18. To the Airport
The taxi took her to the apartment building. “Just wait for me, okay? I’ll be back in five minutes. I need to go to the airport.”
“Okay lady, but you’ll have to pay while I wait.”
“That’s fine. Please, just wait…”
To speed things up, she ran through the lobby in her bare feet, carrying her heels in her hand.
Rayna called out as she bolted past the front desk. “Anne! What are you doing? Where are you going?”
“To the airport.”
“Wait, Anne. What are you talking about?”
She ignored Rayna, and dashed into the elevator, pushing the button for the tenth floor repeatedly in an attempt to make it move faster. Inside her apartment, she threw her toiletries into a carry-on bag with some underwear and a change of clothes. She didn’t even bother to change out of her dress but put on some comfortable boots and a warm coat. In less than five minutes, she was back in the lobby and headed for the door.
“Anne! Wait! Where are you going?” Rayna caught her before she could escape.
“To the airport. I’m going to the airport.” Her tears were coming in torrents.
“But where are you going?”
“I’m sorry, Rayna. I need to go now,” she sobbed, moving toward the door.
Rayna grabbed her arm. “Why do you have to leave so fast? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to Texas, where I belong. I have to go now. My taxi’s waiting outside.” She swiped at her wet face and peered out the glass door.
“Don’t be rash, Anne. That’s not like you. Tell me what happened.”
“I have to go. The taxi’s waiting—”
“What time is your flight?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t got one yet. I just have to get away from here.”
“You’re running away? Really? The Anne Best I know would never run away.”
Anne sniffed. “Anne Best is a fake! I thought I wanted an adventure. I thought I wanted excitement. A new start.”
“What happened, honey?”
“I did something really stupid…” She took a shuddery breath.
“You don’t have to run away, Anne. You have friends who love you. If you’re pregnant, I’ll help you raise the baby. Antonio will too.”
“I’m not pregnant. It’s almost worse than that.”
“What is it?” Rayna’s eyes were round as saucers.
“I fell in love with Steven Gherring!”
“What?”
“Anne Best… countrified widow, mother of two, from Weatherford, Texas. And I fell in love with billionaire Steven Gherring.” She laughed bitterly. “I know. I couldn’t believe it either. I kept trying to convince myself it wasn’t true.”
“Doesn’t he kind of like you too?”
“No. He’s dating Ellen. I ought to know. I’m the one who matched them together. Just like you and Antonio. And Steven was… he was… you know… with her. And what am I supposed to do now? Huh?” Her voice rose to a hysterical pitch.
“You should go upstairs and go to sleep and decide in the morning what to do. My mother always told me you shouldn’t make an important decision in the heat of passion.”
Anne’s mouth dropped open. “I always said that to my girls too.”
“So you’ll stay? At least until tomorrow?”
“Rayna, I need to get away now. If I stay, I might betray my friendship with Ellen and do something with Steven Gherring I’d regret for the rest of my life.”
She hugged Rayna, who wiped her wet cheeks with her sleeve. “Please don’t go.”
“I have to,” Anne said, picking up the carry-on bag she’d dropped on the floor. “I don’t belong here. I don’t know where I belong…”
“You belong with me.” Steven”s voice sent a warning ripple through her body. He stood in the doorway, barring her chance of escape.”
Her heart began to thunder in her chest. “No, I—”
“I took the liberty of paying off your taxi. But my car is outside. I’ll drive you to the airport.” He picked up her bag and took her by the arm, leading her toward the waiting limo.
Over his shoulder he said, “Thank you, Rayna. I appreciate your help.”
“Rayna!” Anne cried, gazing accusingly at her friend.
Rayna silently mouthed, “Sorry,” but she had a traitorous grin on her face.
* * *
Inside the warm car interior,Steven sat across from Anne. She tucked her jacket around her, hugging herself for comfort. He smiled at her.
“It’s a long ride. You should take off your coat and get comfortable.”
She didn’t respond but sat staring at her feet. He followed her gaze.
“Nice boots. But I really like those sexy sandals you had on earlier.”
She refused to answer. Even talking was dangerous with Steven Gherring.
“I must say, you’re very difficult to converse with. Either you talk so fast you don’t let me get a word in edgewise, or you refuse to talk at all.”
“There’s nothing to say.”
“Then why don’t you ask your questions again, and actually listen to the answers this time?”
She closed her eyes. “I’m not asking any more questions, because I don’t want to know the answers.”
“Fine!” He let his irritation show for the first time. “I’ll do both parts. First question. Where’s Ellen? Answer. She’s with Ben.”
Anne opened her eyes, regarding him with suspicion. “Who’s Ben?”
“Nicely done. See how much more fun it is when you participate? Ben is Ellen’s—wait for it—boyfriend. In fact, she already told you about him. He’s her leading man.”
“But…”
“Aha! Now you have so many questions to ask.” He wore a smug grin.
“So you two aren’t dating?”
“Nope.”
“And Tuesday night?”
“Nothing happened.”
Anne contemplated his words, and suddenly she was filled with rage. “You pig!” She flew across the car and began to pound on his arm with her fists. “You made me believe you slept with her! You called me up there! I can’t believe you did that!”
He grabbed her arms to stop the beating. “Wait! I’m sorry. I admit it wasn’t the wisest decision I’ve made. But you drove me to it!” One of her hands escaped to strike him. “Ow!” He secured the offending hand again.
“You were the one who set me up with Ellen after I asked you not to. I only wanted to find out if you’d be happy if I accepted your offer.”
Anne was still twisting her arms to get them free. “Why would Ellen do that to me? We were friends.”
“You forced us into a relationship neither of us wanted, so we made a bargain. I promised to help the play monetarily and get her some publicity, and she promised to help make you jealous.”
Anne stopped struggling. “You wanted to make me jealous? And then you kissed me to teach me a lesson?”
He pulled her hands toward him and placed them on his chest. “Do you feel my heart beating?”
She nodded—his heart was pounding almost as fast as hers.
“I kissed you because I couldn’t help myself. And soon… I’m going to do much more than kiss you.”
He pulled the coat off her shoulders and threw it on the floor.
“Did I mention how much I like this new dress? These little parts on the side where I can see your skin through the fabric…” He ran his fingers lightly up and down her side, bolts of electricity erupting at his touch.
Anne’s heart threatened to leap from her chest. She moaned, and then grabbed his hand and pushed it away. Tears began to fall anew.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Mr. Gherring, but I can’t do this. I really want to. But I can’t.”
He groaned. “I know, but I’ve suffered for longer than you can imagine. Do you know how long I’ve wanted you?”
She shook her head, crying miserably.
“I think I knew after that first day, when you had no idea who I was. I knew I’d found something that had been missing all my life.”
Her eyes closed, but she felt the gentle pressure of his fingers on her jaw. “Look at me, please.”
She watched his face dancing through a shimmer of tears. His voice went soft. “I thought you wanted me too. Was I wrong?”
She shook her head. “No, I did want you.”
“But you don’t anymore? I’m too late? I waited too long?”
She couldn’t bear the devastation in his eyes. “It’s not that. I just can’t do what you want me to do. I can’t be what you want. What you need.”
“And what do you think I want?”
“I think you want me to… to sleep with you.” Anne blushed almost painfully at the words.
“Oh no! I want you very much awake. But I do want you in my bed.” His dimples appeared. “I don’t want a one-night stand, I want—”
“I’m sorry, I just can’t,” she choked.
“But I’m telling you—”
“I’ve thought about it.” Anne’s fingers came up to rub her temples. Believe me, I’ve thought about it. But I can’t go to bed with a man I’m not married to.”
“Yes, I know. But I’m not—”
“Don’t you see? I can’t stay here and watch you be with another woman. It hurts too much!” She buried her face in her hands.
“Anne… you’re doing it, again.”
“What am I doing?”
“That thing where you don’t let me finish a sentence. You don’t fight fair. It’s my turn to speak.”
“Okay, but if you—”
He halted her words with a forceful kiss, her shoulders secured in his hands. He withdrew his lips, and she tried to remember what she was going to say.
“You can’t—”
He kissed her again, swallowing her words. His hands moved behind her head, tangling in her hair. This time the kiss lingered. He pulled back gently, his lips lightly caressing her mouth.
“Ready to let me talk again?”
She nodded, licking her swollen lips.
“I do want you in my bed. But I want you there every night for the rest of my life.”
Her heart doubled its pace. “Are you… are you asking me to marry you?”
“Sort of. Part asking, part begging, part demanding. Whatever will get you to agree.” His sparkling blue eyes were full of hope. “So will you?”
“No. Absolutely not.” Anne felt her insides churning as her heart fought against what she knew was right. “I won’t have you making some rash decision you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
He pulled a ring case from his pocket. “I don’t make rash decisions. I told you, I’m a very careful man.”
“You’d ask me to marry you, just to sleep with me? That’s ridiculous! You’d regret it afterward. Heck, I don’t even remember what to do anymore.”
He smiled lasciviously. “I’d be happy to jog your memory. But that’s not why I’m asking you to marry me. Don’t you remember our conversation about this… in Switzerland? I told you exactly what I wanted in a wife.”
He moved his head lower to catch her downcast eyes. “I said I wanted someone I wouldn’t be bored with after six months. And I wanted someone that would be fun to grow old with. Someone who’d help me to be the best man I can be. And someone who needed me as much as I need her.”
He pressed his lips in a gentle caress on her cheek. “That’s you. Don’t you know that? Can’t you see? There’s no one else in the world who’d be more perfect for me.”
“But—”
“Now, the only question is—am I the someone for you?” He peered closely. “Am I?”
She closed her eyes and more tears leaked out.
“That wasn’t quite the reaction I was hoping for.” His hand caressed her damp cheek.
Somehow all her emotions seemed to be flooding her mind at once. She couldn’t stop her tears long enough to speak.
She found herself scooped into Steven”s lap, snuggled against his chest.
“Maybe I read you wrong.” His lips pressed against her forehead. “I won’t pressure you, Anne. If you don’t want this, just tell me.”
“I’ve worked so hard to convince myself that it could never happen. It just doesn’t seem real.”
He whispered into her ear. “Do you want it to be real?”
“I do. But I don’t trust myself anymore.”
“Do you remember your list? The one from Switzerland?”
She shook her head.
“I remember—I memorized it. You wanted someone who’d love your girls, and I do—I already love them. And you wanted someone to hold you when you cry. And I’ve done that—I even like doing it. But you also wanted someone with integrity and someone you could trust. I know that’s me. But the question is, do you? Did I blow my chance?”
Could this be real? Maybe she was only hearing the things she wanted to hear.
“Are you saying you love me?”
“Love is such a small word for what I feel. For the first time in my life, I have a reason to breathe. I’m enchanted with every part of you I know, and I only know a small part so far. I plan to spend the rest of my life searching out every hidden enchantment in your body and soul. And I’m going to cherish and protect you with every fiber of my being. So, do I love you? No… I lovelovelove you.”
Warmth spread throughout her entire body. What was that feeling? She’d felt it before. When she’d married Tom. When her girls were born.
Joy!
He smiled, his dimples deep and his eyes bright with hope, reaching out to brush a tear off her cheek. “So now, will you marry me?”
She grinned. “I don’t know. Let me look at that ring first.”
He laughed, holding the ring case above his head, just out of her reach. “Trade ya.”
“For what?”
“I’ll let you have the ring, if you agree to marry me next Saturday.”
“There’s no way. Why the rush?”
“Because,” he said, as he stretched out on the limousine seat and pulled her on top of him. “I don’t want to wait. I don’t think I can wait any longer than that. One more week, tops. I think I’ve shown a great deal of self-restraint with you, but I have my limits.”
She looked down at his face and felt a now-familiar tingle deep inside. His hands caressed their way up her sides, his thumbs rubbing on the sheer silk panels. Though his fingers never strayed from her sides, her entire body trembled.
Then he shifted beneath her and his mouth nuzzled her neck, sending chills down her spine. “I can’t wait to marry you and show you how much I love you.
“Yes!” she said. “A week sounds great. Plenty of time. Maybe we shouldn’t wait so long.”
She moved her lips to his and kissed him. This time she wasn’t tentative and shy. Her mouth was hungry and her lips couldn’t get enough of him. Her entire body was on fire. Suddenly, he pushed her off and sat up, depositing her beside him.
“Whoa! I don’t think you’ve forgotten much, after all. But I’m never going to make it a week if we keep doing that.”
They sat alongside each other, dazed and panting, waiting for their hearts to slow.
Finally Anne said, “What will Gram say?”
He laughed. “Gram? I imagine Gram is busy patting herself on the back right now. She knew I’d hurry up when she threw Evan into the mix.”
“Gram wanted you to marry me? I don’t believe that. She would never try to trick me like that.”
“Sweetheart, you’re so gullible, that’s not a very difficult proposition. And you haven’t known Gram as long as I have.”
“What about my dad and the girls? I can’t throw this at them in a week’s time.”
“Yes, I know. That’s why I talked to them on Monday. Emily took the computer to the hospital so I could FaceTime with your dad.” He gave a lopsided grin. “I was so nervous. I’m glad he couldn’t see me sweating.”
She giggled at the thought. “And Dad said okay?”
“Actually, he made me tell him all about myself for about ten minutes before he said yes,” he said with an astonished laugh. “It turns out your dad has never heard of Gherring Inc. either.”
He continued, tapping off points on his fingers. “So, Charlie’s got a flight booked. Emily says the Fort Worth Arboretum would be a good place for the wedding—”
“Wait a minute. You planned the whole wedding on Monday? With my daughters? Before you even asked me? I was still dating Henri.”
“I know. I appreciate you finally breaking up. Saved me from having to kill the guy. Murder can be so messy.”
He pantomimed wringing Henri’s neck, and she began to chuckle, laughing until she had to suppress a snort.
“Where is this limo going?” she asked.
“Nowhere. I told him to drive in circles until we decided.”
This time both of them started chuckling.
“But what about work? What will people say?” Anne imagined facing all her co-workers after denying their relationship with such vehemence.
“Soon everyone will know… you’re sleeping with the boss.”