Wicked Knight (24 page)

Julie reached in her purse for her cell phone. She checked her messages. There were three. The first was from Armand, asking if he could take her out to dinner. The second was from her editor, giving his praises on her latest book. And the third, was from odious Marla, threatening to drop a ball of fire on top of her house so she could burn alive.
Hell on earth
, she added.

If she were still bound by the will's stipulation, she'd fret and worry about Marla's message. Julie scoffed. Marla couldn't hurt her now, or touch her mother's money. Thanks to her father. Well, if Paul hadn't come forward, Tristan would have married her and...he would have been miserable.

The ferry tooted its horn, signaling they were only a few minutes from the dock. Julie picked up her purse, then headed below deck to where her car was parked.

As soon as she left the ferry terminal, she speed-dialed, first Gawain, then Percival—but no answer. She was about to call Bors when she noticed a police car on her tail. Afraid she might get pulled over, she tossed her cell on the passenger's seat. Maybe if she went to the Knights’ house, she'd find someone there, or a note about where they took Kirsten.

The Knights’ house, located on the bayside, loomed before her. The lovely eight-bedroom, farmhouse style, waterfront home made her heart ache. She hoped her friend was okay. Otherwise, this house would lose one of its foundations. If Katherine was the flower in this family, Kirsten was the bright light. And without her—this house, this family—would never be the same again. She knew that because after her mother died, the world she lived in changed its colors.

Julie left her bag in the car and practically ran on the cobbled path in a hurry to get to the house. She rang the bell, but no one came to the door. Testing the knob, she was glad it turned.

Without a moment of hesitation, she walked inside. Wood and beamed ceilings, hardwood floors gave it a warm, homey, and comfortable feeling. The thirty-foot-long, glass sunroom offered a dramatic view of Mt. Baker and the nearby islands. Yet, something was missing.
Laughter
.

Oh no!
The Knights were not home. She headed toward the kitchen. There was always a message posted on the refrigerator door. It was the Knights’ message board. Maybe someone had left a message about Kirsten.

She had just walked in the kitchen when the door that led to the backyard opened and in came Cinnamon.

Cinnamon?
“Hey, what are you doing here? You were supposed to go to Scrub A Pup with Teta.”

Cinnamon barked, then ran back outside. “What the heck.” Julie followed.

The moment she stepped out, loud yells of, “Surprise!” came from all directions, startling her. Arthur and Katherine came out from behind the Cedar tree. Bors from behind the trimmed Rhododendrons, while Gawain and Percival appeared on each side of her. And her friend, Kirsten, who she thought was in the hospital and near death, came out from behind the hedge laughing while Cinnamon tried to hump her leg. Teta tried to pull Cinnamon off Kirsten's leg, but failed.

Julie took it all in. Everyone looked happy and...what the heck was the surprise for? “Kirsten, I thought you were...what happened?” she asked, not understanding what was occurring and why they were all looking at her as if she was a bearer of a good tiding.

“
You
happened.” Tristan came out of his hiding. Unlike his family, he wasn't smiling. He looked rugged, unshaved. One look at him and one would think he hadn't slept in days.

“What do you mean,
I happened
?” A tumble of confused thoughts and feelings assailed her.

Tristan approached her slowly.
Chriminy!
How she missed seeing his magnificent body and the face she dreamed of touching again. He stood close to her, so close she could smell his faint cologne. She was familiar with that scent now. It was on the pillowcase she hugged every night.

“Hello.”

“Hello to you, too, Doctor Knight. What is this all about?”

“A surprise for you.”

“That's what they all yelled when I walked out here, but I don't understand what the surprise is about.”

“I know you believe that I lost my heart to Carly. That's not true.
Carly
broke my heart, but didn't take it away when she left. My heart is still here beating...for you.”

“What?”

“I love you, Julie. I asked my family to be here to back me up in case you refused to believe me.”

“He's been in love with you since the first day, when you dumped ketchup on his shirt,” said Bors, grinning from ear to ear.

Everyone laughed. Julie wanted to laugh, too, but she was too nervous to do so. For two nights, she had done nothing but wish that Tristan loved her, and of course, for Kirsten's safety. It was only last night that she began to stop wishing and focused her mind on writing. Now, here he was, holding her hand so tight. Unable to believe what she had just heard, Julie blinked her eyes like a fan, fast.

Tristan kissed her nose. “Hello, anybody home?”

He
loved
her. Tristan said he loved her. She wanted to dance, scream, and puke.
Omigod!
Julie covered her mouth and breathed through her fingers.

“Are you okay? You look pale.”

She shook her head no, but continued to breathe fast. She was hyperventilating. After a couple more deep breaths, she felt better, albeit a little woozy.

“Like my romantic way of declaring myself so much you feel like throwing up?”

“No, it was romantic. The most romantic declaration of love I have ever received.” She laughed at his scowl. “Because I hid inside my home doesn't mean I didn't get proposals from other men. You surprised me, that's all.” She cupped his face with both hands and looked at him tenderly. “If you're saying you love me because you think it's the right thing to say after what happened between us, for taking my virginity—”

“What?”

“Did she say she was a
virgin
?”

“That's how Tristan knew about her mole. My guess.”

“Birthmark, you dufus.”

“I'll be damned.”

“Lucky bastard.”

Julie bit her lower lip while listening to the comments from the brothers flying all around them. She spoke too loud. When everyone quieted, she continued. “Don't worry about what happened. I'm fine.”

“Oh, Julie. I love
you
,
love
you, and
love you
. Only it took me time to realize it.”

“Because you're a doctor. Meticulous. Slow.”

It was Gawain. He never failed to tease Tristan about his given profession.

“That night, when we—ehem, you said you love me. Once. But do you mean it or you just said it because—”

“Of course I love you. How could I not? You're my knight who came to my house to rescue me, a knight who never got mad at my pranks but only laughed at them. I thought of how lucky Kirsten is to have someone like you. I wished to have you, too, to love me not as a friend, but as a woman you'd take in your arms. The way you did in the glass hut and in my home.”

“I didn't get mad at you for your pranks because I was in love with you, Julie. I didn't realize it then, but now I know. Whenever a weekend was coming up, I would always call Kirsten to ask if you were staying here or not. She would ask me why, and I would tell her I'd make sure the phones were unplugged so no one could call while you were here. But the truth was, I was always looking forward to seeing what you would come up to. I particularly liked the time when you told Erica that I was in the hospital because I dumped boiling water down my front and damaged my balls. And the time you told Cindy that I wouldn't be able to see her because I lost my toupee.”

“Kirsten thought that one out.” Julie heard Kirsten laugh.

“I wanted to see you really badly. I would make up excuses to call Kirsten just so I could ask her about you. I think Kirsten guessed what I truly feel about you, too.”

“Got that right, Tristan,” Kirsten said. “That's why I sent you to Julie's house.”

Tristan laughed and hugged her tight. “I love you, Julie. I love everything about you.”

“And I you.”

“Hey, Doctor Knight! The food's getting cold. Get on with the plan now, would you? I ain't got all day. Bingo Night at the Senior Center tonight and I have an appointment with my gunsmith.”

Tristan turned his head to nod at Teta. “Thanks for the reminder, Teta.”

Before Julie could ask what
the plan
was, Tristan went down on one knee.
Oh God!
Her heart stop beating altogether, at least at that moment it felt like it. She daydreamed about this, about Tristan proposing to her.
Lord, it was finally happening
. The knight she loved with all her heart went down on his knees.

“Uhm, bro. Do you need the box? I still have it in my pocket,” asked Percival.

Tristan nodded and held out his hand, palm up. Percival reached in his pocket and took out a blood-red box. “Sorry for the interruption, Julie.”

“No problem, Percival.” Really, what else could he say?

Percival handed Tristan the small velvet box, gave his brother a pat on the shoulder, then took a step back.

“He went to
Jared?
”

“Teta! Don't spoil the moment, please.” Kirsten gave the old woman a reproachful look, then turned to smile at her.

Tristan took her hand. “Julie Parrish, as my family bears witness, I pledge my heart, trust, loyalty, life, and love to you. So long as I live, I will cherish, provide, and fill your house with children, the way you dreamed it to be. Julie, will you marry me?” He opened the box and showed her the ring.

“Oh my God.” It was a Tiffany Novo. The engagement ring she and Kirsten admired in the catalogue. She told Kirsten it was the kind she'd like to have for an engagement ring. Kirsten must have remembered and told him. Julie looked up to see Kirsten. Her friend's smile brightened when their eyes met. Kirsten gave her a thumbs up, then blew her a kiss. “Julie, before you answer, I want you to know one thing.”

Julie directed her eyes at Tristan. “Yes?”

“If you marry me, you'll be married to my family as well. They'll tease you, Kirsten will call you sister, Mom already told me she'll cook healthy dinners just for you, and Dad promised never to let anyone bully you. And my brothers—they will never ever leave you alone.”

She couldn't help it, she laughed aloud. “In that case, my answer is yes.”

Noise like thunder erupted. The Knight men were high fiving while Kirsten and Katherine stood side by side with tears in their eyes. She couldn't believe it. She found a family she knew would love her unconditionally.

Grinning, Tristan placed the ring on her ring finger. As soon as he was on his feet again, he pulled her against him for a tight hug before giving her a kiss that made her forget they had an audience. Julie laughed and cried while Tristan spun her around, also laughing.

Love is All Around Us
by the Troggs, her favorite, floated in the air. She heard corks popping and saw bright lights flashing through her peripheral vision while Tristan kissed her with sincerity and devotion.

When her blood flowed back to its normal rate, she turned and thanked everyone. The three brothers and Arthur made a sweeping bow that made her laugh.

“Oh, my God! Julie, finally, you're my sister. I knew this would happen.”

Someone grabbed her from behind then lifted her up. “You're stuck with us now, Julie.”

“Put her down, Bors. You're gonna break her ribs. Hey, new sister. Do you think we could have our Oreo eating contest today?”

“Jesus, Bors. Leave the lady alone. She just got engaged. Hey, Julie, I had a talk with the son of a bitch who created the nude picture. He said he's sorry. If you want to file charges against him, let us know.”

“Thanks, Percival.”

“Okay, boys. Move the tables. Time to start celebrating.” Katherine walked toward Julie and enveloped her in her arms. “You've been a part of this family for not even a year and yet you captured our hearts. Tristan only made it official. Welcome to our family.”

Julie felt like crying all over again. “Thank you. I promise I won't break your son's heart.”

“Oh, you two will have squabbles, just like any other normal relationship. My son loves you so much. He'd give you the moon if he could. And you, I know you wouldn't hurt my son deliberately. You are too good of a person to do that. All I ask from you is to give me my first grandchild. I miss having little feet running around here.”

“Darling, what are you telling our Julie?” Arthur winked at her, then wrapped his arm around Katherine.

“I'm just telling her how much we missed having little kids around.”

“Ah, yes. Well, let the kids talk about when they're going to give us grandchildren. Soon would be nice, but it's their decision, darling. Now, why don't you two find a spot so we can all eat?”

Tristan caught her on her way to sit with Kirsten. With her fingers tangled with his, he took her behind the cedar tree, away from the bustling crowd. Once they were hidden, Tristan captured her mouth for another searing kiss. Lordy, she'd never get tired of this. Kissing Tristan felt like standing in front of her floor to ceiling glass window while the sun shone through it, warming her from head to toes.

Right at that moment, everything else dissipated, leaving just the two of them on the wide-open backyard. Julie could only hear him, see him, feel him. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I love you, Julie.”

“I love you, too. Why didn't you tell me when you were with me? You made me believe you didn't—that's why you left in a hurry. I was miserable.”

“I'm sorry. It's just, I told myself that the next time I made love with you, it would be because you're my fiance and with the blessing of your father. You see, I know it'd be hard to keep my hands off of you, if I stayed. Because filling your belly with my seed, moving inside you, is constant in my head. You're a temptation that's impossible to ignore. Believe me, it took all the strength I had to walk toward the door and close it behind me. Love, I want to be the one to fill your house with screaming little Julie lookalikes, I want to be the one to bring you our first tabby cat. I want to be the one you see when you wake up in the morning and before you close her eyes at night. I wanted to be
the
one. I love you, Julie Strawberry.”