Devin-2 (16 page)

“I can make gravy. I love to cook. It won’t take a minute. That is, if you don’t mind me using your kitchen. Devin has very few staples in his cabinets; it’s a shame. I’m sure it won’t be as good as yours, but I can try.”

“You can cook too? Oh my, you have done well for yourself, haven’t you, Mr. Devin? You go ahead, miss. Make him some. Never seen a boy like gravy like he does, you know.”

Ronnie took some of the beef and fired it up in a pan to make some brown makings. Adding a little milk and water to some flour, she was whipping up some very smooth brown gravy in less than three minutes. Mrs. Poole approved and everyone insisted that she join them for their meal. It was a grand one too—

lively conversations, children laughing and teasing between the families. Ronnie watched it all in awe. Devin leaned over and pulled her close to kiss her.

“You okay? I know we are a bit to take at first, but we sort of grow on you.

My dad would take pictures and then show them off the following week. Dan has started taking pictures after dinner when we are all at our worst. I think there’s an album around somewhere with a bunch of them in it.”

“I’m fine. It’s so different than when Austin, Ben and I eat. Even when their friends come over, it’s fairly quiet and reserved. This...this is amazing. How do you keep up with each other’s conversation?”

“It’s impossible. But don’t let that worry you, honey. You’ll get used to us.

Would you mind if I borrowed Devin for a few minutes, please? I promise I won’t keep him long,” Margaret said with a small pat to Ronnie’s cheek.

Devin kissed Ronnie and went with his mother. They were headed to the study and he felt his stomach jump with anticipation. She was going to give him the ring and Ronnie had never said yes yet.

When she opened the safe and handed him the small jeweler’s box, he took a deep breath. The last time he had looked at this ring was when he had been just out of law school and his grandmother had given it to him.

“This ring isn’t the one he proposed to her with, of course. That ring is with Morgan. But I believe I love this ring more. He had gotten it for her on Valentine’s Day and she cried, she told me. He had buried it in a piece of chocolate and he was so terrified that she would swallow it before he could see it on her finger.”

Devin opened the box and marveled once again at the beauty of the setting.

The diamond was blue, rare now, but even more so then. The band was an inch wide of twenty-four carat white gold. There was an inscription on the inside, the year that his grandfather had given it to his beautiful bride. The diamond was a full two carats and square cut held in place with a gold figurine design that swirled over the gem and along the band. There were no other gems with it; the simplicity of it was perfect for Veronica in that.

“It’s perfect for her, Mom. Perfect. But, I’m nervous. I’m...she never told me yes when I asked her. I don’t know what I’ll do if she tells me no.” He looked at her and she opened her arms to him. Even as old as he was, Devin loved hugging his mom almost as much as he loved receiving them from her.

“She’ll say yes. How could she not? She is a pretty little thing, isn’t she? All prim and proper. Are her parents nice?”

Devin laughed. He couldn’t help it. “First, she’s not so prim. I think we just overwhelmed her. About her parents, her father is Austin Pride, an artist that I guess Byron knows, and her mother is Ben Kendal. He designs dresses. That dress she wore to the dinner is one of his.”

“Ben Kendal of Kendal’s Boutiques—that Ben Kendal? Devin, do you have any idea who those men are? I think I have it here...just a minute.” He watched as she went to the desk and pulled out several magazines and then came back at him with a Fortune 500. She had it open and handed him the glossy article.

There were both their names, Austin’s in the first slot and Ben’s the third one down. They were considered two of the three richest men in the world. He sat down hard on the chair that was thankfully right behind him. He skimmed through the article that described them both as reclusive men, yet donated millions of dollars to charities every year; their pet ones were mostly those that dealt with child abuse and the wellbeing and welfare of children. He smiled, wondering how long it had been a project of theirs, and wondered if the time coincided with the arrival of one Veronica Frey.

“You should call Austin and ask him for her hand. It’s a nice thing to do.

Plus, they should know that you asked her. I would want to know that you had if she were my daughter. You call; I’ll go see what she’s up to.” She was in the kitchen with Morgan and Mrs. Poole.

~~~

Ronnie was washing the dishes that wouldn’t fit in the dishwasher and listening to the other women talk. She didn’t have many friends and very few of them were women. She was surprised and pleased that Morgan was so friendly to her and her little boys were so adorable.

“How long did you know Mr. Grant before you guys got married?” Ronnie asked, and immediately felt bad when she saw the quick look of pain flitter across Morgan’s face.

“We didn’t exactly have the best of beginnings. Nick married me because I was pregnant with his twins and sort of fell in love with me afterwards. But it’s all worked out. I love him very much and he loves me. Has Devin told you he loves you yet?”

“Yes, today as a matter of fact. He told his mother this afternoon when she called. I’m not sure what to think of all this. It’s sort of sudden and we really haven’t known each other all that long either. He, well, he asked me to marry him too.”

The noise that came from Morgan had Ronnie go for her gun, but luckily, she was grabbed in a bear hug that prevented her from reaching it. Mrs. Parker came in while Ronnie was trying to disengage herself from Morgan.

“They’re getting married! Isn’t that wonderful? Another woman in the family to shop with, Margaret. Isn’t that great? Oh, I’m so happy for you both.”

“I just said he asked me. I didn’t say I said yes. And to be honest, I’m not so sure I will. I mean, I don’t exactly come from a normal background.” Boy, that was an understatement.

“I’ve met your parents, Ronnie. Well, at least your father. He’s a very eloquent man. I was impressed with the speech he gave at a luncheon I attended,” Margaret told her with a smile.

“My father? I’ve never...mine? Are you sure? He can barely put two sentences together without making you want to bash him over the head. I remember once a teacher told him that he should maybe attend grade school. His grasp of the English language is horrendous.”

“Darling, I’m talking about Austin Pride. Not that horrid man who sired you. And I understand that Ben Kendal is your...I’m sorry dear, is he your mother or another father? I want to be very correct in this when we get together to plan your wedding.”

“Roommate. What do you mean, plan my wedding? I’m getting married?

Listen, you guys need to take a deep breath and back off. I never said I was marrying anyone. My head hurts.” She sat down in the chair and put her head between her knees. Things were going entirely too fast for her and she needed...damn it, she needed Devin. She was going to kick his ass. “Can you please tell me where Devin is? This all may be a moot point if I kill him in the next hour.”

Ronnie was directed to the study where he was and with a short knock, she opened the door. He was sitting behind a huge desk talking on the phone. The room was lit only by the fireplace and a small lamp across the room. It was a beautiful room.

The desk was dark and though the lights were off, the dark green antique lamp on it was brass and glass. The entire wall behind him was leaded glass in the most unique design she had ever seen. Through it she could see the pool, covered now for the winter, and lots of trees. The wall with the fireplace was floor to ceiling shelves, all glass fronted with the same leaded design that was in the windows. The mantel was eight feet long and very wide. Ronnie could see several pieces of pottery and pictures in old and new frames all along it. Over the roaring fire was a painting of an older woman and man, the man from the photo on Devin’s desk at his home. The woman, she assumed, was his grandmother.

The wall that the door she had come through had hanging photos, again old and new but all of people. She knew at once they were pictures taken by Devin’s father, the pictures he had told her about.

The last wall, the one across the fireplace, was covered in another glassed in shelf, this one filled with trophies and all other sundry. She started to step toward it when she heard Devin say her name.

“Veronica is right here now...no, I haven’t, but from the look on her face I would say that’s a no...Yes, I’m sure you’re right...All right, I’ll have her call you as soon as I talk to her. Good night, Ben, and thanks.” He hung up the phone and stared at her.

He was such a handsome man. His eyes nearly glowed with the firelight dancing in them. His hair was mussed; much like it looked when she had woke up this morning and looked at him. He had been running his fingers through it like he did when he was frustrated, mostly at her. Devin stared back at her and she wondered what was going on in his mind then thought she probably didn’t want to know. He looked tired and a little anxious.

“Come here, love. I need to hold you for a minute. My family, they’re treating you all right?”

“Yes, and for now, I’ll stay here. You might thank me for the added distance in a minute. Why is your mother planning my wedding? And why are you talking to Ben?” His grin told her nothing.

“I have something for you. Would you come here so that I can give it to you?” He had ignored her, but she was not as easily distracted as he thought.

“I asked you a question, counselor. Why did you call Ben and why is your mother planning a wedding that I’m the bride in?”

“You were there when I told her I had asked you to marry me. She seems to think you’ll say yes because you are a smart girl. I told her that she didn’t know you like I did and that you barely tolerated me at most. As for Ben, I was talking to Austin first and he put Ben on when he told me that I could ask for your hand.” He stood up now and walked toward her. Her body responded and not how she wanted it to, damn it. “Austin thinks I’m a great catch too.” She snorted. Not very ladylike, but they were all backing her in a corner and she didn’t like it. She straightened when he was a few inches from her. She didn’t know whether to hit him or to throw him to the floor and ravage him. It was a toss-up. But her body was telling her to throw him to the floor and have at him like a large Sunday buffet.

When he dropped down on one knee, she tried her best to stop the giggle that erupted from her mouth. He raised a brow at her, but said nothing as he took her hand in his.

“Don’t do this, Devin. Please? You don’t know me very well. What if I’m a crazy person bent on destroying everything you have? Or I howl at the moon once a month?”

“Do you? Never mind, I don’t care. That and many others are things I want to learn about you. I’m in love with you, Veronica. I love you with all of my heart and if you won’t say you’ll marry me, I’ll tell my mother on you. And I know that you’re crazy, by the way.” She watched as he took the ring from his pocket and slipped it over her finger just to the first knuckle.

“What about children? I mean, you want some, right? What if they’re like him? What if they are evil like my father?” She was grasping at straws and they both knew it.

“I would hope that you’d want children, but it’s all right if you don’t. And they won’t be like him. I swear to you, baby, that I love you and we can and will be great parents. Veronica, quit stalling. Will you marry me?” He slid the ring onto her finger and kissed it. Then he looked up at her again.

“You are so going to regret this. I just know it, but yes. I’ll marry you.” His loud whoop had her jump back and he picked her up and swung her around the room. Before he sat her on her feet, his entire family came rushing in the room.

She had a feeling that they had been listening at the door.

~CHAPTER 15~

The ride back to the city was not long, but it was quiet. Devin glanced over at Ronnie and smiled. She was listening to her small recorder with her eyes closed.

He was sure that she wasn’t listening to music, but notes. When she suddenly turned to him, he glanced guiltily at the road.

“Devin, do you think you could pull over and just hold me for a minute? I’m out of my mind with worry and I just want you to hold me.” He pulled over immediately and unbuckled.

Ronnie started to slide his way, but he held up his hand and got out of the car to go around to her side. Opening the door, he reached in and turned off the overhead light and then unbuckled her as well. She stared at him for all of ten seconds, then turned and buried her face into his neck. He gripped her and pulled her closer to him. Nothing had ever felt so good, so complete.

“You could have just held me. You didn’t need to get out and come around.

But I’m glad you did. You’re so warm and I love the way you smell.” Devin moved his fingers through her hair and lifted her face to look at him.

Her eyes were dark in the moonlit night and he wanted to taste her, even as the cold air blasted him from behind. Lowering his head, he took her mouth.

Devin wanted to be gentle, wanted to savor her taste, but as soon as his lips touched hers, he groaned. Need rolled through him and he poured all he was into her. Deepening the kiss, he shifted so that he was between her legs and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips and dug her heel into his thighs.

Cupping her ass, he brought her forward and lifted her against his erection. She shuddered hard against his mouth and he groaned again.

“Every time you touch me, I feel like I’m going up in flames. Will there ever be a time when that never happens? I want to have you inside of me right now, Devin.” She was panting and he surged harder against her tender folds.

“We are still thirty minutes from home and if you keep tempting me like this, I’m going to take you right here along the side of the road like a horny teenager. Behave, woman. I can only...Christ!”