“I know, but we can’t. We can only change from this moment on.”
“Then it’s time to start,” Celia said resolutely.
Mike smiled. “I agree. How does seven sound?”
“Seven . . . What do you mean?”
“Dinner with my parents this Friday evening at seven. Did I forget to tell you your presence is requested?” Mike took a drink of tea, giving her a smile over the top of the glass.
“Yes, you forgot to mention that important fact. I can’t go meet them. Look at me. I’m in a wheelchair. And we are not to the point where we start meeting each others families.”
“Why not? I’ve met your mother, and to be honest, I met your dad, too. So, it’s your turn. We can move the time up if that would help. My parents are not picky at all. But I must say, Mother is excited to hear there is a lady in my life. And as for the wheelchair, you won’t be in it forever and I can help you in and out. No excuses, young lady. It’s time we start forgetting the past and moving on with our futures.”
Celia gave him a tired look. “But there’s too much baggage. I dated Martin and he’s your best friend. How are we going to handle all of that?”
“I don’t know. There may be a few hurdles but what if it doesn’t matter? What if it works and we’re right for each other? Do we turn our backs on the possibilities because of ‘what ifs’?” What happened to the girl I was with last night who was willing to tell everyone we were dating if it meant we couldn’t kiss?”
Celia smiled. “She’s still here. She just has a lot of reservations and she’s tired of making mistakes.”
Mike leaned in, brought his lips to hers and kissed her. His hand moved to hers and he felt her fingers slide up to his cheek. The kiss lasted a long moment and he leaned back in his chair and spoke, his voice filled with feeling. “Did that feel like a mistake?”
She looked down at her hands and shook her head ‘no’. “Not at all, it just feels too fast. I’m still living in Martin’s house. This might just be too strange for both of us to deal with.”
Mike leaned forward resting his arms on the table. “I know this is strange, but I’m not running. I’m here, in this monster of a house when I could be in my own bed trying to forget the way I feel when I hold you. Will it be easy? I don’t know. Will I want to break something at times when I think that Martin dated you first? I suppose I will. But I’d rather try than pretend I don’t have feelings for you.”
Celia didn’t speak so he held his hand out to her. “If you want me to go, say the word. It’s not what I want but I’ll honor your decision.”
Mike hated this. He wanted to fight for her but he knew if Celia’s heart wasn’t in it he would just be wasting his time. He moved his arm and laid his hand out on the table palm up. She looked from his open hand to his eyes and slowly she reached out.
“I don’t want you to think I’m dating you for your money.’
“I don’t.”
“We will have to go slow. My heart’s rattled and I don’t know if I can take another break.”
“We’ll move as slowly as you want. If you don’t want to go to dinner with my Mom and Dad, just say the word. We’ll go at your pace. I’ll even stop kissing you if that’s what you want.”
“Let’s don’t be too drastic,” she said, and finally there was a smile on her lips.
“Good. I was going to hate to stop kissing you.”
“Me too,” she said, and she leaned back but held onto his hand. “I guess I’m in because I don’t want to give up on you either. I just want to get this right. I want to be the lucky one this time.”
Mike smiled, pulled her hand forward and kissed the back of her hand. “I’ll do my best to make your wish come true.”
“Then seven it is but you’re going to have to tell me all about your parents. I don’t want any surprises.”
“You got it. Should we seal it with a kiss?”
The smile on her lips said it all. Mike knew they were starting out on a rocky road but he hoped that from this point on things would start to level out. He leaned in, and though they’d kissed several times, this time it felt serious, it felt real. Although he didn’t want to admit it out loud yet, it felt like, maybe . . . finally . . . they were going to get the happily-ever-after they had both been looking for so long.
Chapter 67
The Proposal
"Did you have a nice evening? I hope you didn't feel kidnapped," Martin said, as he led Randi to the porch swing and they sat down. His parents were gone to a revival service, and finally, he was alone with Randi.
"I enjoyed it. Your parents are sweet. They make me feel at ease and at home. I loved hearing what you were like as a kid, how you used to act out plays at an early age."
"Goodness. I hope they didn't bore you and please don't mention pictures when they come home or we'll never get to bed. Mom will drag out boxes and boxes of pictures."
"I'll be careful. I enjoyed myself, but I'll be honest, I was looking forward to this. Randi pulled Martin’s arm around her shoulder and she nestled in resting her hand on his chest and closing her eyes. "This is nice."
He placed a kiss on her forehead and with his right leg kept them swinging. "We didn't discuss how long we would stay but I assumed we'd head back tomorrow."
"I'm riding on your dime so whatever suits your schedule."
"Then we'll head out tomorrow around noon, but we need to figure out a better place for you to stay than that motel."
"I agree but I'm not sure what. I need something that will take pets, and I'm going to need a car, too. I've been saving and I've got enough for a good down payment on a car or for the first and last months’ rent, but not both."
"I want you to hear me out before you say ‘no’," Martin said, as he felt Randi move. She straightened, and turned in the swing sitting sideways, to face him.
"I'm listening."
"We can do several things. One, there's a guest house behind the mansion you could stay in. Then there's the apartment in San Pedro. They take pets."
Randi smiled. "I love the apartment but it's too far from my work, and the guest house sounds great, but if you're going to sell soon I don't want to give it a lived-in look."
"Then my third option is when we get back we go apartment hunting. I'll find us something that will fit our needs."
"What does that mean?" she asked with a smile.
At least she wasn't saying ‘no’ yet, so he went on with his idea. "I need a place, too. Something small. I was thinking we could rent two places on the same floor or get a large condo and share."
"Us? Share a condo?"
"Don't you trust me?" he asked with a smile.
"I don't know if I trust me. You'd be all relaxed, running around the apartment with your shirt off looking all sexy and movie starish."
"That's not a word or an answer."
"I trust you not to force the issue, but I think it would be best if we had separate apartments. Less temptation that way."
Martin smiled. "Would you allow me to put you in an apartment? I wouldn't mind."
"It's sweet of you, but I don't think it would be right."
"What good is my money if I can't spend it on what I want? If I bought you a gift, you'd take that?"
"Yes, but it's different."
"No, it's not." Martin rose, walked to the edge of the porch and looked off into the distance. "It's my fault you don't have a place to stay. You should let me do this."
Randi sighed and walked over to him. "Let me talk to my mother. If I can't talk her into letting me stay, then I'll consider it."
When he turned and flashed her a smile she playfully hit him. "You were fake pouting."
"Hey, blame it on Mom. She told me that we needed to have some fights to test our relationship."
"Oh, Martin, we've been tested. If Celia isn't the test of the ages, I don't know what is!"
"That was huge." Martin reached out, resting his hands on Randi's waist.
"It was, an
d we passed."
He loved it when she initiated the kiss so when she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck he sped things up and met her half way. They kissed for a long moment, and as she pulled back he spoke, "We've been tested. We've had our fights, we've had long talks so according to Mom all that's left to do is to pray, pray, pray."
"What are you talking about?" Randi asked, giggling as she pushed away from his teasing kisses.
"Mom was giving advice. I was repeating what she said."
"Well, it all sounds like good advice, but let's not push the fighting or the testing. We're good there."
"I agree, and on that note, I've got something for you to read."
"Another script?"
"Kind of," Martin said, as he held the front door open. Randi went toward the kitchen and he stepped to the back of the house to his bedroom. He picked up the papers Rafa had drafted and reached to take something out of his suitcase. The moment he knew Randi would be coming with him, he'd gone by the jewelers.
The small blue box had been pushed deep into his suitcase. He took the diamond ring from its box and dropped it into his shirt pocket. After a quick glance in the mirror to make sure the ring didn't show, he went to the kitchen.
Martin found Randi sitting at the table waiting. "You don't have to read every word, but see if you think it makes sense." He laid the papers before her, pulled a chair out and sat facing her. He wanted to see her reaction.
Randi began to smile the moment she started reading. She moved to the second page and turned toward Martin. "Is this real?"
"It may not be binding, but it's real."
She flipped to the next page and began to read faster. Martin leaned in pushing her hair back. "Well?"
"This is very well done, very articulate."
"I had Rafa write it." At this comment she turned to face him leaving the papers on the table and reaching her hands out. "Martin, you didn't have to do this."
"Yes, I did."
"My mother will . . ."
"I did it for you, and me." Martin moved to the edge of his seat and pulled her hand to his heart. "I have to be fair and honest. There is no way on God's green earth that I would ever have one night’s peaceful sleep if I had to think of some other man's hands touching your body, kissing your sweet lips or holding you close in a lover’s embrace." Martin kissed her hand and looked into her eyes.
"And it would be unfair and unrealistic for me to expect you to do something that I couldn't. Will you agree to be the only woman that these hands will ever touch in a sexual manner? Will you agree to do any and all love scenes so that our love can remain pure and unblemished?"
With this last comment, Martin, in one fell swoop, kicked the seat behind him, dropped to one knee and began to reach into his pocket. “Randi Sanders, will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?"
He could see the shock come over Randi’s face but he could also see the smile and a tear running down her cheek. He wanted to move and kiss them away, but he had to know her answer.
Chapter 68
The Engagement
Randi didn't know what to say. She had suspected that Martin was leading to something with the papers and the elaborate writing about future movies and sex scenes, but she had no idea he was leading up to this.
The moment he dropped to one knee, she knew it was really happening and she could feel the tears sting her eyes. She pushed the tears away, she wanted to see and remember every moment of this life changing experience.
Martin could lay it on thick and she'd known months ago that dating a skilled actor was going to be a lot of fun. From the moment he first kissed her - his actions, his movements, his timing - it could all be so overwhelming and exhilarating and she loved every minute of it.
She did not want to ruin this moment with the wrong words. At first she didn't speak but she did hold her hand out. He smiled a sly smile and held the ring out as if about to place it on her finger.
She could see he wanted confirmation and after a few seconds of just enjoying the moment and everything he'd said, she was able to speak.
“Martin Taylor, I love you more than words can say and I will gladly take you to be my husband, my lover and anything else you want to be."
After hearing her answer he smiled, and without taking his eyes from hers, slipped the ring onto her finger. The fact that he already had the ring made this even more special. He had planned this. He had known, that at some point on this trip, he would ask her this question.
She wanted to see the ring, wanted to look at it on her hand, but what she wanted more was to taste his kiss and to know that, from this moment on, his hands would only touch her body. The only thing that had worried her about marrying Martin Taylor had just been wiped away by the papers that lay upon the table and in the promise of the words he'd spoken.
Her lips touched his for a quick kiss, but instead of holding her for a longer kiss, he laughed and rose to his feet pulling her into his arms. "Randi, you’ve made me so happy. I was so afraid you would say ‘no’."
"Never. I love you and I don't know what to say."
"You said it all when you said ‘yes’."
"Yes, yes and yes."
He held her tightly, lifted her off her feet and swung her around laughing, until he finally set her down on the kitchen table.
"Now all we have to do is set a date."
"You don't waste any time."
"I never did. I don't see any sense in it. When you know what you want, go after it, get it and then move on to the next conquest."
"I hope I'm your last conquest," Randi said, and this earned her a deep kiss. It always amazed her how Martin made her feel. He could kiss her, and in a matter of seconds, she didn’t care about anything but being in his arms.
"You are my final conquest and there are going to be a lot of changes. I want a new home. I want something we can call ours. I want us to have the most perfect wedding and honeymoon, and then I want to find the most perfect script where I can officially hold you in my arms and kiss you. I want to prove to you and the world that a man who loves his wife will never touch another woman - when he can hold the one who holds his heart . . ."
"That's so sweet."
"Maybe so, but I can't wait to show you off and tell the world we're getting married."
Randi smiled. She wanted Martin to know that she truly cared about his career. She was partly serious and partly teasing when she replied, "Then after we get back home, we can start. You can talk to your manager and find out how he thinks we can best milk the engagement to boost your career.”
"What did you just say?"
Randi loved the shocked expression on Martin’s face and she went on with her playful but truthful explanation. "The more good exposure, the better roles you'll read for. If you're going to support me in the fashion to which I'm accustomed, you'll need to pull down some serious cash. I mean, two dogs, two kids, some horses, cows and all of those farm animals you want - you are going to need a s-t-e-a-d-y income."
"You were listening, weren’t you, but I’m pretty sure that I mentioned six kids."
"Six? It's been nice knowing you," she said, as if she were about to walk away.
Martin pulled her back into his arms, both of them laughing. "Four? I was just kidding."
"Let's see how two goes, and not right away. I need time to enjoy my new husband. He doesn't know it, but I can't wait for the honeymoon."
"I think I have an idea. I noticed that you have a bit of trouble keeping your hands inside the safe areas."
"You're one to talk, but you're right. And with a body like yours, who could blame a girl?"
"That's the way - talk dirty on my sweet mother’s kitchen table."
"I won't tell if you don't," Randi said, pulling him in for an electric kiss. She thought he might have a witty come back, but he didn't. His mind was on the kiss, and from the way he held her close and pulled her body to his, she knew that things had changed.
&nb
sp; There would still be barriers and places his hands couldn't go until their wedding night, but there was also a new connection. This bond they were creating for their new life together would be centered around loving each other and taking care of each other in the most intimate ways.
Randi felt Martin's breath on her skin and heard the desire in his voice as he called her name, and she welcomed these new emotions. She knew down deep that tonight her life had changed forever. She knew the road might be rocky but she didn’t care. For now, and as long as God would allow her heart to beat, her arms and heart would be open to the man of her dreams and her now future husband, the one and the only Martin Taylor.
Chapter 69
The Groom
“Any minute she’s going to be walking down that aisle. Any last thoughts or words of wisdom?” Mike asked.
Martin glanced at Mike and Rafa. “Well, Rafa is already married and you’re dating my ex. I think you two are pretty hopeless already and nothing I can say will help you now.”
“That’s pretty pessimistic,” Rafa said laughing, “for someone who is about to get married himself.”
“Maybe, but I’m marrying the perfect woman.” Martin smiled at his best man and groomsman. “You got stuck with my sister, Rafa, and Mike . . . you made your bed, so sleep in it.”
“No comment,” Mike said, “and just so you know, Celia is here. She thought it would be in bad taste to be in the audience so she will be watching from a secluded spot inside.”
“Wow!” Martin replied hesitantly. “Are you talking about the Celia I know? Has she have changed that much? In any event, try and see that she and Randi don’t cross paths. It’s been a great day so far and I don’t want that to change. Even my soon to be mother-in-law seems to be in good spirits. God is smiling today.”
“Sure thing, but what about the paparazzi?” Mike asked.
“I hired extra security for that, but I don’t think Randi would mind. She’s a good sport about the star side of my life. After that contract Rafa prepared, things have been better than ever.”
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