“Hey.” He cupped her chin and tilted her head up so she had no choice but to look at him. His eyes darkened until they were nearly black with an indefinable emotion. “Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do. I offered to help you and nothing has changed. In fact, I’m looking forward to a lot of long, passion-filled nights with you,” he said.
Her skin prickled and sizzling nerve endings tingled along her spine with anticipation. She looked forward to the same thing.
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“Who wouldn’t look forward to that?”
London looked down at her and her female hormones surged with need. Still cupping her face, he took her mouth in his, driving into it with the slow thrust of his tongue. Leaning into him, Bianca moaned with delight at the feel of his lips against hers. She was lost in his kiss. When he finally broke it off, she looked up at his mouth, staring at the moisture on his bottom lip.
“Does that answer your question?”
Mark stepped past the sliding-glass door, onto the deck, breaking the spell. “We need y’all in the living room.” He motioned for them to follow.
Recovering quickly, Bianca shot London a questioning look.
“I have no idea.” He took her hand. “Might as well go find out.”
As they walked into the living room, Bianca saw that everyone seemed to be waiting. Clarence stood in the center with his hands folded in front.
“Here are the lovebirds. Come on over here, you two, and have a seat on the couch.” He waited until London and Bianca were by his side before he began. “I just wanted to say that we were all thrilled to hear about your engagement. It was a surprise, but we’re happy for you and wanted to say congratulations.”
Bianca smiled shyly at the group. “Thank you very much,”
she said. London echoed her sentiments and everyone clapped.
Bianca heard the sound of popping corks and saw Mona and the twins pouring champagne into disposable glasses.
“Before we toast, I would like to say a few words,” Clarence said, only to be met by groans from his daughters. London chimed in. Bianca had a feeling that her future father-in-law was somewhat long-winded when he wanted to be, and giggled.
Clarence ignored them and faced Bianca. His look softened.
“Bianca, I want to personally welcome you to our family. We don’t have much, but one thing we never are short of around here is love,” he added, glancing at Mona who offered him a thoughtful smile. He paused when Mark carried over a tray of champagne glasses and waited for them to each to take one. “We all wish the two of you the best of luck. I know you’ll be happy and make plenty of beautiful babies.” He looked around as if to see that everyone held a glass. “London, Bianca—” he held his glass high 142
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to toast them “—please accept our sincere congratulations on your engagement and may you have many happy years together.”
Bianca felt a wave of heat sweep up her chest and settle at her cheeks as the group toasted them. She felt bad deceiving all these good people.
“Thank you,” she replied and brought the glass to her lips.
They would all wonder why if she refused. She was sure one sip wouldn’t hurt the baby.
London rose and tilted his glass to the crowd. “Thanks, everyone. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with this beautiful woman.” His voice was soft and layered with sensuality.
London reached for Bianca’s hand and she rose from the couch. He then took her glass and his and set them on the coffee table. Bianca was stunned when he slipped his arms around her, pulled her hard against him and kissed her soundly on the lips.
Surprised, Bianca’s mouth opened slightly and London slipped his tongue inside, pulling her even closer. She was only vaguely aware of the clapping and wolf whistles as London pulled her even tighter in his arms.
Bianca felt her knees turn to pudding. She almost groaned out loud when she tasted the sweet champagne on his lips. Something inside her snapped, and her body came to life as she felt this overwhelming need to keep on kissing him.
Mona made a show of clearing her throat. “Excuse me, but there are other people in the room besides the two of you,” she said reminding them that they were not alone.
“Get a room,” someone yelled.
Bianca placed a palm on his chest, pushing against his solid muscle. London raised his head. He and Bianca made eye contact. It was as if she were seeing him for the first time. From the look on his face, she knew he felt it, too.
London noticed that Bianca was relatively quiet on the ride home.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked.
Even though her eyes were closed, she smiled. “Yes, I did. I really like your family.”
“And they like you.” Before they had left, his father had pulled Angie Daniels
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him aside and told London that he was proud of him and that he had made a good choice.
“I hate deceiving them. They think we’re really in love.” There was a hint of frustration in her voice.
“I know,” he replied with a degree of guilt. It bothered him, as well—deceiving his family. He hadn’t seen his father look that happy since…since before his mother died.
As she sat there quietly, with her eyes closed, London thought about their kiss.
Bianca had gotten under his skin. There hadn’t been a single night since they first made love that he could think of anything but her. Angrily, he fought against the longing to possess her permanently. That would be a mistake. Theirs was a business arrangement—nothing more.
He was glad when he finally pulled into the driveway.
“Next weekend’s the big day,” he said in a low voice. Bianca turned her head and he met her clear gaze. For a short time he was lost in the moment. He wanted her like hell on fire. And if he touched her again, he wasn’t going to be able to control the impulse to carry her into the house and make mad passionate love to her for the rest of the night. Yet he couldn’t sort out the emotions swirling within him. He needed some time to put those emotions in perspective.
Bianca must have seen the lust burning in his eyes because she licked her lower lip nervously before swinging her purse strap over her shoulder. “Yes. I’ll be busy working on a project most of the week so if I don’t see you before the rehearsal dinner…”
He nodded. “I understand.” A little distance was probably for the best. It would give him a chance to get his head together before Bianca became Mrs. London Brown.
Chapter 18
“You look beautiful,” Brenna whispered as Bianca stepped out of the bathroom into the sitting where her three sisters-in-law and Debra were waiting.
While they oohed and aahed, Bianca moved over to the floor-length mirror and viewed her best friend’s skills at doing her hair.
Debra had pulled her hair back and secured it with pearl-beaded pins. The look was classy and cute.
“Wow!” Danica began. “I love your dress.”
“Thanks,” she said, glancing down at the wedding dress that she had found while out shopping with Sheyna. It had taken her two days before the wedding to find it at a small bridal shop in Ocean City, Maryland. As soon as she spotted it in the window, she knew she had to have it. The beige silk gown was ankle-length with a train, delicately beaded and extremely low in the back. The fabric accented her figure and flared slightly around her ankles. It wasn’t anything fancy or breathtaking, but it made her look and feel beautiful. Being four months’ pregnant, she needed that.
Bianca turned to the side and captured the side view. Thank Angie Daniels
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goodness her stomach was still relatively flat. It would have been a disaster if she had been showing at her wedding. She took another long look, then released a heavy breath. In less than an hour she would be Mrs. London Brown.
“Bianca, are you okay?” Danica asked.
“Oh, please don’t tell me you’re about
to get sick in your dress!”
She narrowed her eyes as Jessica Beaumont stepped into the room. “No, Mother. I’m not getting sick.”
“Thank goodness,” she said with relief. “Everybody is here.”
“Mother Beaumont. She’s just nervous. I was the same way when Jaden and I got married,” Danica said.
Bianca looked over at Danica and gave her a warm smile. Only her feelings were nothing at all like those her sister-in-law had felt at her wedding. Danica and Jaden had been in love, looking forward to a life together. The deep, committed love they shared was evident in their actions. Anyone could see it in the way they talked, the way they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Relationships like that were few and far between. Danica had certainly made Jaden happy over the last two years. Whereas Bianca was nervous because she was having second thoughts about marrying a man for all the wrong reasons. She frowned because this wasn’t at all the wedding she had hoped for, but, with a sigh, Bianca decided that she was going to have to make the best of it.
The colors of her wedding were beige and chocolate. Sheyna and a pregnant Danica looked gorgeous in strapless chocolate A-line dresses. While their niece, Arianna, was adorable in a cream-colored, floor-length flower-girl dress.
Sheyna came over to Bianca and started straightening her train. “You should see London. He is nervous as all get out.”
Stunned, Bianca looked at Sheyna through the mirror and she nodded.
“His hands are shaking.”
Bianca then dropped her eyes. For a moment, she thought that maybe he was truly nervous about them.
Brenna came over and took her hand. “You look so pretty.”
There were unshed tears in her eyes. “Wait until London sees you.”
“Are you ready?” Debra asked.
“I guess so,” Bianca answered, shaking inside as she looked 146
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at her maid of honor, who was sexy in a chocolate two-tone slip dress that showcased every voluptuous curve.
Debra came over and gave her best friend a hug, trying not to ruin her makeup or wrinkle her dress. “Everything is going to work out. Just watch and see,” she whispered for her ears only.
“I hope so,” she said, glad someone knew how she was really feeling.
Debra released her with a smile. “I know so. The two of you look good together.”
“Yes, you do.” The others agreed.
“Grab your bouquets and let’s go and take our places,” Danica suggested and the others all followed her out of the room.
Bianca took one more look at herself, then swung around and found her mother still sitting on the chair looking stunning as ever in a taupe suit. She had a tissue in her hand and was dabbing tears from her eyes.
“You’re going to make me ruin my makeup,” she scolded.
Bianca smirked. “Then quit crying.”
Jessica placed her hand over her heart and breathed deeply.
“I’m not crying—just happy for you. Look at my little girl all grown up and you’re getting married and getting ready to have a family. I’m losing my baby.”
“Silly, I’m not going anywhere.”
“When you have children, then you’ll understand.” She rose and walked over to where Bianca was standing and took a seat.
“I know you’re rushing to marry him before you start showing and maybe it is sooner than you would have wanted, but I have a good feeling about London and I feel confident that everything is going to work out. I can feel it.”
Her words meant the world to Bianca. “Thank you, Mother.”
Her mother rose and joined her in front of the mirror. “Bianca, I love you. I might have a hard time showing it sometimes, but I want you to know that all I have cared about is your happiness.”
Tears burned the backs of Bianca’s eyes as she looked up at her mother. “Thanks, Mother. I love you, too.” She hugged her until her mother gently pushed her away.
“Okay, enough of that. They’re ready for you outside.”
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
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Her mother kissed her cheek and left Bianca alone.
Nervous, she sank onto a chair. What if she was making a mistake? She placed a protective hand against her stomach.
“Sweetheart, Mama’s doing this for you.” She was doing this for her baby. She wanted her child to have a stable home. She had every intention of giving her child all her love. And maybe things would work out with her and London enough that he would be a wonderful father to her child even long after they had gone their separate ways.
“Bianca, I give you my word. I will be a father to your child no matter what.”
She couldn’t ask for anything more.
There was a knock, then the door opened and her father stepped in. Bianca rose and smiled. At sixty-two, her father still looked dashing in a black tuxedo.
“Don’t you look mighty handsome?”
“It isn’t every day a father gives away his only daughter.” He gave her a warm hug, then took her hands and met her gaze. “I love you, Bianca. All I care about is your happiness. Are you sure this is what you want, because if it’s not I’ll sneak out the back door with you right now and we can hop a plane to the Bahamas by ourselves. I could use a little break from your mother.”
She chuckled, then reached up and caressed her father’s cheek. “That’s why I love you so much. You’ve always kept Mother in line.” Tears dampened her eyes. “No, I want to do this, Daddy.” He gave her a big bear hug, then drew back. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look?”
She kissed his cheek.
“Ready?” he asked with tears in his eyes.
“Yes, but there’s something I need to do first.”
Chapter 19
“Man, relax, will you?” Mark said, and patted London lightly on the back.
How was he supposed to relax when in a few minutes he was going to be marrying Bianca Beaumont? London wondered.
Just thinking about it made his hands sweat.
A tap on the door sent London’s stomach down to the soles of his shoes. His shoulders tensed. It was time for everyone to take their places. Jaden went to see who it was.
Mark joined London, who was pacing in front of a pair of French doors. “You look like you’re about to pass out. Too much partying last night,” he teased.
Last night Jaden and a couple of their friends had thrown London a bachelor party at the Beaumont Hotel. Jaden was still pissed with him for betraying his trust, but he had come through for him last night, despite any ill feelings he may have still harbored. They had everything—food, liquor and exotic dancers.
London couldn’t explain it. Instead of enjoying himself, all he wanted to do was go over to Bianca’s, curl up under the covers with her and hold her in his arms.
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“Nah, just ready to get the formalities over with.”
Mark nudged him with his elbow. “Yeah, right. You’re ready to get that honeymoon started, huh? I ain’t mad at you,” he chuckled.
Jaden cleared his throat. “London, my sister would like to speak with you.”
London’s heart slammed against his chest. Bianca was at the door. Why? He wondered if she was having cold feet. He hoped not. They had already decided that this was the only way to protect the Beaumont name and to protect her baby from Collin.
He reached the door just as Bianca stepped in.
“Sis, don’t you know this is bad luck?” Jaden scowled as he smoothed the front of his tuxedo.
Bianca gave him a dismissive wave. “Be quiet. I need to speak to London.”
London couldn’t do anything but stare. Bianca looked…beautiful. Sexy as hell. He sucked in a sharp breath and took a giant mental step back. Every speck of moisture in his mouth vanished.
Her hair was in small spiral curls that were pulled back away from her perfectly round face. Her shoulders were ba
re and the floor-length dress molded her curves with a lover’s attention to detail. His pulse drummed louder in his ears. Even though their wedding was a sham, he still considered himself lucky to be marrying such a beautiful woman.
He purposely cleared his throat. “Give us a minute,” he said, and realized he sounded like a frog and cleared his throat again.
His cousin punched his shoulder. London pulled his gaze away from Bianca long enough to catch Mark winking just before heading out the door.
As soon as they were all gone, Bianca closed the door quietly behind them.
Her alluring and exotic scent wrapped around him and made him dizzy with longing. “You look incredible, Bianca.”
A smile trembled on her lips. “Thank you. So do you.”
He clenched his jaw and fought the unexpected and unwanted need snaking through his veins.
“Bianca, is everything all right?”
“Yes, I…” She lifted gaze and met his, and for a long moment neither of them said anything. Worry darkened her eyes and he 150
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had to fight the urge to kiss every worry line away from her forehead. “London, I wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me, but you don’t have to do this. We don’t have to get married. Drawing unwanted attention to me and my family no longer scares me.”
The knot in his throat thickened. “Is that what you want?”
She hesitated. “I don’t want you to have to change your lifestyle for me, and if you want to call this off—”
He laid a finger over her lips. She wasn’t having second thoughts, but she thought he was. That’s what he liked most about her. Her compassion and concern for others. That’s the reason why they were getting married in the first place, because she was putting the needs of her family before her own.
His fingertips burned. He removed his finger from her soft mouth and reached down and clasped her hands in his.
“I get to spend the next year married to the sexiest woman in Sheraton Beach. How is that making a mistake?”
She bit her lower lip. “I just wanted to let you know that you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I’ll survive and so will my family. We’ve been through a lot worse.”
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