Free Separating Riches by Mairsile Leabhair Page B

what on earth are you doing here?” my father asked.
    Charles stood as if he were at attention. “My apologies, sir.”
    “Father,” I said, stepping in front of Charles. “Charles is here as Norma’s date, and my guest. He is not on duty tonight.”
    “Of course, Melinda,” Mother interceded. “He is welcome. It is your wedding dinner after all.”
    “Good. Then can we get back to it, please?” Not waiting for an answer, I grabbed Chris’ hand and led her over to the buffet table. I had seen her eyeing the truffles earlier, so I scooped up one of the ice cream balls and put it to her lips. The slow, sensual way she wrapped her lips around it, staring softly up at me with her celadon green eyes, left me breathless. I watched, panting, as her tongue moved the ice cream inside her mouth until it melted enough that she could swallow what remained. God, that was incredibly sexy.
    “You know, if you’re not very hungry,” I gasped, “we can skip dinner and—”
    “No one’s skipping dinner,” my father said from behind me. “I went to great expense to put this together as you asked, Melinda. The least you could do is enjoy it.”
    Damn it!
    “Of course, Robert,” Chris cajoled. “We were just about to get a plate and dig in.”
    Chris whacked me on the butt as she laughed her way over to the buffet table. Feeling guilty for so many things, I unconsciously filled my wife’s plate with everything on the table. Chris stopped and looked at me.
    “Honey, are you trying to make me fat? I can barely lift this plate,” she said as she sat it down by the ribeye steak.
    “No, uh, I thought maybe you were hungry,” I groveled. I wasn’t sure which guilt was driving my reasoning, but I was sure my father had something to do with it.
    “Sweetheart, listen to me,” Chris said, taking my hand in hers.
    I sat my plate down and gave her my full attention.
    “I know your father upset you. I can see it in your eyes. But, sweetheart, there’s no need to let him ruin our wedding day. I’m not. I married the most wonderful woman in the world today, who just professed to her father that she would be willing to give up her inheritance for me. I want you so bad right now, I can barely walk.”
    “Oh, babe. Let me take care of that for you,” I begged.
    “No, you’re too upset to enjoy it. I want the love, not the guilt. So, let’s eat our dinner, and enjoy our guests. Then we can party on the dance floor until we’re either too tired or too randy to continue, and we’ll run up stairs to christen the Presidential suite with our love.”
    “Oh, my, God, I love this woman. You’ve got a deal.”
    “All right then. I’m getting back in line because I’d like to sample a few of these wonderful entrées.”
    “Chris…”
    Chris turned to me. “Yes, honey?”
    “Thank you,” I said sincerely.
    “Melinda…”
    “Yes, ma’am?”
    “Thank you .”
     
    *
     
    We did indeed enjoy a delicious dinner and even endured a longwinded toast by my father. He was standing across from where I sat next to Chris at the round table, and I was actually listening to him. That is until he began talking about grandchildren, and how we should start having children right away. I know my father wants a male grandchild to carry on with the family business that I have been avoiding for years. And I admit, it would let me off the hook if we had children who could carry on the business. And hell no, they wouldn’t have to be boys either.
    “I am proud of my daughter, Melinda, and what she has achieved in just these last few months,” he stated. “I’m proud that my daughter has finally sobered up and settled down. I know she has you to thank for that, Christine.”
    I looked at Chris, who blushed, but it was true, she is the reason for anything I might have achieved. If not for her love, I would most likely be passed out somewhere in Vegas right now.
    “And that’s why her mother and I would like to announce that Melinda will