Chapter 8
Cecily decided to spend a rare day cocooned inside her house, wrapped in self pity. Dante and Kitty had just left to take Radley back to the airport. At the last minute they decided to fly back to Chicago with him and spend a few days with Dante and Cecily’s mother, Shelby.
It was two days since July fourth and she had tried, really tried to involve herself with Radley. For the last two days they kissed and cuddled like any normal couple. Cecily thought maybe if she gave it some time they would develop the passion she shared with Marcus, but in the end she couldn’t keep up the charade any longer. The night before, Radley had finally addressed the situation between them.
“You can’t be with me, can you?” Radley asked.
Cecily shook her head. Her eyes were full of tears that clouded her vision. “I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I’m disappointed, not hurt. There’s a difference. We’re still friends.”
“You’re one in a million, Radley,” she said.
“Just not the one for you.”
She shook her head again.
“Don’t tell me; it’s the deranged cowboy.”
She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I’m afraid so.”
“Well, at least that explains his semi-psychotic, antisocial behavior.” He kissed her cheek. “Good luck, Cecily.”
She hugged him tightly. “Thanks, Radley. I truly am sorry things didn’t work out. A part of me always wondered if you were the one. I hope you find a great girl.”
After that he and Dante had stayed up half the night talking. She didn’t think it was her imagination when she read accusation in Dante’s eyes before he left for the airport. He wasn’t happy that things hadn’t worked out between Cecily and Radley, especially after the two couples had spent time together all week and had fun.
For a moment, Cecily wondered how Marcus would fit into the family dynamic with Dante and Kitty, but then shook her head to clear it. It didn’t matter. Marcus was with Lacey, presumably for life. Eventually she would either get over him or learn to live without him.
A knock sounded at her door. She knew by the strength of it that it was a man. What now, she wondered, sure it was one of the hands with a question. But it wasn’t. It was Marcus.
She opened the door and for a long moment they just looked at each other.
“Is he gone?” he asked at last.
“Yes,” she said.
“For good?”
She hated to admit the truth, but she couldn’t lie. “Yes.”
He continued to stare at her in silence a few beats before and sweeping aside the door, pulling her into his arms, and kissing her with all the intensity that had been building between them the last few weeks. She stood on her toes to get closer to him and twined her fingers in his hair. His palms were flat against her back, pressing her closer. When they couldn’t get any closer, he lifted her, pinning her in place so they were eye level. He deepened the kiss and she trembled with the intensity of it.
He started to walk, but she was too far gone to notice until he spoke.
“Which way?”
“Which way what?” she murmured against his lips.
“To your bedroom.”
Her eyes popped open, but he wasn’t looking at her. He had stopped walking to kiss her again and his eyes were closed.
“Stop,” she said. She had to say it again before it registered. She shoved away from him and jumped out of his embrace.
“Lee, what’s wrong?”
“This,” she said furiously.
“What?” He sounded truly confused.
“This,” she said more insistently. She pointed between them. “You and me. I told you I’m not going to be what you want, Marcus.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “And what is that?”
Her face blushed crimson, but she had to get the words out. “Your mistress.”
His scowl was impressively scary. “Who said anything about that?”
“You did, by your actions. Coming here in the middle of the day and trying to carry me to my bedroom.” Now she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Since when does that make me a bad person? It’s just doing what comes naturally.”
“Maybe for some people,” she said.
Her rejection stung and made him lash out at her. “Don’t tell me you’re saving yourself for marriage,” he sneered.
She raised her chin. “So what if I am?”
He started to laugh before realizing she was serious. “Lee, you mean it? You’ve never…” He let the words trail off and she was glad he didn’t finish the sentence. No need to spell out the obvious and further her discomfort.
“No, I’ve never. I’ve kissed a large portion of the male population, but that’s as far as I’ve ever gone. Some of us have morals, you know.”
His wondrous expression was replaced by a frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think it’s obvious.” She pivoted around him and strode to the door. “You might as well go. It’s clear you’re not going to get what you’re after because I’m not doing that,” she pointed to the bedroom, “until I’m married.”
Except for the fact that he turned to look at her he made no move to leave. For a long, silent moment he just stared at her. “Then marry me,” he said softly.
She blew out a breath. “Marcus, please don’t tease me about this. I’m not going to budge on this point. I’m very serious.”
“So am I.”
“No you’re not,” she argued.
“Yes I am,” he said.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. Her voice faltered and her eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t believe he was toying with her this way.
He went forward and gathered her hands in his. “Lee, I’m not kidding. I want you to marry me. Now. Today.”
She searched his face. She didn’t see any traces of humor. “You’re serious,” she whispered.
He nodded and dropped to his knees in front of her. “Cecily Blake, will you marry me?”
She blinked at him in confusion. “Why?”
“Because I honestly don’t think I can live without you, and I don’t want to find out. Please.” He kissed her hands.
“All right.” She couldn’t believe it when she heard herself agree, and then she couldn’t believe how right it felt. Shouldn’t she be panicking right now? She didn’t feel panic, though, she felt elation.
He must have felt some elation, too, because he stood and kissed her with such enthusiasm that it knocked her back against the wall. He pressed a palm to the wall on either side of her and let go of everything he had been holding back until she had to grasp his shirt to keep herself standing.
“You’re killing me,” she told him.
He smiled that cocky smile men get when they know they’ve knocked a woman’s socks off. “This is only the beginning. Let’s go.” He took her hand and started to lead her from the house.
“I need to pack.” She tried to tug her hand out of his grasp.
He shook his head and kept walking. “I’m not giving you the opportunity to change your mind. We’ll buy what you need there.”
“Where is there?” She had to sprint to keep up with him.
“Las Vegas, of course,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Of course,” she repeated, rolling her eyes at his back.
“I saw that,” he said.
They reached his truck. He kissed her, picked her up, and tossed her in the cab. She started to laugh at the insanity of it all and then couldn’t stop. This day was rapidly turning out to be the strangest and best day of her life.