Chapter Sixteen
Everyone was already waiting at the airport when the two couples arrived.
Johanna looked gorgeous in winter white jeans and a blue fur collared jacket that matched her shining eyes.
On her left hand sparkled an enormous diamond solitaire and the only time Sam took his hands from her was to hug both Susan and Kelsey and shake hands with Marcus and Ty.
Mike and Brandy congratulated Ty and Kelsey while Elena threw herself into Susan’s arms whispering “Thank you” over and over again while Jeff smiled and shook his head at her enthusiastic greeting.
Elena wore her emotions in plain view and he was never in doubt as to what she was feeling.
Apparently she somehow credited Susan with her current happiness and maybe she was right.
In the last few months he often wondered if he would have let Elena slip away if Susan hadn’t given her a little push to make him jealous.
Erica waited quietly off to one side accompanied by an attractive older man who smiled politely as introductions were made all around.
All too soon Sam was ushering them aboard the private jet and directing them to their seats.
Susan was frustrated. The entire trip to the airport Marcus kept her close, sitting with his arm securely around her waist on the drive.
He’d given her back her cell until he realized she was texting Kelsey in the car with her volume down.
Taking it from her hand he read her last text and smiled as he replied for her.
“I’m sorry Kelsey,” he typed. “Susan is temporarily grounded from her phone until she can behave in a more responsible manner.” Showing her the message before he hit send, he could almost see the steam coming out of her ears.
Slipping the phone in his pocket he managed to avoid the sharp heel of her shoe as she tried to jab his shin.
The shoes were another issue. He’d made himself clear on many occasions, but at this point he felt he had to pick his battles.
The important thing was Ty and Kelsey’s happiness and a full-fledged tantrum from the volatile redhead needed to be avoided at all costs, at least until the wedding was over.
After that, all bets were off as far as he was concerned.
Susan could either be supportive or silent.
Once his brother was safely married, he would deal with her attitude in his own way.
Marcus had already spoken with Sam and asked for his help.
The other women on board would be able to see Kelsey’s joy, and Ty’s love for her was obvious.
Marcus was sure they could be counted on to give Kelsey the confidence to follow her heart.
As soon as they reached their flying altitude, Susan unbuckled her seat belt and made a beeline for the bar. Within seconds all the others joined her and they were discussing wedding chapel options, dresses, flowers and all the other details necessary to make a memorable ceremony.
Marcus got a whiskey and joined the other men, always keeping an eye on Susan who eventually took her drink and wandered quietly away to sit by a window. He watched as Brandy, sipping from a glass of white wine, joined her and he turned back to the men.
“I take it this wedding is a little hard for you to swallow?” Brandy murmured softly to Susan.
“That would be putting it mildly,” Susan replied with a grimace.
“Exactly what is it you object to?” Brandy asked, curious.
“I guess it’s just that she’s so young,” Susan replied.
“She’s twenty-one. Many girls marry much younger than that. Don’t you like Ty?”
“I like Ty,” Susan replied. “At least most of the time,” she continued with a tiny smile.
“He’s a little bossy and overbearing at times, but then what man isn’t?
I love Kelsey, she’s the little sister I never had, my best friend…
she’s family really. This feels rushed to me and I’m not sure she knows what she’s getting into.
Ty has all the power,” she sighed sadly.
“He’s older, more dominant, experienced, wealthy, what chance does a girl like Kelsey have against him? ”
“Are you sure you’re talking about Kelsey and not yourself?” Brandy offered gently, her gray eyes not missing a thing.
Susan didn’t answer immediately. Was the fear and anxiety she felt all about Kelsey future, or did it have something to do with Marcus?
If she were truthful with herself, she was terrified by the intensity of her feelings for Marcus.
Despite what she said last night it was more than a job to her, much more.
She admired him and all he had been able to accomplish in his life.
The sight of him pleased her on a level that was unfamiliar to her.
More than a sexual attraction, she just plain liked looking at him, the way he moved, the way he smiled, his strength, even his scent.
His blue eyes could be filled with tenderness that melted her heart or so serious and firm she about wet her pants.
His large hands could bring her pain or pleasure and sometimes both at the same time.
It was mind boggling and impossible to wrap her head around.
So consumed by her thoughts, Susan didn’t realize her eyes had been focused intently on Marcus and as he took a step toward her, Brandy smiled and waved him back.
“Have you looked at Kelsey lately, I mean really looked at her?” she asked. “I haven’t seen her in a few months and the changes are startling. I can hardly believe she’s the same painfully shy, timid girl I met the night of the party. She’s positively glowing,” she observed.
Susan studied her friend. Her hair was bright and shining as it swirled softly around her face.
She was animated, her eyes sparkling as she laughed with the other women and joined effortlessly in the conversation.
Now and then she would blush as she covered her eyes with her small hand at their teasing, but she was no longer afraid.
Her cheeks were fuller and she didn’t look at all like the gaunt waif Susan felt compelled to protect.
There was a confidence about her and she seemed somehow taller.
Ty had given her that confidence Susan realized.
Under his loving attention she had bloomed from a small tiny bud into a breathtakingly beautiful flower.
She loved, and was loved in return she realized as she caught Ty winking at Kelsey with a secret smile. Who was she to interfere?
“You know sometimes it’s not the mind that decides Susan,” Brandy gently whispered. “Sometimes it’s the heart and we just have to follow where it leads.”
Susan turned to Brandy and pulled her close for a hug.
Rising she walked across the space that separated her from Marcus.
Reaching up she slipped her hand behind his neck and pulled his startled face to her, kissing him passionately right there in front of everyone, ignoring the hoots and jibs from the others.
Marcus slipped his arm around her and kissed her back, pulling her tightly against him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered in his ear . “I would never do anything to hurt Kelsey and I withdraw my objection. I can see they love each other dearly.”
“Good girl.” Marcus sighed quietly as he inhaled her perfume. “Now let’s hope you see a few other things more clearly, Red.”
The next few days were a whirlwind of excitement and new experiences.
After checking into their suites’, the five couples met for a late dinner and talked into the wee hours of the morning.
Susan learned that John, the man who came with Erica, was originally from Texas.
He had an understated charm that went along with his almost imperceptible southern drawl.
A very attractive man, he seemed to have a calm personality and Susan could see him as a good friend but frankly, she didn’t understand the attraction between him and Erica.
John was nothing like the uber-intense Erica.
Although she never raised her voice or had a hair out of place, Erica was clearly a micromanager and John didn’t seem at all like the type of man who would give her much of a challenge.
Jeff and Elena, now there was a couple who could set the sheets on fire, Sue thought as she sipped her drink.
If that man didn’t check his watch ten times in the last hour as he looked longingly at the petite woman beside him, she’d eat her cocktail napkin.
Still, considering the fact that little Rosalie was being cared for by Elena’s mother, she couldn’t blame him.
It was probably one of the few nights they would have all to themselves and the dark-haired beauty did look ravishing in her low cut red cocktail dress.
Mike and Brandy sat close together, holding hands as the conversation flowed around them. Frequently Mike kissed the back of her hand and Brandy smiled in pleasure when he asked her to dance. The other couples soon joined them leaving Marcus and Susan alone at the large round table.
“What changed your mind?” Marcus asked, leaning back in his chair and studying Sue as she watched the couples gliding around the dance floor.
“Look,” she said with a grin, nodding at Erica and John. “He’s letting her lead. Wonder how long that will last?” she snorted, ignoring his question.
“It will last until he tires of the game and takes control away from her,” Marcus replied.
“Maybe he won’t,” she said, stabbing the olive out of her Martini and pulling it from her toothpick.
“Trust me, he will,” Marcus stated dryly.
“You know him? I mean before today?” she asked surprised.
“Yes.”
“And you like him?”
“Very much, John’s a good guy. Why all the curiosity about Erica’s choice of a date?”
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully, resting her chin on her hand as she saw Erica laughing.
“I look around and see how happy everyone seems and I wonder how long it will last. Sam and Johanna are engaged, Mike and Brandy can’t take their eyes off each other, and Jeff is in such hurry to get Elena alone I half expect to see him carry her away at any moment.
Kelsey is glowing and Ty is so puffed up with pride I can’t help but feel like it’s all a dream or a scene out of a movie. ”
“And this disturbs you?” he asked smiling slightly. “Is there something fundamentally wrong with this picture you’re seeing?”
“No, but if something seems too good to be true, it usually is,” she responded signaling to the waiter for another drink.
“At some point the curtain falls, the lights dim and the credits roll. What happens when the real world comes charging in? When all the glittering lights and beautiful costumes disappear?”
“Susan, you sound absolutely maudlin. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were jealous,” Marcus drawled taking the glass out of her hand and pulling her to her feet. “Come on, I think we’d better dance before you’re weeping in your drink.”
“I am not jealous,” she insisted, letting him guide her to the floor and into his arms.
“Okay, you’re not jealous,” he soothed, placating her as he snagged her closer. “You, of course, are seeing everything clearly; it’s just the rest of us who have a skewed perception of the real world.”
“Exactly!” she agreed, snuggling closer with a smile.
“As always, you are entitled to your opinion, my darling little pessimist,” he murmured in her ear as he twirled her across the floor.
“Just don’t try to get away with raining on anyone else’s parade,” he laughed, slipping his large hand down her back and patting her bottom.
“There’s not a big enough umbrella in the world to protect you from my wrath if you do,” he promised.
“Marcus, behave yourself,” she hissed, taking his hand and moving it back to her waist as a tiny jolt of fear shot through her. Damn, now her freaking panties were wet and she’d done so well tonight too. “Isn’t it time to go upstairs?” she asked, pushing her tummy against him.
Marcus threw back his head and laughed. “As your employer, I think it’s up to me when we retire,” he said.
“Don’t give me that ‘employer’ bullshit. You proved your point last night and you said you wouldn’t hold a grudge if I remember correctly,” she stated smugly as the music ended.
“So I did,” he conceded as they moved through the crowd to the table, his hand on the small of her back, guiding her. “Funny how you can remember what I said at the height of passion, but you can’t seem to remember what I told you about those shoes.”
“It’s a special occasion,” she shot back with a smile. “You didn’t really expect me to come to Vegas for the first time wearing those ugly little flats you insist upon?”
“Heavens no, that would be unconscionable,” he mocked, his eyes twinkling.
“What would really be unconscionable,” she whispered as they neared the table, “would be me going upstairs and putting that marvelous handheld massager I saw in the shower to such good use that security might be called.”
“Wow,” he replied. “After last night I thought you might actually behave for a while, unless of course you are looking for a spanking.”
“I suppose that’s always a possibility,” she purred.
“Well, goodnight everyone,” Marcus said abruptly as they reached the table. Picking up Susan’s purse he handed it to her and took her hand. “It’s been a long day and we’re going to retire. See you all in the morning,” he said over his shoulder as he towed the beaming Susan away.
As soon as the elevator doors closed behind them he backed Susan into the corner and lifted her leg over his hip. Sliding one hand along the inside of her thigh he encountered her wet panties and ripped the fragile fabric from her with a snap of his wrist.
“Marcus, how caveman of you,” she gasped, laughing as he stuffed them into his pocket.
“Yes isn’t it,” he agreed as the chime sounded and the door slid open.
The elderly couple standing there waiting for the elevator was the only thing then stopped him from showing her just exactly what a Neanderthal he was capable of being.
Instead he nodded to the couple and murmured ‘Good Evening’ as he took Susan’s hand and led her down the hall.