Mark: BWWM Romance (Members From Money Book 11)

by Katie Dowe

  “Nice to meet you.”

  She took Latoya’s hand and they went forward together to where the rest of the family was seated.

  His mother got to her feet and came forward embracing her warmly. They both looked like their mother, she thought in amazement, and they appeared to be a warm family. She shook Luke’s hand and fell in love with the adorable Markalia who could have passed for Mark’s daughter! She held the baby in her arms and looked up to see him watching her, his thoughts clear.

  “My dear, I understand that you will be attending the premiere later today?” his mother asked her.

  “Mark twisted my arm,” Latoya said with a laugh.

  “And you already have a dress?”

  “It’s being taken care of by my agent,” Mark responded.

  “You did not tell me that,” Latoya reproached him.

  “Because you make an argument over everything,” he told her softly. He was sitting opposite her and he abandoned his chair to come and sit on the arm of hers, his hand reaching over to brush back her hair.

  “I don’t.”

  “You do.” He tilted her chin up and not caring that the family was looking on, he kissed her softly on the lips with his niece between them in her lap. He let go of her lips and sat back with his arm around her.

  “My dear, welcome to the family.” His mother beamed.

  “Thank you.” She was still tingling as she bent her head to nuzzle the baby’s cheek.

  Stephanie could not help but be a little envious. It felt as if she had lost her brother!

  Chapter 10

  “Mark, how does it feel to be the hottest songwriter in the world?” the eager young reporter asked him as he headed up the red carpet to the large movie theater with his hand holding Latoya’s firmly.

  He stopped and smiled at the young woman. “I would not exactly refer to myself as the hottest songwriter but if you say so.”

  She laughed in delight at his response. “And who is this with you? Is she a singer?”

  “She is my fiancé; Latoya Cross.” He lifted the hand he held and touched his lips to her skin.

  “You are no longer seeing Diana?”

  “We were never involved. We are just friends.”

  “When is the wedding?”

  “We have not decided that yet,” Latoya answered politely before Mark could do so and felt when he turned his head to look down at her. They had not discussed getting married, but she knew he wanted it as soon as possible. She had some things to sort out first.

  “Who are you wearing?”

  Latoya glanced down at the shimmering dusky pink gown with the spaghetti straps and looked up with a smile. “I have no idea.”

  They moved off then when the reporter turned her attention to someone else. “I am sorry,” he muttered as they made their way into the theater.

  “For what?”

  “For bringing so much attention on you.”

  “I supposed I will have to get used to it.”

  “I am afraid so.” He nodded to a couple of men passing by. They were shown to their seats in the VIP section and she was introduced to Diana and her date, a very attractive up and coming actor by the name of Lawrence Hill. “Nice to formally meet you,” the girl whispered to her with a friendly smile. Latoya relaxed as she realized that there was really nothing between her and Mark.

  “You have no reason to be jealous,” he whispered, bringing her closer to him.

  “I was not,” she whispered back. She settled back against him to watch the movie unfold. ‘Love Like This’ was a deeply heartrending and poignant story about a man and a woman who had met at the turn of the century and had to hide what they felt for each other because of the different colors of their skins. Lilly was a white woman and the daughter of a rich plantation owner who wanted her to marry the elderly owner of the adjoining plantation while William was the black son of the slave hand who had fallen helplessly in love with the delicate Lilly. They found ways to be together and were planning to run away when they were discovered by her mother who shot William killing him on the spot. The grieving Lilly was told that if she did not marry Edward she was going to be sent away to a strict boarding school. All through the movie the soundtrack so in keeping with the theme was heard, making the movie even more poignant. Latoya unconsciously gripped Mark’s hand and kept burying her face in his chest whenever a scene became too much for her. The end was incredibly tragic because Lilly unable to live with the love of her life and discovering she was carrying his child decided to end both their lives. The song ‘Love Like This’ was played at the end of the movie, causing the totally enthralled audience to remain still as the words rolled over them. Latoya had no idea she was crying until she felt the wetness against Mark’s shirt. Even when the credits were rolling, people still sat there in their seats as if loathed to move.

  The producer himself went up on the stage and made a surprising announcement. “This is not our usual way of doing things, but a request was made by our very talented songwriter and we could not say no,” he said with a smile. “He has written a very special song for the love of his life and it will be performed by bestselling singer Diana Rowe!”

  Latoya looked up at Mark, and he smiled at her gently without saying a word. Both of them looked to the stage as Diana wearing a sparkling green dress came out with a microphone in her hand. “Loving you has brought new meaning to my life/I am no longer the same person I was before/Black coffee and latte became the things that remind me of you/I was a fool to have thought that fighting for a career was more important than fighting for you/I need you beside me so that I can survive/Baby, give me another chance and let me show you how you much you mean to me!”

  Latoya sat there listening to the words. He was talking to her through the song he had written. The woman singing in that sensational voice of hers did not matter! No one did or nothing did except the words that he had obviously penned with her in mind. Without a shadow of a doubt, she finally realized that no matter what they belonged together! She looked up at him and he read the expression on her face. There were tears in her large brown eyes, tears she was not afraid to show him as she looked up at him. “I love you,” she whispered huskily, oblivious of the people around them.

  “I love you too,” he said hoarsely, his body shuddering with the naked expression of love on her exquisite face. “My darling.” He bent his head and she met him partway, her hands curling around his neck as she gave into him without everything she had!

  *****

  “We are getting married on Thanksgiving Day and I hope you and Eduardo and that beautiful baby can make it.” Latoya linked her fingers with Mark’s as she lay on the bed. It had been a rush of excitement after the premiere with congratulations being offered to him for the success of the soundtrack and impromptu meetings with the producers and a quick word with his agent in between talking to his family who had all been there including the adorable Markalia. They had gotten back to the apartment at a quarter to twelve.

  “You would not dare get married without me being there,” Coretta threatened. “So, I take it everything is all worked out?”

  “It is.” She sighed as she reached over to touch her lips to his briefly, but he held on and deepened the kiss, breaking her concentration. She tore her mouth away just enough to tell her friend, “I have to go. I will talk to you later.” She hung up before Coretta could respond and climbed on top of him.

  “Did I interrupt you?” he asked her innocently as he reached up to cup her face.

  “You did, but it was totally worth it.” She got emotional again as she remembered the song. “When did you write it?”

  “When I came back and after I saw you in the café.” She was naked on top of him and her bare skin rubbing against his was making him highly aroused. “If my begging and pleading with you did not work I was going to get Diana to come and sing it to you at the office.”

  “You wouldn’t!” she exclaimed as she stared down at him.

&nb
sp; “I would have,” he insisted. “I would have done anything to make you realize how sorry I am and how much I want you back. Can you forgive me for hurting you so much?”

  “I have,” she whispered. “I love you, Mark, and I always have. There was never anyone but you and there will never be anyone but you.”

  “You humble me,” he told her hoarsely. “Can you also forgive me for the big society wedding?”

  “I kind of expect it.” She hesitated a moment and then went on. “You did not see anyone while we were not together?”

  He pushed the hair out of her face. “I spent the years after I left…” He looked at her to see if his words were hurting her before he continued. “I went to my best friend’s cabin in Texas and basically became a hermit.” He smiled at that. “His wife tried to get me interested in some single girl or the other but when she saw that I really was not interested she gave up. There were times when I wanted to give up and come back home so I could win you back but I had to see if I could do it.”

  She nodded, her heart lightened as she realized that he had not been with anyone after her. “Coretta told me that I should move on and try dating other people, but my heart was not in it. Carter showed an interest and asked me to go out with him and I did just to shut him up. I was content just to be the way I was because deep down I knew I would never love anyone the way I love you.”

  “I was such a fool!” he murmured.

  “You were,” she teased. “But let us not belabor the issue. You wised up and that’s all that matters.”

  *****

  When she got back to work on Monday, Carter was no longer working there and she was called into Alfred Gaston’s office the moment she got in. She had expected to be stared at when she got there and had resigned herself to it. They had been featured in the papers the next day with the announcement that they were getting married and the premiere had been highlighted on the entertainment show the same night.

  “I wish you had told me that you had gotten engaged and to such a well-known fellow, my dear.” Alfred Gaston’s voice was slightly disapproving as he looked up at her.

  “It was a whirlwind moment, sir. I am sorry,” she said as she took her seat. “We are getting married on Thanksgiving Day and I would love it if you would walk me down the aisle.”

  The man looked at her speechless for a moment and then cleared his throat. “My dear, I would be honored! Is this young man worthy of you?”

  “He is,” she said with a smile. “We met almost five years ago and due to some misunderstanding we separated. But I love him and he loves me.”

  “He is surely getting an outstanding woman,” he said gruffly. “That Carter has gone off to another firm. He was trying to blame you for what happened at first, but I told him in no uncertain terms that he should get the hell out and stay out. I told him if he tried contacting you again, I would file a lawsuit against him for sexual harassment myself.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Latoya said with a warm smile. Funnily enough, she felt closer to the taciturn man than she had ever felt with her parents. “And I will still be working here if you will have me. I have no intention of quitting my job.”

  “That’s a relief,” he said with a sigh. “I was just thinking that I will have to go ahead and train someone else. I would like to meet that young man of yours one day. My grandchildren are over the moon at the songs he has written.”

  “I will make sure to tell him and get them signed copies of his CDs,” she promised.

  “They will be forever grateful,” he said with a smile. “Now, about the Manson’s lawsuit. We have lots of work to do.”

  ******

  She was deep in preparing a document when she got a call. “A Leesa Wellington on line two for you, Latoya,” her secretary announced over the intercom.

  She knew the name. Who didn’t! Famous former international model whose husband was a multibillionaire contractor. She had often read about the club’s members and their wives in the society pages. Mark had told her that he had become a member after applying several years ago. “This is Latoya.” Her tone was cool. She had no intention of alerting the well-known woman that she was a little intimidated.

  “Hi, darling. I have seen you on TV and admired the dress you wore. I also loved the response you gave to the nosy reporter,” the woman said with a chuckle. “I am the spokesperson for the wives whose husbands are members of the club. It’s all over the news that you are engaged to that delicious Mark Seville who writes those absolutely heart tearing songs! We have decided to throw you an engagement party and we want it to be held at the club. In that way you will get to meet the rest of the wives and husbands there. How does the first Saturday in August sound?”

  Latoya sat there and listened as the woman took charge and could not help but smile at her confidence. “Do you also have plans for the wedding?”

  “Of course! Kelly and I, that’s one of the other wives! We are hoping that we can help you to choose the dress. You are going to be bombarded by designers who will want you to wear something they have created just for you, but we will help you to choose. The nuptials will be on Thanksgiving Day, have you an idea where the venue will be?”

  “I was…” She began to say she was kidding but decided against it. “No, but I am sure you have somewhere in mind.”

  “My place,” Leesa said immediately. “It has this lovely gazebo and the grounds are wide and lush. Or you could use Kelly’s place which is much bigger than mine. That woman is determined to compete with me.” There was a pout in her voice that made Latoya laugh. “Congratulations, darling! I have a feeling you are going to become a strong member of the wives’ club we have formed. We do a lot of charity work especially with children and we welcome each new member with open arms.”

  “Good to know,” she said with a smile in her voice. “And really nice talking to you, Leesa.”

  “Same here, darling.”

  Latoya hung up from her with a smile on her face. She had a feeling she was going to have more friends than she could manage!

  *****

  “Do you know Leesa Wellington?” she asked Mark that night as she took off the suit she had worn to work. The movie premiere had gone exceptionally well with the songs hitting the top of the charts for the fourth week straight. He was busy writing again but always cut it short as soon as she came home. She had given up her apartment and moved in with him.

  “Bradley Wellington’s wife and former international supermodel,” he said immediately, causing her to stare at him.

  “You have an interest in her?” she asked him coolly.

  “You are cute when you are jealous,” he told her with a laugh.

  “I am not jealous, just curious.” She pouted at him.

  He came over and pulled her into his arms. “It’s no crime to admit to jealousy, baby,” he murmured as he nibbled at her ear.

  She squirmed in his arms. “Stop!” Her tone was exasperated.

  “What about Leesa?” he asked, lifting his head but keeping her firm in his arms.

  Latoya told her about the conversation they had had.

  “Ah.” He smiled. “I heard about her persuasive skills.”

  “That’s putting it mildly, but I like her.”

  “So we are having an engagement party at the club. And the wedding at Leesa’s place,” he murmured.

  “Did you have somewhere else in mind?”

  “That arrangement sounds fine. If it was left up to my agent, she would turn it into a circus.”

  “I find myself wondering if all of this is real,” she murmured softly as she tugged her fingers through his hair. “When I was growing up I always wished I had a brother or a sister or both. I remember asking my mother once if she was ever going to have another baby and she looked at me and told me bluntly that they had not wanted a child in the first place much more to have another one.” She felt his arms tighten around her waist. “I was so lonely growing up that I used to pretend my dolls were my family and I
ended up talking to them a lot.” She laughed softly. “If you hear me talking to myself at any time don’t think I am getting off, it’s a force of habit.”

  He did not laugh at that as she expected him to. “They shortchanged you,” he said grimly. “They missed out on loving you and they lost something absolutely wonderful.”

  “Thank you,” she murmured, feeling the warm glow of his words.

  “I hope the love I have for you will be enough.”

  “I am sure it will be,” she assured him.

  *****

  “I could never plan an engagement party without meeting you,” Leesa Wellington said, looking unbelievably classy and beautiful in a pearl pink pants suit. She was immaculately made up and certainly did not look like a woman in her late forties with three children. She signaled the waiter who came running to take their orders. Leesa had called her this morning asking if they could have lunch. Latoya was slowly getting used to the attention she received every time she stepped outside. She was a normal woman marrying a celebrity, so that was news as far as the public was concerned.

  “I was wondering when we would meet.” Latoya sipped her water as she looked at the woman opposite her. The restaurant was the same one where she had come with Carter for his birthday and had the incident with Mark that had made her realize that she was not over him by a long shot.

  Leesa eyed the lustrous bob cut and the discreetly expensive suit the girl was wearing. She wore her clothes well and was confident which would serve her well considering the society she was being thrown into. “I love the cut and color of your hair. The stylist will not have to do anything much to it. And the thickness of it!” she exclaimed with a gleam in her eyes. “My husband despairs of my interfering as he calls it. I do not call it interfering but rather interfacing. We live in a society where people marry to suit parents or because it is required of them. In our group, we marry for love and are proving to the world that even though we have money, what is more important is the love we share and the family we put above everything else. My Brad is twenty years older than I am.” She smiled and waved a delicate hand at the look on Latoya’s face. “I waited for him for ten years before he would notice me and when he did it was so unbelievable that even now we are as we were when we first got married. He would be away on business and we would be so attuned that we knew when something was wrong with the other. You are going to meet the other wives and discover that love like the ones we share are out of this world.”