by Tia Wylder
Holding the refrigerator door open, Derrick tutted to himself, “I really need to go shopping.”
Elizabeth slipped up beside him and glanced at what he had. “How about a grilled cheese?”
“I guess that would work.” He pulled out the butter and cheese. He found a skillet and turned on the stove while Elizabeth buttered the bread. He hadn’t asked her to help. She had just done it instinctively. Derrick watched her lovingly. It was nice to have a woman around the house again for more than just a night. He had forgotten what it was like to not have to do everything himself.
“What are you looking at?” She wrinkled her nose at him.
“Just admiring you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful.” Derrick brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
She twisted her face into the most hideous pose she could manage. “How about now?”
Derrick laughed, “Still beautiful.”
She passed him a plate with buttered bread and slices of cheese on it. He placed them in the skillet and waited until the sizzling had almost stopped before he lifted the skillet and flipped the sandwich in the air. Elizabeth looked at him in awe. “Holy cow!”
“What?”
“I’ve never seen someone do that in person before.”
“Would you like to learn?”
Nodding excitedly, she stepped closer. He wrapped his arms around her and placed his hands over hers on the handle of the skillet. When the sizzling had stopped for the second time, Derrick guided her hands in a jerking motion to flip and catch the grilled cheese in the air. Elizabeth was so excited that she jumped up and down. Derrick cried out in pain.
“Are you okay?! What happened?”
Derrick gritted his teeth. “You jumped on my foot.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” She swung around to check on him, but the skillet was still in her hand. The metal brushed against his arm, and he yelled out again. Elizabeth dropped the skillet with a clatter back onto the stove. “I’m so, so, sorry!”
Derrick took a step away from her. “You are a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
“I really didn’t mean to.”
“I know you didn’t.” He shook his head. “I knew you would be trouble when I had to come turn off your alarm system the first night you moved in.” A smiled crept back on his face, “But what I didn’t know then was that you would be worth it.” He rested his hand on her cheek.
Charlie walked back into the kitchen and sniffed the air, “What’s burning?”
“Shoot!” Elizabeth pulled away from Derrick and spun back around to move the skillet away from the burner. It was crispy black on the bottom.
“That one’s yours.” Charlie peered at the damage and then went back to playing.
“Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll finish cooking dinner.” Derrick guided her to a chair as he took over in the kitchen again.
“I feel like I should be helping.” She pouted.
“No. You’re banished from the kitchen.” Derrick smirked and put the burnt grilled cheese on a plate. “This is your penance.”
“Well, jokes on you because I like them burnt.”
“Really?” He looked at knowingly. “Go ahead then. Eat it.”
Elizabeth pinched off a corner and popped it in her mouth. Her tongue recoiled from the taste, but she chewed it anyway. “Mmm. Yummy.” She grimaced as she swallowed.
Derrick shook his head and chuckled. “Alright, alright. That’s enough.” He picked up her plate and tossed the burnt sandwich in the trash. “I’ll make you a new one.”
“Thank you.” She smiled weakly.
“How did you survive on your own?”
“Well, pretty much microwavable dinners and ramen noodles.”
“Sounds about right.” He finished cooking and called out for Charlie to join them.
Derrick watched as Elizabeth and Charlie made small talk while they ate. A sense of thankfulness and fulfillment washed over him. The anxiety he had experienced over whether or not he should let them get close was almost completely gone now. Having so much happiness in front of him scared him. It had been years since he had been notably happy. Derrick’s smile faltered. The worry that he might someday lose this feeling again haunted his thoughts. Now that he found her, he couldn’t bear the thought of being without her.
After dinner, they watched a movie in the living room. Charlie and Elizabeth fell asleep halfway through it. They both looked so innocent when they were asleep. He waited until the movie was over before waking them up. He scooped Charlie up in his arms and carried him to his room. Pulling the covers up around him, Derrick tucked his son into bed and kissed his forehead. When he entered the living room again, Elizabeth was hugging a pillow to her chest. Sleep still clung to her eyes.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She smiled and squeezed the pillow tighter to her, “Yeah, I am actually.”
“What do you think so far?”
“What do you mean? About Charlie?”
Derrick sat close to her so that she could rest her head on his shoulder. “Charlie. Us. Everything.”
“I was really nervous at first. I wasn’t sure how things were going to go, but after spending more time with him, it just feels like we fit together. It’s odd, but he seems more like an adult than a kid.”
“He’s fairly observant for his age. There are still times when he is challenging, but for the most part, he’s a good kid.”
“As for us,” she nuzzled into his neck, “I’ve never been happier. You ground me and make me want to be a better person. I’m still pretty ditzy, but I think I’m making progress.”
“Well, try not to change too much. One of us has to be less serious or we’ll be all work and no play.”
“That’s no fun.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought.
“I agree.” Derrick quickly grabbed her waist and flipped her around so that she was on her back. He body was poised on top of her. The smoothness of his movements took her breath away. Elizabeth stared up at him. His lips hovered above her. She waited for the sensation of his touch, but instead he placed one, light kiss on the tip of her nose.
Elizabeth cried out in disappointment. “You’re such a tease!”
Derrick winked at her. “I have to keep you interested somehow.” He pushed himself away from her and sat up. “Besides, Charlie is here.”
She nodded and sighed, “You’re right. I should probably be heading home anyway.”
“Thank you for today.” He offered his hand to her, and she took it. Derrick led her to the front door.
“I feel like I should be thanking you. I know it took a lot for you to let me spend time with your son. I won’t take that trust for granted.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gave her a chaste goodnight kiss.
She bit her lip and turned to leave, still wanting more. The night air seemed sweeter now, and the sky was a deeper ebony blue. She was too high on excitement to sleep. The house was empty when she walked in. It didn’t feel like a home without Derrick here with her. She made her way to the pile of blankets she was still sleeping on.
Being back in her own house made her feel like she was still a child wandering lost in the world. She had an excellent job and a home, but inside she still felt like she wasn’t grown up yet. The unpacked boxes next to her were a testament to that. If she wanted to be a worthy partner to Derrick, she needed to make more of an effort on her end of things. She could still maintain the carefree side of herself even if she exhibited more responsibility.
Elizabeth channeled her restless energy into finally getting her things in order. Box after box was emptied. The items were stowed in proper places. Taking control of her surroundings gave her a confidence boost. She needed to be a more reliable person, not just for Derrick, but for Charlie, too. Keeping her stuff boxed up was a poor example to set for him. Derrick had trusted her enough to let her spend time with his son, and she wanted to prove she was worthy of
that. Once all the boxes were unpacked, Elizabeth looked around her surroundings. A sense of accomplishment radiated from her. Until now, she had dreaded coming home even if she hadn’t realized it before. The boxes made her feel claustrophobic and overwhelmed her. That was why she had put it off for so long. On larger projects, it was hard to know where to start, but spending time with Derrick and Charlie gave her the motivation to tackle anything.
Satisfied with the outcome, Elizabeth curled up in the pile of blankets on the floor. She fell asleep with a smile on her face. She had come so far since first moving in. Finally, the stars were aligning in her favor.
It felt as though she had only been asleep for a few minutes before there was a loud knocking on her door. Elizabeth jolted out of the blankets and plodded over to the door. Sunshine streamed through the doorway as she opened it. A lady with a clipboard handed her a slip of paper to sign.
“What’s going on?” Elizabeth glanced around her to see a moving van parked in the driveway.
“We’re here to deliver your furniture.”
Shielding her eyes with her hand, Elizabeth squinted at the woman. “I never made an appointment.”
Derrick stepped out of the shadows with two cups of coffee in his hand. He passed one to Elizabeth. “I called them. I’ve had you running around so much at work that you haven’t had time to set it up yourself. I didn’t want to have to worry about you sleeping on the floor anymore, so I just set up the delivery myself. All you have to do is tell them where you want it.”
“Really?!” She was moved by his thoughtfulness. “Thank you.” She sipped her coffee as the moving crew prepared to unload her things. “Where’s Charlie this morning?”
“His mom already picked him up.”
Two men hefted a large sofa towards the door. “Where do you want us to put this?”
“Just put it in the living room.” Elizabeth pointed out the way to them.
After about an hour, all her furniture was in the house. She waved goodbye to the moving company as they pulled out of her driveway. Derrick followed her inside. The empty echo that had been there earlier was gone now that the furniture was in place.
“I see you finally unpacked.”
“Yeah. Finally made myself do it last night. I had no idea how much stuff I had until I had to pack and unpack it all.”
“It feels more like a home now.” He smiled in approval.
“It only feels like a home because you’re here.” Her heart pounded as the words slipped out of her mouth. She quickly averted her eyes in embarrassment.
“Maybe I should come over more often then.” He smirked and turned her head back to face him. She was cute when she got flustered. “Oh, I almost forgot. I got you a housewarming present.”
“Really? You didn’t have to do that.” Derrick handed her a package wrapped in plain brown paper. A piece of twine was tied in a bow around it. “What is it?”
“Open it and find out.”
Slowly, she pulled the twine. The package unwrapped itself. Underneath the parchment was a picture frame with two portraits inside. On one side, the picture from the photoshoot stared up at her. The other side had a candid photo of Derrick, Charlie, and herself at the zoo. “How did you get this?” She stared up at him in amazement.
“There was a newspaper there taking pictures for a story about the new baby monkeys. They contacted me and asked for permission to use it. I said they could on one condition. They sent me that late last night after you left.”
“Thank you.” She traced her finger across the images.
“Elizabeth, it’ll not always be this easy to be with me and to be involved in Charlie’s life. I want you to keep this picture as a reminder of something good when things get more difficult.”
“What do you mean? Are you expecting something bad to happen?”
Derrick chuckled, “No. I’m just being realistic. At some point, I will have business setbacks. I want you to know that even if I get upset, I will do my best not to take those worries out on you. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to confide in you.” He sighed, remembering the past. “During my marriage with Catherine, I kept my personal and business relationships separated. I thought I was protecting her from worrying, but in the end, it pushed her away. I don’t want to make that mistake with you. If you’re willing to be with me, I would like to include you in all parts of my life. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us, and sometimes that might mean I put too much pressure on you. If there ever comes a time when you need a break, or you feel overburdened, I need you to tell me. Elizabeth, I don’t want to have any regrets this time around.”
She took his hand in hers. “I want you to tell me whatever you need to tell me. I don’t care if it’s work problems, or family problems. I’m here for you. I can’t promise I won’t make mistakes, but if you’re patient with me, I think we can work out any issues we might face. I don’t expect this to be all sunshine and roses, Derrick. I know I come across as a little flighty sometimes, but I understand that real life isn’t a fairytale. I’m here for the tough times, too. Whatever you need. I’m here.”
Derrick smiled and cupped her face in his hands. Elizabeth placed the pictures on the counter and tilted her head up. He leaned his forehead against hers, taking in the smell of her perfume. It was a scent he had started to associate with happiness. Her fingertips wound into his dark curls. They shared a smile. Their breath and the beating of their hearts fell into the same rhythm. When Derrick closed his eyes, it wasn’t darkness or a hole that he found but hope. Elizabeth felt her walls melt away at his touch. She felt more vulnerable and yet somehow brazen at the same time. Their personalities meshed into one another like pieces of a puzzle. For the first times in their lives, home was less of a place and more a sense of belonging brought out by being close to each other.
THE END
Free Gift: Playboy’s Virgin
MATTHEW
When I first lay eyes upon Claire Barkley, I never could have imagined we would become friends. That day I heard her complaining about her bad luck in the bar, I certainly didn’t expect to go out of my way to help her out. Helping women isn’t really the name of my game; more so helping myself to their bodies. However, in spite of my disdain for the fairer sex, there’s something about playing pretend that sets a fire alight inside of me. Love? Nah. But we’ll have fun.
CLAIRE
When my mother insisted I bring a date to my sister’s wedding, I thought I was out of luck. However, when a remarkably friendly face offered a bit of assistance, who was I to say no? Especially when the guy offering to help has such a hot bod… I may be a virgin, and this may all be a charade, but I’ll show this playboy that he’s not the only alpha in town. Game on, rich boy.
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Dr. Single Dad’s Fake Marriage
Chapter One
It was picture perfect if Melody wasn’t in it.
Daniel Brookes sighed deeply and stopped staring at the family photo that was taken almost three years ago. Though the life of a doctor was far from glamorous in most cases, this rang especially true when it came to pediatrics. He was rather gifted with children, having a daughter of his own who was crazy about him. Just because his previous relationship with her mother hadn’t worked out didn’t mean he couldn’t give his daughter the life she deserved. He had a supportive family, and with his job, his pride, he would never want for anything. At least nothing, maybe, aside from a bit of stability. As much as he struggled to make things work with his ex-wife, the woman was simply being
unreasonable. If he could just convince the courts to give him full custody, or at least the majority… he sighed once more, shaking off these thoughts. His next patient would be due at any moment, and he would be lying if he denied being excited to see them. His sister, Danielle, was bringing in her son to get a routine checkup. As was always the case when he thought of his sister, he couldn’t help cursing his parent’s poor sense of humor. Daniel and Danielle always got remarks everywhere they went, regarding how they were nearly identical down to their names even. Danielle’s son and Daniel’s daughter thankfully broke the trend. He refused to name Amanda anything that even started with the letter D, and knew his sister felt much the same about Troy.
He sorted through some papers, waiting for his nurse to fetch him and announce the arrival of his next patient. He smiled as the portly older woman peeked in his office door, offering the handsome doctor a broad smile.
“Troy Brookes is here, Dr. Brookes,” she blinked her eyes with a faint smile. He returned her grin, rising from his feet and slipping out of the office. He went to the room the nurse had relayed, peeking inside to see his young nephew rummaging through the various drawers full of supplies.
“Hey, what are you doing!?” He growled in a gruff voice, and Troy jolted upright before turning to face the doctor. The young man’s face was the picture of relief when he realized it was only his uncle who had caught him, and he stepped up to Daniel for a firm hug. Daniel kissed the top of his nephew’s head, jolting when he heard an unfamiliar voice coo about how cute the situation was. He turned, seeing his sister Danielle as expected. However, what he hadn’t expected was the beautiful woman who sat at her side. The woman offered him a bashful grin, and he grinned toothily in turn. “Danielle, you didn’t mention you were bringing a guest,” he teased, and Danielle rolled her eyes.