by Francis Ray
She had managed three buttons when the door swung open.
Water glistening on his skin, Chase stopped in mid-stride. His hand gripped the shower door. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want to live with regret. If this is all there is to be, then I’ll take it.”
“Julia—”
“I’m not asking for a commitment,” she rushed on, cutting him off.
He brushed by her and snatched a towel from atop the marble countertop and wrapped it around his waist. “Put your clothes back on.”
“No.”
“Leave!” he shouted, his hands braced on the counter, his head bowed.
“Don’t worry. You don’t have to stop this time.”
Shaking his head, he pressed his hands against the countertop. “Why are you being so stubborn about this?”
“Because I think I love you, and if something had happened to you this afternoon, I would have lived with regrets the rest of my life.” The other buttons slipped free. The blouse fell to the floor. The skirt followed. “You’ll have to help with this.”
Chase heard the rustle of clothes. Despite his best effort, he was unable to keep from lifting his head. His breath snagged. She was all that he desired, all that he had tried to convince himself that he couldn’t have.
He saw her reflection in the mirror. She wore a scandalous lacy black bra, bikini panties, and thigh-high stockings edged in lace. Need struck low, fast, and hard.
He wanted to tell her to go, but he wasn’t capable of pushing the words through the tight knot in his throat. Then she tenderly placed her hand on his arm and he was lost.
Whirling, he pulled her into his arms, crushing her in his embrace. “I thought I’d lost you. I didn’t know it wasn’t you until I wrenched open the van’s door.”
Julia held him tighter, listening to the tortured words that echoed her own misery. She rubbed her chin against the dampness of his wide chest, felt the muscled warmth, and tried to get closer. “I was at the office when I heard. I could have shaken you, but I was so proud. I didn’t know Georgette and Michael were involved until her mother called.”
Setting her away, he stared down into her eyes. “They weren’t sure when they wheeled her into surgery.”
Her trembling hand palmed Chase’s tense jaw. “You gave her another chance at life, Chase.”
As Chase remembered Georgette’s husband’s gut-wrenching sobs in the Emergency Room, his arms tightened around Julia. “It could have gone the other way.”
“I know,” Julia said. “That’s why it’s important to live life to the fullest when you have the chance. I realize that now. Tomorrow isn’t promised.”
“No, it isn’t.” His gaze softened. “I don’t know what tomorrow brings, but I know I don’t want to go through another day without knowing you’re going to be there for my tomorrows.”
“Neither do I. Please take me to bed.”
“I can do nothing less.” His voice shook. “You’re all that I desire.” Sweeping her up in his arms, he carried her into the bedroom and placed her gently on the bed. With exquisite care and tender kisses he finished undressing her, then tugged the towel from his waist.
His mouth slowly settled on hers again, both aware that their time had finally come. There was no need to rush. Each kiss, each feverish touch, was simply a prelude to fuel the need, heat the blood, fire the passion until their hunger could only be satisfied in one way. Their eyes and hands locked, he brought them together.
The fit was perfect, the sensations exquisite. He took her on a ride that was at times slow and lazy, at times fast and frenzied, but always, always, deep and hot and immensely pleasurable for them both. Release came in a torrent that left both shaken and too weak to speak.
Rolling to one side, Chase pulled Julia into his arms. Trustingly she curled against him and drifted into sleep. His body relaxed, but his arms didn’t. He found himself unwilling to let her go now or ever. There was only one way that was possible.
He accepted his fate and tightened his hold.
Julia woke up the next morning a little after eight with a smile on her face. Usually she never slept past seven. But she had never made love half the night, either.
Laughing, she hugged the feather pillow to her hot cheek. Her skin still felt sensitized, her senses heightened. Afraid that reporters might have hung around, Chase had insisted that they leave the hotel separately. He’d picked her up down the street from the hotel, then taken her home and to bed again.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest in remembrance of the things they had done, things she couldn’t wait to do again.
Laughing again for the sheer pleasure it gave her, she rolled on her back and stared up at the silk canopy. Loving someone made you reckless and daring and needy. You desperately wanted to please, but in the pleasing, you also pleased yourself.
They were on two separate paths, had two separate career goals in cities miles apart. But when Chase looked at her, touched her, and gave her one of those toe-tingling, thought-scattering kisses, practicality was the last thing on her mind. All she could think about was getting closer, grabbing, and never letting go.
Now they’d have a chance to run laughing in the rain; to feast on chocolate-covered strawberries and each other. And it had all begun at Leo’s. She’d always known there was something uniquely wonderful and romantic about the supper club.
The phone rang on the bedside table. Chase. He had gone to his hotel to pack. She eagerly reached for the phone. “I miss you already.”
“Julia?”
Eyes wide, she sprang up in bed. “Mabel!”
“Yes,” came the southern-accented voice. “Do you have any idea why Chase called this morning to talk about resigning?”
“What?” Throwing back the covers, Julia sat up on the side of the bed. “Chase’s whole life is the Texas Rangers!”
“We all thought so, too,” Mabel said, unhappiness in each word. “Oscar would roast me alive if he knew I listened to his conversation, then told someone else, but I know how proud of Chase he is, how proud the entire force is. For Chase to be planning to resign is unthinkable.”
“Then he hasn’t resigned yet?” Julia asked.
“No. From what I heard, Chase just wanted to prepare Oscar. He’s going to formally resign when he returns to work tomorrow.”
Julia breathed a sigh of relief. “Tell Oscar not to worry.”
“Do you think there’s a chance you can change his mind?”
“I’m certainly going to try my best, but we both know how stubborn Chase can be.”
“Oh, dear.”
“Good-bye, Mabel.” Hanging up the phone, Julia headed for the shower undaunted by the worry in Mabel’s voice. She didn’t know the reason behind his sudden decision, but he wasn’t quitting the Texas Rangers. Not if she had her way.
She was stepping into the glass enclosure of the shower when she heard the doorbell. She started to ignore the summons, but judging by the repeated rings, the person wasn’t leaving. Pulling on her robe, she stalked to the door, determined to get rid of whoever it was.
“Chase!”
Grinning, he came in. Taking the door from her, he closed it behind him and kissed her lips. “I see I’m in time to join you in the shower. These are for you.”
Julia automatically took the bouquet of white roses.
Chase took the opportunity to untie the belt of her robe. His gaze narrowed with hungry appreciation at the expanse of smooth brown skin.
“I won’t let you do it.”
Lazy amusement danced in his black eyes. “Wanna bet?”
Julia realized they were talking about two different things. “I don’t mean that. I mean resign from the Texas Rangers.”
His hands settled heavily on her waist. “Mabel.”
“You can’t do it. The Rangers mean too much to you.”
“Sweet Temptation means just as much to you.”
“What has this to do with my shop?” she asked wi
th a frown.
“I have no intention of trying to have a long-distance marriage.”
Her eyes widened. “M-marriage?”
“Yes, I told you that last night.”
“Chase, do you think I could sit down?” Without waiting, she went to the sofa.
Frowning, he stared down at her. “You all right?”
“A great deal happened last night, but I would have remembered you asking me to marry you.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t exactly ask, but I thought you understood. We made love, didn’t we?”
“Several times, as I remember,” Julia said.
“Then there you are,” Chase said triumphantly.
Julia stared up at Chase’s long length, trying to understand his reasoning. “Chase, perhaps you should help me remember.”
“Last night you told me you thought you loved me and I told you I wanted you to be there for all my tomorrows and you agreed.”
“But I thought—”
“You accepted and you can’t back out now after I finally stopped fighting it,” he said fiercely, coming down in front of her.
“What did you stop fighting?”
“That I love you completely, irrevocably,” he answered, his voice and gaze softening. “The accident opened my eyes. Life isn’t promised, so you have to grab hold of the one you love and never let go. That’s what I’m doing.” Tenderly his hand closed over her free one. “I love you and you love me. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have made love with me.”
Everything fell perfectly into place. “No, I wouldn’t. I love you more than I ever thought possible.”
His hold tightened for a brief moment. “The accident showed me something else. I don’t ever want to see you scared or worried about me again. I don’t want you going through what my mother went through.” Pausing, he took a deep breath. “With a Master’s in Criminal Law, I shouldn’t have any difficulty getting a job here.”
Love and tenderness and determination filled her. “You’re not resigning. I can handle the dangers of your job. You’re staying a Ranger.”
His mouth took on a stubborn slant. “My ranch is isolated. Here you have people who watch out for you, a secure place to live.”
Laughing, she kissed him. “You can’t tell me your ranch doesn’t have security, and I happen to know every year you have to qualify on the shooting range. I bet you’re a crack shot, and you can teach me.”
His lifted eyebrow told her he was. “Mabel tell you that?”
She grinned. “The Texas Ranger Internet site.”
He glanced around her stylishly furnished condo. “My house is comfortable, but it’s nothing like this.”
“As long as you’re there, I’ll be happy. The only thing I definitely have to have is my bed.” Her grin widened. “I have a lot of warm memories of being in it with you and I plan a lot more.”
Passion blazed in his black eyes. “That’s not fair.”
“By whose standards?” she asked with a regal tilt of her chin.
Shaking his head, he said, “I still don’t like the idea of leaving you alone so much.”
“I have the perfect solution. People in Washington have been doing it for years and it will be a great tax deduction. I’ll get a place in town for us, and if you have to work late, we’ll spend the night in our second home,” she told him, then continued as his gaze sharpened. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those men who cares if a woman pays her own way or earns more than he does?”
He looked abashed. “I did. I finally figured out that’s probably why Mabel didn’t tell me you owned Sweet Temptation. You’ll keep it and open your second location as planned. I don’t intend to start our lives with regret or recriminations.”
“Neither do I,” she said. “The accident taught me something as well: we don’t always get a second chance.”
His lips brushed across her hand clasped in his. “I’ll always be thankful I got another chance to get it right.”
“No more than I. Virginia’s loss is Austin’s gain. It will be a unique marketing concept. The flagship store in the national capital and the other in a state capital. I have family and friends with contacts everywhere,” she told him, the excitement growing in her voice. “I wanted a chain of Sweet Temptations. Austin will be my second location.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Not for you. For us.”
“You’re sure?”
“Well, I may need some convincing.” Smiling, she walked to the bedroom. The robe dropped at the door.
Grinning, Chase hurried after the sweetest temptation he’d ever known.
EPILOGUE
How deeply could a man love a woman?
Chase asked himself that question when he saw Julia coming down the aisle of the crowded church toward him wearing a moon white ball gown embellished with rose appliqué of lace around the scooped neck and scattered over the wide hem of English net. In the glow of the candlelight with the scent of vanilla candles in the air she appeared eternal and breathtakingly beautiful. In her gloved hand was a single long-stemmed white rose.
Like most brides she had kept her choice of gown a secret, but he did know that the diamond tiara in her chignon had been worn by her mother and her mother before her at their weddings. The long embroidered lace veil from France was a gift from her sisters. The double strand of pearls circling her throat was a wedding gift from him.
She’d cried when he’d given her the necklace last night after their wedding rehearsal. With the pad of his thumb he had brushed the tears from her cheeks and tried to keep any more from falling by teasing her that he hadn’t cried when she’d surprised him with his wedding gift. Impish woman that she was, she’d seductively whispered that her motives were partly selfish, then sent his blood singing in his veins by telling him some of the things she planned for them in the Jacuzzi.
How deeply could a man love a woman?
As the minister asked, “Who gives this woman away?” and Julia’s father answered, “I do,” then stepped back, Chase pondered the question again. Love meant sharing as Julia’s father shared his daughter with a man who loved her. Love meant leaving home, friends, family, as Julia was doing for him.
With Julia’s hand in his, Chase slipped the wedding band on her finger next to the heart-shaped two-carat diamond he’d given her a week after he’d asked her to marry him. Whenever she looked at the ring, he wanted her to be reminded that his heart belonged to her. The heavy gold intricately carved wedding band she slid on his finger was perfect. So was the inscription inside: J.A.F. ALWAYS & FOREVER, C.M.B.
“You may kiss the bride.”
He’d meant to keep it light, a brush of lips, but something happened when their lips met and she leaned eagerly into him. This woman was his; he was hers. The kiss deepened into a vow, a pledge of forever, of need that would never die.
“Uh, hm, there will be time enough for that later,” the minister whispered.
Laughter boomed from beside him. Chase lifted his head and shot Colt a hard look. Nonplussed, he shrugged, still grinning.
Julia’s squeezing of his hand and the recessional music had him turning away. With his arm around his wife’s waist, they went back down the aisle. Outside, the June day in Virginia was perfect, with blue skies and a light breeze that ruffled Julia’s veil as she and Chase ran laughing down the church steps to the waiting limousine that would take them to Leo’s for their reception.
“How about we skip the reception and see if we can get the pilot to take off early?” Chase suggested, nibbling on Julia’s lips.
Julia moaned. “Do you think we could?”
“No, but it’s nice to know you’d go.” A jet, courtesy of Julia’s parents, was standing by to take them to Monterey. From the airport a car would take them to a resort on the beach. Her parents had wanted to pay for their accommodations as well. Chase had politely refused. The only reason he’d accepted the jet was because they’d have privacy while traveling and
they wouldn’t have to worry about the hassle of checking and claiming baggage or changing planes in Los Angeles.
Her eyes filled with love when she said, “I’d follow you anywhere.”
He kissed her. He couldn’t help himself. Nor did he want to. There was no longer a question in his mind whether she was sure or had any regrets; love had a way of overcoming problems and establishing trust. “One dance, one quick trip around the room to meet everyone, and we’re out of there.”
“You lead. I follow.”
He’d tried, but too many people wanted to kiss the bride, congratulate the groom. Julia, as always, took time to greet each and every one of them. Percival had proudly told Julia’s family that he’d known all along Chase and Julia would end up getting married. A fully recovered Georgette was there with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters, who had been flower girls.
Chase had hired a bus to bring the residents from the nursing home where Julia volunteered. They were having a ball. She hadn’t rested until she had found another volunteer to take her place.
Violins serenaded the guests, waiters plied them with vintage champagne, chefs tempted them with delicacies in the room decorated with tall, gilded candelabras that were overgrown with flowers in muted antique tones. No one seemed inclined to leave, but if they did waiters were stationed at the door to present them with a specially prepared gold-foil box of chocolate candy. The label read: SWEET BEGINNINGS, CREATED BY CHASE & JULIA.
Two hours and countless handshakes and hugs later they left for the airport in a shower of birdseed and soap bubbles. Once aboard the plane Chase thought he showed admirable strength when he undid the twenty-eight buttons on the back of Julia’s gown, then left her to change in private. The next time he took her in his arms he didn’t plan on letting her go for a long, long time.
Instead he used the time to unpack the hastily gathered dinner and set the small table in the main cabin. As usual Julia had been too busy seeing to others to see to herself. He’d have to see that she took better care of herself now that she had two stores.
