Rush of Redemption (Rush Series #2) Read online

  “That had to be so hard for you to lose them both, so close together.”

  She felt him swallow hard before he rubbed his face against her hair. “I hated him,” he said gruffly.

  “Who? James Franklin?”

  “No… my father. I blamed him all those years for what happened. I didn’t know about the Embassy Fund or… about my mother and James Franklin. Up until last year, I thought my father had been consorting with prostitutes and my mother killed herself because of the shame.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled her face into his neck. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as guilt over her father’s role in his parents’ demise clutched her heart in its steely grasp.

  He shrugged. “It was a long time ago,” he murmured.

  After several moments of silence, he pulled her up and placed his hands around her face. With extreme gentleness, he kissed her. Pulling back, he smiled and brushed her hair away from her face with tender fingers. “Tomorrow, after work, we are leaving Blake with my housekeeper, Anna, and are going out on a date… just you and me.”

  She began to shake her head, but he caught her jaw in his hand, stopping her motion. “Yes, we are. We’ve been home three weeks, Blake will be fine for a couple of hours with Anna. You can trust her, I promise. We’ll leave all our phone contact information with her. But it’s important to me that we do this. Okay?”

  “I don’t know…” she trailed off.

  “Well, I do know. So tomorrow, be ready for the town by seven o’clock.”

  She looked unconvinced before slowly nodding her acquiesce.

  Chapter Four

  When Rush arrived at the condo with the promised Anna in tow, it was to find the condo dark and quiet. A knot began to form in his belly as he motioned for Anna to wait at the door while he moved quickly through the rooms. He found Blake asleep in his crib. He had to fight the urge to pick him up and hug him close. Anxiety skidded over his skin. With urgency he moved stealthily to the bedroom. He quietly opened the door. He stood for a minute letting his eyes get accustom to the darkness. As his eyes adjusted, he saw a movement on the bed. Moving rapidly to sit on the side of the bed, he switched on the bedside light.

  Trinity was curled up on her side, snuggled into a pillow, asleep. She was dressed in the same royal blue silk dress she’d worn the first time he’d seen her, minus the shoes, which Rush could now see beside the bed. Relief had him exhaling softly. He smiled that she’d worn this dress for him, the dress that he’d longed to pull from her body. His throat constricted as he brushed the back of his fingers softly against her cheek. She was just so beautiful. His heart swelled as he gazed down into her smooth features. She was back in his life and had given him the most amazing gift. He knew he didn’t deserve either of them. Not being able to help himself, he leaned forward and pressed his lips softly against her brow. She stirred and forced open her sleep-heavy eyes. Her immediate smile at seeing him crashed into a frown as she realized she’d fallen asleep.

  She sat up quickly. “I’m so sorry. I was getting a headache and was only going to lie down for just a minute.”

  He brushed her loosed dark hair behind her ear. “No problem. I’m sorry for waking you. You looked so sweet and I couldn’t resist.” He studied her intently before leaning forward to press his lips against hers. Emotion so raw and so big gripped him hard. He pulled back to stare down into her upturned face. “I love you, you know that, right?”

  Her smile made his heart catch in his chest. “Yes, but I still like hearing you say it,” she replied.

  He continued to stare down at her with such intensity, she blushed. His heart began to pound in his chest and he inhaled deeply. She tilted her head and gave him a curious smile. He reached for her hands before he slipped down to his knees onto the carpeted floor. He pulled her until she was sitting on the edge of the bed. He allowed her left hand to fall as he reached his right hand into his pants pocket. Pulling an antique, black velvet box from his pocket, he snapped open the lid revealing an opulent solitaire diamond ring. She lifted a hand to her lips as she gasped.

  “I was going to do this right this time and give you this over dinner, but I don’t want to wait. Trinity Allura Grace, you have made my life complete. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked softly.

  With glassy eyes, she grasped his exquisite face in her hands and kissed him. She pulled back and stroked her fingers over the angles of his features.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked with a smile.

  “Asked and answered,” she murmured as she slid down into his arms.

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against his massive chest. “I love you, Trinity. You make me so happy,” he murmured against her hair. She pulled away and sat back on the bed. He removed the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. “This was my grandmother’s.”

  Trinity felt a little of her happiness seep away. She didn’t know if she wanted anything associated with his family. She chided herself… wasn’t she now his family? Besides, this was his grandmother’s, she’d not had anything to do with what had happened in the past.

  “It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

  “Do you feel up to going out to dinner?” he asked.

  “Just let me grab my shoes and a wrap.”

  He took her back to the little Italian restaurant they’d visited before but had left before they’d had a chance to sample their cuisine. He pulled her chair out, and after she was seated, he pressed a soft kiss against her head. He couldn’t seem to go very long without touching her. It made her feel secure and loved. Instead of sitting directly across from her, he moved his chair so that their knees touched underneath the table. The waiter came by and brought them water, but Rush refused the wine list, knowing she couldn’t drink while she was nursing. A soft smile curled her full red lips as she stared in awe at the amazingly superb man beside her. While their beginning might have been flawed, she found herself beginning to trust him. Feeling the weight of her stare, he lifted his sexy hazely-green eyes, trimmed with those ostentatiously long, dark eyelashes that most women would kill to possess.

  His lips curled into a wry smile. “You can’t keep looking at me like that. I’m hanging on by a thread, here. I want you so much that you probably won’t even make it past your doctor’s lobby once he gives the go-ahead.”

  “Just a few more weeks,” she promised with a grin.

  As she’d seen so many times in their past together, she watched his face fall from fun and sexy, to that dreaded somber expression she detested.

  “What’s the matter?”

  She watched the column of his throat move as he swallowed hard. He placed a less than steady hand against her face. “I still can’t believe you’re here… with me. I can’t believe you’re wearing my ring and have agreed to share your life with me. It’s just… too much. It’s so much, it scares me. Can anyone really ever have it all? A beautiful wife? An amazing son? The perfect life? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop… does that sound horribly morbid and pessimistic?”

  “No,” she replied softly. “I feel exactly the same way.”

  He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers softly. Someone clearing their throat had him pulling away slowly and reluctantly. As if he couldn’t bear to draw his stare away from Trinity’s, it took him a moment to realize who was standing next to their table. Internally, he groaned, but slid on a mask of passivity once he actually saw the person, Tonia McAllister, the woman he’d been out with the night he’d seen Trinity at the French restaurant. Beside him, he felt Trinity flinch.

  “Well, well, look who we have here. I thought for sure since you didn’t call, as you promised, that you’d been in a horrible accident. But no, here you sit with the woman who rudely interrupted our dinner,” Tonia snarled.

  Rush’s jaw clenched. “Tonia, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Trinity Grace.”

  Tonia inhaled sharply and audibly at his words. “Fiancée?”
she gasped, as the man who’d been walking with her grabbed her arm and moved her away from their table.

  The previous glow Trinity had felt ebbed away. Memories of sitting in that restaurant alone and seeing Rush leaning into the beautiful woman came rushing back… all the insecurity… all the isolation… all the loss. Instead of thinking of all her recently gained memories, all she could imagine was Rush running his hands, his lips, and his body over the woman… over all the other women. She lifted her water goblet to her lips and sipped while she tried to block the ravishing woman from her mind.

  But the feelings of insecurity continued to swamp her. Standing quickly, she said, “Excuse me.” From the corner of her eye she saw Rush stand and reach out a hand to restrain her, but she ignored it as she made her way to the restroom. The restroom was occupied. Trinity sat down on the chaise lounger outside the door as she waited. She pushed her hair out of her face.

  “Trinity?”

  She lifted her pain-filled eyes to his. “I want to go home, okay?”

  “Baby, I’m sorry,” he said as he sat down beside her and grabbed her hand.

  She lifted her other hand and allowed her fingers to trace the contours of his ruggedly handsome face. “Will the past always find a way to intrude into our lives? Will we ever be able to live a normal life?”

  “Yes,” he said emphatically.

  “How can you be so sure? I’m afraid the past will always be between us… my father, your grandfather… and just well, everything. It’s all so…. big… so much.”

  The words his grandfather had spoken outside the hospital nursery filled Rush’s mind: Women are fickle creatures, Rush. While you might be able to turn a blind eye to her father’s past transgressions, I can promise you the girl won’t be able to forget yours.

  He stood, pulled her to her feet, and wrapped his arms around her before he buried his face in her hair. “We’ll figure it out. I promise.” Tugging her hand, he said, “Come on, let’s go home.”

  They picked up pizza on the way back to Trinity’s condo. After Rush placed Anna in a cab, they sat together at the table and ate in silence. This was not the evening Rush had planned. And he knew what he needed to do next wasn’t going to be taken well.

  “I have something I need to tell you,” he said quietly.

  His pensiveness, made Trinity wary. “Okay,” she said as she wiped her mouth on a napkin and placed it on her plate.

  “When I went to my grandfather to get the ring, he mentioned he wanted to give us a small engagement party. I think this is his way of seeking forgiveness.”

  Trinity sat silently for a long moment. “I… don’t know if I can do that.”

  “Trinity, I know how you feel. I’d feel the same if it were your father. But earlier you asked if the past would always be between us, I think by letting go of our past resentments, we’ll be able to move forward and have the life we want… together. I can understand your hesitation, but he is my grandfather,” he said quietly.

  “Rush, he didn’t just say something that hurt my feelings. The man paid someone to break in and vandalize my office. I was hurt during that attack. He set a plan in place to get what he wanted, no matter the cost. What kind of man does that?”

  “A desperate one,” Rush replied.

  Trinity watched the struggle Rush was faced with. She didn’t want to make him choose between her and his family. Finally, knowing that eventually she’d have to face his grandfather anyway, she said, “Okay. But please, something small.”

  Rush heaved a huge sigh of relief. “Thanks, Trinity. I know how difficult this is. Have you decided what kind of wedding you want? A big one, a small one… what?”

  Trinity gaze dropped to where her hands lie folded on her, as of yet unaccustomed, flat stomach.

  “What?” he asked quizzically.

  When she didn’t answer, he lifted her face with his fingers. Her eyes were over-bright.

  “What,” he asked again.

  “A wedding seems… pointless, doesn’t it?”

  He tensed at her answer. “What do you mean?”

  She dropped her gaze back down before saying, “Does there have to be a wedding?”

  “You’ve changed your mind,” he asked quietly… too quietly.

  She snatched her head back up and reached a hand to place it lightly over his. “No… I just mean… well, can’t we get married without having a wedding?”

  He visibly relaxed. “We can go the courthouse… Vegas… Atlantic City… any place you want. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

  “There’s only my father and he’s not speaking to me, so why have a big wedding? Unless it’s important to you?”

  “As long as we’re married, I don’t care.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. “I’ll take you any way I can get you. I’ll make all the arrangements, okay?”

  She nodded and then turned it when she heard the baby begin to cry. She started to rise, when Rush put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get him,” he told her.

  A few minutes later, he returned with the tiny bundle lying in the crook of his arm. He was smiling down at the baby and talking softly to him. Trinity felt her heart swell at the love she saw etched so clearly on Rush’s face. No matter what, she loved him and knew he loved their son. Maybe they could work through the rest.

  ~*~

  “… and then I couldn’t believe it, right behind me, dancing with some ditzy blonde, was Hunter Amhearst,” Sundra Caruthers lamented.

  They were sitting in Trinity’s living room. Trinity was drinking tea while Sundra had just drained the last glass of wine from the bottle. While she felt bad, Trinity found herself over and over again tuning Sundra out as she listened to Rush with Blake in the nursery via the baby monitor. She loved Sundra and was lucky to have her in her life, but Trinity was greedy for the small amount of Rush’s time that she was allotted.

  In the last few weeks, they’d settled into a routine of sorts, unfortunately, part of that routine was Rush working an inordinate amount of hours. Most nights he spent here with her and the baby, but some nights he was forced to attend work functions. Not wanting to disturb them, he spent those nights at his house. She hated those nights.

  “… and how is my big boy? Have you been a good boy for your momma? Mommy’s pretty isn’t she? I think she’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. How about you? I think you are the finest…”

  The rest of what was being said was cut off as Sundra once again demanded her attention.

  “So what are you wearing to the engagement party?” she asked.

  Trinity sighed. She knew she should be excited about the party taking place the next night, but she dreaded it. “I bought a little dress that is the most amazing color of green… in fact, it’s almost the same color green in Rush’s eyes,” she answered absently.

  Sundra rolled onto the arm of the couch in laughter. “Oh, my God, you are so far gone on that guy. I can’t believe what a matter of weeks can mean. You went from being so adamant about not even mentioning his name, to bam, getting married.” Her laughter died away. “Are you really sure about all this, Trinity? There is no hurry, you know.”

  Trinity thought about the best way to convince her friend that she was sure. Finally, she just flared her fingers and said simply, “I love him.”

  “Well, I’m always here if you need me. But for now, I need to call a cab and go home. I’m glad you’re happy, truly I am,” Sundra said.

  Trinity hugged her friend. “You’ll find someone… the right one.”

  “I thought I had found him,” Sundra replied.

  “I know, I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Hunter. Is it going to be too awkward tomorrow night with him at the party?” Trinity asked.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll just avoid him. I won’t ruin your party, I promise. Besides, I have a date.”

  “With whom?” she asked.

  “It’s a surprise,” Sundra answered with a laugh.

 
Once Sundra left, Trinity cleaned up and began turning off the lights as she went. She wandered into Blake’s room. The glow from the nightlight was the only illumination available. She found her tiny miracle fast asleep, wrapped tight in his little blanket. She leaned against his crib and just watched him sleep. She couldn’t believe he was already over six weeks old. He was so amazing. She’d never known love like this. It was so consuming. It made her understand, to some degree, why her father was the way he was. She could finally understand the need to protect at any cost.

  Breaking away from him, she went in search of Rush. When she entered the bedroom, she heard the water running in the shower. The thought of Rush standing in the shower, naked with water streaming down his body had her reaching with fingers that trembled to the buttons on her blouse. Quickly, before she lost her nerve, she removed her clothing and walked swiftly to the bathroom.

  The shower’s glass enclosure was steamed, giving it an opaque appearance. With her heart pounding and her breathing rapid, she pulled the shower door open and stepped inside. Rush turned and saw her standing naked in front of him.

  He blinked rapidly. “Trinity? Everything okay?”

  She moved to him and ran her hands up his massive chest made slick by the running water. She encircled his neck and pressed her body firmly up against his. She felt him grow hard instantly against her stomach.

  Rush cleared his throat. “Trinity, honey, what are you doing?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips against the curve of her neck.

  “I went to the doctor today,” she murmured against his skin.

  Rush’s body tensed. “What did he say?”

  She pulled back to look up into his handsome face. “He told me to use protection for the first two weeks, but then being on the pill would be sufficient.”

  He stared down blankly at her for a moment as if he didn’t quite understand her words, then with a groan, he grabbed her face and devoured her mouth. With hands that trembled, he pressed her urgently against the glass and ran his hands silkily over her wet skin. Almost frantically, he thrust his tongue into her mouth and pressed himself against her roughly. With a growl, he pushed away and turned his back to her to stand with his head bent and his body heaving under the pounding water. She stood with her hands pressed flat against the glass, panting, striving to suck in enough oxygen.