"Well I'm glad I didn't sell it now that I know it was you," she pouted.
"I'm still interested, you know," he said. "After I get on my feet, the offer still stands."
Her eyes were flaming. "You're impossible, Hamilton Steele."
"I know," he said, reaching over to touch her mouth.
"We're not finished with this conversation," she said.
"Yes we are," he said. She knew he was serious.
He stood up and reached for her, drawing her into his arms. His bare chest felt good. He led her down the hall to the bedroom. They made love until the early morning and fell asleep in each others arms.
Chapter 14
One Saturday evening in October, a few of months later, after Hamilton finished installing insulation in the attic, he pulled Miranda down on the couch into his arms. She had been on her new property specialist job for a couple of months and was working a few nights a week in a closing attorney's office for extra money. They had grown close, but were spending less and less time together with her schedule. He missed her, and when they were together, her focus was on saving enough to get Colbert and Company back up and running.
"Now, let's talk about this business of yours and your plans to get it back on its feet," he said.
"I know that tone," she said. "What are you up to?"
Hamilton had been a great help to her over the months. He often showed up with supplies and equipment, out of the blue, and did work on the property whenever he had a spare minute. He wouldn't accept a thing from her, but her love. That was easy; she'd fallen head over hills for him, but was afraid to give him her heart. After all, she'd never been invited to his place. There was still so much she didn't know about him.
"What if you didn't have to work?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
He sighed, more sure than ever he'd ask her to marry him. He loved her fire, her knowledge, her willingness to do anything to make her dreams come true, her heart. She'd make a fine wife and fine mother of his children.
"Never mind," he said, smiling, studying her face. "It's late, let's go to bed." He stood up and reached for her hand. She followed him to the bedroom and let him cradle her naked body in his arms. As she began to doze off, she felt his hands circling her nipples and his manhood growing hard behind her. She knew he needed her; she needed him too. She turned to him and let him fill her with his passion. She'd fallen in love with Hamilton Steele, in just a few short months. She couldn't imagine her world without him.
After a little while, they lay awake in each others arms.
"Miranda?"
"Hmmm," she said.
"I want you to come out to my home tomorrow."
"Okay," she said, wondering why he'd taken so long to ask. She drifted off to sleep to dreams of a cute little dribbling baby boy, wearing a yellow hard hat and a too-big tool belt draped around his chubby belly.
Chapter 15
Early Sunday morning, they woke and drove Hamilton's truck down the long back road to Antioch Reservoir. Miranda had put on her slender biking pants and a long-sleeved workout shirt. The morning air was cool; she regretted not bringing a jacket. She could feel the seasons changing. Hamilton said they'd stop by his house first, so he could change before they went to the park to exercise. He said he'd have lunch prepared for them at his home after they worked out.
Lunch prepared?
It was so pretty driving down Antioch Road. The lane narrowed and became dense with still-flowering trees as they neared the water in the distance. When Hamilton turned the truck into the long driveway leading to his home, she opened her mouth.
"Why are we stopping here?" she asked. "Client?"
"No," he said and pressed some buttons on his dash to open the tall wrought-iron security gate. "It's my home."
Miranda's eyes were wide in disbelief as Hamilton drove the winding road to the top of the hill.
"You're kidding?" she said, taking in the stone house that looked more like a country club than one home.
"No, I'm not." He looked at her, falling more in love as each second passed.
In a few short months, things had finally turned around. He'd landed financing for a deal he'd been eyeing further south of Harper's Valley for a long time. He would begin breaking ground on a new project before the holidays. It would be a mixed use development, with town homes, singe family dwellings and commercial spaces, targeting working people over 55. And he knew just the person to oversee tenant development.
As they stopped in the circular driveway of his palatial home, a white-gloved butler opened the door.
"Good morning, Mr. Steele," the old man said, coming down to greet his boss.
"Good morning, Solomon," Hamilton said, hugging him like a relative instead of an employee. Solomon had been with the family since Hamilton was a boy.
"How was your time off?"
"Lovely, lovely. Me and the misses enjoyed Amelia Island. Felt like we were on our honeymoon again. Thank you for your gesture in letting us use the beach house."
"Any time, any time. You tell Ms. Pearl I said hello, you hear?"
"I sure will," he said.
Miranda could overhear them as she got out of the truck. How could he maintain a home like this -- and beach property on the Atlantic to boot? She knew Hamilton was working on getting his business back on track, but there was no way he could afford this place. The upkeep alone …
"Solomon, I want you to meet someone," Hamilton said.
The old butler gave him a look that asked if she would be the one. Hamilton smiled and raised his eyebrows in affirmation.
"Miranda, this is Solomon. He runs the house," Hamilton said.
The old man had kind eyes. "Nice to meet you," she smiled and shook his hands.
"Welcome to Steele Manor," the butler said.
Steele Manor had a nice ring to it, she thought.
As they entered the tall, wooden doors, Miranda took in the grandeur around her. Solomon led her to the parlor as Hamilton scaled the stairs to change clothes.
"You're in good hands," he hollered back. "Ill be right down."
"Right this way, miss," the butler said. He gestured to a plush seating area that overlooked the grounds.
"Can I get you something to drink, miss?" he offered.
"No, I'm fine, thank you," she said. "And you can call me Miranda," she said with respect.
"Okay, Miss Miranda," he smiled and almost nodded. "I'm right in here should you need anything at all." He pointed toward the door that must have led to the kitchen and excused himself.
Miranda's eyes were drawn beyond the marble-filled, chandeliered parlor, to the mesmerizing view in the distance. The glistening, organ-shaped pool seemed to spill right into the reservoir. The property was huge. Through the floor-to-ceiling back windows, she could see the other wing of the house which sat as part of the stone building's horseshoe curve. Rolling hills could be seen for acres in the distance to the left of the cluster of matching buildings that made up Steele Manor.
She couldn't believe this was her handyman. Miranda knew there had been more to Hamilton Steele than he had let on, but she had no idea he was a wealthy man.
After a few minutes, Hamilton bounded down the staircase. He was dressed in black biker shorts and a black Nike t-shirt with a white windbreaker. "Ready?" he asked, handing her a matching windbreaker.
"Yes," she said, eyes full of questions.
"I'll give you a tour after our workout, before lunch."
She headed for the truck when they got outside, but he guided her toward the woody path near the side of the house.
"This way," he said. "Almost birthday girl."
"Don't remind me," she said. Her 35th birthday was the following Saturday.
The honeysuckle-filled path led them directly into the pristine park that overlooked the reservoir.
"Go ahead," he said. "Ask."
"Ask what?" she said.
"Whatever you want. I see those pretty eyes full of quest
ions." He had come to learn her over the past few months. Leaning against one of the wooden picnic tables, he pulled her between his legs and smiled.
"I know you told me about your business, but I also know real estate."
"Yes?"
"And I know what these homes are valued at," she said, trying to figure it all out as she talked.
"Go on," he said.
"Who are you Hamilton?" she asked.
He looked into her eyes. "I'm your handyman," he smiled.
"I'm serious." She started to pull away, agitated.
He pulled her back to him and turned her face to look at his. "And I'm also the man who has fallen madly in love with you, Miranda Colbert."
His powerful stare would not allow her to turn away. And the love in his eyes consumed her, commanded her to believe in him, as his body had done over and over again the past few months.
"I've waited my whole life to feel what I feel for you."
"Hamilton --"
"Yes?" he asked.
She'd loved him from the night he'd come into the laundry room and kissed her tears, the night they made love, but she was afraid of letting go, being hurt again. "This is all so fast, Hamilton," she said.
"Life is fast, and I've lived it that way. Now I'm ready to settle down. I know what I want, and it's you. And I know what you need, Miranda -- and it's me. We belong together. You know it as well as I do. Will you have me?"
"What are you asking?"
Pulling a little velvet box from his jacket pocket, Hamilton got down on one knee. He took the glistening diamond encased in silver out of the jewelry box and handed it to her.
"Will you spend the rest of your life with me, Miranda Colbert? Will you be my wife?"
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the ring and back at him. Her mouth was open.
"That's a yes or a no, woman," he teased.
Miranda studied the kind, handsome man staring back at her and smiled.
"Yes," she said. Tears were rolling down her face.
"Yes, I'll marry you."
Hamilton pulled her to him and held her in the only place she belonged -- his arms, forever.
The End
About the Author
Cassandra Black is a writer, publisher and entrepreneur. She lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area and travels frequently to Jamaica to enjoy the Caribbean Sea … her sabbatical. Cassandra has penned a children’s picture book and several business publications. Her “joy” is reading and writing stories that delve into the often forgotten trials, tribulations, souls, of women. She has authored several fiction publications under her name and the Amber Creek pen name.
“My destiny is to write. I’ve known it since I was a little girl. God has led me to it. I am here now, in a place where I can let my mind meander, to uncover, reveal, share, the depths of us. It feels good, solid, right.”
Mini-novel Format: “My fiction is geared toward women, and the electronic, mini-format fits how we live today. As mothers, wives, and career women, we barely have time to breathe, more or less time to sit down with a 400-page book on a regular basis. My mini-novels can be quickly devoured on a lunch break, on the subway or bus, at the airport, doctor's office, etc.”
FEEDBACK
Your Feedback: Thank you for reading For Richer For Poorer. I would love your feedback. Send an email directly to me at [email protected] with your comments about the book. Cassandra
MAILING LIST
Notifications: If you'd like to be added to the mailing list for future books in the series, and new release notifications, please send an email to [email protected].
OTHER BOOKS BY AUTHOR
NOVELS AND NOVELLAS
Note: The titles below are available in both Kindle format and NOOK format. Check http://www.bn.com for NOOK books. See Kindle links below. (Some titles are also available in paperback.)
Loving a Texan from New Orleans, Part 1, http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Texan-New-Orleans-ebook/dp/B00BB1BBC8/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376145811&sr=1-4
Loving a Texan from New Orleans, PART 2 -- The Beginning of Forever, http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Orleans-Beginning-Forever-ebook/dp/B00DWJPXJO/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376145895&sr=1-2
Samantha's Cravings, http://www.amazon.com/Samanthas-Cravings-ebook/dp/B00CVMPK00/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376145895&sr=1-9
Sarah's Journey, http://www.amazon.com/Sarahs-Journey-ebook/dp/B007DK92PY/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376145965&sr=1-11
Werewolf in Paradise, http://www.amazon.com/Werewolf-in-Paradise-ebook/dp/B00631P762/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376145996&sr=1-10
How I Became a Whore, http://www.amazon.com/How-I-Became-Whore-ebook/dp/B005ST8KY6/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1376146849&sr=1-1 (also available in paperback at https://www.createspace.com/3548907)
BabyDaddy: The Samantha Jones Story, http://www.amazon.com/BabyDaddy-Samantha-Jones-Story-ebook/dp/B0082H3GP4/ref=la_B005OXTA8G_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376146105&sr=1-5
Gambling in Paradise, http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-in-Paradise-MINI-NOVEL-ebook/dp/B005OLDMU0/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376146403&sr=1-6
Note: Amber Creek is a pen name used by Cassandra Black for selected adult works.
SMALL BUSINESS
For small business books, reports and forms, see http://www.e-junkie.com/stonecottagebooks.
CHILDREN’S
When I'm Big & Grown: I Want to Be an Entrepreneeeeeeur When I Grow Up, http://www.amazon.com/When-Im-Big-Grown-ebook/dp/B004GEART0/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1376146701&sr=1-1 (also available in paperback at https://www.createspace.com/3930916)
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