Chapter One Hundred

How many times do I have to tell you 
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too 
The world is beating you down, 
I'm around through every mood 
You're my downfall, you're my muse 
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues 
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you 
 My head's under water But I'm breathing fine 
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind 

 'Cause all of me 
Loves all of you 
Love your curves and all your edges 
All your perfect imperfections 
Give your all to me 
I'll give my all to you 
You're my end and my beginning 
Even when I lose I'm winning 

'Cause I give you all of me 
And you give me all of you, 
oh Give me all of you 
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts 
Risking it all, though it's hard

The sand was warm under her feet as she strolled along the shoreline. The water rolled in to nip at her toes before being swept back out into itself. The air was heavy with the perfume of tropical flowers and the saltiness of the sea. The fragrant breeze lifted the ends of her hair and swirled her wrap around her thighs. She stopped and breathed deep, raising her face to the sun. It was more beautiful here than she ever could have imagined. This had to be the most relaxed she’d been since before leaving Europe. Richie had brought her here, telling her she needed a break after getting settled from the move and before jumping into her next Habitat project. She looked around at the lushness that surrounded her. 

He couldn’t have been more right. 

Hawaii. She smiled and did a little jig. He had brought her to Hawaii. 

Mark had promised that one day he’d bring her here one day. He hadn’t been able to fulfill that particular promise, and yet, here she was, standing on a stunning beach, the warm waters of the Pacific teasing her toes and the sunshine bright and warm on her face. So, maybe had had made good on that promise, only not in the way they had envisioned all those years ago. 

She turned then, to head back the way she had come and saw Richie walking toward her. His dark hair was covered by his drab green, Marine Corp hat. He had pulled on his shirt but left it open and the tails flapped in the breeze. The vision of him walking toward her reminded her of a dream she had had when she had first moved to California. She was on a beach and her man was walking toward her. In the dream she had thought it was Mark. But she had been wrong. It had been Richie then, as it was now. Maybe it hadn’t been just a dream after all. Maybe her friends had been right. Maybe her subconscious had been trying to tell her all those months ago just where her life had been headed. She smiled and raised her hand in a small wave. Funny how when you sleep your brain can tell you things you would never have thought about while you were awake. She stepped toward him as he closed the space between them and found herself swept into his strong embrace. 

“There you are Sweetheart. I wondered where you had wandered off to.” 

“Just taking a stroll. It’s so beautiful here.” She leaned up and pressed her lips to his. “Thank you for bringing me here.” 

 He swung her around playfully and set her feet back on the sand. “You don’t have to thank me. We both needed the break.” They had both worked to get her settled in his house, in his life. She harder than him, but still, they both needed a respite from the world. 

She really did love him she thought as took his hand and they headed back toward his house. Every time he looked at her, every time he touched her, she felt it spread through her, over her like the warmth of the tropical sun. She hadn’t really thought she wanted it again. But she was glad she had it, glad she had found him. “I almost don’t want to go home at the end of the week.” She took off her wrap and settled into one of the lounge chairs he had set up for them. “I think I could get used to living right here on the beach.” 

He leered lustily at her, “if you promise to wear that bathing suit every day, I could probably be persuaded into moving here permanently.” The deep purple bikini covered all the important parts but the silver links across her hips and between her breasts just added to the sexiness. 

She laughed, “you’re too easy.” She shifted in the chair, getting comfortable, and gave him a sidelong glance, “I have it in a couple of other colors.” 

He pulled off his shirt and settled into the second chair. “Evil woman.” Reaching for her hand he twined their fingers together and let them dangle in the space between them. The afternoon waned as they lay there enjoying each other’s company without any outside distractions. The warmth of the sun and the gentle sound of the waves hitting the beach lulled them until they were nearly asleep. 

 ~ 

Come on Sweetheart, aren’t you ready yet? 

He paced the living room, waiting. He had first thought to take her out for dinner, but as he had showered off the sun and sand, he decided they should stay in instead. He had taken the liberty of drawing her a bath, telling her to take her time. He had dressed and put his minimal skills to use in the kitchen. He was no gourmet, but his mother had shown him how to throw together a decent enough shrimp scampi. And really, who could screw up salad? He pulled the bag from a drawer in the fridge and set it, along with a bowl, on the counter until he was ready for it. He cracked open the wine - he’d need it for the scampi in a little bit - and got out a glass for her. 

He slid his hand in his pocket as he crossed to the stereo, fingering the small box. He had bought it weeks ago, just waiting for the right moment. Hopefully that moment would be tonight. Her mood was hard to gauge sometimes, but she seemed totally relaxed and happy so far today so he was going to keep the box in his pocket until she had at least one glass of wine in her. That would definitely keep her relaxed and hopefully keep the freak out to a minimum, unlike when he asked her to move in with him. 

He turned to head back to the kitchen and stopped, staring at her where she stood in the doorway. He was sure he looked like a fish with his mouth gaping open. He silently gave thanks to every deity he could think of for the warm tropical locale. She was an absolute vision in red. The skinny little straps of her dress left her tanned shoulders bare and the abbreviated hem showed off her long, toned legs. And her hair. God he loved her hair. She had left it loose so it flowed over her shoulders and down her back in a riot of waves and curls. His fingers itched to touch, to stroke, to fist in that hair and draw her head back so he could sip from the long, elegant line of her neck. 

She stepped toward him, “I hope this is okay” she swept her hand down the front of herself. “You didn’t mention where we were going tonight.” 

He took her hand, bringing it to his lips, kissing her softly. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect. You take my breath, Sweetheart.” He turned her gently, wanting to see the back of the dress and had to swallow back the drool. The back of the dress dipped low, leaving her back bare. “And we’re staying here tonight.” He turned her back to face him. “I hope that’s okay with you.” He needed her, wanted her with a fierceness he couldn’t explain. He had thought that Heather had been it for him and when she left, he wasn’t sure he’d find someone that important again. He gazed down at Stephanie, cupped her cheek lightly and touched his lips to hers. Being wrong never felt so right. 

She nodded, her skin, her lips still tingling from the touch of his. She reached down, slipping off her shoes. “Well, then I guess I don’t need these” she held one sexy sandal up in front of him. “They’re pretty but it’s much more comfortable without them.” 

 He had no idea how women wore those types of shoes - the minimal amount of straps to keep them on their feet and a heel as thin as a needle - but he could appreciate what they did for a pair of legs, especially hers. “Whatever you want, darlin’.” 

She raised an eyebrow, he was already heading down that road? 

“What?” Why was she looking at him like that? 

“You called me ‘darlin’. You only do that when you’re ready to have your wicked way with me.” 

“That a bad thing?” 

Reaching around him she picked up the glass of wine he had poured, hoping it was for her. “Never, but I’m hungry. Can we eat first? We missed lunch today.” 

Taking a deep, calming breath, he took her hand and led her over to the kitchen island and helped her onto one of the bar stools. “You sit there and drink that wine. Dinner will be ready shortly.” 

They talked as he cooked. He couldn’t stop looking at her, couldn’t stop thinking about what he was going to ask her later. The sun had deepened her tan and teased out highlight in her hair. It had left her with freckles that dusted across her nose and the tops of her shoulders. 

“You’re staring.” 

“You’re beautiful.” 

Her cheeks pinked at the compliment. “You’re forgiven.” 

Turning the stove off, he came around the end of the counter to stand in front of her. “I was going to wait until after we ate to do this, but I can’t.” 

She looked up to his face, “to do what?” 

He fished in his pocket and pulled out the small box and flipped open the lid. He stared down, hoping she wouldn’t flip out on him. He turned it toward her, “this.” 

Her eyes grew to saucers, the ring was gorgeous. There were two rows of stones twisted together in an infinity loop, one a rich red and the other a more delicate purplish-pink and they were set in silver? Platinum? How could she know? 

 She reached out to touch and he pulled the ring from its velvet resting place. “I don’t know if you’re ready or even if you want to get married again, Sweetheart. We haven’t talked about it, but I know that while I’m not ready yet, I want to one day.” He looked at the ring again and decided he’d get her a big ass diamond in the event she would have him for the rest of her life, but for now, this one was enough. “So this isn’t an engagement ring.” 

She looked back up at him, something like relief crossed her features. The scary M-word hadn’t even crossed her mind. “Then, what is it?” 

He tried to take her hand but she pulled it back and curled it into a fist. She wasn’t quite ready yet. “A commitment.” Those golden brown eyes of his bored into her kaleidoscope ones that were edging more toward the brown than the happy green he liked to see. But he forged ahead. “A promise that I’m yours and you’re mine. That we belong to each other. That maybe one day we’ll find a preacher and you’ll take my name, but for now just consider it a promise that I want to be with you and no one else.” 

Angling away from him she slipped from the stool and padded across the living room to the French doors that led outside. She glanced down at her hand, the one ring she wore on the middle finger of her left hand caught the last of the daylight. She wasn’t ready for marriage, not yet anyway. But could she wear another man’s ring? She looked up, catching his reflection as he stepped in behind her. She looked back down at her hand again. “Mark gave this to me on our 20th anniversary, I’d always wanted a ring with both of our birthstones in it. It was just days before…” she trailed off. “I’ve never taken it off.” 

Richie placed a hand on her shoulder and gently turned her to face him. “I’m not asking you to take it off, Sweetheart.” He held up the ring he had chosen, “I’m just asking you to wear mine too.” 

A smile curved her lips and she asked herself again how she had come to be so lucky in her life. No, she wasn’t ready to get married again, but she couldn’t imagine being with anyone else but him. She held out her hand to him, “a promise, right? A commitment?” 

He nodded and slid the slim, platinum band on her ring finger. “A commitment, baby.” He pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close. He could feel her trembling. “You’re shaking, what’s wrong?” 

She slid her arms around his neck and her eyes were wet when they met his. “It’s a big step. One that I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to take again, but I do.” She pressed her lips to his. “I do, with you.” 

His lips lingered on hers, taking the kiss deep, then deeper still. He walked them away from the windows, stopping by the couch. “You won’t be sorry.” 

The corner of her mouth kicked up in a sassy half smile, “you might be.” 

“Never” he told her as he kissed the smile from her lips. The kiss spun out and he let his hands roam. They finally fisted in the hair he was so crazy about and, easing his mouth from hers, he drew her head back and trailed his lips down that lovely, long neck. He nipped across her shoulder and nudged at the strap until it slid down her arm. 

Straightening, he took a half step back and just looked at her. Her head was still dropped back, her eyes were closed and her chest heaved with the effort of breathing. Those long, dexterous fingers reached out and caressed the swell of her breast, relishing the shudder he felt and the goose bumps that bloomed on her skin. Reaching over, he nudged the other strap down and the dress slithered to the floor. He let out a low whistle. The scrap of lace and strings she called underwear was nearly as sexy at the damn dress. 

She lifted her head slowly, her eyes blurry with desire as they met his. “You’re staring, again.” She raised her hands and worked the buttons on his shirt. “Maybe I should dress like this more often. His shirt joined her dress on the floor.

“You’ll have me dead inside a week if you do that Darlin’.” 

She stepped out of the pool of her dress and pressed herself against him. “You’re stronger than that,” her tongue snaked out and circled one coppery nipple, “you can handle it.” When her hands started to roam and one stroked him over the lightweight khaki, his control nearly snapped. He grabbed her hands and eased her down onto the couch. 

Tangled together on the thankfully wide sofa, hands roamed and mouths sought, tasted. His hands moved over her, palming her breasts, rolling an already taught nipple between his fingers. She arched up to him and he captured that rosy tip between his teeth. She very nearly came apart under him. He knew all her hot spots and he was exploiting every single one of them. 

His pants disappeared somewhere along the line and her sexy underwear landed amongst the pillows at the end of the couch. He rose over her, his eyes dark and drenched with desire held hers, pleasure ratcheted up when he saw she was as lost as he was and he slipped inside her. He cupped her hip, sliding his hand along a smooth thigh, hitching it just a little higher. “There’s the spot” he murmured. He moved with an aching slowness that frustrated and incensed. He dipped his head, taking her mouth again, swallowing her pleas for him to move faster. “We’ll get there, Darlin’.” 

She knew he’d take her where she wanted to go, he never failed but he was moving too slow. She angled her hips and raised them, meeting every slow thrust. Lifting her chin, her mouth found his again. She nipped his bottom lip, “please, Rich…” Her hands slid down, gripped his hips. “Please…” 

 He looked down at her, she was right there, just waiting for him. And she begged so pretty. “Come on darlin’” he whispered in her ear and pumped his hips faster, harder. He dropped his head, capturing one of her sensitive nipples, and followed her headlong into release. 

Sated and satisfied she curled into him, resting against his chest. She looked at her hand where it lay against his skin. The ring he gave her sparkled in the low light of the room. It was beautiful. She shifted her gaze to the one that rested next to it. It too was beautiful. She looked at her other hand, her baby’s birthstone resided on the ring finger of that hand. Thoughtfully, deliberately, she eased Mark’s ring from her left hand and slid it onto the same finger of her right. 

Behind her, Richie held his breath and watched through hooded eyes. He never would have asked her to do that, but he couldn’t say he wasn’t glad she had. Baby steps, he had to remind himself. A whole lot of baby steps had gotten them to where they were right now and those same tiny steps would take them wherever they were headed next. He pressed his lips to her shoulder. “You didn’t have to do that.” 

Lifting his hand, she tangled hers with his. “I know.” She snugged in closer to him. “I wanted to.” She lifted their hands, studied them. Like puzzle pieces, she thought, locked together, a perfect fit. Turning her head, she pressed her lips to the center of his chest before raising her eyes to his. “I’ll always love them, always miss them.” 

“I know.”

Lifting up, she found his lips with hers. “But I’m happy I found you.” 

He held her tighter, “me too, Sweetheart. Me too.” His lips lingered on hers. She had belonged to someone else once, as had he. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they had each other. They would build a new life together and he’d keep her as happy as she deserved to be.