TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES) Page 8

  “Barb.”

  He recaptured her attention and she saw he had made it to her sofa and sat down. “Ron. What’s the reason for your visit?” she asked in as pleasant a voice as she could muster.

  “This house.”

  “What about it?”

  “I wish you’d reconsider selling it.”

  “My plans are final. If you’re interested in buying it you’re free to contact my attorney.”

  “Why are you doing it? It’s our home.”

  Barbara wanted to laugh at that one but didn’t. “It was our home. Need I remind you that we are divorced?”

  “There will always be something special between us, Barb.”

  “Don’t get delusional on me, Ron. There is nothing special between us. That ended years ago, which is why you had your other women I imagine.”

  He didn’t say anything and then, “You’re acting strange.”

  She did laugh at that. “If you mean that I’m no longer easy-going, gullible, and an all forgiving push-over, then I can see why you’d think I’m acting strange. My world no longer revolves around Ronald Andrews.”

  “Then who does your life revolves around now, Barb? Is it that detective guy you’re seeing? The one who handled the investigation into my shooting incident? Is he the reason you were so quick to get a divorce?” he snapped.

  His words were like a shot of venom into Barbara’s veins. Not only did she see red but her head begin spinning. She left her spot from bracing against the door to come stand in the living room in front of him. It was typical Ron style to blame everything and everyone else on what happened to end their marriage instead of the real deal. “The reason I divorced your ass is because I’d found out you were unfaithful again. You had the damn gall to take your wife and your mistress on vacation and -”

  “I never wanted to take Ashira to Hawaii.”

  Barbara rolled her eyes. “Of course you didn’t. She twisted your arm or threatened your life,” she said smartly. “And she forced you to leave me in bed all those mornings to catch an elevator to her room and have sex with her. It really doesn’t matter Ron. Things are over between us. We are officially divorced. You’re free to date all those young women out in the open now. You no longer have to sneak around. You can have your whores with my blessings.”

  “I don’t want them. I want you.”

  “Me! You want me! Damn you, you never wanted me,” she screamed almost to the top of her voice. “You only wanted them and the fool I was I let you make a mockery of our marriage. So hear me out real good Ron. You might want me but I don’t want you. Nor do I still love you.”

  She couldn’t believe she was screaming at the top of her lungs. She held her fist tight otherwise, she could actually see herself beating him over the head with his own cane. She was doing what Dr. Banks had tried telling her she needed to do for closure which was to get out her anger.

  “And another thing, don’t ever just show up here, Ron. You are not welcome. I’ll be moving after Courtney’s wedding so if you want to move in that’s fine. Just buy me out. Then you’ll be free to move Ashira in here with you.”

  “Why don’t you love me anymore? Is it because I’m no longer a whole man?” Ron threw out.

  Barbara shook her head. Did he think she could still love him after all he’d done? And why was he looking for sympathy? It was a lost cause because she had none to spare for him. “No, the reason I no longer love you is because you’ve always been a whorish man. I put up with it because I loved you but no more. I don’t love you any longer.” There, she’d said it again and she hoped he got it that time.

  “You don’t love me because of him.”

  Barbara frowned. He still didn’t get it. The man refused to take accountability for anything. “No, I don’t love you anymore because of you. You and your inability to keep your pants zipped for anyone other than me,” she said, hearing herself screaming again.

  “I tried explaining to you that I’m sick. I’m getting treatment for my addiction.”

  “Good and I wish you the best in that endeavor. I’m sure that just like I found someone, eventually you will, too. Now if that’s all you have to say, I want you to leave.”

  “Does it matter that I still love you?”

  “No, it doesn’t matter. You’ll get over it like you got over all those promises you made and never kept about being faithful. I’m sure you have a list of young women you can fall in love with. Try your girl Ashira.”

  He looked at the floor and shook his head. “I’m no longer with Ashira. She’s turned off by my limp and cane.”

  Barbara shrugged. “That’s not my business. Go down your list. I’m sure there are others you can connect with.”

  Ron studied her for a long moment before saying. “Why have you changed?”

  She couldn’t help but smile because she knew why. Thanks to Rick she was a self-assured woman who knew what she wanted both in and out of the bedroom. “I changed because I realized you weren’t worth all my misery and grief. I changed because I realized there was a man out there who appreciated me for being me. He’s a man who I can trust. Yes, I’ve changed but then change is good, Ron. Maybe you ought to try it.”

  He didn’t say anything to her for a moment and then stood. “I wish you happiness, Barb. I can stand here and honestly say that I’ve lost the best thing I ever had and I’m getting everything that I deserve for not appreciating you when I had you.”

  He made it across the room and Barbara watched as he opened the door and limped out of it.

  * * *

  When the doorbell sounded a little less than five minutes later Barbara moved to the door, hoping it was Rick and not Ron returning. A quick look out her peephole indicated it was Rick.

  She quickly opened the door and the moment he crossed over the threshold and closed the door behind him, he pulled her into his arms with a worried look on his face. “Are you okay? I saw Andrews leaving.”

  She tiled her head back and smiled up at him. “Yes, I’m fine. I finally let loose.”

  He lifted a brow. “Let loose?”

  “Yes. I told you about going to a therapist to deal with the Ron situation.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, Dr. Banks told me as long as there was still anger inside of me that I would never truly be able to move on. Ron dropped by upset I’m selling this house because somewhere in his mixed-up mind he assumed that one day, divorce or no divorce, we would be getting back together. I had to tell him in no uncertain terms that wouldn’t be happening.”

  Rick didn’t say anything for a long moment and then. “And how do you feel about letting loose?”

  She chuckled. “Great.” And then in a low voice she said. “I even said a couple of curse words. Needless to say he got the picture.”

  Rick threw his head back and laughed. “That’s why I love you. You’re such a -”

  “You love me?” Barbara asked surprised.

  Rick didn’t say anything for a while as he watched Barbara’s expression and then he nodded his head. “Yeah. Look I don’t expect you to reciprocate any feelings this soon but a man my age knows the signs and they’ve been flashing every since I met you. I guess that’s not a good thing to say since at the time you belonged to Andrews.”

  She shook her head. “I stopped belonging to Ron long ago. I was the one determined to save our marriage. Ron was only stringing me along. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too.”

  She paused and said. “And I love you, too.”

  Surprise touched his features and his eyes immediately softened. “You do?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is a night to celebrate. And you look nice by the way.”

  “Thanks.”

  And then Rick pulled her back into his arms and covered her mouth with his while thinking he’d been right; Barbara Andrews was a woman ready for love.

  Epilogue

  “Courtney?”

  Courtney glanced over at her father. “Ye
s, Dad?”

  They stood in the vestibule decorated with greenery, flowers, white lace and white satin ribbons. Everything looked beautiful and Courtney was about to walk into the Greater Holy Temple Baptist Church. According to her mother the church was packed with a lot of Lake’s family and friends taking up an entire side. She smiled thinking everyone was ready to see the last of the Masters bachelors take the plunge.

  “Thank you for waiting until I got better so I’d be able to do this. It’s not every day a man gets to walk his daughter down the aisle.”

  Courtney nodded thinking that as a father he hadn’t been so bad. He’d definitely been better father material than he’d been husband material.

  “And I know I’ve hurt you and your mom over the years,” Ron added. “But I want you to believe I’m trying to get my life together.”

  “That’s good Dad.” And without missing a beat she asked. “So who’s the woman that came with you?”

  He smiled slightly. “I’ll introduce you to Shirley later. We met over the Internet.”

  Courtney knew there was no need to ask him if things were serious. She doubted things would ever be serious with her father and any woman. Besides, this woman looked to be in her early forties and from past experiences Courtney knew her father preferred them a lot younger.

  She smiled when she recalled her mother’s revelation a few weeks ago that she and Rick were now a serious couple and planned to marry by the summer. Right now they enjoyed being together and doing things together. Rick had been invited to the wedding along with his son Antron whom everyone had met during Thanksgiving dinner. He’d hit it off with everyone, including Lake and Mike immediately.

  Courtney smiled when the wedding planner checked her gown one last time before giving her a nod mere seconds before the bridal march began. The double doors opened and Courtney glanced around. The church was huge and filled to capacity. Her gaze moved ahead and she saw Lake standing there flanked by his brothers and closest friends, all wearing white tuxes. He looked as handsome as any one man could possibly look as he stared at her while waiting. And she knew at that moment she was the happiest woman in the world and would love him forever.

  “Ready?”

  She smiled. “Yes, Dad.” She placed her hand on his arm and they slowly began walking down the aisle.

  * * *

  “Our daughter is a beautiful bride,” Ron leaned over and whispered to Barbara as she sat beside him during the reception at the head table.

  Barbara smiled. “Yes, she is.”

  She glanced to where Rick and his son were sitting at the table with Sonya’s husband Mike, and Willie. She noticed how Willie would often gaze at Peggy and wondered if the man would be able to convince her sister to consider something more serious between them. She knew Peggy enjoyed their long distance affair but figured it was beginning to wear thin on Willie and he wanted something more.

  As if Rick felt her gaze on him he looked over in her direction and smiled. She could feel his love flowing from the depth of his gaze and she knew he could feel hers flowing from her to him. They had talked about moving to Ocala on land Rick had purchased a few years back that was adjacent to Sid’s. There, they would build a ranch of their very own.

  Rick’s son told her he was happy she and his father had found each other and looked forward to when they made things permanent. She and Rick had discussed having a very intimate wedding in May with only family and close friends attending. The thought of having a second chance at marital happiness filled her with joy.

  A hush fell over the room when one of Lake’s brothers, the one name Shane, offered up a toast to the newlyweds. Tears formed in Barbara’s eyes. Her daughter had found true happiness and as she met Rick’s gaze again across the room, she knew she’d found true happiness as well.

  THE SECOND TIME AROUND

  This story is dedicated to everyone

  who believes in the power of true love.

  But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak,

  for your work shall be rewarded!

  II Chronicles 15:7 NKJV

  One

  Peggy Morrison smiled as Willie Baker stepped aside so she could enter her home. She was in a good mood. She loved weddings and the one she’d attended today had been simply beautiful.

  Her niece Courtney, who’d been the stunning bride, and Lake Masters, the handsome groom, were now on their way to Rome where they would spend the next two weeks on their honeymoon.

  Before making it into the wide span of her living room Peggy had slipped off her high-heel shoes and was taking the earrings out of her ear. It had been a long day and she looked forward to getting undressed, taking a shower and …

  She turned at the sound of the door closing and saw Willie leaning back against it. He was watching her, and not for the first time, she thought he was a very good looking man. Tall – about six-three, nicely built without an ounce of flab anywhere and his features were sharp. At fifty-nine he had a mature look, with just a sprinkle of gray at his temples. It was a look that could still turn females’ heads, no matter the age.

  What she found so intriguing about him was that he had an air of refinement, and a degree of sophistication a lot of men lacked. And he was as cool as a cucumber. Nothing seemed to ruffle his feathers. And she’d quickly discovered he was unpretentious. What you saw was what you got. He hadn’t been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and was quick to tell you how he appreciated his humble beginnings making him into the man he was today – a self made billionaire. A man who had a bubbly personality, and was friendly to anyone he met from the poorest to the richest. She doubted there was an arrogant bone anywhere in his body.

  And – oh my God! In the bedroom he had the ability to set the bed on fire. He could deliver the type of passion she never knew existed. He brought out things in her that she never knew she had. And he could spike her wanting to a level that should be unheard of, definitely not possible. But she’d discovered everything was possible with him. She could let herself go. And behind closed doors, she did.

  If anyone would have told her five years ago that this man would one day walk into her world, she would have saved herself a lot of hurt, anguish and pain.

  When Joe, her husband of over thirty years, had out of the clear blue sky asked her for a divorce to marry another woman – a woman younger than his then thirty year old daughter. Peggy had become a basket case and had turned to the bottle for comfort. It had taken a full year to rebuild her self-esteem and believe that the breakup hadn’t been her fault. And over the past eight months Willie had made her feel beautiful, wanted and desired and had convinced her that when it came to her skills in the bedroom, he hadn’t found her lacking. Whoever thought that a fifty-something couple couldn’t rock in the bedroom was sadly mistaken. Not only did she and Willie rock whenever they made love, they literally brought the house down.

  What had taken her breath away the first time she’d met him eight months ago had been his smile. Whenever he curved his lips into that killer watt smile it had the ability to send all kinds of sensations flooding through her; especially in the juncture of her thighs. Those sensations would spiral into all kinds of naughty thoughts. And since she’d be celebrating her fifty-eighth birthday in a few months, there were some who would definitely raise a brow if they knew of such behavior. .

  But when they were alone she always managed to be naughty with Willie since he had the ability to send hot blood rushing through her veins with just one look. At that moment all thoughts of taking a shower left her mind. She would, however, get undressed. In fact she was looking forward to it.

  Removing the bracelet from her wrist and the hair clip from her head, she slid both on the coffee table as she slowly made her way across the room to where Willie stood. They had begun dating seriously around eight months ago and she totally enjoyed their long-distance romance.

  She came to a stop in front of him. Placing her hands on his chest she went on tiptoe, leaned f
orward and whispered, “Merry Christmas.”

  She then rubbed her lips over his, and with the release of his breathless sigh she eased her tongue inside his mouth. And then the mating began.

  She closed her eyes, curled her fingers around his shoulders and held on knowing when he took over the kiss she would need to be holding on to something while he stroked her tongue into sweet oblivion. He had the ability to give her an orgasm just from kissing her. She knew she would be adding this moment to her memory book as one of those times she would consider as precious.

  She could feel his arms wrapping around her, as he moved his mouth expertly over hers, taking complete and total control of her mind, body and soul. She would even venture into forbidden territory and say her heart. But she fought that thought all the way because she had no desire to fall in love with any man ever again.

  Suddenly, she stopped thinking and began feeling, not that she wasn’t doing so anyway. But Willie had a way of stirring her emotions with a kiss that left her groaning for days. She was convinced that in his younger days he was one sensual maverick, one hell of a seducer. In a way he still was.

  She felt herself being lifted into his arms and without breaking his stride or the kiss, she could imagine him maneuvering his way around her furniture and down the hall toward her bedroom. She liked being carried in his arms and could vividly recall the first time he’d done so. She thought he still had the strength of Hercules. He’d certainly proven he had the stamina of a bull.

  The moment her body touched the bed she felt him withdraw slowly from her mouth but not before he took the tip of his tongue and bathed her lips until they nearly glistened. He then used his teeth to nibble around her mouth. He tasted like the champagne they had drank earlier and his scent as usual was all male.

  She whimpered just a little when he pulled back to began removing his clothes and sheathe his huge erection with a condom. And she shamelessly watched his every move thinking she’d never shared such intimacy with Joe.