Sweet but Sexy Boxed Set (92 page)

Sarah didn
’t move. She continued to stare at Cheris. “She invited me and Gerald for Thanksgiving. You believe that? Seven months away and she’s already planning it. I told her flat out no, that we’re too busy cooking for people like her who won’t lift a finger in the kitchen.”

“
Geez, Mom. Would it kill you to be nice to her?”

“
It don’t bother her. She said all of you would just come over to the diner for Thanksgiving. I’ll believe it when I see it though. People like her like to use their good china and linen cloths too much.”

“
Maybe she’ll bring her dishes with her. Come on, Sarah.”

Sarah laughed.
“Oh, yeah. I like that idea. Cheris, you tell her to bring her plates for Thanksgiving. That’ll be her contribution.”

“
I will not.”

“
Sarah, I’m leaving, and you can just stay here with your new best friend.” Gerald put the car in gear, and it rolled forward a few feet.

“
All right. All right.” Sarah marched to the car. “Pick up the phone and call me every once in a while, why don’t you?” she called over her shoulder before getting in the car.

Cheris breathed a sigh of relief when it turned the corner at the end of the street.

Chapter Fifteen

I am never afraid of what I know.

—
Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell

Where was Rhoderman?

Cheris stood in the office of the
Loving You
Chapel and tapped her foot impatiently.

She couldn
’t very well interview the Chapel host if Rhoderman wasn’t here to run the camera.

It was hard enough soliciting wedding stores for marketing options when her own marriage was on shaky ground. All of the happily ever after and gushy framed images of couples hand in hand hanging on the wall churned her stomach.

Not pregnant.

She hadn
’t heard from Geoff in two weeks. Of course, she hadn’t contacted him either. What could she say?

I
’m sorry you wanted me tested for venereal diseases? I’m sorry I’m not pregnant? I’m sorry you’ll sign the divorce papers if I send them?

She was sorry.

For all of it, and that they had moved so fast the first night she’d met him. If they’d waited on everything, they’d probably be dating right now. She’d remembered the strong pull of attraction as they’d talked in the Wonderland exhibit—his beautiful eyes and clever conversation, not to mention how he’d looked in the tux.

Her stomach flopped, this time from the memory of his hand on her when she
’d stumbled over the looking glass frame.

She really wasn
’t pregnant. Another two weeks worth of pills, and she wouldn’t have to worry about getting pregnant. Not that it looked like the possibility was ever going to happen.

Geoff had sat with her as she wept that day, terrified, thinking she was.

If you’re pregnant, you’re already somebody’s mother. You’ll be a good mother.

He
’d been so sweet, so confident that they’d be a family going to Disney World and playing with toys.

He
’d talked in terms of presence, being together. Him, Her, and a baby.

What would their baby look like?

Curly dark hair like his, or auburn like hers? Blue eyes or warm gold? Boy or girl?

Charles Mason, owner of
Loving You
, entered the office dressed in a charcoal suit complete with tie. “Has your cameraman shown up yet?”

“
Not yet. I texted him to see why he’s late.”

Charles checked his watch.
“There’s a couple coming in at eleven. Maybe we should reschedule?”

“
I really wanted to post something today since there’s a gap for a wedding chapel on the site. I have a friend who lives close by. I could run and borrow her Flip and be back in ten minutes.”

“
Her what?”

“
It’s a video camera. We could do a quick piece to fill my space, and it would serve as a teaser for the real interview. Okay?”

“
All right.”

****

Later that afternoon Cheris sat in her cubicle with Janie’s flip ready to upload the recording she’d made to the Whirlwind Wedding Workshop. Pushing the menu button which displayed the thumbnails on the small screen, Cheris was about to choose the video she’d shot that morning, when a picture of Geoff on the video thumbnail next to it caught her attention.

When was a video of Geoff taken?

Cheris clicked on it.

In his tuxedo, Geoff stared into the camera as he stood inside a hotel room.

Hotel room!

“
I’m not sure you’re going to want to remember any of this, Cheris.”

From off camera, her voice responded.
“Yes, I will. Everything. Now go ahead.”

Geoff took off his glasses briefly and wiped his eyes.
“You’re a handful.”

“
I was a frightful girl before you married me, and I made no secret of it. I didn’t deceive you, Sir.”

He grinned.
“Where did you hear that?”

The picture shook.
“Elizabeth Taylor said it to Rock Hudson in
Giant
. James Dean died during the filming. Did you know that?”

“
I did not.” He strode over to the bed and pulled back the covers. “Come on. Get in the bed.”

The camera moved toward Geoff.
“Eager, aren’t you?”

“
We’re going to sleep. That’s it. You’ve had too much champagne.”

“
I haven’t had any champagne. I don’t drink. At. All.”

“
So you keep telling me. Come on. I’m tired.” He reached forward and their clasped hands appeared at the edge of the screen. With his other hand he took the camera and set it down face up so that the lamp stand filled the picture.

“
You think midnight putt-putt was too much? I beat you fair and square all three times.”

“
I let you win because you’re so cute when you do that little victory dance.”

“
Want me to do it now?” Cheris suggested silkily.

Rustling and a zipper.

“Stop it,” he admonished. “Keep your clothes on.”

“
I can’t sleep in this. The skirt is too tight, and my bra is digging into my skin.”

“
Sleeping naked is not an option… Would you quit?”

“
What kind of wedding night is this? You promised to worship my body.”

“
I also promised to love and honor you. Worship connotes reverence. Let’s sleep on it tonight, and work on reverent lovemaking another night.”

“
I’ve never known a guy who didn’t want to have sex if given the opportunity.”

“
Well, the opportunity hasn’t exactly presented itself before.”

“
You’re a virgin? I don’t believe it. Why wouldn’t anybody sleep with you?”

“
Because I spend most of my nights on a field looking at stars. It’s not conducive to an active social life.”

“
Come on, Geoff. All those nineteen and twenty year olds gazing at you longingly from their desks?”

“
First of all being involved with a student is an ethics violation. Second of all, most of them have nose and tongue piercings. Unless it’s the ears, I think it rather disturbing.”

“
Are you sure you’re Janie’s brother? Not only does she have a naval ring, but she was afraid Bobby gave her herpes because—”

“
Shhh. There are so many reasons I don’t want you to finish that sentence, I can’t even list them all. Here. I’m going to shower. Take my shirt. You can sleep in it.”

“
Mmm. It smells nice. Like you.”

“
In bed. I double dog dare you to be asleep by the time I get out of the shower.”

“
You’re so cute when you dare me. I’ll try.” She yawned noisily.

“
Good.”

A sound of a brief kiss against skin. Footsteps fading, and a door shutting.

The Flip picked up a loud feminine sigh. Clothing rustled, and something landed on the lampshade knocking it askew.

Cheris flinched.

She’d bet it was her skirt and panties hitting the light covering.

She picked up her cell phone and dialed Janie
’s number.

“
I’ve got to talk to you,” she said when her sister-in-law picked up.

****

“Just for the record. I don’t have Herpes.” Janie sat on Cheris’ desk chair in her apartment as the video feed on the computer monitor cut off. She swiveled the seat toward Cheris who sat next to her on a kitchen chair. “And there’s no chance you have it either.”

Cheris shook her head and shrugged in confusion.
“I know I don’t have it. Traci tested me.”

“
Yeah, because Geoff asked her to. He was afraid you and Bobby had had sex.”

Cheris
’ mouth flew open in shock. “What?”

“
Bobby was being an asshole and told Geoff you and him got it on in the
Black Beauty
exhibit. Remember I told you I walked in on them about to fight? Apparently it was because Geoff caught you two together after he got back from picking up Aunt Nancy.”

Cheris swallowed the bile which rose in her throat.

“Now don’t get all sick to your stomach. I didn’t believe it so I took my Taser and threatened Bobby’s balls if he didn’t tell me the truth. He said he propositioned you, and you said something about his mom not having any kids.

It was hard on your mother, I
’m sure, not having any children

The scene flashed in her head. The remembered fear sped up her heart.

Yes.

It had been at the Black Beauty exhibit.

Her bad vibe radar had gone on alert the second she realized Bobby had cornered her in the room absent of anyone else. When he’d pinned her against Black Beauty’s statue and unzipped his pants, she’d fought to stay calm.

“Get off of me before I knee you, scream my head off, and sic the police on you.” Cheris dug her nails into his hand when he’d pulled at her shirt.

Bobby held her fast, his breath hot against her face.
“You give me three minutes, Babe, I can have you begging me take you right here.”

Cheris braced her foot.
“It was hard on your mother, I’m sure, not having any children.”

A sound from across the room caught Bobby
’s attention. Cheris pushed him away as hard as she could as Geoff approached them, his eyes glittering angrily.

“
Everything okay here?” Geoff asked Cheris.

“
Yes.” Cheris smoothed her sweaty palms down her shirt and tried to stop her knees from wobbling. “Bobby was just telling me a funny joke so I threw him a Ginger Rogers’ line which of course he didn’t get.”

Geoff glared at Bobby who glared back.

“You got a problem, bro?” Bobby tugged at his too low pants and zipped up.

Geoff held Cheris
’ gaze. She took the hand he offered to her. His eyes ran over her, but not as Bobby’s had. Geoff’s gaze was assessing, checking to be sure she was okay. He nudged her away from him and toward the door before dropping her hand.

Finally he turned to Bobby.
“Does my sister know you sleep with other women?”

“
Why don’t you mind your own damn business?”

Geoff stepped closer to Bobby murmuring something to him Cheris couldn
’t hear.

Oh, no.

Were they going to fight? She wrung her hands wondering if she should get the security guard she had seen near the entrance.

“
Gentlemen,” she called. “There will be no fighting here. This is the war room.”

Janie entered the room and walked past where Cheris stood.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she watched the two men, their postures stiff with tension. “Geoff?”

“
I’m getting the hell out of here,” Bobby grated and stalked out.

“
Man, I wish I could have one—” Janie’s phone chimed signaling she had a text. She looked at the screen and grimaced. “It’s Judith, the director. She needs me.” Janie appealed to Cheris. “You’re getting lots of video, right?”

“
Yes.”

“
Great.” She sprinted away. “See you in a few. Geoff? I’ll take Aunt Nancy home, all right?”

“
Sure, Sis.”

Janie
’s brother turned to her searching her face, his own expression troubled. “Cheris, did Bobby…was he—”

She linked her arm through his and began to walk to the door.
“I have spent many a day around men who like to push and shove and shout thinking they make things happen by being aggressive. And I’m not terribly anxious to have another man like that around the place.” She winked at Geoff. “I’m starving. Won’t you take me somewhere and feed me?”

“Oh, Janie.” Cheris turned to the other woman. “What have I done?”

“
Nothing yet. But you need to fix that. I swear I cannot believe that man is still a virgin and almost thirty years old.”

“
I’ve been so awful to him—accusing him of taking advantage of me and thinking I wasn’t good enough for him. He told me he loved me and I threw it up in his face.”

Janie stuck out her tongue in disgust.
“You threw up in his face?”

“
No.” Cheris smacked her on the arm. “He said it didn’t matter how much he loved me if I was always so ready to believe the worst of him. Then I brought up getting a divorce.” Cheris gasped. “He knew the baby wasn’t his, and he wanted to take it to Disney World.”