Love Me (21 page)

He heard her rise and walk over to where he was slumped in the chair.  She was wearing flip flops, and he could see her toenails.  They were painted red with little white flowers.  The exquisite, expensive pedicure underscored their differences. 

She probably spent more on her toenails than they spent on food in a week.  How could that disparity ever be a benefit?  How could it not be a wedge?

“Hey.”  She laid a soothing palm on his shoulder.

“What?”

“Look at me.”

He raised his eyes to hers.  She was gazing at him with such annoyed affection.

“You called me a coward once,” she said, “and I’m turning the tables on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the coward!”

“I am not!”

“You are!  You’re afraid of what could happen.  You’ve convinced yourself that it will be awful so you’re scared to take a chance.”

“I’ve never been afraid of anything,” he fumed, his notorious temper flaring.

“You’re afraid of falling in love, of being happy.”

“I’m not afraid of being happy.  I’m afraid of being
un
happy.”

“You’re positive I’ll leave.  Why?”  Her own temper was heating up.  “Why are you so sure that’s how it will end?” 

“Because that’s how it always ends.  Because that’s the cards the universe dealt me.  I can’t change that fact.”

She leaned down so they were nose to nose.  “What if you’re wrong?”

“I’m not.”

He didn’t like that he was sitting and she was standing.  It made her seem taller, tougher, in the right.  He pushed himself to his feet, and the momentum carried him into her so that, suddenly, his body was pressed to hers.

She didn’t give any ground, didn’t step away.  The sparks they constantly generated ignited with a vengeance.  His desire for her was alive and well; he couldn’t deny it.

He wanted her.  He’d always wanted her.  He’d go to his grave wanting her.

She grinned up at him.  “Can you feel that, Monroe?”

“Yes, I feel it.”

“You’re so hot for me, you’re about to burst into flames.”

“So what?  I’m hot for you.  It doesn’t mean anything.”

She threw up her hands in frustration.  “It means everything, you dolt.  What if we could sleep together every night?  What if you could wake up next to me every morning?  For the rest of your life, Monroe.  For the rest of your
life!”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, rose up on tiptoe, her lips an inch from his own.

“Kiss me,” she said.  “You know you want to.  Don’t be such a butthead.  Just do it and get it over with.”

He hovered there, perched on a precipice of despair.  He was anxious to proceed, but absolutely terrified too.

What if he relented?  What if he latched on, only to learn that she wasn’t serious, that she had no intention of following through?

“Love me, Monroe,” she murmured.  “Love me.  Have me.  Keep me.”

“I can’t decide what’s best,” he groaned.

“
I’m
best.  I’m exactly what you need.  Don’t fight it.  Give up.  Give in.”

She grabbed his ass and pulled him to her.  She was warm and soft, and she smelled so good.  He couldn’t think of a reason
not
to behave as she was demanding.

He lifted her and shoved her against the wall, his mouth crushed to hers in a sizzling kiss that promised more than he could offer, that promised more than he had.

A battle raged inside him.  He craved what she was dangling in front of him, but he was so obstinate, the inflexible voice in his mind telling him he couldn’t have it.

Gradually, the embrace gentled.  He eased away, and she slid to the floor.  A thousand comments floated between them, but he couldn’t verbalize any of them.  He was afraid he’d say the wrong thing, that he’d do the wrong thing. 

She smiled a smile as old as Eve’s.  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

He snorted out a laugh.  “No, it wasn’t so bad.”

She looked at him, her affection blatant and welcome.

“Love me, Matt,” she said again.

“I want to,” he finally, reluctantly confessed.

“Have a little faith.”

“I’m trying.”

“Let me prove to you that it will be all right.  Trust me.  Once in your life, just
trust
.”

She reached in the pocket of her shorts and withdrew a piece of paper.  She held it out.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Credit card receipt.”

“For what?”

“Two plane tickets to Vegas.  You and me.  Saturday.”

“We’d fly to Vegas?  Why?”

“You told me once that I should avoid all the wedding hassle by eloping.  It’s a great idea.”

His heart didn’t just flip-flop; it fell to his shoes.

“You want to get married?  To me?”

“Yes.  Saturday.  All you have to do is say
yes.
  Ken and Jeremy would like to come with us, but it’s up to you.  We could simply throw a big party when we get back.”

He started to shake so hard that he thought his knees might give out.  He lurched over to the chair by the window and dropped onto the soft cushion.

“Pardon me for pointing this out,” he said, “but a few weeks ago, you were engaged to someone else.”

“A major mistake; I admit it.”

“And now, with a month or so gone by, you’re ready to marry me?  I’m a bit skeptical.”

“So what?  You’re always skeptical.”

“You can just flit from him to me?  Why would you?”

“Don’t you know, you goof?”

“I don’t have a clue.”

“You make me happy, Monroe.  When I’m around you, I feel so alive.  When I’m around you, I know I’ll never be alone again.”

She walked over to him, her hands extended.  She linked their fingers and squeezed tight.

“You and me, Monroe.  We’re a unit.  A dynamic duo.  A team.”

“A team?” he scoffed.

“You might as well agree, because I won’t quit harping until you tell me what I want to hear.”

A knock sounded on the door, and Ken flung it open.  Jeremy was with him. 

“I decided I’d better check on you,” Ken explained.  “I had to be sure you haven’t killed anybody.”

“I haven’t killed her,” Matt said.  “Yet.”

“I wasn’t talking about you,” Ken responded.  “You’re a stubborn jackass, and I’ve been worried about
her
and what she might do when she’s had enough of you.”  He grinned at Brittney.  “Have you worn him down?”

“I’m still trying.  He doesn’t think I’m much of a catch.”

“I never said that!” Matt complained, but no one listened.

Ken glared at him.  “What is your problem, man?  She’s rich and beautiful and generous, and she’ll take care of you for the rest of your damn life.  Cram your male ego in your pocket and let her.”

“I just…just…”

Matt couldn’t find words to describe the feelings roiling him.  He was so unworthy of her.  Injured.  Broke.  Never able to support her as she deserved to be supported.

He had nothing to offer her, yet she was utterly certain that she wanted him anyway.

Jeremy pushed past Ken.

“Dad”—it was the first time he’d ever used the term with Matt—“she already moved her stuff into your bedroom.”

“I know,” Matt said.

“I won’t allow her to sleep in here with you unless you guys are married.”

“Stop being such a wuss,” Ken scolded Matt.

“Yeah, Monroe,” Brittney added, “stop being such a wuss.”

She tugged him to his feet and turned them so they were facing the mirror.  Ken and Jeremy stood behind them.

“Look at us, Matt,” she murmured.  “Look at us together.  Look at our family.  Imagine how it can always be.”

He took a deep breath, held it, let it out.  He felt as if he was falling and falling and falling, and he had no idea where he’d be when he landed.

“You can’t ever leave,” he ultimately said to her.  “Promise me.  Swear it.”

“I won’t ever leave.  I swear.”

“And you have to love me.  You have to love me forever.  Swear that too.”

“That’s easy.  I’ll love you forever—till my dying day.”

He gazed at her, at Ken, at Jeremy.  Finally, he ignored his torment, his doubt.  He shrugged.

“Why not?  I haven’t been to Vegas in years.”

They all paused, then Brittney tentatively ventured, “Should I take that as a
yes
?”

Matt nodded.  “Take it as a
yes
.  Vegas.  Saturday.  You and me and the cheesiest wedding chapel we can find.”

Brittney nodded too.  “The absolute cheesiest.  I guarantee it.”

Jeremy frowned and peered up at Ken.  “Does that mean they’re getting married?”

“Yup,” Ken said, and he grumbled, “About damn time they came to their senses.”

“Can we come to Las Vegas with you?” Jeremy asked.

“You’d better,” Matt replied.

Jeremy whooped with joy and rushed over to hug Matt.  Matt hesitated, unsure of how to accept such an open display of affection.

Brittney grabbed them both and showed them how it was done.

THE END

The Author

CHERYL HOLT
is a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of thirty novels.  She has numerous national writing awards to her credit and is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine,
Romantic Times.
She lives and writes in Hollywood, California, and loves to hear from fans.

www.cherylholt.com
[email protected]

BOOKS BY CHERYL HOLT

LOVE ME

KISS ME

SEDUCE ME

KNIGHT OF SEDUCTION

NICHOLAS

DREAMS OF DESIRE

TASTE OF TEMPTATION

PROMISE OF PLEASURE

LOVE’S PROMISE

LOVE’S PRICE

SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL

DOUBLE FANTASY

FORBIDDEN FANTASY

SECRET FANTASY

TOO WICKED TO WED

TOO TEMPTING TO TOUCH

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

THE WEDDING NIGHT

FURTHER THAN PASSION

DEEPER THAN DESIRE

MORE THAN SEDUCTION

COMPLETE ABANDON

ABSOLUTE PLEASURE

TOTAL SURRENDER

LOVE LESSONS

MOUNTAIN DREAMS

MY TRUE LOVE

MY ONLY LOVE

MEG’S SECRET ADMIRER

WAY OF THE HEART

Enjoy these other great e-books from Cheryl Holt.  Now available for most e-readers…

NICHOLAS

“An exciting plot complicated by Emeline and Nicholas's roller-coaster relationship keeps the pages turning. A great weekend read.”

Emily Thompson, Library Journal

“It is always a wonderful feeling, like comfort food, to read a favorite author, and her storytelling here is just as wonderful as in her first book. I find this to be uncommon, but Ms. Holt is this type of author. I recommend any reader to search out her books and read them."    
Teagan Boyd, Book Wenches.com

SEDUCE ME

"Romantic Times hit the nail on the head when they dubbed Cheryl Holt the "Best Storyteller of the Year" and proof of that claim can easily be found in her charming new novella, SEDUCE ME."      
Teresa St. Mary, Novels Alive TV

KNIGHT OF SEDUCTION

"CHERYL HOLT delivers a fast paced and highly entertaining tale of a conquering knight, honed and hardened by a lifetime of battles and a spirited young woman who wants nothing more than a life of her own. KNIGHT OF SEDUCTION is a must read, with captivating characters who practically come alive from the page and pull you into their tale of sweet seduction, witty banter, and soul touching emotions."

Teresa St. Mary, Novels Alive TV

Did you enjoy Cheryl’s novel, LOVE ME?  Then don’t miss the companion novels, SEDUCE ME and KISS ME.  Read about Lucas and Dustin Merriweather.  Find out how they met and fell in love with Faith and Amy. 

Both books available now at most on-line bookstores for most e-reader devices.

SEDUCE ME

by Cheryl Holt

Enjoy this sample chapter!

CHAPTER ONE

Lucas Merriweather marched up the steps to his attorney’s office.  He’d only recently hired the woman, and he glanced around, trying to learn something of her character by assessing his surroundings.

Ms. Catherine Stone, Attorney at Law, had located her business in an old house that was charming and picturesque.  From the tidy yard and paint job, he predicted she would be pragmatic, sensible, and shrewd, qualities he would exploit to his benefit.  He had no qualms about using her.  She’d be well paid for her efforts.       

While he usually scheduled his appointments in the skyscrapers of downtown Denver, he’d agreed to make the one-hour drive to Boulder for what he intended to be a very private, very discreet conversation.  His siblings, Dustin and Britney, wanted to splash the scandal across the newspapers, but Lucas was determined to avoid any publicity and to have the debacle resolved with a minimum of fuss. 

An acquaintance had recommended Ms. Stone, claiming she was tough as nails and could push through any bargain he sought.  He’d spoken to her on the phone, but they hadn’t met, and he was still debating his decision to retain her.

His powerful family had armies of attorneys,
male
attorneys, scattered over the globe.  Their sole purpose was to protect Merriweather Industries.  But with the emerging
situation
—as his mother liked to call it—Lucas felt a female lawyer would better suit him.

Women were adept at exhibiting a soft, restrained façade, one that fooled adversaries into complacency, but beneath the surface, they could be more brutal than men.  Their venom was unexpected, their targets caught off guard.