Chapter Fifteen: Happy Beginnings
Willa Mae saw Niall before he saw her. He was standing in almost the exact same spot as he had been the first time he had come to get her, more than two months earlier. They hadn’t seen each other for two weeks. The night when she had got his call, she could hear the guilt he tried to disguise in a clinical discussion of what he thought might be wrong with his mother but she could tell he was upset.
“I know that this is a lot to ask, Willa Mae, but I would like it if you were here with me for this. It will have to become part of the proceedings, unless Mother can be persuaded to withdraw her plea. “
“I’m so sorry, Niall. I’ll be out of the country for the next two weeks, and I won’t be available to come before then, but I’ll ask Jill if the next big project can be shifted to someone else.”
“I will speak to her if you need me to,” he’d offered, but Willa Mae had refused.
“I’ve got this,” she’d told him.
She knew what she had to do. This job would be her last with Creative Legacies, unless Jill was prepared to keep her on as a consultant. Her place was with Niall now. He had called her because he wanted her, not as his property developer but as his lover, as his woman. They hadn’t said the words…it wouldn’t have been appropriate then. But they both knew that what had begun with a kiss at the top of the stairs two months ago was more than either was prepared to surrender.
Willa Mae smiled as he turned and saw her. The answering smile lit up his whole face, and the dimples she loved so much sank into his cheeks. She wanted to do the movie thing and drop her bags to run to him, but she kept hold of her luggage and walked the rest of the way, though by the time they stood in front of each other, she was shaking like a leaf in a gale. He reached out to cup her cheek.
“Thank you for coming, Willa Mae,” he said, and leaned in to kiss her.
She kissed him back, slowly sliding away from his mouth to say, “I’m glad you called me.”
He held out his arm and she took it, and he took her suitcase from her rolling it along to his SUV. He threw it in the back seat, along with her carry-on, and then turned to where she stood by the passenger side waiting.
“I have missed you, sweetheart,” he said, and pulled her into his arms fully this time before planting a voracious kiss on her lips. She opened for him, letting him have whatever it was he seemed to need from her mouth, and giving him back everything she had to give.
They stayed locked together like that, arms wrapped around each other until they needed to fill their lungs with air. Then he leaned his forehead against hers, panting heavily.
“How is your mother?” she asked, leaning away to look into his eyes.
“As well as can be expected, given the shock of the diagnosis. She’s just begun the course of treatments the doctor prescribed, and is seeing a neurologist in another week.”
He helped her into the car, and as they drove off he said, “Don’t expect too much change in her demeanor towards you, though. She is still my mother, and some things are ingrained, having little to do with her illness.”
Willa Mae understood. She was here for Niall, and that would have to suffice.
“What time is the hearing tomorrow?”
“Nine. You don’t have to be there if you’d rather not,” he added. “It could get ugly.”
Willa Mae sighed. “I don’t understand why your mother is still going through with this. Doesn’t she know she won’t win?”
“She’s irrational as well as aggressive…when she’s not morose and depressed. It seems that having been told she has Alzheimer’s has somehow freed her to let go, and everything she had been hiding from all of us before is coming out now. It’s been difficult, to say the least.”
“I can’t even imagine how you must be feeling.”
She reached over and placed her hand on his where he was resting it on the gear shift. He turned his hand so he could hold hers, and squeezed it gently.
“How are Angus and Alison taking it?”
He heaved a heavy sigh. “Alison is dealing with a great deal of guilt. I’d say she has grown up a lot in the last two weeks. Angus lives in denial. I know it’s just fear, but it irks me. He’s a man acting like a child.”
“That’s a very sexist thing to say,” Willa Mae teased.
Niall smiled. “So, your idol has feet of clay. Better you know it now, before…”
He squeezed her hand again, but didn’t finish his sentence, and Willa Mae didn’t push him. They would come to talk about their lives after the hearing was over. The rest of the ride was made in comfortable silence, and when they arrived at the castle, Andrews was once again waiting for them.
“How does he always know exactly when you’re going to get here? Does he have some kind of sixth sense or something?”
Niall laughed. “You’ll have to ask him yourself, I’m afraid.”
Andrews greeted her like a long-lost relative. “Ah, Ms. Jamison, welcome back! It is good to see you! Bannock Castle hasn’t been the same since you left.”
Willa Mae laughed. “I think you’re exaggerating, Andrews, but thanks for the very warm welcome!”
“I would venture to say that insofar as it pertains to Mr. Niall, I speak no more than the truth, ma’am.”
She had no answer for that, but Niall grinned and said, “Stop giving away all my secrets, Andrews and take Willa Mae’s things up to her suite, please. We’ll be in the study.”
“I’ll have the tray brought there, Mr. Niall.”
Andrews nodded politely at Willa Mae and walked behind them into the castle, leaving them at the stairs to do his boss’s bidding. Willa Mae followed Niall into his study, and as soon as he shut the door, he hauled her up against him.
“Welcome home, mo ghràdh! I am so glad you’re here.”
His kisses overwhelmed her, overpowered her, and she melted against him like candle wax under flames. A discreet knock at the door had then stumbling apart, and she walked away to stand by the window, leaving Niall to deal with whoever was at the door. She heard low voices in conversation but didn’t turn around, needing to cool the fever his kisses has awakened.
“Willa Mae, come and have some tea.”
Niall’s voice sounded strained, and when she turned, she saw the reason standing just behind him, an angry glare directed at her. Angus Drummond was not happy to see her, but she didn’t care. Because the look in Niall’s eyes said she was all that mattered to him. She went to him, sitting where he indicated and accepting the cup he offered her.
“Thank you,” she said, directing a piercing smile his way. Then she looked over at Angus and took a slow sip of the hot liquid in the cup before saying coolly, “Good afternoon to you, too.”
Niall laughed, which made Angus’s glare even darker. He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snarl, turned on his heel and left.
“Oh dear, he’s not happy with you at all, is he?”
“He demanded to know what you were doing here, and when I told him, he was incensed.” Niall took a long swallow from his cup and added, “But then, he’s always incensed these days. I think he sees his days of freeloading coming to an end, and he’s running scared.”
“Yes, and I’m sure I understand that, but it has nothing to do with me.”
Niall’s eyes turned to take her in, holding her gaze as he replied. “Oh, it has everything to do with you, sweetheart.”
“What…what are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re going to be in my life from now on. Angus knows it and he doesn’t like it.”
She put the cup down for fear of spilling its contents all over her lap and took deep breaths. Then she looked back into his eyes and nodded.
“Okay.” That was all she could manage.
The rest of the day passed in a kind of hush. Willa Mae met the family for dinner. Everyone was subdued, including the countess, who barely acknowledged her children or Willa Mae. Afterwards, when Niall went with her back to her suite, he kissed her until she forgot to be uncomfortable, until she forgot to worry about how tomorrow would go, until all she could remember was that she loved him.
“When this is over, love, I will say everything that I have in my heart to say to you. Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
He kissed her forehead, cupping her face in his hands. “You are a very special lady. Good night.”
The hunger she saw in his eyes as he turned to walk away mirrored what she was feeling, but she knew the time for seeking relief was not now. She watched him walk back through her door and close it quietly behind him. He was right. Tomorrow was going to be a hell of a long day…
Niall woke with a start. The cellphone hadn’t sounded the alarm as yet, so he stopped it before its raucous blare could disturb the quiet in his room. He passed a hand over his sheets, over the pillows next to him on the enormous bed, and stretched to get rid go the kinks from a restless night. He wanted Willa Mae in his bed, but he wouldn’t take her here. He would wait until they were alone in his own home. She had made him more aware of how his actions could exacerbate his mother’s condition, and he wanted to be the man she looked at with such love and respect as he had seen in her eyes the day before.
After a quick shower, he dressed, pocketed the little black box on his night stand, and went to get her for breakfast. She was already dressed and ready to go down, and he appreciated her understanding. The business suit she wore did nothing to disguise her delicious curves, and she enhanced her pretty face with subtle makeup and lip color that made it hard for him to refuse their invitation to suck on them.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” she said and smiled. “Lead on, your lordship.”
He stole a quick kiss from those tempting lips as punishment for her teasing, and then led her down to the dining room. As before, his family was already there, but they hadn't served their plates.
“Good morning, everyone. You all remember Ms. Jamison. She’ll be appearing for the defendant in the hearing this morning.”
“Is that all she’s doing here, big brother?” Angus’s voice was full of venom.
Niall turned and speared his younger brother with a fierce look. “Whatever else she may be doing here is none of your bloody business, Angus. And if you wish to keep living in this house you will remember who is paying for your stay.”
Hating to have to put Willa Mae through the ugliness that was his family relationships, Niall asked her what she would like to eat, and eventually they all sat down to a strained breakfast. He took her away as soon as he could, and as they drove to the village, he told her what the plan was for the hearing.
“My solicitor is going to present the positives first…the financial benefits not only to the family but to the village. Then he’ll hint at the credibility of the family’s claim, leaving my mother’s condition to the last, if the village board holds out. I honestly don’t see them waiting till the bitter end on this one, though. Money always talks. History and tradition will always take a back seat to profit.”
And it turned out that Niall was right. The arbitrator wanted to know all the facts related to the renovations Niall was proposing, and when he asked the representative from the village board what their objections were, they cited the historicity of the castle being in jeopardy from modernization. Niall asked Willa Mae to say how the property would be upgraded while ensuring that the estate, including the castle, remained true to its historical roots. After that, the arbitrator found in favor of Niall and Creative Legacies, which had also been named in the complaint.
The mood was subdued rather than celebratory when they walked back to the car afterwards. Niall went back to the castle and helped Willa Mae pack her things.
“Where are we going?” she asked as they got back in his car.
“Home.”
He didn’t explain further, and she didn’t ask. The ride to his home was almost an hour, and they enjoyed it without speaking. His heart was full, but he was looking forward to sharing it all with her. The imposing manor house he had bought four years earlier was an impressive sight as they drove through its stately gateway to the front door. He parked, took her things from the car, and led her indoors.
“I kinda miss being greeted by a cheerful butler,” she quipped, and Niall knew she was nervous. So was he. He was about to change the rest of their lives.
Leaving the suitcases by the foot of the stairs, he led her into his study, and pushed her gently into the love seat by the window. Then he got down on one knee in front of her and watched as her eyes widened. He pulled the ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal the purest, most exquisite diamond he could find for the woman he loved.
“Sweetheart, I already know what your objection will be. We haven’t known each other long enough for me to be sure that this is the right step to be taking now. My answer is simple…you are the only woman I have ever wanted to change for. Everything I have done since the day I met you has been with the idea that if I can be better, maybe you’ll find me worthy to love. Because I love you truly, mo ghràdh. Will you honor me by accepting this ring and promising to be my wife when you have had enough time to prove I mean what I say?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Niall…”
“Just say yes, love,” he urged her. “Just yes.”
She smiled through her tears, and he kissed them away before sliding the ring onto her finger when she said “Yes!”
Later, as they lay wrapped up in each other’s arms, their clothes everywhere on the floor of his office, he listened to her breathing as he fondled her full breast, and felt his heart warm through. He had made love to her hard and fast the first time, then slower, cherishing her as he had thrust in and taken her over the edge with him. He wanted to do it again, and he knew he would. She always dozed after lovemaking, and he loved that about her as well. She gave her all to their passion, and it wore her out. He wore her out, and he grinned in masculine pride.
“Shouldn’t we at least put some clothes on?” Half an hour later, her voice brought his eyes down to her face. She was smiling lazily up at him.
“There’s no one here but us,” he said. “And I’m not expecting visitors.”
She shifted so that she was lying on top of him, and his body stirred again as he felt the wet lips of her sex cupping his swelling length.
“That’s good to know,” she said, trailing a teasing finger down the happy trail from his chest down to his groin.
“It is? Why so?” He caught her hand in his and pulled it to his mouth sucking her finger in and loving the moan she made in response.
“Mmmm…because I can think of some things I’d like to try that demand complete privacy.” She rolled her hips, sliding her pussy lips over his rapidly stiffening cock.
“Hmmm…I wouldn’t mind if you just kept doing what you’re doing right now,” he informed her. “You’ve definitely got my attention.”
She chuckled. “You’re so easy, your lordship.”
He sucked on her finger some more. “And you’re so beautiful, your ladyship.”
She hissed. “Not quite yet. You know what they say. Don’t count your chickens…”
He released her finger and brought her face down to his so he could kiss her and suck on her tongue instead.
“I’m only interested in one chick, and in counting all the ways I can make her mine before we have to leave for dinner.” He gave her another deep kiss, and rolled his hips up to meet hers.
“Are you trying to seduce me, your lordship?” She opened her legs for him and raised her hips so he could slip inside her.
“Trying?” He held her hips so he could thrust up into her soaking center. “Feels like I’ve succeeded.”
She laughed into his mouth and met his thrust up with her own downward slide. “Ohhh…yes! Yes, you have!”
After her admission, the silence was only broken by their cries of ecstasy, and that was quite all right with Niall.
“I love you, mo ghràdh,” he whispered raggedly when his body stopped shaking in the aftermath of their shared orgasm.
“I love you, too, Niall,” she replied, snuggling against his chest.
And thank God for that, he thought.