Love Script (34 page)

He pul ed her back under him. “I have to, sweetheart, for several reasons.”

“Why?”

“You can’t work for me now. It wouldn’t be fair to the staff. They would think I’m giving you special treatment.”

“Would you?”

“Of course I would. You certainly wouldn’t be able to receive flowers from admirers any longer. How long has Cooper been sending them to you anyway?”

“He didn’t. They were from Rob. Are you real y firing me?”

“Rob? When were you going to tel me that?”

“Never mind him. Is that your only reason for firing me?”

“No.” He sighed. “Laney, I adore you but let’s face it, I wouldn’t get any work done around you; you’re too much of a distraction. I’d spend the entire day wondering who was flirting with you.”

“Okay, you’ve lost your mind.”

“I’m a selfish bastard, Laney. I don’t share my toys.”

“You sound more like a spoiled child.”

“That’s probably true.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Seeing as you’re so popular, I have no choice but to keep you locked up at home.”

“I could say the same for you.”

“I’l work from home, if you like.”

She knew he meant it. “That won’t be necessary; you’l drive me crazy.”

“That’s a definite possibility, sweetheart.” He stroked her face tenderly. “Are you ready to tel me what happened to your face?”

She nibbled on her lower lip. “I’ve been a weeping wil ow for weeks and dinner tonight with Rob was more difficult than I’d expected.” His features stiffened. “I’l pay him a visit in the morning.”

“No need. We worked everything out.”

“And the flowers?”

“A thing of the past.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she assured him. “I have a signed contract.”

“Excuse me?”

She giggled.

Leaning up on his elbow, he pinned her with a serious blue stare. “It’s taken me a long time to get here, and now I know why. I had to learn the hard way.” He kissed her tenderly. “I love you, Laney Parks, and I don’t plan to lose you again.”

“I love you, Nick.”

“Thank God. I was prepared to pay you to marry me.”

“That’s not funny, Nick.”

He didn’t smile.

“Nick! You can’t be serious.”

“I’m a desperate man, sweetheart. I’m just grateful you agreed to marry me the first time I asked.”

“You were prepared to ask me more than once? I didn’t think you ever wanted to see me again.” She laughed and snuggled closer to him, knowing this was where she was meant to be. “So I guess there’l be a new script involved.”

He laughed. “No more scripts. It’s just you and me, Laney.”

She leaned up to kiss him. “That’s Mrs. Sinclair to you.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Sheldon Sinclair beamed from ear to ear as he looked down at his new daughter-in-law. “You are lovely.”

Laney blushed. “Thank you, Mr. Sinclair.”

“Sheldon, I insist. We’re family now, no need for formalities.”

Nick pul ed Laney’s hand out of his father’s gasp. “Stand back, old man. She’s mine.”

“You have good taste.” He winked at Laney. “He got it from me.”

Nick turned to his mother. “Control your husband.”

Marian Sinclair grinned at her husband. “He is too much for me to handle. Perhaps grandkids wil slow him down.”

Nick kissed Laney’s temple. “We’re working on that.”

Laney blushed a darker shade of red.

“Oh, Nick, you’re embarrassing the poor girl.” Marian Sinclair held Laney’s hand. “You’l have your hands ful with him. If he’s anything like his father, and I know he is, he’l have you pul ing out your hair a year from now.”

Sheldon groaned. “Marian, leave her alone, they’ve barely been married a month. Don’t frighten her off yet.”

“I’m just giving her fair warning.” She gave Laney a sympathetic look. “I wish someone had been as kind to me.”

Nick hugged Laney from behind. “Wel , you’re a few weeks too late for warnings. Besides, I think Laney’s seen al my flaws already.”

Sheldon frowned. “And she stil married you?”

“Don’t start, Sheldon,” Marian scolded her husband. “So tel me al about your honeymoon, Laney. I’ve never been to Paris this time of year.” Laney could not stop blushing. “It was very…

pretty.”

Nick laughed. “You don’t have to lie to her, sweetheart.” He grinned at his mother. “We rarely left the hotel.”

“Nick!” Laney pinched him on the arm.

Sheldon let out a loud bark of laughter and clapped his son proudly on the back.

Marian frowned at Sheldon. “You two are hopeless.” She rubbed Laney’s shoulder. “It’s late, we should be getting off to bed. I hope you don’t mind us spending the night here, Laney.” Laney was not yet used to living in Nick’s home, and it was odd hearing Nick’s mother ask for her approval. “Not at al . I’m happy you’re here, Marian.”

“Father, please take your wife upstairs quickly; I have some business to handle with my bride.” Without another word, Sheldon pul ed Marian toward the staircase. Nick laughed at the embarrassed look on his mother’s face.

When they were alone, Laney wrapped her arms around Nick’s neck. “I wish I could say being your wife feels strange but it doesn’t.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Of course not.

You’ve been my wife before.”

“You don’t think it strange we didn’t have a long courtship?”

“Who needs courtship when you have this?” He slapped her bottom. “I’m ready for bed.”

“I bet you are.” She kissed his chin. “You couldn’t keep your hands off me the entire dinner.”

“And you couldn’t keep your hands off the food.” She pinched him again. “You’re mother was right; you are hopeless.”

“Have a shower with me, and I’l make you think otherwise.”

She giggled. “I’l race you.”

❧ ❧ ❧

An hour later, after sharing a shower together, Nick pul ed back the bedcovers. Laney crawled into bed naked. He preferred her that way. She was becoming more self-conscious with her growing weight, but he rather enjoyed it.

Lying on her back, she stretched out her arms to him. He came to her, careful to balance his weight on his forearms.

He caressed her stomach. “If I hadn’t come to you that night…”

“I didn’t know at the time,” she finished for him.

He kissed her stomach. “Would you have told me?”

She smoothed her hands over his worried brow.

“Yes. I could never keep something like that from you.”

“If we have a girl, I want her to look just like you.”

“I’m not sure if I’m ready to share you with another woman just yet.”

He kissed her soundly. “Trust me, you have my complete attention. I’m total y devoted to you.” She smiled triumphantly. “I guess I’l have to begin mailing announcements tomorrow for our elopement party; your mother mentioned it twice during dinner. I have to get the house ready for Sterling and Caleb. Do you think they’l bring dates?” Nick shrugged. “Put Cooper’s name at the top of the list.”

Her brow arched. “You want him to come?”

“Absolutely, I’m not one to hold a grudge.”

“No, you’re just a sore winner.”

He grinned.

She wrinkled her nose at him. “I’l send an invite to him if you promise me no fighting. I’m a pregnant woman, Nick. I can’t break up anymore fights.”

“Are you going to invite Heidi?”

“I’m a pregnant woman, Nick, I can’t get into fights.”

“You fighting over me for once? That I’l have to see.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

He obliged her. “Wil your family be able to fly out for the party?”

“Unfortunately, no. You know they’re deathly afraid to fly, and I don’t trust Dad to drive that far. At any rate, Mom and Dad are excited to meet you.” He scoffed. “I bet they are.”

“I love your optimism.”

“Did you tel them I’m white?”

“I told them you were the love of my life.”

“That means no.”

“That means,” she kissed him softly on the lips,

“it shouldn’t matter.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re buying for time?”

“That’s a definite possibility.”

“You’re going to get us both in a lot of hot water, Mrs. Sinclair.”

“Don’t fret; we’l have our fil of them before the year is out.”

“What does that mean?”

“I promised them we’d visit for Christmas.”

“Great.” He kissed her stomach again. “Do you think they’l like me?”

She winced. “That’s another story.”

The End

About the author:

As a child, Tiffany always dreamed of writing her own novels. Having possessed a passion for books, her desire to become a published author is now a reality. Her first novel, Love Script, released in 2007, received rave reviews. Known for her steamy interracial romances, Tiffany looks forward to a long and adventurous career.

She welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Circle 1 Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 181389, Arlington, TX 76096-1389 or visit her website at www.tiffanyashleybooks.com.

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