Sinful Chocolate (17 page)

G
isella cried so much that she became used to the taste of her salty tears. By morning, she promised to pull herself back together. She was a strong woman, and somehow, someway, she would get through this. She just wished it didn't hurt so bad. She hugged the bed's pillow tighter while her heart continued to break.

“It's okay. Don't cry,” Charlie's voice drifted over the shell of her ear.

No. No
. She didn't want Fantasy Charlie there. If she couldn't have the real thing, she didn't want anything at all.

“It's okay, baby. I'm here.”

A soft kiss was pressed against the back of her neck and caused a delicious tingle to ripple down her spine. She moaned, slowly allowing this fantasy to play out. Arms slid across her body and pulled her back to settle into a comfortable spoon position.

“I'm so sorry, baby.” He kissed her again. “I'm so sorry I hurt you.”

His hand now caressed her belly. “Can you ever forgive me?”

She desperately wanted to, but she couldn't get the words out.

“I thought I was doing what was best,” he whispered. “I love you. I never stopped loving you. I swear there's no one else.” He pulled her even closer. “I was so stupid.”

It was probably the sound of his broken sobs that finally penetrated her foggy brain and forced her to open her eyes. This was no fantasy.

Gisella covered the hand over her belly and rolled over to face the man lying beside her. She was shocked at his haggard look, his scruffy beard and watery eyes. And yet, he was still able to steal her breath.

“Hey, you,” he whispered.

Fresh tears blurred her vision while a whirlwind of emotions swirled inside of her. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to beg you for forgiveness…and to tell you the truth about why I pushed you away.” With the pads of his thumbs, he wiped her face dry and started from the beginning.

By the time he was through, she was crying again. She hammered him with questions and mentally tried to rebel against his doctor's diagnosis. When she realized that she was acting just as he'd feared, she showered him with words of encouragement.

“Don't worry, sweetheart,” she said. “We can get through this…together.”

There was no doubt that she'd forgiven him. She was kissing and holding him so tight that he could scarcely breathe. But Charlie had no complaints, especially when she pulled her nightgown over her head and revealed the provocative curves he'd spent the last week trying to forget.

As always their bodies snapped together like the perfect puzzle. She lay back with her eyes sparkling while he stretched above her. He entered her with ease. Their mouths fed hungrily upon each other. Arms circling his neck, Gisella squeezed her inner muscles for each slow thrust of his hips.

“Oh, Gisella,” he moaned, losing himself in her sweet body. Their rhythm picked up speed and the lovers grew wild with passion and their bodies soon became dewy with sweat.

Gisella was coming, surging over the edge and calling out Charlie's name.

They shuddered together in an orgasm that seemed to go on forever. She kissed his shoulders and he pressed his lips against her forehead.

“I still want to marry you,” he whispered. “That's if you'll have me.”

She hugged him tight and smiled up at him. “I'll marry you anytime, anywhere and anyplace.”

Charlie quickly rolled over and retrieved the blue box from the pocket of his pants strewn on the floor. “I was supposed to give this to you last week.”

Gisella popped open the box and gasped.

“This makes it official,” Charlie said. He kissed her again and slid the ring onto her finger. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She hesitated. “There's something I have to tell you. I'm pregnant.”

A new smile exploded across Charlie's face. He didn't want to ruin the moment by telling her that he already knew about the baby. Instead, he pulled her close and made love to her again.

And again.

And again.

 

“I don't understand,” Charlie said. “Swing that back by me.”

Dr. Weiner shifted awkwardly in his chair. He braided and unbraided his fingers several times before he repeated the results of Charlie's lab work. “I don't know how this mix-up happened, but I want you to know that I'm extremely sorry.”

Charlie shook his head and prayed that his hearing hadn't failed him. “So, I
don't
have aplastic anemia?” he asked for the third time. “I'm not dying.”

Embarrassed, the doctor shook his head. “The best we can figure is that there was some kind of screw-up at the lab. Your samples were switched with another patient's.”

“Switched?”

“Oh, baby.” Gisella grabbed Charlie's hand and squeezed. When Dr. Weiner had called them that morning, they had dropped everything and rushed right over. They agreed that they were in this together. No matter what the diagnosis, they would face it head on—and they would fight.

Fight for their love.

Fight for their future.

While happy tears filled Gisella's eyes, Charlie was busy connecting other dots. “Dr. Weiner, does Lexi Thomas still work here?”

Gisella's head swung toward the doctor. “She
works
here?”

Dr. Weiner blinked, clearly surprised by the question. “Nurse Thomas left the practice last month. Why?”

Charlie drew in an angry breath. “I don't believe this.”

“You don't think she was crazy enough to deliberately switch your lab results?” Gisella asked.

“Of course she would. She vandalized my car, trashed and stole things out of my apartment. With her working here, how hard would it have been to switch my lab results?”

“Whoa. Whoa.” Dr. Weiner held up his hands. “I don't know what you're talking about, but the accusations you're leveling are serious. Do you have proof of any of this?”

Charlie laughed. “Of course not. She's too clever for that.” He clenched and unclenched his fist. He wished he could do more than issue a restraining order. At this point he was just glad that he didn't own a pet rabbit.

“What about his headaches and dizzy spells?” Gisella asked, patting Charlie's arms in hopes to calm him down. “If he doesn't have aplastic anemia something has to be wrong.”

“There is.” Dr. Weiner drew a deep breath. “All tests indicate that you have type 2 diabetes, and, of course, we've always known about your borderline high blood pressure. The dizziness and vertigo can occur when your blood sugar shoots up. It's definitely the culprit behind the migraines.”

“That's it?” Charlie asked almost laughing. “Diabetes?”

“Diabetes is still a serious matter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers diabetes to be a pandemic in America. The good news is now that we know what's wrong with you, we can work to control it.”

“But it's not exactly the same as having a couple of months to live,” Gisella cut in. Her relief so strong it caused her to laugh.

“No. With any luck Charlie will be with us for a long time.” Dr. Weiner looked at Charlie. “Again. I want to express my sincere apology for this lab screw-up. I find it hard to believe that any member of my staff would have purposely switched lab results. I also want to point out that if you'd come in earlier for the additional testing then this wouldn't have carried out as long as it has.”

At this moment, Charlie was too happy to be upset. “Can we have a few minutes alone?” he asked.

Weiner nodded. “Of course.” He stood and left his office.

Immediately, Gisella launched into Charlie's arms and peppered his face with kisses. “Can you believe it, baby?”

He couldn't. After being so scared for seemingly so long, he felt as if he'd been given a second chance on life and in his arms was all he needed for happiness.

“You know what this means, don't you?” Gisella said. “I can't feed you any more of my chocolate.”

Charlie laughed. “There's only one kind of chocolate I want from you, and I plan to have all I can eat every night.”

One month later

G
isella and Charlie's hands overlapped as they gripped the knife and together sliced into a Sinful Chocolate popular creation—white chocolate and lemon cake. The happy couple smiled at the wedding photographer and then toward each other before shoving a handful of the decadent dessert into each other's faces.

Laughter rippled among the large gathering of friends and family and then a cheer went up when Charlie then tried to kiss and lick his wife's face clean. Armed with a new diet and medication, Charlie had learned to strike the perfect balance between having his cake and eating it, too. “I love you, baby,” he whispered, snapping their bodies together and dipping his head for a long soulful kiss. She tasted so sweet.

“Je t'aime aussi,”
she responded when he allowed her to come up for air.

Charlie groaned at the instant hard-on he acquired whenever Gisella spoke French. Now that they'd said their ‘I do's, Charlie was ready to skip right to the honeymoon phase. So much so he found himself asking Gisella every five minutes, “Can we leave now?”

“Behave.” She giggled and then allowed Anna to pull her away.

“I'm so happy for you, Gisella,” Anna said, wrapping her arms around her baby sister. “I don't think the Lonely Hearts will admit it, but you've renewed our faith in love.”

Gisella smiled and wiped away a stray tear from her sister's face. “I owe you so much. If you hadn't gone to see Charlie that night…”

Anna gave Gisella's waist a gentle squeeze. “I'm sure you would've done the same for me.”

“In a heartbeat.” She paused. “He's out there, you know. There's a perfect guy out there for you.”

Anna shrugged. “Maybe. But until then, me and Sasha are going to be just fine.”

Gisella smiled as her eyes snagged on Taariq as he walked across the lawn.
Maybe…

Charlie laughed as his mother gripped his cheeks and tried to pinch the blood out of them. “My baby has made me so proud. Not only did you give me a beautiful daughter-in-law, but I'm finally getting my grandbaby.”

“Anything for you, Mama.” He kissed her cheek.

“Of course you know I was right,” she added, releasing his cheeks. “Didn't I tell you if you found a woman who could cook like your mama then you had a winner?”

“That you did, Mama.” He wrapped his arm around her.

“I just wish your father was here to see this day,” she said. “Married and about to become a father. He would be so proud. I am.”

“Thanks, Mom.” He kissed her lovingly on her upturned cheek.

“Mama Arlene,” Taariq greeted her with a wide smile. “I don't know if Charlie told you, but we talked it over, and he's completely cool with calling me ‘Daddy.' All you have to do now is accept my proposal. I'll make an honest woman out of you.”

“You're so bad.” Arlene blushed as she gave Taariq a welcoming hug. “Now when are
you
getting married?”

“As soon as you say yes.”

She rolled her eyes. “You just love me for my fried chicken.”

“That's not true. You make a mean potato pie, too.”

Arlene laughed and then continued to giggle like a school-girl when Taariq asked for a dance. As he led her to the pavilion before the band, Charlie was left to shake his head.

“So you finally did it,” Hylan said, slapping his large hand across Charlie's back. “You waved the white flag and surrendered to the enemy.”

Charlie laughed and rolled his eyes. “Don't start that with me.”

“What?” He hunched his shoulders. “I'm just saying. We were supposed to be playas for life. Remember?”

Derrick rushed up behind Hylan and quickly put him into a headlock. “Whatever he's saying, don't listen to him.”

“Oh, he's harmless.” Charlie chuckled. “I'm just waiting for the day when he starts waving his own white flag.”

“It'll never happen,” Hylan croaked from under Derrick's arm and tried to tap out.

“It doesn't make any sense to be so hard-headed,” Derrick said, releasing him.

Hylan sucked in a deep breath and then playfully sent a left jab against Derrick's shoulder. “Mark my words. A brother like me ain't going down without a fight. You'll have to pry my playa's card out of my cold dead hands.”

“All right,” Derrick said. “We're going to hold you to that.”

“Charlie, man,” Stanley said, joining the group. “Your wife's cake is off the hook. What's her secret, man?”

“She didn't make this cake. Her assistant Pamela insisted on making the cake as a gift. She did a good job.”

“Pamela, huh? Where is she?” Stanley turned to survey the crowd. “Maybe I'll marry her.”

“I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear it.” Charlie laughed. “Start with baby steps. Try to get a date first.”

“Or try to get a woman to stand still long enough for you introduce yourself.”

“Ha. Ha. Y'all gonna get enough messing with me.” Stanley scanned the crowd again. “There's gotta be someone here I can hook up with. Weddings are the best places for single people to hook up. That and funerals.”

Hylan and Charlie just stared him.

“What? It's what I heard.”

“We're going to pray for you,” Hylan said.

“Whatever.” Stanley moved closer to Charlie. “So now that you're off the market, what do you say to passing a playa like me your infamous little black book? I've heard that it's a pretty thick book.”

“A playa like you?” Hylan snickered. “If anyone should inherit the Holy Grail from my man here, it should be me.”

“Guys, guys. As much as I'd like to improve your whack game, I can't. Gisella and I had a nice farewell ceremony and then tossed the book into the fireplace.”

Hylan and Stanley blinked and then both pointed at him accusingly. “Judas!”

Derrick and Charlie laughed.

“What do a couple of married women have to do to get a dance with their husbands?”

Derrick and Charlie turned toward their smiling wives.

“Not a thing,” Charlie said, taking his wife into his arms. “Of course I'm looking forward to a little private dancing,” he whispered as he led her toward the music.

“Oh, you'll get your dance, Mr. Masters. That and a whole lot more.”

“That's what I'm counting on, Mrs. Masters. That's what I'm counting on.”