by Judy Kentrus
Talk about sweet. One look at her personal eye candy and her body went into a sugar high. Preston leaned against his car with his arms folded across his chest. To ward off the chill, he wore a green and black plaid wool shirt over his white T-shirt. The slight breeze ruffled his dark brown hair, but it was the happy glow in his ocean-green eyes that made her heart play leapfrog in her chest. Just a look, a glance from him, made her bones melt, even in the bitter cold.
Preston checked the time on his watch before his eyes alighted on his love walking toward him. She hadn’t bothered to button her coat. Her red and white striped shirt reminded him of a candy cane, one he wouldn’t mind savoring. God, he wanted to eat her up. When would he ever get over this “I need to make love to her” feeling? Not in this lifetime, he determined. “Right on time, Cindi Pearl. I see you are still in one piece from your weekly stint with the senior citizens. How are the girls? Much arguing or complaining today?”
They stood together on the sidewalk, and Cindi’s first instinct was to wrap her arms around him. She pressed her nose to the front of his shirt. The combined scent of him and the cool fresh air was spellbinding. She gave no mind they were on display to gossipy busybodies who lived in the surrounding older, well-kept homes.
“The girls think you are a hottie, and there wasn’t too much bickering. Did you know almost all of the members of the Match Game are deceased and Dean Martin was a drunk?”
“I look forward to your weekly trivia and words of wisdom.” He laughed, tightening his arms around her before kissing the tip of her chilled nose. “I hate to bust their Dean Martin bubble, but I once read the liquid in his glass was apple juice.”
“The joke will be on them. The girls gave me sexy lingerie, but you’ll have to wait until our wedding night.”
Preston lifted her chin with his finger and lowered his head to nip at her bottom lip once, twice. The third time he captured her entire mouth to fulfill his ever-present yearning for her. He’d never known such happiness, and had a lifetime to look forward to loving his Cindi Pearl. “Sweetheart, there is only one way I like to see you, and that is deliciously naked, crawling toward me. I’m for eloping right now.”
Her head was spinning and her lips tingled. She took deep breaths. “Stop, you are making me nuts. Let’s get this over with, because I need a last-minute favor.”
Preston kept a possessive arm around her waist and guided her to the side steps leading to the basement entrance. “Why is it every time you ask a favor, I get nervous?”
“I can’t take all the blame for this situation.” Cindi told him about the invitation sent to her parents’ address and just getting it this morning. “I know we had wedding stuff to do, but I think we should go for a little while. It’s at the Roadhouse.”
In all the time they’d known each other, Cindi had never talked about her school years, and he’d always wondered why she decided to leave home and go to school in New York City. Tonight would be a way to meet some of her old friends and find out about her past. “If you went to Stevensville, why hold the event in Laurel Heights?”
“Small towns don’t have a high school, so everyone goes to Stevensville, a regional high school. There were only fifty kids in my high school graduating class.”
Their conversation ended when Suzie Q came to the door. The florist was the same age as Cindi’s mother, fifty-five, and they had graduated high school together. Suzie and Tom had two children, a boy and a girl. Both had sought theatrical careers in New York and were currently doing shows at the Met and on Broadway. Two yellow pencils stuck out from the golden red hair piled atop her head. Suzie always took the time to skillfully apply makeup to complement her wide hazel eyes. A thin line outlined her perfectly shaped lips that were the color of dark red cherries. She had a beautiful smile. A light blue smock protected her white top and black leggings. Her feet were covered in hard-sole Birkenstock slippers. The air in her workshop held the scent of roses and pine.
“Come in. I just finished a wedding. My husband will make the delivery for me. He is such a dear, and I don’t know what I’d do without him. Let’s sit in my office. I’ve got confirmation of everything you requested.”
The small office just off her workshop housed a desk and two wooden chairs. Shelves lined the gold-painted walls and displayed photos of some of her floral arrangements. On the corner of the desk was a clear vase with fresh pastel-blue hydrangeas. She was a true artist, and mixed silk flowers with fresh blooms.
Suzie grabbed a thick file folder. “I’ll review everything you requested. A hundred fifty balled spruce pine trees. Twenty-five will be delivered to the church and the rest to Samantha’s barn to be used as decorations. I’ve a crew that will decorate them with white lights. Each tree will be tagged with a guest’s name.”
“What about delivery and planting?” Cindi asked.
“The ground is frozen, so planting will have to wait till the spring. My brother Evan owns Shepherd’s Nursery and Tree Farm. His card will be attached to each tree, and he’ll arrange transport and planting in the spring. He is also supplying and delivering the two hundred red and white poinsettia plants, split between the barn and the church. A spray of thin white branches, red berries, pinecones, and ornamental cardinals will decorate the entrance to each pew. The centerpieces on the pine tables in the barn will follow the same theme, but we’ll put the sprays in clear Mason jars with a red velvet ribbon.”
“Fifty of the plants are to be taken to the Spring Meadow facility,” Cindi said. “One is to go in each resident’s room and the rest in their dining hall. It’s a surprise. Lincoln Adams is having his company set up a closed-circuit television so that they can watch the wedding ceremony. The caterer is setting up a buffet for the residents, and Samantha is providing all of the cookies.”
Sue smiled at Preston and then Cindi. “You are a very generous couple.”
“Not really, they are our friends too. Were you able to find the muffs?” Cindi asked.
“I did, and it’s going to cost you. They will be of simulated bunny fur. Three will be child size for your flower girls. They are going to look so adorable. I’ll put the red baby roses with a touch of holly and white stephanotis on the front of the muffs to match the small cluster they will wear in their hair. Samantha, Jessie, and Jennie will be adult size, with the same flower arrangements. I was able to find red velvet ribbon to match the dresses. The off-white top and velvet red bottoms are going to look so rich and elegant. The men will have matching boutonnières for their black tuxedo jackets.”
“And the runner?” Preston asked, raising a knowing brow.
“You do know this goes against all the rules, and Mr. Berweiler will have a hissy fit.”
“It’s our wedding and it’s what we want,” Preston said. “Clyde Thornton helps the church sexton, and he will be there to help clean up, if necessary.”
“Clyde is a great guy and does business with my brother. He uses the landscaper for big jobs and has enlisted him to help plant the trees for your guests. It will be the most beautiful winter wedding Laurel Heights has ever seen.”
When Suzie presented the bill to Preston, he didn’t blink at the six-figure amount and wrote out the check. It was well after three when they left the florist, and the Spoonful Café had closed for the day. They settled for Jack’s Pizzeria before heading to the boutique.
Most women would have second thoughts gorging on pizza before buying a dress, but Cindi was hungry and wasn’t going to the party to impress anyone, she lied to herself.
Against her better judgment, Preston talked her into selecting a red halter dress, similar in style to the one she’d worn the first time they went out to dinner. The night had turned into a fiasco and total embarrassment for both of them. This one was not as clingy or flashy. She nixed the matching shoes, but agreed to the white cashmere wrap that felt velvety soft against her skin.
The sun had already set when they drove home. She hated it was already dark at five in the evening, b
ut she was comforted by the fact that Preston was behind her. Their temporary living quarters was in the loft apartment in Samantha’s barn, and they planned to move into their newly renovated farmhouse after the wedding.
Except for the flickering candle lights in the windows and the blue and white lights braided into the fresh garland around the antique front door, Samantha’s century-old farmhouse was dark when Cindi pulled down the drive. Her best friend was on a special undercover assignment for Adams Security, and Cindi prayed Sam would be home in time for the wedding, considering she was the maid of honor. Samantha was also making a unique wedding cake.
Cindi tried to act unconcerned about the reunion in front of Preston, but her gut was already churning. She wondered if he would be there, the one who made her feel lower than dirt. It was his bitch of a momma who had told her she wasn’t good enough for her son. Did he know his mother tried to buy her off? The old hag had offered the eighteen-year-old twenty-five thousand dollars to stay away from her son. Cindi told her to stuff it where the sun didn’t shine. Her parents never knew about the bribe.
What would Preston’s reaction be to the man who broke her heart?
Chapter 2
Preston drove the car down a dark country road that wound through sleeping farmlands. A bright December moon and the beams from his headlights were his only guiding light. The snow-covered roads were history, but the weatherman promised a few inches in the next couple of days. They passed an occasional farmhouse decorated with holiday lights and elaborate displays. Normally Cindi sang along with the Christmas carols coming from the radio, but she was silent, much too silent. Earlier, when they were getting ready for the party, she’d invaded his shower—not that he minded, but she’d already taken hers after they fed the animals and mucked out their areas. She made him sit on the special shower seat and applied his liquid shower soap with her hands, lingering between his legs. When he was iron hard and standing at attention, she cradled his hips with her legs and seated herself on his hot length, giving them both the greatest pleasure. Her mouth ravaged his earlobe and she repeated her love for him, over and over again. As sure as he knew the sun would rise the next day, Cindi Pearl loved him with every breath she took. So whom had she been trying to convince?
The latch on her small clutch purse was suffering from her twitching fingers. Why was she so nervous? It was just a damn party—or was it something more? As a former explosives expert in the Army Rangers, he’d learned not to go into a situation blindfolded. The headlights pointed out a wide opening on the side of the deserted road, and he pulled over. He put the car in gear, turned slightly in his seat, and waited. It took a few moments for Cindi to realize they’d stopped. Where was her mind?
“Why are we stopping? Is your leg bothering you?”
“Those are the first words you’ve spoken since we got in the car. If you open and close that purse one more time, I’ll toss it out the window. My leg is fine. Nurse Cindi gave me the best medicine earlier. We need to talk. Your body is here, but your mind is someplace else.”
Cindi undid her seatbelt and shifted in her seat, as much as the tight skirt would allow. He was dressed all in black, and the glow from the dash lights highlighted his beautiful face. She loved him so much. Her friend Jessie Adams had once told her the truth would set her free, and she was facing that dilemma now. Preston loved her enough not to get too angry, she hoped. “Next weekend I volunteered you to be an elf at Santa’s village,” she blurted. “You will have to wear tights, an elf hat, and shoes with the toes curled up. Don’t worry, you won’t be alone. I’m going to be dressed up too.”
Preston lifted a brow at her ridiculous statement. “Do I look that gullible, Cindi Pearl Sullivan, soon to be Reynolds? Besides, Sallie Mae contacted me and asked what size tights I would need. I told her I have a padded prosthesis and there would be no problem fitting the stretchy material over my leg. I nixed the elf shoes and will be wearing my black boots. Now, how about the truth?”
“I should have known you wouldn’t settle for that lame excuse.” Cindi breathed in deeply and caught the scent of his Armani cologne. “I never told you why I left Laurel Heights to go to school in New York. The last four months of my senior year, I fell in love.” Cindi reached over and squeezed Preston’s hand. “Puppy love, stupid adolescent infatuation. Nothing compared to my love for you.”
“Been there, done that, so I get it, but continue.”
“Wait! You loved someone before me?”
“Yes, stupid, adolescent infatuation, but we’re talking about you right now, not me.”
“You’ve seen it on the Hallmark Channel. Stupid teenagers suck face, he wants to get in her pants, but she’s not ready. She’s poor and he’s rich. His bitch momma confronts the girl and says she isn’t good enough for her son and offers the girl a bribe. She tries to talk to her one true love, and he avoids her like the plague. She feels humiliated and sneered at by her classmates. The eighteen-year-old believes her life is over and leaves town in shame. End of story.”
“I’m not familiar with the term ‘suck face’ and haven’t had time to watch the Hallmark Channel, so you better explain in greater detail.”
“Once we’re married, we will take the time, because they have nice romantic movies and we can jump each other’s bones, and I want to hear about your other love.”
“So noted, and I look forward to you jumping my bones, but you are stalling.”
“You could say I was cute, but guys didn’t take me seriously. I did soapbox derby stuff, helped out on the farm, drove a tractor. I was a candy striper at the assisted living center and didn’t have time for boys. The word femininity wasn’t a part of my vocabulary. This guy auditioned for a part in the school play. We were doing Grease, and he was one of the T-Birds and I was a Pink Lady. We would meet at lunch, and he started showing interest in me outside of the play. He came over to our house for dinner a couple of times. I was over the moon and thought myself in love.” Cindi squeezed his hand. “Don’t be jealous, but he was the first boy I kissed, though never like you.”
“I believe you, my love, but don’t keep me in suspense. What happened?”
“We were boyfriend and girlfriend for almost four months. The girls were so envious of me because he was cute and didn’t have any zits. He treated me like I was the only girl on earth. He reminded me of a Greek Adonis because he had blond curly hair and these intense blue eyes. He had a BMW convertible and sometimes he’d drive me home from school.”
“Sounds like a real flash in the pants. What did your mother and father think of him?”
“My mother thought he was a nice boy, but my father didn’t like him.”
“Did he ever tell you why?”
“My father said my boyfriend was spoiled and a phony, just like his father, the shyster lawyer. They went to high school together. My Dad said I should think with my head and not my heart. I never understood what he meant until I left Laurel Heights brokenhearted.”
A hint of jealousy sparked in his body when she talked about her first love, but it switched to resentment at the word brokenhearted. “He hurt you!”
“He kept asking when I was going to let him make love to me. He would get pushy and almost insist. My mother told me my heart would know when it was the right time to share my body with a man. I decided the week after graduation we would physically share our love.”
Preston really disliked like this guy, and they’d never met. He could barely ask his next question. “Did it happen?”
“No. His mother found out about me from one of his friends. She was waiting for me when I got out of school a week before graduation. Her driver escorted me over to her Rolls and she invited me to sit with her for a few minutes. In her own words, I wasn’t good enough for her son. Their family had a great deal of money and prestige, and I was just a farmer’s daughter. She came straight out and said her son had agreed to break it off. Then she humiliated me by offering a check for twenty-five thousand dollars. I was
to use it to further my education and try to make something of myself.”
Preston’s hatred switched from the son to his mother. “What a bitch!”
“Yes, she was. Of course, my naive eighteen-year-old heart didn’t believe her son wanted to break things off with me. I remember crying hysterically and ripping the check to pieces, telling her she was wrong and to stuff it. I called his cell begging him to call me back, but of course, he didn’t. He avoided me in school and left town right after graduation. I never saw him again.”
“Cindi, I am sorry you suffered something so humiliating. I’d like to strangle him with my bare hands, but you are no longer that eighteen-year-old girl.” Preston reached across the seat and cupped her cheek. “You are beautiful, successful, and have a man who loves you more than life itself. Are you sure this guy is going to be there?”
As was her habit, she turned her head and placed a soft kiss in the palm of his hand. “No. I put it behind me a long time ago, but the invitation brought back all the nastiness.” Confession did make the heart feel better. Everything she ever wanted was right before her eyes. “We really don’t have to go. Let’s turn around, go back to the apartment. I’ll make us hot chocolate. Since I’m so clumsy, I can guarantee the whipped cream will wind up in places other than our cups.”
“I’d love nothing better than to lick cream off your body, but we are going to prove you are no longer the girl who left town with her tail between her legs. I want to show off my gorgeous fiancée. And you look beautiful in your red dress. This is the first time I’ve seen you with your hair drawn up on the side. I like it.”
