CHAPTER 12 – Passion and The Gala

AN: I used a real location in this chapter that I thought particularly interesting. The Liberty Hotel in downtown Boston. If you want, go to libertyhotel . com and read some of its history.

...

"I talked to William earlier today," Michaela murmured, nestled snugly with her husband in the large canopy bed in one her mother's spare bedrooms, the girls down the hall occupying Michaela's childhood room.

Sully snickered softly.

"What?" Michaela asked, leaning back to try and see his face in the moonlight from the window.

"Nothin'," he murmured, squeezing her to him more and softly caressing her shoulder. Glancing at her face, he saw the curiosity, and elaborated, "It just struck me kinda funny...layin' here with your husband, you talk about another man."

"Oh," Michaela replied sheepishly, seeing his point. "Well...if you didn't know William, it would be different...plus the fact that he is very happily married – to a very pregnant wife," she added with a grin.

"Yeah, true," he conceded, smiling as he felt his wife adjust her own somewhat burgeoning belly against his side. "How's Connie doin'? She's about seven months now, right?"

"Yes, and she's fine," she assured. "He said they had been concerned that she wasn't gaining enough, but in the past three weeks she has more than made up for it. It seems a sudden craving for New York Cheesecake kicked in," she added with a chuckle, thinking of her own cravings.

Sully chuckled softly, remembering his wife's apple pie/pickle fetish. "Yeah, and what does she have with it...sardines?" he murmured teasingly, laughing when Michaela smacked at his chest gently, albeit chuckling herself in response.

"That's not funny..." she fussed amid giggles, trying to reach a spot on his side she knew to be particularly ticklish.

"Why you laughin', then?" he countered with a snicker, grasping her hand and pressing it against his chest, effectively stopping her from reaching any of his ticklish spots. Turning toward her, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. She immediately stilled – and reacted to his touch – opening to him and melting into his embrace. Having refrained from 'being together' the first two nights in Boston – the first night due to fatigue and the second due to staying up late for the traditional family reading of A Christmas Carol – both felt more than hungry for romance and marital fulfillment.

After several minutes of deep, passionate kissing, each threading their fingers through the soft waves of the other's hair, Sully moved his lips to her cheek and ear, nuzzling her neck as she did the same.

"Mmm, I love your new cologne," she purred, breathing deeply of the heavenly scent he had applied after his shower, in teasing compliance of her earlier request.

"I love yours," he whispered, as one hand wandered down to her body's various sensitive spots, pausing to lovingly caress the roundness of her belly where his child grew.

"I'm not wearing cologne," she murmured breathlessly, arching her head back as he kissed his way down her neck.

He paused a second and grinned in the darkness, before continuing his explorations with a whispered, "I know...but ya always smell so good...you drive me wild just thinkin' about ya," he confessed as he found her mouth again.

The world seemed to spin with heady excitement, each one melting and responding to the other's beloved touch – truly, each time for the lovers was just as thrilling as the first, and they never tired of their togetherness.

Delighting in her husband's delicious lips, Michaela gave herself over to his ministrations, realizing how much she had missed the feel of his body under her gently roaming hands. "Oh Sully...it seems so long since we made love," she whispered with a soft moan as she arched into him in mind blowing enticement.

"Sure does," he whispered amid kisses as he quickly freed her of her nightclothes, gently squeezing and caressing her curves as the passion mounted. "Mmm, Michaela...I love ya so much," he moaned. Kissing her deeply once again, an idea formed in his mind, and he paused breathlessly.

"Sweetheart...turn on your side with your back ta me," he murmured against her mouth as he slid one hand down to her hip to encourage her compliance. "When ya get bigger, we're gonna have to use other... positions," he whispered, lovingly arranging her smooth silky body against the roughness of his bare chest and thighs. "Thought we'd try and perfect one tonight," he added in a sexy murmur as he lovingly drew her earlobe into his mouth, causing her breath to catch and her heart to speed up in wild anticipation.

"Sounds like a plan," she murmured breathlessly, responding to his expert direction.

Smoothing aside the silken curtain of her hair, he pressed kisses to her velvety smooth back and neck, sweetly murmuring of the depth of his devotion as he expertly readied her body for loving. She obeyed eagerly as he whispered further instructions, preparing to join them as one.

Moaning in pleasure as he slowly joined their bodies, she reveled in his sigh of bliss as he began to move, while lovingly caressing her in ways and in places he knew she craved.

Their lovemaking burned hotter and stronger with each movement and intimate caress until each reached their own peak of satisfaction, somehow remembering to stifle any boisterous exclamations.

Unable to stop herself, Michaela gasped a soft, "Oh Sully!" just before she plunged over the edge of no return, her husband joining her quickly with his own sweet victory as he gripped her to him tightly and buried his face in her soft, fragrant hair, growling in sheer ecstasy.

When it was over, they lay pressed together, languidly sated and deliciously tired, his arms around her in a loving embrace as her head rested on his arm. Sully thought his heart would beat out of his chest with exertion and love for his beautiful wife.

"God I love you, Michaela!" he whispered fiercely, one arm holding her firmly around her upper chest, pressing her into the curve of his body as if he wanted to absorb her into his very being. The other hand, which he had used to exponentially increase her pleasure, moved higher to lovingly cup their child. "How is it that every time with you is even better than the last?" he complimented softly, pressing a kiss to her ear and nuzzling her hair as he waited for his heart rate to return to normal.

"I don't know," she whispered breathlessly, reaching a hand back to caress his smooth cheek. "But I couldn't agree more."

When finally he could maintain their connection no longer, he lovingly turned her to her back and placed himself fully in her arms, hovering his weight courteously above the firm pooch of her belly.

"I love you so much...you're so beautiful...so sexy...so wonderful," he breathed, his cheek pressed to hers, nuzzling gently as he whispered reverently in her ear. "I'll never get enough of you – you're in my blood, woman," he declared with much feeling and sincerity.

Tears immediately sprang to her eyes, and she took in a shuddering breath, murmuring, "Sully..."

He pulled back and braced his upper body with his elbows, gazing lovingly down into her face as one hand smoothed damp strands of her hair from her forehead and cheek. He shook his head in wonder, tears trying to blur his sight as he murmured, "I need you so much, 'Chaela, just to exist...if I lost you...my heart would burst and I'd... just bleed to death..."

"Oh Sully," she breathed as a tear slipped from one eye and trickled down her temple into her hair. Gazing up at him, the moonlight caressing his hair with a soft ethereal glow, she reached up and reverently caressed his lips with a thumb.

"I need you just as much..." she vowed. "I can't imagine living even one day without you. Truly...half of me would be ripped away if something took you from me...leaving behind nothing but...jagged remnants of my soul."

He smiled lovingly and nodded in perfect accord, pressing a sweet kiss to her fingers. "I love you..."

"I love you," she whispered fiercely.

After several moments of just gazing into each other's eyes, Sully leaned down and they sealed their vows with a reverent kiss, then he moved to her side and gathered her into his arms, each still reeling from the depths of emotion they had just experienced.

"You say such beautiful things to me, sweetheart," Michaela murmured softly, her eyes closed, nestled comfortably in his arms. "You are the most romantic man in the world...and I am the luckiest woman in the world."

"Thank you," he whispered with a dimpled grin.

Breathing in her husband's wonderful scent again in total satisfaction as he pressed a kiss to her temple, she whispered, "How did you learn to be so romantic?"

He smiled, idly caressing the long, soft locks of her hair, as he murmured, "I don't know really...it just flows outta me when I'm with ya. Just bein' in your arms makes me wanna confess my deepest feelins' to ya." Chuckling self-deprecatingly, he added, "I can't hold nothin' back – I sure couldn't lie to ya."

She smiled against his neck, pressing a kiss to the warm skin there as she whispered, "Nor I to you."

"That's good to know," he murmured softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead as each fleetingly thought about the miseries and deceptions of their previous marriages.

Several quiet minutes went by, Michaela's thoughts floating around her husband and romance, when she thought of something she had wanted to ask him. Gathering her spunk, she queried, "Sully...remember when you told me about you and Harv talking all night?"

"Mmm hmm."

"What things did you...discuss...about romance?" she finally murmured, drawing her lip between her teeth as she waited to see what he would say.

He smiled, and then chuckled. Thinking back, he drawled, "Weellllll...let's see...I told him how much you love flowers, especially red roses, and how your eyes light up when I surprise ya with one..." he began, ticking items off in his mind. "I told him...how I surprise ya with things like dancin' with ya down in the living room late at night...or bringin' ya your favorite snack in bed...or cleanin' the Escalade for ya and fillin' it with gas so you don't have to...or tellin' ya all the time how much ya mean to me...stuff like that."

"Oh...and what did he say?" she asked with a grin.

Sully laughed and drew in a breath. "At first, he said, 'Women like stuff like that?' But as I went on, and told him how you react to different things, he started nodding his head, like he was filin' the information away. And I guess he was," he added with pride and pleasure.

"Mmm, yes he was. And may I say...the look on Ellen's face when she told me about her 'new' husband made the miserable night worth it. However, I don't ever want to go through that again!" she added fervently.

"Me neither, sweetheart. Me neither," he stated emphatically.

With that, they settled down to sleep, each totally grateful for a warm bed and each other's arms in which to sleep.

"Merry Christmas, mé'oo'o," he murmured.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Né-méhotatséme," she added with a grin.

He smiled in the darkness, pressing his lips against her hair, her use of the Cheyenne endearment never failing to warm his heart.

"I love you, too."

OOOOOOOOO

"Oh, come on, Michaela. It'll be fun!" Rebecca encouraged over breakfast the next morning. Living just over on the next street and wishing to spend more time with their extended family, they had popped over early. "The Halman's After Christmas Gala is always enjoyable...and you'll get to see old friends you haven't seen in a while..."

"Well..." Michaela hesitated, unsure of how Sully would respond to the idea.

"Just think... people will be there who know David...this is a chance to show Sully off to them," her sister added with a mischievous twinkle.

Just then, the topic of that remark descended the last of the stairs and grinned at his wife as he entered the formal dining room, dressed in a nice fitting pair of jeans and a warm Colorado Rockies sweatshirt.

Leaning over to press a kiss to his wife's willing lips, he murmured, "I missed you when I woke up..."

She smiled and kissed him again, reaching up a hand to caress his cheek as their eyes met in silent communication, visions and sensations from their lovemaking the previous night rushing to the forefront of their minds.

"I had to get up early to...well, you know...and I realized I was hungry, so I came on down to the kitchen to see what I could scrounge. You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn't want to wake you," she added lovingly.

Pursing his lips in that cute pout that always melted her heart, he murmured, "Well, okay...I'll forgive you...this time," before he leaned in for another kiss, this one lasting much longer than the first two and kindling feelings they had shared together the night before. Rebecca and Robert exchanged an amused glance.

"All right you two, get a room," Marjorie's voice suddenly interrupted, causing them to break apart guiltily and turn their heads toward the doorway, only to see her face wearing an amused smile. No one had heard the front door open and close. Laughing, she added, "Oh yeah...you do have a room."

"Marjorie," Michaela fussed, smoothing her hair back from her slightly pink face as Sully chuckled, seating himself beside her.

"Sully, we were just discussing the Halman's After Christmas Gala and wondered if you would be game to attend..." Rebecca ventured, glancing quickly at Michaela before settling her eyes on Sully. "This year, they are hosting it in the ballroom at the Liberty Hotel," she added with a grin.

"The Liberty?" Michaela questioned, familiar with the story of the hotel, which had once been the Charles Street Jail. "I've wanted to see how they accomplished such a feat of remodeling genius."

"Why are they havin' it the night after Christmas...instead of New Year's Eve...?" Sully asked casually, placing a helping of scrambled eggs onto his plate.

Rebecca grinned, familiar enough with her brother-in-law now to know he was not totally adverse to the idea. "Because the Halmans have always had a tradition of 'bucking' the norm. I think one reason being they can have their pick of caterers, since they are all booked up on the two holidays," she added with a chuckle.

Looking toward his wife and catching the hopeful expression in those beautiful mismatched eyes that always melted his heart with one glance, Sully switched his eyes to his sister-in-law. "Formal?" he asked with dread.

"Oh no, not black tie. Just...semi, I guess you could say."

"I didn't bring a suit..."

"You can wear one of mine," Robert chipped in helpfully, in truth hoping Sully would say yes so that he would have someone 'real' to talk to at the gathering. Since he had won all those millions in the Massachusetts Lottery, he was never sure who wanted to be friends and who really just had an ulterior motive - some new invention for him to invest in, some 'relative' that needed help, some questionable 'worthy' cause to support.

Sully cast a sideways glance at his much taller brother-in-law, his eyes twinkling with merriment as he made a puffing sound with his lips. "Yeah, right!"

"Mother can have Martha temporarily hem the trousers up for you..." Rebecca offered gently.

"Who's Martha?" Brian wondered, before digging into his stack of blueberry pancakes he had just carefully carried in from the kitchen.

"The seamstress Mother pays to do all of her alterations," Michaela automatically answered. She glanced over at Sully, hoping he would agree. The thought of attending a Boston gala with her incredibly handsome husband had sparked her interest. In truth, a tiny grain of spite somewhere deep down had taken root, based on the idea that somehow her ex would hear about it. A thought crossed her mind and she glanced at her brother-in-law.

"Robert...he wouldn't..."

Immediately catching her meaning, Robert shook his head, assuring, "I saw the guest list a week ago, Michaela. He wasn't on it."

Smiling in relief, and catching her sister's amused eye, she turned to her husband.

"Sully...would you like to go?" she asked softly, leaning toward him and reaching to cover his hand with one of hers.

He looked into her eyes, his switching back and forth between hers as he searched her thoughts. He could easily see she wanted to go, and being unable and unwilling to deny her anything within his power to grant, he allowed his mouth to curve into a half smile, the kind that made his dimples more pronounced.

Taking in a deep breath, he shrugged and emitted a characteristic, "Sure."

OOOOOOOOO

"Wow Mom, you look beautiful!" Hannah breathed as Michaela descended the wide, elegant stairway of her childhood home that night, holding securely to her dashing husband's jacketed arm.

"Thank you, sweetheart," she murmured, hugging both her daughters as she reached the bottom, and glancing into Sully's appreciative eyes. He gave her a wink, having told her the same thing multiple times as they were getting ready for their night on the town.

Her hair, upswept on one side and held in place by a diamond studded comb, borrowed from Elizabeth, fell past the middle of her back in tight curls, making her appear even more vibrant and alive than she normally did. A diamond necklace hung around her neck, her charm bracelet adored her left wrist, and long dangling diamond earrings fell gently from her ears. She exuded the very essence of style, vitality, and happiness, with an underlying sensuality that drew men's gazes like moths to a flame.

"Michaela, you look divine," Elizabeth complimented. "Red has always been your color I think...and is highlighted by the becoming 'glow' in your countenance," she added lovingly as she gazed at her stunning daughter.

Michaela smiled happily and glanced down at the simple, yet classy v-neck maternity dress made of a stretchy, vibrant fabric, and sporting an empire waist with front tie sash and long form-fitting sleeves. The elegant creation becomingly allowed room for the slight swell of her now burgeoning belly, and reached to the floor, just hiding the matching red low-heeled 'ballroom' shoes Rebecca had lent to her for the night. Michaela felt, once again, like a princess being escorted to a ball.

"Thank you, Mother," she murmured, leaning to give Elizabeth a warm hug. 'I'd forgotten how much I enjoy dressing up this way," she added, casting a teasing glance at her husband. He merely smiled, though he was thinking he'd much rather see her undressed than dressed up.

"Oh Michaela, that dress looks wonderful on you," Rebecca complimented, reaching out to give her sister a quick hug. "I'm certainly glad it's come in handy. I only wore it once, when I was pregnant with Charise."

"And Sully..." Elizabeth added, directing her gaze to her attractive son-in-law, "May I say, that suit looks even better on you than it does on Robert."

Her virile rancher son-in-law flashed a dimpled smile. Inclining his head with a soft, "Thank you," he adjusted the silver diamond-studded cuff links adorning the cuffs of the white shirt peeking out from the sleeves of the black, two-button, satin lapelled jacket, and tugged at the red silk tie knotted at his neck. In truth, with Sully's perfect physique, he looked exceptional in anything he wore, whether it was a tuxedo or a bath towel, but in characteristic humility he would never think of himself in those terms.

Michaela gently batted his hands away, softly fussing, "Sully, stop. It's perfect...leave it alone."

"It bugs me," he grumbled softly, hating to wear neckties, but he smiled into her eyes when she finished straightening the tie yet again, and stretched up to brush his lips with hers.

"Dad...you look like you're getting married again," Hannah murmured, gazing at her handsome father as he ran his hand back through his collar-length hair, its honey-brown hues contrasting wonderfully with the true black of the jacket.

"No way, sweet girl," he immediately countered, turning to take his lovely wife in his arms with a dimpled grin. "When I married your mom, it was for life. No need for another weddin'," he added as he leaned in to give his wife a soft, lingering kiss.

"Aww stop it, Mr. Romance – you're making me look bad," Robert teased, taking his own wife in his arms for an amorous kiss as the children chuckled.

"All right, enough of that you four," Elizabeth fussed good-naturedly, turning to open the door and shoo the two couples out into the cold December evening.

Sully picked up the mink stole Elizabeth had loaned her daughter and wrapped it around his wife before taking her hand and placing it in the crook of his arm as he flashed her his most charming grin, every bit the dashing gentleman.

"'Night Elizabeth. Thanks for watchin' the kids," Sully told his mother-in-law sincerely, leaning to place a quick kiss on her cheek before following the other couple out the door. "Yes, thank you, Mother," her daughters added.

"You're most welcome," Elizabeth answered softly, smiling after them fondly, and watching as they made their way to Robert's pearl white Lexus.

"Have fun!" she called before hastily shutting the door against the cold breeze. If she had known what would take place in just a few hours, her words at that point might have been a little different...

OOOOOOOOO

All the way to the party, Michaela couldn't seem to take her eyes off of her magnificent escort, pressed warmly against her side in the back seat. With her right arm entwined with his left, fingers intertwined, she was close enough to luxuriate in the heady scent of the new cologne he had willingly submitted to wearing. She felt transported to another realm of excitement and anticipation. Smiling softly as she gazed at the passing scenery, she realized she had never looked so forward to attending a function like this...but with Sully...everything always seemed more exciting and wonderful.

Glancing his way again, she allowed her eyes to caress his form. Smiling dreamily, she mused that in the eighteen months she had known him, she had seen him dressed to the nines in tuxedos, dressed rugged in jeans and buckskin jacket, and everything in between, but something about the way he looked this night was making her heart race, and she felt as if she were falling in love with him all over again. Does he know how incredibly handsome he is? It certainly doesn't seem like it...he seems so unaffected and natural – and not a bit self-absorbed or conceited. He could be a movie star with those looks of his... she ruminated, imagining for a moment her husband on the big screen. His gorgeous face and magnificent eyes magnified in living color for all the world to see...

Sully was having similar thoughts as he glanced quite frequently at his lovely wife while trying to concentrate on polite conversation with Rebecca and Robert in the front seats. She looks so gorgeous in that red dress... stunning...downright radiant. Her hair is so beautiful...that smile so brilliant... I wonder if she knows how good lookin' she is...'cause she sure never acts like she does. Pretty women are a dime a dozen...Michaela's special... She's the sweetest, kindest, gentlest, most loving woman I've ever known...and she's all mine...she's even carryin' my baby... he mused, flashing her a roguish grin as her eyes met his once again, their expression dreamy. I wonder what she's thinkin'...

"Sully...you paying attention, man?" Robert teased, having noticed the couple in the back seat continue to gaze lovingly at each other the entire ride.

"What? Oh, yeah, Rob...sure," Sully responded, clearing his throat and unconsciously tugging on the knot at his neck as Michaela chuckled.

Robert laughed and shook his head. "You're an old married couple now, you know. You shouldn't be sitting there making eyes at each other like that," he teased, chuckling as his wife took a swat at him.

"Leave them alone. You could take some lessons from the man in the back," she added with a wink. She knew he knew she was teasing, for she and Robert had a wonderful marriage and were still very much in love.

"Ahem, yes, dear," he replied, winking at her in return.

"As I was saying, Sully," he continued, "The Liberty is an incredible innovation in the art of reusing old buildings for a new function. The place was built as the Charles Street Jail in the 1850's, and had fallen into such disrepair that it was almost condemned. It really was a brilliant concept to turn it into what is now New England's premier luxury hotel."

"That right?" Sully commented, finally listening to his brother-in-law's conversation.

"I think that's what I want to venture into..." Robert added thoughtfully. "The marrying of historic architecture with the high standards of refined, modern life. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that, Bro. After all, you performed a little of that yourself – marrying historic architecture with modern amenities – in your renovation of your ancestor's homestead, and especially the downstairs bathroom."

"Thanks Rob," Sully responded, quite touched by his brother-in-law's compliment. "I appreciate that. And yeah...I'm all for savin' historic buildings - some of 'em are such great craftsmanship, it's a shame to just tear 'em down."

The ladies echoed similar sentiments as Robert pulled the car up to their destination and relinquished the vehicle to an attentive valet.

Just inside the main doors, as Robert signed them in, Sully wandered for a moment to a plaque on a wall, reading aloud softly, "Welcome to The Liberty. This 300-room hotel opened in September 2007 after a $150 million transformation of the mid-nineteenth-century Charles Street Jail. An exquisite Romanesque structure, it features exposed brick walls, wrought-iron chandeliers and an atrium that stretches 90 feet high. Among many winks and nods to the building's old days as a lockup, the first-floor bar is called Alibi. It's located in what was used to be the "drunk tank" of the jail."

Slipping an arm around his lovely wife's waist and hugging her softly to his side, Sully murmured teasingly, "I hope this place don't bring back bad memories."

Michaela smiled, realizing he referred to the miserable night he had spent in the Denver jail at the end of their honeymoon. "Don't worry, you won't hear any rusty locks behind your back. And even if you did," she added cheekily, "I would merely organize an 1870's style prison break and get you out."

Sully glanced at his wife and gave her a wink as they both chuckled together at their private joke.

Moments later, they joined their sister and brother-in-law as they entered the hotel's central core on the way to the ballroom. Passing through the large area, all four couldn't help but gaze up, awed at what had been beautifully preserved of the old jail's central atrium. Exposed brick walls with a soaring ninety foot ceiling, original round windows with a circles within circles design that were situated high on the corners, and historic two-level catwalks, co-existed seamlessly with an assortment of modern seating areas, a large bar, and a central clear staircase leading down to a lower level. The floor was eye-catching, with its carpet of brown and tan geometric designs, and hanging above were huge antique wrought iron chandeliers. Ambient lighting throughout the room gave the large space a soft cozy glow.

Elegantly dressed party-goers were already mingling throughout the space and greeted the new comers with friendly interest, several remarking quietly together about the breathtaking woman in red, escorted by the handsome man in black, and wondered who they were.

The four entered a large elevator to ascend to the second level ballroom as Robert remarked, "Impressive blend of historic and modern, huh?"

"Sure is," Sully readily agreed, suitably impressed, the ladies agreeing.

Suddenly the doors opened to reveal a 3,000 square foot room, beautifully appointed with rich carpets done in purple and gold geometric patterns, floor to ceiling windows draped in deep purple, thirty-foot ceilings, and more of the huge antique wrought iron chandeliers. Soft soothing Jazz music emanated from a bandstand in the far corner.

The space momentarily took their breath away, but their host, Burton Halman, a large man with a burly mustache and bushy eyebrows, immediately coaxed them forward.

"Bob!" the man exclaimed, disengaging himself from the couple he had been greeting and making his way to them. Robert shook his hand warmly.

"Hello Burt. How are you?"

"Fine, fine," the other man returned with a grin, taking Rebecca's hand in his as he added, "It's so nice to see you, Rebecca."

"Thank you, Burt," she returned warmly, then turned toward her sister, adding, "You remember my sister, Michaela..."

Turning with a gleam in his eye as he gave Michaela the once-over, the older man remarked as he took her hand firmly in both of his, "Yes, I do. And may I say, you are looking ravishing this evening, my dear."

Michaela smiled politely, gently extracting her hand as she offered brightly, "Mr. Halman, I'd like you to meet my husband, Byron Sully."

"Mr. Sully. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

"It's a pleasure, sir," Sully returned politely, shaking his hand.

After some more small talk, during which Sully observed their host making multiple and very obvious glances at his wife, prompting him to move close to her side with an arm securely around her waist, the man finally drifted off to greet some new arrivals, leaving the four to their own devices.

Sully looked around surreptitiously, leaning to press a soft kiss to Michaela's cheek and whisper in her ear, "If that man woulda looked at you one more time like a wolf on the prowl, I swear I was gonna deck 'im."

She giggled softly, gazing up into his eyes lovingly. "I'm glad you restrained yourself. I would hate to be thrown out on our ears...and you never know...they may have kept one jail cell intact for unruly guests," she added teasingly.

He chuckled wryly, grinning his dimpled smile as he leaned to her ear again, whispering for her ears only, "But this time, I'd enjoy myself if you were with me..."

"Not half as much as I would, I'd wager," she immediately returned, one eyebrow raised flirtatiously.

He laughed outright at that, lifting a finger and touching her chin as he whispered, "You'd lose that bet," which left them both chuckling happily at their familiar private joke as they moved off in the direction of the refreshment table.

OOOOOOOOO

The foursome had been mingling and having a wonderful time for about an hour, during which Michaela introduced her new husband to quite a few old acquaintances, including old 'friends' of she and David's, when a vaguely familiar voice cut into Michaela and Rebecca's conversation with a third woman.

"Well...if it isn't Michaela Lewis."

Rebecca and the other woman noticed Michaela bristle slightly at the name, before she turned and came face to face with a former co-worker of her ex-husband's.

"Max. It's good to see you," she returned politely, not meaning a word of it as she had always considered the man an obnoxious jerk. "And it's Michaela Sully now. Dr. Michaela Quinn-Sully. I resumed my practice."

The man's eyes widened for a brief second as he noticed a rather dashing man in an expensive black suit appear at her side, very obviously establishing 'ownership' of the lovely Michaela.

Michaela glanced lovingly at her husband. "I'd like you to meet my husband, Byron Sully," she offered. Sully dutifully reached forward to shake the other man's hand as Michaela went on, "Sully, this is Dr. Max Adler... a former co-worker of David's at Massachusetts General."

"Dr. Adler," Sully returned politely.

The other man quickly assessed the situation and the beauty staring confidently back at him. This was no longer the 'shrinking violet' Lewis had kept under his thumb. So...she flew the coop, huh? He mused, his eyes rudely sweeping down her body. And pregnant to boot...

Out loud he addressed Michaela, "So, what have you been up to...what's it been...three years since I left MG?"

"Yes...well obviously, David and I divorced," Michaela began, not wanting to give the insensitive boor any more information than she had to. "I took the children and moved out west...met Sully...and we were married seven months ago."

"Ah, that's wonderful," the man purred insincerely, hoping to pump her for information he could share around the water cooler in the doctor's lounge the next day. "And what..."

"Excuse us...but they seem to be playing our song," Sully interrupted, taking his wife by the arm and gently leading her out onto the dance floor as the man's mouth dropped open. Michaela smiled apologetically at him on the way by, floating into Sully's arms in absolute relief.

"Oh sweetheart, thank you," she whispered against his cheek as he maneuvered them into the mix of dancers.

"You're welcome," he answered softly, pressing his cheek against hers.

"I could never abide that man when he worked with David. He's a lecherous, womanizing, deceitful...worm of a man. He tried to hit on me many times, but I always managed to squirm out of his reach. He disgusts me," she added with a shudder.

Sully maneuvered her around so that he could watch the man speaking politely to Rebecca and Robert, and then thankfully make his way on around the ballroom, pausing to make a call on his cell phone as he turned toward the dancers.

"He's gone," he quietly informed her, turning his attention back where it belonged - his lovely and fetching wife. For the next hour, the lovers thoroughly enjoyed themselves dancing, sampling hors d'oeuvres and desserts - with Sully teasing his wife that he would run out and fetch a dill pickle if she needed it - and talking with new friends and acquaintances.

Once again out on the dance floor, Michaela leaned back in her husband's arms, one hand fingering the soft wavy hair at his collar. Her two-tone eyes caressed his gorgeous features and sparkling blue eyes that were caressing her features just as thoroughly.

Noticing the woman dancing next to them openly ogling Sully, she smiled a proud half grin. "Hmm, I may need to sharpen my claws," she observed teasingly, inclining her head toward the woman in answer to Sully's questioning look.

He glanced to their right and smiled at the woman, then smoothly turned his back to her as he swayed with Michaela, the elegant red material of her dress swishing softly against his trousered legs. Michaela settled back into his arms, snickering softly as the woman gave her a jealous glare and pointedly turned away.

"Have I told you lately that I'm in love with you?" Michaela asked her husband sweetly, nuzzling his neck and once again breathing in the wonderfully masculine cologne he was wearing.

"Not as much as I'm in love with you, I bet," he murmured with a playful grin, maneuvering her out of another couple's way and knowing what would come next.

"You would most certainly lose that bet, Mr. Sully," Michaela chuckled softly, never tiring of their familiar banter.

"Mmm, I really must thank Rebecca for giving you that cologne," she sighed languidly. "It's simply divine...but then again...I adore your natural scent just as much," she added cheekily, feeling him chuckle softly and murmur, "Thank you." She pressed herself covertly against him as they swayed to the slow and easy tune.

"Oooo, watch it now...or somebody'll come up and tell us to 'get a room'...and we just might have to."

"Is that a promise?" she teased, surreptitiously glancing to her left and blowing softly in his ear in the way she knew drove him absolutely out of his mind.

"Michaela Ann..." he warned softly, his voice low, starting to say something else, but stopping as he felt a firm tap on his left shoulder. Oh no, not another guy wantin' to dance with my wife... he groused silently. Racking his brain to think of a polite way to tell the man to get lost, he turned and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Sully, what...?" Michaela asked, looking into her husband's face and then to their right to follow his gaze, her mouth dropping open.

David was standing on the dance floor, gazing at them innocently as he waited for Sully to release her into his arms for a dance!

Before either of them could think of anything to say, David reached out and forcibly took Michaela from her husband's arms, swirling her away among the tightly spaced dancers, thereby rendering Sully unable to do anything without creating a spectacle. He ground his teeth and balled his fists in frustration.

"David, what are you doing?" Michaela demanded quietly, but with calm, self-assured strength.

"I saw you out here and just wanted to have a dance with you, for old times' sake," he answered smoothly, eyeing Sully and maneuvering them further away.

"How did you get in? I was told you weren't on the guest list," Michaela stated pointedly.

"I have my ways," he muttered vaguely. His eyes flicked to his nemesis and watched him walk off the floor and straight to his ex-wife's sister and that no good husband of hers, his own cousin, Robert. David was still livid with anger and jealousy over the fact that Robert had spent so much money helping them out with that land deal. He was family and Robert had never offered him one red cent!

Bringing his attention back to Michaela, he gazed down at her, taking in how absolutely ravishing she looked – and confirming the fact that she was obviously pregnant, as his friend had informed him earlier. Suffering from a classic case of the grass being greener, he murmured, "So...I see your cowboy has already done the deed...no doubt his attempt to force you to stay with him."

Michaela's eyes grew large with amazement at her ex-husband's audacity and wondered what he was up to this time.

He went on, "You know...I've been thinking about you a lot lately, Michaela... how good we were together. You have to be bored stiff with that so called 'rancher' you married, living way out there in the sticks in that tiny 'town'. Surely you miss the excitement of a big city..." He waited a beat to see if she would rise to the bait, but she was simply staring at him with a guarded expression, effortlessly moving to the music as she waited for her chance to escape back to Sully.

"I'm willing to take you back, even though you've dirtied yourself with the likes of him," he continued, leaning down to her ear and whispering an extremely indecent comment, which caused her mouth to drop open and her face to burn with embarrassment.

Without a second thought, Michaela stopped in mid beat, drew her right arm back, and slapped her disgusting ex-husband across the face with all the force she could muster. Sully, having been watching their every move, took off instantly, pushing his way through the dancers who had now stopped in surprise, Rebecca and Robert on his heels, all three intent on rescuing Michaela.

She took a deep breath and stared into David's surprised eyes as he raised a hand to his cheek, plainly branded with her handprint.

"You disgust me, David Lewis," she practically spat, her eyes shooting sage and russet flames as six years of mistreatment at his hands flooded back into her soul and added fuel to the already raging fire. "The best day of my life, until the day I married Sully, was the day the papers came in the mail granting my divorce from you."

Sully pushed by the last person and reached her side then, protectively flanking her and ready for anything, his hands flexing in anticipation as he secretly hoped the other man would give him cause to render him unconscious. His eyes sparked with blue fire.

Rebecca and Robert reached them and placed themselves supportively on either side of their sister and brother-in-law, Rebecca secretly proud to watch her beautiful sister give the loathsome David his due. Michaela curled her hands into fists at her side in an effort to keep calm, determined to tell her ex exactly what she thought of him.

"You are the most selfish, arrogant, uncaring, and unscrupulous man I've ever met, and, I might add, an embarrassment to the medical profession," Michaela went on steadily, her chin thrust forward in anger. "You don't know the meaning of the word Love. You never have, and you probably never will. And for that, I feel sorry for you, David." The man just stood rooted to the spot, truly taken aback by his ex-wife's ferocity.

"What Sully and I have together you could never imagine – and for your information – I've never been happier in my entire life. I thank God every day that I am away from you. And I'll thank you to never speak to me again!" she finished haughtily. Turning on her heel with a swish of her red dress and a tinkle of her bracelet, she submitted to her husband's grasp as people around them stepped back and they made their way through the curious crowd of gawking onlookers.

Never one to make a spectacle of herself in public, Michaela felt her face flame red as she realized the room had become embarrassingly silent, even the music had stopped.

Sully led his wife to the side and drew her protectively into his embrace, feeling her body shaking with wrath and discomfiture as he gently cradled her head against his neck and shoulder. Her arms encircled his back and held on fiercely as the stress of the last few minutes took its toll, and tears began to fill her eyes.

Turning his head, a muscle rippling in his cheek as he strove to maintain his control, Sully watched with hooded, angry eyes as Burt Halman spoke tersely to the vile man in the center of the dance floor. Sully smiled with grim satisfaction as David rightfully hung his head and made his way to the exit, obviously on threat of being forcefully removed from the premises.

Everyone in the ballroom breathed a sigh of relief as the elevator doors closed, the jovial atmosphere that had been so rudely interrupted slowly beginning to return as the band resumed playing.

Having made sure the offender had vacated the premises, Robert and Rebecca reached her side as Michaela parted a bit from her husband's protective embrace, chuckling softly as she accepted his handkerchief with which to dab at her eyes.

"Well that was certainly something..." she softly joked.

"I'd say you told him," Robert commented with an amused grin. Sully and Rebecca nodded in agreement, their eyes never leaving Michaela's face.

"That was something I've wanted to do for the longest time," Michaela admitted with a satisfied grin.

"Feel good?" Sully murmured with a loving smile.

"Yes it did," she declared firmly, smiling at the three and taking a large, calming breath.

"It did, indeed."