Without Saying a Word (11 page)

“We’d better go and have dinner.” Laura’s hand encompassed in Rhean’s she allowed herself yet again, to lean on him as they strolled through the house heading for the dining room.

Laura, sitting between her mum and dad, watched this exchange with interest.
They have great relationships with their children
, she thought. Laura had read many historical novels about the aristocracy and the way they raised their offspring. This was totally different; this was full of love and affection and Laura loved it. She looked at the watch on her wrist. It was getting late, and although her children were off the following day as well, it was time to go home. She finished the rest of her hot chocolate and stood up.

“I’m really sorry, but it’s getting late. We should be getting home,” she told them. The earl got up and pressed the button near the mantelpiece.

“You are here tomorrow?” asked the Countess. “Please say you’ll come.”  Laura smiled, walked over and hugged the Countess warmly.

“If that’s okay.” She looked at Rhean, who stood up and kissed Paul and Sophia. Then he went over to his parents, hugged and kissed them, and his sisters as well.

“I’ll bring her back tomorrow,” he promised.

Graham came into the room. “I have ‘rallied’ Miss Laura’s children, and Parson is waiting outside with the people carrier,” he announced.

Laura hugged the earl and kissed him on the cheek, then hugged Kathryn and Moira warmly. Paul and Sophia walked with them to the front door, where more warm goodbyes were exchanged. As they walked out, Laura said to Rhean, “This was wonderful. Thank you.” She reached up to kiss Rhean fully on the mouth.

He responded immediately. On the steps of the grange, Rhean pulled her close to him. As his mouth finally left hers and trailed toward her ear, he whispered, his voice full of passion, “Promise me one day I will see you wearing nothing but Lady Clarissa’s jewels.” Laura smiled at him, and they walked arm in arm to the car.

Laura woke up early as usual on Tuesday morning. She got up, and tripped over Tubs, winding himself around her feet, meowing and demanding his breakfast. She padded downstairs in her nightdress, and went into to the kitchen, turning up the central heating. Laura switched the already filled kettle on, pulling out her favorite tea mug and Rhean’s jug. After she’d placed teabags in them, she fed Tubs. Still half-asleep, Laura reached for the kettle as it switched off, but came face-to-chest with her fiancé.

“I didn’t expect you to be up this early,” Laura muttered as she rubbed her eyes and drank in the sight of Rhean dressed in, what appeared to be, nothing but a burgundy terrycloth robe. It was open at his chest, where thick dark hair curled invitingly. Her hands itched to stroke and run her fingers through it and tug gently.

“I’ll let you make the tea,” he said huskily. Laura made their drinks and carried them through to the sitting room where Rhean sat on the sofa, his long hairy legs stretched out in front of him.

“Whose great idea was it for you to stay here while the kids were away?” she asked.

“I think it was your father’s,” he answered, taking his jug from Laura.

“Wonderful,” she muttered. Silence reigned as they sipped the hot brew. Laura loved her first mug of tea in the morning. It set her up for the rest of the day. As it was quiet, bar Tubs’s purring, she knew it was going to be a good one.

Yesterday they’d visited the grange. When her parents suggested having her children stay with them for a few days, Laura agreed. Then her father had the strange idea of Rhean moving in to Laura’s cottage for the time that the teens were away. This would enable them to find out what it would be like to live with each other. Rhean and Laura agreed with one stipulation—Rhean would sleep in the boy’s room. After discussing the plan with Laura’s children, it was all arranged. So it was with a heavy heart, that Laura said goodbye to her children and her parents. Rhean moved in the previous night with his suitcase, and computer. So far, all was going well. Mentally, Laura crossed her fingers. She prayed that her insecurities would not put Rhean off. Unfortunately, Laura didn’t know what was going through Rhean’s mind at the moment.

Later on that day, Rhean took Laura grocery shopping. He helped make a boring chore into a fun one by kissing her in every aisle. He also embarrassed her in the pharmacy department when he pointed out different kind of condoms, then asked her in a loud voice which one she would prefer.

That evening, they went out to a Chinese restaurant and afterward watched a DVD while they snuggled together. More kissing led to a very frustrated woman and, as she climbed the stairs, she muttered about ‘honorable men.’

Chapter Ten

It was Friday and the following day, Laura’s children were expected home, so Rhean  organized a day out together. They had an appointment at the Registry office to sort out the marriage license and choose Rhean’s wedding ring. Laura’s was all sorted out;  hers would be made by a friend of Maire’s.

For some reason there was something in the air Laura could not quite put her finger on. Rhean seemed to be very picky about his ring. It was past lunchtime, and Laura felt tired and hungry. She was also very aroused which made her irritable. Rhean had been very open in his display of affection, even more so than usual, kissing her and stroking her pulse point as they held hands. Once he pulled her into a small alleyway and kissed her so thoroughly he was sure she must have smoke coming out of her ears.

Walking down the high street together, the rain that had threatened all day, finally started, which really did not help lift Laura’s mood. She was tired, hungry, miserable and now wet. Just as she suggested going to get something to eat, Rhean stopped them outside a small shop. The sign read,”Creations by Ceara.” She rolled her eyes in frustration.

“Just this last shop, I promise,” Rhean wheedled. “We’ll get something to eat after this.”

Laura’s felt resigned as they went inside. From the outside, it wasn’t much to look at, with a few small pieces of jewelry. Inside though, was totally different. Lit boxes filled the store, enhancing the colors of the jewels inside—enigmatic emeralds, dazzling diamonds, radiant rubies and stunning sapphires. Each box had a collection of jewels inside, with the color of the light matching the specific stone. The rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings were breath-taking. In one corner, a large woman with a mop of titan-colored curly hair, worked at a table. She turned when Rhean coughed.

Laura looked longingly at a chair in the corner.

“Would you mind if I sat down for a minute?” she asked the woman.

“Of course,” she replied in a broad Scottish accent. “I’ll fetch ye a cup of tea, if you’d like.”

Laura looked at her wearily and nodded in gratitude. Rhean, meanwhile, perused the cabinets. The woman came back with a steaming cup and saucer and - a small bowl of sugar.

Laura drank deeply, and then remembered her manners. “Thank you so much, I really needed that,” she said gratefully.

The woman smiled at her, and then turned to Rhean. “What can I do for ye?” she asked.

“I’m looking for a wedding ring,” he replied.

“For your lady?” she asked, looking at Laura.

Rhean shook his head. For me,” he answered. “I can’t find what I’m looking for.”

“Can’t he ever?” Laura muttered irritably, though somewhat soothed  by the hot sweet tea.

Rhean’s head whipped round and stared at Laura. “Pardon, my darling?” he asked smoothly.

“Nothing dear,” Laura replied as innocent as she could, her eyes not meeting his.

“Rings?” the woman reminded him.

Rhean turned ’round to face her. “Of course, sorry,” he apologized.

“Anything particular ye looking for?” she asked him as she bent down under the counter. When she came back up, she carried a velvet tray of wedding rings. “They are all made individually,” she explained.

“By you?” asked Laura.

The woman nodded.”I’m Ceara,” she told them.

Rhean’s face was transfixed.  He saw it the second she brought the tray out—a ring made of burnished rose gold. Thick and solid, just like its potential owner, around the ring there were symbols carved into it. Although very beautiful, it also had a masculine feel.

“This is the one,” he declared and picked it up. 

“Are you sure?” Laura asked. She walked over to Rhean and looked at the ring.

“It’s incredible,” she breathed.

Rhean looked at Ceara.

“Try it on,” she encouraged.

Rhean held the ring out to Laura. “Practice,” he coaxed her with a smile.

Laura slid the ring on his finger; it fit perfectly, as if it had been made for him, and  the rose gold was a perfect foil for his dark coloring.

“What do the symbols mean?” Laura asked.

Rhean handed the ring to Ceara. She boxed it up and put the sale through on her till. “Two lives as one,” she said simply. After Rhean paid, Ceara handed the card and receipt back to him with a small velvet bag. As they went to leave the store, Ceara called out, “I’ll have the rest delivered to the grange, my lord.”

Laura heard Rhean groan.

“Thanks Ceara,” he called back as he followed Laura into the drizzly weather.

Rhean took Laura’s hand as they walked quickly to a large restaurant. Laura was irritated, her mouth set in a thin line. They found a table and Rhean ordered two large coffees, then looked through the menu as Laura sat in the chair with her arms crossed. Their coffees arrived and Rhean took a sip of the fragrant brew.  He sat up straight in his chair, assuming his headmaster pose again, and said, “Okay, out with it.”

“Out with what?” she asked. Her eyebrows were raised and she felt the beginnings of a major headache.

“Whatever is bugging you,” Rhean replied.

“There’s nothing wrong,” she lied. She rummaged in her handbag for her painkillers, took two and drank some coffee.

“One thing you aren’t Laura, and that’s a liar.” Rhean said.  She could hear the steel in his voice. Resigned and waiting for the tablets to take effect, she sighed.

“I’m bloody well annoyed that we went into every sodding jewelry shop in three towns, only to find that you had already ordered it to be made for you,” Laura told him between sips of coffee. “I’m tired, hungry, have a headache coming on and bloody frustrated,” she blurted out.

Rhean smiled at her and excused himself to order their lunch.

By the time Rhean returned, Laura calmed down somewhat. She finished her coffee and was reading a text message from Maisie.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “Would another coffee and a burger make it up to you?” Laura nodded, smiling at him. He had a knack of turning on a lost puppy expression. He knew she couldn’t resist when he did it. ‘
The rat,’
Laura thought.

“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m just grumpy and miserable today. So what else did you order from Ceara then?” Laura inquired.

Rhean flushed and shifted in his chair.

“She’s making your wedding ring, among other things,” he admitted. Their burgers arrived and the conversation stopped while they ate. Eventually, Laura spoke.

“What do you mean, ‘other things’?” she asked again, refusing to let the subject drop.

Rhean wiped his mouth with a napkin, and drained his mug.

“You aren’t going to let this lie are you?” he asked.

Laura shook her head.

“I didn’t think so. Ceara is designing and making your jewelry set,” he admitted. “It was supposed to be a surprise, but I guess I blew it.”

Moving her chair back, she stood up and sauntered over to Rhean. She sat down on his lap and slowly, sensuously slid her lips over his. He responded instantly. Not caring that they were in a restaurant, she slipped her tongue into his mouth as she caressed his tongue in soft smooth movements. He groaned. As she relaxed into the kiss, Rhean pulled away, as if remembering where they were. Laura took advantage of his discomfort and wriggled her backside on his thighs, feeling his arousal through her skirt. 

“Let’s go home,” he said in a husky voice.

On the way home, Laura’s painkillers started to take effect and she half-dozed while Rhean drove them home. Classical music played softly in the background helping her to relax When they arrived back at the cottage, they hurried her inside and switched on the lights.