TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES)

by Jackson, Brenda

  They had made it to the front door and he was about to make that very proposition when the front door flung open and a woman who could be Meg Ryan’s twin with her blond hair and blue eyes stared at them with a huge smile on her face.

  “Good seeing you two. I need help with the food and Willie, John needs help with the decorations.”

  He lifted a brow as he and Peggy entered the house wondering what kind of decorations John was putting up. Peggy immediately followed Toni to the kitchen and he followed the sound of John’s cursing. He stepped in the family room and glanced up. John was on a tall ladder trying to install in the ceiling a replica of the Times Square ball.

  Willie propped against a wall and said. “I’m almost afraid to ask where you got that from.”

  John glanced down at him and said. “Please don’t ask. This was Toni’s idea and like a fool I let her talk me into it. It’s remote controlled and I’m afraid something is going to go wrong and it will end up falling on someone’s head and we’ll get sued.”

  Willie laughed and straightened his stance and rolled up his sleeves. “Well, I’m here so tell me what you need me to do.”

  * * *

  “What are you trying to do? Feed an army?” Peggy asked glancing around the kitchen at all the food trays and covered dishes. “Don’t tell me you prepared all of this.”

  Toni chuckled. “Heck no. I hired a caterer and she just dropped everything off moments ago.”

  Peggy nodded. “Everything looks good.”

  “So does that hunk you’re with. I know you’re my best friend and all but if I were you, I would have kept him in tonight, namely in bed. The man oozes sensuality.”

  Peggy smiled. “Hey, there’s always later.”

  “Smart girl.” And then Toni took a moment to study her. “You’re happy.”

  Peggy’s smile widened and she couldn’t agree with her best friend more. “Yes, I’m happy. I’m very happy.”

  Toni glanced down at Peggy’s hand and then raised a brow. “Did you get a Christmas present you forgot to tell me about? You’re not wearing a ring so what is it?”

  Now it was Peggy’s turn to lift a brow. “A ring? Why would Willie buy me a ring?”

  Toni rolled her eyes. “If you have to ask then you’re hopeless. John and I figured it won’t be long now before he pops the question. The two of you have been seeing each other now for a good eight months.”

  Peggy frowned. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

  Toni ignored the frown and said, “It means I bet something serious is in the works. He adores you, I know that. And you just admitted you’re happy with him.”

  “But that doesn’t mean something permanent is in the works.” Peggy thought about her conversation with Barbara a few days ago. “Why does everyone assume when two people are into each other it has to end in marriage?”

  Toni grinned. “Because that’s usually the way it is. Remember, women have been telling their daughters that for centuries. You know I freaked out when Johnetta decided she and Nick were moving in with each other and after a year no one was mentioning the word marriage.”

  Peggy remembered that time. Johnetta was headstrong like her mother and thought there was nothing wrong with her and Nick just having an exclusive relationship for the rest of their lives. It was pretty much how she felt about her and Willie. “Our daughters are our daughters. As mothers we can do whatever we want to do. Remember that saying - do as I say and not as I do?” Peggy said.

  Toni tossed the mass of blond hair back from her face and glared her blue eyes. “Yes, but give me one good reason you wouldn’t want to marry Willie?”

  “Joe.”

  Toni frowned. “Joe?”

  “Yes, Joe,” Peggy said, calmly taking a sip of the punch Toni had given her to sample.

  “For crying out loud, what does Joe have to do with anything?”

  Peggy rolled her eyes upward. “Joe has everything to do with it. If you recall, he’s the reason I almost became an alcoholic. He’s the reason I almost drove my only daughter away and the reason I lost every ounce of self-esteem I possessed. You were there during that time Toni. I was one emotional mess and the thought of ever going through that again is more than I could bear.”

  Toni didn’t say anything. She just stared a moment at Peggy and then asked softly. “Do you honestly think that Willie is anything like Joe?”

  “No, in fact I know he’s nothing like Joe, but he’s still a man and like you pointed out earlier, he’s a man oozing in sensuality. A prime target for a hoochie like Suzette and the million others out there. If a younger woman wanted him there is no way in hell I could compete.”

  “Yes, there is.”

  “No, there’s not,” Peggy countered firmly. “I’m fifty-seven and not twenty-seven. Willie not only oozes in sensuality but he also oozes in money. What sophisticated hoochie in her right mind wouldn’t want a sugar daddy like him?”

  Toni rolled her eyes. “So you’re saying I should worry about John every time he goes on one of his business trips. That any good looking, over-breasted young woman who makes a pass could possibly steal him away from me?”

  “Of course not!”

  “Then what the hell are you saying because that sounds like it to me.”

  Peggy drew in a deep breath and tried stating calmly. “John loves you. He adores you. Besides, you can compete with any hoochie that comes his way. The two of you have been together thirty-six years now. You two are good for each other. He would never put another woman before you.”

  “Just like I think if Willie decides he wants you that he would never put another woman before you. When was the last time you took a good look at yourself Peggy? If you think I can compete against a twenty-seven year old then so can you. We’ve kept ourselves looking good. There will always be older men out there panting behind a young woman. But older, sophisticated men. Men with any amount of good sense would want more than a hot tail and bigger implanted breasts. They would want a woman they could not only bed but one they could trust. And as far as Joe is concerned, have you seen him lately? He looks like shit. And he’s getting everything he deserves. Suzette is taking him to the cleaners and then some and as far as I’m concerned she can’t be trusted and he knows it. He’s not stupid. Hell, I take that back, the man is stupid. He’s stupid for thinking he couldn’t get what he got from Suzette at home. He’s stupid for throwing away thirty good years with you. I’m sure he thinks about that whenever he sees you.”

  Peggy shrugged. “I don’t know what he thinks about and to be honest I don’t really care. He wanted Suzette and now he has her and whatever issues that comes with her. All I have left is my sanity which I refuse to let another man rattle.”

  “And you really want me to believe that you haven’t fallen in love with Willie? And remember before you answer that, this is Toni. I know you like a book, kid, so don’t trying pulling any shit over on me. That might work for Barbara and Sonya but not me, I know you too well. So I’m going to ask you again. Are you or are you not in love with Willie?”

  Peggy stared down at the floor for the longest time and then she lifted her gaze and could feel the tears straining in her eyes. Damn Toni for making her admit the one thing she didn’t want to. Damn her best friend for knowing her so well.

  “Don’t keep me waiting for an answer all night, Peggy.”

  She glared at Toni. “Damn you, the answer is yes. I love Willie,” she said in an almost broken voice. “I didn’t want to love him but I do. But we can’t ever be together. If I were to lose him the way I did Joe, it would destroy me, Toni. And I refuse to take that chance.”

  * * *

  Willie drew in a deep breath as he backed away from the kitchen door. John had asked him to grab a couple of beers out the refrigerator and he had basically heard all of Toni and Peggy’s conversation. Although he wasn’t into eavesdropping in this case he was glad he had.

  Did Peggy honestly think he would one day drop her for a
younger woman? Shit. Peggy probably had more sexiness and sensuality in her little toe than some young women had in their entire body. Didn’t she think he was smart enough to recognize a gold digger when he saw one? He would admit some men thought with their head below the belt but he wasn’t one of them.

  All it took was for him to remember Marty, a friend of his who had left his wife for a younger woman only to come home unexpectedly from a business trip abroad to find an orgy going on in his house. In a fit of rage, Marty had taken his gun and blasted every single person there before turning the gun on himself. Six people lost their lives that day. And even today Willie could hear Marty bragging about getting some young stuff every night. Too bad Marty had had to discover he hadn’t been the only man getting it.

  He rubbed a hand down his face as he turned back toward the room where John was located. Another good thing about eavesdropping on Toni and Peggy’s conversation was finding out that she loved him. He couldn’t help but be happy about that since he loved her too. Now he had to come up with a way to make her realize he wasn’t anything like her ex-husband. It was time for him to take their relationship to another level and more than anything he wanted her to see that love could be even better the second time around.

  Five

  “Nice party, don’t you think?”

  Peggy glanced up at Willie who had materialized by her side. Earlier he’d been standing across the room talking to John and a few other men. Looking into his face reminded her of what she’d confessed to Toni earlier. She loved him.

  She pulled in a deep breath. For the past few months since realizing the depth of her feelings for him, she’d managed to keep those feelings well hidden. She needed her head examined for having Antonia Siplin as her best friend. The woman didn’t know how to let up if she wanted to know something.

  She smiled up at him. “Yes, it is a nice party.”

  He glanced at his watch. “We have another hour and twenty minutes before the New Year and I’ve already scoped out a very private place for us.”

  Peggy grinned. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “I’m as serious as a heart attack.”

  She studied his features and saw that he was serious. She then glanced around the room. “You mean there’s a private place to be found around here with wall to wall people?”

  “Yes,” he said smiling. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Compliments of John. These are the keys to his greenhouse.”

  Peggy put her hands to mouth to keep from laughing out loud. She’d heard about the huge greenhouse John had had constructed a few months ago. She had seen the huge 500 square feet structure erected in the backyard from Toni’s kitchen window. According to Toni, it was John’s private sanctuary since he loved greenery and enjoyed growing things. Since he’d retired he had become a pro at growing fresh vegetables, herbs and an assortment of flowers. At that moment Peggy felt outright scandalous at the thought of them being alone in the greenhouse and bringing in New Year’s.

  “So what you do think?” Willie asked, slipping the keys back into the pocket of his jeans.

  “I think you can be dangerous when let loose and I have a feeling you’re going to let loose later.”

  A smile touched the corners of his lips. “Why not? A new year is about to roll in and I’m going to spend it with a beautiful woman. You know what they say don’t you?”

  She was helpless to do anything but ask. “No, what?”

  “That if you bring in the New Year right that’s a good sign things will continue that way for the rest of the year. And I have great plans for us this coming year, Peggy.”

  He watched her bite her lower lip and slowly nod. He could imagine what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. She was probably wondering what his great plans were for them, but was afraid to ask. At least he had her pondering.

  “Dance with me,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to the area John and Toni had cleared to be used as a dance floor.

  This was definitely an “Old School” night, he thought. Most of the songs being played were some he hadn’t heard in years. Like the one they were dancing to now; a slow melody by the Stylistics titled Betcha By Golly, Wow. He wished more than anything she was listening to the lyrics. But just in case she wasn’t, he pulled her closer into his arms and began softly singing the chorus in her ear.

  Peggy closed her eyes as Willie’s soft yet husky voice flowed near her ear. She would often hear him sing in the shower and thought the depth could match that of Barry White’s. Even now she knew he was singing just to be singing and was not really paying any attention to the words, which was fine with her. She really didn’t expect him to think she was the one he’d been waiting on forever.

  But still…

  When he pulled her even closer and tightened his arms around her she felt his hard and solid body pressed against hers. For a moment she allowed herself to fantasize that he did mean everything he was singing, and that she would never have to worry about him leaving her for someone else because his love for her was growing strong and that he actually loved her like the words of the song said. But she knew that wasn’t true. Men often were unfaithful. They were drawn from the women they claimed to love by another pretty and younger face. That was life. And that was the main reason she refused to give her heart to anyone. She loved Willie. She’d admitted to that but she wouldn’t let him know how she felt…That would be the equivalent of becoming vulnerable to possible heartbreak again.

  When the music came to an end so did her fantasy. She opened her eyes and gazed up at him and when I Can’t Help Myself by The Four Tops began playing. Instead of leading her off the dance floor he smiled down and her and said, “Let’s get down, baby.”

  And they did.

  One dance led to another and Peggy was having the time of her life. This was the most she’d ever danced with Willie and found he had great moves and a whole lot of rhythm. No wonder he was so agile in the bedroom.

  After enjoying their fourth straight dance she whispered. “Hey, let’s sit this one out, Energizer Bunny,” and proceeded to pull him off the dance floor.

  He chuckled. “Only because I’ll be saving my energy for later.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

  They stood on the sidelines and watched the others and she was tempted to get pulled into the Soul Train line when Toni beckoned for her to join them but she held back. She just liked standing by Willie’s side with his arms wrapped around her shoulder. He didn’t mind advertising the fact that they were an item. The only time he’d left her was when he went to refill their cups with punch.

  “By the way, I told Kelly about Sonya’s good news,” he said, returning and handing her a refilled cup of punch. “She’s happy about it. It seems both our girls will be giving us grandbabies by the end of next summer.”

  Both our girls. Peggy looked down into her punch and thought about that. Okay, maybe he didn’t mean it the way it sounded- like they were one big happy family. Just like she was sure he hadn’t meant the words he’d sung in her ear while they had been dancing. But she couldn’t help but wonder why suddenly his actions, if misconstrued, could have her indulging in some wishful thinking. She was trying to keep a level head and the last thing she needed was to worry about if perhaps Willie was getting ideas about taking things further. She hoped not since she wouldn’t be able to handle it if he was. She liked how their relationship was going now.

  “So…” he said after glancing at his watch. “Are you ready to take a stroll outside with me?”

  At his suggestion, a surge of desire swept through her at the same time her heart thumped nervously in her chest. She couldn’t recall the last time she welcomed in the New Year with someone she cared about. Even before their divorce Joe would fall asleep. It would be just her and glass of wine to ring in the New Year. And for Joe to accompany her to a New Years Eve Party was simply unheard of. His excuse was that he felt it was unsafe to be out
with so much partying going on, which meant irresponsible people behind the wheels of a car and in the possession of a gun who thought it was okay to fire randomly.

  She drew in a deep breath thinking this was a man who wanted to be with her. She glanced up at him and met his gaze. His tawny brown eyes shone with a degree of desire and longing that almost took her breath away. It certainly had her wondering what he intended to do with her in that greenhouse.

  “Peggy?”

  “Yes, I’m ready to take our stroll but only if you promise to behave.”

  He took the cup from her hand and placed it along side his on a table. He then entwined her fingers in his and leaned over and whispered in her ear. “You don’t make promises for New Year’s, sweetheart. What you make are resolutions and they are known to be easily broken.”

  Then without saying anything else, he led her through the kitchen and then out the back door.

  * * *

  Willie couldn’t help himself. The moment they stepped outside the door and were cast into darkness he turned Peggy in his arms and kissed her. This was how it was supposed to feel when a man loved a woman. The overflow of need, want and desire. All three had been building up inside of him since he’d arrived at her house. She had rushed him off to the shower but even that hadn’t cooled his yearning. And then when he’d seen her outfit, it had taken all his willpower not to strip it off of her and say, the hell with the party.

  And it had been murder on his senses while talking to John and a group of men earlier and watching her parade around the party in that short dress. She had the legs for it and everything else. Every time he caught a glimpse of her it practically took his breath away. And all he could think about while watching her was hearing her admission to Toni that she loved him, too. Now that he knew his feelings were reciprocated, he planned on doing everything within his power to erase whatever fears and doubts that plagued her mind.