Celia's Knight (California Love Trilogy Book 3) Page 13

  Randi laughed giddily. “You get away from me with that ‘friend’.”

  “Come on…. just one little kiss.”

  “No,” she said, rising from the chair. Martin took off his hat, tossed it onto the ground, and wiggled the worm in her direction. She laughed and backed up. “You better not. I don’t mind worms but I don’t want to kiss one.”

  When he rose from his chair she looked worried. She backed up until she was leaning against his truck. It had rained the night before and she looked down at a puddle. “If you don’t put that worm down, I’ll play dirty and swipe some of that nice, yucky mud all down the side of your pretty, clean truck.

  “You wouldn’t dare.” Martin wasn’t too sure whether she would or not but the mischievous grin on her face said she would. He had what he wanted anyway, Randi out of that chair where he could get his hands on more than just a fishing pole.

  He held the worm out and gave it a slight toss. She smiled and stepped away from the puddle by the truck. When he came to her, he took her hands in his. He raised her arms up and that’s all it took. She moved them around his neck, playing with his hair.

  He kept his eyes lowered, watching as he encircled her waist with his hands. “This,” he said, “is a lot more fun than fishing any day.” He moved his hands up to about the spot where her bra started then slid them down her back.

  “I know my boundaries. I just don’t like them,” he murmured, and moved his kisses to her neck.

  She sighed. “You know that’s my weak spot, don’t you?”

  He chuckled, but kept moving his kisses up. He could gauge her reaction by her hands. When he kissed her neck, she dug her fingers into his hair pulling him closer. A few times, she’d even pulled his lips to hers, as she did this time.

  It was hard to behave. His hands wanted to roam up and under the back of her shirt to touch her skin. Maybe coming out here was not such a good idea. He could swoop her into his arms and carry her into the house to the bed or the couch.

  In order to control his mind, and his body, he moved his kisses back to her neck and then just rested his lips against her skin. Randi wrapped her arms around his shoulders running her fingers through his hair. They stayed like this for a wonderful moment then she spoke.

  “Martin.”

  He didn’t answer, but kissed her neck lightly. She said his name again, this time with a little more urgency. “Martin, your fishing pole…. it’s moving.”

  He turned and saw she was right. He moved from her arms to the bank and grabbed the pole just as it was about to be pulled into the water. She laughed and he felt her hands on his back. “Pull it in! Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  “Something pretty big but I don’t think it’s big enough to be Ol’ Henry.”

  “Oh, yeah, that big catfish Mike wants to catch. I’m sure there’s more than one catfish in there.”

  “There’s plenty. Grab the camera and we’ll take its picture. Ol’ Henry, or not, I think this one’s going to be one I can brag about.”

  Chapter 27

  Kitchen Magic

  Randi was thankful for the diversion. After she’d taken a picture of Martin and the fish, they put away their fishing gear and headed to the house. They were going to wash up and see what Mike had to cook.

  Martin wanted to eat in, if that suited her. She was fine with spending the evening alone, just the two of them. She knew it wasn’t easy to stop once they started kissing, but by being careful, they would keep things in check.

  When she was in the bathroom at the sink, she looked in the mirror and smiled. What would it be like to be married to Martin Taylor? She held her hands up and looked at them. First, there would be some kind of elegant and well-designed rock on her left hand.

  She washed her face and freshened up. It would be amazing, she thought, to be Martin’s wife. She was so in love with the man and knew it would be really hard to give him up. How could you become so attached to someone in such a short amount of time?

  Putting on the clean shirt she’d brought with her, she sighed. She really wished her mother would talk with her about her relationship with Martin with an open mind. Randy wanted some guidance but didn’t need the constant, negative comments.

  She opened her purse and took out the earrings and necklace Martin had given her at Christmas. She thought he might notice and she wanted him to know that she loved the gift.

  She walked through the house, looking it over. It was rustic - definitely a man’s home. Martin was nowhere to be found so she went to the kitchen and started looking around. Mike had said to act like they were at home, so she did.

  Randi was looking forward to cooking for Martin. It was work, but she enjoyed impressing him with her cooking abilities. In the freezer she found several rib eye steaks. She took two out to thaw. She also found potatoes, garlic bread and an array of canned vegetables. About ten minutes later, she heard music coming from another room. Potato in hand, she walked through the house looking for Martin.

  She found him in what she assumed was the living room. He was standing, remote in hand, in front of a stereo system. She leaned in the doorframe, smiling.

  Martin was so handsome. Like her, he had changed shirts. He was still wearing his jeans but he’d lost his shoes and only had on his socks.

  “Are you hungry, handsome?” she asked.

  Martin pushed a few more buttons then laid down the remote. “Starving. Do you need some help?”

  “I’m afraid you’d just be a distraction. Why don’t you work on your acting skills, watch sports or something?”

  He came to stand in front of her and asked, “Is this a suggestion because you’ve been watching my movies, or do you just want me out of the way while you work your kitchen magic?”

  “The latter. Your acting skills are just fine. I never knew it would be so much fun to date an actor.” She turned to walk away doubting he would let it drop. When she felt his hands go to her waist, she turned.

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “I can, but I shouldn’t. Not if you want to eat anytime soon. I’m a little concerned my comments will change your mood and distract my progress.”

  Martin wasn’t looking her in the eye. His gaze was on her waist and his hands. He pushed her lightly against the doorframe and smiled as he brought his gaze up to meet her eyes. “You do notice that I’m holding a knife and a potato?”

  “I’ve never been into bondage, or strange, sex food acts, but I’m game if you are?” He leaned in kissing her once. She kissed him back and when he pulled back, she smiled.

  “I’m not starting any strange, or normal, sex acts tonight, young man. Go! Take your handsome self and read one of those scripts you’re always talking about.”

  “Spoilsport,” was all he said. But, before he changed his mind, or she did, she turned and went back into the kitchen. It was good to see he had a good sense of humor and seemingly more patience than she ever thought he would have.

  Forty-five minutes later she was setting plates on the table when Martin came walking in, script in hand. His lips were moving and he was rehearsing some line in his head. “It smells so good,” he said. “I couldn’t stay away.”

  “It’s ready, or just about. Grab me a soda or something close, and whatever you want, and set down.”

  He did as she asked, and when he got close, leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “Don’t ever change,” he said.

  “I’m not planning to, but what are you talking about?” Most of the food was on the table, and as she took the garlic toast out of the oven, she turned to find him getting a roll of paper towels out of a cabinet.

  “Mike doesn’t have napkins so these will have to do.”

  “That’s fine. They work just as well.” Randi moved to sit down, and once he was seated, she questioned, “What was that comment about changing? Did you mean don’t quit cooking for you?”

  “No, not at all, but that, too,” he tossed in, with a smile, “I meant ordering me around. Asking
me to do things. You would be surprised the way people treat me - like they’re afraid to ask me to do anything.”

  “I can see that, and it would be easy to fall into that trap. You, and what you are all about, can be intimidating. I just try to ignore that feeling when it comes.”

  “Please do. It’s so nice and refreshing, I just don’t want you to feel like you can’t ask me anything.”

  Randi grinned and leaned back looking at Martin. “Good, because I’m worn out and someone’s going to have to do these dishes.”

  “Dishes? Me?”

  He looked up, and she laughed. “You said anything. And, besides, when was the last time Martin Taylor washed his own dirty dishes?”

  Chapter 28

  The X Factor

  Monday morning, the doctor finally came around to talk with Celia. She couldn’t wait to get out of this hospital and she was going to get her wish. The doctor said she could go home and that the staff would have release paperwork for her to sign soon. They would schedule a follow-up appointment for her in about 4 weeks. She would also need to follow-up with her Family Doctor in a couple of weeks.

  Celia had some general questions for the doctor about going back to work. She didn’t tell him that she didn’t actually have a job, just that she needed to go back to work as soon as possible.

  He told her that she would be in a cast for four to six weeks and possibly a boot after that for a couple of weeks. He assured her that if she could work sitting down she should be able to go back to work in two to four weeks.

  She thanked him. After about ten minutes the doctor was gone, and she was waiting to sign her release papers. It would be so good to get out of this place and get home.

  “Real clothes and some privacy.”

  “If you want me to leave I will,” Mike said, coming in the door with flowers.

  “I’m not talking about you. Are those for me? They’re beautiful. Sit them on that table over there so I don’t forget to take them with me.”

  “Will do, and of course they’re for you. I saw them in the gift shop and thought they might brighten your day.”

  “They have, and will continue to do so. But, the best news is, they are letting me go home! I’m guessing it will be around noon, but I can’t wait to get out of here.”

  “I know what you’re saying. They come in and start poking you around five am and by the end of the day you feel like they’re starting a new blood bank with your name on it. Been there, done that.”

  “Yes, that’s so true. I feel like a pin cushion, but what were you in the hospital for?”

  “You name it. Broken arm, fractured leg, food poisoning, just to name the highlights.”

  “None of that sounds like fun. This is my first broken anything,” Celia said, gesturing to her leg.

  Mike walked around the bed and looked at her leg. “Then I’ll be handy to have around. I know all the fun things. How to shower with a cast on. How to carry a remote, beer and sandwich while walking on crutches.”

  “Oh my. I never even thought about that. I’ll just use a wheelchair to get around.”

  Mike smiled. “After that first week, you’ll be ready for a pair of crutches, and about the fourth week, you’ll be ready to burn them.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “It’s not. We’ll have to get some of those special pads for under your arms. You’ll need to learn to walk on the crutches and move your weight back and forth from one arm to the other in order not to strain anything.”

  “I think it will be handy to have you around. You are staying, I hope. I never meant to sound like I was against it. I was just irritated that Martin felt the need to move out, and that he didn’t have the nerve to tell me.”

  “I understand, but I’m not sure if I should stay or not. You’ll have your mother there.”

  “True, but you know how huge that place is. You can have your pick of any room. I’ll be staying in the living room, I suppose. There’s a drop down step to just about every room in the house.” Celia looked up and shook her head and began to laugh.

  “What is it?” Mike asked, moving closer to the side of her bed.

  “I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. There is one room I could stay in. It has easy access and has it’s own private bath.”

  “That sounds like a good start,” Mike said. “What’s so bad about that?”

  Celia grimaced and could feel tears sting her eyes. She didn’t normally cry that much. She hoped it was the medicine and said as much. “I’m normally not some weepy woman who cries at the drop of a hat.”

  “It’s okay. I can take a few tears.”

  “Thanks. I think, I hope it’s just the pills. I don’t want to be that pathetic woman who falls apart every time she thinks about her ex and the woman he has now. I want to spit on her, curse and go on.”

  Mike laughed, and she looked at him. “I don’t see you spitting on anyone; you’re too refined for that.”

  She smiled and he really seemed to mean it. That made her feel better and she managed to stop the tears from coming this time. “Back to the room I was talking about. It’s the room that Randi stayed in.”

  “Ouch.” Mike rested his hands on the bed rail.

  “Yes. Ouch. You may not know, but I’m the one who insisted on hiring a live-in maid. I’m also the one who put Martin in charge of making sure all the maids got to the house and knew what they were supposed to do. All of this is my fault.” She held back the tears and went on. “No! It’s not my fault. It’s Martin’s fault. He just couldn’t keep his hands to himself. That lying, cheating—.” She stopped and sighed. “When will the sting leave?”

  “Normally, it takes a while. The last time I was dumped, it took me a couple of months before I stopped wanting to look up the new guy and give him a piece of my mind.”

  “Someone dumped you?” Celia looked at Mike. She found that hard to believe, but then again, he didn’t have a lot of money though he was quite handsome.

  “Yes, more than once, sadly.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I put my mind into work. I started dating anything in a skirt but it didn’t take me long to see that was the wrong move. I slowed down, stopped caring if I was with anyone or not, and before I knew it, I was over that money hungry----.”

  Celia could see a smile creeping in at the corners of his mouth. He was trying to make her laugh, and it worked. She smiled. “Are you really over it?”

  “The X factor? Yes, very much so. But if you tell anyone that I was talking about my love life, I’ll deny it.”

  She laughed and leaned back, trying not to yawn. “What is it with men that they can’t talk about how they feel? Just let it out and don’t worry about what people think.”

  “I think it’s just not in men to really talk things out. Some women have a way of getting a man to open up, but then if you aren’t careful, you’ll say more than you meant to.”

  Chapter 29

  Father Knows Best

  “I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” Randi exclaimed, walking in the back door of the kitchen. “In a twenty-four hour timeframe I have seen two men washing dishes.” Randi closed the kitchen door quickly before the pups could come scurrying in after her. She went over and leaned on the sink, looking at her dad. “What did you do?”

  He laughed as he washed a bowl and a glass, rinsed them and put them in the drainer. “I didn’t do anything. It’s just our new agreement. If I eat anything in the middle of the day, I do my own dishes. I had some cookies and milk and I’m cleaning up. What other man did you see doing dishes?”

  Randi waited until her dad glanced up and she smiled. “Martin, last night. Though I did help. He had washed about half of them before I talked him into letting me finish.”

  Miles shook his head as he rinsed out the sink. “That boy has got it bad if you’ve got him washing dishes. What did you threaten him with?”

  “Nothing. I was just teasing. I told him that since I had c
ooked it would be fair for him to do the dishes. I had no idea that he would.”

  “I told you, he’s got it bad. I remember what it’s like to be that crazy in love with someone. You’ll do just about anything to keep them happy.”

  “In love?” Randi asked, sitting down and looking up at her dad. “You really think so, or is that just a metaphor or something?” Her dad wiped up a few crumbs and dumped them in the garbage, dried his hands then sat down.

  “I can’t really speak for the man, but, yes, I think he’s fallen in love. The sixty-four-thousand dollar question . . . will it last?” Randi’s dad rested his hands on the table in front of him. “What about you?”

  “What are you asking? Do I love him? Yes. Will it last? I don’t know. I hope it does. Who wouldn’t want to fall in love with a rich, handsome movie star? Not that I’m lazy or looking for some kind of free ride. But in this day and age, sure it would be nice to not have to worry about working like a dog to make a living.”

  “Good points. I hope it does work, but as they say, don’t quit your day job.”

  “I’m not planning to. I like what I do, but I think we all dream of a better job. Our dream job.”

  “I know what you’re saying. One of those jobs that people say, ‘I can’t believe someone’s paying me to do what I love’. We all would like one of those.”

  “What would yours be?” Randi asked, wondering if he’d ever given it any thought. After all he would need to be looking for some kind of work over the next few weeks. Unemployment wouldn’t last forever.

  “I’ve known this was coming for a while and I’ve been giving it some serious thought. I think I’m a little past my ‘dream job’ and ready to settle for something I can handle. I’m looking into working in security in some fashion. I’ve gotten applications from several studios in the area. I’ve filled two of them out and I mailed them yesterday.”

  “That’s good, but just for the fun of it, what would be your ‘dream job’?”

  Miles shrugged. “I like to golf, and fish. I suppose a job where I was around either would suit me. I like working with my hands, and being outside. Maybe working on golf carts or collecting golf balls. I don’t know. As I said, I’m thinking reality here. I’m going to say something and I want you to know, it has nothing to do with Martin.”