A Marvelous Monday Read online

  Marvelous Monday

  The Zelda Diaries – Book 7 Series Finale

  Olivia Gaines

  Davonshire House Publishing

  PO Box 9716

  Augusta, GA 30916

  THIS BOOK IS A WORK of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s vivid imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely a coincidence.

  © 2018 Olivia Gaines, Cheryl Aaron Corbin

  Copy Editor: Teri Thompson Blackwell

  Cover: Kou Graphics

  Olivia Gaines Make Up and Photograph by Latasla Gardner Photography

  ASIN:

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever. For information address, Davonshire House Publishing, PO Box 9716, Augusta, GA 30916.

  Printed in the United States of America

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 9 8

  First Davonshire House Publishing August 2018

  DEDICATION

  For all of my Zelda’s. You can have a happily ever after.

  “Easy reading is damn hard writing.”

  - Nathaniel Hawthorne

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  A special thank you to the Tuesday Sushi Club, Jessica, and Hildie,

  for keeping me grounded.

  To all the fans, friends and supporters of the dream as well as the Facebook community of writers who keep me focused, inspired and moving forward.

  Write On!

  Also by Olivia Gaines

  THE ZELDA DAIRIES

  It Happened Last Wednesday

  A Tantalizing Tuesday

  My Thursday Throwback

  A Frickin’ Fantastic Friday

  A Sensual Saturday

  A Saucy Sunday

  A Marvelous Monday

  The Slivers of Love Series

  The Cost to Play

  Thursday in Savannah

  Girl's Weekend

  Beneath the Well of Dawn

  Santa’s Big Helper

  A Menu for Loving

  The Davonshire Series

  Courting Guinevere

  Loving Words

  Vanity's Pleasure

  The Blakemore Files

  Being Mrs. Blakemore

  Shopping with Mrs. Blakemore

  Dancing with Mr. Blakemore

  Cruising with the Blakemores

  Dinner with the Blakemores

  Loving the Czar

  A Weekend with the Blakemores

  Being Mr. Blakemore

  Vacationing with the Blakemores

  Goodnight Mr. Blakemore

  The Modern Mail Order Brides

  North to Alaska

  Montana

  Wyoming Nights

  Oregon Trails

  On a Rainy Night in Georgia

  Buckeye and the Babe

  Bleu, Grass, Bourbon

  Other Novels

  A Menu for Loving

  Turning the Page

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One- My New Life Begins

  Chapter Two - A Wonderful Wednesday

  Chapter Three – A Moment of Reflection

  Chapter Four – A Thursday Throwback

  Chapter Five – A Frickin’ Fantastic Friday

  Chapter Six – A Sensual Saturday

  Chapter Seven – A Saucy Sunday

  Chapter Eight – A Marvelous Monday

  Epilogue

  Bleu, Grass, Bourbon

  Prologue

  Chapter 1 – Like A Slug to the Chest

  Chapter 2 – Crewing up the Fat

  About the Author: Olivia Gaines

  Chapter One- My New Life Begins

  The morning began quietly with the sun peering over the horizon of the bluegrasses of Kentucky on the Berger land. Rude rays snuck beams of light through the curtains, encouraging the inhabitants of the darkened room to waken from their slumber and begin the day. For Zelda Fitzsimmons, it was a new day and a fresh start to a new life.

  A hairy arm fell heavily across her midsection as a large gust of morning breath was exhaled by her big hairy hunk, reminding her she was not in bed alone. Today would be the start of waking up every morning next to him for the rest of their lives. Well, the days that he would be in town. Scott Berger, CEO of the Berger Vent Company that made ventriloquist dolls and the man who had stolen her heart, had offered on several occasions for her to travel with him. Zelda liked the idea, but from what she could surmise thus far, she had a great deal of work to do. A house to remodel. A wedding to plan. A new magazine to run. An old magazine to close out. Her skinned buzzed with the possibilities.

  Zelda lay in bed, her fingers running across the coarse dark hairs on his arm. His family lived in the connected houses on the land. Spending a few days with them in Mexico had been eye-opening and fun. They were wonderful people, all but that sister Sarah. She even liked the kids. Niece and nephew. My niece and nephew. Or at least they will be by marriage.

  If he ever proposes.

  He is going to...you know it.

  Doubt eased into her mind at the thought of living with him for a year, waiting on a ring that would or would not come. She shook her head, dismissing the negative just as Dr. DeNoid, the therapist she’d seen in Vegas, had shown her. The days of self-doubt and fear would be behind her. At least she hoped as she got out of the bed and found a cup of coffee to get her eyes open. Fear had held her in place, pinned down like an ant under a leaf, afraid to move forward and follow the scented trail to the new home, because of the of the predatory bird flying overhead.

  There was always a damned bird.

  A stupid, hungry bird waiting for an opportunity to swoop down and snack on the unsuspecting ant. The colony had to go on. The queen needed to be fed. The drones moved in an orderly fashion, following, obeying, doing what needed to be done for the community to thrive.

  She rolled over. A dull pain shot through her lower back from the acrobatics in Scott’s vibrating love chair last night. Zelda had never experienced such an intense orgasm like that in her life. Truthfully, many of the ones she’d experienced with Scott were high on her list of oh yeah, but last night had been different for them both. A newly found freedom overtook their lovemaking, deepening the connection and desire to let loose. A soft smile formed at the corner of her lips at the thought of Chandler, Scott’s butler, bursting through the door fearing someone was in danger based on the loud animal noises they were both making.

  Freedom.

  Her newly found means of free expression was still stuck to her skin like a bad habit. Freedom needed her butt washed. Groaning, she rolled to her side, swinging her legs off the side of the bed, mumbling, moaning, and trying to get the stiff legs to work, but they refused to cooperate.

  “Keep moaning like that and I may mistake it for a desire for another round,” a deep, sleep -filled voice mumbled.

  “Not today,” Zelda said, playfully slapping his hand. “I’m in this state because of you. The last thing I need is one more hair from the hairy dog that bit my ass.”

  “I like biting your ass and anything else hairy you want me to nibble on,” Scott said, chuckling into the pillow. “But I understand. My ass is hurting, too.”

  “You’re sore as well?”

  “No,” he said, chuckling. “My ass actually hurts. It feels like I was last night’s party favor in Cell Block D, passed around by the homies for a carton of menthols. I think I had the setting too high on the chair.”

  “I think that chair is going to be the cause of a vaginal rejuvenation if we go at it like that again. I am sore all over,” she said, groaning, trying to stand.

  “A good soak is what you need,” he said.


  “What about you?’

  “I am going to swim a few laps, shower, and then introduce a new way today to make you squeal,” he said, running his fingertips over the soft skin of her bottom. Surprised by his own soreness, his paw-like hand swatted blindly at the nightstand, searching for the call button. The tips of his fingers connected with the circular intercom he sought and pressing down, waiting for the buzzing to sound. Moments later, the British voice answered.

  “Good morning, Sir,” Chandler said.

  “It’s too early for that shit, Chandler,” Scott said. “Zelda now lives here, just call me Scott like you always do when we are home. Talk to me like normal when it’s just us.”

  “Very well, Scott,” Chandler said. “What in the hell do you want so early on our off day?”

  “That’s more like it,” Scott replied. “I’m swimming a few laps this morning, then we will find a bite to eat. Zelda’s going to soak for a while, but do we have any coffee ready?’

  “We do. Ms. Fitzsimmons, would you care for a cup, and would you like me to draw your bath?” Chandler asked.

  Zelda, finally making it to her feet, stretched long; her hands reaching to the ceiling as she replied. “Coffee, yes, but I can run my own bath water,” she said. “Do I need to come and get the cups of Joe?’

  “No, Madam, I shall bring it to you,” Chandler said.

  “Thanks, Chandler,” Scott replied.

  “Coffee is on the way,” the butler responded.

  “Thanks, Chandler, times two,” Zelda yelled into the air, not knowing where the device was in the room to transmit their responses. Her nude form crossed the room and headed for the bathroom. Thoughts of soaking in the large tub sent signals to her brain that it was happy time. Coffee. Hot bath. Happy time.

  “Zelda?” Scott called. “Are you okay this morning?”

  “Right as rain and the prairie plain,” she called back, starting the water to fill the tub. The bathroom, offset in the room, maintained a level of privacy which removed the need to close the door. Adding bath salts to the water flow, she dipped in her toe to check the temperature before lowering in her body, and the water slowly rose to the depth of her chin. Closing her eyes, she drifted away, going over a mental list of things to get done before the day was over. The sound of the running water drowned out the soft tap at the bedroom door when Chandler arrived with morning coffee.

  Scott, in a loose-fitting pair of loungers, answered the door with a smile, only to have it fade at the sight of his butler standing at the entry, wearing a dark pair of shades. Scott was unable to see Chandler’s eyes as he passed the tray to Scott. Chandler nodded as he turned to leave.

  “Chandler, what in the hell?” Scott asked, perplexed by the man’s behavior. “You are acting weird this morning.”

  “After what I saw last night, I wanted to make certain I would be unable to peer in the room and catch a glimpse of any more strangeness,” Chandler said with his lips turned up.

  “Oh, yeah. About that,” Scott said blushing. “Sorry, you had to see my playtime.”

  “You and me both,” Chandler mumbled.

  “That chair though...”

  “Please, stop yourself,” Chandler replied. “I want to know absolutely nothing about the chair, or the joy it seems to bring you and your bum.”

  “Dude. Michael bought one for himself. You should...”

  “No!” Chandler said. “I am not trying your chair. After what I saw last night, you should leave it alone as well. Nipple clips! She was upside down. The chair was...never mind.”

  The tray seemed to gain weight the longer Scott held it. He needed to set it down. Scott entered the bedroom and placed the tray of coffee, breakfast rolls and sliced fruits and cheeses on the stool. His attention was back to Chandler.

  “Chandler, take off the glasses,” he said softly. “Again, I’m sorry you had to see that, but hey, it was amazing. Stop being a prude.”

  “I’m not a prude, Scott. But seeing that nice woman, like that, with you. It is messing with my calm,” Chandler said.

  “Not you! The man with nerves of steel. You are never rattled. Seeing me and Zelda like that bothered you?” Scott asked in disbelief.

  “Scott, the woman was drooling like she was a having a stroke. And you!” he said, removing the shades. “Your legs were all stuck out like electrical currents were going through your bodies. I seriously thought you two had had some form of freak accident and I needed to unplug the chair. It scared the hell out of me, so yeah, I’m still rattled. Even the poor puppy left the room to come find me. She was weirded out as well.”

  The laughter that erupted from Scott infuriated Chandler. He saw nothing humorous in the situation. The visual felt burned on his retinas and had nearly kept him up all night.

  “Again, I’m sorry we traumatized you,” Scott said. “We are just fine.”

  Chandler inhaled deeply and squared his shoulders. Diamond had opted to remain with him and he would take the little lady out for a morning walk. In his many years at Scott’s side, he’d seen some odd things and traveled through dark caverns on the man’s soul. Through all of them, he had remained steadfast, never one to judge, but only to help. For some reason, last night wasn’t sitting well with him. The sound of a ringing phone pulled Scott away.

  Chandler took it as his cue to leave. The ringing phone was Zelda’s. The name on the caller ID was Grandma Lula. Zelda would want coffee before dealing with her grandmother.

  “Good morning, Ms. Lula,” Scott said. “Zelda’s in the shower. Can I have her give you a callback?”

  “Yes, that would be nice,” she said. He could almost feel the sanctimonious speech her old mind was conjuring up. The coffee was waiting and he also needed a cup before the morning chat on sin and fornication.

  “Will do,” he said, hanging up the line before the woman became emboldened and wanted to give him a lecture.

  He poured a cup of coffee for Zelda, added cream and sugar, and carried it into the bathroom. Her black hair, in a clip, sat high on her head to avoid getting wet while she lounged in the warm waters, soaking away the soreness.

  “Coffee,” he offered, handing her the cup. “Your Grandmother also called. I told her you’d call her back.”

  “Thanks,” she said, taking the cup and sitting up. She sipped gingerly, swallowing down the contents, savoring the taste on her tongue. “I need three cups before I call that woman.”

  He wanted to tell her so many things. Chandler being upset. The need to plan the wedding and soon. The weekend in New York. They should go by her new offices at the museum. Hell, she’d never seen his office. He also needed to coordinate sending the plane back to Texas to pick up her family on Sunday.

  “Talk to me, Scott,” she said. “What dilemma are you toying with in that big brain of yours this morning?”

  “We need to talk about the wedding. I also should take you by the offices,” he said, watching the beautiful face he’d grown to love. “Your grandmother wants you to call her back, and she is probably going to lecture you on living in sin, so then there’s that.”

  He opted not to mention Chandler. The last thing he needed was for Zelda to feel uncomfortable around the man. Yet, he felt uncomfortable himself.

  “So today, let’s go by the museum offices so I can see what I am working with on that end,” she said, touching his hand. “Anything else we will deal with as it comes.”

  “And the wedding?’

  “You still haven’t officially asked me to marry you, Scott Berger,” she said.

  “I’m getting to it,” he said with a wink. “Real soon, too.”

  Scott left her in the water, returning to bring her the phone to call back her grandmother, a conversation he didn’t want to be privy to. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he picked up a croissant, added a smidgen of jam to it, and munched while he waited for his spectacular lady to get out of the tub.

  The proposal. He had the ring.

  “Soon, Zelda,
” he said, going to his bureau to find his swim trunks. A few laps would get his blood pumping and brain engaged. There was so much to do in so little time. Sitting on the bed wasn’t going to make the day go any faster. Grudgingly, he got moving towards the pool. Laps. Offices. Surprise for Zelda.

  ZELDA HELD THE PHONE, looking at it as if it were an interloper on her peaceful Zen retreat in the healing waters of Bad Sulza. Leave it to her Grandmother to ruin a peaceful moment. If she didn’t call her back within thirty minutes, the old woman would dispatch the police to come search for her, based on the last known GPS location in her phone. Reluctantly, she dialed.

  Grandma Lula answered, “You feeling all clean, girl?”

  “Good morning, Grandma,” Zelda said, loading her intonation with the unsaid what the hell do you want old woman.

  “Don’t good morning me! You walked through here yesterday saying your fare the wells to everybody but me. What am I, chicken liver to you? I don’t get five minutes of your fornicating time?”

  “Michael said you were resting, I didn’t want to disturb you,” Zelda said. hoping to add a bead of comfort to the conversation.

  “Too late for that now,” Lula said. “I’m disturbed, perturbed, and dealing with the absurd. You know I saw that Wilke out in his yard this morning with a real estate lady. He has a for sale sign in his yard. Then, that slanty-eyed baby maker told me he was moving to Kentucky with you!”

  “Yes Ma’am, there is a cottage here that Wilke will be moving into,” Zelda said, biting her bottom lip.

  “You know what else he told me, Zelda? That man told me with a grin on his sinful lips that Michael was selling his home too and marrying that red-headed She-Devil. Quitting his job. Taking an extended honeymoon to travel the world,” Lula said with distaste in her mouth. “After the honeymoon, based on what Wilke said to me, your brother plans to live there to be closer to you and to keep that girl near her Momma.”

  “Grandma,” Zelda said in all truthfulness. “I wasn’t aware that Michael had made a final decision.