Readers -- for my Valentine's tale this year, I brought back some old and familiar characters. For those of you new to my writing, please read
"The Twelve Lays of Christmas"
and
"There is Baking and There is Cooking"
if you want to learn the history of our players. Enjoy the story ~~ BrettJ
*
Thomas Wickham swung his legs out of bed and tried not to yelp when his bare feet hit the cold bedroom floor. It was one of the things he didn't like about the house. True, it had its charms, but buying the rambling Colonial-style home would not have been his first choice. He thought it too big for just himself and his wife, but Cherie had fallen in love with it at first sight and that was that. He would have done anything to make her happy because Cheryl "Cherie" Partridge had brought the sun back to his life a few scant years ago. Theirs had been a whirlwind courtship and yet, he knew she, like himself, had no regrets.
He put on his slippers and looked over at his sleeping wife. Even with her hair all tousled, she looked beautiful. She truly was one of those women who could roll out of bed looking spectacular and with a few quick applications, become even more so. Small wonder he had fallen in love with her so quickly, although her personality had been the clincher. She brought him an all-encompassing love and passion and held nothing back. From their very first date, Cherie had woven her magic. Nothing had gone stale in their relationship, even after these years together. Last night had proven that, Thomas was weary and his bones creaked a little from all his exertions. She was a very demanding lover and he had stepped up his game considerably since she had become his wife. The experiences he had shared with Cherie would have been enough for a lifetime, perhaps even several. That didn't count to Cherie and he knew they had barely scratched the surface.
Given a choice, Thomas would have loved to have slept until noon and then, re-acquainted himself with his wife's passionate body. He didn't have that option today, not if he wanted his plans to come off with no glitches. He shook the cobwebs from his brain and went downstairs to make coffee for himself and for Cherie. Usually when Thomas awoke, Cherie wasn't long in following and vice-versa. The happy couple always spent their mornings together and sometimes, his gorgeous wife would try to lure him back to bed. She often succeeded. What good was owning your own business if you couldn't come in late every so often? He knew his staff at Le Petite Chou was more than capable of handling things until he arrived. He trusted Brandi with every facet of the business and she had repaid his trust over and over again.
The coffee had barely finished brewing when Cherie walked into the kitchen. She was already dressed and showered, he often marveled at how fast his lovely wife could accomplish all of that. Wearing a silk blouse, tight black pants and heels, she looked as if she was going out to work in a fashion house and not at a high-end food store. That's where they had met and Cherie loved working at the Pear Tree. She was part of their extended family.
"I didn't think you'd be able to rise this early," Cherie smiled as she kissed her husband on the cheek. He handed her a cup of coffee.
"Since when have I had trouble rising?" Thomas punned. That got a smile out of her and earned him another kiss. One of Cherie's proudest accomplishments was the fact she had loosened him up a bit. It had been one of her mother-in-law's requests at their wedding. Not that she hadn't noticed immediate potential in the handsome British chef.
"Well darling, after last night, I'm not complaining," Cherie smiled and sipped her coffee. She let out a satisfied sigh that was an unspoken compliment to her husband's wonderful coffee. Cherie had married a man who did everything well and were she not intent on maintaining her figure, she could well have weighed a few hundred pounds. Even something as simple as a cup of coffee was a masterpiece when made by Tommy. She chuckled to herself as she remembered that she was one of the few women in the world allowed to call him that. Most of the time, he hated it.
"So, good looking, are you going to tell me what you have planned for us today?" Cherie asked, nuzzling his neck.
"Today? What's so special about today?" He teased, knowing it would bug her just a little. He was right, she punched him in the arm. As he rubbed his arm, he smiled and gave her a kiss. "Are you planning to tell me what you have planned, my lovely Valentine?"
"Not a chance," Cherie smiled and shook her head. She knew the surprise -- actually, the first surprise -- would garner a lot of smiles. The second, and biggest of the surprises, would wait until much later tonight. She knew that Thomas would plan something magical and all she would have to do is show up.
Thomas had everything all planned out, nothing at all had been left to chance. These next few days would be something she would not soon forget if he knew Cherie -- and he did. Even though she could still manage to surprise him, the sexy brunette was his soul mate. If he performed some romantic gesture on her behalf, she always appreciated it and the way she showed her appreciation made it all worthwhile.
"Mike's giving me a few days off, isn't that nice of him?" Cherie smiled as she poured herself some more coffee. Thomas didn't tell his bride that he had arranged that with Mike and that his longtime friend was more than happy to help. "So, we can start celebrating a little early, if you like."
"Sounds great to me gorgeous, I just need to set up for the lunch crowd and then you'll have me all to yourself," Thomas grinned. He had a few things to discuss with Brandi and then everything was ready to go. He finished his coffee, kissed Cherie goodbye and made his way to the restaurant. A small part of him wondered if he might be even more excited than Cherie would be when she discovered all of her surprise.
Cherie ran upstairs and found the first of her husband's gifts. Irina had come up with the idea. Her ex-roommate had suggested that she have some photographs taken and make them into a very sexy calendar. Cherie was intrigued by the idea and Irina suggested a friend of hers, a lovely photographer who often did these kinds of things. Cherie rummaged through her collection of lingerie, heels and other accessories. Her libido thrilled to the thought of giving her husband some exciting new fantasies. She had often thought about posing in such a manner, Cherie had no hang-ups whatsoever about her body.
Cherie had planned meticulously what it was she wanted in the calendar. Despite all of that, her plans went flying out the window when she met the photographer. Cherie Wickham was not the type of woman who got flustered easily. This was an exception to the rule. Amelia Prince would get anyone in a tizzy. Tall, sexy, with skin the color of cocoa and expressive brown eyes, she made Cherie weak-kneed. Try as she might, she couldn't speak in full sentences for a good ten minutes after meeting the woman. Why hadn't Irina told her that her friend was so stunning? Cherie realized that she had answered her own question. Irina was playing one of her little games. Her one-time lover was trying to set her up for a little discreet encounter.
