--- 25 ---
Paul lay on his back with Reba's head resting on his shoulder. She drew small circles on his firm muscular chest with her finger. She sighed with satisfaction. Paul chucked.
"Hmm... What's so funny?" Reba frowned.
"I was just thinking. I have a huge condo in Milan that overlooks the Alps, one in Paris that overlooks the Eiffel Tower, one in Manhattan, one in LA, and one in Houston. I have a yacht in the south of France, and a castle in Scotland that had been converted to a five star hotel. I have three resorts: one in Venice, one in Houston and one in Hawaii. I can afford the best hotel suites available in any country. Yet, I made love to you for the first time on the floor, in a house that's not even finished." Reba smirked.
"But this will be our home, our bedroom in the future. I think it's the right place to have our first time." Paul rolled her on her back.
"How about our second time?" Paul started to kiss her, and things were starting to heat up.
"Paul, someone's in the house!" Reba pushed him off her and looked for her nightgown. Paul quickly got dressed too; the sound of more than one person was making its way toward them. "Where's my g-string?"
"I don't know where I tossed it." Just then the door swung open. Paul protectively stepped in front of Reba. He sheltered her completely. She hid behind his back. There stood a couple of fire-fighters fully dressed, prepared to battle a blaze. The fire-fighter looked at Paul, then at the fireplace. He pressed his microphone button on his jacket collar, and yelled, "All clear!" The fire-fighter lifted his mask when he recognized who was in the room.
"Oh. Hi Mr. MacIntosh," greeted the fire-fighter. "We received a phone call stating that there was smoke coming out of the construction site. So we came by to check."
"I lit the fireplace. Sorry." Paul explained to the fire-fighter. Reba found his suit jacket on the floor, she wanted to pick it up, but it was a little too far and she didn't want to expose herself to a couple of firemen who stood by the doorway. She tugged Paul's shirt using him as a shield making him walk backward to where his jacket was. She picked it up. The fire-fighters tried not to chuckle seeing an arm from behind Paul grabbing his jacket on the floor.
"I think something caught on fire, Mr. MacIntosh." Another fire-fighter pointed to a little piece of garment by the fireplace. They chuckled when they heard a small wimp behind Paul's back.
"I... err... need a kindling." Paul could feel Reba was banging her forehead on his back.
"Well, since there's nothing to be worried about, then I think we should go." Paul nodded. "Bye Mr. MacIntosh. Bye Miss Hart." Reba bent her head back and shut her eyes still gripping on his shirt.
"Thanks for stopping by." Reba peaked her head out from behind Paul's back and waved at them. Paul looked over to his side to glare at her as the fire-fighters were chuckling on their way out.
"Thanks for stopping by?"
"What else can I say? They were looking after your house. You should be thankful. And once again, you put me on the spot, you mo-ron!" Reba hit him.
"Oww... What did I do?"
"Our first kiss, you just had to do it in front of thousands of people, now our first time it's gonna be the talk of the town."
"They don't know this is our first time, do they?" Paul grinned, thinking about their first time.
"Yeah, but they knew we didn't just sit here and hold hands while my panties were set on fire. And what the heck were you thinking throwing my panties into the fire?" Reba smacked his arm.
"What else could I be thinking taking off your underwear?" Paul chuckled. Reba blushed violently. Paul brought her into a passionate kiss. "Now, guess what am I thinking?"
"I think we should get out of here, just in case someone else decides to 'stop by'. This house has no lock. And it's..." she glanced at Paul's watch "two o'clock in the morning!"
"I should take you home." Paul frowned.
"And climb up my window like the way you did? I don't have my purse, I don't have my keys, and honey, I don't have my panties on so no way I'm climbing anything." Reba folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
"Then let's go to my condo. You can spend the night at my place, and I'll pick up your stuff tomorrow morning before we go to New York." With that, Paul grabbed the flashlight and make sure the fire in the fireplace was put out. He didn't forget to write 'Sorry for the mess' and put a hundred dollar bill under the champagne bottle. He also picked up the half burnt panties from the fireplace. "See how hot you are?"
"Oh shut up!" Reba blushed, and she snatched the underwear from him and tucked it in his jacket pocket. She would throw them out when they got to his condo. She was glad that his jacket was big enough to cover her hips, or else she wouldn't be able to walk past the security guard to his condo. She still hid behind him anyway. The security guard smiled at them. The moment the door closed behind them at his condo. He pulled her in to a passionate kiss he craved. And when she took off his jacket, leaving on just sheer lingerie with nothing underneath, sleep was no longer on their minds.
It was almost nine o'clock in the morning and nobody knew where Reba was, her family was wondering where she was, they tried to call her BlackBerry, just to find out that her purse and her phone were still in the house.
"All I knew is she went with Paul," said Kyra. "And judging by what she was wearing when she left, I think he had her."
"Anyone have Paul's phone number?" Asked Van.
"Try called him using mom's phone." And he did. Paul answered his BlackBerry recognizing the ring tone was from Reba. He sleepily picked it up.
"Morning honey," greeted Paul with a yawn. Van pulled the phone from his ear mouthing the word 'honey?' looking a little disgusted.
"G'Morning darlin'." Reba murmured snuggling closer to him. Her eyes still closed. Paul was a little confused, looking at his phone and then at Reba.
"Hello?" He said to the receiver after realizing that it wasn't Reba who called.
"Hi Paul, it's Van. We couldn't find Mrs. H and we wondering if she's with you."
"Yes, she's here. Do you need her?"
"It's nine o'clock and I thought you're picking us up at around ten." Paul shot up, almost rolling Reba out of the bed.
"Ahh!" She screamed.
"We'll be right there. Bye now." Paul hung up the phone and turned to Reba. "It's nine o'clock, honey. I told the pilots we'll be leaving at around 11."
"Oh crraapp! Reba got up and started to look around, this wasn't her house. She didn't know what to do first. She gotta shower, so she needed a towel. She needed a toothbrush, heck she didn't have anything! "Why did you let us sleep in? Don't you have an alarm clock?"
"Yes, but I turned it off. I don't want it to wake us up just in case we're in the middle of... you know." Paul was afraid that it would be just a dream like the way it happened in Milan, that he threw his perfectly good alarm clock on the wall because it tried to wake him up from a nice dream with her.
"Good Morning Mr. MacIntosh, the limo has arrived." The security guard called via intercom to inform him making Reba panic even more. Paul walked to his closet and brought her a towel and new toothbrush.
"I'll go over to your house, and pick up your luggage. So you have something to wear. Meanwhile, why don't you just relax and have a nice shower. I'll call and tell the pilot that we'll be an hour late. No big deal, don't panic." Paul got dress and went to his limo and then to Reba's house. Everyone was ready and waited for him. They were a little startled when they saw Paul. His hair was a mess, his shirt wrinkled with one button missing. He was usually well groomed.
As they drove back to his place, they were a little surprised they didn't see Reba. Paul asked them to wait in the limo and took her luggage up to his room. Reba was just stepping out of the bathroom and wearing nothing but a towel.
"Oh no you don't! We're already late as it is. Go shower, I'm getting dressed!" Reba could see exactly what was in his mind. However, that didn't stop him.
They rushed down to the limo after Paul had his shower, and Reba had another shower. Her family exchanged awkward glances but nobody said a word.
"Oh for Pete's sake, somebody say something!" Reba hated the awkward silence.
"Bow chicka bow bow"
"VAN!" Kyra, Cheyenne and Jake yelled in unison. Reba looked out the window, she should have let them sat quietly. Paul glanced at her with a grin.
"What took you so long grandma?" Elizabeth ran to her and sat at her lap.
"I had to take a shower, honey." The girl sniffed her cheek.
"You smell like Paul." With Elizabeth's statement, Barbra Jean and Cheyenne giggled, Van was looking for someone to high-five. He looked at Jake, Jake glared at him, he turned to Brock, Brock gave him evil look, Henry had no idea what was going on so he high-five'd Van. Jake and Kyra exchanged a gross look. Brock rolled his eyes and wished someone would just shoot him. Paul reached his overnight bag and put a drop of aftershave in his palm and patted Elizabeth's cheeks and chin.
"Okay now you smell like me too." Elizabeth giggled. There was very little conversation made in the limo except from Elizabeth and Paul. But Reba knew, the moment she was alone with her family, there would be tones of questions she had to answer, and mostly would be from Barbra Jean and Cheyenne. The flight would take them a few hours or so, and some of his employees were travelling with them. Furthermore, once they arrived in New York, she would be busy. So that gave her sometime before she had to answer them.
They arrived at the airport at around quarter to twelve. Everyone was already there waiting. Paul apologized for being late. He was always polite if he knew it was his fault. They all went to the middle section of the plane; some executives were already there. The plane took off the moment they took their seats.
"Mom, did you forget something?" Questioned Kyra.
"I don't think I forget anything. Why?"
"You had a knot on your finger like you had to be reminded of something."
"Oh that?" Reba glanced at Paul. He got up and told his employees that there were a few seat available at the front section. He made them go outside and closed the door so Reba could tell her family the news.
"Well... I don't know where to start, so I'm just gonna go right out and say it. We're engaged." Except the sound of Elizabeth and Henry talking to each other, the whole plane seemed to be in complete silence. "I just want to let you guys know before it was out in the media, I mean you are my family." Still silence. Reba looked at each of her family, they were looking at her with disbelief. "Okay, this should be the time y'all congratulate us."
"Are you serious?" Questioned Kyra
"You're getting married to Paul MacIntosh?" Barbra Jean remarked.
"Mom, this is not funny." Cheyenne still thought she was just kidding. Reba glanced at Paul, seemed like her family didn't believe her. Sure they were dating, they could see that they had feelings for each other, but marriage would be way too soon. Especially Paul who had everything, and could have any woman he desired, why would he want to settle down with Reba?
"I'm not kidding." Paul stepped up and spoke to everyone with a firm voice. "I love her, and I asked her to marry me last night." Again, silence filled the air.
"Paul, you and grandma is getting married?" Ask Elizabeth.
"Yes honey." Paul crouched down to answer the girl.
"Can I be the flower girl? I want to be a flower girl. My friend at the school said she got to be a flower girl when her aunt got married," said the girl cheerfully. "Henry could be the bear with the ring."
"It's ring bearer, sweetheart. And yes you can be a flower girl."
"I call maid of honor!" Barbra Jean called with her hand in the air.
"Then I'm a bridesmaid," Cheyenne took the position.
"I guess I'm a bridesmaid too." Kyra spoke.
"I want to give Mrs. H away!" And the family started to discuss who would do what at the wedding. Reba sighed contently. Paul grinned and since no one was paying attention to them, he motioned to the back section of the plan. As they were sneaking to the back. Cheyenne just realized that they hadn't congratulated them. They hugged Reba and Paul, well Van hugged Reba and shook Paul's hand. Brock did the same thing. It was about time she was with someone. The pilots announced the landing. They took their seats. Still talking about how was it so hard to believe that Reba was engaged to Paul MacIntosh.
Reba was getting ready backstage, waiting for her cue. The last time she was a secret, but this time they announced that she would be on the runway again. That got a response from the media like last time she was up there as his assistant, but this time would be as his girlfriend. They didn't know about the engagement yet.
"Hello Reba, looking lovelier every time I see you." Martin came to her dressing room to greet her. Paul was the one who let him in. He chuckled when he caught Reba yawning. Paul saw Reba was yawning so he yawned too. "I don't think you're going to blame that on jetlag again, aren't you?" Martin teased. And he laughed when Reba turned red. He examined the dress Paul designed. "Is that...?"
"Yeah yeah, it's the one. Did you see Sylvie? Is she here yet?"
"Yes she was talking to someone in the models' dressing room."
"I have to go see her. Can you help Reba up on the stage when she's cued?" Martin nodded. "Relax, okay honey? You'll do just fine. Don't be nervous, I'll be up there with you when the time comes. We'll wow the crowds together." He pecked her lips and went to look for his mom.
"What is it about this dress?" Reba puzzled. She asked Martin.
"Well, remembered I told you about three dresses he design?"
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about what you told me."
"Well, that's the second one. The one he wants his fiancée to wear it." Martin didn't notice her grin. "He let you wear it, you must really mean something to him." Reba was overwhelmed. He asked her to wear this dress before he even proposed.
"Miss Reba, you'll be up in five minutes," told the state manager's assistant. "Can you take off your bracelet? You shouldn't wear your personal accessories when you're up on the stage." With that, he left. Reba glanced at Martin.
"He's right, you have to take it off. I'll help you give it to Paul, he could keep in his tux." Martin suggested with a friendly smile. Reba took out the bracelet that Paul gave her. She also rolled the string that Paul tied a little knot on her finger out too.
"Please don't lose the string."
"Okay, are you ready?" Reba nodded. She was hoping to see Paul before she went up, but he probably busy. They announced her name. The music started. Reba took a deep breath and she stepped on the stage. The crowds gasped when they saw the dress. Above the waist, the dress was nothing more than a sheer mesh that matched the colour of her skin. Red crystals and rubies covered her…modesty. The gems danced under the spotlight, but the sheer material managed to show off her midriff. The skirt was made from layers of fine red silk, and when she walked it reflected with the spotlights. The dress had a split on the front of her left thigh that showed off her beautiful long legs at every step. Paul called this dress 'Fire of passion'.
Reba knew she could do it right this time. She was well rehearsed. She glided graciously. However, her heart sank when the song began. Oh good Lord, they changed the song on her again! Reba was stunned when she heard his voice, it was his voice.
[ Paul: ] I finally found someone, who knocks me off my feet;
[ Paul: ] I finally found the one who makes me feel complete...
Reba turned toward him, just in time for him to give her a microphone. She smiled and took the microphone from him.
[ Reba: ] It started over coffee, we started out as friends;
[ Reba: ] It's funny how from simple things; the best things begin...
[ Paul: ] This time is different;
[ Reba: ] la la la la
[ Paul: ] It's all because of you!..
[ Reba: ] la la la la
[ Paul: ] It's better than it's ever been;
[ Together: ] Cuz we can talk it through;
[ Reba: ] My favourite line was "Can I call you sometime?";
[ Reba: ] It's all you had to say...
[ Together: ] To take my breath away...
They walked hand in hand and sang the song as the were walking on the runway.
[ Together: ] This is it!
[ Together: ] Oh, I finally found someone; Someone to share my life;
[ Together: ] I finally found the one - to be with every night;
[ Reba: ] Cause whatever I do
[ Paul: ] It's just got to be you!
[ Together: ] My life has just begun, I finally found someone...
[ Paul: ] Did I keep you waiting?
[ Reba: ] I didn't mind
[ Paul: ] I apologize
[ Reba: ] Baby, that's fine
[ Paul: ] I would wait forever
[ Together: ] Just to know you were mine;
[ Paul: ] Ya Know - I love your hair...
[ Reba: ] Are you sure it looks right?
[ Paul: ] I love what you wear...
[ Reba: ] Isn't it too tight?
[ Paul: ] You're exceptional!
[ Together: ] I can't wait for the rest of my life...
[ Together: ] This Is It!
[ Together: ] Oh, I finally found someone; Someone to share my life,
[ Together: ] I finally found the one; to be with every night...
[ Reba: ] Cause whatever I do
[ Paul: ] It's just got to be you
[ Together: ] My life has just begun; I finally found someone...
[ Reba: ] And whatever I do
[ Paul: ] It's just got to be you!
[ Reba: ] My life has just begun...
They stared into each other's eyes.
[ Together: ] I finally found someone...
The crowds were in awe when he wiped her tears with his thumb and Reba wrapped her arms around his neck and Paul kissed her. That was the passion they were looking for. Paul pulled the bracelet out of his pocket. He put the bracelet on her wrist, he didn't care that the sapphire and diamonds didn't go well with the red dress he made. He picked up her left hand. Reba gasped and she closed her mouth with her right hand when she saw a beautiful 5 carats diamond ring that he slit it on her finger. Tears flowed down her cheeks. "It's my ancestor's ring. With this ring, I shall prove how I have devoted all my love to you." Paul kissed her before he turned to the audience.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to announce to you that I'm now engaged to Miss Reba hart. And I would also like to announce my retirement."