Somewhere in His Arms (44 page)

             
“That won't be necessary,” Alec replied haughtily. “This is satisfactory.”

             
A waiter appeared shortly with their menus. “Would you care for anything to drink? Might I suggest a Torino to start with?”

             
“That's fine,” Alec replied and watched the little man scurry off. “What do you think, love?” he asked his wife who was looking at him as if he'd suddenly grown another head.

             
“When my husband shows up, I'll let you know,” she quipped, peering at the scrumptious offerings on the menu. “I wonder where he got to?”

             
“You'll thank me later,” he grinned, studying his own menu. “Nice place don't you think?”

             
“It's gorgeous. I haven't been to a place this nice in years!”

             
He looked up. “Didn't
he
take you nice places?”

             
“Who?” Lucy frowned, and tried not to fall on the floor at the prices.

             
“You-
know-
who,” Alec said, with an edge to his voice. “He had to have proposed somewhere!”

             
The waiter brought their cocktails and Lucy snatched up the glass and took a fortifying gulp. She'd promised herself she would never imbibe again after what happened in Vegas. But since Alec was determined to dredge up the worst mistake of her life, well she needed something to take the edge off. “You're bringing this up,
now?”

             
“I'm just curious, love.” He frowned slightly. “Where
did
he propose exactly?”

             
She took another sip of the sweet and refreshing drink. “He took me to the Griffith Observatory! Happy now?”

             
“You don't sound like it was a happy experience.”

             
“How could it? I've never been so embarrassed in my life!”

             
Alec shifted uneasily in his seat. “E-Embarrassed?” he stammered.

             
Another sip. “There we were watching
Light of the Valkyries
and he gets up in the middle of the whole thing to go to the bathroom and leaves me sitting there all by myself!”

             
“Didn't he come back?” Alec took a huge gulp of his cocktail, wishing he'd kept his cakehole shut.

             
“He did.”

             
“And…?”

             
“And in the middle of the aurora borealis, the screen goes black and then in huge letters are the words. 'Lucy will you marry me?'”

             
“He didn't!” Another gulp, he was fast losing his nerve.

             
Lucy nodded and took a final sip before deciding she'd had enough. “Everyone stood up clapping their hands, hooting and hollering. I wanted to crawl under the seat.”

             
“You didn't think it was...romantic?”

             
“I appreciated the sentiment,” she sighed and toyed with her napkin. “It's just that he stood there basking in
his
glory, grinning like an idiot. It was so surreal. I don't know why he wanted me there when all he really wanted was to marry himself!”

             
Alec choked and sputtered on his cocktail. He set the glass down. “Then why did you say yes?” he demanded once he could breathe again. “Why plan to spend your life with the twat?”

             
Her lovely brows drew together in surprise. “I told you why.” Lucy frowned again. She thought she'd made it perfectly clear that she loved
him
, not Dean. “Alec, you know I love you.”

             
He reached across and took her hand. His finger stroked her ring finger. “I know. It's just sometimes I think what would have happened had you married him.”

             
“But I didn't.”

             
“You could have!” Alec blurted and took another sip of his drink. “We wouldn't have met and I...” his voice broke and he couldn't speak.

             
“That's all in the past,” she said softly and raised his hand to her cheek. “I married
you
and I've never been so happy!”

             
“Lucia,” he breathed and stroked her cheek.

             
“You haven't called me that since that night at the cottage,” she smiled.

             
“Well, I was saving it for a special occasion!”

             
“Maybe I should call you Alejandro.”

             
“I'd like that,” he said, grinning boyishly.

             
Their food arrived and they found it had been worth the wait. Lucy had ordered the fennel dusted black cod, while Alec had tried his hand at some mushroom and mascarpone ravioli. Since Alec was driving, he'd elected to have sparkling water with his meal. Lucy had the same.

             
“How's the ravioli?”

             
“It's a little rich.”

             
She laughed. “I think it's supposed to be.”

             
“And how's the fish?”

             
“Yummy! Want a taste?” She cut a piece and put it on his plate.

             
“Blimey!” he exclaimed, smacking his lips. “It tastes sort of like licorice.”

             
“It's the fennel.” She sipped her water. “Rudy hates it.”

             
“Why?”

             
“I don't know.” She shrugged. “I guess Tia spoils him with all that Mexican food. He doesn't care for anything else.” She broke off a piece of bread and popped it into her mouth. “Did you run into any trees today?” she asked after a swallow.

             
“Nope, the guard wouldn't even let me through the gate.” Alec finished his pasta and leaned back, adjusting the napkin on his lap. “I guess I've been put on one of those 'Do Not Enter' lists.”

             
“I'm sorry.”

             
“Don't be, I've done all I could. He's on his own now.” He smiled lazily. “How 'bout some dessert?”

             
“I was hoping you'd ask!”

             
They finished their meal with a dessert to end all desserts. Alec had opted for a vanilla caramel budino, while Lucy indulged her love of chocolate with a warm chocolate tart with sweet potato “butter” and coconut sorbet.

             
Then they sat for a long while after, talking about Alec's mother and his stepfather. “What will you tell them about Gavin?”

             
Alec sighed heavily. “I don't rightly know. At this point, Pat will probably rip my head off and fling it into the garden.”

             
“He can't be
that
bad!”

             
“You don't know him. He used to be SAS. He's tough.”

             
“Well, maybe he had to be. A widow needs help with two strapping young boys to look after.”

             
“That's true,” he said, and reached for something in his pocket. He gripped the small box tightly in his hand before placing it on the table. He shoved it gently towards her. “Here love,” Alec murmured. “I got you something.”

             
“Oh, darling,” she whispered, deeply touched by the gesture, “you didn't have to get me anything.”

             
“Sure, I did.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Open it.”

             
Lucy glanced up at him. The ambient lighting had softened his features, giving him a dreamlike quality. There was an odd look in his eyes. Something....

             
She carefully removed the white satin ribbon and unwrapped the silvery paper. Inside there was a velvet box. Lucy held her breath and opened it. It was a diamond ring. Her eyes flew to his face and his eyes glistened. “A ring?”

             
He stood up and went to her and knelt down on one knee. “Lucy love, I love you very much, will you be my wife?”

             
“B-But, Alec, “ she stammered. “We're
already
married!”

             
He hung his head, laughing at her simple logic. “I know that, love.” He reached for the box and removed the ring. “But when you were lying in that hospital bed, I got to thinking. I thought to myself that if I had the chance to do it over, I'd do it right and ask you properly.”

             
Lucy was overcome with emotion and began to cry. “You're the silliest man I've ever met!”

             
“Is that a yes?”

             
“Oh yes!” she cried happily, swiping at her eyes. She must look a mess. “I'll marry you if that will make you happy!”

             
Alec found himself a little teary eyed as well. “Hold out your hand, love.”

             
Lucy held out her hand and felt the cold slip of metal on her finger. Just like Alec had promised, a new ring, an
engagement
ring. She couldn't stop crying and held out her hand to admire the simple white gold band with a heart-shaped diamond. It was even lovelier than the one Dean had given her and twice as sweet. “It's beautiful,” she croaked.

             
“I wasn't sure what you would like,” he said, kissing the ring. “But the salesman assured me it was perfect once I described you to him.”

             
“What did you say?”

             
“Oh, I said 'she's small, lovely, and I adore her' and he said, 'well, better get something that matches that.'”

             
“It's perfect!” she said, and hugged him. “
You're
perfect!”

             
He whipped out his handkerchief. “I've made you all red again.”

             
“I'm a mess!” Lucy laughed as he blotted the tears. “Aren't I?”

             
“Never!” He kissed her and drew her to her feet. “But you could leave off the mascara.”

             
She fell against him, laughing and crying at the same time. “Okay!” Then she whispered, “Take me home?”

             
“Let's go,” he caught her hand and wouldn't stop kissing it.

             
They drove home and Alec swept her up in his arms and carried her across the threshold and into their bedroom. He set her down gently and doffed his jacket.

             
Lucy reached up slowly and pulled the pins out one by one. Her hair fell about her shoulders in a glorious mass of soft waves, and Alec went to her and threaded his fingers through the silken strands. She sighed into his mouth and touched her tongue to his, relishing the masculine taste of him. He spread warm kisses across her cheek and ear, his lips trailing hotly down her throat, murmuring his love for her. “Sweetness,” he muttered hoarsely.

             
He fell to his knees before her and hugged her tightly to him, burying his face against her belly. Alec could feel her fingers stroking his hair, and he inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet fragrance that was Lucy. He raised his head to look up at her and the lovely bow of her mouth was curved in a gentle smile. His eyes never wavered from hers and his hands slipped under the hem of her dress, gliding ever so softly over silk stockings until he met the soft skin of her inner thighs. Her mouth opened on a gasp as he cupped her buttocks and yanked her to him, burying his face against her softness.

             
Alec stood back up and took her mouth with his own, her hands slid up into his hair and he groaned, bending a little and urging her thighs apart with his knee. Lucy clung to him and pressed herself hard against him, flattening her aching breasts against his chest.

             
“Alec,” she panted, reaching for his tie. Suddenly there were too many layers between them and they began tugging and pulling at buttons and zippers, all in a desperate attempt to feel the other's flesh against their own.

             
She reached up to push his shirt from his broad shoulders and he closed his eyes as her small hands slid down his chest and lightly brushed his nipples. “Wife,” he gasped. “Love me.”

             
“I do,” she cried, pressing soft kisses against his face and throat. “I've missed you, husband.”

             
“Lucy!” he muttered fiercely and urged her down on the bed. She sat on the edge while he removed her sandals and giggled when he tossed them aside, swearing when one hit the TV. Then his hands slid up her legs to her thighs where he urged them apart. He reached under her dress and peeled them off gently, his dark head dipping low to kiss the inside of her knee. “You're so soft, “ he breathed in awe, pressing hot kisses along the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh.