Page 38 of A Wanderer's Redemption
“I’m sorry, handsome. I should have been paying more attention to you.” Holding my hand out so he can sniff it again, I slowly reach up to scratch him behind the ear. He is softer than I thought he would be and is so tall that his head is level with my chest. He is the size of some ponies, and I laugh when he starts making a rough, rumbling sound.
“You’ve made a friend for life, Jessica. You must have found his favorite spot.”
“Him is just SOOO pretty and needs lots of lovins, don’t ya big guy?”
“Wrath, quit hogging Jessica. You can play with her later. Jess, I found your old dress earlier and was going to toss it, but I thought I should ask first.”
“Oh, I forgot all about it. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to leave it lying on your floor. Even though it’s not much, I plan on wearing it on the trip south. The two dresses you gave me, and the ones Reggie bought in town, are way too nice to wear on that dusty trail.”
“Did you like Chicago?”
“Yes and no. It was really nice to see, but it was just too big and loud for me. I met Violet, the seamstress. She owns her own shop. I can’t imagine having that type of financial freedom.”
“Jessica, the world is changing so quickly, it’s hard to keep up with it sometimes. And I am like you, Honey, I prefer the quiet or a chosen few over all that noise. While you were out and about yesterday, I went through these closets and found several dresses I think will look darling on you, but they all seem to need something. I hung them up on the rack in the back. Tyberius went out and got some tread and things I thought we might need while I stayed here with Wrath. I figure we have today to relax and simply enjoy each other’s company while we fix up these dresses. Ty even had another couch delivered so we could both lounge while sewing.”
“Well, that was awfully sweet of him. I’ll be honest, I’ve never met a man as dedicated to his wife as he is to you. His love is apparent every time his eyes fall on you.”
I giggle when she blushes lightly.
“I foresaw a lot of things, but I didn’t see him coming. Tyberius literally swept me off my feet, coaxed me back to life, and I have adored him from that moment on. Now, my brothers took a little longer to warm up to him, but they have all become close in these last few years.”
“Oh, you have brothers?”
“Two, Lucas and Tavish. One is dominant and demanding, the other mischievous and sly.”
“You all sound close.”
“We are now but we weren’t always, and that’s how life is most of the time.”
The day passes in the blink of an eye. We laugh a lot, talk about family, our hopes and dreams, and even discuss some new dress designs. Before I leave for the day, Victoria even shows me several ways to fix my hair on my own. After giving Wrath some lovins, I walk through the next couple of cars with two more dresses draped across my arm, thinking that this has probably been the best day of my entire life. When I get to my room on the train I stop, only to realize I don’t have a key. Just as I am about to go ask the conductor if he can let me in, Reggie opens the door. His hair is damp, and his beard slightly trimmed as he must have just bathed.
“I thought I heard someone out here. You need some help?”
“No, but I am glad you’re here. I just realized I was gonna be stuck out here in the hall since I don’t have a key. Have you eaten dinner?”
“Not yet. Forgive me; I should have given you a key of your own on the first day. If you are not too tired, I thought we could meet up with Tyberius and Victoria this evening. I purchased us tickets for the dining room, which is supposed to be hosting live music.”
“Live music? Oh, how wonderful, and for once I have just the dress to wear. Do we have time for me to bathe and change?”
“Yes, take your time, Honey … the train isn’t going anywhere.”
Without thinking, I lift on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek before walking over to my side of the room and laying the dresses out on the bed. Grabbing a few things from my own bag, I head for the lavatory and wash up quickly. When I walk out in the dressing gown Victoria gave me, Reggie looks up from the papers he is working on, which are scattered all over his bed. Because I don’t know how to interpret his look, I smile and walk by. Only when I go to shut the curtain, do I get the nerve to glance back.
“I just need to get dressed and twist my hair up.”
He simply nods his head, but the fire in his eyes has me smiling when I shut the curtain completely. I look down at the ring on my finger, rubbing my fingers across the smooth stone, and allow myself just for the evening to really believe that this …heis all mine.
The ivory dress that Victoria gave me is even more elaborate than the blue one, and I really do feel like a princess in its heavy skirts, as its color brings out my eyes and the darkness of my hair. Pinching my cheeks, I open the curtain, but Reggie doesn’t look up immediately. He is fighting with one of his cufflinks.
“Jessica, can you fasten this … for … me?” He is saying all that as he looks up, only to stop mid-sentence. “Damn, Jess, you really are beautiful. It’s sad that no one could see past the clothes you had on, but to be honest, I am damn glad they didn’t because someone would have stolen you right out from under me.”
I can feel my cheeks flush as I bite my lip, trying to hide my smile, as I reach for his large wrist, fastening the cufflink before straightening his tie and patting his chest. “There all set.” His warm hand closes over mine, and as I look up into those blue eyes of his, I realize I am totally, helplessly in love … and in thesame thought, I know he is going to break my heart, but not tonight. Today, waking up in his arms, being kissed, the ring, Victoria, and now this? I’m not sure if another day could ever be all …….This! I promise myself that when the day is over, its memories will be enough to pull me through the bad times, because how often do you have a perfect day?
“You ready, beautiful?”
“I’ll follow you anywhere,dear.”
CHAPTER 15
