Sweet Cheeks (32 page)

I grin back. “Noted.”

I know all about checklists.

Bailey gives me one last smile and leaves, closing the door behind her.

I don't know what's keeping Tanning, and I start to wonder if he had to drive
Her
home. They probably came together. I won't be able to hide out here all night. I can't be that rude to Bailey and Cam.

I'm contemplating going to find him, when the door opens and Tanning rushes over. “I'm sorry Sweet Cheeks, it ... ah... took a bit longer than I thought. I'm so glad you're still here.” And he kisses me again and holds me tight. But before I get lost in those soft, warm lips, and forget my own name, I pull away from him.

I cup both his cheeks and he closes his eyes and presses into my hand. “God, I've missed you so much,” he whispers, and looks so adorable.

I kiss his closed eyelids, loving that I can return the tender favour he bestowed on me all those months ago. I whisper, “I need to tell you something.”

He opens his beautiful eyes. There is so much tenderness and warmth in those green gems. “You don't have to tell me ...” he begins.

“No.” I cut in. “If I don't do it now, I'll never tell you. And well, it's kind of huge and I'm not sure how you're going to feel about me afterwards.”

Tanning shakes his head and kisses my forehead. “My feelings for you have never changed. I've told you before. You're like my own personal curse, Jennifer Jaimeson. No matter how hard I try, I can't get you out of my every thought, you've put me under some kind of spell. Ever since High School, no matter how mean you were, no matter how much you ignored me. I still wanted you. I've never wanted anyone like I want you. And I don't think that will ever change.”

Holey moley!

I can't help the shit eating grin that spreads across my face. “A curse huh? You know just the right thing to say to a girl, to get her heart all a flutter.”

Tanning laughs and rubs his neck. “Yeah, well what can I say, I read a lot of romance novels for tips.”

He is more than adorable, as a pink tinge colors his cheek, and I laugh along with him. “I can tell.”

Than our laughter dies, as I lose the smile and sigh big. Okay, fun and games are over. I need to get this off my chest. I need to tell Tanning the truth. All of it. And there's no time like the present.

Here I go.

Wish me luck ...

THiRTY-SeVeN

_________________________

6 months later....

I have no idea what to wear. Tanning won't tell my anything. He wants to surprise me. I just wish he'd given me some kind of hint. I look across to Felicity, sitting like a little princess in her high chair, jam smudged across her cute little face.  She loves jelly jam tarts. Ironically she doesn't like my cookies, so I compromised by baking tarts. Not the most challenging, fun thing to bake, but for her I'll do anything.

My cell buzzes on the counter top and I glance across to see Tanning's photo.

God, I love him so much. My heart still races even receiving a message from him.

Answer the door.

What, but the doorbell hasn't ...

Scratch that, as the ringing of the front doorbell echoes through the house and Felicity looks up and giggles. She loves the sound of bells. I smile at her and tickle her tummy which makes her giggle more.

“What’s Tanning up to?” I say to her, and hurry to the front door. I open it to find a delivery man standing there holding a big white box all tied up with pretty pink ribbon. I thank him and bring the box inside.

Then my phone buzzes again, and I smile reading the text.

Be ready at exactly eighteen hundred hours. Oh and wear what's in the box. I love you
.

I can't hear that enough. I hug the big box to my chest, feeling all kinds of sickly, gooey inside. I kiss Felicity on the head, and lick the jelly jam off my lips. Hmmm. not bad.

It's already five thirty and Bailey and Cam will be here soon. I unravel the ribbon, and throw off the lid, unfolding the white tissue to discover the most beautiful white satin dress I've ever seen.

Oh. My. I love it.

I take it to our bedroom and hang it up. Then the doorbell rings again, and I race downstairs to let Bailey and Cam in.

They barely acknowledge me, as they barge past and make a beeline for Felicity. They have this ongoing competition, that whoever gets to her first, has dibs on feeds, and cuddles, and Felicity loves it.

I laugh and shake my head. Cam is the winner today, and he's already got a huge jam stain on his face, as he kisses Felicity on her chubby cheeks, cradling her in his strong arms.

Bailey joins me and puts her hands on her hips. “He cheated you know. I had the winning edge.”

Cam winks at me, and continues to shower Felicity with attention.

“You two, need to have your own. And you need to have twins so there's no competition.”

Bailey looks away, and I suddenly cringe. Oh boy, I probably shouldn't have said that. They got married two months ago, and I know they both want kids, but after Bailey's past experience it's still a tender topic.

Cam sidles up to Bailey and Felicity reaches for her, which makes her grin big as she takes her from his arms. Cam whispers something in Bailey's ear, and she looks at me and sucks her lower lip into her mouth.

Something's up with these two.

I narrow my eyes. “What?”

Cam shrugs. “Well it's not twins. But...”

O.M.G.

I stand stunned for a minute, while a huge grin eats up both Cam and Bailey's face.

“You're pregnant?” I yell.

Bailey gives a small shrug and nods. “Yeah. About six weeks. So it's early days, we haven't told anyone yet.”

I race to encase both of them in a massive hug. “That is the best news ever. Oh I'm so pleased for you both. And I won't tell anyone. I promise.”

“Yeah, well we're trying to keep it a secret, but it's hard, when everyone keeps hinting. But after what um ... happened, I want to keep it secret for at least another month. You know ... just ...”

I don't let her finish that thought as I hug Bailey again hard, and whisper to her. “It'll be fine this time. I have a sense about these things.”

She chuckles and Cam puts his arm around her shoulder and gives her a chaste kiss. “It'll be perfect,” he says.

God, I'm so pleased for these two beautiful people. They deserve all the happiness in the world.

“So, where's Tanning taking you tonight?” Bailey asks and raises her eyes.

“I have no idea. He's being all secret squirrel.”

Cam chuckles. “Well, you know what that means?”

Both Bailey and I spin toward him, saying at the same time, “No. What?”

Cam back tracks, holding up his hands. “Ah ... um nothing.”

“Cam, spill. Where is he taking me?” I demand.

Cam reaches for Felicity again and dances off with her to the couch, saying over his shoulder, “No way. My lips are sealed. You'll just have to wait and see.”

Bailey sighs. “He won't budge. Boy's club. Honor code and all that.”

I shake my head. “Yeah, what's that all about? Tanning won't tell me.”

“Some stupid club they created in High School. I don't know. I don't think I want to know.”

“Yeah, you could be right. Okay, well I best get ready. Oh ... and Bales, I'm so happy for you. And it really will be fine. Just look after yourself, okay. Oh and enjoy every moment, it really is the best thing in the world.”

She gives me a big smile, and I take off upstairs.

So I'm dressed in this gorgeous knee length gown which hugs my curves and falls just below my knees. I feel great, and I'm wearing my strappy white sandals to match.

Cam whistles as I enter, and Bailey's eyes widen. “Wow, you look smashing, love,” she says in her best cockney accent, and Cam rolls his eyes, but I laugh, she's pretty good at it.

They're both sitting on the floor playing blocks with Felicity, having a competition as to who can build the tallest tower before she knocks it over.

They're going to make the best parents.

Then the doorbell rings again. And I frown. I'm not expecting anyone else tonight and Tanning wouldn't ring the doorbell on his own house. Weird.

“Do you want me to get it?” Cam asks, obviously seeing the worried frown on my face.

I blink. “Um ... no it's alright.”

There are still times when the dark thoughts creep in. Anything unexpected makes those fears rear their ugly head, but I'm getting better at burying them.

I go and answer the door, pasting a smile on my face.

There's a very posh looking man in a black uniform and cap standing there, and I do a double take to make sure I'm not hallucinating.

“Good evening Ma'am. I'm your driver, my name's Clifford.”

Driver? What? Where's Tanning
?

Just then my phone buzzes. I read the text from Tanning.

Answer the door
.

I laugh. He's a little late, but I give him kudos for trying.

Then my phone buzzes again as I stand there waiting, knowing he'll text again.

The driver will bring you to me. I'm waiting for you
.

I smile at Clifford, feeling much better about leaving with him now.

I race back inside to give Felicity a huge kiss and wave goodnight to Bailey and Cam, then walk outside to see an antique black car, like you'd see in those early twentieth century British dramas. Oh, how cool.

The driver opens the door, and holds out his hand to help me in. Once I'm inside I notice the windows are tinted and it's hard to see outside. Since its growing darker, I probably won't have any idea where I'm going, and seeing as the driver is in a separate compartment I can't ask him. This is all so mysterious. Tanning has gone all out tonight.

Well not just tonight. He hasn't stopped spoiling me since we got back together. As soon as I spilled my guts to him that night, he's been so attentive and loving toward me. I couldn't have asked for more, particularly when I expected the worst. He insisted I move back in with him, so we can all be a family, and it's been the best six months of my life. Travis took a little while to accept it. But he's slowly coming around. And Tanning, after finding out about Travis's job and what actually happened is more understanding. I mean they will never be best buddies or anything, but I think for Felicity's sake they'll always be civil to each other. And she is the luckiest girl in the world to have two dads, who adore and care for her. She is so loved. And I couldn't ask for more for my baby girl.

We've been traveling for about twenty minutes, but I still can't see anything except the blackness of night. It's making me a little on edge to be honest.

Then my phone buzzes and I read the next message from Tanning.

Do you trust me?

Well Yeah. Of course.
I think, but don't get chance to type the message. 

Good
.

Smug ass.

I need you to close your eyes and not open them till you hear my voice
.  

My hands are shaking a little, and I'm not sure if it's because I'm nervous or excited. But I do trust Tanning. I need to show him I trust him. I can do this.

So I close my eyes and tune in to the sounds around me. The car engine revs and I feel it turn off to the left, then the road is bumpy for a few minutes, before the car comes to a complete stop. My heart is beating rapidly, and it takes all my will power not to open my eyes. I have to trust Tanning. I said I would. Then the car door opens and the cold chill from the night air rushes into the warm compartment as familiar arms wrap around my waist and lift me down.

“Hey Sweet Cheeks you look beautiful,” he says into my hair.

My eyelids flutter open and I look up into Tanning's twinkling green eyes. He's smiling at me, and I lean in and kiss him. I've missed him. I always miss him when I haven't seen him for a few hours, or a few minutes. Doesn't matter.

He pulls away and smiles wide. And its only then I take my gaze from his beautiful face to see where we are.

Oh. My.

It's my spot. The spot I picked out to be proposed to all those years ago.

Oh. My.

And there is no one else here. Just us.

Oh. My.

Tanning grabs my hand and leads me up the steps to the back porch of the restaurant, and leads me to the table in the corner, the one near the waterfall. He pulls out my chair and I slide into the comfortable arms of those snuggly white cushions. There are hundreds of pink fairy lights surrounding us, and candles lit on all the vacant tables, adorned with pretty pink flowers. This is so romantic. So perfect. I can feel tears, but I don't want to spoil this moment by becoming a blubbering mess.

Tanning doesn't take a seat opposite, but I hear him blow out a breath, like he's nervous as hell.

Then he kneels down beside me, and my heart stops.

He looks into my eyes, and I can't help the tear that leaks out. He holds both of my hands, and they're shaking more than ever now. He leans in and presses his forehead to mine. “Jennifer Jaimeson, I love you. I've always loved you, from pretty much the moment I saw you. And I couldn't imagine not seeing you every day, or kissing you every day, or loving you every day of my life. Will you marry me?”