“Just remember that when we get sued for interfering in privacy issues,” Maxie added in amusement.
“No chance of that,” Susie replied. “I’ve got it all covered.”
“Oh my God.” Cherry squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed the bridge of her nose, apprehension setting in. “What’d you do?”
“Nothing! Geez, have faith. It was a job done by my cousin, who is very discreet, and whom I happen to have a huge hold over.”
This wasn’t getting any better. Cherry peeked at her over her fingers. “You blackmailed your cousin?”
“You call it blackmail, I call it compromise.” Susie’s smile was all teeth. “I know things he doesn’t want a certain someone in his life to know.”
“I’ve just seen a whole new side to you,” Maxie observed.
“Am I still one of your bridesmaids?”
“Hell, yes. Could you get your cousin to investigate my future in-laws?”
Cherry groaned.
Susie laughed.
Watching her friends trade banter, Cherry knew she was lucky to have them. While she couldn’t condone what Susie had done, she had to admit that she did feel a little better knowing that Rick had dated larger women in his past. It made her feel a little safer, a little more certain of his attraction to her not being a passing phase.
But she still held some deep-seated fears. A lifetime of being judged on appearance wasn’t about to be fixed by a few photos.
A few hours later when she was relaxing at home, there came a knock at the door. Opening it, she found herself faced with a bouquet of red roses and a smiling florist.
“Delivery for Cherry Williams,” the florist announced.
“That’s me.” Cherry took the flowers. “Are you sure they’re for me?”
“Absolutely.” The florist winked at her. “Lucky woman.”
Cherry watched her drive away before she took the flowers inside. Laying them on the table, she searched for a card while wondering why her parents would send flowers when it wasn’t even her birthday.
Taking the little envelope attached to the flowers, she withdrew the petite card and read it. Incredulous, she re-read the card. Her heart started to flutter, and she actually placed a hand on her stomach.
The roses were from Rick. The card had his no-nonsense script. It read:
Roses are Red
Cherries are sweet
I know which I prefer
In-between my sheets.
She started to laugh. The roses were beautiful, the verse corny, and it was the most romantic thing to have ever happened to her.
Frizz looked up at her from the floor and meowed.
Cherry went to the cupboard and pulled down a vase. “The Annabelle’s of this world can take a short dive off a long cliff, Frizz. I’m not letting her spoil my time with Rick.”
Picking up the phone, she realized that she didn’t have his phone number. To call him at his surgery wasn’t something she’d even contemplate, and there was no way she’d call the hospital and get his private number. With a sigh, she put down the phone. She’d have to wait for him to contact her.
The rest of the day was spent alternating between doing the housework and admiring the roses, and thinking of Rick.
When the phone finally rang in the late afternoon, she answered it eagerly. “Hello?”
“Is that my luscious Cherry?” Rick’s warm tones seemed to swirl through the phone and down her nerves, tingling her in places she’d only felt since she’d been with him.
“It is. Thank you for the roses, they’re beautiful.” Smiling, she sat down in the armchair and twirled the line around her finger.
“I’m glad you like them.” Amusement was evident, even though she couldn’t see his face. “Did you appreciate my poetical effort?”
“Oh, very much.” She laughed. “Touched me deep down.”
“Keep that thought.” His tone turned husky. “It’s where I’ll be touching you.”
A flush went right through her, starting from her head and sweeping to her toes, and tickling every delicious nerve in-between. “Umm…”
His laugh was husky. “Speechless, love?”
“Apparently.” She grinned goofily at Sugar, who regarded her in boredom before closing her eyes again.
“But I can make you scream.”
“Not words.”
“My name.”
Cherry shifted in the armchair, mentally fanning herself, then remembering that he couldn’t see her, she lifted her hand and fanned her face. “So sure of yourself.”
“I’ve heard you.” His tone dropped, growing deeper, huskier, a sensual lilt in it. “I’ve heard you scream my name when I’m deep inside you. I’ve felt your wet heat around me, the tight clasp of your secrets around my shaft. I’ve felt your body tremble in my arms. I’m very sure of you, love.”