Howdy, Ma'am

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “I have to. Don’t you know I have to? Did you hear me say I want a life with you?”

  She nodded while she clung to him.

  “Velia...”

  She rested a finger against his lips. “There’s no need to speak. I know how you feel, and I want a life with you, too.” She smiled sympathetically.

  Caulder gripped her shoulders. “Listen to me.”

  Velia wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Okay.”

  “I want a life with you because...” He peered at her lips, her nose, her beautiful eyes. “I want a life with you because… Ti amo.”

  He started into her eyes when she paused. Then… “You speak in Italian, and I’m not sure if you said what you meant to say.” She pushed his hair back from his face, and he grasped her wrists. “Maybe you made a mistake in its usage. You said you love me. Did you mean to say you love me?”

  He nodded then leaned forward and kissed her, and kissed her, and continued to kiss her until nearly out of breath. “Yes, I love you, Velia Armano.”

  He sensed Velia didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t wanted someone to fall in love with her. She didn’t want to fall in love, and he knew that.

  Caulder searched her eyes, her facial expression, and her body language. Why did he blurt it out? Of all times when he pined for Calli, he blurted out he loved Velia? Of course she would find it hard to accept. What an idiot!

  He removed her arms from around his neck. “I know you didn’t want to hear me say those words.” He headed for the shower. “We’ll take off when we get ready if you still want to do something outside of the hotel.” He disappeared behind the closed door.

  * * *

  Velia removed the towel and shook out her hair. She took black jeans from the drawer and removed a lightweight, peach-colored sweater from a hanger, and dressed. Today’s city tour wouldn’t be the same as she thought it would be this morning. What happened to the fun? Now a cloud hung overhead. Caulder had fallen in love with her, yet he was in so much pain. Now what? She dropped to the bed. A sudden warm rush enveloped her. What did it matter if he loved her? He wanted a life with her. She wanted a life with him.

  She unbuttoned her sweater then hung it back on the hanger. As she folded the jeans and laid them on the bed, she listened to the water still running in the shower. She knocked on the door, but he didn’t answer. When it opened, she saw him through the glass door, saw all of his wet, naked muscles. She slid the door open, stepped inside, and wrapped her arms around him. His arms went around her, grabbing her close. Velia moved the hair from his face. He smiled his sexy smile, the one he did without trying.

  “I want a life with you. I didn’t want you to fall in love with me. I didn’t want to have a life with anyone—you knew I didn’t. You know I didn’t want to fall in love again. But I did…”

  “You did?”

  “Yes, Ti amo! Dammit, Caulder—”

  He quieted her lips with a kiss. “Say it again, but leave out the, ‘dammit, Caulder’.” He smiled again. “Say it.”

  “Ti amo. I love you. I love you.” She searched his eyes, loving the deep blue when he smiled. Red streaks remained. “Eventually the bad memories will be replaced with the good. Like you said to me, Caulder—we’ll make good memories.”

  “Yes, before long you and I will both forget the horrible pain we’ve known. I want to chase your pain away and leave you with happy memories.”

  “And I want to do the same for you.” She held him tight, resting her cheek against his chest as the water cooled.

  He turned the faucet off and grabbed a towel to wrap around her then wrapped one around himself. “The day awaits, ma’am.”

  If anyone’s smile could light a face, his did. Velia loved to see him happy. “Yes, it does, but not only the day. The rest of our life waits.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “Yesterday was fun. Thanks for going to the museums with me.” Velia folded her last blouse and tucked it in her suitcase, eyeing her white, summer dress folded on the bottom. She lifted it out and held it against her. The memory of wearing it when they celebrated their birthday alone in the country caused a heated rousing inside. Yes, a pleasant, sexy memory for sure. She looked up and noticed Caulder staring at her with a seductive smile on his face. “You’re thinking the same thing?”

  “If it has something to do with that dress, yes, ma’am.”

  She folded it and stuck it back on the bottom. “Um, yeah, about you going to the museums with me, I hope you weren’t too bored.”

  Caulder watched her from across the room. “I wasn’t bored at all.” He strode to where she stood and grasped her shoulders. “Ah, yes, a side of me you still don’t know. I enjoy doing something like museums. I’m a history buff so it’s all good.”

  Velia twisted around, and he clutched her against him. “A place so warm and comfortable. I don’t want to move out of your arms.” He held her tighter. “I wish there was a way to make you go with me. Of course, I could always stay, but I need to get home to take care of things too long neglected.”

  “Are we really going our separate ways?”

  “It seems so. I’d love for you to come with me, but I understand your need to see family and friends, but you can always change your mind.” He kissed her. “How long will you be at Alice’s before leaving for Chicago?”

  “About four days I think. I want to visit with them and see how Brian’s doing. You know, look at the books and see what’s going on with the business.” She took a deep breath, shrugging before wrapping her arms around his neck. “Then I’ll be off to see my parents.”

  “I realize you miss them, but I do wish you weren’t traveling by yourself.”

  Velia hugged him tighter. “I’ll only be on the plane alone, hon. Brian will be picking me up, and then he’ll take me to the airport when I leave. My parents will pick me up in Chicago. I’ll be fine.”

  “What about when you’re there, going off on your own?”

  “I’m sure Roy won’t let me go off on my own. You know he watches me like a big brother.”

  Caulder crushed her against him, nuzzling his cheek against hers. “I’ll still worry.”

  “You could be with me, but I also understand you need to see your family. It’s been a long time for you.”

  “Can you at least spend a few days with me at my parents? I want you to meet them.”

  She patted his back with both hands before releasing him and scooted out of his arms. “I’ll see.”

  Caulder went into the bathroom. “I guess we haven’t left anything in here. Two weeks will go by slow without you.”

  “It’s time to head to the airport.” Velia almost cried, watching the lonesome look on his face as he spoke. She would love to go with him, but she missed her family. She had to take care of business things with Brian. “There might be time for me to come.” They met half way and fell into an embrace. “We have to go or we’ll miss our flights.”

  Caulder didn’t let her go. “I need you more than I ever thought I would.” He held her at an arm’s length. “Please be careful. You know Justin is dangerous.”

  “I know.”

  “You won’t have personal protection with you, seeing you already sent your weapon ahead to the local gun shop in Tucson.”

  “Justin doesn’t know I’m coming home. Even if he’s following the circuit, he’ll think we’ll be out of the country.”

  “Yeah, until he doesn’t see me ride.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She pulled away so she could look into his eyes, brushing the lock of hair away out of habit now.

  “Promise me you won’t go off alone while you’re there.”

  Velia moved from his arms and picked up her laptop. “We have to go.”

  “Promise.”

  “Okay, I promise. I know how to be careful. I’m from Chicago!”

  Caulder smiled. “I guess.” He picked up the rest of their bags and met the baggage carrier in the hallway. They rode the hour to the airpor
t in near silence. Velia reached for his hand when they were almost there.

  Caulder’s flight left first, and Velia hugged him tight. “I’ll miss you,” she yelled as he walked toward the jet-way. He turned and blew her a kiss then winked before disappearing. She watched out the window until the plane backed away from the gate and took off out of sight.

  She still had an hour and a half before her flight, so she took a seat at her gate and removed her laptop from the bag. If nothing else, she’d update the blog and look over some photos. It would be a long two weeks. After all these months, he had hardly been out of her sight for more than a couple hours. Now, he was gone and she sat alone.

  * * *

  Caulder watched the runway whiz by as the plane lifted off. He rested his head against the seat, settling in for the first leg of his flight, switching planes in Minnesota then flying to Pittsburg. He’d be taking a smaller plane to get home. It would be great to see his mom and dad. He’d been gone a long time. He left early this year after Paulo loaned him his place in the Catalina Foothills. If not, he never would have met her. Was it fate when his tire lost air? A leak in the tire forced him to stop in Tucson to get it fixed. By chance, he came across the photography shop and had a brainstorm. When his publicists thought it a great idea, he went in to make a deal with the photographer.

  Then he saw her olive-brown eyes, her shapely figure, and her sensuous lips. Her combative attitude sucked him in, and he had fun bantering with her, realizing he missed a spunky female in his life. There was something about her and he couldn’t quite figure it out. An alluring scent hit him in the face when he walked through the door, like an instant spell put on him, a love potion. Sitting there talking to herself made him laugh, but he had no idea she would be the owner and photographer, or she would be in his arms and heart in a matter of months. Fate or destiny? I’m beginning to believe in it.

  * * *

  Velia stowed her laptop and carry-on when she boarded. Caulder insisted she fly first-class. Who would she hold on to this time during takeoff? She took care of her purse and jacket and closed her eyes. Maybe she’d fall asleep before they took off. No such luck, for they began to taxi down the runway as the thought crossed her mind. All she could do was grip the armrests and deal with it.

  After a snack and lukewarm tea she must have slept. The next thing she knew the flight attendant collected her cup and reminded her to put her seat in the upright position and buckle up. Yeah, like I unbuckle.

  Glad the first leg of her flight ended, she looked for the nearest bathroom before collecting her luggage. At the baggage center, she looked all over for Brian but he wasn’t there. She grabbed a cart, piled her luggage on, and wheeled it toward the door. Turning her phone on, she did have a message from him. “What?”

  As she listened, she didn’t expect to hear he had an emergency with his youngest sister and couldn’t pick her up. He suggested she get a room for the night, and he would be there as soon as he could the next day.

  “How ridiculous! Get a room when home is practically around the corner?” She looked at taxi cab rates, and with her discounts it was cheaper to get a rental car to drive less than thirty-five miles.

  She saw a sign for Alamo, the company she used on her first trip. Soon, she’d be sleeping in her own bed. Velia made her way to the counter and a thought hit her. She promised Caulder she wouldn’t be alone. Driving such a short distance didn’t constitute a lie, right? After weighing the choices, she decided to go ahead and get the car. She’d be home before he could argue.

  Once out on the road with hardly any traffic, she started thinking about Justin. Of course he wouldn’t know she wasn’t with Caulder. He wouldn’t know until he watched the show in Brazil, if in fact, he even cared anymore. She would be safe, so she quieted her thoughts and headed for home.

  Velia called Brian to inquire about his sister. If it was an emergency then chances are he’d still be up. Saying a quick prayer as the phone rang, she hoped it wasn’t too serious. “Oh, Brian, thank goodness. What happened?”

  He proceeded to tell her his sister had been hit by a car when she rode her bike with him and Shannon. She would be okay, even though she broke her arm. He felt awful because he wasn’t at the airport.

  “Not to worry. I’m in a rental car coming home now. All is good.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  “Too late now. Don’t worry. Justin won’t know I’m not with the show. Go to your sister and don’t worry about me.” Before Brian hung up, she had another call come in. “Oh, oh—”

  “What is it? Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, till Caulder called. I have to call him back.”

  Obviously, Caulder wasn’t happy about her being alone. He was angry because she didn’t get a room near the airport and wait like a little girl. “I’m a grown woman,” she told him. Too bad he didn’t agree with her, even though she knew he worried. She tried to convince him the same way she tried to convince Brian, saying Justin wouldn’t even know she wasn’t with the show. Velia smiled to herself when she remembered Caulder saying he loved her before hanging up. “He loves me.” The smile would last the rest of the way home.

  Alice left a light on in the living room window and slept on the sofa till Velia came in. She woke immediately. She wanted to get Velia something to eat right away. Velia convinced her food wasn’t necessary. She talked to Alice for about a half hour before saying she couldn’t stay awake any longer. Alice hugged her before releasing her to her room.

  Seeing her familiar items made her happy. So many things were different since she last saw this room. She picked up a throw pillow and smelled it. “Umm, home.” It almost seemed like she turned in a circle and her whole life changed. There was Caulder now—her lover—Caulder her love. Warmth crept over her body thinking of him. Sharing her bed with him on and off for these months would make it difficult to be without him, even for two weeks. Velia collapsed on her bed after setting her laptop on the desk. She would bring the rest of her luggage up in the morning. She kicked off her shoes and wrestled her way out of her jacket then fell asleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  When the phone wouldn’t stop vibrating, Velia didn’t know if it was real or a dream, but she reached for it anyway.

  “I’ve been worried. Why didn’t you call when you got in? Why was your phone off?”

  She blinked the sleep from her eyes and mind and tried to figure out what was going on. Caulder’s angry words helped.

  “I forgot to turn on the ringer. I’m fine.”

  “Dammit, Velia, if you say you’ll call then call!”

  “I’m sorry. Please stop yelling at me.”

  “I’m worried!”

  “I’ll call you later after I’ve had coffee. Go, be with your family and stop worrying about me.” She didn’t mean to hang up on him, but she was tired of being treated like a child, especially by him. She threw her hands in the air. “I told him I could take care of myself.”

  * * *

  Alice offered to make breakfast for Velia, but she wasn’t very hungry. “So how was your ride back with Brian?”

  “I had to get a rental car. Brian had an emergency and couldn’t come get me.”

  Edward stood faster than a race car on a straightaway. “What? You mean you came all this way by yourself?”

  “My God, you’re starting to sound like him. You have to know I can take care of myself.” Velia rinsed her cereal bowl and put it in the dishwasher. “I have to bring in my luggage and get ready to go to the shop.” On the way out, she tossed her arms in the air again, wishing everyone would get off her case. “What’s it going to be like at home? This is why I never told anyone what went on with Justin!” She unintentionally slammed the door.

  Back in her room, she realized how cross she was with Edward. It bothered her until she went down to apologize. “You have to understand. Caulder called first thing this morning, yelling at me. He complained because I drove alone last night. I ne
ed for people to stop worrying.”

  “Now, dear, if Justin Waters acted like a gentleman, we wouldn’t have to be concerned, but he is quite the opposite and history has proven what he’s capable of.” Alice stood. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

  “No, I have to go see Brian. I’m sorry to be harsh, but my whole life is suddenly out of my control.”

  “It seems it has been for awhile, Velia. Justin didn’t exactly let you have control of your life before.” Edward followed Alice into the kitchen. “You know he isn’t finished with you.”

  He was right and she knew it. The best thing to do about Justin would be to face him. Find out exactly what he wanted from her. “He’s with Jessica…why won’t he just leave me alone?”

  She went out the door. The rental car had to be returned. She’d drive it to the photo shop and have Brian follow her to drop it off. She needed to get away from everyone for awhile. Some kind of vacation!

  * * *

  After taking care of the car, she sat at her desk and looked over the books. Everything looked perfect. Brian had a lot of gigs lined up but not too many. Even with a fiancée, he still found time to keep things neat and orderly. “I’m proud of the job you’re doing. I couldn’t find a better business partner.”

  “Business partner?”

  “You have the rest of the tour to think it over. If you’re interested, I’d love to have you aboard.”

  “Does that mean you’re sticking around Tucson?”

  Velia went to the window and looked out at the city. “I just don’t know right now.” She turned. “I could open another shop in Chicago, although the competition would be horrid.”