“Reginald, this is insane.” She whispered, thrilled by what he just said.
“It just might be.” Moving forward, he tipped her face up and kissed her thoroughly. Within minutes, he had her clinging to him and returning the torrid kiss.
“We should not have done that.” He whispered raggedly, his fingers running up and down her arms. “Now, I am going to need a few minutes.” He grinned as she burst out laughing and was grateful the tension that had built up in her had dissipated. “I am here, my love.”
*****
She gripped his hand as they made their way through the front doors swept open by a uniformed maid with a beaming smile.
“Your parents are in the green drawing room, Mr. Reginald.”
“Thanks. Sylvie, I would like you to meet the woman I will marry. This is Jacinth.”
The woman’s smile widened if that was at all possible. “Welcome, welcome, Ms. Jacinth.”
She led the way through a wide passageway. Jacinth quickly got an impression of pale silk wallpaper and dazzling chandeliers before they were shown into a lovely room with green and white silk brocade wallpaper and upholstered chairs.
Her fingers tightened in his as the occupants came to their feet. She had met Donna Tanner several times when she went to the office and had spoken to her over the phone once or twice every week. She always thought the woman was beautiful with a graciousness that was obvious. She had passed on her stunning good looks to her son, and it is evident that she adored him.
“Come on in. Mary, please tell the kitchen to wait a few minutes. We will sit and have a conversation before we have supper.” Moving forward, she greeted her son with a kiss on the cheek before turning to Jacinth, tawny eyes wandering over her face.
Holding her hands out, she forced Jacinth to release the death grip she had on Reginald’s hand. Putting her hands in Donna’s, she was surprised when the woman enfolded her into a warm embrace. “I am so thrilled it’s you.” She whispered.
William greeted her with a warm smile, giving her a warm hug. “I knew that this would be the result when the two of you started going at it. I am so happy I was right.”
As she stared at the couple, Jacinth felt like she was in an alternate universe.
“You are not against this?” She blurted out.
“We just want our son to be happy, and when he called us this morning with the news, I had never heard him sound so contented and happy before,” Donna told her.
She was about to sit on a single apple-green sofa when Reginald took her hand and guided her to a double-seater, his arm around her shoulder.
“And it’s obvious that you belong together,” William told them, beaming.
“You don’t think this is too rushed?” Jacinth asked dazedly.
William chuckled at that. “Let me tell you the story of our courtship.” He said, looking at his wife, his gray eyes warm and indulgent.
“I think it’s better if I told the story.” She insisted with a laugh.
“Go ahead, my dear.
“I was going out with someone else and had been with him for three months when I met William at a party held by his dad’s company. I was twenty-eight and very certain I had my future all planned out. I saw this person, and we were trying to decide when to announce our engagement.”
“Then she met me, and everything went to hell.” William chuckled. “One dance later, I told her I would be her husband.”
“I laughed and told him he was an arrogant pup, not my type.”
“I went to see her parents the next day and declared my intentions.”
“What did you do?” Jacinth stared at Donna in fascination.
“I told him to go to hell, and then he kissed me, and I knew that I was in trouble. I was determined to resist him on principle, but I knew there could never be anyone else for me within a week.” She looked over at him, her expression one of unadulterated love. “And I have never regretted it.”
Jacinth felt a shiver running through her body as the man beside her brushed a kiss on her temple.
“Convinced?” He whispered achingly.
“Not quite,” she told him shakily.
“You are going to have to find another secretary, Dad.”
“I am not giving up my job,” she told him firmly before William could respond.
“Darling- “
“I hope you are not thinking of asking me to leave.” She looked at William.
“I have no intention of doing any such thing. The company needs you.”
Turning her head, she gave Reginald a firm look. “I hope you are not starting this thing with you dictating my every move.”
“’ This thing,’ as you put it, happens to be the beginning of our lives together.” With a sigh, he gave in. “Okay, fine.” He stole a kiss before she could turn away, grinning when she pushed him away.
*****
“No, absolutely not.”
“Jacinth, please be reasonable.”
“I am not ready to take our relationship public yet.” After zipping over to ensure her aunt was okay, she spent another night at his place. The trip they had planned to Florida was on hold even though she was trying to persuade her aunt to go with a friend.
“I have engagements- “
“Then go by yourself.”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he gave her a frustrated look that spoke volumes. Their lovemaking was so intense that she had told him she needed time at one point during the night. “I cannot do this. I am scared.” She had whispered as she buried her face in his chest.