STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (34 page)

   
“
If you are fine with this, then so am I.
”

    The others listened to the heart-felt exchange and didn't realize how they held their breaths until Agust gave his blessing in a roundabout way.

    Bekka kissed Freddie and Dirk said,
“
Shouldn't we be leaving?  I'm hungry.
”

    That broke the tension in the room and they piled into cars and headed to dinner.

    A joyous celebration took place at the restaurant as they drank the libations and dined on the succulent food.

    After dinner, Lake pulled Freddie aside and said,
“
If you marry Bekka while you're both in the United States, you can apply for a Green Card that's good for a year and the time involved is relatively short.  It's a matter of keeping current after that.  I don't know if you want to do that, but it's information worth knowing.
”

   
“
Lake, thank you.  It's handy having lawyers for friends who I can trust.  I'll  talk it over with Bekka.
”

   
“
What will you talk over with me, sweetheart?
”
Bekka asked, taking his hand as she closed in on him.

   
“
This is better discussed in private.
”
Freddie suggested to Lake that they meet for breakfast the next morning at Freddie's hotel to discuss their options.

    The two sets of parents went home after dinner while the younger ones went dancing at a club Birch favored.  They drove in separate cars.  Ladd had no trouble finding dance partners since he was acquainted with many of the single career women in the city.  Darja frowned as so many women approached Birch and asked him to save a dance for them.  He grinned at Darja and promised her she had his undivided attention for the whole evening.  Somewhat mollified she laughed and showed off on the dance floor when he proved to be a worthy partner.

   
“
You sure you don't want to give those other women a twirl around the floor?
”
she said when they'd danced through three sets.

   
“
Why would I want to do that when I'm with the most beautiful girl here?
”

   
“
Nicely said, Dirk.
”

   
“
It's what you wanted to hear and it happens to be true.
”

   
“
Even better,
”
she said swaying her hips against his groin.

   
“
Will I be rewarded later?
”

   
“
Did you ever doubt it?
”

   
“
Not after last night,
”
he said dipping her low until her long blond hair touched the floor.

   
“
How many of these women did you sleep with in the past two years?
”

   
“
If I said none of them, would you believe me?
”

   
“
No.
”

   
“
If I said all of them would you believe me?
”

   
“
Depends if you mean the women who approached you or every woman here.
”

   
“
The women who approached me,
”
he said.

   
“
I counted ten.  It's within the realm of possibility.  Am I right?
”

   
“
How many men have been privileged to sample your charms?
”

   
“
You're changing the subject.  Answer my question.
”

   
“
You answer my question first,
”
he said goading her.

    She threw her head back and laughed. 
“
Too many to count, but you're the best so far.
”

   
“
You crush me and then flatter me.  I'm seeking truth.
”

   
“
Truth is in the ear of the listener.  It's not ipso facto.
”

   
“
You're speaking Latin to me?
”

   
“
Is that what it is?
”

   
“
You know damn well it is.  Darja, you're so bright.  Why don't you find a field you like and pursue it as a career?
”

   
“
I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, Birch.
”

   
“
What interests you?
”

   
“
The American legal system.
”

   
“
Are you serious?
”

   
“
Yes, I studied it in school, but there's no way to apply it where I live.
”

   
“
Would you like to be an attorney?
”

   
“
I could never afford it.  Angelica set the example and I should have followed her lead, but I didn't.  It's too late to start now, but I am considering becoming a paralegal.  I could take on line classes and when I had my certification, I could apply for a work Visa here.  Would you sponsor me?
”

   
“
I'd offer you a job and sponsor you.
”

   
“
When I researched on line I did learn that the courses approved by the American Bar Association carry the most weight as far as getting a job goes.
”

   
“
You are serious,
”
he said flabbergasted.

   
“
You doubted me.
”

   
“
Honey, you keep me guessing and this comes as a huge surprise.
”

   
“
That means you were just egging me on when you said you'd sponsor me.
”

   
“
I'm sorry.  Darja, follow your dream and I'll help you any way that I can.
”

   
“
I'm not sure I can do it as a foreigner.  I guess I could apply for a Visa to study here.  I do have some savings and if I got a job in a town where the rents aren't so high I could manage.  I think Angie might help me, too.  She's offered in the past, but I always said no.
”

   
“
We're heading home,
”
Cray said dancing with Angel and sidling up to Darja and Birch.

   
“
Okay,
”
Birch said,
“
You two be good.  You're not married yet.
”

    Later, Angelica and Cray crawled into bed naked and Angel said,
“
I want a repeat of last night.
”

    He laughed, crawled on top of her and said,
“
Okay.  Let's start here, you sexy siren.
”

    At four in the morning, Bekka woke to find Darja sneaking into the twin bed next to hers.  Bekka whispered,
“
Darja, where have you been?
”

    Darja snickered and said,
“
Silly question.  Where do you think I've been?
”

   
“
Screwing Birch.
”

   
“
Bingo.  You jealous because you didn't spend half the night in Freddie's hotel room with him?
”

   
“
We decided to show some respect to our elders.
”

   
“
How noble of you.  Tomorrow you get to spend the rest of the week with him for the whole night.  I don't get that opportunity.
”

    They continued to whisper. 
“
Do you really like him or is it because he's available and willing?
”

   
“
Both.  He's an expert at pleasing a woman.  Too many of the men I've been with grunt, roll over and go to sleep.
”

    Bekka smothered her laughter in the pillow.

   
“
Is Freddie considerate of your needs?
”

    Bekka laughed harder. 
“
I can't believe you asked it that way,
”
she said when she controlled her laughter.

   
“
Would you rather I say, does he stick it to you with no foreplay, release and go to sleep?
”

    Bekka laughed again, burying her face deeper in the pillow.  Darja said,
“
I'm sure he doesn't or you wouldn't love him.  Do the two of you want children?
”

    The question sobered Bekka. 
“
Yes, desperately.  We're in agreement on that.  Darja, I love him so much it scares me.
”

   
“
Bekka, don't be scared. He idolizes you.  A blind person could see it.
”

Chapter 18

  Cray and Angelica woke early Sunday morning at the same time.  They used the bathroom and went back to bed.  She said,
“
It's still early.  We have an hour before we need to get ready for church.
”

   
“
Got any suggestions about how to spend that hour?
”

   
“
One or two,
”
she said straddling his body and leaning forward, so her breasts grazed his mouth.

    He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples, watching them respond and harden. 
“
You're the kind of woman every man dreams of and I'm the lucky guy who gets to keep you in my bed for the rest of our lives.
”

   
“
You talk too much,
”
she said lifting one breast to his mouth.  Ten minutes later he had her so in need she demanded he make her come. 

    She flipped off of him, raised on her knees, leaned on her elbows and buried her face in the pillow to muffle her screams as he plunged in her and sent her spiraling out of control.  He followed seconds later and she flattened on her stomach with him on top of her.  He eased off of her and nudged her closer while he raised her leg over his hip and pushed his groin against her.

    The Anderssons, Phillips and Freddie filed into the church and filled a pew.  Angelica sat with Cray on her left and Darja on her right.  Darja covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a yawn unsuccessfully.  Angie whispered,
“
Didn't you get enough sleep last night?
”

   
“
No, Bekka kept me up talking.
”

   
“
Liar,
”
Birch said on her right.

   
“
I wasn't talking to you,
”
she said in Birch's ear. 
“
and it's the truth.  After you dropped me off, Bekka and I talked to the wee hours.
”

   
“
What did you talk about?
”

    She put her mouth close to his, blew a puff of air in his ear and said,
“
That's on a need to know basis and you don't need to know.
”

   
“
Did you tell her how good we are together?
”

   
“
Classified, top secret.  Pay attention and get ready to jump up and down and sing.  We Lutherans do a lot of that.
”

   
“
I'd rather be jumping up and down on you and I'll sing while I'm doing it.
”

    Darja tried to smother a laugh and it came out as a snort.  Angelica jabbed her in the ribs.

    Cray leaned in front of the two sisters and said,
“
Am I going to have to separate you two?
”