by Pamela Yaye
One week in paradise is simply not enough, Simone decided, swirling her straw around her fruit smoothie. She searched the beach for Marcus and the boys but couldn’t find them. Too many people building sand castles, splashing in the ocean, flaunting their moves on high-powered Jet Skis. Being back in the Dominican Republic, after all these years—and with Jayden and Jordan in tow—was the best Valentine’s Day surprise ever. And, it had been all Marcus’s doing. No prodding, no cajoling, no begging on her part. She didn’t even have to use the tricks she’d picked up from A Sista’s Guide to Seduction!
Resting a hand on her stomach, Simone marveled at how much their lives had changed in the past four months. Working afternoons at Friendship House and doing community outreach with Lester “Hoops” DeWitt on Thursdays kept Simone busy, but she loved every minute of it. Her obstetrician, Dr. Whang, cautioned her not to do too much, but now that Marcus routinely worked from home, Simone had more free time than she knew what to do with.
Thinking about all of the sweet, romantic things Marcus had done for her since discovering she was pregnant made Simone smile. Her husband was a new man! He took the boys to and from school, was home every night in time for dinner and was always surprising her. Flowers, love notes and candlelit dinners were the norm now. So were their weekly date nights. But instead of dropping the kids off at Gladys’s house on Friday like they usually did, Marcus had returned from work with the boys, announced they were going on a family vacation and suggested she pack a lot of sunscreen. The next morning they’d boarded a plane bound for the Dominican Republic, and had been playing and laughing and sightseeing ever since.
Simone heard the door close and glanced over her shoulder. Marcus was talking on his cell phone, but when he spotted her, he strode out onto the balcony. He kissed her cheek, then her baby bump, which caused Simone to laugh. He must have gone to the barbershop, because his hair was neatly trimmed and he smelled like aftershave. Though casually dressed in a sleeveless T-shirt, cargo shorts and sneakers, he made Simone’s heart pitter-patter. It had been like that from the moment they met, and over the years her desire for him had only increased. Case in point: she had been feeling nauseated all day, but if Marcus so much as touched the sweet spot on her neck, it was on!
“I appreciate the very generous offer, but I’m afraid I can’t accept the position at this time.” Marcus chuckled and shook his head emphatically, though the caller couldn’t see him. “No, sir, adding ten grand to the signing bonus isn’t going to change my mind.”
A minute later, Marcus ended his call and wrapped his arms around her. “Baby, how are you feeling?”
“Much better now that you’re here.”
“What are you doing on your feet? You’re supposed to be resting.”
“I got tired of lying around,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “We’re in the Dominican Republic, Marcus. You can’t expect me to stay in all day. There’s so much to see and do!”
“Maybe if you feel up to it, we can take the kids to the parade later. Jordan said if I buy him one of those traditional devil costumes he’ll never misbehave again!”
“Then buy him two!”
The couple laughed.
“Speaking of Jayden and Jordan, where are they?” Simone slanted her head to the right to get a better look at her husband. “Did you finally make good on your earlier threat and put them on a return flight home?”
“I tried, but my mom wouldn’t pick up her phone!” He chuckled. “I dropped them off at the kids’ camp so we could have a few quiet minutes alone.”
Taking her hand, he led her over to the row of lounge chairs, sat her down in one and propped her feet up on his lap. He kneaded the balls of her feet, massaged the kinks and knots in her legs. “How does that feel?”
“Like heaven.” Simone smiled, wiggling her toes. “You’re spoiling me, Marcus. Soon I’m going to need one of your out-of-this-word foot rubs every day.”
“All you have to do is ask.”
“Can I get that in writing?” Simone giggled.
“I thought canceling my meeting with the Chicago Bears at the last minute would jeopardize my chances of getting the job, but the GM called and offered me the position.”
Clapping, she gave a loud, shrill cheer. “The team’s lucky to have you, baby. You’re the perfect man for the job.”
“I know, that’s why I had to turn it down.”
“You did? Why?” Simone remembered his earlier conversation on his cell phone and said, “You’ve wanted to work for the Bears for as long as I’ve known you.”
Marcus nodded with a wry smile.
“I don’t understand. It’s your dream job—”
“No,” he corrected, his gaze settling on her face. “It was my dream job. My priorities have changed, and accepting that position would put a strain on you and the boys. The job requires long hours, weekly travel and a surprisingly huge amount of paperwork.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I know how much it meant to you.”
“There’ll be other opportunities,” he told her, his voice strong, convincing. “Maybe when Jayden and Jordan are a bit older I’ll apply again. Or maybe not. We’ll see.”
“I can’t believe how casual you’re being about the whole thing.”
“I’m not going to let anything come between us, Simone.” Marcus caressed her arms, used his fingertips to stroke her warm, supple flesh. “Baby, I live for our date nights! They’re the highlight of my week!”
Moments later, they stretched out on the chaise longue and fed each other gourmet cheese and fruit. They discussed their plans for tomorrow, all of the incredible amenities at the resort and bumping into the minister who’d married them while shopping in town yesterday.
“Guess what?” Simone shrieked, clapping her hands together. “Angela scored six front-row tickets for Celine Dion’s Las Vegas show!”
Marcus raised his eyebrows. “Wow, Angela must have friends in high places because I heard on the radio her shows are all sold out.”
“I know! I almost fainted when I read Angela’s text message,” Simone said, her tone filled with excitement. “She wants to celebrate the success of her ‘Athletes Behaving Badly’ exposé and invited us girls to join her in Vegas.”
“I’m happy for Angela, but trouble’s definitely brewing. The players featured in her story are pissed, and Demitri Morretti, that major league baseball star, is threatening to take legal action against her and the station.”
“Really? Angela didn’t say anything when we spoke earlier.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know.” Marcus shrugged a shoulder. “When is this girls-only trip?”
“We’re flying out on Thursday. We’ll spend a few days shopping, checking out the sights and hanging out at all of the famous celebrity hot spots. I can hardly wait!”
Marcus wore a sad face. “Baby, but I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay here this weekend, and hang out with me.”
“Really? Why?”
“Because weekends are for us, remember? The kids are going to Nate’s, so we’ll have the whole place all to ourselves. I’m going to turn off my cell, unplug the phone and romance you like never before,” he promised, showering her face with soft kisses.
Simone giggled. “Hmm...I’m intrigued. What are we doing?”
“The same thing we did last Friday.”
She thought hard. “But we didn’t do anything. We spent the whole weekend watching movies and hanging out in bed.”
“
Exactly,” he said, winking. “Only this time, I’m going to let you take a shower!”
His grin turned into a chuckle, and soon Simone was laughing, too.
“Watch out, woman, I have big, big plans for you.”
“You mean for me and the babies.” Simone sighed, stared down at her baby bump. “I still can’t believe we’re having another set of twins. I blame you, Marcus. I told you to stop popping those ginseng pills!”
“Hey, it’s not my fault. Multiples don’t run in my family. They run in yours.”
Simone thought about Jayden and Jordan, thought about how much joy and happiness and trouble they caused whenever they were around. “Now that I’m midway through my pregnancy, I’m starting to get nervous. What are we going to do if we have two more boys?”
“Pray hard!” Chuckling, Marcus pulled her close, right into the crux of his chest. He kissed her cheek, nibbled on her earlobe, used his tongue to make circles along her collarbone. “You have nothing to be worried about, Simone. We’re going to be fine. I promise. We have each other, our family and a love that will stand the test of time....”
Simone loved what Marcus was doing with his hands, loved what he was saying, how special he was making her feel. Her joy knew no bounds, and when he stroked her stomach and spoke quietly to the babies, she couldn’t fight the emotion that swelled in her chest. Life was perfect, wonderful, better than she could have ever imagined, and once Simone hatched a plan so she could go with her girlfriends to Las Vegas next Thursday, she’d be on top of the world.
As she parted her lips to speak, her husband’s mouth settled over hers in one scrumptious, passionate kiss. Tasting the sweet flavor of chocolate-covered strawberries on her lips was intoxicating, causing his desire to accelerate faster than a German sports car. Marcus wanted to flip Simone on her back and take her right then and there on the wraparound balcony, but then he remembered that his wife was six months pregnant and broke off the kiss. “I better stop before things get out of hand.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, slipping a hand underneath his shirt and stroking his hard chest.
“Dr. Whang said you need to take it easy.”
“She also said you should be taking care of me....”
Simone nibbled on Marcus’s earlobe, and he released a deep, guttural groan.
“And there’s nothing I’d rather do than make love to you.”
“B-but the last time we made love you were so tired you spent the rest of the day in bed.”
“I know,” she conceded, hiding a smirk. “That’s why you’re going to do all the work.”
A slow, easy grin exploded across Marcus’s face. “Awww, sookie, sookie now!”
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460300817
Copyright © 2013 by Pamela Sadadi
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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