Her Premarital Ex (The Alexanders Book 3) (12 page)
Read Her Premarital Ex (The Alexanders Book 3) Online
Authors: Tina Martin
Tags: #suspense, #reflection, #true love, #unrequited love, #jealousy, #stalker, #fiction romance
right. I’m not.”
“And Heshan is the oldest
of you guys...you can learn a lot from him.”
“Guess I’ll start with him
and tell him you sent me.”
“No, don’t tell him
that.”
“Why not?”
“He won’t believe you and
you need him to take you seriously, especially if you’re serious
about settling down and getting married.”
serious about settling down. His only wish was that he could settle
down with her.
Chapter 21
When
Padma pulled in the driveway behind Tyson’s jeep to drop off
Gabrielle, Tyson was standing in the driveway anxiously
waiting.
she saw him. She jumped out of the car before Padma could come to a
complete stop. She ran to Tyson, jumped in his arms, wrapping her
legs around his waist, her arms around his neck, her lips pressed
against his.
Tyson slid his hands up
her blouse, placing them firmly against her back and kissed her
while Padma and Lalita looked on.
After he’d gotten his
fill, just enough to take the edge off, he looked her in the eyes
and said, “Hi.”
“Hi.” She smiled. “I
missed you.”
“Missed you too,
baby.”
“Okay, lovebirds,” Padma
said, getting out of the car. “I have to run.” She left Gabrielle’s
suitcase next to where they stood. I have to take Lalita
home.”
“Thanks for taking care of
my baby, Padma,” Tyson told her.
“No problem.”
“See you later, Padma,”
Gabrielle said. Tyson lowered Gabrielle until her feet touched the
ground, picked up her bag and they headed for the house.
the living room, he dropped her bag on the floor and kissed her
again, walking forward while she took steps backwards to the
bedroom where he’d been steering her, where he’d planned on making
love to her.
rested and he said, “I love you.”
“I love you,
too.”
“So you had a good
trip?”
“Yes.”
“Do I need to break
anyone’s bones?”
Dilvan was surprisingly on his best behavior.”
“Bet he was...”
“And you know what... I’m
not afraid of him anymore.”
“Good. You shouldn’t be
because you know I’d put a bullet in his head if he ever touches
you again.”
“Tyson, stop
it.”
“I’m so serious right now,
darling. That goes for him or anybody else. You’re my wife and I’ll
protect you with my life.”
“I know you will,” she
said, turning to face him. She took a kiss from his lips and
snuggled against his chest.
“Um...while we’re on the
subject of Dilvan, let me get your opinion on
something.”
“Okay.”
“So Heshan and Prasad are
meeting with Dilvan to try and work out their
differences.”
“Okay.”
“Do you think I should
join them?”
“Ah...well they’re all
your cousins and Heshan is your best friend.”
“Yep.”
“It may not be a bad
thing.”
“Yeah, I just don’t want
to end up in another fight with Dilvan. I might actually break his
nose this time.”
chest and said, “Whatever you decide, I’ll support you one-hundred
percent.”
“I know you will, baby.
That’s why I love you.”
closed her eyes, relaxed and satisfied in the arms of her
man.
Later
Dilvan
smiled. All was right with the world again – well partially.
Over the past three months, he’d managed to get back on good terms
with his brothers – especially with Heshan. They’d spent plenty of
time repairing their relationship. They watched soccer together,
something they hadn’t done in years and Heshan hung out more at
Dilvan’s place than he did his own home.
necessary, Tyson even tried to tolerate Dilvan as well.
Gabrielle helped Carmen
pack for college and settle into her dorm room at Elizabeth City
State University. She was proud that her sister was going to
college, studying computer science and she was grateful to Tyson
for paying her tuition. It was the best high school graduation gift
ever.
throwing a family cookout at his home. While he and his father
manned the grill, Padma was busy giving Lalita and Gabrielle
information about the fall restaurant expo.
Tyson, Heshan and Prasad
were busy playing poker.
Lalita’s kids were
running around playing.
Ms. Beatrice was in the
kitchen whipping up some sides, her famous clam chowder and some
Sri Lankan cuisine. She was still elated that she was able to go
and visit her brother three weeks ago.
When the hotdogs,
hamburgers, chicken and corn on the cob had been grilled, Beatrice
brought her homemade sides out onto the deck. Everyone gathered
while Colin prayed over the food then they sat at their respective
tables.
Gabrielle and Tyson
shared a table with Lalita and Prasad. Dilvan sat at the table with
his parents. Heshan sat with Beatrice.
meals, Dilvan stood up and in true Dilvan fashion, he tapped his
wine glass and said, “I have a small announcement to
make.”
Once he got everyone’s
attention, he said, “I want to take this opportunity to say how
proud I am that we’re able to meet as a family. I know we’ve been
through a lot of tough times, mostly because of me, but I’ve been
working hard to be a better brother, a better son, a better cousin,
a better man. Thank you for working with me. I love and appreciate
you all.”
Padma pinched the corner
of her eyes trying to hold in tears. Then, as a loving, forgiving
mother would, she said, “We love you too, Dilvan.”
“Well that’s all right now
ain’t it,” Beatrice said.
Tyson cleared his throat,
stood up and said, “I also have something to say.”
“What is this...the day
for announcements?” Heshan quipped.
“Apparently so, Shan,”
Prasad said.
“At any rate, I want to
thank you all for treating my sweet Gabrielle so well. She’s truly
the love of my life. Thank you for welcoming her into The Alexander
Family.”
blushed.
Dilvan frowned. Over the
months, he tried to forget about her...tried telling himself he
could move on, but every time he thought about going on a date with
another woman, his heart would pull him back to
Gabrielle.
“And there’s something
else,” Tyson said. “The Alexander Family will be welcoming a new
member very soon because we’re having a baby.”
“A baby!” Beatrice
shouted.
over her heart.
“I already told mom and
pop and Gabrielle’s family knows. Now you all know.”
over to Tyson’s table and slapped hands with his cousin, patting
him on the back. “Congrats man.”
“Thanks.”
kiss on the cheek. “Congrats, sweetie.”
“Thanks
Heshan.”
them.
“How far along are you,
Gabrielle?” Ms. Beatrice asked.
“Three months.”
of wine to his mouth. A baby...the woman he loved was happy with
his cousin and pregnant. He couldn’t fake a smile even if he wanted
to, even after three months of trying to forget her.
Lalita excused herself
without offering any congratulations. She was visibly upset, which
was so out of order for her and for the occasion at hand. She
should’ve been happy that another child was being added to the
family.
Gabrielle watched Lalita
walk away. She got up from her seat and followed her to the
kitchen. “Lalita, is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” she
responded.
“Are you sure? You look
upset.”
“Just not feeling well,”
she said.
to her and touched her arm. “That’s all? Seems like, since our
Chicago trip, you’ve been acting kinda weird.”
Lalita looked at
Gabrielle, wanting to tell her about what happened in Chicago – how
she’d found her passed out on the bed and Dilvan sneaking out of
their hotel room. She couldn’t get the words to leave her mouth.
Instead, she said, “I gotta go. Tell Prasad I had to run.” She
walked away, upset and torn, having to carry the burden of this
secret. She couldn’t even tell her husband.
As she walked to the car,
all kind of thoughts were swirling around in her head. If Dilvan
had drugged Gabrielle and took advantage of her, what if that was
his baby she was carrying instead of Tyson’s? Just the thought of
it made tears fall from her eyes. The frustration of it all was too
much, because she couldn’t prove that Dilvan had done anything to
Gabrielle, and maybe he hadn’t. After all, when she stepped in the
room, Gabrielle had been fully clothed.
celebration out on the deck. Beatrice had embraced her warmly and
congratulated her. So did Padma and Colin.
Dilvan drew in a deep
breath and, while Tyson was busy talking to Heshan, he made his way
over to Gabrielle.
“Congratulations,” Dilvan
told her, watching her hair sway in the breeze. “I know you’re
excited.”
“Yes. Tyson and I are
equally excited.”
“So you’re three months,
huh?”
“Yeah.”
stomach. “Your stomach is so flat. It doesn’t look like there’s a
baby in there.”
“I know, but there
is.”
Dilvan talking to his wife and instantly felt a jealous streak hit
him. He had accepted Dilvan’s steps toward change but even still,
he didn’t trust him and he never would.
“Excuse me, Heshan,” Tyson
said, and made a beeline to where Gabrielle and Dilvan were
standing. He threw an arm around Gabrielle and said, “Is everything
all right, sweetie?”
“Yes. Everything’s
fine.”
“I was just congratulating
you guys,” Dilvan said.
“Thanks,” Tyson replied
but he was no fool. There was something there, something in the
depths of Dilvan’s eyes that angered him – something that made it
clear as day that Dilvan Alexander was still obsessed with his
wife. “Are you ready to go, sweetheart?”
“Yes. I’m
ready.”
hand into his and walked away from Dilvan.
Dilvan watched them as
they headed for the door. A smile came to his lips as he thought
about how it would feel to someday be a father, imagining that the
baby Gabrielle was carrying was his instead of Tyson’s.
Continued...
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4,
The Object of His Obsession
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