Fates' Destiny (19 page)

Adam hadn’t felt this good in a long… long time. As they
lay in his bed, facing each other, he admired her.

H
er hands were tucked under the pillow, the gray-blue comforter pulled up just enough to cover her bare breasts. Her beautiful face still a little flushed, her green eyes glowing and he found himself completely mesmerized.

A st
rand of her dark hair rested across her neck and he couldn’t resist running his finger across her temple, sliding the strand off her skin, and tucking it behind her ear. Her eyes closed at the intimate action and that made his heart skip.

As he dropped his hand she let out a soft laugh.

“What?” He asked curios by her sudden laughter.

“I didn’t mean to do that.” She
slid her hand from under the pillow and glided her fingertip over the tender skin of the little bite mark on his neck just above his collar bone.

“It’s ok. I like the pain you inflict on me.” He t
eased with a grin. “Plus, it gave Luke a nice laugh.”

She blushed as her hand left his neck and came to rest atop his on the bed between them.

Adam loved the sight of her when she was shy. He made a mental note to make her blush as many times as he could every day.

Now a question he’d want
ed to ask her from the day he first looked at her file popped in his head and he figured this would be a good time to ask.

“Can I ask you something that has been on my mind since we first met?”

Her green eyes lit up the dim room. “Of course.”

“Why did you give up psychiatry?”

Her smile faded as her eyes lowered to the bed. “I just… wanted to.”

That didn’t make sense to him. “Destiny, I know you had a very successful career. Yo
ur whole life story is in a folder on my desk. You had a long client list, a hefty bank account, and you were highly respected by your peers. A person doesn’t give that up just because they want to. What happened?”

When she rolled to
her back and rested her arm on her forehead he instantly regretted asking.

He was just about to tell her she didn’t have to talk about
it if she didn’t want to but her voice stopped him.

“Her name was Michelle.” She stared at the ceiling. “She came to me a little over a year ago because she was unhapp
y. We talked almost the entire day and I listened carefully to everything she said just as I do all my patients. After she told me all that had been going on with her I diagnosed her with depression and prescribed medication. After that she seemed happy. Every visit consisted of all the things she’d done with her two little boys over the week. And about how her marriage wasn’t stressed anymore. She and her husband were better than ever. She was doing great. And then…” She paused and he saw her swallow hard. “She came to me and told me that she wasn’t doing well anymore. I figured it was the medicine so I prescribed her something else. She’d told me that day… Damn it.” She cursed herself. “She told me that she thought her family would be better off without her. I thought I had convinced her that they wouldn’t. That they would miss her if she was gone. But I didn’t.” She wiped a tear that had slid down her temple. Why did he ask her? Why didn’t he just keep his curiosity to himself or ask Kenna or something? Now she was crying and he was the reason.

“The next day
,” She continued. “I got a phone call from her sister that Michelle had overdosed on her medication.” She looked over at him and his heart sank at the mixture of devastation and guilt that darkened her stunning eyes.

“She killed herself.” She whispered as if it hurt for her to say. “She left those two little boys and a husband who adored her. And I couldn’t help feeling that I could’ve prevented it.”

He had to hold her. He couldn’t let her lie there and suffer. He slid his arm under her and was relieved she rolled into his side. Her body trembled as she cried into his chest.

“Shush Baby.” He said gently as he wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her tight against him. “You couldn’t have known she was capable of that.”

“I should’ve though. I’ve studied human behavior almost all my life. I should’ve known she was suicidal.”

“Baby, listen,” He shifted her so that he could look down into that stunning face. “If there’s
one thing I’ve learned in my 34 years is that some people are unpredictable. You can’t see what’s going on in their minds. You just can’t. So you can’t keep blaming yourself. She did what she did because she believed she was doing right. Sometimes you can’t convince a person they’re wrong if they’re positive they’re not.”

“Thanks Adam.” She smiled through her tears. “I don’t regret my decision.” She stretched her arm over his waist and held him tight. “As a matter of fact coming here was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

He looked into her eyes, happy to see her smile. “Yes it was Destiny. Yes it was.”

“So,” Kenna gave Destiny her full attention
the second the kids walked out the door heading to school. “How’s everything going?”

Destiny smiled from her barstool, her hand wrapped around her coffee cup.

Wonderfully, beautifully, perfectly… “It’s going good.”

A month has passed since she and Adam started seeing each
other and Destiny couldn’t have been happier.

“Have you guys told the kids yet?”

Destiny shook her head. “We’re waiting for the right moment.” Or until they catch them together. Whichever came first.

“Well, Destiny,”
Kenna lifted her cup of coffee. “I guess it’s safe to say you’re in love.”

Dela
let out a soft giggle as she fiddled around in the kitchen. “I think that’s a safe assumption.”

Dela
had caught them making out on the back porch a couple of weeks ago and she was beyond thrilled.

“Yeah.”
She agreed on a dreamy sigh, her cheeks flush.

Just then he rushed into the kitchen.

“I am so late.” He said as he straightened his black button down shirt and tugged his gray jacket in place. “Luke is going to kill me.”

“Yes he is.” Kenna chuckled over the rim of her cup.

Destiny slid off her stool and stepped in front of him.

“I tried to tell you to sleep last night.” She joked as she smoothed the fold of his jacket.

He gently grabbed her wrist and grinned. “How can I sleep with you next me?”

She giggled and when she heard Kenna clear her throat her cheeks flushed
again.

“Save it for when no one’s around.” She rolled her eyes.

Destiny laughed but Adam lifted her wrist to his mouth and gently abraded the sensitive skin with his teeth. Her knees suddenly went weak.

“I’m going to call Luke and tell him I’m taking the day off.”

“No you’re not.” Destiny reached up and laid her hand on his stubbly cheek. “You’ve got to go to work. You guys still have a lot to do on the Elizabeth Meadows project.”

“Yeah.”
He sighed. “You’re right.”

He
tugged her arm making her tumble into his chest. Then he pinned her arm behind her.

“I’ll miss you.” He whispered, hovering over her lips.

“I’ll miss you too.”

He g
ave her a quick but passionate kiss. He released her and started for the living room. Then he came to a stop just before he was out of sight and turned back to her.

“Don’t forget we’re having dinner with my parents and Mrs. Jones tonight.”

Destiny’s smile faded as nervousness fluttered her gut. She wasn’t ready for this meeting. Not by far. Sure she was kind of excited to meet his parents but she was far from excited about meeting Liz’s mother.

He
rolled his eyes at her abrupt changed as he crossed back to her and took her hands into his.

“It’s going to be fine.” He said encouragingly
for like the hundredth time since the plans were made but just like every time Destiny didn’t agree.

“It’s going to be awkward.”

“No it’s not.” He said with a shake of his head. “Margo can’t wait to meet you.”

That didn’t matter. “It’s still going to feel weird.”

“No it won’t, I promise.” Then in one swift, fluid move he grabbed her waist, shifted her to one arm, and leaned her back, her back resting on his forearm.

“Adam!” She squealed at the sudden movement.

“Now,” He said with a playful smile. “cheer up or I’m going to drop you.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” She gasped.

Another squeal escaped her when her body jolted from the sudden drop of his arm.

“Cheer up. I mean it. I’ll drop you and leave you there.”

“Ok, ok.” She laughed. “I’m cheerful.”

“Good.” He righted her,
gave her another kiss, told her goodbye, and headed out for the day.

Once he was gone Kenna made a gagging noise
.

“Ok, you two are nauseating.”

Destiny flipped her off as she slid back up on her stool.

“I don’t think so.” Dela spoke up. “I think they’re beautiful.”

“Thank you
Dela.” She gave Dela a pleasant nod and turned back to her friend. “And who are you to talk about us being nauseating? You and Luke are just as bad.” It was pretty obvious that Destiny wasn’t the only one in love with a Fates man.

“Yeah.”
She sighed dreamily, clearly thinking about something Destiny didn’t want to hear about. She’d already heard way too much of what happens between them behind closed doors.

After a second Kenna shook the thoughts from her head and came back to reality. “So, you’re nervous about meeting the parents?”

Destiny shook her head. “It’s not his parents I’m nervous about. It’s Liz’s mother. It’s going to be so weird. I still can’t believe she wants to meet me.”

“Why wouldn’t she want to meet you? You’re helping Adam raise her grandchildren.”

“Uh, duh.” She said sarcastically. “I’m sleeping with her deceased daughter’s husband.”

“Destiny,”
Dela spoke up. “Mrs. Jones won’t see you like that. She loves Adam as if he is her own son. She’s going to see you as a woman who makes him and his children very happy.”

Destiny let out a sigh. “I hope so.
” But she seriously doubted it.

Destiny sighed as she pulled yet another blouse from her closet and tossed it on her bed.

Kenna spent the entire day with her but left right before the kids got home to get ready for tonight’s dinner.

After she helped Anna and Ali pick out something to wear she decided it was her turn. 

She pulled out another blouse.

“Cut too low.” She tossed it. She wanted to look nice, not slutty.

She grabbed another. “Too plain.” She tossed it. She wanted to impress. 

In no time all of her shirts were in a pile on her bed. She couldn’t find shit to wear.

She dropped down on the edge of her bed with a sigh. This was hopeless. She thought as she dropped her face into her hands.

She didn’t lift her head when she heard the soft knock on the door.

“Go away!” She yelled but the door opened.

“Hey.” Adam’s concerned voice filled the room. “Are you ok?”

She shook her head without lifting out of her hands.

She heard his footsteps and then felt the bed lower beside her, rolling her slightly toward him.

“What’s wrong?” He asked as he laid a warm hand on her back.

“I can’t find anything to wear.” She almost broke into tears.

“Wear?” His hand glided down her back. “Baby, anything you wear will be fine. We’re just having dinner with my parents. It’s not a big deal.”

She lifted her head and looked at him. “I want to make a good impression on
them and Mrs. Jones.” 

She could tell he wanted to laugh but he didn’t. Instead he took her hand and tugged her. “Come here.”

With a loud groan she slid off the bed and took place in front of him. He released her hand, placed his thick hands on her hips, and pulled her in between his knees. Then he looked up at her with those mesmerizing chocolate eyes.

“Destiny, you have nothing to be worried about. Margo will love you.
As will my mom and dad.” He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head against her belly. “They’ll see the wonderful woman that I see and they will see how happy she makes me and my children.”

His sweet words almost made her cry
. He was right. She just needed to calm down and stop worrying. That’s all.

“Thanks Adam.” She planted a soft kiss atop his hair.

She felt his arms tighten around her and before she knew it she was on her back on the bed with him half on top of her.

“Adam,” She laughed
as he draped his long leg over hers, trapping her. “What are you doing?”

“Well,” He nuzzled her neck. “
we have a few minutes. I thought maybe we could spend a little quality time with each other… naked.”

Her eyes closed when she felt his lips touch the sensitive skin of her neck but she quickly snapped out of it.

“The kids are in their rooms.” She tried to push him up even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.

“I can be quiet.” He whispered. “Can you?”

She laughed as she pushed a little harder. “You know better than that.”

“I bet you could.” He taunted with a nibble to her ear.

Must resist sexy boyfriend.
She chanted over and over but her control was slowly slipping away. If she didn’t get him off of her soon she’d completely cave.

“You’re going to have to wait Sweetheart.” She whispered. “I promise, tonight.”

“Ok.” He sighed and lifted his eyes to her. “But I want you to keep this thought in mind. Tonight after everything settles down I’m going to start here,” He kissed her forehead. “and kiss every inch of this beautiful body until I get here.” He slid his hand down her jeaned leg, lifting it. Then he laid a soft kiss on the top of her foot.

Her body went hypersensitive
with his promise. Every cell in her burned for his touch. Her mind screamed for him to take her now. But she couldn’t give in. Her body and mind would have to wait till later to be satisfied.

“You better get out of here before I strip you and make you shower with me.” Oh, she wanted him to challenge her threat so badly but he only smiled.

“Shower sounds fun. We may start with that tonight.”

Then he pushed off the bed, gave her another kiss
on the forehead, and walked out.

~              ~              ~

Adam shook his head with a chuckle as he walked from her room. He just couldn’t believe how nervous she was about meeting Liz’s mother.

Guess he could understand it though. She was meeting his deceased wife’s mother. When he thought about it like that her feelings made sense.

But she had absolutely nothing to worry about. Margo wanted him to move on just as much as everyone else did. He couldn’t count how many times she’d told him that it was ok. That he shouldn’t spend the rest of his life miserable and alone.

He could still hear the excitement in her voice when she called him after his mother had told her about Destiny. She was beyond thrilled and couldn’t wait to meet her.

He just wished Destiny would believe that but he was just going to have to let her find out for herself.

As he reached the bottom of the steps he saw Richard holding the front door open. His mom stepped in first, stopping to give Richard a friendly peck on the cheek. She was followed by Margo, who also greeted Richard with a peck. Then his father, who informed Richard that he was going to just shake his hand if
that was ok.

Richard
laughed in return and accepted his hand.

“Hey Sweetheart.”
His mother spotted him.

“Hey Momma.”
He gave her a hug.

“I’ve missed you Adam.” She hugged him tight and Adam grunted
from the sudden force. She was strong for such a small woman.

“I’ve missed you too Momma. I’m sorry I haven’t called you in a while.”

She slid her arms from around him and tipped her head back to look at him.

“It’s ok. I know you’re busy.”

He greeted his dad with a hand shake and turned to Margo. Looking at the woman was like seeing a ghost. He’d forgotten how much Liz resembled her.

“Margo.” He hugged her.

“Hey Adam.” Then she pushed to her toes just barley stretching over his shoulder. “You look so happy.” She whispered.

“I am.” He smiled over her shoulder.
“Very happy.”

“That’s good Adam.” She pulled away
and started scanning the room. “Now, where’s…”

“Grandma!
Grandpa! Gram Gram!”

The sound of the three children running down the stairs was deafening. Adam took a step back as the three ran to the grandparents.
 

After all the hugs were done his mother turned to him.

“Where’s Destiny? We’re dying to meet her.” 

~              ~              ~

Destiny took a deep, confident breath as she stood at the top of the stairs out of sight.

She was going to follow the children down but she hesitated.
When everyone started talking she just listened.

She smiled when she heard the children’s excitement. Anna had talked of nothing but tonight all week.

It was when his mother asked where she was did she decide she needed to make her presences known before Adam came hunting for her.

“There she is.” He spotted her the moment she came into view. She smiled at him, hoping like hell her smile hid her nervousness, as he crossed to the bottom of the stairs.

As she reached him he held out his hand to her but she hesitated, unsure if she should take it. He took the choice away from her when he grabbed her hand and laced his fingers into hers.

“Calm down.” He mouthed
.

She took another deep breath and gave him a subtle nod. With a smile he turned back to his family.

“Ok everyone. This is Destiny Reece. Destiny,” He motioned to the older man and the woman next to him. “This is my mom and dad, Elaine and Andrew.” Then he motioned to the woman standing next to Elaine. “And this is Margo, Liz’s mother.”

“Destiny,” His mother took a step forward, her hand extended. She was a small, dainty woman with Adam’s dark eyes and soft dark hair clipped up behind her head. “It is so nice to finally meet you. We’ve heard a lot of great things about you.”

Destiny hoped like hell the woman didn’t feel her hand trembling when she accepted it. If she did she didn’t show it.

Once she was introduced to Elaine she shook hands with Andrew. Adam was the split image of his father right down to the silver at his temple. The only difference was Andrew possessed a few more wrinkles and he was a couple of inches shorter.

When she turned to Margo her nervousness increased to a point it was strangling. Margo smiled and held her hand out as if she couldn’t contain her excitement.

“Destiny, it’s a pleasure.” She said as she shook Destiny’s hand.

“T-thank you Margo. It’s very nice to meet you too.”

Margo’s smile grew as she released her hand and glanced up at Adam. “She’s polite. I like her already.”

“Thank you Margo.” Adam gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I kind of like her too.”

He failed at his attempt to make Destiny laugh. She couldn’t push her laughter pass her nerves. This was so awkward and Destiny didn’t like awkward. She didn’t like it one bit.

“Ok everyone.” He addressed the room when he realized he didn’t get a response out of her. “We’re having dinner on the patio. Luke and Kenna should be here shortly.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to meet Kenna.” Elaine clapped her hands together excitedly and turned her attention to Destiny. “She’s your best friend right?”

Destiny could do no more than nod.

“Must be one hell of a woman to tame Luke.”
Margo joked.

Destiny surprised herself when she said, “She is. She’s wonderful.
I’m sure everyone’s going to love her.”

“I’m sure we will too.” Elaine ag
reed and then shifted her attention back to Adam. “Adam, why don’t you and your father take the kids out back and get the grill fired up while Destiny, Margo, and I get us all something to drink.”

Destiny’s body filled with panic when Adam agreed and turned to her.

“It’ll be ok.” He mouthed. Then he lowered to her, whispered, “Be brave.” and kissed her cheek.

She didn’t want to be brave. She wanted this dreaded night to be over with.

She watched, trying not to throw up, as everyone left the living room, leaving her alone with his mother and his mother-in-law.

“Come Destiny.”

Elaine led the way, Margo followed, but Destiny lagged behind. She actually had to force herself to move.

Why was she so freaked out? The psychologist in her was telling her that there was no reason.
It’s not like they’re going to kill you or something.
But the woman in her, the woman who was in love, wanted nothing more than to make them like her.

Well, t
here was that and then there was the fact that she was in the presence of his wife’s mother. Oh god. She’d never felt this uncomfortable in her life.

Upon entering the kitchen she heard Elaine.

“Dela, you know you don’t work when I’m here.”

Destiny saw Dela smile at the woman as she
retrieved glasses out of one of the top cabinets.

“I know Elaine.
Just trying to help out.”

Destiny followed the ladies around the island, twisting her hands
together behind her.

“Ok,” Elaine bent over and pulled out a blender from the far bottom cabinet. “I’m in the mood for margaritas. What about everyone else?”

“Sounds good to me.” Margo agreed.

“I do love your margaritas Elaine.” Dela agreed.

When Destiny didn’t answer all eyes turned to her.

“Destiny, would you like a drink?” Elaine asked her.

Several.
She answered to herself as she nodded.
As a matter of fact just hand me the bottle of tequila.
 

Elaine smiled
and they went to work. Dela got some limes out of the pantry. Margo shoveled ice into a large bowl. And Elaine prepped the blender.

“Destiny, can you get me the tequila and the mix out of the cabinet above the refrigerator?” Elaine asked and Destiny didn’t hesitate.

As she sat the contents next to Elaine she asked Destiny another question… A question Destiny wasn’t prepared for.

“So, how long have you been sleeping with my son?” Gone was her humor. Gone was her politeness. She was stern, serious.

“I… I…” Oh god. How was she supposed to answer that?

“Elaine!” Margo laughed. “Don’t do that to her. She’s a
s white as the fridge.”