“Right in front of my fiance and everyone else. I struggled to get away but he just held me more tightly, thoroughly kissing me. He finally released me and I drew back my hand to slap him. He stopped my hand and held it gently in his. He looked right into my eyes and said, ‘Now you know me.’ I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
“What did your fiance do?”
“He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from August. He was going to fight him right there on the dance floor. He punched August once in the mouth, and August never raised a hand. He just stood there watching me. Some of Leonard’s friends pulled Leonard away and made August leave the party. He never said another word; he just continued to stare at me as they escorted him out.”
“Oh, wow,” Alicia commented as Sheri chortled. She knew the story got even better.
“‘Oh wow’ is right! Leonard was furious and wanted to know what I had done to encourage him. I was so angry and unnerved. I left the party and went upstairs to my room, refusing to speak to Leonard. I was also confused and overwhelmed because August’s kiss had rocked me right to my toes. I had never been kissed like that before. I stayed in my room until the party broke up and refused to speak to anyone. Around three that morning, I was lying in bed unable to sleep when a dark shadow appeared on my balcony. Before I could react with more than shocked silence, August was standing in my bedroom.” Sophia closed her eyes. She remembered the night so vividly.
“Get out! Don’t you think you’ve caused enough trouble?”
He never moved from the door, but I could see his golden eyes staring at me. “You can’t marry Leonard, lassie.”
“I am engaged to him.”
“Get unengaged and marry me.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Yes, you do. I’m the son of a successful sheep rancher. My full name is August Cameron, and I will love you for the rest of your life.”
“August, you can’t just come into my room and tell me that. I’ve never met you before.”
“We are meant to be together. You felt it. I know you did.”
“I was scared, but August was right. When he kissed me I had felt something I had never felt before. He crossed the room and picked me up in his arms kissing me again. That kiss lasted for a long time, and then he put me back on my feet and started to leave my room. The last thing he said to me was, ‘You know I’m right. We’re meant for each other.’ He slipped out of my bedroom and was gone.”
“What did you do next?” Alicia asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“Nothing, I never told anyone what happened. I went on with my life for the next month like it hadn’t happened. There was only one problem. Every time Leonard kissed me, I felt nothing. Four weeks to the day of the party, I was back at college studying for an exam. It was about ten o’clock at night when someone knocked on my door. It was August and he was holding a bouquet of red roses. He handed them to me with a flourish and a little bow, wished me luck on my test, and walked away. The following week I received a box of chocolates, the following week a bushel of peaches. Somehow he knew I loved peaches. The more often he showed up, the more enamored of him I became. He never said anything other than that he was thinking of me, and he always gave me that smile. After five weeks of gifts, I was going out of my mind. Not only was I not in love with my fiance, but I had fallen in love with August.”
Sophia smiled at her memories as Alicia and Sheri waited for her to continue. “I was so mixed up, and I had no one to talk to about it. Both my parents had passed away, and I had no brothers and sisters. My best friend was Leonard’s sister, so I couldn’t tell her what was going on. I didn’t know what to do. Late one evening I was sitting in my room after spending a miserable evening with Leonard and his family. I realized that I couldn’t marry Leonard and I needed to tell him so. All of a sudden August was standing in my room, his golden eyes staring at me. I stood up and was going to tell him to leave, but my heart told me differently, and I rushed into his arms. He kissed me, and I told him I loved him. He laughed and said he knew that and then he picked me up and carried me to my bed. We made love all night, and I knew what I had to do. I made August leave early the next morning, and I promised him that I would marry him after I told Leonard that our engagement was over. That’s when everything became messy. My aunt and uncle were my guardians, and
when I went to them and told them I wasn’t going to marry Leonard, they were furious. They wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to explain. I told Leonard I wasn’t in love with him and I couldn’t marry him. He didn’t care. He was going to marry me, and I wasn’t allowed a say in the matter. My uncle and Leonard were adamant.”
“You must have been heartbroken,” Alicia said, taking Sophia’s hand.
“I was scared and angry more than anything. It wasn’t like I was a pauper and couldn’t live on my own or make my own decisions. But uncle was managing my inheritance, and I think that had a lot to do with his behavior. I had not told anyone about my promise to August. I couldn’t even talk to August and tell him what was going on, because my uncle insisted I stay in their house, and I was watched like a hawk. But August was not to be stopped, and he snuck in about three weeks before graduation.”
Sophia sighed as she remembered that night. “He told me not to worry about anything and to go ahead and attend Leonard’s college graduation ceremony with my aunt and uncle. August was going to receive his diploma as well. He promised me that everything would be fine and, strangely enough, I believed him.”
“The night of graduation I was a nervous wreck because Leonard and my uncle had moved up the wedding date to a week after graduation. I felt trapped, and I hadn’t seen August for almost two weeks. I hadn’t been able to tell him the plans had been changed. But I shouldn’t have worried. August wouldn’t let a silly thing such as a wedding stand in his way. We watched as Leonard received his diploma, and then I remember August standing up and receiving his. He was so intense, as he gazed out into the audience to where I was seated. His parents were also at the ceremony. August took his diploma in his hand and headed back toward his seat, but he didn’t sit down. He strode through the crowd to where I was and pushed his way through the aisle until he stood in right in front of me. He knelt down as he grabbed my hand and spoke very loudly, ‘Will you marry me Sophia?’”
“Oh my God, in front of everyone?” Alicia was shocked and thrilled.
“Yes. My uncle tried to push him away, but August waited for me to answer, and of course I said yes. August grinned at me and stood up. He picked me up out of my chair and threw me over his shoulder and made a dash for the door, Leonard and my uncle in hot pursuit. August had planned everything perfectly, and he tossed me into a waiting car and we took off. We met some of his friends who helped us get on a train, and we were gone before anyone knew what had happened. A justice of the peace just outside of Sydney married us.
August and I caught an airplane and we flew to Paris for a week and then on to Italy for another two weeks.”
“That is so romantic. What did your aunt and uncle do?”
“Nothing, what could they do? We sent a telegram to them to let them know where we were. It seems August had confided in his parents, and they met with my uncle. He was very pleased when he found out that August was a wealthy young man. Leonard’s family was very angry, but there was nothing anyone could do about the marriage. It was legal. When we came back from our honeymoon, August’s parents threw us a huge party to celebrate.”
“That’s so not the story that August told. He said he swept you off your feet, and you agreed to marry him immediately,” Alicia laughed, completely captivated by the story.
“August tends to overlook a lot of the details,” Sophia chuckled. “If you haven’t figured it out, August is an incurable romantic and the most stubborn man you could ever hope to find. All Camerons are stubborn.”
“Don’t I know it!” Sheri snorted. “Ted was exactly the same way.”
“How did you a
nd Ted meet?”
“I met August and Sophia in Sydney at the jewelry store where I was working. August wanted to get some of the family opals made into jewelry. I was known for my work with opals, and he hired me to do the work. There was rather a lot of work and it was going to take a quite a bit of my time, so August suggested that I work exclusively for the Cameron family and specialize in opals from their mines. I was ecstatic, because Cameron opals are highly prized. He invited me out to the ranch and to take a tour of the working mines. I agreed, and he sent Ted in the airplane to pick me up in Sydney.”
“Did he sweep you off your feet?”
“Hardly, he was surly, unfriendly, and hadn’t bothered to change his clothes after spending two days in them. He smelled like sheep. He was not happy about having to pick up some city girl right in the middle of his busiest time at the ranch. Rhea had just graduated from high school and was preparing to go to college, so she wasn’t helping out as much as he thought she should. All in all, Ted was just plain rude the whole flight.”
“When we got to the ranch, Sophia immediately lit into him about his clothes and general appearance, and he made some smartass crack about how city girls should be able to put up with working ranchers. I got to see the legendary Sophia temper my very first day at the ranch.”
“I wasn’t that bad,” Sophia interjected. “He was being very inhospitable.”
Alicia grinned at Sophia as Sheri continued her story.
“Sophia told him in no uncertain terms that he was to go clean up and be back for dinner by six o’clock with an entirely new attitude. Ted glared at me and left. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him again.”
“I was sitting in the living room with Sophia and August when Ted came in, and I was shocked at the transformation. He was even wearing a suit, of all things. He came up to me and immediately apologized for his earlier behavior, and then he smiled at me. It was like a lightning bolt hit me. He was gorgeous and sexy and I accepted his apology. Before I could say much more Rhea came bounding into the room. She was equally as sexy, and the Cameron siblings took me aback. Ted grabbed his sister in a headlock, teasing her about not helping with the shearing. It was immediately apparent that they loved each other very much. I think I fell in love with all of the Camerons at that moment.”
“I remember telling them to quit behaving like unruly hooligans.”
“Yes, Sophia was displeased, but August was more tolerant. Rhea was very friendly, and she, her mother and August kept the conversation moving along during dinner. Ted barely spoke, but when he did he was attentive and very articulate. He asked me several questions about my jewelry making. By the end of dinner, August suggested that Rhea and Ted take me on an early morning horse ride before we looked at the mines. I agreed, and then I went off to my room. Around ten o’clock I heard noise coming through my open window, and I went and looked out. Ted was standing outside the barn in a pair of jeans, cowboy boots, and no shirt on. He had just helped with a difficult calving. He looked so male and so sexy all I could do was stare. He looked up at me and stared back. I didn’t realize then that he could see right through my nightgown because of the light that was on behind me.” Sheri blushed with embarrassment.
“What did Ted do?”
“He began to recite Shakespeare to me. He started to say Romeo’s words when he wooed Juliet.”
“You’re kidding me?” Alicia laughed heartily. “Do all the Camerons have some special sexy gene?”
“That’s my thinking. Ted made me smile as he stood below me reciting the words. He stopped and looked some more at me and then he whispered goodnight and turned and walked away. I stepped away from the window, and I realized my heart was pounding. I tell you it was difficult sleeping that night.
The next morning Rhea loaned me some of her riding clothes and the three of us went for a horseback ride. Ted didn’t say much at all to me, but he kept
watching me the whole time. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. From his faded jeans to his cowboy hat, he was something to see.
After the ride, August took me up in the plane. We flew to two of his largest working mines. I was allowed to see opals being mined and was completely captivated by the raw stones. I wanted to start immediately on the Cameron line of jewelry.
Later that day I was working in my bedroom when there was a knock on my door. It was Ted, and he wanted to know if I would like to go on a picnic with him. I agreed, and I followed him downstairs and outside where he had a jeep waiting. He took me to a secluded area around a well where it was very peaceful and green. We talked for several hours, and he told me his plans for the ranch. I told him about my plans for making jewelry. By the end of the picnic I was completely enamored with him. He held my hand as we walked back to the jeep. We shared our first kiss when he lifted me up into the jeep.”
Sheri stopped talking for a minute and looked at Sophia and Alicia.
“I can’t tell you what that first kiss did to me. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced, and it completely knocked me out. We didn’t say anything on the way back, but as we pulled up and stopped in front of the house, Ted turned to me and asked me a question. I’ll never forget how he spoke or what he looked like. He stared directly into my eyes and said, ‘You are going to marry me aren’t you?’ I was so astounded that I couldn’t even speak. I just sat there like an idiot staring at him. He picked up my hand and kissed my fingers one by one and asked again, ‘Will you marry me?’”
“Ted, I don’t know you well at all. We just met.”
“Does that matter when you recognize your soul mate?”
“I remember thinking that he was right. It didn’t matter how long we had known each other. I knew I would love him for the rest of my life. I said yes.”
“He grinned and jumped out of the jeep and lifted me down swinging me around and around until we were both laughing. August came out and bellowed at him to let me go, but Ted just yelled back that I was going to marry him. Do you know what August said?”
Sheri’s eyes twinkled as she looked at the two women. “He said, ‘What took you so goddamn long? I knew the minute you met each other.’”
“Like father, like son. They are two peas in a pod.”
Sheri and Sophia turned expectantly to Alicia. “Okay, it’s your turn. How did you and Rhea meet?”
“The story isn’t quite so romantic as yours. We were both at the same art gallery. My ex-girlfriend was showing her work, and I had gone with her to be
supportive. Rhea was there on a date. She was standing in front of a fairly abstract work with such a glower on her face that I had to laugh. She looked absolutely disgusted. When she looked at me, I was struck by her beauty and her intensity. Her date ended up with my ex, and Rhea offered me a ride home. We went out for coffee and talked for several hours. I asked her to go out to breakfast with me the following Sunday and she agreed.”
“When did you fall in love with her?”
“The minute she looked at me. I knew that very second that she was ‘it’ for me. It took a little longer for Rhea to admit that she was in love with me. She was very careful, analyzing her feelings until she was absolutely sure.”
“She takes after me,” Sophia laughed. “Sometimes you just have to wait for us to come around.”
“I waited for almost three weeks, and by then I had driven her so crazy she couldn’t even sit through a movie next to me. We made love that night for the first time and have been together ever since.”
“How long did it take her to tell you she was in love with you?”
“A month, and she told me at the grocery store as we were shopping. I could have killed her,” Alicia laughed. “She just stopped in the middle of the aisle and turned around to face me, a bag of lettuce in her hand. I remember asking her if something was wrong, and she just smiled at me and shook her head no. She just stood there and said, ‘I love you, Alicia.’ I was so astounded I could barely speak. Then I said, ‘Could you have picked a better time to te
ll me?’ She just hugged me and said she had to tell me that very minute.”
“My daughter, the romantic one,” Sophia grimaced as the other two women grinned.
“She is very romantic, once she gets going. She has the sweetest heart, Sophia. She is everything I could ever want in a partner.”
“I think she found the same thing in you, Alicia.”
“Can you believe how lucky we’ve all been? Now, I’m having a baby, and I hope the Cameron romance genes are passed on.” Sheri placed her hands over her slightly rounded stomach.
Sophia smiled at the two women she loved deeply. “I need to get back to work, ladies. It was very nice to share memories with you. Remember, you need to keep my two kids out of trouble while we’re gone.”
“We will, Sophia. You’ll have a great time in Paris.”
“I plan on it.” Her eyes sparkled as she walked out of Alicia’s studio.
“Alicia, I couldn’t have asked for a better sister-in-law. I just love that you’re here with all of us.”
“Thanks—I love you, too, Sheri. Have you and Ted picked out any baby names yet?”
Alicia and Sheri continued to visit as they returned to their work. Rhea found them still working when she arrived home for dinner several hours later.
CHAPTER 25
“I hear you two are going to keep me and Ted in line while Mom and Dad are in Paris,” Rhea commented as she walked into the room.
“We are, so watch your step.” Alicia smiled in welcome to her girlfriend, who bent to kiss her. “Whoa, honey, where have you been? You stink to high heaven.”
“Is that the way to greet your hardworking partner?” Rhea smirked as she moved closer to Alicia. “I’ve been mucking out the sheep barn.”
“Well, my love, I’m very glad to see you but I’m not touching you until after you take off those clothes and have a shower.”
“Aw come on, honey, I’ve missed you all day long,” Rhea teased as she stalked Alicia.
Alicia bounced up out of her chair and made a dash for the door. “Not on your life. Go take a shower.”
Real Love Page 13