We are moving at blazing speed...thank you for each review and comment; they are welcome and needed.

I have written through chapter 30, and haven't really been writing steadily for several days...I suppose I shall have to start up again. Many of you have commented on thoughts that I have already expressed in coming chapters...I must be too predictable.

Oh well...

MAN OF SORROWS

CHAPTER 26

Christine could not sleep that night; thoughts of Erik filled her head and the promise of the entire weekend with him.

She kept drifting in and out of consciousness, but her thoughts turned to the events in his past that had led to his departure and the woman whose life he had shared for a brief instant in time.

"Loraine."

Christine whispered her name into the quiet of the night and felt the prickling of tears against her tired eyes.

"I love him…so very much."

The room seemed to absorb the soft affirmation and Christine could have sworn she heard the walls reply, "I know". Her heart leapt at the sudden peace that filled her; somewhere, angels listened.

"I'll take good care of him, Loraine – I promise. Thank you for loving him to begin with."

Christine turned her eyes toward heaven and allowed the tears to flow freely.

"I'll give everything I am to make him happy."

Sleep finally claimed her with Loraine still on her mind.

The morning broke through her windows and Christine could not remember actually falling asleep. She felt empowered and invigorated; a rarity in her world.

She actually hopped out of bed and took a shower. Her mind lingered on her one-sided conversation with Loraine and drifted to pleasant thoughts of Erik.

He had come back…and sought her out. She was at a loss about what he saw in her, but she was not going to question it any more; she wanted him and she would do what was needed to have him.

She towel dried her hair and put a touch of hair gel on it; accentuating the curls and making them stand out more.

She packed the few outfits that she had that she deemed worthy of Erik's presence, and then packed her toiletries.

Evie had graciously taken it upon herself to provide semi-formal apparel by gifting Christine with a pair of black palazzo pants in flowing pebble georgette. They were fully lined and Christine loved the way they felt on her. A beaded black halter top and chiffon shawl completed the outfit. She packed a pair of 3-inch, black tapered pumps and did a check list in her head; she was probably forgetting something, but she would worry about that when the time came.

For the traveling, she donned a simple pair of jeans and a long, green, sleeveless sweater over which she wore a white cardigan. She wore colorful earrings and a matching necklace.

She couldn't be entirely certain, but she thought she actually looked in love and happy; two emotions that had escaped her throughout most of her life.

She wore no make-up for the traveling, knowing that Erik really preferred the natural look. She pulled her hair back into a playful ponytail and then she ate an apple; enough to ward off the hunger but not enough to aggravate the nervous twitters in her stomach.

She thought about where he might possibly be taking her. She had not been many places in the state of New York, and even fewer outside of it.

She was lost in thought when she heard the buzzer interrupt her dreams. She answered and heard Erik's warm voice serenade her through the speaker.

"Come on up."

When she opened the door to him, she could not help but smile at the wonderful way her body reacted to his presence – she felt so charged when he was near.

He looked delectable in a pair of blue jeans and a burgundy striped shirt. He wore a brown sports jacket and Christine could not help but admire the wide spread of his shoulders and the tapered slimness of his waist and hips.

Her admiring gaze captured his attention and he smiled at her.

"Do I meet with your approval, my lady?"

Christine blushed and turned from him, thinking she had embarrassed him.

He came forward, placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back against the hard, toned expanse of his chest.

His lips briefly swept the curve of her neck and Christine felt her pulse race.

"Do you know how sensual and sassy you are?" He murmured.

She leaned into his warmth and accepted the security of his arms as they wrapped around her.

"I love you, Christine…I meant it when I wrote it in the letter."

She turned to look at him and gently snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her lips.

The kiss was not a long one, but she explored his mouth with her tongue for the briefest moment of sheer bliss.

"I have loved you since you showed up at the restaurant looking sinfully gorgeous the night of the gallery opening…I
never had a chance."

His eyes sparked playfully and he wiggled his visible eyebrow, "Mmmm, you think I'm sinfully gorgeous?"

He placed a chaste kiss upon her lips and pulled away, taking her hand in his.

"Oh yes…." She whispered as he retrieved her piece of luggage and then opened the door. "….sinfully."

They reached the bottom of the stairs and Christine noticed the long, sleek onyx limo parked in front of her building.

"We will be traveling in style, my lady." Erik said with a grin.

"Erik, this is too much!" Christine gasped.

"There is no such thing where you are concerned."

He opened her door and helped her into the car. He sat beside her and the car started its path toward their destination.

There was a large plasma television upon which they watched one of Christine's favorite movies, an old musical called Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

"How did you know that was one of my favorite movies?"

Erik shrugged his broad shoulders and smirked, "I have, on occasion, inquired to Meg about your likes and dislikes."

"Ah, so she is in on this?" Christine asked, with a huge smile on her face.

"Just slightly, but not enough to know what I had planned."

"You're a sneaky one, Erik Gregory Argeneau."

He cringed at the use of his middle name.

"Where did you learn that?" He asked with a remorseful tone.

"Ummm, that would be Evie."

Her innocent, wide-eyed look was not working and Erik hung his head and mumbled.

"That sister of mine knows every button to push…" He mused, "…I must get better at expressing my distaste for my full name."

"What's her middle name?"

Erik grinned and offered it up readily and with enthusiasm, "Evie Georgette Argeneau Tremaine."

Christine grinned back and curled into the crook of his arm, "I'll remember that."

Erik had thought of everything, he pulled out a deck of cards and played rummy with her; one of her favorite games…and he even tried not to win every game.

"You made a gallant effort, my lady, but it seems I win again."

After a few minutes of silence, Christine had to ask.

"Where are you taking me, Erik…am I allowed to know?"

"Of course, you just never asked and I never offered." He grinned, impishly.

"Alright mister, spill it."

"I have booked the Loon Cottage at the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine."

Christine gasped and immediately threw her arms around him for a big hug.

He hugged her back, but a stunned look of happiness remained on his face.

"I take it that this pleases you?"

She could not stop smiling and her bouts of giggles were becoming annoying, even to her.

"I have never been to such a place…nor have I ever been to Maine."

Erik smiled and kissed the tip of her upturned nose, "Then I am pleased to share this first with you…have you heard of the White Barn Inn?"

She shook her head enthusiastically in the negative.

He chuckled delightfully, "Then why are you so excited?"

She smiled with all the love she felt for this man nestled openly in the green of her eyes, "Because I'm with you…what more could I want?"

Erik sniggered at her response, "I am not sure that anyone has ever been so excited about being in my presence."

His eyes were full of yearning and longing, and Christine looked into their deep, marine-colored depths.

Her hand impulsively reached up, and caressed the masculine line of his jaw and settled on his unmasked cheek.

Her eyes never wandered from the full, inviting curve of his mouth as she waited for him to take what she so desperately offered.

He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her flesh on his. He was free, and he knew it; but he had to know.

"Christine?"

His voice was raw and full of a huskiness Christine could not explain.

"Yes."

"Why me?"

Christine furrowed her brow and started to ask what he was referring to, when the car phone rang.

Erik picked it up.

"Argeneau." He listened while the chauffeur relayed his message. "Alright, thank you."

He hung up the phone and smiled brightly.

"It seems that we have arrived."

TBC