by Judith Gould
She nodded, returning his gaze. He seemed somehow nervous . . . but no, that wasn't precisely the word. What, then? she asked herself. Just a little anxious, I guess. As if. . . as if he's hiding something. But what?
"I'm starved," she said gaily, dispensing with her concerns. "Swimming always makes me hungry."
"Well, you've come to the right place." He offered her his free hand. "We'll be glad to do something about that."
Valerie took his hand and rose to her feet.
Teddy finished off his martini, set the glass on the coffee table, and together they went to the dining room.
The beeswax candles flickered in their Georgian silver candelabra, casting shadows onto the dining room walls. The elegant robed figures in the antique Chinese murals mysteriously appeared to come to life in the dancing light, as if to bear witness to tonight's special occasion.
Valerie sighed with pleasure, inhaling the heady perfume that wafted through the air from the huge old-fashioned roses. Hattie had stuffed full-blown reds, pinks, yellows, and creamy whites into a turn-of-the- century Tiffany silver bowl placed in the center of the table.
"You look contented," Teddy said from across the table.
Valerie looked over. His eyes glittered in the candlelight, a bit mischievously, she thought, and there was a smile on his lips. "I am contented," she said, returning his smile. "Supremely contented. I don't remember the last time I've eaten so much that was so good. And the dessert!" She patted her tummy in an unladylike manner and looked down at the empty Flora Danica dessert plate in front of her. "I don't believe I ate all of it."
"That's one of Hattie's specialties," Teddy said. "Boca negra. Killer chocolate cake with white chocolate sauce."
"It's the best chocolate cake I've ever eaten," Valerie said.
"I know," Teddy replied, grinning. "It's the bourbon, I think. It's like the Cartier of chocolate cakes, but I won't let her make it too often. It's so good it could be addictive."
"I'd forgotten what a great cook Hattie is," Valerie said. "And the dining room looks so beautiful. The flowers and candles and everything." She waved a hand and looked around the room. "I don't think we've ever eaten in here, except for a couple of your important client dinners." She paused and looked at him. "The only thing missing is Elvis."
Teddy returned her look. "You're worried about his being out in Hattie's cottage, aren't you?"
"Nooo, Teddy," she replied, shaking her head. "I just hope she doesn't give him too many goodies."
"He'll be fine," Teddy said. "I just wanted us to be alone tonight. Besides, Hattie's crazy about him." He stared into her eyes for a moment. "She's crazy about you."
"I like her, too," Valerie replied. "And I love her cooking." She laughed but stopped abruptly when she saw that Teddy's expression had suddenly turned serious.
"Then you shouldn't be such a stranger around here, Val," he said. "You could have Hattie's cooking anytime."
"Oh, Teddy, you know how busy I am," she replied. "With the clinic and having my own place to look after . . . well, it's all I can do to go anywhere. It's different for you," she went on, "being in the city most of the week, then coming up here to relax or going up to the place in the Adirondacks to hunt and fish. I'm either on call weekends, or I have to catch up on the house and garden and a thousand other things."
Teddy got up and went around to her side of the table, pulling out a chair to sit beside her. She turned to face him, and he took her hands in his. "I could make it a lot easier for you," he said earnestly.
His eyes burned with an intense light that she'd seldom seen in them. It was similar to the terrible gleam they held when he was extremely angry about something. She began to feel slightly uncomfortable. "What. . . what are you driving at, Teddy?" she asked.
"I think you know," he said.
"I. . . I'm not certain," she sputtered.
He released her hands and stood up. She saw that there was a solemn expression on his face as he turned to the mahogany sideboard behind him and plucked something from the huge Imari bowl set in its center.
Valerie gazed at him in silence, her expression curious. Teddy was often quite formal, sometimes even stuffy, but tonight his behavior was practically ceremonial. What's going on? She wondered. Because he is definitely up to something.
He sat back down, taking one of her hands very gently and reverently. He looked into her eyes, his expression still sober. He cleared his voice. "I ... I have something for you," he said.
"For me?" she said quietly. She felt that any show of excitement would somehow interfere with the ceremony—or whatever it was—that was taking place.
He nodded and held out his hand.
Valerie looked down at it and saw a small, black, cloth-covered box. Even in the flickering candlelight she could see that impressed into the cloth top was one word: Bvlgari. The jeweler who used the Roman u. Her breath caught in her throat, and she held it, not daring to breathe. Her mind began to race, whirling around in crazy circles. She couldn't sort out her thoughts and feelings, so overcome was she by his gesture.
"Teddy . . . Teddy . . . ," she finally stammered breathlessly. "I. . . I . . ."
"Shhh," he hushed, squeezing the hand he held. "Just take it, Val," he said. He let go of her long, slender hand and placed the box in it.
Valerie held it cupped there, still at a loss for words.
She took a deep breath and looked briefly at Teddy's serious face. Then, hands quivering, she lifted the lid off the box. She was prepared for the gleam of an expensive bauble of some sort, but inside, fitted perfectly, was another box, this one covered in black leather. Bvlgari was pressed into the leather as on the cloth box.
She quickly opened the leather box, unable to bear the tension any longer. She gasped when she saw the ring resting in the soft beige suede that lined the interior of the box. It twinkled back at her as if alive, its stunning canary yellow color animated by the candlelight that reflected off it.
"Oh, my . . . God," she stammered. "Oh . . . Teddy, ... I don't know what..." Unbidden, tears sprang into her eyes and, like the ring, they glimmered in the light.
He was watching her intently, his eyes never leaving hers. "You only have to say one word, Val," he said. "One simple little word."
She looked at him, wanting to please him, but she found herself speechless, unable to utter the word that she knew he wanted to hear.
He threw his arms around her, tugging her to him. "Come on, Val," he urged. "Say yes. Just say yes."
Her mind was still in a whirl, and she was not sure how to react.
Teddy pulled back and looked into her eyes. "You can do it," he said, nodding his head. "You don't have to say, 'Yes, Teddy, I'll marry you.' "He laughed and chucked her under the chin with a hand."All you have to say is yes!"
Valerie felt elated and somehow defeated at the same time. She was thrilled that a man desired her this much, and she found it difficult to believe that the man was somebody as sought-after as Teddy de Mornay. For years she had been genuinely puzzled by his attraction to her. How could she be so lucky? But at the same time, deep down inside, she realized that if she committed herself to him, she would be doing them both a disservice. Some instinct was telling her this was all wrong, despite the fact that she liked Teddy, perhaps even loved him, or once had.
Oh, God, help me, she thought. What do I do?
Teddy's eyes searched hers pleadingly, and she saw the earnest, loving expression there, so like a puppy's that her heart was wrenched in two.
Oh, my God. What do I say?
"Say it, Val," he repeated anxiously. "Or just nod. Yeah. That's all you have to do. Just nod!"
And she did.
She felt her head, as if with a will of its own, almost involuntarily begin to nod that yes that he was begging for. A yes that was perhaps a lie, a yes that was a defeat of her spirit.
She looked up at him, her eyes teary. She wanted to tell Teddy that she loved him, but that she wasn't certain that she was "in love" with h
im. The words, however, could not be summoned up from her tortured soul.
Teddy threw his arms around her again, pulling her to him passionately, kissing her neck, her ears, forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth. Then he began to lick the tears that had spilled down onto her cheeks.
"I love you, Val," he murmured. "Oh, I love you so much. I want to make you the happiest woman alive. I want to make you mine.'"
Valerie stiffened at these last words, but she remained mute, hoping that her silence would neither offend him nor imply assent to his wishes.
When he drew back again, Teddy smiled at her radiantly. "You've made me the happiest man in the world."
She couldn't help but find his excitement infectious. "I'm . . . I'm glad, Teddy," she said, returning his smile.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"Like it?" She looked down at the ring. "Teddy, it's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen."
"Put it on," he said. "Let's see what it looks like on.
Valerie took the ring from its nest of softest suede and held it between two fingers. Her hand trembled slightly.
"Here," Teddy said, "let me put it on your finger." He took the ring from her, and Valerie held her hand out straight, trying to keep it from shaking.
Teddy slipped the ring onto her finger, and Valerie moved her hand back and forth, watching the diamond reflect the candlelight. Despite the turmoil that she felt about committing to Teddy, she couldn't help but be mesmerized by the diamond's beauty. It's truly magnificent, she thought. More than I'd ever dreamed of . . . or even wanted, for that matter.
She moved her hand again, watching the gemstone reflect the light. Trust Teddy to go for the unusual, she thought. He would have to get something extraordinary, something over the top.
She looked up at him. "I'm practically speechless, Teddy," she said. "It really is the most beautiful ring I've ever seen."
Teddy grinned like a proud little boy. "You don't think it's vulgar?" he asked. Then he laughed.
"It is a little big," she allowed, joining in his laughter.
"If you ask me, only people who can't afford them call them vulgar," Teddy said. He stood up and leaned down, kissing her on the forehead. "Why don't we go back to the conservatory and have coffee and a brandy in there?"
She nodded. "That'd be great."
Teddy took her hand, and Valerie rose to her feet. They walked back to the conservatory, one of Teddy's powerful arms slung around her shoulders.
"I'll go get the coffee," he said. "You get comfortable."
"You spoil me, Teddy."
"I want to," he replied.
She sank back onto the downy luxury of the huge sofa, watching Teddy leave the room. She couldn't help but smile. There was a spring in his step that she recognized immediately. It was almost a cocky strut that said he was immensely pleased with himself.
She looked down at the ring on her finger, becoming entranced again as she watched it sparkle. My God, she thought, this ring must have cost Teddy a fortune. I wonder if he can really afford it.
The thought made her feel uncomfortable again. He had always kept her in the dark about his mysterious wheeling and dealing. She knew that he'd inherited money and that he had rental income here in the country, but he kept her at a distance about his job in New York City, trading stock and investing money for friends.
When she asked him, Teddy always shrugged off her questions, telling her that she'd only be bored with the details. At the same time, he'd never failed to boast about the enormous profits he had reaped on a particular day or during a particular week.
At first she'd found his secrecy intriguing—just one of the many things she had to learn about him—but lately she'd begun to think that it was vaguely suspicious that he wouldn't be more forthcoming at this point in their relationship.
She sighed. I really don't want to think about all that right now, she told herself.
She kicked off her sandals, then walked over to the windows that looked out on the terraces and swimming pool. She could feel the wind coming through the screens. A storm is coming, she thought.
Stepping through the French doors, she walked out onto the terrace and looked up at the sky. She stared at the huge, shifting cloud formations that alternately revealed, then concealed the brightness of the full moon. Gazing out toward the pool, she could see that one moment it shimmered with the moonlight and the next it was almost pitch-black.
Music, a soft and sexy jazz tune she couldn't name, drifted out through the French doors behind her. Then Teddy's strong arms encircled her from behind, and she felt his lips brushing her hair, searching out the nape of her neck.
"Hmm," he murmured, "you look so beautiful standing out here in the moonlight."
She felt herself respond to his sensuous touch. It was a kind of giving in that was pleasant, if not yet passionate. Turning in his arms, she faced him with her eyes closed and felt his lips instantly fall upon hers, kissing her with urgency. She put her arms around him and let herself go, responding to his kisses, enjoying his desire for her, taking pleasure in the knowledge that this man wanted her so much.
Teddy pulled her firmly against him, his hands moving slowly up and down her back, down to her beautifully rounded buttocks, one in each hand, massaging her gently, and pressing her against his aroused manhood.
Valerie moaned softly and put her head down on his shoulder, clinging to him.
"You're enjoying yourself," Teddy murmured.
She nodded her head on his shoulder.
"The night's still young," he said quietly. "Why don't we go have our coffee and drinks, then head upstairs? Soon."
Valerie nodded her assent again, but in actuality she was enjoying the feel of his powerful body against her own and didn't really care about anything else to drink. No, she would have preferred to go straight up to the bedroom and crawl under the covers with him, taking more pleasure in his body, in their bodies together.
Teddy drew back and took one of her hands in his, then silently led her back into the conservatory. She saw a big silver tray with china cups and saucers on the coffee table and, alongside them, two crystal balloons of brandy.
They settled down on the sofa, and Teddy handed her a cup of coffee. "I put the cream and sugar in it the way you like it."
"Thanks, Teddy." She smiled and took a sip. The coffee was exactly the way she liked it. Sweet and rich. Much better than she ever made for herself at home. She glanced at him and saw that he was looking at the ring on her finger.
"It's so beautiful," she said. "Isn't it?"
"It really is," he replied. He put his coffee down and slid an arm around her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "When do you think we ought to set the date?" he asked.
Valerie's mind was instantly set awhirl again. Oh, no! What should I say?
She looked down into her coffee cup as if it held the answer to his question. She certainly hadn't anticipated this, and she had given it no thought whatsoever. She knew that Teddy eventually wanted to get married and have a family, but she'd always managed to neatly tuck away any considerations of marriage with him—or anybody else, for that matter.
"Oh, Teddy," she said, struggling to keep her voice even, "tonight's been so . . . well, it's already been so much to absorb. Can't we wait to discuss it?" She smiled, and her eyes searched his. "Please?" she added.
"Sure, babe," he said, squeezing her shoulder. He smiled brightly. "We'll wait to talk about it. Anything for you." He kissed her lips. "Just not too long. Okay?"
She nodded in acquiescence. "I promise," she said. "Not too long."
"Good," he replied. He slid his arm from around her shoulders and reached over and picked up a snifter of brandy. "Ready for a nip?"
"Are you trying to ply me with booze?" she joked.
"Who, me?" he asked. "You bet I am."
"Then please do," she said. "I want to be plied. I could use a good stiff drink of that." And she meant it now.
Teddy handed her the brandy. H
e reached for the other snifter and held it next to hers. "To us," he said.
"To . . . us," she replied, then she took a large sip. She savored the aroma and the taste of the fiery liquid on her tongue before she swallowed. It seemed only moments before she felt a glow spread through her body, warming her and loosening her up, helping cast away the worries that preyed upon her mind.
Teddy, she noticed, had nearly drained his glass in a single swallow. He set it down and turned his attention back to her. He stared into her eyes for a long moment with the hint of a smile on his lips.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he replied, slowly shaking his head. "I just love looking at you when you look like this. So . . . fresh. So radiant. So innocent."
Teddy always says the right things, she thought. And I always respond to them.
He took the brandy snifter from her hand and set it on the coffee table, then pulled her to him, his mouth and tongue brushing her ears and neck slowly, sensuously, before finding her mouth and kissing her deeply.
Valerie's body immediately responded to his, and she gave herself over to the erotically charged moment, returning his kiss, her hands stroking his muscular back and shoulders, her tongue dancing a carnal dance with his.
He shifted on the sofa, and she felt his hand on one of her breasts, stroking it ever so gently, then cupping it firmly as his mouth descended to the silk of her blouse and his tongue darted out and began to lick her nipple through the thin silk.
"Hmmm," Valerie moaned. "Ohhhh, Teddy." She moved her hands up and down his back, massaging him, loving the feel of the masculine strength beneath his shirt. She wanted to hurry now, to reach that magic moment when he entered her, engulfing her with his manhood, obliterating the rest of the world with it.
He raised his head and looked up at her. His face was flushed and his breathing was labored. "Ah, Val," he rasped. "This is so good. Let's go upstairs. Okay?"
"Okay," she said, and nodded.
He was off the sofa in a flash, his hand extended toward her. She took it, and they left the conservatory, her head on his shoulder, their arms around each other.
