Tudor Redemption (Tudor Dynasty Book 4) (14 page)

“Oh
no. If I do that, we’ll never eat tonight. Save your strength.”

I
swung my legs over the side of the bed and grabbed my jeans. I pulled them on
and followed her to the kitchen. The first thing she did was point me to a
stool on the other side of a breakfast bar. I stuck out my lip, taking the beer
from her hand.

“So,
now what, Bethie?”

“What
do you mean?” I watched as she took a pan out of the refrigerator and placed it
into the oven with little effort. All while dressed in a t-shirt and nothing
more. “What do you want?”

“You.”

“It
appears that you accomplished that.”

“Beth,
we’re not kids any more. My love life has sucked. You’re the first person who
made me feel special all those years ago. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“You’re
not going to. However, we have to figure out how we’re going to pull off a relationship.
I, for one, don’t want to share our private life with the world. When we’re
together, I want it to be only you and me. How are we going to accomplish that?
Your career and business are fixing to skyrocket. How do we even co-exist in
all that, Dame?”

“The
same way you’ve been doing with Ethan. When we go home, we shut off that part
of the world.”

“That’s
beginning to be a problem. You see what happened when you kissed me out on the
deck. We were all over the internet. I don’t want that. I don’t want what we
share to be invaded by anyone.”

“Part
of the reason I bought that place out on the island. It was somewhere private I
could go when I was off the road. Then, after my stroke, Julia got sideways
about things. Put up a cyclone fence around the property to keep trespassers at
bay. It’s now how Amadeus keeps his sanity.”

“Unfortunately,
I can’t build a fence like that here. So, what do we do, Dame?”

“Right
now, in public, act like we have been. Old friends and business associates.
What happens after hours is no one’s business.”

“Then
there’s the matter of telling our families. They have a right to know. Even
though Ethan might suspect, I would rather tell him in person than have him
read about it or see a photo somewhere.”

“Agreed.
The girls suspect as well, and I would rather sit them down. After that, there
will be the huge Tudor induction.”

“So
until we can talk with our children and families, we keep it to ourselves?”

“I
suppose. I don’t want to lose you again, Beth. You have no idea what that would
do to me.”

“I’m
not going anywhere, Dame. We’ll figure this out together.”

“I
know we will. We’re not those two love sick kids we were all those years ago.”

“Perhaps.”

“What
do you mean by that?” She placed her hands on her hips in a very provocative manner.
She wore a saucy smile as she faced me. Clad only in that t-shirt.

“That
we’re not kids anymore. Love sick, yes, but not kids.”

Feeling
my phone vibrating in my pocket, I pulled it out and looked at the number.
Courtney. I checked my messages. Both of them had tried texting me.

“What
is it?” Beth asked, walking closer and putting her hand on my forearm.

“The
girls. I seem to have gotten my point across.”

“Are
you going to answer them?”

I
leaned over and kissed her. “No. I’m going to let them stew for a while. Then, I
might send a text, that’s it. This is our time. The outside world can wait.
Kids included.”

****

Reluctantly,
I left Beth the next morning. I hadn’t meant to stay the night. What can I say?
We had a lot of catching up to do. Though I was ready to jump in feet first, I
sensed some hesitation on her part.
 
She
wanted to play on the side of caution and take things a little slower. Though I
agreed with how we should proceed for now, I knew I was going to have to hold
my tongue and be patient with her.

I
knew what it was too. Ethan. It had always been just the two of them with the
exception of the time she’d been married. Now here I was, wanting to step into
her neat, orderly world.

I
reminded her of how it’d been just the girls and me for a number of years now.
I’m well aware they are adults and wanting to spread their wings. It was past
time for their dad to spread his.

When
she responded with “
it wasn’t the same
thing
,” I bit my tongue. I had to fight wanting to bring up things from the
past. I managed. None of it was part of the here and now, or the future. The
past was just that. The past.

When
she left it open as to when we’d get together again, I had to keep from
panicking. Perhaps a couple of days apart was what she needed. It certainly was
not what I wanted.

Arriving
at the house, I was grateful I had the place to myself. I sat down on the sofa
and texted the girls that I was home. Then I sent one to Beth.

Arrived safe.
House deserted.

I
waited to see if she’d respond. It didn’t take her long.

Enjoy your time
alone.

I won’t. I want
you here with me. I miss you already.

I
was about to close out when she came back.

I’m not going
anywhere. I miss you too. Let’s talk this evening.

I
wasn’t sure I should respond. Beth must have sensed my hesitation.

I loved our time
together yesterday and last night. I want more.

She
put some sort of cute face after it, making me smile. I lay back against the
sofa. My thought train never got started because my phone rang. Amadeus.

“Where
have you been?” he asked, his voice teasing.

“Great.
Don’t tell me. The girls called.”

“Yep.
They were sort of panicked. You left a note not mentioning where you were
going. Or when you were returning. That’s not like you.”

“Well,
after their little escapade while I was recording, the mess I came home to, I
decided I needed a break.”

“That
break didn’t happen to include Beth, did it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s
what I figured, but I didn’t confirm it with the girls. I think they may have
put it all together on their own.”

“That’s
great. I can’t even get a relationship going without everyone sticking their
nose into my business.”

“What’s
eating at you? No one’s sticking their nose anywhere. Your daughters were
concerned when you wouldn’t call or text them back yesterday. They made the
assumption you may have gone to see Beth, not me.”

“All
I wanted was to see if there might be something there between us. There is, or
so I thought. But now, this morning, she’s putting some distance between us.
All of a sudden, reality steps in, and now she’s got doubts. How can we have a
relationship when my career is taking off again for the first time in years?
She’s got to speak with Ethan. I have to speak with the girls. Every excuse to
put up a wall again.”

“Did
you ever think perhaps she’s just scared?”

“Of
what?”

“Losing
you again.”

“That’s
fucked up, and I’ll tell you why. She was the one who left me. No goodbye, no
letter, nothing. Left me not knowing she was pregnant with my child. So, that’s
bullshit. If anyone’s scared, it should be me.”

“Dame,
calm down. Breathe. Let her have some time to digest whatever’s taken place
between the two of you. I have no doubt this is all going to work itself out.
At least according to Zara. She’s seen the two of you together, and she’s
convinced you two are meant to be. So, chill out.”

“Yeah,
you’re right.”

“I
know I am. Beth is nothing like Alana. She’s mature and knows what she wants.
She’s been on her own, and I can imagine having one of us trying to consume her
is nerve wracking. Give her a little time to absorb it all.”

“You’re
right. I was an ass. I just know this is right. That she’s the one.”

“And
so it shall be, Dame.”

“Think
you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”

“When
it comes to matters of the heart, yes.”

I
chuckled. “Brat. That’s what you are.”

“I
made you laugh.”

“Yeah,
well, I’ll try to take your advice. Chill out. Let her wrap her head around
everything.”

“Don’t
wait too long to tell the girls.”

“I
won’t mother.” I remembered I was to set up the cover shoot with Zara. “Your
wife wouldn’t happen to be around, would she?”

“No,
she had some stuff to do in town after she dropped the kids off. I expect her
back in an hour or so.”

“If
your tiny brain remembers, ask her to call me. We’re supposed to schedule that
photo shoot for my cover.”

“I’ll
be sure to tell her.”

We
hung up.

The
rest of the day was spent in a blur. Probably a good thing to keep my mind off
Beth. After spending a good amount of time with Peter’s people, a release date
was chosen. It was a huge weight off my shoulders, not having to find a
distributor for Consortium Entertainment’s music. I was able to use Peter’s
network to have the CD put together and out in the consumer’s hands. Six weeks
until it went live. Six weeks to market and promote this baby like crazy.

Once
Zara called, we set up the shoot for two days later, when the kids would be in
pre-school. Perfect. Zara had a look she was after. That would make everything
run smoother. She told me what to bring in regards to clothes. I was looking
forward to this one. Zara always made the process simple. The results spoke for
themselves.

As
I sat at the desk, an idea came to me. I’d see if Beth would like to go with me
to watch the shoot. That way we could spend some time together, and she could
meet Amadeus, getting that out of the way.

I
decided to text her. Told her when and where. I didn’t have to wait long. She
responded in the positive, telling me we’d discuss the particulars this
evening. Made me smile.

Caught
up on everything that needed my immediate attention, I decided to take a break.
I was shocked to see it was going on four in the afternoon. Evidently, I’d been
far busier than I thought. There were so many details needing my consideration.
The next six weeks was going to be a roller coaster ride for sure.

The
next thing I knew, Court and Britt were standing in front of me. I kept my eyes
closed, daring myself to hear their banter without laughing.

“He
must have been up all night. He never naps,” Britt said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah,
well, he’s getting old. You know what they say—after you hit forty, things are
never the same. It’s all downhill,” Courtney chimed in.

“I
wonder if Beth had to take a nap this afternoon,” Britt countered.

“Women
have more stamina than men. She’ll keep going until her head hits the pillow
tonight. Not like this old fart who needs his beauty sleep.”

I
heard them both giggling, and from the sounds of it, they were still
nearby.
 

Stretching
my arms above my head, I pretended to wake, acting as though I had no idea they
were in the room. Then, catching them out of the corner of my eye, I pounced.

“I
must have the stamina of Zeus if I stayed up all night. With Beth,” I drawled.
For a second, I wished I could have the look on their faces photographed for
all time. Shock value. Priceless. Dad, one. Know-it-all daughters, zero.

“TMI,
Dad,” Britt said, shaking her head and walking away.

“No.
I want to hear more,” Court interjected. “You and Beth spend the night getting
reacquainted?”

“If
you two are quite done being silly, I’ll share. If not, my lips are sealed.”

“Okay,
sitting down. Do tell,” Court said.

At
first, they simply listened as I tried to explain. Beth, me, everything. Well,
almost everything. I left out the sex. They already had a good idea about that.

“I
don’t know why you and Beth don’t just relax and go for it. We’ve all been
expecting it. Ethan too. The three of us have discussed it, and he’ll tell Beth
the same thing,” Courtney said after I finished my rambling.

“You’re
kidding? You discussed this with Ethan?”

“Of
course we did. He thinks it’s cute how the two of you are tip-toeing about it,
not wanting anyone to know you’re still attracted to each other after all these
years.” Britt snickered.

“Great.
Someone needs to let Beth know all this because she’s got her brain on overload
worrying about how everyone’s going to react.”

“Get
her on the phone, Daddy. Britt and I will fill her in.”

“No,
I really don’t think that’s necessary.”

Before
I knew it, Courtney had my phone and was locked in her bedroom with her sister.
I could hear them talking, but was unable to make out the words. I cringed,
thinking how Beth might not take this as well as my two daughters might think.