Joshua's Folly (33 page)

This was it. She was marrying Josh. In the Folly, the most perfect spot on earth.

To her left, a huge sign done in an elegant script sat on an easel. It read:
The wedding of Joshua Kensington and Marisa Michaels.

Opposite the sign, was a huge poster sized picture of the two of them, also on an easel. It was a picture Mary had snapped. Marisa was behind Josh as he’d carried her around the house, piggyback style, her arms wrapped around him. Piggyback had become the preferred method of transport since Marisa loathed the crutches. The photograph boasted huge smiles on their faces, happiness literally shining from their eyes.

The sound of a lone violin wafting gently through the air caught her attention. The sound met her ears, soft, sweet, high notes, achingly tender—achingly romantic. She had to take several deep breaths to keep herself from crying. The ceremony was beginning. Bethany walked down the aisle in a
carnation
pink sundress,
shocking
pink petals falling gracefully from her hands. Mary took her place at Marisa’s side and stole one last hug, and as she did so, she slipped something into her hand. As Marisa looked at it in surprise, she saw that it was the picture of Joshua that she kept under her pillow.

“All these years? You knew?” Marisa inquired, taken aback. She’d left the picture upstairs, tucked under her pillow. Lately her life was filled with unfolding secrets.

Mary nodded with a secretive smile. “Only insomuch that he was your protector, the person who kept you safe at night.” She wrapped her hand around Marisa’s hand that held the picture. “Go marry your prince, Marisa. He loves you, he adores you, and he will always keep you safe.” She tucked the picture into Marisa’s bodice for safekeeping. Marisa was speechless.

Before walking down the aisle, she turned to Jerome who smiled at her proudly, “Am I dreaming?”

He only chuckled softly as they walked slowly towards Joshua, Mary on one side of her and Jerome on the other, her hands tucked into the crooks of their arms, giving her all the support she needed—just as they had given her since she’d joined them at the age of eleven. Mary and Jerome were now giving her away, placing her in Joshua’s loving care.

She’d expected the wedding to be a small affair. To her utter surprise, the chairs were not only filled with many members of Josh’s staff, but also with many of his friends from local ranches, people she’d met at the barbeque. Constance was there, wiping at her eyes, and Jake, looking upon her with a huge smile. Even Leila and her husband were there. Leila sent her a conspiratorial wink and a thumbs-up as she caught her eye. Even old Mr. Marshall waved at her with a silly grin.

Her eyes were drawn to Josh, waiting for her next to the fountain, his eyes only for her. He looked devastatingly handsome in his tux, the light wind picking up his jet-black hair, his eyes looking bluer than usual. Marisa couldn’t believe this was really happening.

When she reached him, their hands joined tightly, her face turned up to his, their eyes locked and he smiled a smile that made his eyes sparkle. She smiled back, knowing that all was right with the world.

The ceremony was beautiful and when they were pronounced man and wife, Josh took her in his arms and before his lips descended onto hers he whispered, “I love you,” and then kissed her as if they were the only two people in attendance, which brought on clapping and cheering from their guests. And a little whooping and hollering from the ranch hands too.

The reception was catered and seemed, to Marisa, interminable. Her cheeks hurt from smiling and she was tired of greeting guests when all she really wanted to do was be alone with Josh.

His thoughts were not far from hers as he said, “Shall we leave?”

“Okay,” she whispered.

It took another hour to throw the bouquet and the garter, but finally they waved goodbye, and made their escape. With Marisa in Josh’s arms, they quickly dashed into the deserted house, turning on no lights.

“I kinda like being carried everywhere by you,” Marisa whispered.

“I’m not complaining,” Josh answered as he immediately kissed her as if he couldn’t wait another second. “We did it,” he whispered.

“Yes, we did. I’m so happy.”

“Me too.” Josh carried her up the stairs—no piggyback in a wedding dress—leaving the house below them dark and empty. Mary, Jerome, Bethany, and Constance were all staying in one of the vacant cottages for the next few days. They had the house to themselves. They’d decided to honeymoon right there on the ranch. At Marisa’s insistence, their first night together would be in Josh’s bedroom, their new master bedroom. She wanted the unforgettable moment to take place where she’d always remember it.

After telling her in no uncertain terms that she had to wait at the threshold, Josh closed the drapes, dimmed the lights, lit a few candles, and then turned to face her. She was watching his every move.

Slowly, he smiled at her, and she smiled back.

“Mrs. Kensington,” he said as if greeting her formally.

“Mr. Kensington,” she replied.

“The moment we’ve been waiting for,” he uttered as he slowly removed his tux jacket and tossed it onto a chair. His eyes never left hers as he untied his tie and left it dangling. He unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt. He unbuckled his belt and slid it out of the belt loops, taking his time. The belt joined his jacket. He unclasped his cuff links and tossed them onto the chair also, as if he couldn’t wait to be rid of all the accoutrements that came along with a tux. His eyes still held hers. She continued to watch his every move, her breathing becoming uneven. The sounds of the reception still going strong in the backyard and Folly met her ears—people laughing, the low hum of talking, the pulsating purr of music from the live band. It all echoed through the air seeming distant and faraway. All that mattered to her was right now, right here.

Josh kicked off his shoes, walked over to her, placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her ever so softly.

He picked her up into his arms, carried her into the room and crushed his lips down onto hers, kicking the door shut with his foot. Somehow, he managed to lock it without interrupting their kiss. The kiss became deep as their mouths opened to each other and their tongues met. The embrace quickly turned urgent and demanding. They’d waited a long time for this moment.

Obviously not wanting to rush, Josh slowly set her down onto her feet, her body sliding down his, their lips never breaking contact. His hands began to roam, touching her in places he’d never touched before, making her gasp. Their lips parted as he covered her face with kisses. Her back arched and she let her head fall backwards as he kissed her neck and chest.

Slowly, Marisa began to untuck his shirt and then slipped her hands under it, running her hands over his back and chest, as he took her mouth with his again.

His hands wandered up to her neck, her face, ever so tenderly. “I love you, Marisa. I’ve always loved you.”

“I love you, Josh. I wanted to live just for this,” she mumbled under her breath.

When her words registered, he stilled. “What?”

Her hands moved to the buttons of his shirt and she began to unbutton it, one by one, agonizingly slow, as she whispered, “After my accident, my prevailing thought was that I didn’t want to die, not yet, not before I’d had the chance to make love with you.”

“Marisa…” he said, noticeably touched. She stopped him with her lips, kissing him hard and deep. His hands ran through her hair, removing the pins that held it up. When her hair was free, he buried his hands in it, massaging her scalp.

Her hands slid down his chest and rested on the waistband of his pants. Their eyes met and held for a moment. She stepped a little closer and ran her lips over his chest, kissing him gently. His heart was racing, matching her own. It was their time tonight and it was long overdue.

His hands moved to the zipper on the back of her dress and he slowly began to pull it down. “Marisa?” he said quietly. She looked up at him and he kissed her in between his words. “What…kind of car…do you drive?”

“What?” She could hardly think straight. She just wanted him to kiss her, to touch her. “I don’t know.” Why was he asking her such a hard question at a time like this?

“You don’t know?” He covered her face with kisses and continued to unzip her dress. She unclasped his pants.

“Honda Civic,” she murmured. She let her head fall back and he kissed her neck.

“What color?” he whispered.

“Why are you asking me this?” she said as she slipped his shirt off.

“I want to know everything about you.” She couldn’t answer for the next few moments as he kissed her hard on the mouth.

“Blue,” she said almost inaudibly as he slipped her dress from her shoulders. It fell to the ground and he kicked it out of the way.

“Don’t tell Mary I did that.”

“Mary who?” she whispered and Josh chuckled lightly.

His worn picture that Mary had tucked into her bodice wafted to the floor, but he didn’t notice. No matter, she didn’t need it anymore, she had the real thing. He held her to him and they kissed deeply. He paused and stepped away—holding her hand so she wouldn’t lose her balance—to simply look upon her. She now stood before him in white satin lingerie.

“You are absolutely beautiful.”

Marisa sighed, wishing she wasn’t wearing a cast on her honeymoon night. It was the only damper on the evening. He was amazingly perceptive, however.

“I love that cast. Do you know why?” he asked as he pulled her close again.

“Why?”

“It represents life. Your life. You lived through the accident and the cast—for as long as it’s with us—will always remind me of that miracle.”

“I didn’t think of it like that,” she murmured, lost in his kiss. “Will it put a damper on the evening?”

“Heck, no.”

Suddenly, the cast didn’t matter one iota. They’d work around it. The room was silent for the next few minutes as touch was their only communication.

“Marisa?”

“Hmmmm…”

“Will you miss bein’ a teacher?” His hands wandered the length of her and she let her hands wander too. Their breathing became ragged, their kisses, more intimate.

“Josh…”

“Hmmmm…”

“Shut up.”

He laughed softly as they kissed and then something changed as they both let go of all the restraints that had been between them. On this night, all barriers were suddenly cast aside and the passion between them would not be suppressed, but satisfied.

“Thank you for saving yourself for me,” he whispered tenderly.

“You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.”

“You, Marisa. It’s only ever been you, you are the one for me. Only you, it’s always been you…” he murmured as their embrace and their kisses became heated.

He took her to the bed and they collapsed down onto it.

Passion overwhelmed both of them as they became one.

EPILOGUE

Marisa stood at the window of her old room, looking out upon the Folly. She held her stomach and caressed her bulging belly. Josh was just exiting the Folly after his morning run. He didn’t know it, but she’d made a habit of watching him every morning. Clearings in the foliage gave her an occasional view of him as he jogged. They’d been married now for nine months and she was exactly nine months pregnant. A content smile crossed her features. They were having a honeymoon baby and nothing had made them happier. She watched as Josh peeled off his hooded sweatshirt and stretched his legs. He was an extremely attractive man and even though he made love to her nearly every night, when she saw him in the light of day she found herself feeling intensely attracted to him. It must be pregnancy, her hormones had gone wild. She wondered with a smile, what was his excuse?

Life was good. They were crazy for each other, there was no denying it. Josh was over the top excited about the baby and she was feeling quite well, now that the morning sickness had dissipated. As soon as her cast had been removed, Josh had whisked her away to Hawaii for two weeks, a surprise wedding present—and a much needed honeymoon. She’d begun to feel sick within a week of returning home from Hawaii and they assumed she’d simply caught some sort of bug. When she showed no sign of getting well it finally dawned on them that she could be expecting. A visit to the doctor confirmed it and even though she was a little green at the gills, Josh took her out for a celebratory dinner. To her dismay, she could hardly choke down her meal.

Josh became a positively doting husband, pampering her as if she could break at any moment. She loved every second of it and basked in the attention.

“Hey.”

Startled, Marisa turned to see Josh standing at the doorway. Her thoughts had wandered and she hadn’t noticed him leave the backyard.

“What-cha-ya doin’?”

“Just rechecking, making sure everything’s in order.” She didn’t tell him she’d been watching him.

“I thought you did that yesterday,” he said with a huge smile, eyes sparkling.

Marisa didn’t deny it. Her old room had been converted into a nursery. Marisa was pretty sure they’d gone way overboard. In their excitement, they’d purchased every baby item known to mankind, convinced they couldn’t live without it. The nursery was well stocked, everything was ready. All they had to do was sit back and wait for the blessed event. Still, Marisa was in the nursery every day, organizing and reorganizing, she couldn’t seem to help herself. It was those darn nesting instincts. She knew Josh was amused at her obsession. She also knew it pleased him to no end.