Caitlin Van Dyke is at a crossroads. She’s thirty-two years old and she’s never been married, has no career, or a real life by the world’s standards. Caitlin is determined to find herself and figure out what she wants out of life. So, she made an impulsive purchase online – a fixer-upper in Key West. While there she plans to discover herself and try new things. Before she leaves she attends her sister, Catherine’s wedding. During the reception, her boyfriend, Hector Beaumont, proposes to her. Caitlin explains where she’s at in her life and tells him she’ll think over his proposal while she is away. Caitlin had planned to be alone to find herself on the tropical island – and to renovate her new purchase. But when she arrives, she discovers that the fixer-upper is in worst shape than she had thought. She has no choice but to hire a handyman. A.J., lone wolf, drifter, and he lives on a boat but he came highly recommended. So, Caitlin hired him not knowing that doing so would turn her life upside down. Their attraction is too strong for them to deny. Their chemistry boils over during Hurricane Bart on a private island. After two or three weeks of bliss, Caitlin decides she has to return to the real world – without A.J. After returning to New York, Caitlin accepts Hector’s proposal. Her mother can’t wait to start planning wedding weekend events Van Dyke style. Everything is going according to plan until A.J. pops up in New York at a dinner Caitlin is hosting under his real identity. Pregnant and engaged, what is a girl to do when her summer lover shows up, demanding that she be with him?
View MoreCaitlin Van Dyke had reserved a room at the Ritz-Carlton. Tonight, was the night she was finally going to sleep with her boyfriend. In a way, it was silly to call someone so much older than her her boyfriend, but in essence that’s who he was. They had been dating for six months. Caitlin had thought he was being a gentleman. They had only kissed and he had never tried to push it any further than that. Caitlin thought he was waiting on her to give a signal. Nothing could be more of a signal than wearing a sexy piece of red lingerie on Christmas Day night. Because of family holiday obligations, they couldn’t have any time alone together until this evening. Her bedroom-wear had straps that tied behind her neck, smashing her bosom together in the front. She was showing quite a bit of cleavage. The satin ensemble was a one piece. It fitted almost like a bathing suit. Caitlin had called Hector to let him know she had a surprise for him and to meet her at the hotel.
The room was only 450 square feet, but it had a splendid view of Central Park. There was a mini-fridge and a small bar area. The sitting area was in front of the king size bed, a stone colored loveseat and a chair counter-clockwise from it. The carpet was tan.
She waited patiently as she lounged on the bed. He was never late. The white sheets were at least five hundred count and they felt marvelous on her skin.
Sure enough, she heard the key card being slid into the door mechanism. She had left word with the front desk to give him a key when he had arrived. She didn’t want to ruin her surprise by opening the door.
“Caitlin?” Hector called out.
“I’m here.”
She heard the door close.
“So, what is this surprise –” He stopped talking as he rounded the corner and saw her on the bed. “Wow,” he mumbled.
She smiled brightly. “Don’t be shy. Come open your gift.”
Hector chuckled nervously as he made his way to the bed. He sported a white dress shirt and dark gray slacks. His silver hair was slicked back and parted a few centimeters from the middle like always. Hector sat down on the edge of the bed. He was acting awfully strange for a man who was face to face with a woman in lingerie who was wanting, willing, and able.
He turned to her as she scooted closer to him. “It’s all right. We’ve been seeing each other for months. I’m ready, Hector,” Caitlin said seductively. “I’m sure you are, too.” She took his hand and placed it on her partially exposed hip.
“Oh, Caitlin,” he said with a hint of pain in his voice. “I would love to take you here and now, but I can’t,” He removed his hand from her body.
“Why?” she asked barely above a whisper.
Hector looked away from her. “Because I’m . . . impotent.”
Caitlin’s mouth dropped open. Who knew a man who was such a go-getter and up for adventure here and there was impotent. Granted, he was old enough to be her father but he wasn’t that old. “I . . . I had no idea.”
“Obviously,” he said hoarsely.
“I just thought you were . . . waiting for me to give you a signal to . . . oh.” She felt just as embarrassed as he did. She looked down at her lap. Then a thought came to her. “They have pills for . . . that sort of problem.”
“Which I can’t take,” he said as he kept facing the wall. “I have an irregular heartbeat and four years ago I had a small stroke. Taking Viagra can be detrimental to me.”
“I see.”
An uncomfortable silence fell between them.
“I guess this is the part where you say that you can’t handle this . . . situation and want to part ways,” he mumbled.
“No,” she said as she looked up at him. “Not at all.”
“There’s no reason to spare my feelings. I’ve been through this twice before with women I had dated. And both ladies bowed out gracefully, let’s say.”
“Hector, please look at me.”
He slowly turned to her.
“Hector, you are the first man I’ve dated past four months in years,” Caitlin began. “You’re kind, gracious, generous, and fun. And a woman like me needs a man in her life that knows how to have fun.” Caitlin lived a pretty drab life for being a billionaire heiress – until she went out on a date with Hector. He made her smile and he made her feel attractive. “And you make me feel . . . special. No man has done that for me in ages. I don’t want to break up with you.”
“Are you saying that . . . you don’t mind not having sex?”
“Yes,” she said with conviction. “It’s really not that big of a deal.”
“Really?” he said with disbelief. “You do see what you have on, right?”
She let out a short laugh. “I thought you would like it. The truth is I thought you were being unbelievably patient and was climbing the walls waiting. And I wanted to give you something special for Christmas. Sex isn’t that important to me. I haven’t had it in five years. I’m not going to miss it for another five – or longer.” And she meant it. Yes, she got urges from time to time, but she was better at satisfying her body herself than sleeping with some stranger. More than likely they wouldn’t satisfy her anyway. She knew this from experience.
“Truly. You don’t mind?”
“Not at all. Matter of fact, I’m relieved. For a while there, I had started thinking you didn’t find me physically attractive.”
“Please know I do find you attractive,” Hector clarified.
“Thank you. Now, I’m going to get dressed. I’ll just treat you to a drink instead. Okay?”
He gave her a little grin. “Okay.”
Three months later . . . Hector, Cassandra, and Julian showed up at Lenox Hill Hospital. As of five a.m. that morning, there was a new addition to the Beaumont Dynasty. Hector wanted to be at the hospital soon as visiting hours started before the Van Dykes bombarded the place with their presence. There were so many of them who lived in New York or within a thirty-mile radius of it.The three walked down the hall to the maternity ward. Cassandra carried a life size teddy bear in one hand and five baby blue balloons in the other. Alexander turned a corner in the hallway, meeting them. “Hey, there’s the proud papa,” Hector said with a big smile. He was officially a grandfather and he couldn’t wait to meet the little nipper. Alexander smiled. They hugged. “How’s Caitlin?” Cassandra asked. “She’s better now than she was a few hours ago,” Alexander said with a croaked smile. “I’ve never been call
The reception was an informal affair. Two buffet tables were set up. Several people were in line getting food, others were chatting in little huddles including the Beaumonts. Hector laughed hysterically as Alexander told him how Julian had lost the rings and how Chastity had found them. “I did not loose the rings. I just hid them in a safe place,” Julian said snottily. “Well, I can’t imagine any place safer than Davidson Dawson’s toy truck,” Hector said and laughed again. “I can see you running around like a fool now.” “Hardy har har har,” Julian mimicked as his head went to the side a few ticks. Then he walked away without saying a word. “It all worked out in the end,” Agatha said with a smile. “Thankfully,” Alexander said. “I would have rung Julian’s neck if the rings hadn’t been found. So, Dad, will you and your guests be staying on the island tonight? The guest cottage is free so -” “Oh
It was everything Hector could do to keep from bursting out laughing. Everyone looked so mortified and frightened. He stole a glance at his daughter. Cassandra kept her serious composure, so he did, too. They walked arm in arm to the altar. It was a beautiful day for a wedding. They had left a little late for Florida. Then it took at least forty-five minutes to charter a boat. It was a Saturday so every marina was busy. Hector had feared they were going to miss the ceremony. It appeared they had arrived just in time and at the right moment. They stopped right in front of the bride, groom, the wedding party, including his great nephew which was a surprise – and a cardinal. Hector was impressed that Alexander was able to reserve a cardinal to marry them. He wondered if he was the same cardinal that Alexander had befriended while he was attending college. Caitlin and Alexander looked rather petrified and bewildered. Hector had h
The ceremony finally begins . . .The garden was full of wild flowers and bushes including but not limited to frangipani, butterfly weed, Cherokee bean, and lancleleaf tickseed. The leaves on the coconut palm trees swayed as the light breeze ruffled through the garden. It was seventy-five degrees and the sun was in the middle of setting. A perfect day for marrying the love of Alexander’s life.Alexander stood counter cornerwise from the large square wooden archway. Square wooden boards crossed at the top provide semi-shade. The other boards crossed each other on the sides. Cardinal Stefan Marino was standing under the archway. Once Caitlin made it down the aisle, they – and her father would be standing under it with him. Alexander had met the cardinal in California while he was attending Berkley years ago. Back then, the cardinal was Father Stefan. After Alexander had graduated, his home away from home priest had quickly moved up the ranks. He hadn’t conducted the marriage ceremony b
Meanwhile in the groomsmen’s quarters . . .Julian was fluttering about like a serial killer was lurking outside. Alexander was coolly tying his tie as he faced the mirror on the wall in the living room. Derek and Cameron were in the other rooms changing into their groomsmen wear. Marcus, a Beaumont cousin from Canada, was already dressed and ready when they had arrived. He just sat on the couch watching TV. The nanny had left little Davidson, Derek’s son, with them a few minutes ago. He was the ring barrier. Chelsea had thought Davidson was too young to do it.“He’s only ten months old and he just learned to walk,” Chelsea had said with deep concern.Derek had disagreed and was happy his son was going to be in the ceremony, too. “He’ll be fine. He’s a Dawson. We Dawsons always rise to the occasion with style and grace.”Davidson sat next to Marcus, watching TV. Alexander wasn’t sure what they were watching but they both seemed enamored with it.Derek and Cameron emerged from the bedr
It was a quarter till five as Caitlin watched her groom and part of the wedding party arrive from the upstairs’ window. They were heading to the back of the house. They were going to get dressed in the separate guest’s quarters. “Four o’clock at the latest,” she said sarcastically. That’s what Alexander had told her when they had spoken on the phone while he was on the plane. “At least he got here before six,” Chastity said over Caitlin’s shoulder. The ceremony was starting at six. “Hmm. Thank, God, for small favors,” Caitlin said over her shoulder to her sister. “We should get you in your gown, darling,” their mother chirped happily. “Show time is almost an hour away.” “It’s a wedding not opening night on Broadway, Mother,” Chastity said as she walked to the other side of the room. “I know that,” their mother snapped. The Van Dyke sisters giggled. You had to love Chastity’s wit sometimes.
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments