Authors: Casey Clipper
"How was your day, sweetheart?" he asked. The seemingly mundane question he asked everyday. Her safety was priority number one in his world. If she answered by voicing concerns over someone who raised her hackles, little did she know she’d no longer be working alone.
"Busy, how was yours?" she asked in return.
"Busy,” he replied.
She chuckled and took a sip of her drink.
"Have you thought of an answer?" Darren asked.
Eyeing him through her long, painted eyelashes, those large blue eyes glistened with that look he had received far too many times from her.
"Darren, the problem is I feel if I move in with you then we should at least be engaged," she said.
"Does that mean you're accepting my proposal?" he asked, unable to hide his surprise.
Could this be the time she finally accepts?
"No," she teased. She visible held her breath. He assumed she hoped a third rejection wouldn’t cause another episode. One that would turn into a mountainous two-hour long discussion that confirmed their relationship was terrific and she was still completely, insanely in love and devoted to him. Yes, he would insist on the reassurance again and again until she accepted.
"That's what I thought." He sighed, dejected. "What's it going to take, Courtney? I want you to become my wife, Mrs. Darren Murphy. I want to come home to you every day and wake up to you every morning, not just the mornings you decide to stay the night. I want to have family functions together in
our
home and get a dog, or even a cat. I want to have babies with you and cater to you while you’re beautifully pregnant. The entire family package."
She outright laughed at him. "You are such a sap, Darren. No wonder I adore you."
Snagging her around the waist, he pulled her off the stool to stand between his legs. He loved wrapping her tiny five feet two inch frame with his six feet three inch physique. "Please," he begged.
She kissed him on each corner of his mouth, while his chocolate brown eyes intently watched her, and then placed a reassuring kiss on his bottom lip. "Not now, but some day, my love."
Her term of endearment made him smile. He whispered, "My love."
"Always."
He cupped her perfect face in his hands. "I love you."
"I love you."
"Promise?" he asked and kissed the tip of her nose.
"With my whole heart."
His most breathtaking smile he had in his arsenal of good looks crossed over his features. Madly in love with Courtney didn’t cover his emotions. Even though she denied him, again, he vowed to spend the rest of his life making her happy. If only he could get her to say yes. There was no other woman on this earth for him and he desperately wanted to make Courtney permanently his.
"Are you spending the night?" he asked. He took her soft, delicate hands into his and ran his thumb over her naked ring finger.
"Of course, I need my fix," she teased. A naughty glint lit those blue eyes.
"Oh, you'll get your fix, Miss Millen," he growled. He loved the minx in her.
"Promise?"
"Always." He laughed.
John Marshall
Listening to the couple's banter, John felt himself grow jealous of Darren Murphy. How
desperately he wanted what they exhibited. Lost in one another without a care who surrounded them. What he wouldn't give to have a woman like Courtney to himself.
Watching Darren Murphy up close and personal, when he focused on Courtney, no one was allowed to enter his bubble. What struck him the most was Darren's blatant admission about marriage. That revelation gave them leverage. She was his weakness. A chink in his armor. And she fell into their lap like a gift from Santa.
Courtney
Stirring from a well-rested night, Courtney found herself alone in an empty bed. Clearly Darren had started his morning early.
Stretching her jellied limps, she grinned
, thinking about last night’s long extracurricular activities.
What a lucky girl she was.
She crawled out of his California King and jumped into the shower. Most likely Darren planned to hit the gym and she decided to join him. Rarely did she work out with her man but today she felt the need to hit the treadmill.
Once she showered and threw on her workout clothes, she jogged downstairs to find Darren’s home hopping with his staff.
"Miss Millen, good morning," Jack, Darren's driver and personal security, greeted her when she reached the bottom of the steps.
"Hi, Jack. Is Darren at the gym?" That was a stupid question and she knew it as soon as it left her mouth. Darren didn't go anywhere without Jack.
"No, he's in the kitchen but he'll be leaving soon,” he answered. He opened the front door and scooped up the morning newspaper.
"Thanks."
Prancing into the large, modern eat-in kitchen, she was greeted with a beaming smile from her guy.
"Beautiful, you're up early," he gushed. He set down his protein drink, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her soundly.
"Yeah, I woke and you were gone." She playfully pouted.
A deep growl left his solid chest then he bit her full bottom lip and tugged. "I'm sorry. Couldn't sleep."
"Is everything alright?" she asked concerned.
"Yes, sweetheart. Everything is fine. Nothing for you to worry about. Just work issues," he assured her but refused to elaborate. He never discussed work with her. Never would. All she knew about his career was he involved himself in investments and was quite successful.
He noticed her outfit. “Are you joining me at the gym today?"
"Do you mind?"
"Absolutely not. I love having you there," he answered.
"Let me grab some toast so I have something in my stomach," she said.
Darren reluc
tantly released her with a loud kiss on the side of the neck.
While she busied herself popping wheat bread into the toaster and pulled out a bottle of water, Courtney didn’t pay any mind to the other three men in the kitchen. So used to Darren’s staff constant presence, they blended into the background.
"I was thinking, if you're up to it, we could go out on the boat today, honey," Darren said, finishing his protein drink and placing his glass into the dishwasher.
Courtney caught herself mesmerized by the overwhelming attractiveness of her man and how fluidly he moved. Short, dark brown hair slightly askew today with that just gotten-out-of-bed-and-threw-on-clothes look. A snug, black tee shirt and work out shorts conformed to his hard body. His perceptive chocolate eyes watched her size him up while his chiseled jaw flexed. He smirked knowingly.
She pulled herself out of her trance and asked, "Is it too chilly for that?" The temperature had dropped twenty degrees overnight. Typical Pittsburgh weather.
"You can wear jeans and a jacket. The wind might be chilly but it'll be a great day to ride on the river if the sun is out," he said. Hope seeped through his tone.
She chuckled at how childlike he was when he wanted something, but she understood having his girl out on his boat for the day meant the world to him. "If that's what you want."
"It is."
"Okay."
Jack sauntered into the kitchen. "Aren't you working this weekend, Courtney? I thought weekends were big showing times for agents."
"They are but I've worked every weekend for the past two months. I took this one off," she answered.
Darren looked at her shocked. "Courtney, why didn't you tell me? I had no idea. I would never ask you to do such a thing."
"Have you noticed I haven't been around on the weekends?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." He grinned.
"And have you been alright with it?" she tested.
"No."
"Then that's settled," she said with finality.
He beamed. "This is why I'm in love with you. You know me better than I know myself, and you take care of me."
"Of course I do. We're in this together babe, you and me. We need to look out for each other and make sure we’re happy. It's our job. It's what we signed up for," she said factually.
Inhaling a sharp breath, Darren closed his eyes. "God, Courtney, you make me so happy. Why the hell won't you marry me?"
"I like to torture you," she quipped then turned and bolted out of the kitchen and through the dining room. She squealed when he caught her from behind, threw her over his shoulder, and smacked her ass.
"Jack!" he yelled. "Gym!" He loved it when she was playful.
Strolling out of the house with Courtney slung over his shoulder, Darren carried her to the waiting black sedan with black tinted windows. She laughed deliriously the entire time at her hopelessly romantic boyfriend.
At the gym, on the modern day torture device called a treadmill, out of the corner of her eye, Courtney caught Darren watching her. Her heart fluttered. She had it bad for him. Which had her thinking‒why was she waiting to say yes to his proposal? There was no valid reason. She loved him and he loved her. He took special care of her, the way a partner was supposed to with the one they loved. She relished taking care of him in that same way. Not financially. They were both well off on their own. They took care of each other emotionally and spiritually with a graceful ease. He made her laugh and she did her best to reciprocate. They never fought. It was beneath them as a couple. And they listened to one another.
She didn't see herself with anyone else. The future she envisioned involved spending the rest of her life with Darren. A picture of them having babies and growing old together slammed vividly into her mind. Farther down the road of course. He'd make a terrific father.
She knew once she said yes, he would insist on an enormous, over-the-top wedding to showcase to everyone they knew his love and commitment to her. Specifically he'd want her proclamation before of a congregation of their nearest and dearest. In that manner, he showed his inner alpha. Well, not so inner.
Courtney would only ever want, need, love, respect and desire Darren.
She powered down the treadmill in mid run, stunned she had made her decision.
Unbelievable timing,
she thought. Glancing over at Darren, he sat up from the weight bench and automatically looked her direction, again.
Darren
While he lifted his usual obscene amount of weight, Courtney ran on the treadmill. Ear buds firmly in place, she was lost in the music and her run. He kept a watchful eye on her to make certain men didn't approach her. His girl turned heads. She looked hot in those short shorts and tight tee shirt with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. No makeup and a slight flush gave her that natural look. God, what a lucky man he was.
Finished with his first set on the bench press, he sat up and looked her way. Something was wrong. Court stood on the treadmill staring at him, dazed. The look in her eyes said something had changed. For the good or for the bad? Did something happen? Did she figured out his business?