She washed the dishes and cleaned up. Her hands tracing over the wood of the table. She knew that Jedidiah had made this table as a holiday gift one year for Paul and her when she was about 10. It was the first time she had seen him as her betrothed. Her father said she had a gift of seeing things that sometimes did not appear to the normal eye.
As the sun began to set, she lit the lamps and made sure that the table was set. The table was warm under her touch, she felt the love that was in the craftsmanship. Jedidiah had made her hope chest one year as well, as a request from her father. Paul could not give up Susan’s hope chest no matter how much he wanted to give it to Rebecca. Jedidiah had carved a bouquet of flowers in the lid.
Every time she would open the lid, she would touch the carving and think of him. She put her collectables in there that she wanted to hold onto for her home. Looking around the kitchen, she crossed her hands over her stomach and smiled. Everything was set for the supper. The Otto’s were coming over and she wanted everything to be perfect. As Emma and Katura came in, they took off their capes and hung them in the hall way. Everyone else was out in the field looking at the crop that was coming in.
As they came in, Paul and Levi were talking about how good the harvest was going to be. Malachi, Solomon, Johnathan and Elijah washed up. Jedidiah came over by Rebecca and handed her a yellow daisy. She smiled at him as she took it. He always knew how to make her smile.
“Looks good.” He commented and then went to wash his hands. Rebecca smiled as she placed the flower in a cup by the sink. She would leave it until she dried it to add to the others. As they sat around the table and the food was blessed. There was discussion of the barn raising that was going to happen the following week. Everyone would be there to see the house being built for Katura and Samuel.
As Rebecca looked around the table, she caught Jedidiah looking at her and she would smile and grin. He sent butterflies in her stomach every time he would look at her. She remembered he would make her feel that way at the Sunday night evening sings they had and when they would have frolics. It had always been that way. How he made her feel.
As soon as the supper was over Emma, Katura and Rebecca cleaned up the table and did the dishes as the men went to the living room and sat down to discuss the plans for the rest of the summers. The ladies sat in the kitchen and Rebecca brought out the quilt, to work on. It was almost done except the edges that needed to be finished.
The night passed by quickly and the Otto’s left. Jedidiah left last as he looked at Rebecca and nodded. There were so many unspoken words between them. It had been a hard year because Paul had an accident the year prior. Rebecca helped him with recovering and Jedidiah did what he could to keep busy. He was still living with his family.
Paul headed up to bed and paused looking at Rebecca. Rebecca went around and turned out the lanterns as she headed up to her room. Paul paused before he walked into his bedroom. Looking at Rebecca and coughed.
“I know it has been a long year Rebecca.” He looked at her. “I know it has been hard on you and Jedidiah. I am doing much better now.”
“I know Pa.” She said with a smile. “Jedidiah understands that it is the Lord’s way not ours.” Paul nodded and went into his room. Rebecca went into her room and let her waist length hair down. She remembered the day that her dad fell in the field. The Dr told him that his heart was weak and he needed rest.
That year, the Otto’s and Rebecca brought in the harvest as Paul rested and recovered. Jedidiah and Rebecca had become closer together than they ever had been that year. Even though Paul thought that he was holding her back, she realized that this actually had brought Jedidiah together closer.
Crawling into bed, she rubbed her hand by the empty spot beside her. Soon Jedidiah and she would share a bed. She knew it was only a matter of time. She would often dream of her wedding day. It was beautiful in her mind. The community there to welcome them to their new lives. She saw the smiling faces and the dinner after. Weddings were always a special time in the community. It reminded every one of their special day.
As she rose for the next day and prepared, she knew the barn raising was soon. She looked forward to that day. There was so much to do beforehand. She noticed that Jedidiah was spending more time with Paul. This warmed her heart. The day turned into a week very quickly.
The Barn Raising
There was much excitement in the air as the Saturday started. Everyone in the community was at the field where the house was going to go up. Most everyone had been there since sunrise. Rebecca and Paul were picking up more wood to bring for the house to be built. When they arrived, everyone was already pitching in and helping out. The children were playing baseball in the field.
As the house went up, Rebecca longed for the day to have her own home. Jedidiah brought her some water. He nodded at the house and smiled. They were both thinking the same thing. She noticed he brought her another yellow daisy. She held it in her hand as she joined the women to set up the lunch. Jedidiah sat across from her as they ate lunch.
“One day we will have a house like that.” He said as they ate.
“I know Jedidiah.” She said between bites. She looked over the house that was half way done. They would be working on it for the rest of the day. The inside would be done next week. As the day passed, Jedidiah ran into Rebecca every chance he had. She was not sure how to handle that. It made her warm inside. As everyone said goodnight and went home.
For that week, Jedidiah balanced working in the field and in the wood shop. He brought her home a wooden flower one night. She smiled as she took it. She knew it would be perfect for their home once it was built. Visions danced in her head of how she would fix their simple home up.
For the week Rebecca helped Katura with the quilt and they got canning supplies ready. It was rare for Rebecca to talk as Katura would say what was on her mind. She went on and on about what she wanted to do in the future. How many children she wanted and how the community would be there for them. Rebecca knew what she meant. She had often had those dreams.
As Saturday came around, when Paul and Rebecca showed up to help out with finishing the house. Rebecca saw that she would love a house such as this. She fought against the jealousy that she could feel in her heart. She was happy for Katura. She really was. When Paul had his accident, her marriage to Jedidiah was put off. She knew that everything happened for a reason, she just did not know the reason for this.
It had allowed for her and Jedidiah to get to know each other better. She was grateful for that. She helped where she could. She watched as her father and Jedidiah worked together for most of the day. Once again, Jedidiah sat across from her at lunchtime. They made small talk as Rebecca looked at the house. It was quite beautiful she smiled. Katura and Samuel would be very happy there together and to raise the family.
As the lunch ended, Rebecca watched the children play baseball. She remembered those days of playing baseball. How all the children would get together and just enjoy the days. She turned her attention back to the house and saw that there were yellow flowers being placed in front of the house. She knew that Katura was not a great fan of flowers. She always said it was more work.
Rebecca went back in the house and helped the women polish and clean the inside of the house. She took a broom and began to sweep the upstairs. It had 6 bedrooms and a bathroom. As she brushed the dirt down the stairs she looked up and saw Paul and Jedidiah putting in the cabinets. She knew that was his work. She was sure it was a special gift for Katura. As she approached the cabinets she saw the flowers that were engraved in the woodwork.
She traced her hands over the flowers and looked around. Everyone was smiling as Paul came up to her and smiled. He appreciated the woodwork and nodded. Quietly Jedidiah came up behind her as she felt the tears well in her eyes. She wanted to live in this house. As much as she loved Katura, she had fallen in love with the house.
“It is beautiful work isn’t it Rebecca.” Paul said as he looked at his dau
ghter. She nodded and looked at Katura. Katura walked forward and held out the quilt they had been working on. Waving at her, she motioned Rebecca to go upstairs with her. Sighing Rebecca joined her as they went to the master bedroom.
When she saw the bed she gasped, at the end of the bed, she saw her hope chest. Rebecca realized they were not making Katura’s house, they were making hers. Tears fell down her cheeks as shame welled with in her heart of the feelings she had. She hugged Katura as they placed the quilt on the bed. The quilt they had been making was for her wedding day to Jedidiah, not Katura and Samuel.
As they went downstairs Jedidiah had his hat in his hand and his head down. He was not sure what to say to her. Paul and he had been spending a great deal of time together to make this work. Rebecca needed to be close enough at home to help out him if he needed it. They had thought of everything.
Rebecca went and hugged her father as he nodded. Jedidiah waited until she was free and kissed her on the cheek. He could not wait to start their new life. Rebecca stood in silence as the tears fell, she knew soon that she would have her home and what she always wanted to have, Jedidiah and a family.
Billionaire Boss
Lawyer Romance
By Ariel Young
The Office
I’d been working at the Law Offices of Milligan and Moore for about three months before anything unprofessional started to happen. It was a pretty small place – and I’d been hired on as a summer intern. Roger Milligan – the senior partner – was an older man with graying hair and a bad comb-over on the crown of his head. He was very kind, and always brought me a cup of cappuccino from the coffee shop in the building’s lobby. He got a big kick out of the fact that the girl there always spelled my name “Angel” instead of “Angela” on my cup, so he started calling me “Angel”. It probably should have been creepy, but it just wasn’t. Roger was probably older than my dad, short, pudgy, and genuinely sweet.
Allen Moore, the junior partner, was another story. He was tall. Built. His suits fit snug across his bulky shoulders, and his arms strained ever-so-slightly at his dress shirts when he took his jacket off. He wore expensive suits, but did so casually, like he just kept them thrown across a chair in his room and stepped into them on his way out the door in the mornings. He was never really on time – I showed up at the office at eight sharp and started by ten after – but Allen usually showed up between nine and ten. He always stopped by my desk on his way to his office and asked how it was going… but he’d usually wander away before I could actually respond with more than ‘fine’. I learned early that ‘fine’ was all he wanted to hear, so that’s all I ever said. “Good morning” and “Fine.” My relationship with the junior partner at the Law Offices of Milligan and Moore was pretty nonexistent, but god did I want it to be more.
I’d watch Allen come in and my heart would hitch just a little bit. My stomach would knot up, and my cheeks would flush pink. The way he walked – long strides and that dark-haired head held high – just oozed confidence. The way he smiled at everyone he passed without actually meeting their eyes was somehow intoxicating. It made me want to catch his eye, made me want to draw his attention for more than just ‘good morning’ and ‘fine’. He was a cocky son-of-a-bitch, and I wanted him more than any man I’d ever known. Not that I’d known many.
At nineteen, I was still very quiet and somewhat nervous. My experience with guys was limited to a few uncomfortably awkward dates in high school, a failed relationship with a co-worker at Starbucks, and a really weird guy from my Human Biology class who came by my apartment unannounced one day to ask me to go to dinner. I refused. I’d never been really all that interested in guys my age. They were boring, predictable, and immature. It was like the only thing they wanted was sex – and I wanted more than that. Unfortunately, guys in their teens didn’t seem to have more than that, and so I just stopped dating altogether.
My friends all told me it was pretty pitiful to be a nineteen year old virgin. Maybe it was. But it was what I had to work with, and I figured eventually I’d find someone ‘worthy’ of my time. After a couple of weeks at my internship – I decided that person was Allen.
Allen
It was Thursday. I usually chose dull attire for the office – I had to spend a lot of time going through dusty files and in the basement storage area to pull out cases and documents – but that day I decided to find something hopefully guaranteed to catch Allen’s eye. Instead of my usual gray or black dress pants and boring blouse, I chose a red pencil skirt and a white short-sleeved button-down top. The top was pretty snug, and underneath I wore my laciest push-up bra. I wore matching lacy panties, as well. Thigh-high stockings and red pumps completed my outfit, and instead of French-braiding my hair, I wore it down so it tumbled in loose curls over my shoulders. My normal lack of makeup was replaced with a slight highlight to my cheeks, smoky eyes, and matte lipstick. I was ready. Femme fatale all the way, or so I hoped, anyway.
Allen came in at his usual time. Nine-forty-two, to be exact. I was sitting at my desk, going through some emails when I heard the elevator ding. With my heart in my throat, I watched him move into the lobby, smile briefly at the receptionist, then step into the front room, where the paralegals and I worked. He gave the room at large a quick, impersonal grin, and moved to pass through and into the door marked “Allen Moore, Esq.”, which was a few feet to the left of my desk. I stood up as soon as he drew closer, and for a split second, I considered just sitting right back down and giving up on the whole idea. I could smell his cologne. I could imagine him smiling at me with that disinterested expression and saying “How are you”, expecting the usual “Fine” and passing by without even noticing. I was already starting to sink back into my chair when he spoke.
“Angela.” He said, his voice low and sexy, as usual. “Good morning.”
I stood there, my hands clenched into little fists at my sides, my jaw tight and my eyes wide. I must have looked like a deer in the headlights, but I managed to stammer out, “Fine.”
Great. Great, way to go. My cheeks immediately flushed deep red, and I felt my throat closing up and tears trying to well up into my eyes. I’d blown it, before I’d even gotten the chance to actually do anything.
“Yeah.” Allen said, stepping in closer to me and lowering his voice so only I could hear what he said. “You are.”
All the tension in my body melted, only to re-establish itself tenfold. I was stunned into flabbergasted silence, and my tongue felt thick and heavy. I knew I should say something, but nothing but gibberish was coming to mind. He was there, standing so close, his expensive cologne filling my nose, his warmth oh-so-present against my skin. I had an internal battle that must have lasted for about three seconds – but felt like it lasted for three hours. ‘Say something’ I told myself, looking up at Allen with wide, nervous eyes. Finally, I managed a mumbled “Thanks,” and a crooked smile. Before I could stop myself, I added “I dressed up.”.
Fuck. Really? That was it, I knew I was finished. Any hope I had of wooing this gorgeous hunk of a man – a real man – was ruined. Like a little girl, I had blushed and fidgeted and squirmed and stammered. I knew I was defeated, so I just sat down heavily in my chair and acted suddenly interested in my remaining email. I couldn’t look at him. He stood there for a couple more heartbeats, then chuckled softly and moved past. His hand brushed my shoulder at the last second – but the contact was so brief and so light I was sure it was just accidental. Fuck. I felt like such an idiot.
Right before lunch, I got an email from Allen. The subject was: Meeting. The body of the message simply said “Please come to my office for a brief meeting at 1pm, thank you. Allen”. In the few weeks I’d been working here, I’d never once had a meeting with either of the lawyers, but only with their paralegals and occasionally someone from the court. I’d never had much reason to interface with either of them other than Mr. Milligan bringing us cappuccino every morning. After taking a few moments to contain my excitement, I respond
ed with “I’ll be there, thanks! Angela.” That seemed casual and calm enough to me, and after sending the message, I proceeded to spend the next hour and a half fidgeting and watching the clock every fourteen seconds. The sandwich and soup I’d brought for lunch remained untouched in the refrigerator, and fifteen minutes before my meeting, I went to the bathroom and made sure everything was in place.
When I arrived at Allen’s door, I almost backed out. I had my hopes up. I was so sure my cute outfit and makeup and hair had managed to draw his attention. But what if it didn’t? What if he wanted to give me a new project, or discuss my internship? His comment earlier led me to believe he was interested in more than that, but I still took a deep breath and braced myself for disappointment. There was very little chance this man was interested in a somewhat nerdy nineteen year old virgin. I had to be prepared to accept that.
I pushed the door open, peeking around it initially. Allen wasn’t at his desk. For a second, I thought maybe he had forgotten the meeting, but then I heard his voice from my right, where the leather sofa was positioned. “Hey,” he said, laughter evident behind his word even though he was obviously containing it. “Come on in.”
Pushing the door further, I stepped around it. I felt very conspicuous, and suddenly wished I’d worn pants instead of this barely-knee-length, tight red skirt. I felt wobbly on my heels, and I kept my hand on the doorknob even as I presented myself to him. He was casually slumped on the couch, his suit jacket thrown over the matching chair. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, and he had an open file folder on the cushion next to him, as well as a few papers spread out on the coffee table near his knees. Not knowing what I should say, I just stood there silently. Waiting.
Spanked: Spanking Romance - Adult Bedtime Story Anthology of Punishment, Discipline & Submission Romance Page 3
