Free Forsaking All Others by Linda Hudson-Smith

side. The phone call had him more than curious. Although Jessica hadn’t referred to the person by name, he was sure it had been the same guy who’d called before. Who was he, anyway? He wanted to ask her about it, but since he didn’t know how to go about it, he’d let it ride. The last thing he wanted was to come off as jealous and insecure.
    Once Weston had poured a refill, he carried it over to the coffee table in the living room. He then went back for Jessica, reaching for her hand. Moving from the kitchen to the living room would allow them to sit closer together. The setting was also more comfortable. He needed to have Jessica right up under him. The odd phone call had Weston feeling a tad insecure, something he wasn’t used to.
    Weston brought Jessica in close to him. As he put his arm around her shoulder, his lips met tenderly with her cheek. “The firelight is pretty, isn’t it?”
    â€œBeautiful. I love the roaring colors. I can sit and stare into a blazing fire for hours on end. It has a way of mesmerizing me. Many people have misconceptions about California living, mainly because of the weather. I have two stone fireplaces in my town house. And I use them both, especially the one in the bedroom.”
    â€œReal wood or gas logs?”
    â€œBoth. I prefer to use the gas log. Cleanup is difficult with wood. I don’t want my place to smell like unpleasant ashes, either.”
    â€œThere are ways around it, but you have to clean it after every use. My housekeeper’s husband sweeps out my fireplace after each use.”
    Jessica raised an eyebrow. “Housekeeper? What size place do you have?”
    â€œA pretty good-sized one. Four bedrooms and a nice-size loft.”
    â€œHmm, sounds really nice. Maybe I’ll get to see it one day.”
    â€œI’d like that. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Right now?”
    Jessica closed her eyes for a second. “Paris. Definitely Paris.”
    â€œHave you been there?”
    â€œI wish. One day, though.”
    â€œWe can go there right now.”
    Jessica looked perplexed. “Come again?”
    â€œClose your eyes, sweetheart. Let me take you right into the heart of Paris.”
    Obedient to Weston’s gentle command, Jessica closed her eyes. As his hand tenderly squeezed her shoulder, she laid her head against his chest.
    â€œWe’ll visit the Eiffel Tower first,” Weston soothed, “then the Arc de Triomphe. Later on we’ll tour the Louvre, where Mona Lisa hangs out.”
    â€œSounds fantastic!”
    Weston reached down and took off Jessica’s shoes and then had her stretch out on the sofa. Grabbing hold of a throw pillow, he placed it on his lap, summoning her to lay her head there.
    Jessica obeyed Weston’s commands again.
    Weston looked down into Jessica’s eyes and smiled broadly. “Once upon a time there was a beautiful young princess named Jessica, the fairest woman in all the land. But she was awfully lonely because there weren’t any guys good enough for her. She was the kind of woman who set her standards high, worthy of such…and so much more. You see, Jessica deserved the very best in a man because she was a wonderful woman.
    â€œThen one day Prince Weston, who lived far, far away, stopped by a remote palace for a brief respite for himself and his steed. When he asked the groundskeeper for water for himself and his powerful animal, he was told to see Princess Jessica, the mistress of the castle. He found her out in the Garden of Love, looking sad and feeling downright lonely.
    â€œPrincess Jessica told him she’d been praying for her Prince Charming to come along before his arrival. She asked if he was the one. His passionate kiss gave the answer.
    â€œPrince Weston was the one, the one and only.
    â€œPrince Weston then offered to take Princess Jessica for a ride on his magnificent white steed. When she asked