This was it.
It was now or never.
Belinda stood outside Lance’s home. She smoothed the imaginary wrinkles on her three-quarter length pants and adjusted her feet in her sandals. Placing her right hand in front of her mouth, she did a quick breath check. “Better get a tic tac.” She dug one of the small treats out of her bag and popped one in her mouth.
Okay, Belinda, stop procrastinating. She walked the three steps to ring Lance’s doorbell. Her heart pounded in her chest. It had been over a month since she’d last looked up from the floor to see him standing in front of her. Belinda dismissed that humiliating incident. She couldn’t resist looking at her right heel at the bruise she’d incurred from that fall. It was healing nicely. Her ego, however, would take a little more time.
Her falling was synonymous to Beyoncé’s fall that replayed repeatedly. Now, she understood why the singer had had the images pulled from television.
Lance opened the door. “Belinda?”
She could see he hadn’t expected to see her standing there. She licked her lips. “Hi, Lance.”
“What brings you here?”
Wasn’t he going to let her in? Belinda looked around and rubbed her arms. She’d come here to grovel, but she hadn’t envisioned this going down on his front step.
While she debated, Lance stepped aside. “Come on in.”
Thank you, Lord. Once she entered, Belinda checked Lance out. He looked as good as ever. In fact, to her, he had never looked better. Oh, how she missed him.
“So what brings you here?” Lance asked again.
Belinda didn’t know how to begin. She had thought this through for days and days, but now her voice failed. She needed courage. Praying for strength, she opened her mouth. “I miss you.” Belinda looked at Lance from under her lashes. His face was rock hard.
“It took you three months to tell me you miss me?” He looked at his watch. “Thanks for telling me. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to go to work.”
Lance moved toward the front door. Belinda found her voice. “No, you don’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“I called your job before coming. They said you have the day off.”
“Stalking me, are you?”
Belinda’s mouth popped open. No, he didn’t go there. She glared. “I’m not stalking you, Lance Forbes. And, considering the circumstances, you could have chosen to use a better word. You know what, I obviously wasted my time.” In a huff, she walked toward the door.
Lance’s hand shot out to still her. “Don’t leave like that. I apologize. You’re right. Stalking was a poor word choice.” He crooked his head. “Why did you come?”
Belinda saw love shining through his eyes. Her heart soared. Maybe it wasn’t too late. Maybe there was still hope for them after all. “I still love you, Lance. I came here to ask for another chance.”
“What about Nathaniel?”
She heard his jealousy. Her own jealousy flared. She placed her hands on her hips. “Well, what about Cara?”
“Cara means nothing.”
“Well, neither does Nathaniel. You’re so dense.”
Two chests heaved.
Two hearts relaxed.
Four hands grabbed each other.
Lance pulled Belinda in for a passionate kiss. Ooh… she’d missed him... missed this. Belinda tugged his shirt off and touched his bare skin. Lance felt so good. She moaned as she felt quick fingers undo her shirt. Lance’s hands were everywhere. Her body heated.
Finally, Lance tore his lips away from hers. “I’ve missed you so much. I shouldn’t have let our separation carry on for so long.”
Belinda touched his cheek. “I missed you too. I’m so sorry. I should have never let that crazy woman interfere with us.”
“Monica means nothing to me. You’ve got to believe that. I know what I was before, but God has changed me. I didn’t change for you. I did it because of the love I have for God. That old Lance is gone forever. You’ve got to trust me and believe that.”
Belinda nodded. “I know you’re different, Lance. I’m so sorry I allowed the past to threaten our future. I love you. I still want to be your wife.”
Lance responded with another kiss. This time her pants followed. Soon, Belinda stood clothed in just her underwear. Lance wasn’t wearing a shirt, but he had his jeans on with a huge belt. She pulled on it. It had been too long. Right now, she wanted Lance so much it hurt.
Lance placed his hands over hers.
“We would have been married next weekend.”
Belinda sobered. “Yes.”
“It’s not too late.”
Belinda didn’t understand. There was no way she could put a wedding back together so fast. “There’s no way, Lance.”
“It’s all paid for,” Lance said.
“What do you mean?”
“I never stopped planning. Or rather, Portia didn’t stop planning. She came to me and browbeat me into sinking a fortune into a wedding I told her wouldn’t happen. Frankly, it was easier to spend the money than to fight her. She is one tenacious woman. God help the man who gets her.”
Belinda laughed. That sneaky Portia. When she got her hands on her, she was going to... hug her... kiss her...thank her. She whooped with joy.
Lance went into his bedroom. Belinda waited where she was. She heard a drawer open and close. Then Lance stood before her with her engagement ring in his hand. “I believe this belongs to you.”
She heard his shy tone and held her left hand out. Almost reverently, he slid her ring back onto her finger. Belinda looked at it and smiled. All was right in the world.
“We still have a problem.”
“What?”
“Monica. She’s still here. She’s still up to her antics and I had to set Noah on her. I think he scared her off.”
Belinda felt goosebumps pop up. It wasn’t over. She knew it. How could she have forgotten about Monica? A twist on a song teased her brain. Whatever Monica wants... Monica gets, came into her head. That was a creepy thought.
Belinda looked at Lance. “I don’t think she’ll ever give up.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re not an easy man to let go of, Lance Forbes.” She saw his chest puff at her sentiment. She continued, “Noah may have scared her off, but it won’t last. She’ll soon be up to her old tricks again.”
“I hate to admit it. But, I think you’re right. I don’t know why I didn’t see how unstable she was. Monica is one disturbed girl.” Lance filled Belinda in on all of Monica’s pranks since she’d been gone. “I hope I haven’t scared you off again, Bells.”
Belinda shook her head. “No, Lance. I tried to walk away, and I was miserable without you. I’d rather face this with you than live my life empty. By the way, you forgave me pretty easily. I thought I’d be doing some serious begging.”
Lance lowered his eyes. “Honestly, if this was back in the day, you probably would be. But, when I saw you a month ago, I knew this was childish on both our parts… I was planning on seeing you this weekend.”
Belinda’s mouth popped open. “Really? You mean to say if I had just held off a couple of days, you would have made the first move?”
Lance chuckled. “Yup. But, lucky for me, now I don’t have to.”
Belinda shivered then remembered she was dressed in only her underwear. She bent over to retrieve her clothes and started to get dressed.
“Change your mind?”
“I waited this long. I can wait another week. I don’t want to incur God’s wrath.”
Lance nodded, but his eyes hungrily watched her every move. Belinda took her time with her un-strip tease liking the male satisfaction written all over his face. She had lost ten pounds, but her curves were still dangerous. “Soon,” she promised. “We will be man and wife.”
Lance said nothing. He leaned in for a hug. “By the way, it was the fall that did it.”
Belinda couldn’t believe he’d brought up her demise. She shoved his chest. “A gentleman wouldn’t mention my source of mortification.”
“Well, that fall brought me to my senses. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. As a matter of fact, my heart leapt into my throat when I saw you. You don’t know the relief I felt when I realized only your pride suffered most.”
Turning her heel, Belinda pointed out her scar. “I did get hurt, Lance.”
Lance bent to examine her foot. Then he said, “You’ll live.”
Playfully, Belinda slapped him. “Well, thanks for your concern.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Lance. And I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“Well, I can.”
She lifted a brow.
“I can wait. I can wait for you. No more pushing. I promise.”
Belinda’s shoulders eased. She took his hand. “Together. We wait.”
Lance smiled. “Together.”
Just then, the doorbell rang. Arm in arm, they went to answer the door.