The VIP Room(115)

"Where'd you get the change of clothes? You arrived in a tux."

"Haven't you figured out yet that all my vehicles have extra shirts and pants?"

She looked around and saw her dishes from the night before in the dish rack, washed, along with the wine glass. She made an approving noise. "Now a girl can get used to this. You better be careful," she said.

Derek jumped up and poured a mug of coffee for her. "You ain't seen nothing yet. So, drink up and then we'll get going. And, by the way, I'll send someone over to clean up your backyard tomorrow, so don't even give it a single thought."

Lauren gasped and raised her hand to her mouth, remembering how she tore apart the flowerbed the night before.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

He handed her the paper. "What's your favorite section?"

"Sports," she said, and burst out laughing at his surprised expression.

"Just kidding. The financial section is the only part I read, but I'm not in the mood for that now."

Derek's eyes widened. "What are you in the mood for? And don't say what I think you're thinking, because I want to take you somewhere before we go back to bed."

Lauren sipped some coffee and set down the mug. "Then let's get going. I told you I'm starving."



* * *



"Do you have something to tie back your hair?" Derek asked as they got into the Corvette.

Lauren reached into her purse and pulled out a hair clip. "Yes. Why?"

"Because I'm putting the top down."

While the mechanism was working, Derek made a quick call, ordered breakfast, and said they'd be there in thirty minutes.

"Where are we going?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I never heard anyone put in an order when they made reservations before."

Derek laughed. "You'll see."

Lauren became curious when Derek drove across town and into an exclusive residential area. "I didn't know they had any commerce here," she said. "What's the restaurant's name again?"

"Nice try, but I'm not telling you where we're going."

He pulled up to a large Tudor mansion.

"Wow, I didn't know this B&B was here," she said when he came around to open her door.

They walked up the paved driveway and Derek put a key in the lock, looking sideways at her with a smile.

Lauren looked confused. "But you showed me your house last weekend, and this certainly is not it." Her eyes narrowed. "Please don't tell me there are any more lies or secrets."

"I told you the truth. You asked if it was my house, and it is. The house I showed you is a rental property I own. One of many. This place is my residence," Derek said, and pushed open the door.

He lifted her up in his arms and carried her over the threshold. A uniformed butler was standing in the foyer. "Your breakfast is ready to be served, Mr. Holmes."

Derek nodded and set Lauren down next to him. "Charles, I'd like you to meet the future Mrs. Holmes."

Lauren could barely sputter out a greeting. Her mouth opened almost as wide as her eyes as Derek took her hand and led her down the hall to a sumptuous spread in the dining room.

"Welcome to my home, Lauren."

He got down on one knee. "Please make me the happiest man in the world and say you'll move in and make it yours, too."

"Are you asking me to marry you or move in with you?"

"Both."

Lauren tugged at his arm lightly and Derek stood up. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I will marry you, and we'll talk later about the house."

Before he could respond, she filled his mouth with her tongue. Derek pulled his head back and smiled at her.

"I'll show you every house I own, and you can take your pick. If you don't like any of them, I'll move into your house or anywhere you want. All I care about is that I have you to come home to every day for the rest of my life."

"Good answer. Now let's eat, and then you can show me the bedroom suite. I think I may want to sample the bed before I decide."

Derek's eyes twinkled. "Sounds good. You know, of course, that there's a master bedroom in every one of my houses. Trying out each bed might take some time."

Lauren sat down in the chair he pulled out for her. "I can't think of a better decision-making process for selecting a home, can you?"

Derek shook his head. "I'm ready to start testing beds any time you are, Goldilocks. But as far as I'm concerned, any bed with you in it works for me."

While Derek looked away for a moment to signal to the staff to begin serving, Lauren pinched her arm to make sure she wasn't in a dream. Seeing a red welt appear--and the look of concern on Derek's face as he lightly ran his fingers over the area--erased any trace of doubt that lingered.

THE END





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