When Love Calls, page 12
She glanced at her watch, trying to determine what he might be doing at the moment. Normally, he finished up his workday by six, which was in about an hour. Maybe she could invite him over so they could talk.
“So, what do you think?”
“I think I want to see what the future holds for me and Dexter.”
Sumeera flashed a knowing smile. “Actually, I meant, what do you think about the store? Can you see having the boutique here?”
“Yes, I can, but I’d like for Dexter to see the place before I make any decisions. I want to get his opinion.”
Apprehension rumbled through her. She had no idea what she’d say to him when she saw him, but hoped she could say something encouraging. Something that would prove to him she was willing to take a chance.
“Hopefully, I haven’t ruined things between us with my silence. He—”
The door to the store opened and Mona turned. Her breath caught in her throat. Her pulse amped up.
Dexter.
“How?” She glanced at Sumeera before returning her attention to him. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t go another day without seeing you.”
He sauntered across the room and, like usual when in his presence, heat soared through her body.
“Can we talk?”
Chapter Sixteen
Dexter would be forever grateful for Sumeera texting him earlier to let him know where her mother was. What he wasn’t sure of was whether or not Mona wanted anything to do with him, or if showing up had been a good idea. When he had talked to Sumeera twenty minutes ago, she told him he shouldn’t let her mother get away without a fight.
By the warm smile on Mona’s lovely face, maybe he wouldn’t have to work as hard as he originally thought to keep her in his life.
“I have to get going,” Sumeera announced. “Nate or Liam will lock up when you’re ready to leave. Once you guys go through the place, let me know what you think. If you decide it’ll work for the boutique, we can hammer out the details.” She started for the door. “Oh, and Dex, I trust you can get my mother home.”
Dexter grinned and gave her a nod. “I’ll take good care of her.”
Once they were alone, Mona spoke. “Dex, I’m sorry for my reaction the other night. You caught me off guard and I needed time to process all that you told me.”
Dexter moved closer, wanting so badly to touch her, to kiss her tempting lips.
“I understand, sweetheart. I’m so sorry to put that on you.” He cupped her cheek, and caressed her soft skin with the pad of his thumb. She leaned into his touch and hope bloomed inside of him. “I’ll never touch alcohol again. I’ll never put the people I love through anything like that again. All I ask is that you not let my past ruin what we’re building.”
“I’m not going to lie, Dexter. I’m scared. I want to give us a chance, but what if something happens to push you to drink again? I don’t know if I could handle that.”
“Just give me a chance to show you the man I am now.”
Mona studied him for a long minute before nodding. “I like the man you are, and I want to see where our relationship goes.”
His arm encircled her, and he lowered his mouth to hers. Peace settled over him and renewed optimism filled him. He was right where he wanted to be with the woman he desired more than anyone on this earth. Mona hadn’t returned his declaration of love the other night, but he believed in time, she’d love him as much as he loved her.
Hours later, they stood in the checkout line at the grocery store as Dexter paid for a few items. When he had left Mona’s place the other day, he thought he had lost her. Thought she wouldn’t want anything else to do with him. But as she showed him around the space of her future boutique, she made him feel as if starting the business would be a venture they would do together. Asking his opinion about every aspect of the space, from set-up to lease cost, showed she trusted him, that they might have a future together. She was making him a part of her dream, which meant more to him than she’d ever know.
“Are you going to tell me what you’re preparing for dinner?” Mona asked, when they walked through the grocery store’s sliding door and out into the chilled air. She slipped her arm through his and snuggled closer as he pushed the shopping cart out to the parking lot. “I could guess what’s on the menu with the ingredients you purchased, but when you added the brown sugar to the cart, it threw me off.”
Dexter smiled down at her before glancing around the semi-crowded lot. He guided them down their aisle, maneuvering around a car waiting to park in a spot someone was vacating.
“I’ll give you a hint. We had this dish on our third date, well at least part of the dish.”
“You've counted our dates?”
“You haven’t?” he asked in mock disbelief, and she rolled her eyes, smiling.
“I can’t remember everything we’ve eaten.”
“I'm hurt. Do you have any idea of the work that goes into planning our dates? Now I find out you don’t even remember them.”
"Is it chicken stir-fry?” she asked, ignoring his comment. “Oh, I know; brown sugar spiced baked chicken. Right?"
"You might as well give up. You’re way off base. As for the brown sugar, it’s not a part of the dish. I just ran out.”
“Oh, you.” Laughing, Mona poked him in the rib. He liked seeing her smile and her playful side. He never wanted to see the sadness he saw on her face the other night. He never wanted to disappoint her.
“I appreciate your willingness to cook.”
“I love cooking for you. It gives me a chance to spoil you a little.” She awarded him with a smile, and then shivered against him as the wind picked up.
They approached his vehicle. “Let’s get you into the truck, and then I’ll put the bags in back.”
Once the bags were stored, Dexter headed to the cart return a few cars over and left the shopping cart. When he reached the back of his truck, he felt a presence before spotting the dark figure approaching him.
“You think you can just take her from me?” the gruff voice said before stepping from between two parked cars.
What the…
“Russell? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I came for Mona, and you need to stay away from her.”
“You let her walk away and now you’re trying to control who she sees? I don’t think so. I’m here to stay. If you have a problem with that, then go back to wherever you came from so you don’t have to watch.”
“I’m not going anywhere without her. Mona! Mona!” Russell yelled, approaching the truck. There was an empty parking space between Dexter’s vehicle and a small car, giving her ex space to linger.
Dexter stepped in front of him before he made it to the front passenger door.
“You need to back up,” he said, not missing the wild look in the man’s eyes. Mona mentioned she’d tried getting him some help, for fear something was mentally wrong with him, but Dexter wondered if the guy wasn’t high on something.
Before he could stop her, Mona climbed from the truck.
“What in the world? What are you doing here?” She moved around Dexter, but he halted her with a firm hand on her arm. She glanced up at him, and thankfully didn’t protest when he held firm to her.
“Let her go,” Russell growled. “Now!” He yanked a dark object out of his jacket pocket.
Dexter froze.
Mona gasped.
“Where did you get a gun?” Her voice shook. Dexter tried moving her behind him while he kept his attention on Russell and the small pistol in his hand, but Mona wouldn’t budge. “Why are you doing this, Russell?” she asked.
“I told Henry to stay away from you. He’s been flirting with you for years, and I’m done trying to reason with him.”
Dexter glanced at Mona in confusion. She shook her head. Something was definitely wrong with this guy, and as long as he was waving a gun at them, he wasn’t letting her near the man.
“Russell, you have it all wrong. This is not our doorman. This is not Henry. This is my…this is my…my friend.”
Dexter’s heart sank. Her words cut deep. She meant everything to him, yet she only saw him as a friend.
“He’s very important to me,” Mona continued. “Please put the gun away. I’ll do whatever you want. Just put the gun down.”
Russell frowned and shook his head. “No. That’s…that’s not right.” He closed his eyes and held the left side of his head as if it hurt. “He’s been flirting with you for years,” he said, clearly confused and frustrated. His gun hand was unsteady.
“Mona, get in the truck,” Dexter whispered.
“But, what about you? I can’t—”
“Please, and call 911.”
She glanced at her ex, who was still rubbing his head and not paying much attention, but the gun was still aimed at them.
Once Mona was in the truck, Dexter inched closer, almost in reach of the gun. Russell didn’t look up until Dexter was in striking distance.
“What are…”
Dexter lunged, ramming his shoulder into Russell’s midsection. The momentum slammed the man against a small white vehicle, setting off the ear-piercing car alarm. He grabbed Russell’s wrist and they wrestled, grunting, each trying to overpower the other.
“Let it go,” Dexter growled between gritted teeth, slamming Russell’s arm against the car trying to force him to release the gun.
“Get off of me!” Russell yelled, and they both fell to the ground in a heap.
“Stop it!” Mona’s frantic voice penetrated the air.
Dexter glanced back to see her rushing toward them. “Mona! Get ba—”
Pop. Pop.
Dexter winced.
Mona screamed.
Hot, searing pain shot through his shoulder, but he pushed through it, knocking the gun out of Russell’s hand before punching him, and banging the man’s head against the ground. When Russell stopped moving, Dexter rolled onto his back, his breathing coming in short spurts.
“Mona,” he called out, praying she was okay. He tried to sit up, and gritted his teeth. The hot sting in his shoulder hurt like hell. He was pretty sure the bullet only grazed him, but…damn, it hurt.
He placed a hand over the wound, trying to even out his breathing.
“Let me go! I have to help him.” Dexter heard Mona’s voice and relief flooded through him.
She’s okay.
“Dex!” She suddenly appeared and leaned over him, tears streaming down her face. “Oh my God. Oh, my God.”
“Are…are you okay?” he asked, his heart hammering inside his chest.
“I’m fine. Just don’t…don’t you move. Help is almost here,” she sobbed, but covered her mouth, stifling any other sound.
“Don’t…cry.” Dexter closed his eyes against the pain, preferring to comfort her, hold her, but his left arm throbbed like crazy. He could feel the stickiness of a small amount of blood on his hand.
Mona planted feathery kisses on his face. “I’m so sorry for all of this. I love you so much. Please…please just be okay.”
“I’ll be all right. As long as you are…” Wait. “What did you say?”
She swiped at her tears. “I said…I love you. I love you so much.”
*
Hours later, anxiousness swirled within Mona as she stood in the emergency room where Dexter was sitting on the side of the bed, preparing to leave. With their height difference, this position almost brought them face to face.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, helping him into a button-down shirt that his daughter, Katara, had brought to the hospital. They’d met a couple of weeks ago, when Katara had invited them over for game night with her family. Mona hadn’t seen her since then and hated their next meeting had to be in a hospital.
“I will be. How about you?”
“I will be too…eventually.” She had been a nervous wreck, even though Dexter hadn’t lost consciousness on the ride in the ambulance. Seeing the blood and the pain on his face as they worked on him had her praying harder than she’d prayed in years. She’d been glad to have Katara in the waiting room with her, but Mona had never been happier to see anyone than when Nick and Sumeera showed up at the hospital. For the first time in a long time, she had a family she could lean on.
And there was Dexter.
They hadn’t known each other very long, but she was crazy in love with the man and didn’t even want to think about losing him.
“You’ve been fussing over me for the last few hours.” With his good arm, Dexter pulled her against him and she rested her head against his good shoulder. He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. “You’re still shivering. Maybe we should have a doctor take a look at you.”
“That’s not necessary. It’s just been a long day.”
The cops had arrested Russell before bringing him to the hospital to get checked out. When they questioned her about the incident, discussing the scene out loud reminded her how different the situation could have turned out. Either of them could’ve died.
All because of Russell.
Mona lifted her head. “I was so scared. I could have lost you. I had no idea Russell would do something like that.”
He caressed her cheek. The pad of his thumb was rough against her skin, but she didn’t care. The love radiating in his eyes as he stared at her warmed her body.
“I know, but as long as you and I are good, that’s all that matters to me.”
“I meant what I said earlier. I love you so much, Dexter,” she choked out, fighting against the emotion clogging her throat. “If I had lost you…”
“Shh, sweetheart.” Dexter pulled her against him. “You didn’t lose me. As a matter of fact, I’m not going anywhere. I have to admit, I did have a moment of doubt about us when you referred to me as your friend.”
Mona leaned back to look at him. “I didn’t know what to call you. Referring to you as my boyfriend seemed a little high-schoolish.”
Dexter flashed her a grin that always made her giddy inside. “Then maybe you can call me your fiancé.”
Her heart stuttered, and her world teetered. “Wh-what?”
“You heard me. If you agree to marry me, then you can refer to me as your fiancé.”
Mona stared at him speechless, trying to determine if he was serious. “You haven’t asked me to marry you.”
He rose from the bed, wincing, and dropped down on one knee. Her hand went to her mouth, shocked at what he was about to do.
“Mona Lisa Gregory, I know we haven’t known each other long, but if tonight reminded me of anything, it’s that life is short. I love you, sweetheart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you as your husband. I don’t have a ring right now, but I’ll get you one. In the meantime, will you agree to marry me?”
Life is short. The words played over in Mona’s mind.
For years, she had waited, and dreamed of Russell asking her to marry him. When he hadn’t, she’d given up on the idea. Now, this sweet, kind man who she’d only known for a short while, but loved more than anything, was asking her to marry him.
A smile spread slowly across her mouth as happiness bloomed inside her chest. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you!”
Epilogue
Six Months Later
“That dress is incredible,” Johnette said, standing next to Mona in front of the floor-length mirror.
“Thank you. I can’t believe this day is finally here.”
The last few months had been a whirlwind. Between wedding planning, getting the boutique ready for the grand opening, and attending Russell’s trial, Mona had been going nonstop.
Russell’s lawyer had entered a diminished capacity plea to the charge of attempted murder, hoping to get the charges against him lowered. After being examined, he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which his lawyer used as part of Russell’s defense. Mona, as well as the psychologist, Russell’s driver, and the housekeeper testified on his behalf regarding his mental state and erratic behavior. She was relieved when the attempted murder charge had been dropped to a lesser charge. Now Russell would receive the medical help he needed.
She ran her hands down the sides of her wedding dress. Since nothing about her life had been traditional, she opted for a baby-blue dress that stopped just below her knees. Looking at herself in the mirror, she marveled at the delicate silk garment that appeared strapless from a distance, but wasn’t. The sheer material that covered the top of the dress and both sleeves had an intricate lace detail that went down her left arm and part of the way down the left side of her body, adding the perfect amount of elegance. The outfit was one of several pieces that would be featured in the mature evening-wear line she planned to carry in her boutique.
She took a deep breath and released it slowly just as the door burst open.
“Mom, you’re not ready yet?” Sumeera said, rushing into the room. “You guys were supposed to be at the patio door by now. And where are your shoes?”
“Relax, child,” Johnette said, unmoved by Sumeera’s frenzied actions. “It’s not like the wedding is going to start without the bride.”
“Ha! You don’t know the Jenkins family. They will start eating before the wedding if we don’t get going.”
Mona laughed. She could see that happening. The family was known for bonding over food.
Katherine and Steven Jenkins had been gracious enough to let them use their backyard for the wedding; on a Sunday, the day they usually hosted brunch for their large family. When Mona told the matriarch of the family that she didn’t want to interrupt their traditional meal, Katherine brushed the comment away. According to her, Sunday brunch was the perfect time for the event. The whole family would be together and could celebrate with her and Dexter.
“You look stunning, Mom, but can you put your shoes on so we can get this party started?” Sumeera grabbed the box of shoes from a nearby chair and pulled one out and handed it to Mona. “Besides, I’m eager to give you your wedding present.”
