Linsey would have hated the holiday theme. She wasn’t big on celebrating “tradition.” And yet here he stood, in an archway with a set of Christmas trees on either side of the priest and festive white lights on the steps of the altar.
And his would-be bride clearly loved tradition.
The music changed and his daughter came down the red carpet, wearing a green dress that matched her eyes and placing white rose petals on the ground, one at a time, and in a line.
Christine’s sweetness was absolutely her own personality.
Her age showed up in quirky ways, though she was very much a genius like her mother had been.
Hopefully Linsey understood why he was here listening to wedding music streaming from his tablet into the speaker system, while his senior household staff, Jeffrey, the head butler, and Sydney, the head maid, both watched over him. The staff was the closest thing he had to family other than his daughter.
That was all about to change with the addition of Miya and her family.
Laughter at the door meant his beautiful new bride—who he knew hardly anything about except that she was driven, pretty, and smart—had arrived.
No backing out now. He was marrying her for his daughter’s sake. He stood straighter as the music changed to the wedding march.
Christine, his angel, stood in front of him.
A few seconds later, Miya’s mother, Dieu, came in. She stared at him and the two lighted Christmas trees on the altar and nodded as if she approved. His skin tickled though. He wasn’t sure she actually did approve. For now, she took a seat in the front row. And next came Miya’s friend Coral in a red dress.
In keeping with the Christmas theme, as Coral reached the front of the chapel, the lights started to light up at the back, arching over Miya as she came in.
The theatrics meant nothing to him. She was magnetic all on her own as she came toward him.
Her black hair billowed around her face and bounced with every step. Her dress showed off her small frame and his heart thumped differently. As she joined him and took his hand, he said, “Miya, you’re beautiful.”
“Thanks, Rico.” She smiled at him with that magnetic personality of hers that radiated warmth.
The priest began to talk, but honestly, all Rico heard were strums in his ears.
Miya’s presence beside him somehow made everything okay. The priest stared at him and he realized he was supposed to answer, so he nodded and said, “I do.”
The priest turned toward Miya and repeated the vows. At least, he thought that’s what he heard between the thrashing in his veins.
He’d done it. He pledged himself to another woman, as Miya said, “I do.”
As a teenager, he’s sworn to Linsey he’d never leave her.
It was the only way to earn her trust.
And now he’d moved on. He had to, but the thought hit him like a rock between his eyes as the priest said, “You may now kiss the bride.”
A tremble in his hand grew as he met Miya’s gaze.
For a second he wasn’t sure what he’d do. Then he saw the way her body tensed, like she wasn’t sure what he’d do either …
But as she turned her head, he traced her high cheekbone, leaned down and let his lips brush hers.
And in that second, he forgot who he was, where he was, and anything else except that her kiss was sweeter than chocolate.
He let her go and slowly realized people were applauding. He stood straighter, but took her hand in his as she said, “Wow.”
He met her gaze and said quietly, so no one heard them, “I’m sorry.”
Her gaze narrowed as she stared at him. “For what?”
“I forgot … how to kiss,” he admitted as he leaned closer so only she heard.
Laughter escaped her lips and she pressed her hand around his shoulder to hold him as she said, “That’s not true. At all.” The entire crowd cheered again and her lips thinned as she said, “I forgot where I was for a moment.”
Right. He held his arm out and walked down the aisle beside her. They made it to the foyer, and then waited for their small wedding party to join them.
They hugged their guests as they came up to them, and once her friend Coral, who was last, joined them, he asked, “Shall we go in to dinner?”
Miya hesitated and stared at the other two guests. He seemed to be setting her up for failure as the lady of the manor by not introducing her formally. He suddenly realized his mistake, straightened his shoulders, and said, “Miya, Dieu, Coral—this is Jeffrey, the head butler, if any of you ladies need anything. And this is Sydney. She’s the head housekeeper, and the point person for any household changes.”
Her mother, Dieu, nodded and said, “We’ve met.”
Sydney then said, with a warmness in her gaze, “Thank you for letting us put up Christmas lights again.”
Maybe he shouldn’t have been so anti-holiday, he thought. As a boy, the house had lights and the servants had been … happier.
Linsey had been the one who hated Christmas, not him.
He stared at Jeffrey and Sydney as they headed out of the church and walked back along the path the servants had set for them to return to the main house. He then said, “Miss Christine here pointed out every plant you added this morning.”
Christine beamed at Miya’s mom.
Miya added, “We wanted to ensure you had some Christmas spirit, since you came here, Mom.”
Her mother took Christine’s hand as she said, “And tomorrow when we open presents, I’ll make sure everyone gets a cup of my hot chocolate.”
Coral jumped up and down like she’d just won a prize as she said, “I’m so excited. I’ve never made it to Deerrun. Now that I’m here, I finally get to have this magical drink I’ve heard so much about.”
“Magical?” Christine asked.
Miya winked and said, “Absolutely.” She turned toward her mom as she said, “I told Coral you were robbed of your prize every year, Mom.”
They reached the house and Sydney and Jeffrey rejoined their ranks without another word. Dieu said, “That doesn’t matter now. I only ever wanted to make you and our guests happy. As long as everyone enjoys the drink, that’s what matters.”
Frederico led the party to the small dining room that could host a maximum of twenty people and held Miya’s chair for her.
“Modesty doesn’t get you anything,” she told her mother.
Maybe that was true. He’d not had goals in a long time other than just seeing the next day.
Miya gazed at him for a moment but then said to her mom and friend, “You are both invited to join us for Christmas, of course.”
Her mother met Frederico’s stare head on and she asked, “What time do you open presents?”
Christmas … presents … He’d need to arrange to have a few offerings under the tree, then. He hadn’t given it much thought. His parents had made sure he had few wants, so gifts had never been a big deal for him. And Christine would barely remember last Christmas. He quickly said, “Whenever Miya tells us is good.”
And he immediately reached into his back pocket to get his phone.
He’d text Marsha to ensure she had presents ready for him.
Coral laughed as servants brought in the wine and dinner. “Deferring to your wife this fast. You’re a smart man.”
No one had ever claimed he was the smart one, ever. While he wasn’t dumb, his smartest move was understanding that his partners were the brains in the relationship. His face heated as he shook his head and said, “I … I’m not, really. Which is why I’m better at following directions.”
Her mother picked up her wine glass and said, “And modest too.”
Modest was for people who had something to hide, and he wasn’t that either. He picked up his silverware and asked, “What did you think of the dower house?”
Her mother’s eyes widened and she stared at everyone like she was in shock. “That’s not a house. It’s a mansion!”
Good. He relaxed in
his seat and Miya’s nearness sent some goosebumps underneath his crisp white shirt. “You’re welcome to stay there.”
She pressed her lips together and said, “I can’t stay by myself. It’s too big. And I’ve never had staff in my life.”
Too big? No one ever said that to him before.
And he tried to imagine what life would be like without servants. He’d never made his own bed or scrubbed the shower.
But then Coral said, “I’ll need a place to crash, and I don’t think Miya needs me tripping over her this close.” She turned toward Dieu and said, “I’d love to stay with you, if you’ll have me.”
Dieu’s eyes brightened as she said, “You’re welcome to have a wing, then.”
Coral smiled brightly and said, “Awesome.”
Good. Then Miya had her people and he … he had no one except Christine, but that was enough. He’d secured her future now.
He glanced at Miya and his skin warmed everywhere when he remembered that kiss he shouldn’t have tasted. And the adrenaline in his veins was for nothing. He shouldn’t feel so alive near her.
“See?” Miya said, smiling at him. “It’s all working out.”
They continued eating in silence, but that didn’t quiet the naked hunger that stirred inside him. As he finished and washed down the last bite of his chicken with some wine, he said, “You and your friends and family are close.”
Miya swung her feet under her chair and put her fork on her empty plate as she said, “They’re all I had. Now I have you and Christine, too.”
Christine put her own spoon down like she was done too. “See Dada, we’re in-clud-ed.”
Miya’s mother immediately picked up a napkin and helped his daughter who had a smudge of sauce on her face.
Christine made a face like she hated being fussed over, but then hugged Dieu like she was happy at the same time.
He’d never seen her like that. “My daughter is enjoying having more women around.”
Miya folded her hands on the table and their elbows brushed as she said, “I’ve never been a stepmom before so I’m hoping you’ll tell me what you like and don’t like, and we’ll figure out what works for both of us, together.”
Now that sounded sweet. And good, because if they worked as the team he intended, all would be well. Maybe he’d been lucky in the end and he’d been sent an angel who would help Christine—and maybe him—move on with living. “Thanks, Miya.”
Dieu pointed at the two of them and said, “It’s time for the bride and groom to dance.”
Dance? He’d not done that since high school, when his mother had made him take Linsey to a party where they’d danced only one song.
He’d had two left feet, despite the tutors who’d insisted as a boy that he had rhythm. He stared at the table and said, “We don’t have to.”
Her mother said, “I insist.” She then told Miya, “I raised you and sent you to many dance classes. Time to show me what you learned and how you’re happy with your new husband.”
His hair stood on end. Miya’s happiness hadn’t been a thought till now. And her mother might see through the whole charade quickly.
But his wife should be happy, too. He put his napkin on the table and stood as Miya said, “Mom …”
Without letting her say another word, he held out his hand to her and said, “I’d love to dance with you, Miya.”
A slow song, at least ten years old, played over a speaker as the room grew quiet except for the music.
“I’ve not heard this song in years,” he said.
She glanced at him as he held out his arms in the proper dance square he remembered from his lessons.
“Me either, to be honest.”
She met him frame-to-frame and from the first step followed his lead as he said, “Thank you for agreeing to all this.”
And she didn’t step on him or make him tense up so that he ruined the dance.
They moved together, easily, as she said, “I’m the lucky one. You and your daughter are sweet and somehow you’re including me and my own hopes and dreams in your lives.”
Maybe he wasn’t the hopeless dancer he remembered. Maybe that had been Linsey, despite how she’d protested.
Miya even twirled as he directed.
Wow. As he held her in frame again, he said, “If I can help you in any way …”
She bounced on her heels while staying in step. “You’ve provided everything. I just need to do the work.”
With her as a partner, he’d navigated for three minutes. Dancing was fun after all, like he remembered as a boy in Italy. As the song ended, he asked, “Miya, is there any place you’d want to see for a honeymoon?”
Her nose wrinkled and she asked, “Isn’t that for real couples?”
Fair. Right. He wasn’t offering her love or romance. He didn’t have that in him. He said, “Yes, but it’s expected we’d go away for at least a weekend.”
They returned to their seats as she asked, “And your birthday is New Year’s?”
Which meant every year people were happy on his birthday while he …
“Yes,” he said.
He held her chair for her as she said, “Well, I’d like to be somewhere warm for New Year’s and … never mind.”
He leaned closer and asked in a whisper, “What?”
She covered her lips so no one else at the table heard her as she said, “I’d like for you to kiss me at midnight on New Year’s Eve, like in all the movies. Since we’re married, and that moment seems so special in movies … I wanted …”
This was probably the first time a woman had asked him to kiss her. “No problem. It will be my pleasure.”
The words weren’t quite true. They couldn’t be. He’d been in love once, but never again. But a kiss on a holiday, as a husband … that was something he’d like to do. At least for Miya.
Chapter 7
Miya glanced at the hand-carved gold ring on her finger that was clearly the work of a master. The details were so well done in the prongs that held up the diamond, she’d almost missed them.
But seriously, who creates their own prongs except for an expert?
Rico’s staff had chosen well, understanding her own need to be original, without ever being told.
Life would be great here, if she let go of her desires and accepted reality. Her old life, her old job were now in the far distance.
But as she left her shower, in her new white silk pajamas, she glanced at two white-golden doors.
Last night there had been pictures and a tapestry there. Now magically the wall had doors? The doors must have been there all along, behind the tapestry, but she’d certainly never noticed them. She headed over to check.
The gold handles gleamed. Part of her wanted to open them immediately, but she held back.
Maybe she shouldn’t. Instead, she pressed her ear to it.
On the other side she heard Rico. At least she assumed it was him. The goosebumps on her arms made her think so.
They must have adjoining rooms.
So she squared her shoulders and decided to test the doors to see if they were locked.
They swung open at her touch.
She stared straight across the room to where he stood pulling on a pair of sweatpants, as if he’d just stepped out of the shower in his bathroom.
And his body was harder and firmer than she’d ever imagined. Only movie stars who wore leather costumes to show off their muscles looked anything like Rico.
This was her husband, on paper. Her soul mate. And the man she’d only married because of a business deal. She had no right to wish he’d lower his pants and invite her to join him in bed.
Way too much and not going to happen.
Steam must be coming out of her pores, she thought, though she stepped inside, heart racing, and decided to pretend bravado.
“Is this your room?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said, while she studied his window curtains as if she cared about the gold fabric.
“I had no idea yesterday there were even doors there,” she said.
He shrugged and walked toward her. “The staff must have had the tapestry up in there like they had in mine.”
As he came closer, awareness raced through her. This wasn’t fair. But she said calmly, “True. I didn’t go checking behind the pictures and tapestry.”
His green eyes were mesmerizing and her lips tingled from memory of that kiss as he asked, “What do you want?”
Good question. She ignored how she trembled on her bare feet as she said, “Well, it’s our wedding night.”
He pointed behind him, toward his bed that matched her own and asked, “You want—?”
“No.” She interrupted him quickly. This wasn’t about sex. She shook her head to emphasize, and once she stopped feeling entirely frazzled, she said, “I just want to talk.”
He let out a deep breath that he must have been holding and said, “Then let me order some wine and dessert and we can sit near the fire.”
She glanced to the side of the room and saw shadows moving on the wall that must be coming from a fireplace around the corner. She snapped her fist into her free hand and said, “Sounds lovely.”
He stepped back and walked beside her in the direction the flickering shadows were coming from, and yes, once they turned the corner, he had a reading nook, complete with a fireplace that roared with an inviting blaze. He pointed her to one of the two cozy seats as she said, “Your home is so amazing. I can see why you didn’t want to leave it.”
He took the opposite seat as he said, “I want Christine to be secure, yes.”
Moments later, his valet came out from behind a bookshelf, like there was a hidden chamber there, with a tray bearing wine, nuts, cheese, crackers and fruits. She ignored the food, as she was still stuffed from earlier, and just took the glass of wine that was poured for her.
As the valet left, she sipped the wine and sighed into her glass. The dry taste was heavenly.
“I love pinot grigios,” she said.
He winked at her, took his own glass and sank further into his seat as he said, “Good to know.”
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