9781618853158SpecialKindofWomanBergman (12 page)

Holding her close to
him, he only smiled and tenderly kissed those lips. Lips so soft and delicious
he could devour them for hours on end. He planned on making every second of her
life a happy one after this weekend together. “We’ve got a busy day tomorrow
hon, let me finish washing you up so we can go to sleep. I think I wore you out
completely.”

She nodded giving him a
peck on his cheek while he continued washing her body.

After taking a long
relaxing shower together, the couple retired back to bed.

Collin lay with a sleeping
Regina in his arms that night, unbelieving this woman was his now. There was
nothing on this earth that would take her away from him. Rubbing his chin
against her forehead as she stirred in her sleep, he whispered, “Regina, I love
you.” She never woke up, only stirred softly in his arms as he got some of the
comforter and pulled it over them. He soon found himself sleeping.

Chapter Six

Regina woke to find she
was in bed alone. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes to better focus herself as
the smell of something good floated its way into the room.

“Good morning
sweetheart,” said Collin with a tray in his hands as he walked over to her side
of the bed.

She yawned and said,
“Good morning, how sweet of you bringing me breakfast in bed.” As he put the
tray over on her lap, she saw scrambled eggs, toast with butter, sausage, some
grapes, and a glass of orange juice. “Where is your breakfast?”

“I already ate. Remember,
I told you this weekend is all about you. Plus once you finish eating, we have
to start getting ready because we have some place to go.”

“Really, where are we
going today?”

“It’s a surprise, if I
was to tell you where we would be going, I think you’d have a heart attack or
something. So it’s best I just let you see for yourself. Enjoy your brunch baby
and once you’re done, we’ll get ready for our trip.” Collin kissed her forehead
and walked away as Regina continued to eat.

After they got dressed
and got everything packed, Collin put their bags in the trunk and made his way
into the car.

“Can you give me a hint
as to where we are going?” Regina had asked him for what seemed like the hundredth
time while they got on the highway.

Collin chuckled as he steered
passed some cars. “Now if I told you where we were going, then it wouldn’t be a
surprise.”

“So…I still want to
know where we are going.” Regina pouted and he laughed. Soon she joined in. She
knew it was no use constantly asking him, but a little prodding and poking
couldn’t hurt. She was just happy he was doing all of this for her.

They seemed like they
were on the road forever, though it was only about two hours before they came
to a big sign that stated, ‘Welcome to Carrington’. The town was nice from what
Regina could see as they made their way through it. Passing several stores and
restaurants they turned a corner and ended up on a street lined with homes on
either side. Down the street they went as they turned another corner ending up
in front of a white bungalow with a cute porch lined with rocking chairs,
flowers, and plants. The entire front yard looked beautiful with the abundance
of flowers. Regina smiled. “Where are we Collin?”

As he honked the horn
twice, she looked over once more and saw some people coming out of the house. Getting
out of the car, Regina noticed one of them looked oddly familiar. A woman came
out from the group of tall strapping redheaded men. “Oh Lord! It’s Collin me
boy!”

“Momma!” Collin ran up
to her to give her a big hug.

Regina was still in a
state of shock as he looked back at her. She woke and smiled as they walked
over toward her.

“Momma, I would like
for you to meet Regina Talbot, Regina this is my mom Alannah Noonan.”

The older woman’s eyes
shined ever so brightly against her rosy cheeks with a smile that matched
Collin’s exactly. She seemed so demure to have been able to have ten boys. Still
though, once she got a look at her Regina thought she was the cutest, sweetest
lady she had ever laid eyes on. It made her heart feel light as air even as she
stepped closer and Regina found herself holding her breath.

“I see my son didn’t
tell you that he was bringing you home to visit his parents and his brothers
huh?”

Regina relaxed at
Alannah’s easy manner. “No ma’am, he sure didn’t tell me we were coming here.
But I have to say that it’s a pleasant surprise to meet you.”

“Well then, come on and
meet the rest of the family. Boys make yourselves presentable now, this is
Regina Talbot, Collin’s new girl,” Alannah said as she rushed Regina toward the
door with the rest of the men following behind them.

Regina was whisked into
a very cozy living room with an array of pictures covering the walls and mantelpiece.
Smiling, she walked over and picked up a picture of the family when the boys
were young.

“I hope you won’t mind
but I made some tea,” Alannah said while she brought a tray over and put it
down on the coffee table. The rest of the family filed in after the little
woman.

“Thank you, I’d love
some.” Regina sat down next to her, trying not squirm under the probing eyes of
the Noonan men. Even with their welcoming smiles, the men brought out her shy
tendencies. Luckily, Collin came in and his brothers bombarded him with hugs
and playful punches on the arm and stomach.

“Now boys stop that,
let Collin come over and sit down and I want you to introduce yourself to this
young lady, nicely,” she scolded as she poured a cup of tea.

A man with a goatee and
a smile that made his green eyes twinkle came to her and reached out his hand
for her to shake. “I’m Kenny, the fourth kid and probably the most reliable of
the group.”

One of the brothers
scoffed at his comment, while another laughed as he walked toward her and said,
“Don’t listen to him my dear, I’m Mackenzie and I am surprised that Collin was
able to find someone as pretty as you.” He kissed her hand while someone
coughed, “Flirt” and Regina laughed at whoever said it.

“I’m Jordan it’s a
pleasure to meet you Regina.” She noticed he looked exactly like Collin except
for the fact he wore a crew cut instead of the medium wavy length Collin had as
he shook her hand.

“Listen fellas, we will
be here all night introducing ourselves. I’m Randy,” he introduced himself, and
proceeded to point out everyone else, “That is Tim, Gerard, Bobby, Randall,
Kendrick and you already know our knuckleheaded brother Collin.”

Regina couldn’t stop
laughing at their antics. She knew she was going to have a lot of fun with
these guys around. “I swear I haven’t laughed so much in my life. I know you
must have a lot of stories to tell Mrs. Noonan.”

“And plenty of pictures
too of our Collin when he was a lad.” Alannah grabbed a leather bound photo
album and handed it to Regina as Collin looked on in dismay.

“Oh Momma, did you have
to bring out the photo album?” Collin asked, as Regina looked at the first picture
of him when he was just born.

“Awww Collin, you were
adorable as a little baby.” Regina giggled as some of the brothers came over
and laughed a bit.

“I think you’ll enjoy
the one on page four Regina, it’s the famous bear skin rug photo,” Randall said
while turning to the page, revealing a full page spread of Collin as a baby
wearing nothing but a cute smile.

“Oh Collin, how
adorable you were, all naked as the day you were born.” All the brothers
laughed along with Regina as Collin sat there as red as a Santa Claus outfit on
Christmas.

“Where is my boy?” A
booming voice came from outside.

Regina stood, watching
Collin walk over to being hugged by a man that was just as big as him.

“Oh Collin, son, it’s
good to see you, you need to come and see your mother more often you know. Now
where is this young lady that you brought for me to see?” Randy Noonan said
with a smile.

Regina had never been as
nervous in her life as she saw this big brooding man come toward her. She held
the photo album against her chest as she gazed over him with wonder and awe at
how big this man was. He was handsome and just like the rest of the family had
the shocking red hair but there were streaks of grey in it. But it was his
eyes, green emeralds like Collin’s, sparkling down at her as he tilted his head
and gave her a smile so sweet it honestly melted her heart.

“Dad, this is Regina
Talbot, Regina this is my dad Randy Noonan Senior,” Collin said, as his dad
took her hand in his and kept his eyes on her.

“My goodness, I have to
say that me son has good taste in women and she’s beautiful to boot. Well me
dear, I want to welcome you to our home here and me boys will be on their best
behavior while you are here, isn’t that right boys?” he asked, his gaze never
leaving hers.

“Yes Dad,” they said as
one.

Kendrick nudged Collin.
“I think Dad is in love with your girl.”

Collin laughed a bit
and whispered, “I think you’re right bro.”

“Steady old man, come
with me Regina, I may need your help in the kitchen,” Alannah told her as she
took her hand and walked into the back. Regina was a bit relieved to be away
from all of those handsome men.

“Can I ask you a
question Mrs. Noonan?”

“Call me Alannah,
dear.”

“Alannah, are all the
Noonan men so suave?” Regina giggled as Alannah laughed out loud.

“There is something you
must know about the Noonan men. They’re all smooth talkers…every last one of
‘em. And those eyes of theirs, Lord help us all, those flashing green eyes make
a woman weak, a weakness me boys have used to their advantage. I swear when I
first met their father, he looked dead at me with those emerald darlings of his
and I melted like butter.” Alannah blushed as she took out a roast from the
oven.

“I felt the same way
with Collin. He makes me feel like I’m somebody when I never thought I was. I
have to say I’m very grateful to your son for what he’s done for me,” Regina
said as Alannah smiled back at her.

“I’m glad dear, so very
glad. Collin has always been one of the good ones and he honestly deserves
someone who will treat him just right. Even though we have just met, I know you
will do just fine. Now let’s get some of the food out on the table. Boys, we be
needing your help with the food, come on!”

And with that command,
Bobby and Gerard came into the kitchen. Alannah told them what to bring into
the dining room where some of the others were already seated. Regina looked
over at Collin and smiled as she set some cabbage on the table between Randy
and Kendrick. Collin motioned for her to come over to where he was since he had
a seat saved for her. But it seemed his father had other plans.

“Now Regina, I want you
to sit right here next to me and Alannah at the head of the table,” Randy Sr.
said as he motioned for Randy Jr. to move over a seat.

She looked helplessly
at Collin, sitting between the two Randy’s.

After saying a prayer,
the boys started to dig into the food. As she reached for the closest spoon,
the bowl disappeared before her eyes. Giving up the grab, Regina couldn’t help
but laugh at the ten men shoveling food onto their plates. It was like some big
free-for-all as they snatched rolls and cut into the platter of beef.

A hard slam shook the
table making Regina jump in her chair. Randy Sr. stood up and said, “For shame
on you all, we have a guest and all you can do is stuff your own plates. Hell
men, she hasn’t even been able to get any of the good food your mother has
slaved over for her to try.”

The men looked around
at each other as Alannah shook her head at her sons. Regina tried her best not
to laugh but soon it erupted. The men looked over at her, and then at each
other in amazement as she said, “I’m sorry but I haven’t had this much fun in a
very long time, watching all of you going at the food like it was some kind of
race to see who could fill their plates up first. Just the sight of you all
acting like this as a family, I had to laugh because there is no telling how it
was when you were younger.”

“Believe me dear, it
was far worse than what you’ve seen,” Alannah said with a snicker.

“We are sorry Regina,
we forgot that you were here. Whenever we come and visit, it’s kind of hard not
to want to get a hold of Mom’s good food, so it’s every man for himself,”
Timothy told her with a handsome smile.

“Now boys, let Regina
get her fill and once she’s done, then you can have your fill, all right,”
Randy Sr. said as he started to serve her up some of the beef. The men started
to hand her bowls of food, telling her that she needed to try this and try
that. But there was one thing that Regina didn’t see on the table as she looked
around.

“Excuse me Alannah, but
I don’t see the colcannon, Collin was telling me so much about it that I hoped
to get a taste.”