“Why is it that every time I see you two together, you two are attached at the lips?” Dell asked gruffly as he entered the room. Cab and Dana turned to face him still wrapped in each other’s arms. Cab grinned, while Dana moved out of his embrace and let him help her back into bed.
“Dang, you two could at least wait until Cabby is two years old before starting on another!” Dell stated, rolling his eyes.
“Do be quiet Dell,” Dana said as she lay back. “I thought you were on your way back to Italy,” she stated.
“I postponed the trip until you are stronger Sweet Pea.”
“That wasn’t necessary,” Dana stated.
“I’m not about to leave you here alone,” Dell answered.
“Did you think I was going to leave Dana and my daughter alone?” Cab asked, insulted by his implication.
“No insult man. I’m just so used to taking care of my sister that I forgot you were still here,” Dell said, shrugging his shoulders.
“Where the hell else would I be?”
“Don’t get all sensitive Cab! I didn’t mean to insult you. How are you feeling, Pud?” He asked, moving over to the bed.
Cab wanted to punch Dell in the face. “You don’t think I can take care of my family?” He growled.
Dell turned to him. “What’s got your ass on your shoulders?”
Dana could feel the tension escalating in the room and decided to quench it before it spilled over. “Okay enough!”
Both men looked at her, but Dell’s mouth curled at the corner. There she was.
“Dell, go to Italy! Cab, you’re staying with me! That’s the end of it He-Men!”
Cab extended his hand in apology. “Now that you are here, there are some things I need to take care of,” he said before moving to the bed and kissing Dana. He heard a groan come from Dell who was standing behind him.
“I’ll be back Sunshine, and then we can go see our daughter.”
Dana nodded her okay, and when Cab was gone, Dell looked at his sister closely. Her eyes were still on the door that Cab had just gone through.
“You love him don’t you?” Dell asked.
“Am I crazy?” She wondered aloud.
“Cab is a good man, he just has these trust issues. Do you think you can handle with a man that does not hold a high opinion about women? I’m still kind of thrown that you are with him.”
“I know all about his theory on the female sex first hand,” Dana commented without thinking about who it was she was speaking to.
“What do you mean?” Dell asked, his lips suddenly taut.
Realizing her mistake, Dana refused to talk. She could kick her own butt for even opening her big mouth.
Dell folded his arms across his chest. “You might as well spill it Dee. You know that I won’t stop asking until I hear it all.”
Taking a deep breath, Dana told her brother everything; the good, the bad, and even the ugly. When she finished, Dell was pacing the floor.
“You know this means that I have to punch him in the face now don’t you?” He stated.
“No you don’t Dell! Cab and I are finally at an easy medium here. And now that I think about it, what makes you think one Alpha male is going to let another Alpha male punch him in the face and not retaliate? It’s over Delco so leave it alone, plus Cab has brothers. Any way you look at it, we are family now, and not just in business. You are going to have to let this one go.
And yes, even after everything I know, I still love him. But I am not going to rush into a relationship because we have a child together. We are going to take this one step at a time.”
“And you are sure about this Sweet Pea?” Dell asked, his anger temporarily appeased.
“Yes, very sure,” Dana smiled.
“Have either of you decided where you will live once the baby comes home?”
“When I am released we will talk.”
“Well okay then Pud. You get some rest, and I will see you in about two weeks. Stay in touch and keep me in the loop.”
Dana nodded her head. “I love you Delco Whalen.”
“Me too.”
Cab was in the jewelry store in the mall. Tonight he was going to propose to his lady and he was more than confident that she would accept. He thought he would be nervous about asking her, but for some strange reason he felt as if there were no righter choice he could ever make in his life. He chuckled to himself. A few days ago, if someone would have told him that he would be contemplating marriage, he would have laughed in their face. He looked down at the hand-engraved engagement ring from Kirk Kara with it alternating rows of blue sapphires and diamonds with the 2.5 caret emerald cut diamond in the center, and smiled. He also purchased the matching sapphire and diamond wedding band. He then handed the jeweler his card and turned to look out the window.
“Raini,” he whispered. He thought that she had left LA with Cassandra, but there she sat with a small bag on her lap, and looking very unwell. The man returned, handing him his card and his purchase, and after slipping the ring and his credit card in his pocket, he approached her.
“Raini!” He called out, watching as her head rose.
“M-Mr. Howard,” she gasped out of surprise. She came to her feet unsettled, but when Cab reached out to steady her, she cringed away.
“Raini I thought you went back to Atlanta with your sister?” Cab asked, concerned about her well-being.
“No sir, I left Cass. She was madder than a wet hen after she spoke to you, and she blamed me for ruining her chances with you. I told her that I was tired of the way she treated me, so I left. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea, now that I think about it,” she chuckled dryly.
“Where have you been staying?”
Raini shrugged. “Here and there.”
“You mean to tell me that you had no place to go?” Cab asked harshly.
“I know that it was stupid, but after what happen to your lady, I couldn’t take Cass and her evil ways. How are Dana and the baby?”
“She went into labor and they had to take the baby early.”
“Oh God no!” Raini said, sitting down heavily on the bench. “I’m so glad that I’m away from that evil woman!”
“Our little girl is a preemie, but she’s fighter, and Dana and I have every hope that she will get better.”
“Oh Mr. Howard, I’m so sorry, if I…”
“It over Raini. The only issue I have with you is why didn’t you call me?”
“I’ve been trying to find a job so I could get back home. If I could have gotten my ticket from Cass I would have gone home. At least there I knew the area.”
“Well Raini, I’m going to get you a ticket to go back home, but right now you are coming with me,” he ordered. He took her bag and waited for her to rise.
“You don’t have to do that Mr. Howard… not with what Cass did.”
“And that had nothing to do with you. If you had not come and told me what happened, I would still be wondering. I knew your sister was conniving, but I didn’t think that she would resort to physical harm.”
“You’d be surprise what Cass would do to get her way,” Raini mumbled.
Twenty minutes later, Cab and Raini were parking at the hospital. Raini looked at him as he got out of the car.
“Why are we here?” She asked curiously, but Cab had already moved around the car and was opening her door.
“I want you to see Dana,” he replied simply.
Raini shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll just wait here.”
“Come on Raini, Dana already knows that that incident wasn’t your fault.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” Cab smiled. When he paused and looked at her, Raini looked up at him.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Every time I see you, you have on these dark glasses, day or night. Why?”
Raini removed her glasses, and when Cab stared in to her eyes, he saw that one of her eyes was green and the other one
was hazel. “I see, and you wear them to hide your eyes?”
“Yes, Cass made me wear them. She said people were staring at me like I was some kind of freak.”
Cab took the glasses from her hand and the two of them walked away. When he passed a trash receptacle, he dropped them inside.
Dana was sitting up when they arrived, and Cab wanted Raini to know Dana felt about seeing her, and he was not surprise in the least to know that she had been concerned about Raini. While the two of them visited their baby, Cab sent Raini to the cafeteria to get something to eat, and on their way back to the room, they saw Cassandra at the nurse’s station asking about Dana.
“Cassandra, I just know that you didn’t come here to start trouble! I’ve warned you not to come around me and mine!” Cab growled.
“Oh Cab, I’m not here to make trouble. I came to see if any of you saw Raini. I have been looking for her. She left two days ago upset, and I thought that she would come back, but she hasn’t. I had to pay extra to change our tickets as it was.”
“Don’t tell me that you are worried about her Cassandra!” Cab sneered.
“She’s my sister Cab! Of course I’m concerned,” she replied indignantly.
“You better be glad of the fact that I am a gentleman. Because of you my baby is in there fighting for her life, so I suggest you leave before I forget that fact.”
Dana could remain silent no longer. She stepped around Cab and slapped Cassandra’s face so hard that it left the imprint of her hand on her cheek. “That’s for my baby you bitch! Now get out of here before I have you thrown out!”
Stunned by the suddenness of the assault, Cassandra mouth dropped open, but just as quickly her eyes hardened and she was ready to retaliate. Remembering where she was however, she didn’t nothing but back away from the couple, opting instead to fight another day. Just when she was about to leave, Raini stepped off the elevator. Rushing over to Raini, she grabbed her by the arms, leaving Cab and Dana standing there stunned, watching as she shouted in Raini’s face.
“Cab we have to do something,” Dana said anxiously.
They went over to the two women, and just as Cassandra raised her to slap Raini, Cab grabbed her arm. “Don’t you put your hands on her again!” He roared.
When Cassandra turned around, her face was red with rage. “Come on Raini! I have a taxi waiting so let’s go!” She ordered.
Dana went over to stand beside Raini and to give her moral support. “I’m not going anywhere with you Cass,” Raini stated calmly.
“Girl, you better come with me now!” She shouted, grabbing Raini’s arm.
Fed up with her sister’s constant bullying, Raini snatched her arm away, causing Cass to claw her.
“Go home Cass!” Raini said sternly, suddenly finding her nerve. “I’m going back to Atlanta, but not with you. You almost killed their baby! I always knew you were heartless, but I didn’t know to what extent. When I get home I will find a job and a place to stay on my own!”
As her pretense for being the concerned sister faded away, Cass’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“You can’t do anything! Who in their right mind would hire you, especially after what you did! And besides that, you made a promise to Mama,” Cass said angrily.
“I can’t take this anymore Cass! Ever since I came to live with you, you have done nothing but insult me and hammer guilt into me for something that was not my fault! And no matter how you spin it, it’s still not my fault! I’m tired of it and I’m tired of you! I’ve never had anything of my own, nor have you ever asked me if I needed anything. I deserve a life Cass, and I going to take this opportunity to get it. So go back home! I will not be coming with you!”
“Why you ungrateful wench! I gave you a home when you had no place to go!”
“Right, but as your personal maid! I deserve a life Cass!” Raini shouted. “I have a degree in child development. I bet you never knew that, did you Sis?”
“Maybe you do, but when I get done with you, no one will want to hire you to do anything with their kids, especially when I tell them your dirty little secret,” Cass whispered smugly.
Raini reacted as if Cassandra had slapped her, and having seen and heard enough, Dana step forward. “She has a job right here as my nanny, and guess what I’m paying?”
Raini and Cassandra looked at Dana, but while Raini looked at Dana stunned, Cassandra glared at Dana with hatred.
“Well, what about it Raini?” Dana asked.
“Dana, are you sure?” Cab asked.
“Positive.”
“Well, there it is Cassandra. You have yourself a nice trip back to Atlanta, you hear?” Cab mocked as he turned away.
With her arm around Raini’s, Dana pulled her along leaving Cassandra to watch helplessly as she led Raini away.
“This ain’t over sister! You’ll be back! I’ll never let you live down what you did to me and Momma, never! When they find out about your dirty little secret, they will put your ugly ass out!”
Chapter 15
A week later Dana was discharged from the hospital, and Cab took her home crying all the way.
“Don’t cry Sunshine, we will see our baby girl tomorrow,” he promised.
Once he got her home he settled her in bed and began to prepare for his special night. Each one of his siblings called to check on his family and he was genuinely touched by their concern. He didn’t know why he still hadn’t confided his intentions to his brothers. He knew that he was scared, he admits that, but he also remembered that his family witnessed his treatment of Dana. His biggest fear was that his family would convince him that he was not the man for Dana, and he didn’t want anything or anyone coming between them, not even his family. Although it was six months late, he realized that he loved Dana with all his heart and soul, and that realization made him slightly dizzy, but in an exuberant kind of way. In fact, it made him more determined than ever to win her heart for the rest of his life.
He sent Raini to the hotel room that he had reserved for himself so that he and Dana could be alone. Just as he had, Dana admitted that she felt bad for Raini and wanted to help, and he loved her more for her generous heart. Dana could see that she was being abused by her own sister, plus when Cabri was well enough to come home, she would need help with her if she returned back to work. Cab also recognized that her career and her location would be a problem if she agreed to marry him, because she loved her job and her independence meant everything to her. He loved his job with HWC as well, but would she be willing to move to Philadelphia?
Dana woke up and groaned as she stretched. It felt good to be home in her own bed. Her decision to have Cab stay with her was purely selfish. She simply wanted him around. If they were going to make a go at their relationship, then they needed to be together as much as possible. She was sitting on the side of the bed, when she saw a vase of her favor jasmine flowers in a lovely arrangement with a large white envelope taped to it.
She smiled. “What are you up to Cabel Howard?” She whispered as she pulled off the envelope and began reading the contents there in.
In his bold penmanship, the letter brought tears to her eyes.
Sunshine,
“We have been through so much in just one week, not to mention the months that I have hurt you, wasted months for which I will never forgive myself. It only took me a few days to realize what a fool I have been when in my heart from the moment we met I knew you were for me, but my hardheaded, pompous ass refused to acknowledge that you are the only one for me. The birth of our precious baby girl only made that realization sweeter. I knew I wanted you Dana from the moment I woke to find you gone, and trust me I felt the void even after one night. You have touched me in ways that no other woman could, so with that being said, I want you to follow these instructions to the letter.
First, take a long relaxing bath.
Second, there is a dress hanging from the closet door. Dana looked over at her door where a white dress hung. She continued to read the l
etter.
Third, after you have dressed, meet me downstairs promptly at 7pm.
Cab
Dana glanced at her bedside clock. Seeing that she had one hour left, she giggled and rushed to the bathroom.
Promptly at one minute before seven, Dana walked down the stairs looking beautiful and feeling it.
Cab was standing at the bottom of the stairs dressed to the nines in a black tuxedo, and Dana had to admit that she was always in awe of the beautiful man looking up at her. Cab extended his hand to her, and she descended with a smile playing on her mouth. When he was standing beside him, she looked around her. He had turned her living room in to a romantic oasis, supplied with candlelight, and due to a sudden cold snap in California, there was even a fire burning in her fireplace. Everything was beautiful. He even remembered too that she expressed milk for their daughter, so he had sparkling cider in on ice instead of champagne.
“Oh Cab everything is beautiful,” she said in awe.
Cab took her hand, led her to a small table in front of the fireplace, and sat her down. After she was seated comfortably, he took his seat across from her.
“What’s all this for?” She asked.
“Because you deserve this and we need to decide where we go from here.”
“Are you trying to seduce me Cab Howard?” Dana asked with a smile.
“Is it working?” He grinned.
“It would be working if we could…, you know.”
“If I can just hold you that would be enough for me Sunshine.”
“Oh you’re good!” She chuckled. “And to think, Cat and Zoey said that you didn’t have a charming bone in your body!”
Cab laughed. “And a week ago they would have been correct, but I now have a reason to let all my cynicism go.”
“And what is that reason?”
“You and Cabri are the first and foremost reason, and then there’s the dawning realization that I love you. Sunshine, I want you in my life more than I have wanted anything ever before.”
Cynical Heart (Heart Series) Page 17
