by Tina Martin
She sighed heavily. That was the beautiful thing about being single. There was no one to answer to. No one to constantly strive to please. Being single meant you were free as a bird. You didn’t have to answer a thousand questions before leaving your own house. With a man around, it was like cross-examination. She could see herself now, a year in with Ramsey, walking to the door with her purse, wearing a beautiful dress while he was on the couch with the remote watching football:
“Hey, where are you going?” he would ask.
And her response would be, “Out with Felicity. I’ll be back in a lil’ while, Ram.”
“How long is a little while?”
She’d shrug. “Maybe three hours or so. We’re doing appetizers and a movie.”
“What movie?”
What does it matter? Dang! “Not sure…something Felicity wanted to see.”
“And where are you eating appetizers?”
*Blank stare*
“Did you hear me?” he would ask.
“Probably somewhere by Northlake Mall.”
“Do you have your phone?”
Why? So you can call and bug the crap out of me some more with your millions of questions?
“Gianna?”
“Yes, I have my phone.”
Ugh…is this really how it would go down?
* * *
As she began closing duties, she didn’t know how to feel since Ramsey hadn’t bothered calling her today nor had he stopped by. She walked to the front door, locked it and turned the open sign off. Then she answered her phone seeing that it was Felicity calling.
“Hey, Felicity,” she drawled out.
“Goodness. You sound like you’ve been run over by a Mack diesel, and by Mack diesel, I mean Ramsey St. Claire.” She cackled like the silly person she was.
Her strange tone of laughter made Gianna laugh, too, even when she didn’t feel like laughing. “Whatever, girl. I’m tired of working this week for some reason.”
“I know the reason, you little freak, you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your boyfriend, or shall I say husband just left here a couple of hours ago.”
“He did?”
“Affirmative…told me you were staying with him for the week. I was like, uh-uh, not my innocent, lil’ Gianna, to which he laughed.”
“Sorry. I forgot to tell you.”
“How do you forget to tell your best friend something this monumental? And you sitting up here acting like you were so scared of him.”
“I didn’t say I was scared of him—”
Felicity changed her voice to mimic Gianna’s when she said, “Oh, help me, Felicity. What am I going to do if he tries to kiss me? Oh…I’m such a damsel in distress.”
“I’m going to choke you,” Gianna said, amused.
“That’s how you were acting.”
“Okay, but then I realized he really liked me, so it wasn’t so bad.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“So, he really signed the papers?” Gianna asked.
“Yeah, he signed them. Why do you sound so surprised?”
“Because I pissed him off last night and haven’t heard from him all day.”
“Hmm…maybe that would explain why he was so quiet and straight-faced,” Felicity said. “He’d usually have something slick to say to me, just like Buick Regal.”
Gianna giggled. “Stop calling him that before it sticks.”
Felicity chuckled. “Anyway, so did Ramsey get those lips or what?”
“Felicity!”
“What? I have a right to know, don’t I?”
“No.”
“I beg to differ. I told you everything about my first kiss and first everything else.”
“Yeah, when we were in high school. We’re grown now. Some things you keep to yourself.”
“Not this. Now, tell me. Did you kiss him?”
Gianna chewed on her lip. “Yes. We kissed.”
Felicity screamed into the receiver, prompting Gianna to hold the phone away from her ear. “How was it? Did you see stars?”
Gianna blushed. “Did I see stars? Gosh, you watch way too many movies.”
“Tell me. Did you?”
“Yes. I saw stars, constellations, planets, the moon’s surface, discarded satellites floating around up there and galaxies that haven’t been discovered yet. I saw it all.”
Felicity screamed again and Gianna laughed. Then Gianna’s body locked up when she felt arms encircling her from behind. She panicked a little because he – Ramsey – caught her off guard, but she knew the smell of her man. The feel of him. Before she could say a word, she felt his warm breath tickle her ear when he whispered, “Tell Felicity you’ll call her back.” Right after he said it, he sucked her earlobe into his mouth.
Holding the phone, her hands steadily trembling, she said, “Fe-fe-fe-li-li—”
“I heard his voice,” Felicity said. “And by all that stuttering, I take it you gotta go, huh?”
“Mmm hmm…” she managed to get out.
“Okay.” Felicity giggled. “Bye, girl.”
Gianna ended the call then turned around to look at Ramsey. He’d shaven she first noticed. Darn. The facial hair looked good on him, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before it grew back. “You know I hate it when you sneak up on me.”
“No, you don’t,” he said embracing her.
She smiled, hugging him back and allowing herself to feel his arms around her and smell him – his cologne. His skin. “I thought you were mad at me,” she said.
“I am mad at you,” he responded, dipping his head to take a small kiss from her lips. “Well, not mad.” He took another kiss. “Frustrated.” He took yet another. “I want so much from you in such a little amount of time, but no worries. I can wait. You don’t leave me much choice in the matter.”
“Ramsey, about what I said last night—”
“It’s forgotten,” he said, interrupting her apology.
“Ramsey, please just let me say it.”
“Say what? I’ve forgiven you. There’s nothing left to be said, Gianna.”
“There is…that I’m sorry for making assumptions about you.”
“And I forgive you, sweet lips.”
She blushed, looking down, noticing for the first time, that he had on a suit. “Why are you dressed up?”
“I had to visit one of my sites today.”
“A work site?”
“Yes.”
“And you had to dress up for that?”
“I did. Anything relating to my business, I like to look professional.”
Gianna nodded. He definitely looked professional. “So, that’s why you didn’t come to see me today?”
“You were looking for me, baby?”
“This morning, I was. I thought you were still mad.”
“I had errands to run. Guess what else I did today.”
“What’s that?” she asked, staring up into his eyes.
“Made you mine. Felicity probably told you, but I went by Wedded Bliss to sign the papers, Mrs. St. Claire. Oh, how I like the sound of that.”
Her stomach tightened. Felicity told her that Ramsey had stopped by to sign the papers, but actually hearing it from him made it real. She instantly felt hot like her body temperature had shot up a few degrees. It didn’t help that she felt dizzy at the same time.
“Hey, you’re not going to faint on me, are you?”
“N-n-no. I just need to sit down for a moment.”
“Okay,” Ramsey said holding her hand, leading her to the office. He helped her sit down then said, “I came by here to help you with your closing work. I’ll take care of sweeping and mopping and cleaning the bathroom. You do whatever work you need to do on the computer, okay.”
She nodded.
Ramsey pulled the door closed, hoping the time would help her get her bearings after he just told her he’d signed the papers. Did she think he wasn’t going to sign? That he wasn’t ser
ious about the marriage? When everything in him wanted any and everything she had to offer?
He got up this morning with her on his mind. Granted, he had some work-related tasks to accomplish, but the day was all about her. He’d given Carson a massive grocery list – all items Gianna needed to make butter pecan cupcakes – a hundred of them. And he’d hired a chef for the night. Since signing the papers, he wanted the night to be special for her. Wanted her to know he was one-hundred percent committed to the marriage even though it was one formed by unconventional means. He even went to Zales and chose her ring. He’d spent an hour going back and forth between rings – large and small. Since she wasn’t the loud, boisterous type, he knew she wouldn’t like a large stone and he wasn’t feeling the small one, so he settled on a medium-sized one. A white gold, two-carat certified diamond solitaire ring that he knew would look perfect on her finger.
And now he was here, mopping the floors after he was done cleaning the bathroom and sweeping. He took out the garbage and made sure the front door was locked. Then he slowly opened her office door.
Gianna glanced away from her computer screen to look at him. “Hey.”
“I’m done,” he told her. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“No. I was just checking inventory.”
“Is there a problem?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Well, are you ready to go, then?”
“Yes. Let me just close out here.” Gianna logged out of the inventory system and said, “Okay. I’m ready.”
He opened the door wider as she walked closer to him and then they headed out the back where she locked up the rear entrance.
“We’ll let your car stay here,” Ramsey said. “I want you to ride home with me.”
“Hunh?” Gianna frowned.
“You’ve been working all day,” he said. “I want you to ride with me.”
“But I can’t leave my car here overnight, Ramsey.”
“Why can’t you? What are they going to do? Tow it?”
“They might.”
He smirked. “They’re not going to tow your car, sweetness.”
“But—”
“I want you to ride with me, Gianna. I realize it’s a forty-five-minute drive, and I also realize it’s a sacrifice you made in order to spend the week with me. This evening, I would like for you to ride with me,” he said, staring at her lips.
“Okay,” she caved, then as she walked around to the passenger side of his Range, he reached around her to open the door.
“Thanks, Ramsey.”
“You’re welcome.”
He closed the door after she got in then walked around to the driver side. When he started down the highway, he glanced over at her. He wondered if she realized this was the first time they were ever alone in a car together. If she felt the waves of electricity running back and forth between them. He didn’t doubt that she could. That’s why she’d interlocked her hands and when that wasn’t helping to calm her nerves, she’d switch to crossing her arms. And she was quiet. Uneasy. How could she be after they’d just kissed thirty minutes ago?
After driving for about fifteen minutes, intermittently watching her behave this way, he asked, “Gianna, are you okay?”
“Yes,” she answered quickly, almost before he could get the whole question out.
“What are you thinking about? And don’t shrug. Don’t tell me you weren’t thinking about anything. Be honest with me.”
“I was thinking about you signing the papers. Thinking about being something I don’t know how to be.”
“My wife?” He glanced at her and then back to the road.
“Yes. Your wife.”
“It’s really nothing for you to worry about, but to ease your fears, we’ll talk more about that over dinner.”
“Okay.”
Chapter 20
When they pulled up in the driveway, Gianna jumped out of the Range and jogged toward the front door. Since she knew the security code for the keypad lock, she let herself in.
Once inside, she ran upstairs, calling out Gemma’s name.
“I’m in the dining room,” she heard Gemma yell.
She turned around, jogged back downstairs and saw Gemma sitting at the dining room table with Carson.
“What are you doing?” she asked, nearly out of breath.
“We were just eating. Carson made a potato soup that was out of this world. He put some cheese and green onions—”
“Shallots,” Carson interrupted her to say.
“Oh, right. Shallots,” Gemma said. “I just think it’s the boujee way to say onions.”
Gianna smiled. “And you’re feeling okay today, Gem?”
“Yes. I feel fine,” Gemma said, feigning cheerfulness.
“Where’s Harriet?” Gianna asked.
“I had her leave early since Carson was cooking dinner for Gemma,” Ramsey answered from behind her.
Gianna turned around and looked at him. She wanted to ask him something…um…right – why he didn’t bother to tell her that Harriet was leaving early today, but just making eye contact with him nearly snatched her breath away. I can’t believe he’s mine.
“Gianna?”
She blinked, then focused on Ramsey.
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you go get changed for dinner?”
“Oh. Right. Okay.” She walked over to Gemma first, kissed her on the cheek and said, “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Gemma smiled.
* * *
After Gianna took a quick shower, she put on a simple black maxi dress that was so long, it dragged the floor. Then she removed her hairnet, ran her fingers through her hair and shook it a little to give it some life, letting it fall around her shoulders. She added a bit of pink gloss to her lips, then with bare feet, she headed to the door to exit the bedroom. When she opened the door, she saw Carson standing there and threw her hand over her heart.
“Goodness, Carson. You scared me.”
“Sorry about that, Mrs. St. Claire.”
She beamed. He was calling her Mrs. St. Claire already? “Um…is Gemma okay?”
“Yes. Gemma is fine. I’ve come to take you to dinner, madam.”
“To…to take me to dinner? I know where the dining room is, Carson.”
“I know you do, madam, but Ramsey has made different dinner arrangements for you tonight. Shall we?” Carson bent his arm so she could loop her arms with his.
After she accepted, he headed towards the set of stairs that led up to what Ramsey liked to call the penthouse suite – his bedroom – his entire third-floor oasis. “I’m having dinner in Ramsey’s…in…in…his bedroom?”
Instead of answering her, Carson continued on upstairs, passing through Ramsey’s bedroom door and on to through the double French doors and out onto the balcony where Gianna froze. There sat Ramsey at a table with white candles and champagne flutes. Strings of lights floated above their heads while at least ten dozen red roses decorated the immediate area. A bottle of champagne rested in a silver ice bucket.
Ramsey stood up. “Thank you, Carson.”
“You’re welcome, Sir,” he said, then walked away.
Gianna didn’t budge.
“Gianna?”
Her eyes rolled up to meet his, but her body didn’t physically move an inch.
Ramsey walked over to her, took her hand into his and said, “Welcome to dinner.”
“What is all of this, Ramsey?”
“It’s dinner for you. For us. Today marks a special occasion for us. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Um…yes.”
“Then, right this way, beautiful,” he said, taking a few steps, then pulling a chair out for her.
Gianna was still in somewhat of a shock as she looked around, taking it all in. He did this for her? For them? To mark the beginning of their marriage? Wow.
As if she wasn’t already blown away, a
chef with the whole chef getup and all came strolling outside with a tray. He placed two salads on the table in front of the both of them.
When he walked away, Gianna looked up at Ramsey and asked, “Who is he?”
“A chef I use from time-to-time for special occasions.”
“Oh.”
“Try the salad. It’s amazing.”
She took a fork full to her mouth. How could he make salad taste so scrumptious and when she made it, it tasted like grass?
“Good?”
“Yes. Delicious.” She dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Ramsey, this is too much.”
“What’s too much?”
“This,” she said looking around.
“Nothing is ever too much for you, Gianna.”
She held his serious gaze for a moment, saw flames from the candles dance in his eyes and looked away.
“I realize that my presence can be intimidating for you. That everything I do for you is probably, in your mind, going above and beyond…doing too much, but I won’t apologize for it. It’s my job to see to it that you, my wife, have everything you need in life. Everything you want. Everything you desire. I recognize your uneasiness around me, Gianna, but I feel it’s my duty to keep pushing the envelope so that one day, you can sit down to dinner with me without your hands trembling.”
“I will never get to that point.”
He smiled. She probably wouldn’t but it would be fun getting her to try. “Do you want children?”
“Children?”
“Yes. Children. I brought up the subject last night, but you never answered me.”
“Um…I think so.”
He raised a brow. “You think? That’s something women are pretty definite about.”
“I know. It’s just that I haven’t had much time to think about what I want in life because of—”
“Gemma. I get it. Now, I’m asking you what you want.”
Gianna opened her mouth to speak but then thought about what she would say in more detail before she actually said it.
“Let me be more specific,” Ramsey said, “Can you see yourself being the mother of my children?”
Gianna frowned.
