Chapter 15 Dallas
“Oh, man,” Greg loudly proclaimed after his first bite. “This is absolutely wonderful.”
“And the cream streaming down into the hot cobbler just makes this nearly divine,” Veronica added. “Though Grandma Virginia always had a little more cinnamon in hers.”
“Was her crust this flaky?” Greg asked.
“Better!” Veronica declared. Greg looked at her strongly. “I’m not bragging!”
“Okay,” Greg said as he leaned back. “I believe you.” He took another bite. “Did I see a walkway outside?”
“Yes,” Veronica said as she finished her dessert. “There’s a fully glass encased walkway and also an open air one just above us.”
“Would you care to take a moonlight stroll like we did on the cruise?” Greg asked with a double lift of his eyebrows.
“With you?” she said softly. “Absolutely!” She pushed her dessert bowl away. Greg moved so swiftly out of his seat and around to pull her chair back that Veronica was stunned. “My, aren’t you the eager beaver.”
“There’s a full moon, and I want to truly enjoy it. I’ve always found comfort and solace in enjoying the beauty of God’s creation.”
“That’s another thing about you that draws me toward you Greg,” she said as she stood up. “You have a deep faith in a divine creator God.”
“How can you not? Just look at this world. It’s marvelously made with so much aesthetic beauty and splendor,” he said as he held out his arm to her.
“Plus,” he added as she took his left arm; “He’s given man knowledge and understanding to build things of beauty also, though,” he paused and looked at her.
“I think He made your beauty to be something near perfection.”
“Now, Greg,” Veronica replied with a light laugh. “That’s flattery beyond need.”
“The stairway up is over there?” he asked, pointing off to the right.
“Yes, sweetheart. Just brace yourself for the heat after this airconditioned dining room.”
“Well, I guess it’s time to embrace Texas,” Greg said, taking the lead. He opened the door at the top of the stairs, stepping out into the eighty degree heat. “You weren’t kidding about heat,” he said with some surprise. “Are you okay with this?”
“As long as I’m with you,” she said softly, pulling him to a stop. She lifted her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. “Thank you for bringing me up here.”
“The view is unbelievable, and being able to see the moon and stars above us,” he added. “That’s something you don’t normally get in a city setting. Too much light pollution, or ambient background lighting,” he said. “It blocks the view of the stars in skyglow.”
“Do you often go to look at the stars?”
“Back home, I’d drive to one of the lakes to get away from the light pollution. Usually, I’d go to the west side of Longview Lake, near the area where the wedding was held.”
“The same spot we did our first Veronique photo shoot. That’s why you didn’t need directions,” she realized.
“Sometimes, you can surprise me more than I expected. You appreciate the arts like Ballet, and God’s creation beauty, all while being a near genius with financial investments.
” She kissed him again. “And you are generous to a fault, and though you have wealth, you remain humble and grounded. You have this soft warm heart hidden behind your business persona. I love you Greg,” she said kissing him deeply again.
“I truly love you with everything I have.”
“It’s getting late,” he said, glancing at his wristwatch. “I should take you back to your suite.”
“That sounds like a good idea, so long as you join me for one nightcap.”
“Since you insist, I must comply,” he said then kissed her. “Shall we adjourn to your suite, madam?”
“Now you are getting corny, Greg,” Veronica laughed heartily. “But, yes. Let’s head back down.” They turned and strolled back across the open roof to the access doorway where Greg gave one last glance up at the moon and the stars before he opened the door. “That is a remarkable sight.”
“Indeed,” Greg agreed and they headed downstairs.
The walk down to the elevator was almost perfect silence, both just enjoying being in the presence of the other.
When they got to her room, she placed her card on the reader to unlock the door.
“Allow me,” he said as he opened the door inward for her, then followed her in.
“Wine or Brandy?” she asked politely.
“Chardonnay?” he asked softly.
“Yes,” she responded. “I’ll grab the glasses if you’ll get the bottle from the stand,” she said pointing to a small rack in the corner.
“Meet me on the couch.” Greg found the bottle and the corkscrew while Veronica retrieved the glasses.
They met back on the couch where he opened the bottle and poured their glasses three quarters full.
“I’ve truly enjoyed tonight,” she said softly and leaned her head left onto his right shoulder.
“So have I,” he said and turned slightly to gently kiss her forehead. He took a deep drink of the wine then sat his glass down. She did the same. “Veronica, you are so beautiful, and such a wonderful woman. Do I really deserve to be with someone like you?”
“I could say the same thing about you, Greg,” she said, gazing deep into his eyes.
“Shut up and just kiss me,” she nearly demanded and Greg did exactly that.
They kissed passionately, breathing starting to become ragged as their hearts began to race within their chests.
“I know I want you right now; though I swore to remain a virgin, Greg.” She ran her hands across his chest, loosening his tie.
His arms wrapped her tight as he turned completely toward her, her chest pressing against his.
“Greg,” she said as her breath caught in her throat. “Please,” she pleaded.
“Are you asking me?” Greg began and saw the passion in her eyes.
He kissed her again deeply, and brought his hand around toward her chest before he bolted backwards.
“What are we doing?” he asked breathless.
“This is what almost happened with Erica. I can’t ruin what we’re building by surrendering to this. ”
Veronica sat still, stunned into total silence. She read the look on Greg’s face and the flash of fear in his eyes. “Erica?” she said in a near whisper. “Greg?”
“That was the source of the discussion on the plane,” he admitted as he tried to get upright on the couch.
“I’m sorry Veronica. I want you more than I can tell you, but after what happened on Sunday, I can’t allow myself to drop my guard against that.
” He ran his hand through his hair. “If we give in now to our passions, we’re both likely to regret it.
You’ve made your vow to both of your mothers and I agreed to honor it.
You must be valued worthy of that respect, or any future we may want to build will be destroyed by our own lusts and desires. ”
“Sunday?” Veronica breathed out, as if the rest of what he’d said didn’t matter.
“Yes,” he admitted softly. “I ran into Erica and we spent time catching up at my house. I’d had a couple of glasses of wine, was emotionally in turmoil and then she kissed me,” he started then corrected himself.
“Actually, I kissed her.” Veronica’s eyes flashed red with fire and anger.
“We almost did this,” he said trying to move it forward.
“If I hadn’t seen Carry in my mind, descending the stairs, I might well have gone through with it. ”
“Erica still holds sway on your heart, Greg!” she accused him. “And you let me get swept up like this?!”
“Which is exactly why I pulled back.” He shifted into a more neutral position. “You are worth too much to me. I won’t risk losing you the way I lost Erica.”
“Greg Garrelson! Do not compare me to that,,,” she paused as she realized for the first time that Greg was actually putting her above Erica. “That former lover of yours,” she finally concluded. “I’m much more than she ever could be!”
“I agree with you,” he said in a near whisper that pulled Veronica back from her anger. “And I want you that way, but at the right time. Now’s not the right time.”
“Hold on,” she said, slightly reeling. “YOU want ME in that way?”
“Yes,” he admitted through a long, drawn-out breath.
“Everything within me is on fire with desire and passion to be completely and fully intimate with you.” He pushed himself to a standing position.
“I have to leave, or we’ll cross a line that we can’t come back from.
” He moved to the door quickly. “Goodnight Veronica.”
Billy moved through James’ suite with a large glass of iced tea in one hand and a fruit punch with a kick in the other.
The shot of everclear alcohol in the glass of fruit punch is what gave it the kick.
He handed the fruit punch with a kick to Carry as he sat down beside her.
He took a swig of his iced tea then sat the glass onto a coaster in front of him.
Carry pulled the straw toward her mouth and took a sip from it.
She smiled brightly as she enjoyed the flavor. “I hope this meets your approval.”
“It does indeed, Billy,” Carry brightly replied.
“Could I get one also?” Cassie implored.
“Of course,” Billy said, tipping his hat slightly as he got back up.
“And me too!” Wendy called.
“I’ve got you, babe!” Aarie said as he leapt to his feet. “And I will also get you one, Miss Katie. Boss?” Aarie said as he looked at James.
“That empty bottle of champagne and this Brandy are all I need,” James replied.
“You girls enjoy this. You earned it. I, however, do have a little more work to do, so I’m going over to the business office room.
You can let yourselves out when you are done, but don’t forget that we have the morning breakfast organization meeting downstairs at eight. ”
“Right, Boss!” the girls all said in unison. Aarie joined Billy in heading to the kitchen to retrieve the fruit punch with a kick drinks for the girls.
“Carry?” Katie called hesitantly.
“Yes, Katie?” Carry replied with a slight cautious tone.
“Do you think that Billy is kind of a hunk?” she asked with strong curiosity.