Chloe Read online

  Before my mother could finish, Robbie spoke up. “Chloe. Could you please forgive Daddy? He’s so sad without you. He needs you even more than you need him. Please Chloe. He didn’t mean to leave you, he just wasn’t strong enough, like he once was, to stay.” Wow. I could feel the tears coming. My mother and brother were asking me to forgive my father.

  “And sweetheart,” my mother’s voice sounded like a beautiful melody. “Enjoy the love that is flowing from your heart. Don’t ignore it, for he loves you so very much too.” I’m sure I looked confused again. Was she talking about my dad?

  “We’ve learned there is a plan for everything Chloe, strategically perfect, even if it doesn’t seem so at the time. You and John needed to experience all you have before you fully understood the power of your love for one another. Wrap your arms around it Chloe. We love you sweetheart. We’re just a whisper away.” She slowly closed her eyes as she and Robbie started to go out of focus. I rubbed my eyes and shook my head.

  “No mom, don’t go. Robbie? Come back with me. I need you! I miss you! Please mom.” I was crying so hard as they were walking away and looking back at me, but my feet were anchored, unmoving. “No!”

  “Chloe, Chloe, BB, wake up, please wake up. It’s only a dream. Wake up. Hey, there you are.” John scooped me up in a tender hug as I was trying to focus on my surroundings. I felt the couch to make sure it was real. Then I stared up into the face of the man I loved, and caressed his cheek. The tears were still rolling down my cheeks, and as I looked at John I could see his eyes were red and glazed as well.

  “They were here John. I have missed them so much. My mother.” I closed my eyes absorbing the real emotion of seeing my family again. “She looked the most beautiful I have ever seen her and she was so calm, happy even. Robbie too. He was so handsome and healthy looking, and happy, oh so happy. I was the only one crying.”

  The look on John’s face was one of peace. He seem genuinely comforted by my words.

  “They want me to forgive him John. They say he needs me too. And my mom…” I looked in John’s mesmerizing gaze. “She says I need to take hold of those I love.” I smoothed my hand over John’s eyebrows and was about to tell him what I had realized. But still, something was stopping me. I needed more time. My heart just couldn’t give into the words. So I hugged him as fiercely as I could with my right arm. “They looked so good and oh how I miss them.” The tears came again and I let them come, releasing years of worry and wonder for how and where they were. My mother used to sing me the hymn “Jesus Loves Me” and rub my head as I drifted off to sleep. She used to say how she believed in God and his master plan and how one day soon we would see Grandma and Grandpa again. I said a silent prayer, thanking God that hope can fill us from the inside out and that the horrible loss we feel here on earth is not forever.

  **

  As the days passed and I got stronger, I was no longer having to take pain pills, just my antibiotics. I wore a sling so I could get around without the weight of my arm pulling on the stitches. By day six I was able to get the superficial stitches out and start using my arm a lot more.

  They had still not apprehended the suspect, but they had leads. I wasn’t exactly sure what they were, but my father was right in the middle of them. I called for him to come and visit me the day after my dream. When I told him what Robbie and my mom had said, he wept harder than any grown man I had ever seen. Maybe that was closure for him too. I was starting to believe he did need me more than I could imagine. We hugged, and he vowed to be in my life as much as I would let him. While it wasn’t as smooth of a relationship as I was hoping it could one day be, it was the start of our relationship as father and daughter, and that was still keeping me in a constant state of awe. After all these years, we were helping each other heal. Aunt Ronnie would not believe it. I was hoping she wouldn’t be bitter for too long with him, but I knew we carried the same genes. I had a feeling it was inevitable.

  The next day I woke up to the sun streaming through the windows. I had a feeling this would be a gorgeous day. I was feeling better and better. I rolled over to find John with his blue eyes shining and his lips curved in a sly grin.

  “There’s my girl.”

  “Hey. I said in a groggy voice. “How long have you been awake?” I knew he had come to bed much later than me last night. He had been staying up ungodly hours trying to research, along with help from my dad, all of his records to find who might be trying to hurt us. They still felt it was someone inside the company, maybe just an oil rig worker, but someone with inside connections none-the-less. He had thought about moving us to another location, another one of his many homes. However, they all felt if we moved, the source, inside or not, would find out. We were better off here, surrounded by security.

  “Oh, just a little while.” He said reaching out and stroking my cheek, never breaking eye contact. He looked so incredibly sexy with his tussled black hair and a shadow of a beard. His tan skin illuminated by the glow of the window and the sheet pulled up just enough to show off the divets in his abs as I glanced down to his briefs.

  He chuckled. “Looking for something.” I knew I was blushing as I gave him a small grin.

  “Hmmm. I guess I am.” I said letting my eyes roam to his luscious lips that were glistening in the sunlight.

  “It’s been entirely too long Chloe Rider. I’ve missed you something fierce.” He leaned down and planted a small, gentle kiss on my lips. So light it felt like a feather. I closed my eyes briefly in response, savoring the softness of his touch.

  “Yes, but I’m feeling so much better now.” I raised my eyebrows at him. I lifted my hand to his shoulders and started rubbing small circles down to his waist, and around to his stomach. His breath caught as his eyes turned dark and heated.

  John reached out and grabbed my wandering hand “Hey. I have definitely missed you, he closed his eyes as if to contemplate his next words. “But, I need to talk with you first.”

  I laughed. “O-kay. This is new. Can we talk after?” I was itching to get my hands on him and feel his lips all over me.

  “I wanted to talk about what your mother said Chloe.” I tilted my head to the side. Really. He was going there now? “You followed through with your forgiveness for your father, but I know there was something else she was telling you. You started to tell me, but you don’t have to. I heard you softly whispering it that day in your dream.” He smoothed my hair off of my face. “Maybe this will help you get started.” He lifted his eyebrow to me. “I love you Chloe Steele Rider.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I think I’ve known it for some time and even before my mind accepted it, my heart led me to you Chloe. You are the firecracker I’ve been missing in my life. And you are the amazing woman I want to have for the rest of my life.” My eyes were brimming with unshed tears. I sniffed and looked to John’s lips as I crashed my lips to his.

  “I love you John.” I gasped at the words spilling from my mouth. They didn’t taste bitter and they didn’t make me go mute like I had always thought. “I love you so much, and I have for so long. I just couldn’t admit it – not to you or myself. I didn’t want to. It would mean the defeat of everything I had worked hard to keep inside.” My eyes were searching his frantically. “I’m scared to death of what this means. I’m vulnerable, something I hate to admit. You could break me so fast John. You taking away your love would ruin me.” I leaned in again and kissed him as his arms came around my waist and pulled me closer to him. “But I’m willing to take that chance, just love me enough John. Please, just love me enough.”

  I rolled on top of him as he was running his hands over my body, pressing my satin shorts down as far as he could reach. He sucked in a deep breath when I started pushing his briefs down as well.

  “Chloe. I’ll do everything in my power to show you how much I love you. Every. Single. Day. I will protect you and cherish you and be the man you deserve to carry the title of your husband. I will tease you and worry the shit out of you at least every o
ther day. I will respect you and” He laid another soft kiss on my lips and started trailing them down my neck as he let out a low growl. “I will make love to you every day possible…”

  “Why does this sound like a wedding vow?” I reached up grabbing his earlobe between my teeth and grazing it slowly out of my mouth.

  John sighed “because it’s a genuine vow to my wife. I love you Chloe. It’s time I showed you how I make beautiful love as your forever husband.”

  I was still in shock over the words he was using so freely. And forever? How could that be? We wouldn’t have to end this in about two months? The excitement I was feeling came rushing off of me. My hands were greedily exploring his body as I found him and was letting out my joy.

  “Hey, slow down Chloe.” He chuckled. I love it when you get crazy on me, but this…this time needs to be different. I want to take my time and explore your beautiful body Chloe. I want to show you how every inch is mine, and I plan to cherish it. Mine. Forever. He said as he laid sweet kisses down my chest and over to my breast where he lingered.

  “Oh John. I love you too. Okay. I can take it slow. I can let you love me your way.” A low rumble reverberated through his chest as he laughed.

  “Sweet, sweet Chloe. That’s not to say every time will be this slow and sensual.” He raised his eyebrows to me. Thank God, I thought as I laughed too. John leaned over to reach for his bedside drawer.

  “Hey.” I looked into his eyes. “I’m on the pill. I’m not worried about my husband. It’s okay.” I leaned in and began kissing the side of his mouth and licking his lower lip as he sucked in a deep breath.” John’s growl was his only answer.

  He kept his end of the bargain. By the time he was through demonstrating his love for me, I was exhausted and happier than I had ever been.

  Chapter 30

  I was on a love high. It felt like my heart had expanded two sizes. I had images of the Grinch when his heart grew and he experienced real love for the first time. Only for me, I had always had it in me, at least since I was a kid. I had been so in love with my perfect family in our earlier years. I just needed the perfect fitting key to unlock my heart and release those feelings. John was my key.

  The looks we gave each other were different - hungrier and more satisfying, deeper and with new meaning. This was the time of my life. If only I didn’t have a crazed lunatic out trying to kill us and threatening to destroy what we were building. Why was this happening? As much as John showed his love for me, he seemed to worry over me and show his concern twice as much.

  “Stop fussing over me.” I slapped my hand at John who was rushing around pulling my chair out, bringing my drink, and looking out the window a hundred times an hour. John and I had fixed a nice lunch of pasta and diced vegetables with garlic bread. I had surprised him by fixing apple dumplings for dessert. Thank goodness someone had stocked the kitchen so well. I wish it had been me though. I was quite possibly the most stir crazy I had ever been. I needed to get out of this house and go somewhere!

  “I did promise you I would worry over you Chloe. Don’t tell me you forgot that already.” He laughed lightly breaking the conversation I was having in my own head. But I could see the lingering concern. I knew he was not going to ease up or rest until they caught this person, or persons.

  “You did.” I said leaning into kiss his cheek. “Hey.” I finished the bite I was chewing and set my fork down. “Would it be possible to get out of here for a little while today?”

  John was shaking his head before he even answered. “No way BB. Sorry, but it’s not going to happen. They are a little closer to putting together clues and we need to sit tight.” He said digging back into his plate of food.

  “Is that so? Well, I was really wanting to just, you know,” I reached over rubbing my hand on his inner thigh, “get some fresh air and maybe go see my father.” I knew that would get to him. He was still so happy that we were reuniting that he kept pushing for me to talk to him any chance I could get. I pressed my lips to the soft area in front of his ear then I licked the tender spot and blew air against his supple skin. He sucked in a deep breath as his body stiffened and he had to adjust himself.

  “Chloe, are you asking for it?” He said with a threatening, fun-loving edge to his voice. I rubbed his inner thigh and up again as he grabbed my wrist forcefully and pulled me to him, knocking his fork to the floor. “Woman, you drive me crazy.” He smashed a kiss to my lips. “God you are stunning, do you know that?” He kissed me again, this time deeper and with even more passion. I loved that I could do this to him. My heart was racing with excitement.

  A throat cleared behind us as Mr. Rojas was bringing me a phone. John had flown him in to stay with us a few days ago. “Mrs. Rider, you have a phone call.” John eyed him warily, I’m sure worrying over who could have tracked me down.

  I was incredibly confused. Mr. Rojas glanced at John nervously. “Hello?” I said taking the phone. I stared at John as I listened on the other end.

  “Mrs. Rider? Chloe? It’s Sara.” What was John’s assistant doing asking for me instead of John? “Don’t let Mr. Rider know it’s me, at least not yet.” Now I was really confused and worried.

  “Okay.” I said breaking eye contact with John and walking towards the kitchen bay window.

  “It’s Mr. Rider senior, he…he passed away this morning. I didn’t want to tell John over the phone. His mother will try to contact him soon, but I thought the news should come from you Chloe.” The weight of that statement came crushing around me. Poor John. Here I just found my father through John’s encouragement and he just lost his, for good. The worst part was the strained relationship he had with his father would always be a heavy burden on his love filled heart. After I listened to the details of his last minutes and the long letter he had left behind for John, I closed my eyes to gain the strength I would need for the next few moments.

  I said my goodbye to Sara and turned to find a worried look on John’s face. He was pacing the floor wondering what was happening. “Chloe? What’s going on?” The tears in my eyes had him standing flush in front of me within seconds. “Hey, whatever it is, we can get through this.” I nodded, hoping he was right.

  “Yes John. We have each other now. Forever right? We will lean on each other, you and me. And when sad things happen, we’re here to take the pain from each other.” John tilted his head to the side and read between the lines.

  “Oh God. It’s my dad isn’t it? That was Sara. She was telling you my dad died didn’t he?” His face pinched together as he sucked in a deep breath when I didn’t deny his question. He turned away from me to keep me from seeing his pain.

  “John. I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.” I slowly stepped up to him and put my hand on his shoulder. I wasn’t sure what to do or how he would react. He turned towards me grabbing me firm around my waist as he laid his head on my neck and cried for the dad he never really got to know, and the father that raised him into the businessman he is today. His grip was so tight on my body I could barely breathe. I cried for him and with him, stroking his head until his shoulders stopped trembling.

  **

  Once he had gained some sense of acknowledgement of his father’s death, I told him about the circumstances and the letter. I knew we would have to decide when and where to conduct a funeral. John was worried how we could all be out in the open to have a service, knowing how compromised the situation could be.

  Two days later, the Houston oil rig needed some important details checked off. Now that his father was dead, literally no time passed before those details were having to be dealt with by John. He could have delegated someone else to visit the site, but knowing how badly I needed a break in scenery, he alerted security and planned a visit. He even contacted my father to accompany us. Having him ride in the car with us would give us more time to talk, and would probably serve as a distraction for John who had been down since the call about his father.

  As we were getting into the c
ar John pulled me tight against him and kissed my lips taking my breath away.

  “Hmmm. What was that for?” I said in a breathy voice.

  “That’s for being my wife in every way. For loving me and listening to me. I love you Chloe.” He kissed me again. My cheeks were blushing at the thought of the agents witnessing our exchange. “Thank you too for putting up with this craziness. I hope we catch this asshole soon, but you’ve been a real trooper. I know how much you miss your friends.”

  I hugged him tight. “I do,” God I do, “but I wouldn’t change a thing right now John. I have you all to myself. I love you too.” We had one last hug as John squeezed my behind making me squeal. It made me happy to realize he could still have a little fun in his time of sorrow. I hoped he would loosen up more and more. Of course my cheeks blushed when I saw the smirk on the agent’s lips who was standing near us.

  My dad pulled up just as we were leaving and we all rode together, this time surrounded by three cars to go to the Houston plant. Security had gone on ahead as well, and cleared a path, so to speak, to where John needed to be.

  As we pulled up to the gate I was amazed at the size of the operation before me. From the outside, the setup looked just like an enormous steel and glass office building. It was modern, but classic looking as well. As we walked in, there was a nice-looking man who looked to be in his early forties that introduced himself and offered to escort us back. The security was very tight. I noticed you had to have a badge to get in any external door, and there was a keypad lock on all of the interior doors.

  John looked a bit nervous beside of me, double checking everything in sight as he walked about the building. He had many discussions with various employees along the way, and even signed a few forms as well. Once we made it to the back door, I assumed this was where I would get the feel for the oil rigs.