Chapter 21
I was sittingin Terri’s room telling her what had happened two nights ago. Her memory was a blur and she barely remembered much at all. Her voice was still hoarse, but luckily, the injury to her trachea was not as bad as Pearce had originally thought.
She wasn’t very lucid as they had her on a morphine pump. It was a good thing too. I couldn’t possibly imagine the pain she was in. Every time she’d conk out, I’d head over to Justin’s room. His mood had improved over yesterday. They were going to move him out of ICU today. He was barking out orders to all the nurses. Whoever said that doctors make the worst patients, was right. Justin was rude and a pain in the ass to everyone, and I told him as much.
“You need to calm down, buddy. Your nurses are gonna put a laxative in your food or something in retaliation.”
He looked at me and then burst into laughter. “Oh God, don’t make me laugh. My guts hurt like crazy.”
“Well, they should. Your brother had his fingers in there for at least an hour.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
Me and my big mouth. “I think it’s best if you hear it from him.”
His head swiveled one way and then the other. “Give it up, Lexi.”
My breath gushed out. I’d have to tell Pearce about this. “Well, you were bleeding. It was bad, spurting out of your wound. I held a light while Pearce stuck his fingers inside of you and figured out where it was coming from. He held it closed until they got you here.”
“Jesus, why didn’t he tell me?”
I shrugged because I didn’t have an answer. “Maybe because he’s Pearce and that’s the kind of stuff he deals with every day?”
Justin rubbed his face and shook his head.
“Thanks for telling me, Lexi.”
I made a fist and held it out to him. “Can I just say Pearce was amazing that night? I never knew what he did, you know, when he went to work every day. But he went into overdrive. You and Terri were in the best hands.”
“Yeah, I know. He is the best.”
We shared a look, a very meaningful one.
“Hey, Lexi?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re going to be my sister.” He grinned.
“Me too!” I laughed.
I left the hospital late that afternoon and went home to the carriage house. When I got there, two Range Rovers sat in the driveway. One was black and the other was silver. I wondered whose they were. I walked inside and Pearce was sitting on the couch watching TV. He got up and greeted me, smiling.
“Hi, babe.”
“Hi,” I said as I kissed him.
“Here, this is for you. Or this, you take your pick.” He held out two key fobs.
“What’s this?”
“Keys to the Range Rovers.”
“But, Pearce, I don’t need a new car,” I protested.
“Yeah, you do. And so did I. You’re precious cargo and there’s no way I want you driving back and forth to work in nothing less than that. After going over that accident in my mind, I realize that if we’d have been the car in front, if that deer had hit us, we wouldn’t have survived, Alexia. My 911 wouldn’t have been able to handle that wreck. Justin’s Range Rover came out of that intact. And because of that, they’re alive. I’m selling the Porsche. Give Lisbeth the Highlander back because I want you to have solid protection. And no arguments, please. Do this for my peace of mind. Okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.” I wouldn’t make him anxious over this. Never would I do that to him.
“So?” he asked.
“So what?”
“What color do you want?”
“Silver.”
“That’s what I thought. Here you go. I’ll be here at seven. Or do you want to just come over. We’re sleeping together tonight. You decide how you want to work it out and in whose bed you want to sleep.”
“I’ll be at your place at six and just get ready over there. Okay?”
“Perfect. Love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you back. See you then.”
I didn’t tell Pearce, but I had a three o’clock appointment with his friend, Phillip Sorensen, the psychiatrist he’d recommended a while back. If we were going to be married, I wanted to do my best to go into it as baggage-free as possible.
I walked into Dr. Sorensen’s office and was freaking out by this. I wasn’t sure about how I could reveal my most inner thoughts and feelings. My last counseling experience was abysmal, I hoped this was the right thing to do.
His office door opened, and he ushered me inside, telling me to make myself comfortable on one of the cushy leather chairs. He looked to be Pearce’s age, was heavy set, with blond hair and blue eyes. He wasn’t much taller than me, about five feet eightish, but he immediately made me feel at ease. A smile grew on my face.
“Hi, Ms. Hammond, it’s great to meet you.”
I reached out to shake his hand. “Dr. Sorensen, same here.”
“Okay, first things first. How would you like to be called?”
“I prefer Lexi.”
“Lexi it is. And please call me Phil. I like to dispense with formalities around here.” Then his index finger popped up. “There’s another thing I want to get out of the way. I know you realize Pearce and I are very close. We go way back, and I mean way back. All the way to kindergarten.” He laughed. “But keep in mind, you and I have a professional relationship in this office. Everything that we discuss stays in here and I’m not at liberty to discuss anything with him. Pearce would never, under any circumstances, ask me about it either, but I just want you to be clear on this. Okay?”
“Phil, Pearce doesn’t know I’m here.”
His brows furrowed. “Can I ask why?”
“I guess I wanted to do this on my own. I want to go into our marriage the right way. I have a lot of issues that need addressing and learning how to deal with them is my top priority.”
He asked some pointed questions about my past and things started centering around my parents. “Phil, I have to stop you for a minute. I will never make things right with them. They were the ones who destroyed our relationship and I’ll never be the one who extends the olive branch.”
“I don’t have a problem with that whatsoever. Your feelings about this rule.”
His response took a huge stone off my chest. The other counselor I had gone to tried to make me feel it was my responsibility to keep trying to have a relationship with my parents. I tried, I really did. But every time, I felt as though I’d been physically punched in the gut fifty times. On the other hand, Phil accepted my feelings and moved forward. Our session ended with my story about Peter and the accident and how I’d felt afterward regarding the guilt and blame I carried.
Phil and I decided that I’d see him twice a week for starters and then we could adjust our schedules. I felt good about him and let him know. I also told him about my last experience and that I was impressed by him already.
He laughed and said, “I wouldn’t be too quick to say that yet. We’ve only just started. But I’d like to say something. I appreciate your willingness to be this open already. Many patients have problems with that, and it can delay them getting better.”
All the way home I thought about what he said. I knew my biggest issue was going to be telling him about my slutty days. I was going to have to pull up my bootstraps, forge through, and get it over with when the time came.
I got home, jumped in the shower, and quickly got ready for my night out with Pearce. I packed a bag, picked out work clothes for the next day, and decided what to wear that night. I chose a black skirt with a sky-blue sleeveless silk blouse and a pair of black heels. I made sure I had the sex bracelet too.
Gathering all the papers for the Toyota, I ran across the yard and went to Lisbeth’s. She sat in her usual spot, so I pranced in and told her what Pearce had done.
“Under the circumstances, I can certainly understand that, dear. But I gave you that car free and clear. Alexia, you sell it and keep the money.”
“Good God, Lisbeth, I can’t do that! It’s only a few months old. It’s practically brand new and only has a couple of thousand miles on it.”
“Why don’t you do this, then? Whenever you and Pearce decide to tie that knot, use that money for your wedding gown?”
I grinned at her. “News travels fast, doesn’t it? I was getting ready to tell you that next! But I would never spend that kind of money on a wedding dress!”
“Darling Alexia, you are marrying a Middleton, and when you walk down that aisle, you will be swathed in a designer gown if it’s the last thing I make you do on this earth. Now run along and take those keys and title with you. Have Pearce sell the car for you and use that money for your bridal trousseau. You hear me, young lady?”
“Yes, ma’am!” I hugged her and went back to the carriage house. If there was one thing about Lisbeth, it was when she made up her mind about something, that was it. You were never going to change her mind. I had learned early on to quit trying.
Since I was ready to head over to Pearce’s early, I got in the car and went. His car wasn’t there yet, so I let myself in and made myself at home in his bed. I stretched out, intending just to relax a few moments but I fell asleep, because I woke up to find him rubbing his scruffy face across my cheek.
“This is a nice surprise,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting you till six.”
“I know.” I smiled as I stretched like a cat. I told him about Lisbeth and the car, and he laughed.
“Grams will love that story. She loves it when Lisbeth parts with money.”
“What’s this about a trousseau? What the heck is that? I acted like I knew when she mentioned it.”
“A trousseau is just clothing a bride gets for her wedding and honeymoon from what I understand. You need to check with Ava on all that. She’ll be more familiar with it.”
“Well, I’m not spending twenty grand on a dress.”
“Alexia, I don’t have an inkling of what a wedding gown costs, but that car is probably worth closer to forty.”
“What! Are you serious?”
“Yeah. I look at cars all the time.”
I squinted at him. “Do I even want to know how much that Range Rover cost?”
“Nope.”
“Didn’t think so. I can’t even fathom this.”
“You don’t have to. Let me worry about that, okay?”
“Who the hell would spend forty grand on a wedding gown and some clothes for their honeymoon or whatever?”
“Apparently Lisbeth would.”
“Well, shoot!”
“On another note, they moved Justin out of ICU this afternoon. Whatever you told him yesterday and today certainly seemed to help his disposition.”
I chuckled. “I told him if he didn’t stop acting like an ass, the nurses were going to put laxatives in his food.”
Pearce flew wild and cracked up. I also told him about how I spilled the beans on how he stopped Justin from bleeding to death. “I’m sorry. I thought he already knew.”
He eyes met mine and something in his gaze altered and intensified. “You know,” he started, his voice rough, “I deal with this kind of shit all the time. But when it’s your brother, and you’re standing there with your hands in his gut knowing … knowing if you move as much as one centimeter, his life could end, everything changes.”
For a moment, we were back there at the scene staring at each other over Justin but this time there was a difference. This time I was able to put my arms around him, run my hands through his hair, touch his face, and tell him again that I loved him with everything I had.
We went to dinner that night and it was amazing. We ate a five-course meal and I was floating on a cloud. Pearce booked a private alcove in the restaurant, which was lovely and very private. They brought out champagne and the first course, which happened to be caviar and blinis with creme fraiche. I’d never eaten this before and was surprised at how the slightly salty taste of the caviar blended with the blinis and richness of the creme fraiche simply melted in my mouth. He fed each one to me and I couldn’t seem to get enough.
“Mmm, this is sooo good,” I said as I licked my lips.
“One day, I’m going to blindfold you and feed you. I think it would be great fun to watch you enjoy food that way.”
“You think so?”
“No, I know so. I love to watch you eat, Alexia. It’s almost a sexual experience for me. The way your mouth and lips move. I can’t begin to explain it.”
Well, okay, then. Maybe we should just forget the meal and go home instead.
Pierce shook his head and grinned. “I know what you’re thinking and no, we’re not leaving.” He laughed.
I reached under the table for him, but he stopped me.
“Huh-uh, that can’t happen yet either.”
“Not fair,” I whispered. “You already have me squirming.” I stuck my tongue out at him.
“Good. Keep it up, woman. Just keep that up.”
“What? Are you gonna spank me?”
He arched his brows. “Now you might have an idea there.”
“Pearce!”
He laughed at my admonishment.
They came and cleared our plates and refilled our champagne glasses.
Pearce took a sip of his and then took my hand in his and kissed each of my fingers.
“The other day in the hospital, when I asked you to marry me, it was really the spur of the moment and not the most romantic thing I wanted it to be. So …” He moved in front of me, got down on his knee, and continued, “Alexia, you’re the only woman I’d ever want to spend the rest of my life with. When I tell you you’re beautiful, I don’t just mean your physical presence. I mean your heart and soul. It’s what I fell in love with. I want you by my side always, for better or worse, in difficult times and in good times, to share laughter and grief, to have a family together, but most of all to stand next to me day and night as my best friend. Will you do me the greatest honor of all and become my wife?” Then he pulled a black velvet box out of his pocket and opened it up. He took the ring out and slid it on my finger.
I gulped when I saw it. It was huge. I should have expected it but seeing it sitting on my finger was quite a shock. It was an odd-cut diamond surrounded by pave diamonds that ran down the band. It was a real stunner.
“It’s an Asscher-cut diamond. If you don’t like it, you can exchange it,” he quietly said.
“It’s perfect, Pearce. But will you do me the honor of becoming my husband because I’m not sure I deserve someone like you.”
“I will and you do. You still didn’t answer me though.”
“Yes, I will be your wife. I would love nothing more.”
“Do you like the ring? Really, Alexia, because it can go back if you don’t?”
How could I possibly not like this? “Pearce, it’s amazing. It’s much more than I deserve.”
“Babe, if you asked for the world, I’d find a way to give it to you. You ought to know that by now.”
“I really love it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful ring in my life. Now please kiss me before I cry.”
His kiss was thankfully interrupted by our next course of she-crab soup, and it was probably a good thing, or I’d have had him stripped down to nothing by now. My hands itched to yank his pants off and rip his shirt open in order to run my hands all over his luscious body.
The dinner was delicious, and by the time dessert was served, I wanted to take it home in a to-go box. I was dripping in anticipation of what was in store next. I knew there was something because Pearce kept fingering my bracelet, and every time he did, he’d raise his smoky grays and I’d shudder.
The drive home, even though it was only a half mile long, was pure torture. Pearce kept touching that bracelet, and then he’d slide his hand up my leg, but stopped right before he got to the place that drove me crazy.
“You love to torture me, don’t you?”
He gave a throaty laugh but didn’t answer.
By the time we hit the living area, he was half undressed. Strangely enough, I wasn’t. He kissed and touched me, but my clothes had been left intact.
He pulled me upstairs until we were out on the widow’s walk. I don’t know when he had time to do it, but the whole roof was decorated with tiny lights, and they twinkled everywhere. He’d also brought up a bed and it was draped in gossamer, giving it an ethereal appearance.
“Oh my God. When did you do this?”
“I didn’t. A couple of people did it while we were at dinner.”
“It’s lovely. Perfect.” It was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen.
“Not nearly as perfect as you. Now, my future bride, I’d like to undress you, and then lay you down where I intend to make love to you under the stars.”
I held up a finger. “Wait. I need to say something first before things get out of hand between us.”
He gave me a questioning look as he tilted his head.
“You set me on fire, Pearce Middleton, and when you do, all coherent thought leaves my mind. I want to say this to you now so I don’t forget. You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I never imagined loving someone could be like this. I want you to know I’m seeing Phil because when I agreed to marry you, I chose to be as mentally healthy as I possibly can. You deserve that. And I suppose I do too. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get there. And I’m going to do it for the right reasons. That means not just for you, but for me too.”
If I thought his smile was perfect before, well, there was no describing it now. You’d have thought I just handed him the keys to heaven. And maybe I did in his eyes.
He grabbed me and kissed me all the way to paradise, and if I thought we’d had hot steamy sex before, well, Pearce Middleton put a whole new twist on it for me that night.