Indelible Love Series + Entwined Bundle

by DW Cee

  “Let me clarify a huge misunderstanding. Yes, I spent the night at Donovan’s and yes, I was in his clothes, but no, I did NOT spend the night with Donovan. I spent the night with Becky, his sister. She just happened to be staying at his house. If Jared, Ashley’s fiancé, would’ve picked her up before Donovan picked up his sister, I would’ve gone home with them. I just wanted to leave before you arrived. I couldn’t face you at that moment. Becky didn’t exactly bring extra sleepwear so I went to bed in Donovan’s shirt and sweatpants. It was nothing sexual. It was like a brotherly gesture.”

  He didn’t look any more relieved. “Why didn’t you answer any of my calls for ten days?”

  “That morning when you saw me get out of Donovan’s car and we had the row outside my house...something weird happened to me. I took the day off and stayed in my room all day, depressed. Every time I thought about what had happened, or if I thought about us breaking up, my body would be in so much pain. It wasn’t just my heart that suffered, every part of me hurt. It was the most bizarre experience and it frightened me to feel so much.”

  Max just held me for a while, and kept telling me how sorry he was. “Are you still hurting?” His loving eyes bore down at me. “I’m sorry I did that to you. I never meant to hurt you, Jane.”

  “Every day, I hurt at times, but it isn’t as often, or as bad as that first day.” Once I saw the pain in his eyes, I felt guilty telling him about my overkill reaction to this situation. “Anyhow, I realized that I was more upset with my reaction to what you did to me, than to what had actually happened. This was why I didn’t answer your calls. I didn’t know what to think about these crazy bodily pains, and why I was in such agony over our fight.”

  “So...all this time, you weren’t really angry with me? You were angrier with...YOURSELF?”

  Uh-oh! “Hey, I was plenty angry with you!”

  “Seriously, Gem? That was why we didn’t see each other for ten days, and you had me going out of my mind with grief and worry—because you couldn’t figure yourself out???”

  What kind of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine was this? One minute he’s practically debilitated, empathizing with my pain, and the next minute, he’s bitter and churlish? Who’s in the wrong here?

  “I’ll have you know...” My retort began in a most unsavory way.

  Max finished that statement (and then some) in a most delicious way.

  February 21, 2013 Hung Up on the Details

  You all are probably wondering if we did the deed last weekend up in that cozy log cabin? Should I leave things hanging? I’m not one to kiss and tell but...before I get into the information you are all hung up on, let me tell you a few promises I made to myself and to Max (though I haven’t told him about these promises, yet).

  First, I’m not going to make Max insecure any more. This means, no more unnecessary friendliness with Donovan or any other man who may cross my path. Though, Max said that friendly lunches (preferably not dinners) are ok.

  Second, I’m going to be less of a gem. This weekend proved to me that we are a solid couple, and we are both going to look at this relationship as a stepping-stone to the last step. We may not make it there, but we will try for the happily ever after. I’m also going to stop with the petty jealousy where Emily and Joyce are concerned. It’s “unnecessary and totally uncalled for” my boyfriend tells me, and I believe him.

  Lastly, I’m going to be a nicer person. I’ll be nicer to Max (of course), and also to my siblings—Emily, especially! I’ve been nothing but a brat (or a bitch, depending upon the situation) to her. She’s pregnant, she’s ill, and yet she’s still happily willing to take care of me. Case in point, she bought me all new clothes, sleepwear, toiletries, and even a pair of comfy Ugg boots, for my weekend up in Big Bear. She even packed our weekend meals. Why, you ask, did she do this? Because a) she’s a nice person b) she wants the best for me and Max c) she loves me. Yep, it’s all of the aforementioned. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer sister.

  Here are some of the promises Max and I made to each other while on our mini-vacation. No more silent treatment was numero uno on his list of no-nos. We both promised to discuss any major happenings in our lives without reservation. I also encouraged him to go on his “mission,” so he could test the waters and see if this was really for him. I didn’t want him to ever regret and blame me for what could have been. Max wanted to think it over some more before committing.

  Another huge no-no for Max was Donovan. Max said (in his sexiest, most alpha male voice), “This is the last time I will tell you—I do not want Donovan ever touching you again. No brotherly kisses, no innocent touching, no nothing! Next time I see him so much as casually bump into you, he and I will have serious problems. Understood?” That statement did things for me, and we ended up hot and heavy on the rug again. Then, I did my best alpha girl imitation and threatened to chop off his manhood if I ever had to talk to Joyce on his phone again while he was anywhere close to being naked. In fact, I told him if I never saw her again, that’d be too soon. That did things for his manhood and this time, we ended up on the bed.

  Okay...I know, I know...you’ve been patient on matters of the body (and so have I, for that matter!). The raw truth? I did not get to experience the hungness of my man, completely. I saw it, I felt it, but I didn’t feel it. Why, you ask? Because a) neither of us came (literally and figuratively) prepared! (Don’t all guys carry their best friends in their wallets? Apparently, my man does not. Is that good or bad? This past weekend, it was definitely bad.) b) He didn’t want to “take advantage of me” while I was in a “fragile” state. (When has he ever known me to be fragile? Though, I get what he’s saying.) c) He said as much as he considered it, since he thought we were over, he felt like a “douche-bag” thinking about having sex with me when I was heartbroken over what he’d done to me. (Damn! I did over-react to this situation.) Though believe me, there were moments when both of us considered driving an hour in the dark, down the dangerous mountain road, to the nearest grocery store. As much as I tried to convince Max that this was not the right time of the month for me, and that conception was not possible, he wouldn’t go for that logic. Actually, he was vehemently against that method. Odd...but whatever...

  So what’d we do while we were high up in the mountains? We did things that couldn’t be done because both of us lived with too many roommates. We spooned on the couch and watched a movie. We cooked (or reheated), and cleaned together. We made out on just about every warm surface—okay, we did a bit more than just make out. I think we covered every base but home—but those details are for another day when I can tell you about everything. We laid in bed and talked forever! Laying in his arms and talking—uninterrupted for hours—erased any bad memories of the last ten days for the both of us. We’d never had this kind of freedom to open up to one another.

  Max and Jane. Jane and Max! We are a couple now, and nothing is going to get between us and our goal of striving for a solid relationship.

  As a thank you and an apology to the ladies in my family for my atrocious behavior the past few days, I offered to take everyone to the Montage Hotel, Saturday night. Spa treatments and lunches by the pool, compliments of Jane Sydney Reid. The boys were going to do their own trip up at the ranch, Max included. I can’t wait to get away and spend some quality time with the Reid ladies. It should be a totally relaxing trip. What could possibly happen on a family overnight in Laguna Beach, right???

  February 25, 2013 Who Wears a Bikini in February?

  Mom, Gram, Emily, Ellie (yes, Ellie too, since she is a girl and she is a Reid), and Laney got to the Montage Hotel late Saturday morning for brunch. Originally, Laney wasn’t part of the plan but since Uncle Henry and Aunt Babs were out of town, and since the boys had invited Doug up to the ranch, I didn’t really have a choice but to invite Laney. Mom and Gram shared a room. Emily, Ellie and I were supposed to share a room, but with the addition of Laney, I had to get another room (an additional $695 for the room + spa treatm
ents...GROAN!), so Laney and I shared a room instead.

  “This place is so beautiful, Jane! Thanks for inviting me. I could’ve stayed home, but I’m glad Emily convinced me to come.”

  Yeah...mooch...you’ve been invited on too many get-aways lately at our expense. And thanks, Emily! “You’re welcome and yeah, it is nice here. Let’s get out and go to our first treatment.”

  Emily opted out of all the treatments saying she wasn’t comfortable laying on her back for so long. Instead, she and Ellie went to the kiddie pool. When we got back, we found Emily reading a book and Ellie sleeping like a baby on the lounge chair next to her.

  “She’s knocked out!” I stated.

  “Yeah. The pool really wore her out. You know how much both kids love the water. She wouldn’t get out even though she was tired and getting cranky. I finally coaxed her out with watered-down apple juice.”

  “Ooh! You actually gave her some juice?”

  “Yeah. I gave in. How were the treatments, Gram?”

  “Lovely. I think this is one of the loveliest resorts I’ve been to in a while.”

  “You’ve been out in London too long, Gram,” Laney said. “We’ve missed you. We are all glad you’re here.” She hugged and kissed our grandmother. Okay...so Laney isn’t so bad....

  “Thank you, Sweetheart. I’m happy to be back home, too.” She answered her granddaughter and squeezed her hand. “What time shall we all have dinner? I’d like to rest until then.” She addressed all of us.

  “Good question, Estelle. I’d like to go up with you and take a nap. All this pampering is exhausting!” Mom laughed at her own ridiculous statement.

  “I have an early reservation for us at Studio at 5:30p.m., since we have Ellie as well.”

  “All right. Your mother and I will see you then.”

  “Is it okay if I step out for a little bit?” Laney hesitantly asked.

  “Sure.” Emily answered. “Where will you be, and will you be back in time for dinner?”

  A sudden blush colored Laney’s face. She really looked like a doll now. “William drove down here hoping to spend a little time with me...if that’s ok? I know it’s a girls’ weekend and I didn’t know he was going to make the drive down to see me...he left me a voicemail while we were in the spa and I just got the message...”

  “Of course it’s okay, Laney. I’d love to meet him if he’s willing to come in and say hello. Maybe he’ll say hello when he drops you off?” Emily suggested with the kindness of an older sister or a mother watching out for her daughter. Though Laney was only four and a half years younger than Emily, Emily saw herself as my cousin’s protector. The two women were similar in temperament and outlook on life.

  “I’m sure he’d love to meet you, Emily. And you too, Jane.”

  Good for Laney. Maybe I didn’t need to find her a man after all. She’d gone and found one herself. This was a first. I couldn’t recall Laney ever having a serious boyfriend in her twenty-two years of life.

  “Oh!” Laney jumped. “There he is.”

  Walking toward us was the sweetest looking boy. Literally, he looked like a sweet-looking high schooler. He had those puppy dog eyes that zeroed in on my cousin and his smile was bright and wide as soon as he saw her. It felt like I was watching some high school Bella meets Edward for the first time, and it’s love at first sight/bite.

  “You got here earlier than you said you would.”

  “Yeah,” he shyly gave Laney a semi-hug. “There was no traffic.”

  “Hello.” Emily put out her hand and smiled wide and bright, herself.

  “William, this is Emily and that’s Jane.”

  “I’ve heard a lot about the both of you. It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, too. I do hope you’ll come and see us some time so we can get to know one another?” Emily was the Reid spokesperson today.

  “Of course. I’d love that.” And he truly looked like he wanted to get better acquainted with all of us. The “kids” looked perfectly suited for one another.

  “Mmmmammmammma,” we heard an excited shout. A portly body, with Nick’s six-foot frame holding his hands from behind, came “running.”

  “James!” Emily got up to greet him. She picked him up, and they hugged and kissed each other like they hadn’t seen each other in days. Geez! They’d only been separated for a few hours now. Behind James and Nick, came the cavalry. My handsome boyfriend, with his lazy grin, and my kinda handsome brother, walked over to us.

  “Why are you guys here? I told you that this was a girls’ weekend.”

  “Now what kind of welcome is that for your boyfriend and brothers?” Max pulled me in to him and kissed me too openly. We had to stop this PDA in front of my family. “Hello Gem,” he whispered. Ooh! I liked that whisper—so many hidden promises.

  “Hello, Beloved.” My brother tried to give Emily the same affectionate greeting, but she shied away just before it became PDA.

  “What brings you here? I thought we were spending the weekend apart.” Emily tried to push her non-budging husband away.

  “What would convince me to sleep alone?”

  “Well, you wouldn’t have been alone since James is with you, big brother. This is a women’s retreat.”

  “Just because you enjoy sleeping alone does not mean I enjoy sleeping alone. I do not separate from my wife.”

  “Minors listening,” Emily giggled. “Jake, Max, and Nick—this is William. He’s wooing our Laney.”

  Once the “minors” got over their embarrassment, they greeted everyone. Jake announced that Dad and Gimpy were not far behind them. The good news—the three respective couples were getting and paying for their own rooms. The bad news, because of our awkward set-up—Max, me, Laney and Nick—we had to split into a girls’ room and a boys’ room. Another missed opportunity!

  As soon as Ellie woke up, William and Laney appointed themselves as babysitters and hung out with us. We were all having a grand time. And then...I spotted her. Like Aphrodite appearing from sea foam, this gorgeous, confident, self-assured woman appeared out of nowhere. I felt like I was in a movie where everyone stopped what he or she was doing to watch this beauty walk by. She was so noticeably eye-catching, eye-popping, mouth-wateringly attractive. Stunning! She was absolutely stunning! You know those rare women who ooze so much sex appeal that even though you don’t bat for the same team, you can’t help but stare and admire? Well, she was one of those women. She looked like she could lead the congregation.

  It was no more than 70 degrees, end of February, and she wore a gold, almost string bikini. She was a dead ringer for an old Chanel print ad with the tanned bikini model lying poolside. Her hair was wet, slicked back and her body was perfect. She wore spiky high heels that very few women could pull off, poolside. Louboutins? Manolos? Jimmy Choos? Damn! I needed a pair of those shoes. Maybe I’d ask her where she bought them. I couldn’t get past the outfit when I heard Jake’s surprised voice.

  “Kate...! You’re back....” Jake greeted the goddess by giving her a kiss on the cheek.

  Uh-oh. I hoped this wasn’t one of Jake’s old girlfriends. Emily looked like she was in a state of perturbed admiration, if such words co-existed. Of course, Emily had not a thing to worry about where my brother was concerned. He was the exemplary family man.

  “Hullo Jake,” the goddess spoke...

  February 28, 2013 “Laters, Baby!”

  “Are you back for good?” Jake had one arm around his wife and his other arm cradling James, while Ellie sat in both of Emily’s arms. “When did you get into town?”

  “I just got in this week and for the time being...I’m back.”

  “Hello,” Emily introduced herself with a little less welcome than usual.

  “Sorry. Emi, this is Katherine Beauvais. Kate, my wife, Emily Reid and my children, Elizabeth and James.”

  “Hullo. A pleasure to meet you. I’d heard Jake got married, but I didn’t realize he had a complete family already.
What a foursome you make. Your Christmas card must represent America at its best.” This goddess spoke a sensual English accent with a French overtone. Forget the shoes. I needed to get one of those accents.