The Domville in my bra and knickers with Winnie the Pooh’s head under my arm and a basket of cookies in the other.’

  ‘Only bra and panties? Really?’ he purred with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Are they sexy ones?’ he whispered in my ear.

  ‘No, but they will be by the time I see you later,’ I whispered back.

  ‘Excellent,’ he grinned, his tone making me giggle and my cheeks flush.

  ‘Ok, new plan. I’ll go in sideways, head first, but you’ll have to lift me up and feed me in,’ I suggested as I looked at all three of them, and they reluctantly nodded. My basket and the head were put on the pavement and I squealed with laughter as they lifted me up and managed to slide
me horizontally into the back of the car. Guido set the head on the passenger seat and went to get into the driver’s side as Thomas waved goodbye to me.

  ‘Here’s your cookies.’ Miller wedged the basket between my stomach and the centre console. ‘I stole one,’ he added with a grin as he took a bite of one in his hand. I peered into the basket to see that he’d nabbed the “Miller” one.

  ‘Why not the “Love” cookie?’

  ‘Because now, other than about fifty of my employees witnessing it first hand, there’s no record of my girlfriend proposing to me. It just says, “I love you, marry me.”’ He grinned as he bit off another section of it.

  ‘Was that your proposal, as it wasn’t exactly heartfelt!’

  ‘No,’ he laughed. ‘You’ll know when I do.’

  ‘And by choosing the “Miller” cookie, you’re eating yourself,’ I added.

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll let you eat me later,’ he winked, a devilishly playful look on his face that made my stomach warm. ‘See you in a while, baby.’

  ‘See you in a while.’

  He shut the door and waited for us to pull away, and I grinned and clapped my paws together. I was his girlfriend and his baby again. And I loved it!

  I twirled in the mirror, checking out my appearance. After having a huge yellow tummy and hips for most of the day, I was pretty happy looking at my figure right now. To show off my lovely Mexican tan, I’d put on a white, thin-strap maxi dress that skimmed my feet, with the pair of bright multi-coloured heels that I’d been wearing at Rachel’s wedding, the first time we’d met. A bright turquoise clutch bag and some silver jewellery completed my summery, and not overtly sexy, look. I was still Abbie Carter, country girl at heart. I’d pinned my hair back on one side and swept it over my other shoulder, then made an effort with my eye make-up.

  I wasn’t sure why I was nervous, but it kind of felt like a first date, like we were starting over. I guessed we were in a way. We’d both acknowledged our flaws and were prepared to try this regardless. I quickly pulled my mobile out of my clutch when it started ringing Elvis’s Teddy Bear, my new ringtone for Miller, and I felt those butterflies in my tummy starting to stir.