Authors: Jessa Hawke
Chapter 18
I feel quite excited today. My parents arrived yesterday, for the wedding, and have been given a grand room within the house, the Duke is most generous. I am surprised that the wedding is still going ahead, the Duke was not happy at Guy’s indiscretion, but it seems that Guy has wriggled out of the gossip, and into Lady Harriet’s favor. Good luck to the pair of them, they deserve each other.
My excitement is not for the wedding, but that Harry will be meeting my parents for the first time. I made the decision, in our early days together, to tell Harry about my stupidity with Lord Guy. Whilst a little hurt, he was not taken aback at all. He has known Lord Guy for many years and understands his character, fully. It is suspected that a maid who worked within the inn is having his child. I wonder why the Duke has not kicked his behind, and is allowing him to marry his granddaughter, but I understand it to be a good match for the family. These things seem all important to the upper classes.
I spend most of the morning showing mama around the grand mansion, and in the afternoon I take a walk on the grounds with both of my parents. The house is in such chaos that we are glad to be away. I take little Laurence with me as the girls are delighting in helping out with all the fancy arrangements.
The church ceremony goes without incident and the younger girls look so very pretty in their bridesmaid dresses. Lady Harriet looks beautiful and I feel in my heart that I want to wish her well, but somehow I do not see how that marriage can be a happy one.
When I told Harry about my imprudence with Lord Guy, I gave him the option to step out of our growing relationship. To my relief he has not mentioned it since. I think he respects that I admitted what I had done, and hopefully he forgives me.
The weather holds out for the huge garden party, so we all have a wonderful day. Boats have been put out on the lake and huge tents have been erected with food and drink. There is even an orchestra playing music outside, it is all a very grand affair.
The Duke invited us to dine with the family, when my parents arrived yesterday, so they met everyone, making them feel at ease today. I see my father in deep conversation with the Duke, from across the gardens. As I go in search of my mother, I find her sat at a table with Harry and his father. It all makes me feel so happy.
“Shall we go on one of the boats?” Harry asks me.
Of which I agree and meander down towards the lake, leaving my mother and his father chatting about fixing a broken locket.
“I only wanted to be alone with you,” he tells me. “We haven’t had a moment alone all day,” he complains.
“Am I to take it then, Harry Ashbourne, that you like my company?” I say, teasingly.
“Truth be told, I want to ask you something,” he says.
We arrive at the boathouse, and someone helps us to board a small rowing boat, of which we are to row ourselves. It is wonderful, and fun. Harry makes me feel so very, very happy.
He rows us to the middle of the lake. “Now then, I have you alone at last,” he says.
“Indeed you do sir, should I scream? Are your intentions honorable?” I ask.
“Rose, I want to give you this,” he says, handing me a burgundy colored, tiny box. “And, I want to ask you to be my fiancé. I know you might think it’s too soon, after Peter, and I’m willing to wait. I only ask that you assure me you will consider it, and one day we will be man and wife. If that’s what you want, of course,” he finally finishes with his stuttering.
“Oh, Harry, it’s beautiful. Have you made it yourself?” I say, looking at a dainty pink, diamond rose, set on a gold band.
“Yes, as soon as I saw the stone I thought of you,” he tells me.
“Oh Harry, you still want me after all you know about me?”
“I Love your Rose, whatever has come before doesn’t matter, only that we love each other now, you do love me don’t you?”
“Yes, yes, yes, I do love you so very much, my darling. While it is too soon for me to marry, if you can be patient with me, then one day we will be together as one.”
My answer seems to satisfy him and he pulls me into his arms and kisses me passionately on my lips. My life has changed, from the despair of only a few months ago, to complete happiness. It is all because of this wonderful man.
THE END
End Zone Desires
Chapter 1 The Winner
“And, the winner is, hang on while I draw the number,” my boss said as he rummaged around in a plastic bucket full of paper numbers, “four and one, it’s 41, yay!”
To be honest I wasn’t taking much notice as I only bought the ticket because the money goes to one of the girls to help pay her medical bill. I was too busy enjoying my Big Mac, I like to enjoy my food, taste it and think about it as I eat, so I tend not be very sociable when feasting.
“No one claiming it here?” I heard his voice again. “Must be one of the other shifts then. Tough luck everyone, this is one hell of a prize, a night at a Special Promotion for the New York Tigers, staying in a top class hotel. Even if you don’t like football, the winner is gonna have one hell of a time.”
Everyone was busily checking their tickets, but it seemed it belonged to no one here, so they all returned to their lunches and desks with miserable faces. I’ll check my ticket when I get back to my desk, it’s in the top drawer, I think.
I really like my job, when you’re a big lady, like me, then you appreciate a job sat on your ass. I work at a Call Centre, but it’s one of the nicer ones. I hear terrible stories about them, but I’ve been here years and I love it, okay, well, I like it. I don’t much care for the night shift but at least they rotate it so we don’t always get the worst hours.
Trouble is, once you put that computer back on, you’re at it until home time. Not only do I get to speak to a variety of members of the public, some nice and some not so nice, but the hours pass by quickly, as we never stop.
So, that’s my job, day in, day out, with two days off a week, which is “me” time, time to spoil myself and my cat, Trojan. All in all, I’m a contented woman, and happy with my life.
The ticket draw had completely slipped my mind, until an internal memo was doing the rounds saying the prize was still unclaimed. I’m pretty sure I checked my ticket on the day of the draw, but pulling open my desk drawer, I see the pink ticket sat there staring up at me with the number “41” clear as day. Although a couple of days at the football doesn't exactly appeal to me, there is also a big slap up meal and a couple of the football jocks to chaperone you around, now that is my kind of dream.
I shout over to my friend sat opposite. “Hey, Wendy, come and look at this, I won the football weekend.”
“Wow, girl,” Wendy is more excited than me, “you are so going, even if I have to kick your butt on the day, you gotta go, Ursa, there’s some fine looking young men on that team. Plus, you get dinner and a classy hotel room for the night, and they’ve got some fancy fireworks on the evening. You have got to go,” she says, wagging her finger at me.
Actually, I could do with a bit of break, I’ve been trying to lose some of my 250 pounds and it tends to depress me. My doctor even recommended that I have a lap-band fitted to help with the weight loss. But, I’m really not sure, I’m quite happy with the way I look. I have natural, thick, blond hair, which sets off my round face and people tell me I’m pretty. My cleavage is big and beautiful, but I guess my arms and legs have a little excess skin on them, and I barely have a waist, but my ass is nice and curvaceous. I might not be a supermodel size, but plenty of men pay me complements and I have no problem getting dates. Obviously, I’m not the sporty type, but a night in a 5-star hotel and dinner with a couple of football hunks, is not to be turned down. I just kinda wish it was something more exotic, like a cruise in the Med. Still a freebie is a freebie.
“Hell, yes, I’m gonna go, girl,” I confirm to Wendy, but I think to myself that I’ll have to do some studying on this team, I know nothing about American football, let alone the New York Tigers.
She sticks my winning lottery slip up in the air, “Ursa Cookson got the winning ticket, folks, our girl is going to go footballing,” she announces that I’m the winner.
“I’ll buy your ticket,” one of the younger lads shouts over to me.
“Nope,” I shout back, “this trip is mine to keep.”
Of course, work gave me paid leave as well, all part of the prize, so I wasn’t complaining. Everyone was happy for me, and of few of the boys, jealous, but so what. I won it fair and square.
I took a local flight to New York, but it was only about an hour long, I’m not too keen on flying, the seats are often too small for my frame, but this flight was first class and there was plenty of room. My neighbor is looking after Trojan, my cat, so everything is sorted.
The flight was smooth and easy with the hostesses totally attentive, in no time at all we’re landing at JFK Airport in New York. I was told to look for a placard with my name on, and I spot it as soon as I pass through the arrivals gate. It is being held by one of the dishiest guys I’ve ever set eyes upon, and stood next to him is another gorgeous hunk. Suddenly, cameras start flashing around us and I realize that they’re flashing at little old me, making me feel very special, I was glad I had dressed for the occasion.
The two guys come over to greet me, and judging by the way the photographers are flashing their cameras, I gather these two are professional football players.
They both approach me and introduce themselves.
“Welcome to New York, Ursa, I’m Valdeze Miller and this is Zac Wilkinson, and we’re assigned to be your escort while you’re here, so how about we do a quick photo session and then rush you off in the car?”
“Okay,” is all I could think to say, as I feel so overwhelmed, I never knew this team was so famous.
We did the photos of me and two huge, hunky guys. I have to say, they are both very dishy, and I’m beginning to feel like a super star with all the attention I’m receiving from the photographers, and my two chaperones.
We make our way through the airport with the photographers following us, snapping away. Then we arrived at the car, and what a car it is. A huge stretch-limousine in black, with tinted windows, it must be the size of over two cars.
Valdeze opens the door for me and I clamber inside. If the limo looked impressive outside , the inside is totally amazing. Full leather upholstery, more like a luxurious couch than a car. The seat stretches all the way around in a u shape. There’s a huge flat screen TV, with polished wood tables, and a cocktail cabinet. This car interior is almost bigger than my living room, at home.
We all settle down on the leather seats, and Valdeze hands me a glass of bubbly.
“It’s non-alcoholic,” he says, as he’s toasting to the photographers who are still trying to take our photos as we’re settling into the car. “I’m sorry about this, we have to do it for the publicity. The charity tickets bring in a lot interest, so we’re assigned a winner, in pairs. However, let me assure you Ursa, you have the best pair in the team. By the time you go home, your gonna love this team, that’s if you don’t already.”
“Oh, well, erm...” I stutter, slightly embarrassed, as I admit to my lack of knowledge about pro-football. “I don’t know anything, sorry, I just happen to be the one to win the ticket, sorry guys,” for some reason I wanted to be honest with them.
“That’s cool,” Zac says to me, “you’ll know plenty when we’re finished with you, I promise.”
These guys were genuinely lovely, they acted like gentlemen, giving no sign that this was all part of the job. They really seem to be enjoying themselves, and I certainly am, how could I not, in such charming company?
“Well, cheers, to being the chaperone to such a beautiful lady,” Valdeze says, in a deep, husky voice, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
“That is such a nice thing to say, thank you, Valdeze,” his words relax me, instantly.
I know that a large lady isn’t everyone’s kinda gal, but these guys don’t seem to care. They’re so warming towards me, that I’m excited to be spending a couple of days with such charming men.
“So, Ursa, we’re starting with football practice,” Zac informs me. “I’m a Defensive Back and Valdeze here is a Quarterback. You don’t need to know what we do, just sit back and have a good time in the crowd. Do you think you can manage that?”
“You’re right about that, I’m afraid, I don’t have a clue what your positions are. I can promise though, that I’m going to enjoy every moment of this trip, so bring it on,” I truly am excited at the prospect of watching these hunky guys running around grunting.
“Aww, she’s gonna miss us you know, Zac, my boy, I can tell, she’s gonna miss us, isn’t that right?”
“Of course I will, but it just makes it all the more exciting, once practice is over.”
Zac takes my hand in his, completely enveloping it in his big, dark skinned hand and brushes his lips over my skin. The sensation is so tingly that I shudder with delight. Then I start to wonder to myself just how far all this playful fun is going to go. Looking at the twinkle in his eyes, I’d say it might be a quite an adventure.
The car stops and we’re at the football ground. They take me to the stands and introduce me to other players and other ticket winners, there are five of us altogether. With a coke in my hand, I’m soon waving them to go and get ready for their practice. They dash off and I hear a cheer as the rest of the team start to spill out onto the pitch, wow, they look so big in all their gear, this is gonna be fun, fun, fun.