Tickled Pink (23 page)

“Are you going to stand there or go to your wife?” Felix asked.

“Ducks are not enough,” Denshi Singh scolded.

He glanced at the men, nodded, and stepped closer to where Toni stood. Mrs. Singh passed him and cast him a smile and a wink. Richard’s confidence grew as he closed the distance and stared in awe that the beautiful woman in front of him was his wife. At least she was for now and he planned to keep her that way.

“I love you and want a family with you.”

“I don’t want a divorce.” Her blatant admission collided and left her mouth at the same time as his declaration.

The expression on her pretty face revealed she was as stunned at his words as he was at hers. “Okay,” he breathed. “So this is how it’s going to be.”

Her breathing became unsteady and ragged. Even with the lights and candles under the evening sky, he could tell the color was leaving her face. “Richard…”

He gently captured her hand in his and led over to one of the outdoor sofas. Even after they were seated, he still held her hand. He glanced down and realized she wore both her wedding band and engagement ring.

I’m such an idiot
.

He blamed himself for not realizing everything sooner. “Sweetheart, please hear me out.”

Toni nodded and made no effort to remove her hand from his.

Richard trailed the finger of his other hand over the engagement ring. “I paid for the ring, it’s yours to keep—I want you to still wear it.”

“You quit your job; your mother sold the company.” Her tone was low and he could tell a whirlwind of emotions rode close to the surface.

“I know, I’ll get to that.” He gently squeezed her hand and met her gaze. “You’re so beautiful and I’m so sorry for everything. I meant what I said. I love you I want a family with you. When Kayla and Andrew had Meghan, I couldn’t help but think I wanted to share that with you. I got scared Toni. I almost got married once, about seven years ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Defeat coated her words. “I didn’t know.”

“You wouldn’t have. No one in my family talks about it—surprisingly; not even Erick.” He paused and knew she deserved the whole truth. “Everyone showed up to the wedding. You know my mother so you can imagine it was grandiose affair.”

Toni nodded and smiled weakly.

  “The one person who didn’t show up for the wedding was the bride.” Talking about the incident now didn’t bring back an ounce of the pain, like it had in the past. “She called, said she couldn’t do it, apologized and said she was starting over in Manhattan. Six months later she married a broker on Wall Street.”

“I’m so sorry.” Her voice carried a soft sincerity.

“Don’t be. I’m not. This last year, despite the quirkiness and the absurdity at times, has been amazing. I look at love and life so differently. That was another thing that frightened me. I didn’t want to work for a company where I was so miserable and with people who didn’t share my values—or have any at all.” He inhaled and realized she still had her hand in his. “I’m happier and a better man because of you.”

“I love you,” she confessed. Her expression turned thoughtful. “I overheard you telling someone how our marriage was faked and I was crushed. I tried to talk to you and confront you about it, but then you rushed out the door and away on business—not caring what I was trying to say and you didn’t care you were going to be gone for our anniversary.”

“I’m so sorry, if anything it was just the opposite. I wanted us more than ever and that’s why I flew out to Dallas.” He should have taken the time to explain things to her before he left, but all he could think about was changing things.

“I was so heartbroken because I thought what we had was real. I realize now that it was probably Mr. and Mrs. Singh you were telling the truth too.”

He sighed and wished he could just stop hurting. Though he had some comfort just  being with her, he wouldn’t feel better until he knew they were going to be okay. “Well, that makes sense for your sudden change in attitude and why you wouldn’t answer my calls or texts.” He again sighed and continued. “I quit the company, because Denshi and Katerina really liked us, but disliked the Stewarts.”

“I can’t say I blame them.” The disdain in her tone made him smile. “There is something to be said about good taste.”

“That’s why I told my mom I quit and I was taking my money and my clients with me. When I explained things to her, she wanted no part of the Stewarts and didn’t want my grandfather’s name on the company. So she put it up for sale and is joining me. I’m opening the new office next week and Singh Capital Trust will not only be our major client, they’re coming on as partners for joint venture projects.”

Sadness washed over her face. “I see. You finally get to build things...I mean more than out of Legos or fruit at brunch.” She debated and then her expression turned to one of defeat. “I got the casino job in Las Vegas. I was planning to move out there for a while.”

His smile broadened. “And you still can.”

“No. Your work is here and I’m having a hard enough time being away from you for three days, I’ll never survive it with you in California.” He could tell she was struggling and her breath became shallow. “I love you.”

“Sweetheart, I love you too.” He lifted the hand not holding hers and cupped her face. “The main office is going to be in Vegas—even if it wasn’t I’d work from home most days just to be with you and the
kids
.”

The corners of her full lips turned up and a small sparkle reached her eyes. “Speaking of kids, I’m going to want a family.”

Some of his pain started to dissipate and the weight on his chest started to lift. “And like I said, I want the same thing. I don’t know when, but I
do know
I want it with you.” He finally released her hand from his and gently cupped her neck. “Sweetheart, please come home.”

Water filled her eyes, but no tears fell. “Yes.”

“You know I’m never letting you go right?” Whatever remained of the ache in his heart vanished.

“I won’t let you.” She leaned in and her lashes fluttered closed.

Richard brushed her lips with his and fire ignited his body immediately. Her tongue teased across his mouth before entering and entwining with his. His hand dropped from her face and settled at her waist pulling her curvy frame closer to his body.

“Sorry to interrupt.” His mother’s words followed by her standard throat clearing broke the spell. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Yes you did.

“But people are starting to ask for you both.”

“When aren’t they?” his wife giggled.

His mother lifted a brow. “I expect you’re both on your way in to mingle? This is the charity event of the season!”

“We’ll be right there.” He turned to Toni. “Are we okay?”

She smiled. “No, we are definitely better than okay and will pick this up where we left off later.”

“Please keep the public displays of affection to a minimum.”

Both glanced at his mother and then back to each other. “You know what that means right?”

Richard noticed the mischievous spark in her dark eyes and grinned. “Yep, no sex on the stairs.”

“Or in the wine cellar.” Toni added with a playful pout.

“Unbelievable!” His mother rolled her eyes and started walking away. “I’m not hearing this.”

He looked back at his wife who had a thoughtful look on her face. “What is it?”

She met his gaze and smiled. “I was just thinking we have done everything backward. We got arrested, met, got married, had sex, became friends then fell in love.”

“This is true, but it worked out.” He couldn’t control his grin.

“It did,” Toni agreed. “We are like the
Jerry Springer
version of
When Harry Met Sally
.”

He blinked. She had a point. Sadly, a very good one. “I’m not sure which I find more disturbing, that my life compares to an eighties chick flick or that it qualifies for a seedy talk show.”

“Knowing you, both are equally as traumatizing.” Toni started to giggle. Richard laughed and tightened his hold on her waist. “I really do love you.”

Her smile was like sunshine after a storm and stole his breath with the expression on her pretty face, “I love you too and I love being your wife.”

He knew they had to go inside, but more than anything—Richard knew he wasn’t ever letting her go.

Epilogue

Think pink…Tickled Pink

Three weeks later Toni stood in the living room of the Las Vegas condo and glanced around. “I don’t even know where to start with these boxes.”

Richard wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “We could start in the bedroom.”

She rested her hands on her husband’s strong shoulders and grinned. “I think us spending the amount of time we do in there is part of the reason we haven’t dealt with these.”

He darted a look around and again met her gaze. “You might have a point.”

Despite the chaos and the hectic schedules they’d both had, Toni couldn’t remember ever being happier. Vette and Boxter were settled in and her relationship with Richard was even better than it had been before—which had been pretty terrific—most of the time.

“Okay let’s see what’s in these and see if we can put them in the storage unit.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. If he kept it up, they would be back in the bedroom and again the boxes would remain in the living room. Not good, since Katerina and Denshi would be back in Las Vegas and were coming over for dinner next week.

Her husband’s hands slid from her waist and cupped her bottom then pulled her closer to his strong frame before again covering her mouth with his. This time his tongue entered her mouth and her skin heated. She moaned softly against his tongue and the bulge behind the zipper of his jeans pressed against her belly.

She eased out of the kiss and then his arms. “Kissing me like that is not helping.”

Richard grinned and winked. “What can I say; I have a hot wife who I’m completely in love with.”

Her heart fluttered and she stepped over to the small box on the coffee table. She peeled back the brown cardboard flaps and glanced inside. “Stuff from my office.” Her attention fell on the white box with the pink ribbon and she carefully lifted it out.

“What is it?”

She smiled and caressed the lid. “A gift from Kayla and Andrew the day they got married. It’s called
Tickled Pink
.”

He frowned and a confused expression crossed his handsome face. “Which is?”

As Toni waved her hand, her rings sent a cascade of reflection across the carpet from the sunlight hitting the diamond. Out of nowhere, Boxter surfaced and attacked the spot of light. “It was a vile of pink stuff, and I had to make a wish. I wished for Kayla to be happy, she said seeing me settled, and finding love would make her happy. A few days later I broke your car window.”

His sapphire eyes widened. “Potent stuff.”

The elevator beeped and both turned as Andrew and Kayla stepped off the elevator and walked through the open doors. “We made it!” her friend called. She hurried over to Toni and hugged her tight.

“Where’s Meghan and Gabriel?” Richard asked, worried.

Andrew tilted his head to the side and grinned. “Your sister and Lauren have them so we could have a break, being alone with my wife is becoming a scarce commodity.”

Richard glanced at Toni and frowned. “Maybe, we should rethink you going off the pill after a statement like that.”

“Honey!” She giggled and met his devilish gaze.

Her husband winked and chuckled. “I’m kidding.”

Andrew glanced at the box in Toni’s hand. “Is that the
Tickled Pink
?”

“Yeah, Toni was just telling me about it.”

She lifted the lid of the box and a strange sensation ran down her spine. The bottle was again full of the foggy pink glitter like substance. “Oh dear!”

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” her husband’s hand rested at her lower back and she lifted her gaze to meet his. “The bottle was empty and now…” She glanced back down.

“The same thing happened to me,” Kayla confessed. “I made my wish and it was empty. Then after it came true it was full again.”

“So what did you do?” Toni was confused, then realization hit. “You gave it to me.”

Her best friend rolled her eyes heaven ward and a sheepish expression crossed her face. “Yeah. So, I guess it’s your turn to give it away.”

Toni and Richard glanced at each other. Her husband shrugged as the elevator beeped again. Everyone turned as Erick stepped off the elevator looking more than a little disheveled. “Sorry I’m late, I had an unexpected delay.”

“You’re three days late.” Richard shook his head as a disgusted look hardened his face. He took in the youngest Bryson’s appearance. “Let me guess, a brunette?”

Erick laughed. “Nope, redhead. Man was she hot!”

Toni narrowed her eyes on her brother-in-law. As much as she adored him, the entire family was getting a little sick of his irresponsibility. “Erick,” she greeted with a wicked smile.

Why not?

She turned to her husband.

Richard slipped his arm around her waist and held her close to his side then pursed his lips. His gaze met Toni’s and his mouth broke into a grin. “It couldn’t happen to someone more deserving.”

“Agreed,” she whispered and leaned in for another kiss, one of many more to come.