“What was it?”
“Love. When you touch me, I feel love.”
Lexia gasped softly. “I feel it, t—” She stopped abruptly when he lowered himself to one knee. She brought her hands to her mouth and her heart thumped in her chest. He opened a small velvet box and there was just enough light to see the solitaire surrounded by diamonds nestled inside.
“Lexia, you make me happier than I ever thought I could be. And, if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way. Marry me, baby. Take the risk with me. I promise it’ll be worth it.”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Khalil slid the ring onto her finger and signed, I love you.
Lexia smiled and signed the same to him.
He swept her up in his arms and swung her around and around. “Thank you.”
He covered her mouth in a drugging kiss and Lexia lost herself in the sensations. She forgot about the music, the food, everything—except him carrying her upstairs to the bedroom, where he made love to her with a tenderness that touched her very soul.
* * *
The next three weeks passed in a blur. Between his new gym’s grand opening two weeks ahead of schedule and getting the other three projects up and running, it seemed like ages since Khalil and Lexia had spent some uninterrupted time together. He had hoped they would have time this weekend, but forgot about his family’s picnic until his mother reminded him three days ago. His mother always held a barbecue the Saturday before Memorial Day. He longed for the quiet days of Santa Barbara and decided that at least once a month, he would steal Lexia away.
Khalil pulled up in front of the side-by-side hotels that would serve as housing and was pleased with the progress.
“This is going to be so nice,” Lexia said as he helped her out of the car.
“When it’s done, we’ll have space for up to fifty men, women and families. It would be more, but because we wanted to include families, some of the units need to be larger.” They walked around the side where the two buses were parked. He unlocked the shower one first and gestured her inside. The bus had three stalls, each closed off with a door—affording the person privacy when getting undressed and dressed—three sinks and cabinets filled with towels, bath supplies and cleaning supplies.
“I just can’t get over how cool this is.” She turned in a slow circle.
“Come on. Let me show you the other one.” He locked the bus and went to the next one.
Lexia climbed the steps and peered down the aisle. “Wow.” She pointed. “So, these cooler bins will have fresh fruits and vegetables?”
“Yes, and some deli meats. There will also be bread, water, nuts, protein bars and other nonperishables.” Khalil wished they could do more, but it was a start.
“And this bus will go to the designated neighborhoods once a week.”
“Yeah. Our goal is for people to get at least a bag of groceries to last until the next visit.”
She hugged him tight. “You guys are doing a good thing.”
“The credit goes to you and Cameron,” he said as he locked the door. “By the way, did he tell you the name he decided on?”
She leaned back. “No.”
“He wants to call it The Janice Hughes Transitional Living Facility, after his late wife. I thought it only fitting that he got to choose the name, since much of this was his idea.” Aside from being a great manager, Cameron had proven to be an astute businessman and had been instrumental in helping them find a place for the young man caring for his siblings. Brandon had offered him an internship at Grays, and would work around his school schedule, but still give him a steady income to provide for his high school brother and sister.
“Good grief. I’ve done more crying in the last month, than I’ve done in my entire life,” she said with a little laugh as she wiped at her face. “It’s a beautiful name.”
He kissed her forehead. “As long as they’re happy tears, I can deal with it.” He glanced at his watch. “We’d better get going. My mother will have a fit if we’re late.” His mother had insisted on giving them an engagement party and to keep her from going over-the-top, he’d convinced her to combine it with their normal Memorial Day picnic. She had fussed for an hour before relenting. Khalil could imagine her outrage when he announced their wedding date.
“Well, come on. I don’t want to get in trouble with your mother. And you know we have to pick up my parents from the hotel first.” Lexia pulled him back around the front to the car.
“You’ll be fine.” Lexia’s parents had arrived yesterday and after meeting her mother, he knew where Lexia had gotten her spunk. Mrs. Daniels had no problems grilling him over dinner with pointed questions, while her husband looked on with a smile. Apparently, he had passed the test because both gave their blessing in the end.
When they made it to his parents’ house, Khalil’s mother met them at the sliding glass door leading to the backyard.
“There you are. What took you so long?”
“Hey, Mom.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s not like we’re late.”
She sent a scowl his way. Then, smiling, she took Lexia’s hands and kissed her cheek. “Hello, Lexia. I’m so happy to have you. These must be your parents.” She turned when Khalil’s dad approached.
“Hey, son. Lexia.”
“Hey, Dad.”
Lexia smiled. “It’s good to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Gray. And, yes, these are my parents, Bobby and Petrina Daniels.”
“I’m DeAnna and this is Nolan. It is such a pleasure to meet you. Your daughter is a jewel. Please, come in. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
Khalil watched with a smile as his mother, ever the hostess, escorted the Danielses around. He slung an arm around Lexia’s shoulder. “You want something to drink?”
“Not right now. I love your family. They’re so warm and friendly.”
“Yeah, they are.” He considered himself blessed to have them.
He and Lexia talked, laughed, ate and played games with his siblings. Sam, Cameron, Jayla, Elyse and her husband, and Mr. Willis had also joined them.
After the food had been consumed, Khalil stood and sent a sharp whistle across the yard to get everyone’s attention. “I’d like to make a couple of announcements.” He waited until all eyes turned his way before continuing. “The first one is I’ll be having surgery on Tuesday to repair the eardrum in my right ear.” He had waited to tell his family to minimize all the drama and hovering he knew would follow. “Next, Lexia and I will be getting married the second weekend in September in Santa Barbara.” She had fallen in love with the gardens at San Ysidro Ranch and he had taken the liberty of booking it before they left. It happened to be the only Saturday available for the remainder of the year. And he refused to wait another year to make her his wife.
“What?” His mother placed her hand on her hip. “That’s barely three months away. Not enough time to plan anything.”
“Hey, it’s more time than when Siobhan and Justin got married.” His sister had married six weeks after becoming engaged.
Laughter broke out.
Mrs. Daniels divided a glance between Khalil and Lexia. “What’s the big rush? Are you pregnant, Lexia?”
Lexia dropped her head in her hands and shook her head. “No, Mom. I am not. This was the only date available before winter.”
While the two mothers continued to fuss, Khalil gathered his future wife into his arms and kissed her with a passion that silenced the onlookers. Despite what their mothers wanted, he wasn’t going to wait one day past the date they had set to make Lexia his.
Epilogue
Three months later...
Khalil stood on the estate lawn with his brothers and brothers-in-law waiting for his wedding to begin. They couldn’t have picked a more perfect day. The su
n shone overhead in a clear blue sky, the temperature hovered at a comfortable seventy-five and they had a magnificent view of the ocean.
Brandon placed a hand on Khalil’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, Brandon.” His brother had asked him the question virtually every week since the surgery. So far, Khalil had regained only 30 percent hearing in his right ear. The doctor said it could take up to a year to determine a true measure, but just being able to hear again was enough for Khalil right now.
“You ready to do this, little brother?”
“I am. Been ready. You know, Malcolm, you’re going to be the only single man standing in about forty-five minutes. If you need some pointers, let us know.” They all chuckled.
Malcolm glared at Khalil. “You’re lucky it’s your wedding day, otherwise I’d tell you what you could do with that statement. I plan to be a bachelor for life. I’m not letting another woman run roughshod over my heart ever again,” he added through clenched teeth.
Khalil sighed. He knew what his brother meant and remembered when Malcolm’s college sweetheart broke his heart. “If I can find love after what happened to me, you can, too.”
All heads swung his way and Brandon asked, “What are you talking about?”
Before he could answer, the music started and the minister asked them to take their places. He smiled as his brothers escorted his and Lexia’s mother to their seats. Both women looked gorgeous in champagne-colored sequined gowns. Next came his sisters, Sam, and Elyse. Finally, Lexia came toward him on the arm of her father wearing a stunning white satin creation that caressed her every curve. She had her hair up like she’d done when they were in New York. His heart rate kicked into high gear and it took everything in him to stand still.
Brandon whispered, “Remember how much grief you gave me when I kissed Faith before the minister uttered one word? Well, you have the same look on your face, so let’s see how much of that legendary control you always brag about you have now.”
Brandon was dead-on, but Khalil wouldn’t give his brother the satisfaction of saying so. He could control himself. He had the rest of his life to kiss her. But when Lexia reached him, turned to hand her bouquet to Sam and he saw the sheer back of her gown with the lace detail and tiny buttons running down the center and the same shoes she’d worn in New York, he almost lost it.
Lexia faced him.
“The tiara is a nice touch,” he told her with amusement.
She gave him a sultry smile. “You said it was a fairy tale. I’m just playing my part.”
“And you’re playing it very well. Remember what happened the last time you wore a dress like this? And those sexy shoes?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you dare even think about it.”
Khalil grinned. “Whatever you say.” Smiling, she shook her head and they turned toward the minister. They repeated their vows and, as promised, Terrence sang her favorite song, “It’s Only You.” After the ceremony and posing for a million pictures, Khalil swept Lexia into his arms and strode down the rose-strewn pathway.
“Where are you going?”
“To the cottage I reserved.”
Lexia’s mouth fell open. “Cottage? You can’t do that. What about the reception? People are going to wonder when we don’t show up.”
He gazed down at her. “I never said we weren’t going to show up. The meal won’t be served for another forty-five minutes and there are enough drinks and snacks to keep the guests busy. That’s plenty of time for a little taste of what’s coming later.”
She stared at him as if he was crazy. “It took me longer than forty minutes to get this dress on. And—”
“Then we’ll leave it on. And, yeah, I know...don’t mess up your hair.” Khalil unlocked the cottage door, carried her over the threshold and lowered her to her feet.
“You are outrageous.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, baby.” His hands went to his belt. “I’m going to show you just how outrageous I can be.”
She slid her palms over his chest. “Well, if you insist.” She came up on tiptoe and pulled his head down for a deep, soul-stirring kiss.
Just like the first time she touched him and every time since, he felt it. Love. He had risked it all and this time, he’d won. And as he told her, he would spend the rest of his life proving to her that they were worth it.
* * * * *
Don’t miss Malcolm Gray’s story, STILL LOVING YOU coming in April 2018!
And catch up with the rest of Sheryl Lister’s THE GRAYS OF LOS ANGELES series:
GIVING MY ALL TO YOU
PLACES IN MY HEART
TENDER KISSES
Available now from Harlequin Kimani Romance!
Keep reading for an excerpt from DECADENT DESIRE by Zuri Day.
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Decadent Desire
by Zuri Day
Chapter 1
Anyone passing by Walter and Claire Drake’s vast farm property in the Louisiana countryside just east of New Orleans would have thought a public festival was in full swing. Or maybe that a mini carnival had been set up for the Fourth of July holiday. A few excited would-be patrons had, in fact, been turned away from the private event by security manning the gated entrance.
Only those related to or invited by a Drake family member could attend the family’s twenty-fifth biennial reunion, where descendants of former slaves and the owners who held them came together to honor their shared heritage and the enduring legacy of friendship between the slave Nicodemus Drake and his owner, Pierre. The story that forever bonded them had been passed down for generations.
The two men had grown up together, more like brothers than anything else. While making the journey to relocate from New Orleans to California, Pierre had fallen ill. Nicodemus’s knowledge of herbal remedies and holistic healing had saved his life. Pierre was forever indebted to Nicodemus. In his will, Pierre deeded over to his lifelong friend more than a hundred acres of pristine land in tony Temecula, California—Southern California’s wine country. He’d also stipulated that upon his death, Nicodemus and his immediate family would be given their freedom. This indeed occurred, and while the families dispersed across the United States—including Nicodemus’s son who settled in Northern California—the ties that bound them, black and w
hite alike, remained strong. In 1967, amid social unrest and war protests, Walter’s grandparents had joined with Pierre’s side of the family and held the first Drake reunion. Fifty years later, they still reunited every two years—bigger and stronger than ever.
Julian Drake, the youngest son of the fourth-generation Northern California clan, sat among a group of his relatives in the large, cool tent that was centered among colorful bounce houses, carnival rides and games. They were being entertained by a group of brothers and cousins going up against wives and girlfriends in a friendly yet competitive game of Family Feud. As often was the case, Julian sat quiet, contemplative, taking in everything going on around him. He’d been this way since childhood—his brothers loud and boisterous, Julian observant. Saying nothing, and missing nothing, either. So much so that during a visit to Louisiana his mother, Jennifer, had voiced her concern to his grandmother Claire.
“Almost eighteen months and still not talking,” Jennifer had whispered, afraid to say the words out loud.
Claire had given Jennifer’s hand a reassuring pat. “Don’t worry none about that child. He’s a special one. Not in that way,” she’d quickly added when Jennifer’s eyes grew wide. “Not that we would love him any less if that’s the case. But I mean special as in gifted, maybe even like Nicodemus, as I am told, able to see into the future. Don’t worry. He’ll talk when he’s ready, and when he does, he’ll have something meaningful to say.”
Claire had been right. Two months later Julian uttered his first words, a complete sentence, to his next-oldest brother, Terrell. Julian had been reading a book. Terrell wanted to play a game. Julian had looked up and pointedly demanded, “Leave me alone.”
Jennifer had breathed a sigh of relief. His interactions with siblings and friends gradually increased. But to this day, he was still mostly a man of few words. Although when spoken, his statements usually had value.
A Touch of Love Page 20