From This Moment (14 page)

“I have a message from John saying they’re going to set up a conference call at one to deal with the client.
  It could take most of the afternoon though.”

“Morning, what will take most of the
afternoon?” Rona asks joining us in the kitchen.

As she walks over to me, I put my arm around her, “I have a conference call with work.
  Perhaps it would be a good idea if you still go into town with Jake, but this afternoon instead of this morning, although I will make sure Nick is still behind bars first, okay?”

“If it’s still alright with Jake, then that’s fine,”
 she says, while trying to slip her hand into the back of my jeans.

“It’s okay with me.
I’ll pick you up about one,” Jake says, leaving the kitchen.

“I’ll be ready.”

Moving in close to Rona, I take her face between my hands and smooth my thumbs along her cheek bones.  “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I was all right from the moment you climbed into bed with me.”
  She kisses me.

“What would you like for breakfast?”

“A bagel would be great, I’m not too hungry.”  Rona pours a cup of coffee.

“A
bagel coming up.”

~~ Rona ~~

Spending most of the morning lying on the sofa listening to music with Cade’s arms wrapped around me, is amazing.  Well, what more could I ask?  I decide to admit to him about packing up in Dublin.

“Cade, I need to tell you something.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“After the wedding was cancelled, I resigned from my job and gave my apartment up.
  Anything that wouldn’t fit into my suitcase I gave to charity.  So at least for now, I don’t have any intention of returning to Ireland unless it’s for a vacation.  I’m basically homeless.”

After a brief pause, “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day, you can stay here.”
  He looks so happy.

“Cade, you do know I can afford my own home?”
  Seeing his face close up, “I don’t mean I want to buy my own home, I’m just pointing out that I can.  I love you and never want to leave, I just don’t want you thinking I’m using you for free accommodation.”

He laughs at me now, “I love you too and if I have my way you’ll never leave here.”
 He kisses me.

“We really need to tell Anna and Beth, I don’
t like hiding from them.”

“I don’t either.
  Give it a couple of days and I’ll talk to them.”

“Okay... and WE will talk to them.”

~~ Rona ~~

Heading into town with Jake is fun, especially as I can’t stop grinning.  Jake keeps passing sly looks towards me, which has me turning away to the window to hide my grin.  He knows his dad and I have spent the night together, so I’m not sure what he wants me to say.

“What’s wrong? And don’t say
nothing!” I look towards him. 

Sig
hing, “It’s not you and my dad.  I’m really pleased for you both.”  He quickly glances at me, while he’s driving, “Elise is getting married on Saturday.”

“That’s quick.
 I didn’t realize it was so soon.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be, I don’t know why they’ve moved it forward a month.”
  Jake is obviously upset.

“Then you have to kidnap her, so she can’t attend.”
  He looks shocked. “You will have to take her to a cabin or somewhere and not let her out until you both admit your true feelings.  You need to talk first, just blurt everything out and I mean everything Jake.”  Pausing, “I read that in a book once.”

“Are you mad?”

Laughing, “Probably.”  Then more seriously, “Don’t let her go without a fight Jake, you’ll regret it if you do.”

The rest of the drive passes in silence.
  I really need to think of a way to help Jake. 

On approach to town, I ask,
“Would you mind if I do a bit of shopping first?  I wouldn’t mind some more clothes. I don’t have that many.”  Smiling at him, “I think I need something to knock your dad’s socks off.”

“Did I really need to know that?”

I laugh.  “I couldn’t resist.”

Jake drops me at a clothing store; I purchase, a couple of dresses, skirts, t-shirts, blouses, lingerie, two pairs of boots and two pairs of very high stilettos.

Struggling outside with my bags I bump into Elise.

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“Elise, hi.
  Are you okay?”  Turning to look at me, Elise looks upset.

I take hold of her arm. “What’s wrong?
  Come sit with me a minute.”

She seems reluctant to talk, “Why have you brought your wedding forward?”
  I’m really curious.

“It was Tom’s idea.
  He said he just wants me as his wife and doesn’t see why we should wait an extra month.”  She doesn’t sound at all convincing.

“Have you thought about what I said before?”
  I place my hand on her arm.

“All the time....
Tom is a good man and he wouldn’t leave me for six months, like Jake did.”

“Elise, you and Jake need your heads banging together and you don’t know what Jake did.”

“What do you mean?”  She asks.

“You need to talk to Jake before the wedding.
  Please Elise, promise me you will.”

“I’ll seriously think about it.”

After a minute, “Where are you planning to live when you’re married?”

“Tom owns a cabin out of town but he’s also put an offer in on a house here in town.”

“I don’t know why, but I thought he already had his own house?”

“He stays with his sister, Grace, when he’s in town; she’s really nice, but kind of shy.”

“Jake is building his own house.... I don’t know if you know that?  He’s been building it for about twelve months, I think he said.”  I have her attention now.  “It has a wraparound porch, and it will have a large open plan to the main rooms with four bedrooms.”

Looking back to Elise, she has tears running down her face.
  She sniffles into a tissue, “That’s the house he said he would build me.”

Moving closer to her I try to comfort her.
  “You know what you have to do.  Jake loves you, and I now know you love him, don’t you?”

Nodding her head, “Yes.”

Mopping her tears up, she looks at me, “I need to go, thanks for being honest with me.”  She glances back at me, “Its Cade who has your attention isn’t it?”

“I.... it’s
.... wow, yes.  I’m in love with him, he’s everything to me.”  Looking at Elise, “How did you know?”

“Sorry, but I’m afraid I overheard you talking on the phone to him at Anna’s.
  You were so involved with your conversation you didn’t see me walk through to the kitchen.”

“Please don’t say anything to anyone.
  We want to be the ones to tell Anna and Beth.”

“
I won’t, but I really need to go.”  As she moves away, she turns back, “Take care Rona.”

“Elise.
  Please don’t break Jake’s heart anymore than you already have.”

Hell, I hope she listens to me.
  She really doesn’t look like a bride to be.

“Was that E
lise?” Jake asks, surprising me. I’m in a world of my own.

“Yes.” He sits down next to me, “It was Tom who brought the wedding forward.”

He leans forward with his arms resting on his knees, “What did you say?”

I offer a wry smile, “I asked her to please not break your heart any more than she already has.
  The rest is up to you.”

He sighs, “I hear you, come on we better head back.
  Dad rang, it’s started snowing, and you left your phone at home.”

“L
et’s go then.  Could you help here please?” I ask Jake, as he starts to walk towards his truck.

Turning back, “Shit!
  Those are yours?  You leave anything in the store?”

Grinning at him, “Ha ha, very funny.”

Driving closer to home the snow starts to get heavier; it’s amazing to look at, especially as we start up the drive to the house.  Wow!   When the house comes into view it’s beautiful.  I’m so excited.  I love snow.

~~ Cade ~~

I’m just about to pour a cup of coffee when I hear Jake’s truck pull up outside.

Opening the front door, I’m surprised to find so much snow down already; the next thing I know Rona is out of the truck, laughing and running to me getting covered in snow.

God, how I love this woman.

Reaching me she throws herself into my arms and plants a very wet, hot kiss on my lips.
  “I missed you and thought about you the whole time I was buying lingerie.”  She gives me a wicked grin.

“Do I get a fashion show?” I ask, heading toward the truck with her to get her bags.

“Can I watch?” Jakes asks.  He starts to laugh when he sees me glaring at him.

Jake starts to climb back in to his truck, “Where are you going?
  This snow’s getting bad.”

“I just got a call from Mack, he needs help with something.
  I’m heading over there.” Then with a grin directed to the both of us, “Will probably stay for dinner as well.”

Returning to the house, the snow has really started to fall.
  I can’t believe how many bags of shopping Rona has.

“Did you leave anything for anyone else?” I laugh.

“Of course silly!” she takes her coat and boots off, leaving them on the stand by the door.

Then walking over to me she wraps herself around my waist.
  I bring my arms up around her shoulders, dropping my chin to the top of her head, “Are you doing okay love?”

“Mmm, I really enjoyed coming home to you.”

I squeeze her tighter, “I enjoyed being here when you came home, and most of all I love that you feel so comfortable here with me to call it home.  It will be as long as you want it to be.”