"NO Anthony, let me go! No!" Juliet screamed.
"Juliet, wake up, it's just a dream!" Ricardo shouted getting a hold of a thrashing Juliet. He had to pin her down using his body to stop her from hurting herself. "Juliet! Wake up!" he said out loud.
It took a while to calm her down, as she studied her surroundings. Looking up she found Greg and Anita looking at her with worried expressions.
"It's ok guys, you go back to bed I will stay with her," Ricardo informed them.
Ricardo leaned against the headboard pulling her into his arms, whispering sweet nothings until she had completely calmed down. She loved the feel of his arms around her, and the warmth he provided, as she shuddered from the cold. Ricardo tightened his hold around her taking care to not hurt her. Juliet settled quietly in his arms listening to his rhythmic heart beat as she lay her head on his chest, before drifting off to sleep once again. He kissed her forehead goodnight as he held her close thinking to himself what Anthony had done to his angel?

The following morning she woke up to find everyone settled in the dining room having breakfast.
"Good morning everyone, I am so famished this morning," she greeted her friends.
"Ah, just the person we were talking about, how did you sleep love?" Ricardo inquired.
"Pretty good actually. I'm sorry for waking all of you last night. I don't know what happened," she said looking away from them. "Let me go get some cereal. I will be right back."
"No, sit down, let me do that for you, you still have to heal, remember," Greg stated.
"Sweetheart please bring me some more pancakes!" Anita called out, and received a chuckle from everyone. "What? I am eating for two remember..."

"Julie I have a proposition for you," Ricardo said with a mischievous glint in his eyes as Greg came back. We decided it's best we get married only for your protection. Your divorce will be settled by the end of this day, it will be a small private wedding at my house in the Hamptons. I would like you to think it over when we leave for the hamptons. There is no pressure at all darling, I am only doing this out of responsibility for you."
Julie stared at Ricardo open mouthed. Greg told her it was the best option for her, and Anita gave a slight nod in support of her husband. Julie remained silent and focused on eating her breakfast too shocked to give either one of them a response.

After breakfast everyone left to freshen up. After getting her change of clothes, she quickly freshened up, as Ricardo had mentioned that they had to leave the hotel in an hours time. After getting an all clear from their security, the group left the hotel in companionable silence. The gentlemen had an suv to themselves whilst the girls followed behind in their own.

"Do you know he is in love with you?" Anita asked her close friend.
"Who, Ricardo. I, I don't think so, he...he is just being protective because of the shooting, that's all."
"Are you in love with him Juliet?" Anita asked having known her friend to never be nervous, even when faced with the most difficult problem. "You should tell him, then this would be way easier on you too. Besides the way you behave around each other is a dead give away," she chuckled.
Juliet remained silent, knowing what her friend said was true. The marriage proposal was a very appealing option as she went over it in her head. She fell asleep along the journey and so did Anita. Upon arrival at Ricardo's house both men were surprised to see the ladies asleep, not wanting to disturb their peaceful slumber, they carried them into the house. Greg and Ricardo then discussed the security protocols with Phil and Jack. Jack was Ricardo's head of security, so both men were working together. Greg then informed Ricardo that he had to leave by the end of the week, something had come up at his office.

Juliet's POV

She woke up and explored her surroundings, and upon walking into the closet, she was left speechless. There were too many clothes, and from the brands they looked pretty expensive. She chose to look for a simple pair of jeans and sweater, as it was becoming chilly. Walking into the kitchen she saw Ricardo nursing a cup of hot chocolate.
"Would you care for some?"
"Yes please, thank you."
He handed her, her cup, and after settling down she looked up and saw Ricardo staring at her.
"It's rude to stare you know?"
"What, sorry about that," he responded sheepishly, with a blush creeping up his face at being caught. "I have some good news for you, Anthony signed the divorce papers, and Greg has settled everything so you are officially a single woman."
"That's great news indeed. Finally I am free," she whispered with a sad tone in her voice.

Trying to remember the past, she wondered. What did I do wrong for it to come to this. Ok everyone was against this union, but Anthony had been a good man. She decided to let go of the past and focus on her present and future.

Ricardo's POV

When she came into the kitchen, I died a thousand times and woke up in heaven. She had the ability to make simple clothing look sexy, which had me excited to see what she would look like in finer clothing. My heart skipped a beat as she smiled at me wondering how such a small thing could take my breath away so easily. How would I tell her my feelings.
After handing her her hot chocolate, I couldn't help but stare at her lovely face. I was glad the bruise on her cheek was healing perfectly. After telling her the news about Anthony I saw her get lost in her thoughts.
Reaching out I placed my hand on her cheek, and was rewarded by her leaning into my touch. Her skin was so soft, I loved the feel of it in my palm.
"Baby, it's alright. Everything is going to get better from here onwards, I promise." She simply nodded here head in response.
"Let's get married Ricky," she whispered.

As soon as those words departed from her lip, Ricardo felt like the richest man alive. If he could win this woman's heart, trust, love, he would die a happy man, even if his enemies succeeded in killing him.

Ricardo made arrangements with a local reverend and they held the reception in his home. Greg and Anita were there as witnesses. Ricardo had already made arrangements for their wedding rings, she wore a long cream dress which had an intricate lace design for the arms. Ricardo was wearing a grey Armani suit, with a white shirt. They said their i do's and before the reverend announced for him to kiss his bride, Ricardo was already holding her in his arms and leaning down to place a kiss on her cheek. He didn't want to rush her into anything she wouldn't be comfortable with.

------------------------------------------------

"Would you like for me to show you around. We can even go out for dinner."
"Mr Andrews, do I detect you asking me out for a date?" she said with a laugh.
"As long as I have you by my side, you can can call it whatever you like, a date, an outing. I don't care," he said smiling at her.
"But before we leave, I have to check up on my patient you see. Just to make sure his leg is healing properly."
"Oh, of course doctor. You can do all the checking out you want," he replied with a wide grin on his face.

"Behave Mr Andrews or else no lollipop for you after your check up. Only good boys get them," she said jokingly.
Juliet went to the living room with Ricardo following closely behind and told him to lye down on the sofa. After examining him, she massaged his ointment to loosen his muscles.
"Oh yes, that's the spot right there. Your hands are pure magic baby," he whispered to her.
His word made her blush a deep red as she tried to continue looking away from him.
"And I love knowing I make you blush, just like you are right now," he said making her giggle.
Just then Anita and Greg came into the room and seeing what was happening excused themselves saying they were heading out.