Chapter 43

Harley walked into the kitchen and saw Mrs. Sambora putting an apron on and quickly
began to fuss, "Oh! Please, let me cook for you? I'd love to make a country meal for
you all." she half asked and half demanded. "Besides you've cooked enough meals for him
over the years. It's time for you to take a break." Harley said, with a warm smile on her face.
"Oh dear, that would be lovely. I'm used to cooking for my Richie whenever I come out to
see him. I didn't even stop and think to ask you." Mrs. Sambora took off her apron and handed
it to Harley, with a kiss on her cheek.

Richie walked in and saw both of them together and smiled. "What are 2 of my 3 favorite
ladies doing?" he asked, kissing his mom and putting his arm around her. Harley loved how
affectionate he was towards his mom. "Harley asked if she could make us dinner tonight and
I'm all to happy to have a night off." she said, giving Richie a squeeze around his waist.
"Chicken was the planned meal for tonight. It's all that's thawed. You'll have to make
something with that dear. I'm going to get some rest before dinner." she said, as she walked
out of the kitchen.

"You're mom is adorable, Rich." Harley said as she put the apron on. "Thank you, darlin' but
I gotta say, I'm diggin that apron look on you. It's gettin me hard." he said with a devilish
look on his face. "Will you get outta here? I need to cook and concentrate and I cannot do
that with you groping at me." she said, pushing him away from her. Harley loved his hands
on her. She never felt more alive or turned on, for that matter.

Harley decided to make a Broasted Chicken with Carrots, Potatoes, and Shallots. Standing
at the island counter top, chopping her vegetables up, she was deep in thought. She let
her mind drift into the future and all that it could be. Stopping for a while on her wedding.
Did she want a big wedding or a small one with family? 'Who cares, Harley? You're
marrying THAT man.', she thought to herself.

Continuing to cut the vegetables with a big butcher knife, because she couldn't find a smaller
one that suited her. Harley was trying not to lose focus on the task at hand too much or she feared
she may cut herself with the sharp instrument.

Warmth crept up her back and she felt his hand brush her long hair away from her neck.
Richie snapped her into the here and now. Feeling his breathe on her skin was nearly
unbearable. She wanted to turn around but didn't dare. It's not a bad thing to play hard to get.
Without any warning, Richie's hand went inside the front of her yoga pants. Sliding his fingers
down into her warmth. His finger gently brushed her clit and she gasped, dropping the knife
instantly on the cutting board. "No, Ava!" she breathed out. "She's not here." he said gruffly.
"I told you that apron turned me on." he whispered in her ear. Harley began to turn around but
Richie stopped her. "No. Don't move." he demanded. His finger heavier on her. Circling her
clit and applying more pressure. Pressing himself up against her, she could feel how hard he
was and wanted to touch him too. Her left hand left the counter and went behind her back, as
she found the hard outline of his jeans. His fingers slid down her crease, as if to feel how wet
she was and if she could take him. Richie was surprised to feel just how ready for him she was.
He let out a soft moan and inserted two fingers inside her. Harley's legs buckled, as Richie
brought his left arm around her waist to hold her up. Bending her over the island counter, his
long fingers continued to slid in and out. Pulling out to rub her clit in between strokes. The
tightness was welling up inside her and he could feel it. Harley's breathing was out of control
as she held on to the edges of the counter, ready to explode into a sweet orgasm. Pushing a
third finger inside, Harley came so hard, that her head hit the counter and she felt the cold
steel of the knife on her cheek. As her breathing began to settle, Richie pulled his hand
out of her pants and wrapped both hands around her waist, pulling her back up. "I want more."
she whispered to him. "Later." he answered, as he put his hand over her neck, gently turning
her head, he parted her lips with his tongue. Harley let out a deep moan of acceptance and
returning excitement. Wrapping her hand in his hair on the back of his head. Harley
knew that he was letting her know what she was in for tonight and oh how she loved
the idea.

Richie softened the kiss and released her mouth over his, "I can't wait to taste what your
making me." biting her lower lip softly, then let go of her. "If you'll excuse me,
I have to go calm down a bit. See you in a few, sweetheart." he said.
Harley's breathing was nearly back to normal as she watched him leave the kitchen.
Looking down at the cutting board, trailing the spot on her cheek, that just moments ago was
pressed against the butcher knife during her orgasm. 'Damn' she said in a whisper, as she
picked it up and began slicing the remainder of her carrots.

Chapter 42

Ava stood up from the table and ran upstairs, slamming her bedroom door. "Ava!", Richie
yelled after her, hoping she would turn around and talk things through. Sitting back down
at the table, Richie put his face in his hands. He was thankful that he had talked to her
privately, without Harley or his Mom present. Richie wanted to announce it over dinner, but
Harley thought that may not be the best idea. She was right.

"What did you expect, Son?" he looked up, as his Mom sat down at the table with him. "You
heard?" he asked. She raised her eyebrows and nodded, "Yes, I did." she answered. "This
wasn't the response I thought she'd give. She said she liked her and was happy to have
her in my life. I thought she would be happy." he said, flustered. "My Richie." Mrs. Sambora
said, shaking her head. "Just because she likes her, doesn't mean she is ready to have her
as a new Mom. These things take time. She just met her." she explained to him. "Can I ask you
a question, Richie?" she asked. "Of course." he answered, his face showing his stress. She reached
for his hand, "Why the rush to get married?" she asked him. As she held his hand, he placed
his other hand over hers, "Mom, she makes me happy. I feel alive with her. I don't feel alone
anymore, ya know? I honestly have to say, that I've never felt like this before. Not even with
Heather. I just want to make her mine and have her with me all the time." he said.

Hearing him talk, she couldn't help but smile. She loved her son and wanted nothing more than
happiness for him. Knowing he had been struggling for a few years now and believing if he
had a good woman standing beside him, that would make it easier for him. She believed he
had found that woman. "Take a different approach, son. A longer engagement, maybe?
You have to give Ava some time. Talk to her more about it. I'm sure Harley will understand."
she advised him. "And you will both just have to travel back and forth for a while, until Ava
is ready." Richie nodded, "Thanks, Mom." he said leaning over to kiss her cheek. "I'm
gonna go see if Ava will talk to me." he said, leaving the table.

After a few knocks on the door and Richie telling her to let him in, Ava opened the door.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart." he said as he walked in. "I'm sorry for so many things, but if you
will take a few more minutes to listen to me, please?" he asked. Ava walked over to her
bed and plopped down on it. "Sure" she said, un-enthused. Richie walked over and sat down
beside her on the bed. "I've decided to wait. We can have a long engagement and wait
till your ready. Until you get to know her more. I love you, Ava, but I love her too. I want
you both apart of my life and I want you both happy. So until then, we'll travel to see each
other. Is this okay for you?" he asked. Ava shrugged her shoulder's, "Daddy, I want you happy.
I really do. Aside from her music and what I've read about her, I really don't know her. I'm
just asking for a little time. So, yes, that works for me. Thank you." she said, hugging him.

Richie stepped out of Ava's room. Thinking to himself, how does he explain this to Harley.
Will she understand. Again, Richie was stressing and you could tell. He clenched his jaw
when he was stressed, without even realizing it.

Harley had been in Richie's room this entire time. Reeling in her own excitement and shear terror
with the idea of marrying again. But she loved him and wanted to be with him. To make him
happy, would make her happy. Richie walked in and saw her sitting on the chaise lounge chair.
His heart nearly jumped out of his chest, just to look at her. His stress seemed to dissipate.
Richie sat down on the bed. Harley sat up and asked, "How did it go?". Richie took
a deep breathe, "Not the way I hoped it would. Harley, I need you to listen to me, darlin'.
Really listen and don't speak until I'm done. Can you do that?" he asked. "Okay" she said.


"I love you! I meant what I said, when I asked you to marry me, but I think you and Ava need
to get to know each other a bit first. So this is my proposal to the situation. We have a long
engagement. The summer is coming, so we will go stay with you in Nashville and when school
starts, we will come back to LA. I'm hoping that by next spring, we will be married. As for
Denise, I will handle that. I'll do it right here with you in front of me. I need you to trust  me
and feel secure in how I feel about you. Let her play her games. Because the bottom line here,
baby, is that I want nobody but you. Is that acceptable? Can you do this with me?" he asked.

Harley looked down at the floor for a minute, thinking. Thinking of the email Denise sent her.
Thinking of all the back handed things Denise has done. If she left Richie, Denise would win.
Was Richie worth the fight? "Harley?" he called to her, waiting for an answer and getting
scared she would say no. Richie leaned forward, touching her face and pulling her chin up, so
she would face him. She looked deep into his eyes and saw it all. Her love for him, they're
marriage, they're future. She whispered, "Yes, I can do this." because he was worth the
fight.