“To be honest with you, I have no freaking idea how I feel.” Cherry drained the Diet Coke from her glass, caught the eye of the waitress and motioned with her glass and a hopeful smile. The waitress nodded and came over. “Diet Coke, please, very large,” Cherry said. “An iced tea, very small, for my friend.”
“Hey,” Susie objected without rancour. “Make it a large.”
The waitress nodded and left.
Cherry studied Susie.
“So you see,” Susie said, satisfaction oozing in her tone, “Rick is a genuine man who cares little for society’s ideals.”
“Why is it so important to you?”
Sobering, Susie reached over and laid her hand atop Cherry’s. “Because you’re my friend. Because you’ve come alive since seeing Rick. Because you deserve every good thing that comes your way, and I don’t want your insecurities to destroy any chance of happiness you have.”
“I was happy before,” Cherry pointed out, touched with her friend’s concern.
“But wanting. Wanting a man in her life, a chance for cuddling and kissing, sharing your life. You have a chance and I’m not going to let you blow it.”
Cherry didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She had to swallow the lump that rose in her throat. Turning her hand over, she squeezed Susie’s hand. True, her friend had gone way beyond the scope Cherry would have done, but she’d meant well. And really, one had to admire Susie, she was like a dog with a bone when it came to her friends’ happiness.
“Just remember that when we get sued for interfering in privacy issues,” Maxie added in amusement.
“No chance of that,” Susie replied. “I’ve got it all covered.”
“Oh my God.” Cherry squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed the bridge of her nose, apprehension setting in. “What’d you do?”
“Nothing! Geez, have faith. It was a job done by my cousin, who is very discreet, and whom I happen to have a huge hold over.”
This wasn’t getting any better. Cherry peeked at her over her fingers. “You blackmailed your cousin?”
“You call it blackmail, I call it compromise.” Susie’s smile was all teeth. “I know things he doesn’t want a certain someone in his life to know.”
“I’ve just seen a whole new side to you,” Maxie observed.
“Am I still one of your bridesmaids?”
“Hell, yes. Could you get your cousin to investigate my future in-laws?”
Cherry groaned.
Susie laughed.
Watching her friends trade banter, Cherry knew she was lucky to have them. While she couldn’t condone what Susie had done, she had to admit that she did feel a little better knowing that Rick had dated larger women in his past. It made her feel a little safer, a little more certain of his attraction to her not being a passing phase.
But she still held some deep-seated fears. A lifetime of being judged on appearance wasn’t about to be fixed by a few photos.
A few hours later when she was relaxing at home, there came a knock at the door. Opening it, she found herself faced with a bouquet of red roses and a smiling florist.
“Delivery for Cherry Williams,” the florist announced.
“That’s me.” Cherry took the flowers. “Are you sure they’re for me?”
“Absolutely.” The florist winked at her. “Lucky woman.”
Cherry watched her drive away before she took the flowers inside. Laying them on the table, she searched for a card while wondering why her parents would send flowers when it wasn’t even her birthday.
Taking the little envelope attached to the flowers, she withdrew the petite card and read it. Incredulous, she re-read the card. Her heart started to flutter, and she actually placed a hand on her stomach.
The roses were from Rick. The card had his no-nonsense script. It read:
Roses are Red
Cherries are sweet
I know which I prefer
In-between my sheets.
She started to laugh. The roses were beautiful, the verse corny, and it was the most romantic thing to have ever happened to her.
Frizz looked up at her from the floor and meowed.
Cherry went to the cupboard and pulled down a vase. “The Annabelle’s of this world can take a short dive off a long cliff, Frizz. I’m not letting her spoil my time with Rick.”
Picking up the phone, she realized that she didn’t have his phone number. To call him at his surgery wasn’t something she’d even contemplate, and there was no way she’d call the hospital and get his private number. With a sigh, she put down the phone. She’d have to wait for him to contact her.
The rest of the day was spent alternating between doing the housework and admiring the roses, and thinking of Rick.
When the phone finally rang in the late afternoon, she answered it eagerly. “Hello?”
“Is that my luscious Cherry?” Rick’s warm tones seemed to swirl through the phone and down her nerves, tingling her in places she’d only felt since she’d been with him.
“It is. Thank you for the roses, they’re beautiful.” Smiling, she sat down in the armchair and twirled the line around her finger.
“I’m glad you like them.” Amusement was evident, even though she couldn’t see his face. “Did you appreciate my poetical effort?”
“Oh, very much.” She laughed. “Touched me deep down.”
“Keep that thought.” His tone turned husky. “It’s where I’ll be touching you.”
A flush went right through her, starting from her head and sweeping to her toes, and tickling every delicious nerve in-between. “Umm…”
His laugh was husky. “Speechless, love?”
“Apparently.” She grinned goofily at Sugar, who regarded her in boredom before closing her eyes again.
“But I can make you scream.”
“Not words.”
“My name.”
Cherry shifted in the armchair, mentally fanning herself, then remembering that he couldn’t see her, she lifted her hand and fanned her face. “So sure of yourself.”
“I’ve heard you.” His tone dropped, growing deeper, huskier, a sensual lilt in it. “I’ve heard you scream my name when I’m deep inside you. I’ve felt your wet heat around me, the tight clasp of your secrets around my shaft. I’ve felt your body tremble in my arms. I’m very sure of you, love.”
Feeling like she was floundering in a sea of hot tides, Cherry blinked and struggled to say something witty. Anything. Anything at all. All she could manage was a croaked, “Well…”
“I just bet your cheeks are red right now.” Rick’s voice was a soft growl in her ears that made goose bumps spring deliciously over her arms. “I bet those little nipples I like to suck are hard and peaking against your blouse. Am I right, Cherry?”
She was so out of her depth that she didn’t know what to say. Say something, numbskull! “I um…I don’t…it’s cold.”
He laughed, making her close her eyes and almost shrivel in embarrassment. Thank God he couldn’t see her face!
“Ah, Cherry, my little innocent,” he murmured, amused. “You know how to make a hard day suddenly a lot brighter.”
“I do?” Mentally chastising herself, she amended, “I mean, thanks. I think. Hard day at the office?” She kicked herself. Surely to goodness she could think of something sexy to say, something witty, something— “Does Dr Discipline need a visit from Nurse Naughty?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she could have died. Right there. On the spot. Just curled up and died!
Horrified, biting her lip, she stared unseeingly at the far wall.
There was silence on the other end of the phone, and she had visions of Rick grimacing at her clumsy reply. Oh God, she wanted to die right now!
“I’m coming right over,” Rick said, and hung up.
Cherry leaped to her feet. “Hello? Rick?”
There was no answer so she put the phone down with trembling hands. Placing her fingers to her mouth, she glanced around the room
. He was coming here? After what she’d said, Rick was coming here? To play Dr Discipline and Nurse Naughty? Oh God, surely not. No no no. She didn’t know how to role play, she didn’t – please, don’t let him bring the speculum!
She had to ring Susie for advice. No, she didn’t. Maxie? No. No way could she ask her friends how to role play for sex games.
Biting her lip, she wrung her hands. Oh boy, how did she get herself into this position? Could she say no to Rick? Did she want to say no? Did she want…she shivered…discipline?
Racing to the bathroom, she checked her appearance. Same old Cherry, just that her eyes were a lot bigger – fear - and darker – fear - and her cheeks were flushed - fear. Or was that desire? Were the shine in her eyes and the tremble in her fingers desire or fear?
Hells bells, she didn’t know. Her nerves were jangling, her stomach fluttering, and her pulses leaping in her wrists.
Going to the kitchen, she downed a glass of water, then dashed back to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. She didn’t know what to do next. Change her clothes? Try and appear sexier? Scratch that, she decided, no way she could look sexier even if she had a team of fashion experts at her beck and call.
She was still wringing her hands when the decisive knock on the door had her jumping into the air. Stepping into the hallway, she stared at the door.
Dr Discipline had arrived. For an insane second she wondered if she should go and put on her clean nurse’s uniform.
The knock came again, and to her it sounded definite. Deliberate.
Swallowing, she walked to the door, wiping her palms on her pants. Reaching out, she unlocked the door and swung it open.
Standing there, his thumbs hooked into his front pockets, Rick looked down at her. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, his slacks were wrinkle-free, and his stance was relaxed. A lock of dark hair fell rakishly over his brow. His twinkling gaze swept over her face and settled on her hand where it was wringing the heck out of the bottom of her blouse. “Nurse Naughty feeling a little nervous?”
“No,” she squeaked.
Throwing his head back, he laughed uproarisly.
She felt like a fool.
Looking down at her again, Rick continued laughing, hooked his arm around her waist and drew her against him. Lowering his head, he rested his forehead against hers and looked her directly in the eyes. Grinning, he said softly, “You were nervous, love, admit it.”
With his arms around her, she suddenly felt warm and safe, and her jangling nerves started to ease. The blush on her cheeks didn’t, though, but she met his gaze gamely. “Okay.”
“I love teasing you.” His eyes continued to twinkle merrily. “I love seeing that blush in your cheeks.”
“I’m glad to provide you with amusement,” she said tartly.
“Sugar, you make me smile and laugh.”
“I felt a fool.”
“You make me hot and hard, too. So very hot and hard.” The sudden heat in his voice and the darkening of his eyes had her nerves starting to jangle again. Just as fast and disarming, his tone and eyes softened. “You make me feel a whole range of emotions, Cherry. You make my day worth living.”
Whoa. Her heart started to pound a tattoo in her chest. This was getting a little too deep, a little too quick.
He must have read something in her expression, because he smiled slow and easy before dropping a soft, yet still nerve-tingling kiss on her lips. Lifting his head, he murmured, “Unfortunately, sweet Cherry, I can’t stay. I’m on my way to the hospital. I’m on-call tonight.”
Relief and disappointment both poured through Cherry. “Oh.”
Sliding his hands from her waist, he rested them on her hips and straightened. “Wish I could stay and show you what fun role-playing can be, but that’s going to have to wait for another day.” He winked.
Feeling more sure of herself, she arched one brow. “So you’re on-call?”
“Yep.” His thumbs drew lazy circles on her hips.
“So what would you have done if I’d met you at the door dressed as a naughty nurse?”
His grin was wide. “Oh, I know you. You wouldn’t have.”
His assuredness galled her a little. “You don’t know that for sure.”
“Oh, I do.” Leaning down, he kissed the tip of her nose.
“But what if I had?” she persisted. “Then what?”
“I’d have gone to work with a hard-on. Not a good look at the hospital.” With a sigh, he stepped back. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I understand.” Leaning against the door frame, she watched as he took out a card from his back pocket and handed it to her.
“I’m invited to a dinner in a fortnight. Please come with me.”
“Dinner?” Cherry looked down at the guilt-edged card. “Oh, I don’t know.”
“It’s for me and a partner,” he continued. “That partner being you.” Reaching out, he twirled one of her silky locks around his finger and gave it a gentle tug. “Girlfriend.”
Girlfriend? Looking up at Rick, she felt the word practically slide through her senses. She’d never been any man’s girlfriend, not even as a teenager. He thought of her as his girlfriend. A warm flush went through her.
He smiled down at her. “I have to go. Call me.”
“I don’t have your number.”
He looked blank for a second, then shook his head. “Of course. Sometimes I can be a bit vague.”
“Not where it counts,” she said, then immediately covered her mouth. “Umm...sorry.”
“Cheeky chit.” Amused yet again, he bent down and caught her mouth in a kiss that was fast and deep and hard. His tongue swept through her, leaving his taste, his mouth controlling the kiss, drawing from her, pulling at the strings of desire inside her. Lifting his head, he licked his lips. “Yummy.”
She was still standing there in a daze when he took a card from his wallet and tucked it down the front of her blouse, his fingertips unerringly pushing it between her breasts. He grinned devilishly at her, winked, and walked back down the path towards his car.
She couldn’t believe the way he made her feel, so desirable, so cherished, so sexy. So warm. Impulsively, she stepped forward. “Rick?”
He turned and looked back at her. “Yes?”
“I’ll come to the party with you.”
His grin was unabashedly pleased. He gave her a quick salute, strode to his car, got inside and drove away.
Closing the door behind her, Cherry leaned back against it and smiled dreamily down at Frizz and Sugar, who were eyeing her with the expectation of dinner.
“Mmmm,” she said. “He’s a catch all right. And right now, he’s all mine.”
With a little giggle of pure joy, she slid his card from between her breasts, then she read the dinner invite card in her other hand.
And went ice cold.
Chapter Eight
Cherry looked up at the row of dress shops and felt ill. Shopping for clothes was something she hated. All the pretty clothes were too small, all the plus-sized fashions available in bold colours and large patterns that seemed to scream out ‘Look at me! I’m fat! Too fat for pretty, dainty patterns!’
Blah. Wrinkling her nose, she went into yet another dress shop. Yep, just as she’d suspected, the dainty dresses with cute little patterns on them were for the smaller-sized women. The only dresses there in her size had big, bold, red and black flowers all over them. Like she’d wear red and black anyway – not in this lifetime.
She’d have walked out then and there except that she needed something nice to wear to the dinner party. When she walked into Margaret Clarke’s home on the arm of Dr Rick Reed, she wanted to do him proud, to look lovely.
Inwardly, she cringed. If she’d known who was holding the party, she’d have refused to go, but after telling him she’d accompany him to the party, and he’d been so pleased, there was no way she could back down.
That and the fact that Susie had threatened to kic
k her backside if she even dared to contemplate cancelling. Cherry had argued that a fancy-arsed party full of local GPs and surgeons wasn’t her scene, and Susie had almost given her an arse-kicking then and there, so she’d ended up buckling under her friend’s tirade and now here she was, combing through clothes in a hellish search for the right dress.
Maybe she should go in a pants suit, only most of the women would be in cocktail dresses, she supposed. Or so Maxie had told her.
Hell. In more ways than one.
Exiting yet another shop, she cringed as she spotted a tall, beautiful blonde walking towards her. Annabelle Forbes. Schooling her features into a smile, she took a deep breath and walked up the path towards her, only to have Annabelle give her a cold stare and sweep right past her.
Rolling her eyes, she turned into another dress shop, fully expecting to exit with nothing. Instead, she spied the dream of all dresses on a mannequin. It was beautiful, the material draping from the little straps on the shoulders to sweep down to the floor in a swath of delicate silk. It was black on both sides, from the straps down to the floor, with a pale lilac swath going from the bodice to the floor. A delicate, lacy throw lay over the shoulders.
Slimming, it would be slimming.
Heart in her mouth, she searched the rack, unable to believe it when her size was available. Going into the dressing room, she shed her pants and blouse and slid the gown over her head. It settled over her, draping to the floor. It skimmed her curves without clinging or bunching up.
Studying herself in the mirror, Cherry smiled. It was the perfect dress. Unbelievably, it was the perfect dress. She was still a plus-sized woman, but she looked classy, pretty, well-dressed. She loved it.
The price would normally have made her blanch, but she paid it without a qualm and left the dress shop with her brightly-bagged purchase swinging in her hand. When Annabelle stepped out of the dress shop next door, Cherry beamed at her, not even minding when the she raked her form with a not-quite sneering expression.
Nothing was going to spoil her day. She’d found the perfect dress and wasn’t going to embarrass Rick. For the first time in a long time, she felt sure of herself, confident.
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