The Marrying Kind

by Judy Christenberry

  There was an eagerness in her voice that told Diane that was exactly what she wanted her to do. “It would be rude to leave before John returns.”

  “I don’t think he’d mind. He’s very understanding.”

  With a smile, Diane said, “John wants me here.”

  Angi snapped to a sitting position before drawing a deep breath. “Don’t think he’s going to marry you,” she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

  Still with a pleasant smile on her face, Diane said, “Really?”

  “Really! You probably don’t realize it, but he’s…interested in someone else.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Diane said, her smile still in place.

  Angi glared at her. Then, when a sound near the doorway announced John’s and his father’s arrival, she suddenly covered her face with her hands and burst into fake tears.

  Diane looked at John, waiting for his reaction.

  “Are you okay, Di?” he asked, coming to her side.

  “I’m fine, but Angi seems a little upset.”

  “Straighten up, Angi,” the elder Davis barked. “Mildred’s ready to serve dinner.”

  Diane turned to him, noticing a tired expression on his face. She stood and extended her hand. “Good evening, Mr. Davis. I’m Diane Black.”

  “I’m glad to meet you. Call me Doug. I was afraid Angi might scare you off while I visited with John.”

  “She suggested I might have misjudged your son, but I held my ground.”

  By this time Angi had gotten off the couch. “I don’t think I can face dinner!”

  “You can take your meal upstairs, if you prefer,” her husband stated.

  “Don’t be silly! I’m the hostess!”

  “Then try acting like one,” he said sternly. “Come on, Diane. I’ll escort you into dinner.”

  Instead of leaving, Angi hurried over to take John’s arm. Diane sent him a sympathetic smile.

  Once they were seated at the large table, Doug rang the bell that would bring Mildred with the first course. The housekeeper appeared almost at once with individual salads. Angi was the only one who didn’t seem appreciative.

  “Mildred, you know I don’t care for salad.”

  Without saying a word, she collected Angi’s plate and walked back to the kitchen.

  Angi began complaining bitterly, but Doug stopped his wife’s ranting. “Mildred is serving my choices this evening, Angi. Deal with it!”

  As she again pretended to cry, he engaged Diane in a conversation about her job. When Angi interrupted to say she didn’t trust people who invested someone else’s money, her husband chastised her, which only brought on more tears, real this time.

  Feeling sorry for the woman, Diane asked her a question about the decor of the house. That invoked the resentful comment that her husband wouldn’t allow her to change a thing.

  Diane looked at John, who shrugged his shoulders. So she tried again, complimenting Angi on her dress sense. That topic was more successful and managed to get them through the salad course.

  As a main course, Mildred served sizzling steaks, then offered baked chicken to Angi. Though the younger woman grumbled, she accepted the plate. The entrées were accompanied by a delicious garlic potato dish that Diane loved. She told Mildred that when she came to collect their plates, and the housekeeper beamed.

  “Yes, that’s Mildred’s specialty. I wish her specialty was lasagna,” Angi protested.

  “Then you’d complain about the calories,” Doug said in a bored voice.

  His wife had no comeback to that remark, but leaned forward to pick up her iced tea. “I think we should announce our news now, Doug.” She turned to John. “You’re going to have a new baby brother or sister. If I can carry to term, of course. The doctor says I’m very delicate.”

  John raised his own glass of tea and said, “Congratulations.” Then he turned to his father to discuss a project his dad was working on. Both of them being in the development business gave them common ground, even though they owned and operated separate companies. They’d learned early on that they each worked better on their own.

  Feeling sorry for Angi again, Diane said, “That’s wonderful news. Congratulations.”

  “Yes, isn’t it? Of course, I’ll wear myself out buying a new wardrobe. But it’s necessary when you have a reputation as one of the best dressers in Dallas.”

  “Do you want a boy or a girl?”

  “A boy, of course. I don’t think a girl would give John a run as favorite son.”

  “Are his other half siblings all boys?”

  “Yes. It seems the Davises only have boys.” Her voice took on a challenging note when she added, “Of course, John and I are so close, I won’t consider my child to be a half sibling.”

  “How nice,” Diane said. But she didn’t try again to keep the conversation going. She was growing too tired of the other woman’s petulant manner.

  Mildred came in with dishes of baked Alaska, and Diane smiled in delight. “Oh, I love this dessert.”

  In a studied drawl, Angi said, “Mildred does an okay job. But I’ve had better.”

  “Don’t eat yours if you don’t like it, Angi,” Doug suggested.

  She drew her dessert plate closer and shot him a furious look.

  After dinner, Angi announced that, due to her delicate condition, she was going to bed early. To Diane’s surprise, she bade her goodbye and politely thanked her for coming. Then she ran to John, catching him off guard as she flung her arms around his neck.

  He caught Angi by her waist, clearly trying to put some distance between them.

  “Did you want to check if I still have my slim figure?” she asked coyly.

  “No, Angi. I wanted to keep you from plastering yourself all over me. Good night.”

  She pouted. “I thought you’d give me a congratulatory kiss, at least.”

  “I certainly congratulate you on your good news, but that’s all you’re getting.”

  With tears in her eyes, she turned and ran out of the room. Doug stood there staring after her. Then he turned back to his son. “She’s crazy about you, you know.”

  “She just wants whatever she can’t have.”

  “True. Well, let’s go in the den so we can be comfortable.”

  The room was in direct contrast to the living room. Here Diane felt at home as she settled on a comfortable tweed sofa. John immediately sat down beside her and took her hand in his.

  Doug stared at their clasped hands and then at his son. “I see why you said she’d understand. Diane, I apologize for anything my wife may have said.”

  “It’s all right, Doug. Don’t worry.”

  He sighed and visibly relaxed. “Thank you. I hated to take John aside before Angi had settled down, but I needed to get some things cleared up.”

  “Dad—” John began, and Diane could feel him tensing up.

  “No, Son, I don’t want to talk about it. Tell me about Diane. When did you two meet?”

  “When I was trying to make you happy.”

  “What? What’s he talking about, Diane?”

  “He came to meet Jennifer Carpenter, and mistook me for her.”

  “I assumed she was Jennifer because she answered her door,” John explained.

  “Where was Jennifer?”

  “On her honeymoon.” John grinned. “I was a little late doing what you asked.”

  “I guess so, but it turned out well for you.”

  “Not at first, but I’ve worked my way into Diane’s heart!”

  She said nothing, even when Doug gave her a questioning glance.

  John immediately asked, “Why are you looking at her? Don’t you believe me?”

  “Of course I do—as long as the lady doesn’t say different,” Doug stated, with a grin remarkably like his son’s.

  John carried Diane’s hand to his lips. “She wouldn’t lie to you.”

  “Well, I guess that proves one thing.”

  “What, Dad?”

  “
That you should’ve taken my advice in the first place. I knew what you needed.”

  “If I’d taken it when you told me to, I would’ve met Jennifer, not Diane.”

  “So we were both right!”

  “Maybe,” John said. Then he stood and pulled Diane up with him. “We’d better be on our way, but don’t worry about the other. I’ll take care of things if…if it becomes necessary.”

  “I know, boy. I just wanted to be sure.”

  John hugged his dad and Diane shook his hand. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

  Doug leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m so glad you accepted. You’re perfect for my boy.”

  Once they were in John’s car heading back to her apartment, Diane said, “Is your dad all right?”

  “According to him, his doctor said he needs to slow down. Not that he can, with Angi at his heels.” John shook his head in disgust. “Tell me, how nasty was my dear stepmother after I left the room?”

  Diane chuckled. “She let me know you weren’t the settling down type, which you’d already said.”

  “She didn’t!”

  “Does it matter? It was easy to see why she wanted to get rid of me. You showing interest in me made her desperate. I think, in her mixed-up mind, she wanted to tie you to her before she lost her figure. I assume doing so is a major catastrophe for her?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t think she’d even want a baby, but I gather my dad had already been losing interest. Her tantrums must’ve worn him down.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “Me, too. I think Dad would be better off if he’d separate from her now. He’d definitely lead a more peaceful life. Angi fights with Mildred a lot.”

  “Probably because she feels Mildred has more power than her,” Diane speculated.

  “Yeah.”

  He sounded glum, and Diane understood. His father wasn’t doing well, and there wasn’t anything John could do.

  For his sake, she prayed his father lived a long life. It had been nice to see the obvious warmth between the two men.

  When they reached Diane’s apartment building, John walked her upstairs to her door.

  Diane already knew what she was going to do, she’d made the decision last night.

  When she unlocked the door, John kissed her lightly and said, “Good night, Diane. Thanks for coming.”

  “Don’t you want to come in?” she murmured.

  He froze for a moment. Then he asked, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “Yes.”

  He bent to kiss her, then lifted his head, his gaze burning. “I promise you won’t be sorry, Di.”

  “No, I won’t.”

  Even though the time would come when he would leave her, she’d decided she wouldn’t be sorry. She’d have him in her life for a while. She had never planned on marrying anyone, anyway, so she’d simply enjoy their time together.

  When they entered her apartment, John sat down on her couch. “Why don’t you pack a bag? I can wait.”

  She stared at him. “Why would I pack a bag?”

  “So we can go back to my house.”

  “No, thank you. If you want to make love, we’ll do it here. If not, you can go home now.”

  “Man, you are one stubborn woman.” He stood and shrugged off his suit coat. Then he untied his tie. Laying both on the back of the sofa, he said, “Shall I strip naked right here?”

  She hid her smile. He was trying to get a rise out of her, but she was going to stay calm. “In the bedroom, please.”

  She entered first, knowing she’d left the room perfectly neat in case she brought John in. She gestured to the bathroom. “Would you like to disrobe in there?”

  “Sure. Whatever you want.”

  After he went into the bathroom, Diane undressed and put on a silk robe. She was turning down the bed as she heard the bathroom door open.

  John stood there with a towel wrapped around his waist. His chest was broad, as were his shoulders, and muscles rippled in his arms. She sucked in her breath.

  Stalking across the carpet in his bare feet, he reached her and put his arms around her. “I’m so ready for this, honey. I’ve been making love to you each night, only you weren’t there. I can’t wait to hold you for real.” Then he kissed her, a deep, passionate kiss that almost took her breath away. She collapsed against his shoulder when he released her.

  “What are you wearing?” he asked.

  “A robe, of course.”

  “I want you to take it off. Here, I’ll help,” he added as her hands went to the belt. “Do you have anything on underneath?”

  “No. I didn’t think you’d like that.”

  “You’re right,” he said as he opened the knot and parted the robe. It was his turn to draw in a breath. Then he scooped her up into his arms and laid her on the white sheets. “You are incredibly beautiful. Even better than I dreamed.”

  She couldn’t believe she was hearing those words, or that she was here with John, in her apartment, in her bed. But it was real and she wouldn’t forget a single minute of it. “You’re still wearing my towel.” She smiled coquettishly at him.

  “I can take care of that,” he whispered as he released it.

  He stood there in full arousal. “I think I may need to catch up a little,” she said, more breathlessly than she’d wanted to sound.

  “No problem. I’m going to help you.” He joined her on the bed and cupped her breasts in his large hands. “You are so beautiful, Diane.” His mouth joined his hands and a jolt of desire coursed through her, unlike anything she’d experienced before. She pulled him closer and their lips met again and again. While they kissed, his hands explored her body. She did the same, letting her fingers slide over his muscled arms, his broad chest, flat stomach. And even lower.

  True to his word, as always, John brought her to the brink of climax. When he nudged her for entry, she was more than ready, opening her legs for him. Hungry, she took all of him in. Heat suffused her, burning up all conscious thought but one.

  Why had she waited so long?

  JOHN WAS OVERWHELMED BY the passion that drove him. When they’d both enjoyed the release their lovemaking brought, he whispered, “Di, are you all right? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  In a slurred, slow voice, she said, “No. You were—incredible.”

  Her head was on his shoulder and she seemed to be asleep. But she said one more thing. “Lock the front door when you leave.”

  John raised up and stared at her. She expected him to leave? Not likely. “Yeah, later,” he whispered. Then he gathered her in his arms and held her, warm and soft, against him. It was as if they’d been made for each other. She fit perfectly against him. He hoped she slept late in the morning. He wanted all the time he could get with her in his arms.

  Chapter Eight

  When Diane woke up the next morning, she was alone.

  As she’d planned, she reminded herself. But John’s lovemaking had been so exquisite, she hoped he wouldn’t break off with her after just one night.

  Then she chided herself for that thought. She knew she couldn’t hold him. She probably didn’t have enough experience to interest him.

  Her dreamy, half-awake state was shattered by the sound of the bathroom door opening.

  She sat upright in bed. “I thought you’d gone!”

  “How could I when you offer such a beautiful sight to tempt me?” John asked, staring at her bare breasts.

  She shrieked and yanked the sheet over her.

  “Di, why are you covering up? We made love last night. I think I memorized every curve of your body.”

  “I’m not used to appearing naked in front of anyone,” she said, still with the covers pulled up. He sat down on the bed and tugged the sheet out of her hands. “You have the softest, sweetest breasts I’ve ever seen,” he whispered, just before he kissed her.

  She wanted to tell him he had the most seductive lips, but she didn’t. She was too busy kissing h
im back.

  He was fully aroused in no time and she found herself letting him—no, encouraging him to—make love to her again.

  This time, when they reluctantly drew apart, Diane didn’t fall asleep. She traced the vee of hair on his chest down to his stomach. He grabbed her hand when he thought she’d gone far enough.

  “It will take me a little while to recover, sweetheart,” he whispered.

  “I didn’t mean—I was just fascinated by the way—I’m not used to being around a naked man, either.”

  “And I don’t want you getting used to anyone else’s body,” he said with a kiss. “How about I run home and shower and change. Then I’ll come take you out to breakfast.”

  “I’d like that,” she said, dying to ask him if he was still going to see her after today. But she supposed she’d know soon enough if he didn’t come to her door again after today.

  THOUGH SHE HAD a hot shower herself, Diane’s body ached from her activities with John. And her hunger seemed to have quadrupled. John took her to a pancake house, and she ate every forkful of a stack of hotcakes.

  “So, making love makes you hungry?” he asked with a leer.

  “John, shh!” she ordered in a stage whisper. “You don’t have to announce it to the world.”

  “I’d like to,” he assured her, “but I won’t because I don’t want to embarrass you.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  After he paid for their breakfast, he looked at Diane. “So, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?”

  “Don’t you have plans?”

  “Nope. I’m at your service.”

  Her Sundays usually consisted of work, laundry and reading the paper. But not today. Today she would put herself in John’s hands. “What’d you have in mind?”

  “I thought maybe I’d go through the Parade of Homes. You interested?”

  The Parade of Homes was an exhibit of new houses decorated by prominent and up-and-coming interior designers. Diane was game, but wondered why John was. She asked him.

  “I go every year, looking for new talent to decorate my model homes when I build them,” he replied, leading her to the car. “Plus I appreciate the architecture.”