Love In Strange Places (8 page)

She closed her eyes as he continued to bite her collarbone. “This is crazy, but yes to both. I’m not getting any younger.”

He smiled. “You won’t regret it.”

“We’ll see. Let’s see who’ll survive. I always win.” Moving away, she giggled.

“Truce?”

She smiled, shaking her head. “Truce.” He went to pull her back, and she stepped out of his reach. “My niece and nephew are here, and I don’t think I can be quiet around you.”

He chuckled. “You can bite the pillow.”

“I bet you’d like that, but no.”

“You win this match. When should I expect you?” he asked, walking her to the door. When he got there, he smiled and with a small, formal bow, handed her a key to his house.

“Sometime next week.” She turned. “I hope you don’t regret this, because if we get pregnant, regardless of the outcome, we’ll be stuck together for life.”

“We’re already stuck together for life, remember? My brother and your sister are married and I know that’s for life
.” He touched her hand, then held it and brought it up to his lips and kissed it. “Goodnight, beautiful.”

“As Shannon would say, goodnight
papi
.” She turned and walked down to her car.

Damn, that’s my wife
.
I’m fucking married
. He smiled as he re-entered the house to check on his niece and nephew.
One day I’ll have one of my own, it’s not too late. Oh God, please grant me with a son or daughter. I promise to try to be the best that I can be as a father.

Sherry
got home and couldn’t believe what she’d just agreed to, but the smile on her face wouldn’t go away. She called Shannon and told her everything that had happened. Through the phone, she could hear Shannon telling Matt and both of them were beside themselves in happiness. She hung up with them and dialed her best friend Tiffany. They’d met in college. They were so alike, both outgoing and always saying what was on their mind. The only difference was that Tiffany was white, blonde, with blue eyes. For years, she’d been Sherry’s go-to person. Even though her sister Shannon was her heart, she couldn’t ask for a better, loving, loyal friend.

“How was Vegas
, girl?”

“Vegas was great! We had lots of fun, and we partied till six in the morning.” She thought about her last night there.

“Damn, girl, until six in the morning? I can’t believe Shannon would do that.”

She chuckled. “Believe it. She was right there when I got married.” There was silence on the line.

Tiffany screamed into the phone. “No way! You told me Dean wasn’t the one. I didn’t know he went with you.”

“I didn’t marry Dean.”

“Then who?”

“Andrew.”

Tiffany made choking sounds into the receiver.

“Tiff, are you okay?”

“Yes, I just thought I heard you say you married your dead-gorgeous brother-in-law.”

“I did.”

“What?” she yelled. “No way! When? How? Where?”

Sherry
laughed into the phone. “Girl, it happened so fast, first he gave me the best night of my life. I was sore in so many places and then I woke up, and we were married. For some reason, it feels so good.”

“I bet it does.”

She shared bits and pieces with her friend, but decided not to tell her about the legal documents, because Tiffany would go off on Andrew, thinking he was using her.

“I’m proud of you. You did good. I never saw the marriage thing coming, but I did see the two of you getting down and dirty. The sexual tension was so thick, even I couldn’t cut it.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“It was. Shannon and I told you to sleep with him and get it over with. You took our advice, but damn, it must have been that good, because you married him. Welcome to the club.”

“I really hope it works out. He drives me crazy, but I can talk to him about anything and he really listens.”

“You’re on the right track. It’s all about communication and understanding.”

“But we don’t really know each other.”

“Whatever,
Sherry. You’ve known Andrew longer than I’ve known Rick.” She chuckled. “You know him more than you think, and I think that deep down inside you’ve always had a thing for him.”

She ignored her friend. “Tell Rick I said hi.”

“Rick, Sherry says hi, and guess what? She went and got herself married and didn’t even invite us!”

Sherry
could hear him in the background. “Tell her I said I feel sorry for him.” He laughed.

“Whatever, Rick!”

“Hey, Sherry, Ricky is crying, but we have to get together really soon.”

“Give my godson a kiss goodnight.”

“I will. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

“I can’t believe out of all people,
Sherry tied you down.” Matt entered his brother’s house laughing. “But I have to say, Shannon kind of saw it coming.”

“She didn’t tie me down, I roped her in. Where’s your wife?” Andrew asked, closing the door.

“Home. She needed rest from all that partying.” He kept walking to the living room.

“Daddy!” Matthew yelled, running toward him. “
Te extrañe
.”

“
Hola, papito
.” Matt picked him up and squeezed him tight. “I missed you more. Where’s your sister?”

“Taking a nap,” Matthew said kissing his cheek.

He put him down. “She’s taking a nap? I didn’t know Makayla took naps.” He chuckled.

Andrew laughed too. “I didn’t know Tasmanian
devils took naps either, until her energy wore out.”

“Don’t be calling my angel a devil.”

Matthew went back to watching cartoons while he waited for his dad to finish talking.

“So you and
Sherry, is it the real thing?”

“I don’t know, but I think it has the potential. I mean, only she can handle me.” He went into the kitchen and Matt followed.

“You’re right about that. What are you going to do if your one-year plan doesn’t work?” Matt asked, pouring himself a glass of water.

“Move on, but maybe with something special.”

“Like what?” Matt asked, taking a drink.

“You can’t tell your wife.”

“I wont tell her. Hopefully, this secret will not affect my relationship, and she’ll know soon enough because your wife will tell her.”

“She does run her mouth at times. We’re going to try to have a baby.”

“Wow…finally my brother is really going to settle down, not only with a wife, but kids, too. I’m shocked, but really happy for you guys. I’m going give you some advice big brother.” He put the glass in the sink. “Don’t give up on her, even when she begs you to.”

“You’re not going to wash that out?” Andrew asked.

“Nope.” Matt strolled out of the kitchen. “Another thing, keep away from your father-in-law.”

“I was already warned, but he has to keep away from me.”

“How did Dad take it?” Matt asked, packing the kids’ bags.

“He said as long as I’m happy, then he’s happy. I miss having him around. He’s been the one constant in my life. Why did he move again?”

Matt laughed. “He found happiness with Maria. He always put us first growing up—now it’s time for him to be happy too. I’m happy he found love again,” Matt said, sitting down next to his son.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Running into his arms, Makayla screamed her little lungs out.

Her father picked her up and she kissed him non-stop, and rubbed her nose against his. “Nose, nose, Daddy.”

“Hi, princess.” He kissed her forehead. “Were you a good girl for Uncle Andrew?”

“Nope.” Her brother Matthew answered for her. “She colored
Tio’s
book.”

Matt and Andrew couldn’t help their laughter.

“Matthew, let’s go. Mom is waiting for us.”

“Mommy…” She giggled and bounced
in his arms.

Andrew helped him with the kids’ bags. “
Adios princesa y principe
.” He kissed his niece and hugged his nephew. “
Te quiero mucho
.”

Andrew was awakened by the scent of bacon and coffee. He slid out of bed and did his morning ritual in the bathroom, then he marched toward his kitchen. He stopped suddenly when he saw her.

Sherry
was in his kitchen cooking breakfast. “Good morning. I hope you’re hungry,” She said, placing orange juice on the table.

“
Sherry, you don’t have to do this, you know.” He stepped in front of her.

“I know I don’t, but I love having someone to cook for.” She smiled.

“Tell your mom I said thanks.”

“For?” She stared at him.

“For raising a wonderful woman who knows how to please her man.” He kissed her juicy lips. “And for giving you this.” He smacked her ass and sat down.

She
chuckled. “Really…I don’t think she’ll appreciate that compliment.” She sat down, too.

Andrew began eating. “These eggs are delicious.” He continued to devour his food.

She took a fork full of eggs, and then cleared her throat. Andrew looked up, and placed his fork down. “What’s wrong? Did you change your mind? That’s why you’re being so nice.”

She smiled. “No, fool, I haven’t changed my mind. It’s just that you and I are going to church today.”

He gave her a disbelieving stare. “I don’t do church.”

“If we’re treating this like a real marriage, then we’re going to church, and it’s the perfect way for my parents to find out. Think about it, they can’t really say much in the house of the Lord.” She took a sip of her orange juice, looking at him over the rim.

“If this is going to give you peace of mind, then I’ll go, but don’t run when the church roof caves in as I walk in,” he said, finishing his food.

“If the roof hasn’t caved in with me, it definitely wont with you.” They both laughed. “He loves and forgives us no matter what we do.”

Andrew got out of his Infiniti and opened the passenger door, helping
Sherry out. “Such a gentleman,” she said, taking a hold of his hand. Andrew wore one of his best business suits, trying to impress her family.

“Always.” He stared at her, giving her his naughty smile.
He fixed his pants, and she could see the beginning of an erection.

“Andrew…”
She blushed staring at his crotch.

“You shouldn’t have worn that sexy dress to church
, it hugs your body in all the right places.”

“Stop it we’re in the church parking lot
.” She smoothed her dress down with her hands. “Are you ready?” She took his hand in hers.

He squeezed her hand, then kissed it. “I’m as ready as I'll ever be.” They strolled into the church hand in hand.

It seemed like everybody in the congregation stopped what they were doing and watched them come in.

Seeing the surprise in their eyes, she met her parents’ glares.
When they got closer she noticed the sweat beading on her dad’s baldhead. Her mom’s mocha-skinned looked flushed watching them passed by, she fanned herself with an announcement paper, and her dad gave her a mean, dirty look. She could already see the disappointment.

Andrew squeezed her hand as he guided her to sit next to Matt and Shannon. They both had big smiles on their faces.

Shannon moved over, and when Sherry sat, she hugged and kissed her, and whispered in her ear. “I can’t believe you convinced him!”

She looked at her sister. “He wouldn’t say no to his wife.”

The pastor spoke about unanswered prayers. Andrew was touched by the sermon. He hadn’t been to church in over ten years. As a kid, his mom always took them every Sunday, until she disappeared out of their life. He remembered Matt and him begging God to bring back their mother but God never answered their prayers, or so he’d thought. Now, he saw things differently. God had answered, but he’d done in his time. Their mother had gone through a lot, she left them because she thought she was doing the right thing, saving them from seeing her die of cancer, but she’d ultimately survived. Tears came to his eyes as he remembered his mother. She was an exceptional woman who’d made a couple of wrong choices.

Sherry leaned over. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head and cleared his throat.

The pastor asked if anyone had a testimony to share, and as Sherry was about to stand, Andrew held her back and whispered in her ear. “This is not the place, nor the time, to do this.”