Surrender (8 page)

  Chapter Eleven

Four Months Later – Valentine’s Day

“The movers will be there at eight o’clock in the morning.”

Lauren confirmed the time to her mother.

“Thank you sweetheart, I don’t know what I would have done without you these past months.”

After the private funeral for her father, Lauren’s mother confessed she had most of her family trust fund invested outside of her husband’s money. Her mother may have portrayed the obedient corporate wife, but she’d definitely outsmarted her husband for years. The arranged marriage had remained loveless except in the public eye. To the outside world, the Vanderholms were the perfect corporate couple. Lauren respected her mother for the role she’d played her entire married life. To discover her mother’s wise decision to invest her family’s money separate from her father’s, only made her respect her more. Once her mother shared this information with her, she no longer worried. She knew her mother would be fine on her own.

“Mom, you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. I think it’s the other way around. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Lauren embraced her mom in a loving hug.

“I still believe you were wrong about that agent.”

Brett had respected Lauren’s wishes and stayed away. Her mother talked about him on their travels. After the funeral, Lauren suggested they visit her mother’s sister in England and travel Europe afterward. Her mother agreed with her daughter. Lauren thought it best to stay away during the arrest and trial of Nick Mendez. The news of her father’s involvement and suicide would settle and become old news. She told Lauren it was written all over her face that she loved him and that you can’t just close your heart. Lauren continued to tell her it wasn’t that simple.

“Please don’t mention his name again, Mom.”

Lauren mixed them a drink. For the past week since they arrived home from Europe, they hadn’t stopped. Her father’s business and estate had been secured throughout the trial. Everything had been lost. His business had been picked through with a fine-tooth comb by the FBI as they discovered his investments all tied in with the Mendez family. The FBI had allowed them back in the house to pack personal items and family heirlooms from her mother’s side of the family. The movers were scheduled for the next morning to move her mother’s belongings to the city. Her mother bought an exquisite flat on Park Avenue. Lauren decided she would sell her house and move to the city to be close to her mother. The time had come to leave the suburbs and the memories behind.

Lauren handed her mother a drink when the doorbell rang.

“I wonder who that could be.” Lauren looked at her mother.

No one had come by since they returned from Europe. They hadn’t kept in touch with anyone. Then again, their friends were mostly business acquaintances.

“Maybe it’s that nice-looking agent.” Her mother turned and winked.

The gesture surprised Lauren. She had never seen her mother imply anything improper.

“Mother” Lauren rolled her eyes.

“What? I’m not just your mother, Lauren. I’m also human.” She snickered at her own comment.

“I’m just a little surprised,” Lauren laughed.

She shook her head and opened the door, only to be surprised once more. Her mother had been right.

“Agent, what brings you here?”

He stood with a look of desperation in his eyes. Lauren’s eyes travelled to the single rose held in his hand and then the trail of roses behind him.

“You”

“What’s all this for?” She smiled.

Her heart began to beat faster. To see him only made her realize life without him had been lonely. Her stubbornness wouldn’t allow her to admit it. She ran away and tried to close off her heart with the excuse she didn’t want to leave her mother.

  He reached for the bag beside him and handed it to her.

“A peace offering, I believe I made you remove these while we were on the run.”

She looked in the bag to find the Chanel pantsuit and her heels. She laughed and looked down at her feet. She stood in the flip-flops.

He laughed. “I thought you didn’t do flip-flops.”

“I do now.”

They both laughed. She knew he’d remember what he said to her at that second-hand store.

“They are comfortable for the feet.”

Lauren smiled and then finally admitted the real reason.

“They remind me of you.”

She met his stare. Her heart melted. Her mother was right. She did love this man.

“May I come in Lauren?”

“Do you have something to tell me that I don’t want to hear?”

She remembered the first time she’d opened the door to him.

“No.” He laughed. “I hope I have something to tell you that you do want to hear.”

His answer intrigued her and she motioned for him to come in. Her mother met them by the door. Marion formally introduced herself to Brett and thanked him for protecting her daughter, then turned to Lauren.

“I will leave you kids to talk.”

“Mom, you don’t have to leave.”

“Yes, I do. I’d like to get back to the city before its dark. I’ll talk with you tomorrow. Remember what your mother told you.”

She kissed her daughter’s cheek and smiled at Brett.

****

“May I offer you a drink Agent Donovan?”

He followed her into the Cigar Room, “Only if you call me Brett.”

She turned and smiled. A smile that definitely told him it pleased her to see him.

“I like to see you smile, Lauren, although you are unbelievably sexy when you’re all fired up.”

He winked and smiled.

She mixed them a drink and met him by the fireplace. She stood before him, eye-to-eye.

“This feels like Deja-vu.”

Brett smiled. “I remember the first night we met. You were upset with me that night. You don’t seem upset now.”

“I’m not.”

She exhaled and walked to the sofa. He followed.

“Is there possibly a chance of forgiveness?” He wondered.

“Possibly” She moved a little closer to him. He felt the heat between them. He knew he could never live without her. He cleared his throat to maintain his composure. He had something to tell her.

“Good.”

He felt confident he could tell her why he had come.

“Lauren.”

He set their drinks down and held her hand.

“I love you. I have since that first night. I thought it was wrong. You were my assignment. You were John’s wife. You just buried him. I had to protect you. I had to bring down the Mendez family. There were so many obstacles in the way but the one thing that never got in the way was the way I felt about you.”

Brett slowly lowered to one knee.

“I’ve been lost without you. I lived for the chase, the danger. You were right. I was addicted to it. But without you in my life, I discovered the only addiction I have is you. Fate brought us together. It’s love that tells me we should be together.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. He opened it to reveal the most exquisite solitaire diamond ring she had ever seen. Her eyes traveled from the diamond to his eyes. He left her speechless.

“I know I lived to embrace danger. I only want to embrace you for the rest of my life. We are meant to be Lauren. I think we are incredible together. I surrender every part of me to you. Marry me?”

Lauren reached out to touch his face. She lowered herself to his level.

“I think so too. Yes, I will marry you.”

He smiled.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, I love you Brett.”

She leaned in to meet his kiss.

He placed the ring gently on her finger as his lips met hers in a warm and tender kiss.

She smiled.

“Just so you know, I’ve been told I can be a little fiery at times.”

“I know.” He laughed.

“And I have expensive tastes,” she added.

“I know that too, but you are a worthwhile lifetime investment.”

He smiled slightly before his lips crushed hers in a passionate kiss.

“I love you Lauren. I always will.”

I hope your Valentine’s Day is hot and steamy—and not just in the kitchen. Chocolate is known as the elixir of love and the drink of the gods, making it perfect for Valentine’s Day.

 
Chocolate Glazed Chocolate Tart

Falling in love is good for the heart, and so is dark chocolate.

For crust:

9 (5- by 2 1/4-inch) chocolate graham crackers (not chocolate-covered), finely ground (1 cup)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

For filling:

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

9 ounces bittersweet chocolate (not more than 65% cacao if marked), chopped

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

For glaze:

2 tablespoon heavy cream

1 3/4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 teaspoon light corn syrup

1 tablespoon warm water

Equipment:

9-inch round fluted tart pan (1 inch deep)

Make crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

Stir together all ingredients and press evenly onto bottom and 3/4 inch up side of tart pan. Bake until firm, about 10 minutes. Cool on a rack 15 to 20 minutes

Make filling:
Bring cream to a boil, then pour over chocolate in a bowl and let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir until smooth. Whisk together eggs, vanilla, and salt in another bowl, then stir into melted chocolate.

Pour filling into cooled crust. Bake until filling is set about 3 inches from edge but center is still wobbly, 20 to 25 minutes. (Center will continue to set as tart cools.) Cool completely in pan on rack, about 1 hour.

Make glaze:
Bring cream to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in chocolate until smooth. Stir in corn syrup, then warm water

Pour glaze onto tart, then tilt and rotate tart so glaze coats top evenly. Let stand until glaze is set, about 1 hour.

About the Author

ANGELA FORD

Angela Ford originates from Nova Scotia…Canada’s Ocean Playground! Her love of the ocean and sunsets are always in her heart and give her inspiration. Her love for words keeps her turning the page. She is never without a book, whether she’s reading or writing. Now residing in Ontario, Angela works in Finance – numbers by day – words by night. Her dedication to volunteer and involvement with cyber safety seminars gave her an Award of Distinction and sparked the idea for her first book Closure – suspense with a dash of romance that hit the best- selling Action/Adventure. Her next release, Unforgettable Kiss, delivers a romance with a dash of suspense. Forbidden released in June 2014…Closure’s sequel. September 2014 releases Blind Tasting of The Love List series. 2014 will end with a Christmas romance The Christmas Wreath of the Forever Christmas series. Between two jobs, being a mom with a home always young adults and rather interesting stories; she is lucky to have one very patient and understanding man. But it is the furry family members who rule the house – a Puggle, two loveable cats and two unique Guinea Pigs. Every possible quiet moment she finds, she treasures and just writes about the moments to come. Angela is an avid reader of romance, a member of the RWA and Mississauga Writers Group. You can follow her at BTGN www.bookstogonow.com or visit her website/blog Romantic Escapes at http://www.angelafordauthor.com to connect with her on her social network sites. She loves to hear from her readers – they keep her smiling!