by Tina Martin
“Hey what’s going on out here?” Gianna’s said emerging from her office with her keys in one hand and purse in the other. She looked at Felicity first then her eyes landed on the tall man beside her who looked like a Ramsey knockoff – same complexion. Same height. “Are you...Regal?” Gianna asked.
“I am,” he said. “How did you know? Did Ramsey give you a heads up that I was coming?”
“No. I just remember he said he’s closer to you than he is with your other two brothers. Wha-what are you doing here, Regal?”
“I just wanted to meet you but your evil friend borderline jumped me in the lobby.”
Gianna glanced at Felicity and attempted to hide a grin but it showed through, anyway.
“I’m going to go back to the front, Gianna, before I have to put somebody in their place,” Felicity said, sizing Regal up.
“Come put me in my place, girl. I’m ready.”
Felicity kept on walking, ignoring him.
Regal looked at Gianna and asked, “Is she for real?”
“Yes. It takes her a while to warm up to people, especially men.”
“Oh well... I didn’t come here for that. I came to meet you, Ms. Gianna.”
“I’m glad you did, Regal and I wish I could stick around and talk to you but I have to go home and check on my sister.”
“Gemma?”
Gianna looked surprised. “Ramsey told you about her?”
“Yes. In fact, there is no need for you to go check on her. Ramsey is out to breakfast with Gemma as we speak.”
The color fell out of her face. “Say what?”
“My brother didn’t call you this morning?”
“He did but I assumed he was calling...calling to ask me if I had an answer to…um…”
“His proposal?”
She connected her eyes to his gaze. “You know about that, too?”
“Sure do. How about we step inside of your office so we can talk for a minute?”
“Okay,” Gianna replied. Returning to her office, she sat at the desk.
Regal sat in the chair next to the desk.
She looked up at Regal then a soft beautiful smile came to her face.
Regal watched her for a moment, acquainting himself with her delicate features. Like her friend, she too was beautiful but she appeared exhausted. “What are you smiling about, Gianna?”
“Nothing,” she said. “Um…you look so much like him. It’s like I’m looking at Ramsey, but not really.”
Regal flashed a lopsided grin. “Yeah, me and Ram look the most alike out of the four of us.”
“So, he kidnapped my sister this morning, huh?”
Regal chuckled. “I wouldn’t call it kidnapping. His exact words to me were: no, I’m not playing golf this morning. I’m taking my sister-in-law to breakfast. And yes, he did say sister-in-law.”
Gianna shook her head, blushing. “Are you a fairly reasonable man, Regal?”
“More reasonable than my brother if that’s what you’re asking.”
She smiled. “Yes. That’s what I’m asking. Don’t you think what he’s asking of me is absurd.”
“No. Not for Ramsey.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s the way my brother is. He’s a risk-taker. You didn’t know that? He’s jumped out of more airplanes than a new recruit of navy seals. He parasails, white water rafts—the crazier the river, the better.”
No, she hadn’t known all of that, another reason why she shouldn’t accept his proposal – she really didn’t know him. “So, I’m a risk for Ramsey. Is that what the appeal is?”
“No. My brother genuinely likes you, Gianna. I just met you and I think you’re perfect for my brother. I get good vibes from you, unlike your friend out there.”
“Oh, don’t pay Felicity no mind. She’s a good friend to me. She comes here every Saturday to help me at the bakery after working her own job.”
“Is that right?” Regal asked.
“Yeah. That’s right.”
“Well, that’s nice of her, but let’s get back to the reason why I came here. You and my brother.”
“Yeah, your brother who kidnapped my sister,” Gianna interjected to say.
Regal smiled again. “You are an adorable little thing aren’t you?” he asked.
“Don’t try to sweet-talk me. In fact—” She whipped out her cell. “I’m going to call Ramsey and give him a piece of my mind.”
Regal chuckled. “He’d just gobble up your words just like he does with your cupcakes.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“My brother is like a shock absorber when it comes to disagreements and disputes. And I know for a fact that the only reason he took Gemma to breakfast is because he didn’t want you sitting here worried since Harriet doesn’t work on Saturdays.”
“Or maybe he’s trying to convince my sister to go along with his plan.”
“What plan?”
“To marry me. He’s been planning this whole thing from the start. From the moment we met. What I can’t figure out is why he chose me.”
“I can assure you this wasn’t planned. If it was, I would have known about it. Ramsey thinks something led him to you. To this bakery. It was a shock to him when he found out you and Felicity were best friends, but his initial interaction with you, his connection with you is authentic. My brother only misses our monthly, Sunday meals for urgent matters and I’m assuming he missed last Sunday because of you.”
Gianna thought for a moment, remembering that Sunday was the day Ramsey rescued her from embarrassment at the grocery store. The day he was supposed to be buying ranch dressing for the Sunday dinner Regal was referring to. “Well, whatever the case, Regal, I never wanted to get married in the first place because I didn’t think I was marriable in addition to a crapload of other reasons.”
Regal smirked. “You said you weren’t…marriable?”
She grinned. “Yes, and I know that’s not a word. Look, the bottom line is, I don’t know the first thing about having a boyfriend let alone a husband.”
“Well, you better learn fast because Ramsey is not going to let up. Consider this your fair warning.”
She felt her stomach cinch. “You know another thing that bothers me about what Ramsey told Felicity to relay to me?”
“What’s that?”
“He told her to tell me all the things he would do for me if I accepted his proposal. Like, if I marry him he’d erase all of my debts. First of all, I don’t like a man paying my way. Second of all, it feels like blackmail to me and I refuse to be blackmailed.”
“Wait…he said he’d take care of your debts after you agreed to marry him?”
“Yes, his way of persuading me to sign.”
Regal smiled. How could it be classified as blackmail when Ramsey had already started paying off things for her? She obviously wasn’t aware of that. “It’s not blackmail, Gianna. I know because, per his instruction, I cut a check to Queen City Properties a week ago.”
Gianna frowned. Queen City Properties was the name of the property management company where she had leased this space for the bakery. “What does that have to do with me?” she asked Regal.
“The name Queen City Properties doesn’t ring a bell to you?”
“It does. I have a lease with them for this unit. I was just sitting here racking my brain trying to figure out how I was going to pay the bill.”
“Well, you don’t have to rack your brain for at least the next ten years. My brother has prepaid the lease for that long.”
Gianna snorted before she burst out in laughter. He couldn’t be serious, could he?
“You can’t call it blackmail after all, especially since Ramsey has already begun paying things off for you.”
The smile fell from Gianna’s face when she watched the serious expression on his. She logged into her account with Queen City Properties and noticed the balance was zero, when just earlier in the week, it was in the negative: -$2,100 to be exact. She glanced
up at Regal then back to the screen. She saw a note added to the account that read:
This account has been prepaid for the next 10 years. Check received from Ramsey St. Claire (of St. Claire Architects) in the amount of $122,100 (includes past due amounts for June and July as well as the late fee).
Shock took over her features. A soft gasp left her mouth.
“By the look on your face I take it now you understand how serious he is about you.”
Stunned, all she could do was stare at Regal before hiding her face behind her hands, sobbing.
“No, no, no,” Regal said standing up. He wrapped his arms around her and said, “There ain’t going to be none of that.”
“I just don’t understand why he’s doing this for me.” She sniffled.
“I’ma be honest with you, Gianna. I don’t understand half of what my brother does. I really don’t, but it always seems to work out somehow.”
Gianna sniffled again.
“I never thought I’d see the day when I saw him so taken by a woman again. By you sweetheart. I see this whole bizarre interaction between you two as an even swap. You need a little help here and there and he enjoys your company. The only thing you’re missing is time. You don’t know him as well as you want and he seeks to know you better. From the looks of things, you two are already off to a good start.”
Gianna smeared tears down her cheeks. “We weren’t off to a good start. I’m sure he’s told you about our crazy date.”
“He did. However, even that wasn’t a deterrent for him. He likes you, woman,” Regal said, palming her shoulder. “And now, I see why. You’re sweet, unlike your friend out there. What is she like on sugar high or something?” He chuckled. “I hope you keep inventory on those cupcakes because she’s probably tearing them things up when you’re not looking.”
Gianna laughed, her tears drying up now.
“Are you okay, Gianna?”
“Yes. I’m okay.”
“Good. Ramsey will have my head if he thinks I made you cry.”
Gianna frowned as if she didn’t believe him especially since she’d never seen an aggressive side to Ramsey.
Regal stood up. “I have to get going now, but it was an absolute pleasure to meet you, Gianna.”
“You as well, Regal.”
“I hope this won’t be the last time we see each other,” he said. “Oh what am I saying? Ramsey’s got you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again,” Regal said standing in front of the office door where Gianna had joined him. From where he stood, he could see Felicity frosting cupcakes.
Felicity glared at him.
He smirked.
Felicity could hear him as clear as day when he asked Gianna, “Hey, Gianna, do you mind if I use the back exit so I don’t have to walk by Miss Wedded Bliss?”
Gianna chuckled. These two…
“Miss Wedded Bliss?” Felicity said, eyes narrowed. She wasn’t about to let that slide. “How about you leave the same way you came in? You’re a man aren’t you?”
“Yeah. More than you can handle.”
“Oh, please,” she said waving him off. “Take your ego somewhere else. We don’t need your super-high level of testosterone around here.”
“Maybe I’ll bring it to Wedded Bliss so you can find me a wife.”
Felicity laughed. “Don’t waste your time. I can spot husband material just like that and you’re definitely not it.”
“And I suppose you’re wifey material,” he said. “I’ve already seen your neck snap, crackle and pop more than a bowl of Rice Krispies.”
“Yeah, and what kind of grown man eats Rice Krispies?”
“What kind of grown woman slams down all of her best friends cupcakes?”
“What?”
“Huh?”
“Ugh…” Felicity had enough of the tit-for-tat. “Weren’t you on your way out?”
“Okay, break it up,” Gianna said, standing next to Regal as he towered over her.
“Sorry about that, Gianna.”
“Where’s my apology?” Felicity asked Regal.
Before he could respond, Gianna took one of the freshly frosted cupcakes and said, “Here, Regal. Have a red velvet cupcake.”
“No thanks, sweetie. I don’t eat cupcakes.”
“Maybe you should start selling Rice Krispie treats, Gianna,” Felicity said tickled.
Regal glanced at her then took the cupcake Gianna had offered to him. “Thank you, Gianna.”
You’re welcome.”
“Wait a minute,” Felicity said. “He didn’t pay for that.”
She just couldn’t leave it alone.
“It’s okay,” Gianna told her.
“No, it ain’t. He gets no special privileges just because he’s Ramsey the Great’s brother.”
“Felicity…” Gianna began.
“She’s right,” Regal said. He took out his wallet and removed a twenty. “Here you go,” he told Felicity. “I see your hands are full right now. Should I tuck it inside of your bra?”
“Yeah, if you want to get slapped.”
He chuckled. “A slap from those small, soft hands will feel like a massage to me WB.”
Gianna grinned to herself. Regal had just met Felicity and already he knew how to push her buttons.
“My name is not WB or Miss Wedded Bliss. It’s Felicity.”
Amused, Regal handed the money to Gianna instead. “Throw the change in your tip jar. I thought I saw one out there.”
“Yeah, there is. Thank you, Regal.”
“You’re welcome.” He looked at Felicity and said, “I’ll see you next week, WB.”
“Whatever.” Felicity continued frosting cupcakes.
Regal gave her frame a full once over before he finally exited.
Chapter 12
“So, what if your plan doesn’t work?” Gemma asked, staring intently at Ramsey from across the table as they sat in The Pancake House. Ramsey had ordered her a large bowl of grits and a small orange juice while he ate a meat omelet with a side of hash browns.
Ramsey took a long sip of coffee, then he looked across the table at her. Studied her. She looked much happier today for some reason. Her expression didn’t seem so drab. Even her eyes appeared brighter. She had a pink scarf tied around her head that matched the colors of the flowers on the summery blouse she wore. “Does your question imply that you’re okay with the idea of me and Gianna being together?”
Gemma smiled. “I am. However, I’m not sure Gianna will be okay with it.”
“Why are you okay with it, Gemma?”
“Because I think you’re a good person. You’re just what my sister needs to loosen up a bit.” Gemma wiped her mouth. “That was delicious. I haven’t had grits in forever.” She took a sip of juice.
“Why am I what she needs?”
Lowering the glass to the table, she said, “Because, I’ve taken up Gianna’s whole life. She needs to get out there…experience life outside of Charlotte. Shoot, she needs to experience Charlotte. She never does anything. Well, besides work. And you look like you’ve done it all.”
Ramsey pulled his phone from his shirt pocket to see the caller: Cupcake. A smile appeared on his face.
“It must be Gianna,” Gemma said watching him.
He glanced up at her. “It is. I haven’t talked to her since Felicity laid out my proposal yesterday, so this should be interesting.” He cleared his throat and answered, “Hello, beautiful.”
“Hi, Ramsey.” She sniffled.
He frowned.
“Is something wrong?” Gemma asked when she saw the disturbed look on Ramsey’s face.
Ramsey shook his head, but something was wrong. Gianna was sniffling. Had she been crying again? Returning his attention back to the phone, he asked, “How has your day been so far?”
“Okay.” She sniffled again. “Your brother stopped by here and told me you kidnapped my sister.”
Ramsey chuckled softly. “I didn’t kidnap Gemma. She’s sitting here having a go
od time with me. Would you like to speak with her?”
“Yes, please.”
Handing Gemma the phone, Ramsey said, “Hey, she wants to talk to you.”
Gemma took the phone from his grasp and said, “Hey, Gianna.”
“Don’t hey me, lil’ girl.”
“I’m not a little girl, Gianna. I’m nineteen, going on twenty.”
Ramsey smiled.
“I tried to call you. You had me all worried that something had happened to you. You don’t answer your phone, don’t bother returning my call and I have to find out from Ramsey’s brother that you’re out to breakfast.”
“Okay, I should’ve told you. I just forgot. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. But don’t worry. Your fiancé is taking good care of me.”
Fiancé…
Ramsey gave Gemma the thumbs up for that statement.
“He’s not my fiancé,” Gianna said.
“Then, he should be. He really likes you.”
“So, you two have been talking about me.”
“Of course. What else are we going to talk about? The weather? Anyway, I’m going to get back to breakfast. I’m having a delightful time with Ramsey. You want to speak with him again?”
Gianna rolled her eyes. “Yes.”
Gemma handed Ramsey the phone and said, “She wants to talk to you again and she’s a lil’ pissed.”
Ramsey took the phone and said, “See. I told you everything was fine.”
“You should’ve told me you were picking her up today, Ramsey.”
“Check your phone. I tried to call you this morning, but you didn’t answer because you were assuming I was calling about the proposal that Felicity presented to you, correct?”
“Yeah, but—”
“But that’s not why I was calling you, sweetness. I was calling to inform you that I was taking Gemma to breakfast. Even after I couldn’t sleep last night because I thought you’d be so turned off by my proposal, I still somehow managed to get out of bed to pick up lil’ sis because I knew Harriet was off today and you’d be at work worried about Gemma being home alone. I didn’t want you to worry. All your worry, anxieties and anything else that keeps you up at night should be filtered through me going forward.”
