by Mimi Barbour
Dom smacked him on the back the way men do who like each other. “Great, thanks, Jim.”
For the next fifteen minutes, everyone took turns with the officers in the kitchen, telling their version of the story. Thankfully, the tension died down once the police cars drove away.
“Tyler, did you get into any trouble? Outside, I heard Doug screaming threats about you attacking him. What did the police say about that?” Annie’s concern showed in her shaky voice.
“Self defense. Once Dom and I explained what happened, and you and Lea corroborated it all, they were happy to believe us. Doug and his slugs are bad news, and getting them off the streets is a civic duty to all New Yorkers. Look, come with me for a minute. I need to hold you.” He led her into the kitchen, and for the second time that night Lea and Dominic were interrupted in a tender embrace.
“Sorry, you two.” Tyler’s wry grin of envy said it all.
“S’okay. We’ve got to get this party organized. Now we really have something to celebrate. You two can have a few moments alone, but then you have to join us. Remember, you’re the guests of honor, and at the very least we expect a speech.”
They turned to leave the room, Lea’s hand tenderly gripped in Dom’s. He stopped her at the door, and with his right hand he caressed her face, a touching gesture that brought tears to Annie’s eyes. He turned back to look at Tyler, lifted his fist and placed it over his heart. He stared straight into Tyler’s eyes and nodded. Through gathering moisture Annie watched Tyler return the salute. Then the door swung closed behind the two young lovers.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tyler’s muscular arms encircled Annie gently, as if she was fragile, paper-thin crystal. His rioting emotions calmed as soon as he held her close. After he’d seen Doug struggle with Annie and shove her, blinding rage eliminated rage. An age-old force rose inside of him, blocking out every coherent thought. He’d never believed he could kill another human being, but he knew differently now. He could and would, to protect his own. It was a mind-blowing insight. He didn’t know how he felt about it.
“Tyler. Thank you for saving the situation. It was out of control. I was terrified.”
“You were terrified? I was crazy, Annie. Literally! I never realized I could resort to violence of any kind, but I do now. I could kill to save you. It’s staggering how much you mean to me.”
“My heart was in my throat when you jumped him. For a minute I thought he’d picked up the gun.” She began to cry, and her obvious angst triggered an emotional release within him. He feverishly clutched her to him, snuggling her into his embrace. A shuddering sigh broke as tears ran down his face and into her hair.
Annie became aware of Tyler’s breakdown and ended her own waterworks in order to soothe him. She accepted his need of her strength at the moment and welcomed being able to do something for him for a change. In a way, it healed her, also. He was the strongest man she knew. Sharing his distress left her feeling honored and blessed.
“Shush, my love. I’m safe. Everything’s okay now.” Giving him a few minutes to calm himself, she rocked him and snuggled as close as she could get. Her lips found his neck and she nuzzled and kissed. After a short while he sighed and searched for her mouth with his salty lips. It was a kiss of commitment.
Of healing.
Of sexual awakening...
“Tyler, stop! They’re expecting us. Get out of my bra.” She giggled. A wonderfully, normal sound after the turbulent emotions they’d just encountered.
He laughed, loudly and with gusto. “Come on, sweet darlin’. Let’s go boogie.”
The music was in full swing, and so were the couples crowded on the dance floor. Tyler swept Annie into a quick two-step, and they circled the floor, stopping every few minutes to shake hands with those wanting to congratulate them on the happy outcome from the earlier commotion.
Lea and Dominic danced up to them, and Dominic cut in, forcing a change of partners. He pulled Annie into his arms.
“Take care of my girl and I’ll take care of yours. And no funny stuff.”
“Yeah, no hanky-panky.”
“What?” Dominic’s face was bewildered.
Annie danced him away while intercepting a wink from Tyler and a glimpse of his beautiful one-sider. God, she loved his smile.
“Never mind him, Dom. He watches too many old movies. I need to thank you for what you’ve done for Lea. She’s a new person since she’s been here with you. She bit that bastard Doug like a wildcat, and I know it was to protect me.”
“She loves you, Annie.”
“I love her, too. One day she’ll be a woman to be reckoned with, and I intend to be there and watch it happen.”
“She told you yet? She’s planning to return to high school to get her diploma.”
“No, she didn’t. But I’m glad. I’ll help her all I can.”
“She’s also planning to register with Ty at Social Services and apply for a scholarship from a private foundation here in New York. The same one that helped me. With that money, plus earning a wage here, she’ll be able to cover most of her education costs. She talks about having a career the same as Tyler, working with street kids.”
“That is great, Dom. I’m as proud as a mama bear, for heaven’s sake. And she’ll do it, too.”
“She’s been a big help in the kitchen this last while. She’s a hard worker. You know, Annie, I’m pleased for her, too.”
“You should be, Dom. She’s great, and I couldn’t be happier for her—for you both.” Before she could say anything else, she was grabbed from behind as two strong arms wrapped themselves around her stomach and a chin came to rest on the top of her head.
“What are you two cooking up? You’re so engrossed in your conversation you didn’t see me waving. Lea’s going to start the goodies and wants you to help her, Dom. I believe she’s a bit leery about being alone in the kitchen.”
“I’m on my way. We prepared the majority of the food earlier and left it on trays in the cooler. It shouldn’t take long to heat everything up. Then we’ll serve. We’re trying out a few new recipes today. You’re all our guinea pigs tonight.”
“Hmm, that sounds ominous.” Tyler’s face scrunched up.
“Trust me, dude, you’ll love this stuff. Most of it’s Lea’s concoctions.”
“In that case, no problem.”
Dom pushed at Tyler jokingly as he walked away. Annie heard him muttering “smart-ass” in a voice tinged with laughter.
Annie turned and sashayed into Tyler’s waiting arms at the same time as the band switched to a hip-hop song with a catchy beat. Astonished, Annie stepped back and watched as Tyler danced. She stared at him, mouth open, watching his fluid hip movements and sexy gyrations. She could feel her body being wooed. For heaven’s sake, the man should be arrested.
His grinding body rolls had her mouth drying up. It was hard to swallow, and when he began swaying with his arms held out, her nipples ached, her juices flowed, and her eyes crossed. He stared at her and smiled, all the while moving his hips in a way that reminded her of what they’d been doing earlier in the evening. It was the most seductive movement she’d ever witnessed, and she couldn’t take it any longer. She moved in for the kill, winding her petite self around him. Their dirty dancing was x-rated, and soon their heavy breathing forced them to quit it altogether. Eyes were ogling them. They’d put on enough of a show.
Annie whispered. “This is what I missed, Tyler, what I searched for.” She kissed the hand she held.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean—what you were you looking for?”
“Fun! Just good clean fun with lots of happy people. Being a part of it all. You know—nightlife and excitement, feeling alive. I don’t think I’m explaining it very well, I’m sorry.”
“You’re doing a pretty fine job, little one. I get it, I really do. You stick with me, and you’ll have a lifetime of fun and excitement and all the, ahh, nightlife you can handle.”
“You promise?”<
br />
His laugh was loud and had everyone nearby smiling, too. “Yeah, I promise.”
Food was carried out and placed on a side table, and the smells of hot pepperoni, onions, and mushrooms, mixed with those of cheese and dough, was enough to start her drooling. Filling up on cold beer and slabs of pizza had the crowd settling down even more. Laughter and music filled the room with happy ambience.
Pretty soon Dominic stood and whistled for quiet. “I wish to thank you all for coming tonight to help us celebrate two years of success.”
He lifted his glass and yelled, “Grazie.”
After the furor died down, he said, “I also want to apologize for the earlier disturbance in the kitchen. I’m glad that it all went down okay, and to tell you the truth, now that the scumbag is in jail, my girl Lea can come out of hiding and start working towards a fresh future.” He lifted his glass again and yelled louder. “Grazie a Dio. Thank you, Lord!”
Again he waited for the noise to abate, and as he made the next announcement, his tone became extremely emotional.
“Most important, I need to say thank you to my guests of honor, Tyler Jones and Annie Hynes. They ain’t ordinary people, ya know? They’re angels in disguise. I can never repay them for their faith and trust in me. If it wasn’t for those two, I wouldn’t be where I am now, or the lucky man I am today.”
A small voice interrupted. “And me too, Dom. Thank them for me, too.”
Dominic continued after a wink at Lea. “My girl wants to add her thanks, as well. Come up here, Annie and Tyler, and let me make a toast to you guys.”
Tyler put his hand in the small of Annie’s back and guided her to where Dominic stood, all eyes upon them. The applause was shatteringly loud, and whistles and thumps added to the noise. It was a few more seconds before quiet reclaimed the room, and during that time Dominic hugged first Annie and then Tyler. He raised his glass and shouted. “To my best friends, Tyler and Annie.”
A round of applause and more shouting occurred before Tyler could control the happy crowd. He lifted his arms and waved his hands, giving them the signal that he had something to say. Within a moment, out of respect, a pin could have been heard dropping. Annie moved away from him so she could watch and listen.
“Thank you, Dom and Lea, for the nice words, and I’ll tell you both now that Annie and I feel exactly the same way about you two.” He grasped Dominic’s hand and nodded at Lea. “Friends are a special gift that gives us an identity, and you’ve made us feel like champions tonight. I wish to make another toast to my Annie, my future wife, and invite you all to join us here to celebrate the happy day. Invitations will be forthcoming, right, Annie?”
The world around her faded. She looked at Tyler, her man. Really looked. Delight radiated from his expressive face, and a feeling swelled, filling her insides. Never having known such a quivering emotion, she didn’t immediately grasp what it meant.
Happiness? Yes!
Love? Oh, absolutely!
But somehow that didn’t cover all she was experiencing. There was something more, something hard to grasp, something....
Then, as their eyes met, she knew. It was pure, unaltered joy. The most beautiful sensation she’d ever known. Tears filled her eyes, and she bit at her bottom lip. She wouldn’t sob out loud. But her jiggling chin signaled her emotional state, and everyone stared in a silence you could chew. She gripped her hands together. Finally, her throat cleared so she could speak. “Is this a proposal?”
“Oh, yeah!” He grinned that damn one-sided smile, and she was a goner.
Airborne, she was in his arms like a flash. With her legs wrapped around his hips and her lips glued to his, the answer was obvious. The following eruption of cheers and congratulations was the loudest of the night. One raspy voice, unsurprisingly, came through loud and clear—but only to her.
“Good going, Annie. You did it!”
Later, on the way home, Annie felt she had to confide in Tyler. They needed to start their new relationship with total honesty and openness.
“Tyler, do you believe in guardian angels? Don’t think I’m crazy. But I need to know.”
Annie, fascinated by the bright color that suffused his cheeks, waited for him to jeer, or at the very least tease her for asking such a question. He surprised her.
“Well, actually I’ve been in close contact with one lately.”
Hurt overwhelmed her at his supposed sarcasm, until she remembered his embarrassment. What’s going on, she wondered. Prompted by an unknown source, she asked him, “Does your angel have a name?”
Shyly, he answered, “I call her Celi.”
The End
The Vicarage Bench Series
By Mimi Barbour
http://www.mimibarbour.com
Published by Wild Rose Press
Titles:
She’s Me
He’s Her
We’re One
Together Again
Together for Christmas – to be released on November 25th
Available on Smashwords & Amazon
Sundered
By Shannon Mayer
http://www.shannonmayer.com
A paranormal romance set in a post apocalyptic world, Mara and Sebastian fight off marauders and monsters alike.
But Sebastian carries a dark secret, one that more than threatens to tear them apart, it threatens to destroy them both and the love they have for each other.
The secret forces Mara to make the ultimate choice. Will she live for love, or will she live to survive?
Available on Smashwords & Amazon
