All I Want Is You (Kimani Romance) (16 page)

T
hey made love that night and kept all the lights on.

Anton’s empire crumbled and the men who benefited from his services scattered like cockroaches. Most of the guardians disappeared before the compound was seized. All the women he’d kept were released and their story made international headlines. Some were eager to tell their stories, while others disappeared and chose to remain hidden.

Monica made provisions so that Lola could come see her in America. She met Lola at the airport, and when the two women saw each other they rushed into each other’s arms and cried.

“This is all because of you,” Monica said through her tears.

“No,” Lola said in a hoarse whisper. “The moment you left, I was free.”

Monica stared at her in shock. They were Lola’s first words after nearly two years of silence. Monica didn’t know what to say, so all she did was hug her again to let her know she was safe now.

Lola decided to stay with Monica in Georgia (although Nikki offered to let her stay with her) while JD took care of business in the city. Lola loved the town and she soon started to volunteer at the local animal shelter and help with various fundraisers. She related to the animals in a special way no one else did, and everybody believed that she had a gift of making scared animals feel calm.

Back at his apartment, Donnie helped JD pack some things he planned to keep at the farmhouse.

Once it was all done, JD treated his little brother to a beer and said, “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Donnie said with a nonchalant shrug. He took a long swallow.

“No, not for the packing. For staying out of trouble.”

“Oh, that.”

“Yes,
that.
You were becoming a nuisance.”

He grinned. “But I made your life exciting, right?”

“I don’t need that kind of excitement,” JD said in a grim voice.

“I know. And you have better things to do with your time than help me out of scrapes. Don’t worry. I’m on the straight and narrow now.”

“When you lie like that it makes me nervous.”

Donnie laughed. “Okay, maybe my path’s just a little crooked, but it’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Good.”

He took a sip of his drink. “A woman like Monica could make a man rethink his ways. She could help me—”

JD directed his drink at him. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Hey, we’re going to be related, right? What’s wrong with me asking her for a little sisterly advice?”

JD set his drink down and gripped him in a playful choke hold. “Say that again?”

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.”

“Let’s come to an agreement. You stay out of trouble and stay away from Monica for at least a year until I know I can trust you. Agreed?” Donnie nodded.

JD released him and patted him on the back. “Glad to hear it.”

Donnie was quiet a moment then said in a serious tone, “I’m glad things worked out for you. Gran was always afraid you’d end up alone.” He finished off his drink then set it aside. “You remember Dad a lot more than I do, and I’ve always felt that you keep him alive.”

JD looked at him in surprise. “No, not me. You’re more like him than I am. He could make people laugh and he had charisma like you.”

“But he was smart too and great at business.”

“Yes. I guess we’re both keeping him alive then.”

Donnie nodded, liking the idea. He raised his drink in a toast. “To Dad.”

JD raised his own drink. “Yes, and to us.”

JD and Monica got married at the farmhouse. Although they both could have afforded a big, showy
event, they chose to keep it quiet and simple. The ceremony was short but the reception was not. Guests dined on sumptuous dishes and cool drinks into the early evening.

“I thought Nadine was crazy when she rented this farmhouse,” Crystalline said to Monica as the two women stood outside the grand structure that had been decorated for the occasion. “But I guess she knew what she was doing, especially when she selected you. You were meant to be here.”

“Oh, no, she was just desperate. She told me I was the only one interested.”

Crystalline shook her head with a knowing smile. “That may be what she told you, but there were others. The Wooley brothers offered to continue to manage the place for her. She refused, and when you showed up she knew why. She knew that you belonged here.” She cupped Monica’s chin. “You are a luck child, aren’t you?”

Monica hesitated, surprised by the question. “My parents thought so.”

“And they were right. Your beauty shines so bright because your spirit is pure. My husband once said that someone born under a lucky star would come here and change our lives. I never believed him, but now I do.”

Monica shook her head, not wanting to take credit. “No, I didn’t change anyone’s life. You changed mine. I never realized how much I missed belonging to a family.”

Crystalline took her hand. “Daughter, from now on you will never be alone.” She lightly kissed her on the cheek then left.

Monica touched her cheek, now realizing how much she’d missed being someone’s daughter.

Nikki rushed up to her. “This place is fabulous! When you told me you were staying in a farmhouse, I was thinking of some dilapidated shack that smelled like horses and hay.”

“That would be a barn.”

Nikki dismissed her. “Like it matters. This place is amazing. No wonder you wanted to stay here. The architecture is stellar and the carpentry…”

Monica laughed at her sister’s enthusiasm. “I know. I know.”

“I have so many ideas I want to give JD about this place. I think it’s a great idea that you two will spend most of your time here.”

JD was ready to try something new and wanted to help the local businesses prosper. For the first time in her life she had a place that was hers. Monica looked at Donnie making Lola laugh and Treena sipping drinks with another guest. She no longer felt like an outsider. She wasn’t strange or different. She was home.

“What are you thinking, Mrs. Rozan?” JD asked, coming up behind her.

“How wonderful all of this is.”

“It will get even better.”

He bent down to kiss her, but someone cleared his throat. They both turned and saw Treena’s husband, William.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, embarrassed. “But could I have a word?” he asked JD.

Monica slipped away and JD looked at him
and waited. He’d been surprised that William had even come.

William cleared his throat. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about what I’d said last summer.”

“Forget it. I understand. I didn’t write like I said I would.”

“It wasn’t that. I was jealous.” He glanced at Monica, who was now talking to three of the waitstaff. “You’ve always been a lucky SOB.”

“I know it.”

William laughed. “Yeah, that’s what pissed me off. You were always so sure of yourself. Confident that things would go your way, and they always did.”

“No,” he said, remembering the death of his father. “Not always.”

William remembered too and sobered. “He would have been proud of you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I guess that’s it then.”

“How’s business?”

“It’s still bad.”

“Can I offer you some advice, or are you going to bite my head off again?”

“This time I’ll keep my mouth shut. I’m open to any advice you can give me.”

JD patted him on the back. “I’ll get in touch with you.”

“Thanks,” William said then went to rejoin his wife.

The sound of a helicopter filled the evening sky and everyone looked up and watched it land in the back field. JD went to gather his new bride.

“Looks like our ride’s here,” he said, taking her hand. Donnie and Lola handed them their luggage.

“Where are you taking me?” Monica asked as JD opened the door.

“First, to an exclusive hotel.”

“And then?” Monica asked as he climbed in behind her and locked his seat belt.

“I have a friend who couldn’t attend, but he owns a private island in the Mediterranean. Darling, I’m taking you to paradise.”

Monica wrapped her arms around him, joy shining in her eyes. “I feel like I’m already there.”

They returned from paradise with a beautiful souvenir.

“A baby? I get to be an aunt?” Nikki squealed on the phone.

“Yes,” Monica laughed, pleased with her sister’s delight.

“You have to let me decorate the nursery. Please.”

“Okay,” Monica said then nearly regretted the idea when Nikki came down to visit and share her ideas.

“Don’t you think you’re overdoing it a bit?” Monica asked, looking at some of her sister’s sketches.

Nikki surveyed the guest room she’d selected to be the nursery and waved her sister away. “I never go overboard.”

“But—”

Nikki gently pushed Monica out of the room. “Just trust me. You’re going to love it.” She closed the door.

Monica shrugged her shoulders, resigned. Her sister had never disappointed her before, and she didn’t expect that to change. She went into her studio and worked for the next couple of hours on one piece but stopped and
rubbed her lower back. It was getting more and more difficult to do some of her more intricate pieces with her stomach in the way. Monica washed her hands in the sink then halted and looked at herself in the full-length mirror.

At first she wasn’t sure who she saw. She definitely didn’t see sexy Venus with her killer figure and provocative beauty, but she also didn’t see dumpy Monica Dulane in her dull, loose clothes, hiding behind tinted glasses. What she saw was a woman beaming with good health and happily married (although she’d had to take off her wedding ring). She looked forward to wearing the ring JD had had designed for her again after the baby was born.

Monica slid her hand over the curve of her belly.
The baby.
That changed it. She’d no longer be in men’s fantasies. That status had been a source of strength and power for her at one time, and she had to let it go. She released a sigh of acceptance. She’d found she had strength in other ways, and she wouldn’t give up the life she and JD had created. But she couldn’t deny that her image had become a part of her and it was strange to see it disappear.

“Venus has left the building,” Monica said to her reflection as she cast a critical eye over her expanding figure.

“What?” JD asked, coming into the room.

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I was just saying that Venus is gone.”

JD came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands on the curve of her
stomach. “I don’t need a goddess. I like my women real.”

Monica raised an eyebrow. “And just how many women do you have?”

“One’s enough for me.”

“Hmm.” She leaned back against him, covering his hand with her own. “You better enjoy this moment, because you soon won’t be able to hold me like this for a while.”

JD kissed her on the neck and whispered, “I’ll always find a way to hold you.”

Monica laughed and turned to him. “You’re going to have to be real creative, because I’m only six months and I’ve already gained—”

JD stopped her with another kiss, this time on the mouth, and his persuasive lips swept away all her worries. When he finally drew away he said, “You just get more beautiful every time I look at you. I told you before—” he pointed to the ground “—in this room that I thought you were wonderful.” He lifted her chin with his forefinger and gazed into her eyes with love. “And that will never change.”

The newest arrival to the Rozan family made her appearance in the spring. She had a head full of ink-black hair and her father’s brown eyes. Crystalline wanted to call her Sapphire, Nikki thought that Nina had a nice ring and Donnie felt that Dawn would be perfect. But JD and Monica settled on Starla. She was born on a day that the azalea bushes came into full bloom, the breeze lifting their fragrance into the air, and she delighted all who saw her. She made her grandmother cry, her uncle
laugh and her aunt sigh. Her parents just gazed at her with amazement.

She was a happy baby who loved to be rocked to sleep by her mother while her father played a soft lullaby on his guitar with the family dog curled up on the handmade knotted rug by his feet.

Monica looked at her husband, and his steady gaze showed her the pleasure of joy, the harmony of peace and the unwavering beauty of love.