Title: Surrender to Love
Chapter 9: Secrets and more secrets
No copyright infringement intended.
Previously- Reba looked at Mike and giggled. "I can't believe you. I'll be back in a minute." She grinned and walked into the hallway, heading towards the stairs leading to the third floor. Once she was safely upstairs, her façade of humor gave way to tears.
Then, she heard footsteps on the stairs.
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out! Keep reading to find out more!
The answers to the questions above will be revealed as you read the story. Here is "Surrender to Love!"
Now on with our next chapter-
Reba quickly wiped away her tears and tried to appear casual as the footsteps got closer and Brock appeared. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you. What are you doing here?" Brock quipped.
"I came up here to be alone. Do me a favor and go back downstairs."
"I will, as soon as you tell me why you've been crying."
"Because I've done it again."
"Done what?"
"Disappointed him again. I've done it all my life."
"What makes you say that?"
"First, I was engaged to Mike, got pregnant, and then broke up with him. Then I got involved with you, got pregnant, and we ended. Mike and I got married and became a family. I'm twice married and twice divorced. I gave up two of my children. I stopped speaking to him for eight years. Now, he's disappointed over my latest choice in husbands, but I'd say the worst thing I ever did was adultery and that's because of you. Thanks for that."
"First, he didn't know that you and Mike were seriously involved. He just jumped to the wrong conclusion when you said that you were getting married after telling him that I was here. But on the other hand, it wasn't exactly adultery. He left you."
"What you did was unconscionable. I went to Houston with my husband and three children to celebrate Christmas with my family. You ruined that and my marriage. I wouldn't have done anything if you hadn't come on to me."
"A kiss isn't adultery, Reba."
"You came on to me in my old apartment. We got caught by my husband. That is not okay."
Brock grinned mischievously. "But we didn't have sex until after you were separated."
She glared at him and smacked him upside the head. "Not the point, Brock."
"Do you always have to be so violent?"
"Only when I'm around you."
He chuckled.
She paced the floor. "The weird thing is that I can't believe that he would actually approve of us. I never imagined him pleased at the idea of us getting married. It's like a scene right out of the Twilight Zone."
"And why is that?"
"Because of everyone's reaction after we eloped. Even now, it's hard to remember why we got together in the first place. It never made any sense."
"It didn't have to make sense. We loved each other. I haven't forgotten that." His gaze traveled to the picture on the punching bag. "You have a picture of me on your punching bag?"
"Everyone has a little healthy aggression towards their ex."
"I don't feel that way about you."
"Maybe you should. After all, I was the one who divorced you. My father actually thinks that you need me."
"I do need you, Red. I need you as my wife. I never loved any woman as much as you." Brock gazed at her expectantly.
Reba felt an unwelcomed surge of attraction. Her eyes were locked on his. Her pulse quickened. In one forward motion, she was in his arms. Crushing her to him, he pressed his mouth to hers. His kiss brought her senses to life. When he raised his mouth from hers and gazed into her eyes, she was filled with an aching need for more.
"Reba, are you up there?" Mike called out from the doorway at the bottom of the stairs.
In lightning-fast motion, she yanked away from Brock and fought to regain her composure. "Yes. I'll be down in a minute."
Mike was at the top of the stairs before Reba could head down to him. He scooped her into his arms.
"Mike, what are you doing? Put me down."
"Not a chance. You've had enough excitement for one day. You need some sleep, doctor's orders."
"I thought you said that you didn't want a submissive wife."
"I don't. But in this case, I want a submissive fiancée."
"Please put me down. Where are the kids?"
"I sent them to their room. Your father wants to talk to Brock in private. So, that just leaves me and you." Mike tossed the cordless phone to Brock. "We're going to her room to be alone for a while and we're locking the door." Mike called to Brock as he headed downstairs with Reba still in his arms.
Mike carried Reba into her bedroom, shutting the door behind him. His mouth covered hers. The soft caress of his lips on hers was warm and tender, coaxing her response. She felt a twinge of guilt from her lapse of judgment with Brock. But now, she was with the man with whom she'd spend the rest of her life. She gave into his kiss lovingly. When the kiss ended, he set her down on her feet. He walked over to the stereo and put on some soft music, pulling Reba into his arms as they danced to the song, "I'm Amazed."
"Mmm, this is nice. When did Lori Ann leave?" Reba asked.
"When you went up to your studio. She said that she felt like she was intruding on a family moment. After she left, I realized that we needed some time alone and here we are. Why did you go up there?"
"I started to get emotional I wanted to cry alone. So much has happened in my life leading up to this moment. It all caught up to me just then. I love you, Mike. I really do."
"I love you, too. I'm wondering if all this is because you're thinking about Cheyenne."
"Maybe a little. Do you think about her?"
"I have been thinking of her lately. I've wondered what it would be like to share in her life. What do you think about trying to find her after we get married?"
What do I say? Oh honey, we don't have to find her. I've been raising her for the past ten years. "I think it would be a dream come true to see you meet our daughter for the first time."
"Good. Then it's settled. I meant what I said in your studio. You need some sleep. Now, I'm going to tuck you into bed and take Brandy back to the hotel."
"Okay, tomorrow, you can sleep in yourself. I'll get Brock to keep an eye on the twins in the morning. I promise to get tons of sleep. You can come over later in the afternoon."
"Perfect. I'll take Brandy to the lake for some one-on-one time. We haven't had much of that lately."
"If you'll excuse me, I'll go get ready for bed. I'll be back in a minute."
Mike kissed her hand as she left his embrace to go into the bathroom.
Meanwhile in the studio, Brock was talking to JV on the telephone.
"So, how's it going? Obviously not as well as you'd hoped," JV remarked.
"Exactly. She's a stubborn woman," Brock said.
"She gets it from her mother. But you're equally stubborn so that can't be much of an obstacle."
"You have no idea. I went to see her at the school where she works and she refused any further contact with me. I called her and she hung up on me. Then she fainted when she saw me in her dining room tonight. Every time I try to get her alone with me, we're interrupted."
"But did you come all that way to give up?"
"No. Why are you giving me this pep talk? I would think that you'd be happier that she's marrying Holliway."
"In retrospect, I saw how happy you two were when you first started seeing each other, even though she tried to cover it up then. When you decided to remarry Barbra Jean, you and Reba looked equally miserable. After her accident, you stayed by her bedside. Do you think that I'm blind? I knew something was going on. I knew that she loved you when she left Samantha with you."
"You're a good man. I know that you'd never lie, cheat, or intentionally hurt my daughter. I know that you'll treat her right because you've been given a second chance. Why shouldn't I want her to be with you?"
"Coming from you, JV, that means a lot. I love her and I want to make her happy. You could've saved us a lot of time and trouble back then if you would've just told us that you knew about us."
"And have my daughter accuse me of meddling in her love life? Not a chance!"
Brock laughed, and then he heard a beep on the line. "Hey, JV, there's another call coming in. I'll call you soon with an update." He clicked into the other call. "Hello?"
"Brock, I need to talk to Reba."
"Okay, Lori Ann. Hold on. I'll go get Reba for you."
Brock walked downstairs towards Reba's bedroom. He stopped at the door when he heard her voice.
"Oh, that feels so good, Mike. Don't stop."
"If you think that feels good. I'll do something that makes you feel even better."
Reba moaned again a little louder.
Brock felt like a volcano on the verge of erupting. How could she make love with him after what just happened between us? His hands were clenched tightly in anger at the thought. He knocked twice on the door. Finding it unlocked, he entered, hearing no response.
Reba and Mike were on the bed. Reba was dressed scantily in a pink flimsy nightgown. Mike still had his clothes on, but one of his hands was up the nightgown on her thigh.
"What do you want?" Reba asked.
"Lori Ann is on the phone for you," Brock explained.
Mike took his hands off Reba. "I think I'll leave now. Promise me that you'll stay in bed and get some rest."
Reba nodded and Mike kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Good night, darling. Sweet dreams," Mike said before departing.
"I've never seen such a passionate goodbye kiss after lovemaking. Do you still have the strength to answer the phone?" Brock asked in a chilly voice, dripping with sarcasm.
"Just give me the phone, Brock."
He handed her the telephone.
"Hello."
"Hey, Reba, I just thought you'd like to know that Cheyenne is here," Lori Ann explained.
"Cheyenne is there? Why? What happened? Why didn't she come home?"
"She's upset. She just broke up with her boyfriend and she wanted to talk to Jack."
"So, you're at Jack's house?"
"Yes. Here's Jack. He wants to talk to you," Lori Ann said.
Jack's husky voice replaced Lori Ann's shrill twang on the other line. "Reba, don't overreact, okay? Cheyenne is very upset. She didn't want you to get mad. She wanted some male advice. I've always been there for her, Reba."
"I know that, Jack. Just let me talk to my own daughter."
A minute later, a sad young woman's voice came on the line. "Hi, Mom."
Reba hesitated, not knowing what to say that would be the most comforting. "Hi, Cheyenne. How are you?"
"Adam broke up with me. He said that it was wrong for us to be together because I was too young and immature for him. He's only three years older than me," Cheyenne revealed.
Reba's temper flared, but she tried to tread lightly. "Oh, honey, how could you get involved with that boy? Didn't I warn you about him? I didn't want you to end up heartbroken."
"Yes, Mom. Listen, Uncle Jack said that I can stay here tonight. So, I'll be home in the morning."
"Fine, Sweetheart. I've got some great news. Your father and I are getting remarried. We're all gonna be a family again."
"Really? Cool! I'm so happy for you, Mom."
"I'm pretty pleased about it myself. Tell Uncle Jack thank you and I'll see you in the morning. You get some sleep, okay?"
"Night, Mom."
Reba clicked off the telephone. Brock stood by her bed. His eyebrow raised in amused contempt. His mouth curved into a mocking smile. "Now, the plot thickens!"
"Brock, please leave. I'm tired and I want to go to bed."
"If that's the way it's going to be."
Reba's body relaxed as Brock turned and walked to the door, but the relief was short lived. He shut the door, remaining in the room. She felt the tension returning fiercely as he walked over to her bed again and sat down. "Now, you have some explaining to do. And we have privacy to argue, if need be."
To be continued ...
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Here's the author shout-out section. This time, I would like to shed light on two great authors for I Keep On Lovin' You by Beautifully-Tragiic and What Dreams Are Made Of by SomebodysLucy. Please update these wonderful stories soon.
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Characters I don't own: Reba McKinney, Brock Hart, Barbra Jean Booker-Hart, Kyra, Jake Hart, Cheyenne, Van, Dr. Jack Morgan, Henry Hart, Mike Holliway, Terry Holliway, Mrs. Hodge, Lori Ann Garner, JV McKinney, Helen McKinney, and any other characters from the Reba cast.
Characters I do own: Anyone not part of the Reba cast – original characters developed for this story include: Samantha Hart, Brandy Holliway, Lindsay Douglas, Maxine Douglas, and Janel Morgan.
