Donnie looked at her for a long moment and the love he felt for her was plainly written on his face. “I didn’t know at first. I thought it was because your concussion was worse than we realized. I called Paris to get some answers,” he admitted.
Angelique nodded “But you didn’t treat me like I was deficient, you treated me like a woman. Your woman,” she said softly.
“You are my woman, just like I belong to you now. I’m yours, my Angel.” He leaned over and kissed her.
They were both naked in the middle of the bedclothes, which had been rumpled so badly that Angelique insisted on changing them. Donnie had teased her about her fetish for cleanliness and she had blithely ignored him as they tucked in fresh crisp linens. She was admiring his body in the firelight; the desire to explore it was building once again. But before they got to that point, she had to finish telling him what was in her heart
“When I woke up this morning and all the pieces fit back together, I was scared. I was so afraid that you wouldn’t want me, that you were just humoring me and feeling sorry for the little special-ed child that I even thought about not telling you that the amnesia was gone. I wanted everything to just stay the way it was, but I also wanted it to last forever. So I had to tell you the truth.” She stopped to take a big grape from his fingers, looking like a golden nymph as she did so.
“I had to believe that since you heard me stammering and stumbling over those words and you didn’t treat me any differently that maybe, just maybe you could start to care for me. And you do.” She smiled at him; a radiant smile full of adoration that made him fell in love with her all over again.
He took the bowl of grapes from between them and set them out of the way. Grasping her hands, he guided her to lie down on his chest while he covered both of them with the sheet. He kissed her forehead and her lips, and held her to his heart while he talked “Angel, you are the most fascinating, incredible woman it’s ever been my privilege to know. You have so many wonderful facets, I’m never going to know all there is to know about you. You’re everything any man could ever want and I plan to spend every day of the rest of our lives making you happy, just so you know.”
She ran her hand over the hard muscles of his broad chest, enjoying the smooth warmth. “I love you, Adonis. You’re everything I always wanted and never thought I’d have,” she said drowsily.
She was almost asleep on his shoulder when she remembered what she hadn’t told him. “I remember our wedding, Adonis. I remember getting married.”
“That’s wonderful, baby, tell me about it tomorrow.” He yawned and in minutes they were both sound asleep.
Chapter Seventeen
Lisette couldn’t stop smiling as she looked at Donnie and Angelique across the table. She and Warren were dining with the newlyweds at a posh restaurant in Greektown. And Donnie and Angelique were acting like newlyweds, to her delight. They were warm and affectionate with each other, holding hands and unable to keep their eyes off each other.
“My, my, my! What a difference a snowstorm makes,” she teased. “Look at you two, you look like you invented love.”
Donnie kissed Angelique’s dimples and smiled. “Don’t forget the hockey puck,” he reminded her. “I owe a special debt of gratitude to the Red Wings and the Calgary Flames.”
Angelique laughed and squeezed her husband’s hand. Then her smile got dreamy and she looked at Lisette. “And I think he did invent love. Being married to him is the most wonderful thing in the world. Better than chocolate.” She sighed.
“My goodness,” Lisette said, awed. “If I didn’t have my Warren, I’d be terribly jealous right now.” She put her hand on Warren’s arm and smiled at him adoringly. He looked at her with his heart in his eyes and gave her a brief kiss on the lips that spoke volumes.
The two women excused themselves from the table to visit the facilities and their men rose as they left the table. Donnie watched every movement of Angelique’s body as she walked away and Warren had to give him grief about it.
“Look at you, Cochran! A few months ago you were ready to marry someone else and now you can’t let her out of your sight. You’re one lucky son-of-a-gun, you know that, don’t you?”
Donnie fervently agreed. “Yes, I do. I feel blessed in the extreme. I have the pleasure of being with the most exciting, the most beautiful woman in the world and she loves me. Love is a beautiful thing, Warren; you tried to tell me and I wasn’t hearing it. You were right and I was totally wrong.”
Warren got serious for a moment, asking Donnie if Angelique knew that he’d proposed to someone else not two months before they got married. Donnie also got serious.
“No, I haven’t told her that. You know she’s working with Aneesah to get the exhibit set up at the museum, right?” At Warren’s look of horror, Donnie hastened to reassure him.
“Don’t get excited, it’s not bad at all. They get along great, they like each other a great deal, in fact. Aneesah called me after the news got out about the wedding and gave me a hard time.” He laughed. “She talked about me like a dog and reminded me that she’d warned me this would happen. That love was something that sneaked up on you and took over when you least expected it.”
He smiled at the memory of their conversation. “But she also said she would make sure that nobody knew that I had proposed to her. She said that was between us and it would stay that way.”
Warren grinned and raised his glass to Donnie. “Like I said, Cochran: a lucky son-of-a-gun Where are those women? I still haven’t figured out what they do in there,” he complained.
“I told you, they talk about us. So now it’s your turn, Warren. I’ve led the way, when are you going to make an honest woman of your Lisette?”
Surprisingly, Warren didn’t have his usual snappy comeback. He looked away from Donnie and finished his wine in one gulp, signaling their server for more.
Meanwhile, Lisette and Angelique were back where their friendship started, in the ladies’ room. “Marriage really agrees with you, Angel. You look even more beautiful than before. Donnie must be an extremely romantic man,” Lisette said enviously.
“Oh, Lisette, he’s wonderful. We drive in to work together most of the time and we have lunch together as often as we can. He brings me breakfast in bed on Saturdays and we cook for each other during the week. We go to church together on Sundays and then we spend the rest of the day together just doing nothing. He’s the best friend and support in the world. And he’s so romantic!” She fanned a hand in front of her face to indicate extreme heat. “I’m so happy I could cry. But you know what that’s like—you and Warren are in love.”
Lisette looked crestfallen and Angelique was alarmed at how quickly her friend’s face had changed. “What’s the matter, Lisette?”
“Warren doesn’t want me,” she said sadly. “He’s sweet to me and attentive and all of that, but he’s a perfect gentleman. He’s never tried to, you know, make love to me. And when I try to get really amorous, he manages to push me away. He treats me like a pretty little doll, but there’s no real passion. I don’t know what to do, Angel, I really don’t.”
Angelique was appalled for her friend’s sake. “I don’t know much, but I do know that Warren loves you like crazy. You have to get to the bottom of this and the only way I know how is to level with him. You’ve got to talk it out. Maybe he just wants to wait until you’re married, have you thought about that?”
“Well, if that’s the case, why doesn’t he propose? Warren is so sexy, such a big, handsome teddy bear, if I don’t get with him soon I’m going to drug him and tie him down!” She looked determined enough to do it, too.
“Ooh, don’t hurt poor Warren, girl! I’m sure there’s a happy medium in there somewhere. In Warren’s defense, though, isn’t it nice to be with someone who likes you for you and not what he can get from you?”
Lisette looked shamefaced and agreed. “I should be smacked, I know. I have a wonderful man who treats me like a lady and I’m complaining be
cause I want to jump his bones. I’m a wench, I really am.”
“No, you’re just in love. Now let’s get back out there before they forget who we are,” she said.
Lisette scoffed. “As if that handsome Donnie could ever forget his beloved wife.”
“And Warren could never forget you. Open communication, Lisette, that’s the only answer.”
***
The day of the exhibit opening finally came, and with it a cases of nerves Angelique wasn’t anticipating. She was hot one minute and cold the next, her head hurt and she couldn’t keep anything down. She was totally miserable and all the comfort Donnie had to offer didn’t help. At present he was holding her in his lap and rubbing her arms and back while he nuzzled her neck.
“Look, sweetness, I’m going to get you some Vernor’s and crushed ice. It’ll help settle your stomach. Maybe you can get some crackers down, too,” he suggested.
Angelique started to nod her head, then stopped as it made her dizzy. “Do we have any gingersnaps?” she asked. Her favorite snack lately was Vernor’s ginger ale and the hard, crunchy, ginger-flavored cookies. The thought of the combination made Donnie gag, but she’d been so nervous about the exhibit, he indulged her every whim.
“I’ll see. In the meantime, you lay here on the sofa and get some rest. It’s going to be fine, baby. We both walked through last night and it looks perfect. It’s an amazing display, Angel. You have every reason to be proud of it.”
“And every reason to be terrified, Adonis. My whole family is coming up here for this and I don’t want to disappoint them. I want them to be proud of me,” she admitted.
“Angel, how could they not be proud of you? You’re so talented, it’s actually frightening. You make your subjects look so real, it’s like you could reach into the picture and touch them. They’re astounding photographs, Angel. And if it means anything, I’m so proud of you, I could burst. You, my queen, are an extraordinary woman,” he said as he gave her a wet, tickling kiss right in her dimple. “Now, you sit here and I’ll be right back with your ginger ale.”
Her eyes moistened in gratitude for his loving attentiveness. “You’re too sweet to me,” she murmured.
He held her for one more moment, and whispered, “It’s not possible to be too sweet to you. I love you, my Angel.”
A couple of hours before the opening, Angelique walked carefully through the carefully displayed pictures, looking in vain to find something wrong or out of place.
“You’re wasting your time, Angel. It’s perfect. Just like you.”
Angelique turned to find A.J. standing behind her with a smile on his face. She opened her arms for his hug and he enfolded her in his arms and held her tightly.
“I’m so glad you’re here. How’d you know I’d be a nervous wreck?”
“Because I know you Angel. How’ve you been? How’s that husband of yours treating you?”
They hadn’t seen each other since the night of the Red Wings game. After calling Donnie from the hospital to let him know about her accident, A.J. naturally waited with her until her husband arrived. He and Donnie had exchanged words that would have led to a fistfight had not the hospital personnel intervened. There was no love lost between the two men. Donnie knew a predator when he saw one and he was sure A.J.’s feelings were more than brotherly. And A.J. was equally sure that Donnie wasn’t capable of giving Angelique the unconditional love she deserved.
Angelique gave A.J. a beautiful smile and turned around in a circle in front of him. “See for yourself! How do I look?”
A.J. had to admit that she looked radiantly happy and totally fulfilled. She was wearing off-white in the form of a slim-fitting, silk, jersey wrap tunic and matching wide-legged pants. She had on a pair of incredible gold earrings made of interlocking flat circles that hung almost to her shoulders. They were a gift from Donnie and accentuated her graceful neck, drawing attention to her sculpted collarbones. Her hair was arranged in a sophisticated chignon that gave her the look of a young Lena Home. She looked absolutely beautiful and AJ. told her so.
“I have to tell you, Angel, you look great. Just remember, if he makes you unhappy in any way, any way at all, I’m here for you.” He spoke with such sincerity that Angelique blinked her eyes. She was about to say something when Paris interrupted her.
“Girl, you have got to see this! Come on, Angel, hurry up!”
She and A.J. followed her to the front of the museum where they could see the street. Three ultra-long black limousines had pulled up in front and the doors opened to let out the Deveraux men. As Clay, then Malcolm and Martin and Marcus emerged from the various cars, even Paris had to draw in her breath.
“Ooh-ooh-wee, if they weren’t my cousins I’d be having some issues, girl,” she said as she watched the tall, powerful and very handsome men assist their beloved wives and children.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s a lot more impressive when they’re not coming after you,” she said, rubbing her temple with her forefinger. She went out on the sidewalk to start greeting her family, leaving A.J. and Paris looking after her. At least A.J. was looking at Angelique. Paris was watching A.J. and, being Paris, said what was on her mind.
“You love her, don’t you?”
A.J. honored her perception by not pretending he didn’t know what she meant. He looked at Paris with a bittersweet smile. “That’s supposed to be my secret. No one was supposed to know.”
Paris’s tender heart broke at the look on his face. “So why didn’t you ever tell her? I don’t think it was because of the age thing, was it?”
A.J. smiled again. “Angel always said you were the most perceptive person she knew. It was because I was waiting for her to grow into herself. I didn’t want to try to have a relationship with her because she needed to have some independence, to have some success on her own. She needed to prove to herself that she could take care of herself and have a career of her own, not just bask in someone else’s shadow. And my wish for her came true. Just not in the way I expected,” he said ruefully.
Paris put her hand on his arm and gave him a gentle squeeze. “I don’t know what to say, A.J.”
“Say that you won’t hesitate, like I did. Say that when you have a chance at love, you’ll take it and run with it. Don’t lose your chance at love, Paris. It’s too rare and too special to be wasted.”
By now the Deverauxes were pouring in the door with greetings and hugs and kisses. The older children were there; the nanny who traveled with them when the whole family went on the road was caring for the babies at the hotel. The exception was Martin and Ceylon’s little girl, Elizabeth, who was not about to be left with the babies. She was being carried in a pair of strong arms until she was handed over to Paris.
“Well, hello, sweetheart, how are you? And how’s your daddy?” she cooed, looking up at the man who’d put Elizabeth in her arms. “Martin, how are things ...” Her words died a natural death as Paris looked into the smiling eyes of Titus Argonne, the only man in the world who left her speechless.
Angelique was still on the sidewalk, hugging her brothers and sisters-in-law, when Donnie pulled up in his Jaguar. He sprinted to where Angelique was standing and took off his topcoat. “Angel, what in the world are you doing out here with no coat on? Sweetheart, it’s way too cold for you,” he said, wrapping his coat around her shoulders. Keeping his arms around her, he finally seemed to realize that her family was there, too.
“Oh, hey, how’s everybody doing? Come on in, y’all, it’s freezing out here.” He escorted Angelique into the building and held the door for the rest of the attendees from Atlanta. He was so attentive he completely missed the looks that passed between certain members of the family. Angelique, in the meantime, was beginning to feel like a much-cherished doll being passed from hand to hand. First her mother and Bump had to hug her and fuss over her.
“Angel, you’re absolutely blooming, baby. I’ve never seen you looking so wonderful. Are you happy, honey?” Her mother’s concern was e
vident in her intense expression.
“Mama, if I was any happier, I’d have to be twins. I’m absolutely wonderful,” she assured her.
Bump looked her over carefully; he took his role as her stepfather very seriously and the two of them were quite close. “Well, I’m sorry I didn’t get to give you away, but I must say that marriage agrees with you. Lookin’ good, Shorty!” Angelique hugged him tightly and smiled up at him through happy tears.
“Don’t make me cry, my mascara will go everywhere.” She sniffed. “I’ve been so nervous about this, I’ve been a wreck.”
Clay was next; he hugged her tightly and smiled down at her from his towering height. “Angel, these are magnificent. I keep remembering a cute little girl with pigtails who followed me all over with her little camera, and now look what you’ve become. You’re an exceptionally talented and beautiful woman and I’m proud of you, baby.”
Those sentiments were repeated over and over as Angelique was passed from one brother to another. There were also hugs and greetings from all her sisters-in-law on both sides of the family, and Donnie’s brothers. Last of all, she was greeted with enthusiastic hugs from Miss Martha and Big Benny before finally landing back with her husband.
The private part of the showing was over; it was time for the exhibit to open. Donnie looked down at her and pronounced her perfect. Kissing her on the temple, he whispered something in her ear, something that made her smile. As the doors opened, she was standing with her very proud husband on one side and the museum director, Aneesah Shabazz, on the other.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur for Angelique. Matt and Nicole couldn’t attend the opening, but they sent a huge green plant and a promise to visit during the Christmas holidays. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time and the pictures received great acclaim. But the best part of the evening for Angelique was the warm words of praise and pride from every member of her family, although the fact that she had put something over on Paris was a close second. She’d known Titus Argonne was coming to Detroit to discuss corporate security with Donnie, she just neglected to tell Paris.
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