Page 12 of To Have and To Hold

When Vye had pulled Linnel from the room and down the hall, he and his wife got into a heated discussion over their daughter.

“Vye, what do you think you are doing? Let me escort that rasshole idiot out the door and out of Coco’s life. Hurting her the first time was enough for me. Telling her she wasn’t good enough for a Norris and now he’s here thinking that he can wave money, and we will just agree. In fact, I am tired of hearing him.” Linnel slapped his hands together and took a step.

“Linnel, remember the first time we met.” Vye picked at an imaginary piece of fluff on his light blue sweater and light beige lining pants and gave him a smile that always caused an indrawn breath at the beauty of it. Vye’s smiles always came from her soul.

He paused and his gaze softened, and his mouth kicked up at the corners. “Of course, my love. I met you at the CPL cricket clubhouse after my team’s winning cricket match against Trinidad and Tobago.”

Vye scowled, not looking pleased. “And what happened when we met?”

Linnel felt his face flush with heat, feeling guilty and chagrined. “Now Vye, why do you always bring that up when you need to make a specific point?”

Vye just gave him a knowing look and waited patiently for him to respond. He grumbled, not liking the memory of the time they met and he’d caused her pain.

He recollected the day he met Vye; she’d drawn his eyes to the bar. He’d noticed her lush ass first and cinched waste. When she turned for a second, looking for someone, he’d taken in a breath. Her hair was pressed straight with loose curls that fell to her shoulders. She was darker than him, but her peach lipstick emphasized her lips that were so plump he wanted to suck on them. She was wearing matching eyeshadow, but it was put on light and not heavy like some of women liked to wear. She had a reddish-brown color on her cheeks and gold studs in her ears that peeked out from her curls when she turned her head, tracking people in the room. When their gaze met, it seemed like everyone else faded into the background and then she smiled; he walked over to her.

And he never wanted someone so much and to strangle them at the same time. He grinned because she’d had the audacity to humble him, saying he was slow on the field at catching the ball and making his runs, but he made up for it in his batting skills. This further irritated him when she told him she preferred Ramy on the team. Ramy was the worst player out of all of them. He’d kissed his teeth and was going to take his Banks beer with him, but then he caught the twinkle in her eyes and her lips trying not to twitch. They broke out laughing together. She had the most infectious laugh, and he grinned when at the end, she let out a snort.

“The day spoke at the bar, and even though we struck up a conversation and there were sparks between us, we argued about my cricketing skills.” He frowned, still miffed.

He then swallowed because now came the sensitive part. “We were having such a good time, but when your friend Denise appeared at your side, I ignored you after that and turned all my attention and interest to Denise instead and asked her out later that night. I know I hurt you and I apologized—”

Vye gave him an annoyed look. “That’s not all, Linnel. You freaked out because I told you that we would one day get married and have kids. You just delayed the inevitable and wasted poor Denise’s time until you came to your senses and began to pursue me.” She scowled, then her features softened at his contrite expression.

She nodded and raised up to give him a soft kiss on the mouth and he pulled her against him, sinking into the familiar taste of his wife’s mouth and his body began to stir.

She pulled gently away, and he made a sound of protest.

Vye giggled, her features softened in happiness and her dark brown eyes sparkling mischievously back at him.

“We go back to the hotel to shower and change; we can shower together.” She bit her lip, knowing he loved when she did that because it focused his eyes on her lips and he growled low and dipped his head down again, but she stopped him when she said.

“So, trust me when I say that Colin is going to be our future son-in-law.”

Chapter 5

Coco moved Colin’s hand from off her lower hip and up to her waist. She knew better than to try and break free of him, she’d learned the hard way; he would just latch onto another part of her body, claiming his stake for all the delegates, senior officials, and elite Barbadian expats. A lot of them knew her parents and grandparents from Barbados; she was sure some could also be related as Barbados was a tiny island. All here socializing while attending the welcoming party for the new commissioner of Barbados, Keith Wallace.

Keith Wallace was actually one of the youngest High Commissioners to date, being just thirty-nine and fine. He was tall with broad shoulders, proportional to his slim athletic frame with short locs and smooth brown skin, complimented by a trim beard and mustache. His brown eyes were penetrating, and his voice had a soothing timber to it with a combined accent of Bajan and British as he’d finished his political science and Bachelor of Commerce in the UK. When you spoke to him, he gave you his undivided attention. He was charming and quick-witted, and Jackie, when she was introduced, was already enamoured.

Her father and Colin, after arriving, had gone to get their coats sorted and her mom had pulled her and Jackie along when she’d spotted one of her friends who now lived in Boston and was there attending with her husband. Jackie had excused herself to find a bathroom before she had the chance to be introduced to Keith.

Coco had extended her hand in greeting, which was then enveloped in his warm one. His gaze then travelled over her, a look of interest in his eyes, and Coco forgot Colin and everyone around her as she gazed back, taking in his form and features, finding him very handsome. His sudden smile piqued her interest into wanting to get to know him better.

Colin’s tan hand shooting out in front of them and his other wrapping around her waist and pulling her tight into his side broke the spell of the burgeoning spark of attraction. Keith eyes were guarded now as he took in the two of them and reached out his hand to Colin, where they both shook hands quickly before releasing.

“Colin Norris, and welcome to Boston.”

“Thanks.” Keith smiled in warmth as her father appeared on the other side of her. “Linnel, pleasure to see you again.” Coco could see her father side-eyeing Colin and his hand on her waist, his lips firming unhappily before he focused on Keith and his hand reached out to shake his. Her father’s face broke out in a warm smile, and he clasped Keith’s hand in both of his.

“Hi Keith, how are you settling in?”

Keith brown gaze rested back on hers for a second before he answered Linnel.

“It has been busy, but I appreciate the warm welcome I have been receiving since taking up residence here and look forward to working with and getting to know the Bajan community of people here.”

His father nodded and released his hands. “You have met my daughter, Coco.”

“Yes, you have a beautiful daughter.” Coco glanced between her father and Keith, who were exchanging a look.

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