From This Moment (22 page)

“How’s Beth handling me and Rona being together?”
  I ask.

“You’ll find out later.” I raise an eyebrow at Jake’s comment.
 “Beth and Anna are going to come over in about an hour or so.”

“Please ask Elise to come with them.”
 Rona mumbles with a mouth full of muffin.

“Will do.
  Thanks Rona, for not blaming her and for being her friend.”

Rona smiles, “I could never blame her.”

“Jake, how much work is expected over the next few weeks?”

“Taking some time off?” he asks.

Glancing at Rona, I have her full attention now.  “Yes, I want to spend more time with Rona.  I’m planning on taking her away somewhere, but until she’s well enough to travel I’m going to stay close, just in case Nick shows up again.”

“Okay Dad, what we have scheduled can be handled by me or a couple of the part-timers if needs be, but we don’t have anything major for the next six weeks.”

“When you’re in the office later, mark on the calendar that I’m unavailable for the next four weeks.”

“What are you planning?”
  Rona asks me.

I smile at her, “A surprise.”

“Oh good, I love surprises.”  Winking at me, my eyes open wider, because this usually means ‘shock Jake’, “Does it involve being naked?”

As expected, Jake reacts by choking on his coffee.
 “I think I’ll leave you two alone.” Jake makes a dash for the door.

“Jake, please don’t go, I promise to behave.”
  Jake glances at Rona and then me, deciding to stay.  He takes his seat again.

“I’m sorry.
 I’m not sure what’s wrong with me.  I’m not usually so.... well you know,” Rona says, waving her arm around, wincing in pain.

“Don’t worry about it love, I’m sure he’s heard worse from his friends.”

“They’re not usually talking about my Dad and his girlfriend getting naked though!” Jake shudders.

After breakfast Jake cleans up and heads over to the stables to re-arrange the work schedule.
  I want to take Rona some place where we can be alone, to a warmer climate and I have just the destination in mind.

~~ Rona ~~

Cade helps me to the sofa and then goes upstairs for a few minutes.  I’m still in a lot of discomfort, with my hip mainly, although I keep having shooting pains in my leg.  The bruising is horrid to look at, but hopefully it will fade soon.

I’ve never actually seen anyone killed until yesterday.
  I only looked briefly, and didn’t really take anything in.  I was just relieved to be away from him.  I think Cade was expecting me to be affected more than I am.  I hadn’t met Tom until yesterday, so whether my reaction would have been different if I’d known him, I don’t know, maybe.  He was.&nan an evil person and I for one am glad he can’t hurt anyone else.  I just have Nick to worry about.

Thinking about Cade always brings a smile to my face.
 I feel as though we’ve been together a very long time.  In the short time I’ve known him; he’s come to mean everything to me.  I’m very curious about what he’s planning over the next few weeks though.

I glance towards the stairs just in time to watch Cade walk down
with a few things, and my favorite cardigan.

“I’ve brought your iPad down in case you want to read or something, while I do some work on my laptop.”
 He places his laptop on the coffee table and comes over to help me put my cardigan on.

“Cade.”
 I pull him close for a quick, hard, wet kiss.

“Rona.”
 He cups my head and brings me in for another kiss.  Chasing his tongue in and out of his mouth, he tastes of syrup and coffee and I really want him to make love to me, but I’m in too much pain.

“Hell
, love.”  He pulls away from me, taking some deep breaths while re-arranging himself in his sweats.

“I want to be naked with you.”

“I know love, I want that too.”  Cade moves my hand to the front of his sweats, to feel just how much he wants me.  He moves my hand away.  “It will only be a few more days while your hip heals then I’ll have you naked in my arms.”  Grinning now, he carries on, “My hand and mouth can work wonders until your hip is fully healed and you can take me inside you again.”

Passing me my iPad he sits at the end of the sofa with his hand on my ankle, as though he has to touch me.

Booting up his laptop, he starts concentrating on whatever it is he’s doing.

“It was a serious question that I asked at breakfast, about being naked, you know.”
 I look at him with raised eyebrows.

Laughing at me, “Will you please stop talking about being naked; you’re not helping me here.”

“I was referring to what you are planning for the next four weeks.”

“You will have to wait and see.
  One thing I can promise you is that I’m going to take you somewhere warm and private and dedicate my whole time to you.” Cade places a kiss on my foot.

“Whe
n are you going to tell me?”  I’m all excited.

“You aren’t by a
ny chance a Gemini are you?” he laughs.

“Why?”

“Because Beth is and she’s so impatient.  She always wants to know her surprise as soon as she knows she’s getting one.  Impatience is a sign of a Gemini, or so I’m told.”

“As a matter of fact I am!”
  We laugh.

I’m trying to read on my iPad, but find it difficult to concentrate.
  Cade has got me all excited about going away.  I just hope it’s somewhere I can wear my pink bikini.  It’s new and I haven’t had a chance to wear it yet.  If I’m truthful I haven’t been brave enough to wear it.  I’ll have to make sure Cade isn’t eating or drinking when I appear in it.

Feeling wicked and rather frustrated, “Cade, what would you think if I appear in a hot pink bikini thong and a top barely covering my breasts?”
  Cade’s eyes grow wide with shock.

“What?” he just manages to choke out.

“I bought a bikini a while ago and it’s a thong with very small triangles over my breasts in hot pink.  I’ve never worn it.  I was wondering if we’re going somewhere that I can wear it?”

“Hell, if you wear that, I’m one hundred percent certain you won’t be wearing it long!”
  I can see him starting to ‘rise’ to the occasion.

“I might have to try it on as soon as I can move upstairs.”
  I grin.

“Like hell you will.
  You can hardly move and I’ll probably shoot my load in my sweats at the sight and embarrass myself.”

Laughing now.
“You could use your very talented mouth and fingers on me.”  He moves his laptop to the table, wincing.

Sitting back he groans, “Look what you’ve done to me.”
 He strokes along his shaft.

“Mmm, delicious.
  Want a hand?”  I lick my tongue.  He arches off the sofa.

“Shit.
  Please stop now.  You’re not in any condition to do anything and I’m in real pain here.”  He removes his hand and leans forward, his arms resting on his knees and his head bent sucking in a deep breath.

“I’m sorry.
 I’m just as frustrated.  Hell, I’m wet and aching for you to be inside me right now.  In fact I’ll probably go off like a rocket tikesizhe minute you touch me.  That’s how much I want you.”

“Shit,” Cade says, taking deep breaths.
  I decide to take pity on him and shut up for now, while he gets his body under control.

“Cade you okay?
 I really am sorry; no one has ever reacted to me like you do.”

“That’s because no one has or will, love you as much as I do”.

“I love you too honey, you’re my heart.”

Hearing the door bell ring, Cade once again in control of his emotions, goes to answer the door.

~~ Rona ~~

“Hi Dad, how’s Rona?” Beth asks hugging Cade, followed by Anna and Elise.

Still not being able to move too well, I stay put on the sofa.

Seeing Elise holding back, as Anna and Beth take a seat, I hold out my hand to her.  “Elise, come here.”  I pat the seat to the side of me.  As she approaches I can see tears in her eyes.  Swallowing my own back, “Elise, under no circumstances do I want you to blame yourself for what happened.  The only people responsible are Tom and Nick, not you.”  I pull her into my arms.  She cries and I cry with her.

Moving slightly away.
  “What about you, Elise?  Are you doing okay?  None of this must be easy for you.”

She takes a few deep breaths, “I’m doing okay. Jake is helping, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel.
  By the time I got away from him, I hated him for what he said about me and Jake and for what he did to me.”   She dabs at her eyes with a tissue.

Cade moves over to Elise.
  Taking her by the hand he pulls her in for a hug.  “You’ll be fine.”  He places a kiss on her forehead.  Then he grins, “Welcome to the family.”

She smiles through her tears, “Thanks Cade.”

“Am I missing something here?” I ask looking at everyone.

Cade takes hold of Elise’s hand, “She’s wearing the ring Jake bought for her a while back.”

“Oh my god, you’re engaged....  I’ll kill him, he never said anything.... just wait until I see him.”  Everyone laughs.

“Congratulations Elise, I’m so happy it alikesir said anl finally worked out for you both.”

“Thanks Rona.  Really thank you.”

I try to get in to a more comfortable position.
  Cade sees me, releases Elise and moves towards me, “Here love, wait, let me help.”

Putting his arms around my waist, he lifts me further up on the sofa.
  Turning around he freezes and as I look, there are three pairs of eyes looking at us – all smiling.  I’m just so happy that, Jake, Anna and now, I hope Beth, are okay with my relationship with their father.

“G
uys, please stop embarrassing your father.”

Sitting down, Cade moves in close to me on the sofa.
  He places my legs in his lap and takes my hand, lacing our fingers together, before placing a kiss to my knuckles.

“Rona, I didn’t see you yesterday.
  How are you really?”  Beth asks, looking concerned.

“I’m in pain with mainly my left hip, but my thigh hurts occasionally, otherwise I’m fine.” After a pause, “Does anyone know how Grace is doing, I feel partly responsible for what happened to her?”