Southern Seduction ; Pleasure in His Arms

by Carolyn Hector

  Mother and son sat at a table welcoming everyone to the entertainment center at the Brutti Hotel. Guests had already begun arriving and filling in the seats. Monitors set up in the corner captured people entering the building. A red carpet celebrity section was set up outside, where Heath and Spike interviewed men and women, making sure to ask the men who they were wearing rather than the women and making the men give a spin. Their idea of turning the tables on men seemed to put people in a good mood. Smiles spread everywhere.

  Everything he and Maggie planned had come to fruition. In the banquet hall, dozens of tables were set up for dinner tonight. Behind the curtain was a table filled with delicious-smelling finger foods. Artwork hung on the walls for guests to admire on their way to the seats or if they wanted to congregate in the grand hall. Another thing to admire was the masterpiece made up by Vonna Carres, of The Cupcakery. The talented baker personally brought down over a thousand cupcakes and even had them set up on a giant-size tiara that was made out of wood, painted silver and framed with tiny lights under each cupcake to make it sparkle. It was more than he could have imagined. The only thing he hadn’t prepared for was this day coming without Maggie by his side.

  “Maggie did a great job,” said Kit. She was dressed in an off-white satin skirt and navy blue top with a gardenia behind her ear. “Have you seen her today?”

  “I haven’t seen her yet today,” Caden answered honestly.

  The last thing Caden wanted to do was disappoint his mother. Last night at the family dinner, he explained Maggie’s absence by saying she was getting things ready for the pageant. Chase and Jason had their comments, which EJ took care of by manhandling them into the living room.

  Today was a different story. Caden smiled through the disappointment. After reading the comments said about her, he wondered if she was willing to show her face around here. He thought she was different—as in, he assumed, with her confidence, Maggie wouldn’t care what other people thought about her.

  So what if Maggie had a crush on him when they first met? The feeling had been mutual. That’s how they’d hooked up in the first place. But he understood why Maggie wouldn’t want to show her face around here today.

  What he didn’t like was being completely ignored. Caden’s ego took a blow. A few of the business partners Caden and Maggie worked with came through the doors, laughing at the ordeal Heath and Spike had put them through.

  Caden rose and extended his hands. “Sorry about that,” he apologized.

  “It’s all in good fun,” said one of them from the back. He said something else, but his words were drowned out by a cheerful screaming. “Thanks for inviting us.”

  “Glad you could come.”

  The monitors in the corner fizzled in and out, and another round of applause came. Caden cocked his head to the side. Kit covered her mouth and squealed like a teenage girl. “She’s here!”

  “Who?”

  Kit pointed to the screen. When the crowd dispersed from the camera’s view, a figure appeared. Caden’s heart leaped at seeing her again.

  “Maggie.”

  It took just one second to see it wasn’t Maggie but rather her hologram. To the naked eye, it sure looked like she was there. She interacted with Spike and made him turn around and do a dance for the viewers behind the gate. That was a new feature of hers. Following behind the hologram were a bunch of young girls wearing black T-shirts with Team Maggie in bedazzled jewels. They made their way through the doors. For a split second, Caden held his breath, hoping he was wrong about the hologram. What he wouldn’t give to see Maggie again, in person...and hold her.

  The team of girls came through without Maggie. Caden sat down, disappointed.

  “Trouble in paradise?” Kit asked him.

  Caden forced a smile. “I’m good.”

  “You keep looking at the door willing Maggie to come through, don’t you?”

  It amazed him that his mother could still read his mind even though he was thirty. “We’re here for the pageant, Mom. We can talk about this later.”

  “Are you mad at me for trying to bring you and Maggie back together?”

  Before answering, Caden looked in his mother’s eyes. They were dark like his but feminine. They crinkled in the corners when she smiled. “Your heart was in the right place. But there’s a lot about me and Maggie that everyone doesn’t know.”

  “Like your fake engagement?”

  “You knew?”

  “A mother always knows,” Kit said. “You didn’t have to go to such extremes to beat your brothers, either. Want to tell me what’s really going on between you and Maggie?”

  “Or how about me?”

  Kit and Caden looked up at the sound of a deep voice. They’d been so engrossed in their conversation neither of them had paid attention to Mitchell and Paula Swayne walking in the door behind a group of young girls.

  Kit squeezed Caden’s hand. “Perhaps you should speak with him first.”

  Reluctantly, Caden stood and led Mitchell down a back private hallway. The space worked as a passage way to the stage. Staff filtered through in order to bring in props for the upcoming shows. Once they had a moment alone, Mitchell was the first to speak. Or at least clear his throat. Caden figured Maggie’s father was waiting for him to start.

  “So have you heard anything interesting on the internet?” Caden thought he’d start the uncomfortable conversation with a joke. It didn’t go over well.

  Mitchell crossed his arms over his chest. “Want to tell me what the hell you and Maggie are doing together?”

  “We are, well...” Caden stumbled.

  “So this whole fake engagement is for what? So Maggie can get her inheritance?”

  Caden did a double take. “Inheritance.”

  “Like you didn’t know she needed to hold down a job for six weeks and stay off social media until her birthday.”

  All this time Caden thought Maggie was being genuine, letting go of her past, living simply. He’d thought her family was in financial straits, and she’d been helping. He blinked in disbelief, not sure what to believe or think now. “I didn’t know,” he said.

  “Don’t play me for a fool,” ordered Mitchell.

  “I promise you, sir, the only person who’s been played for a fool has been me.”

  A group walked between them carrying a set of walkers and canes, Caden figured for the senior citizens’ segment. Once everyone passed by, one person remained. Caden’s heart froze, not sure what to do. Be mad or not. She played him.

  “Maggie?” Mitchell asked. “Is that you or your hologram?”

  In a clinging white halter dress, Maggie ran her hands through her red hair. It was styled straight and fell against her shoulder. “It’s me.”

  “What a shame,” said Caden. “It’s easier to walk away from the hologram.”

  * * *

  Not including the backstage incident, the all-day pageant went off without a hitch. It also went off without Caden. After he walked out on her in the stagehand hallway, he disappeared. The reception she received from the crowd outside and every time she came on stage was much warmer than the greeting Caden had given her.

  In between sets, Gigi, from Gossip with Gigi, pulled Maggie aside to get the scoop. “Girl, your dress is fabulous,” said Gigi. “I know it doesn’t go with the theme today of turning the tables on the men, but who are you wearing?”

  “Lexi Pendergrass-Reyes, of course,” Maggie said proudly, spinning around.

  “Gorgeous, just gorgeous.” Gigi wrapped her arm around Maggie’s elbow. Her purple hair brushed against her shoulders. “Now let’s get down to what’s really going on. Who is this Rochelle who is out here spilling all your secrets?”

  The camera’s light heated Maggie’s face. “Well, Rochelle is an old friend of mine,” Maggie explained. “We lost contact, and during my absence from socia
l media, feelings were hurt.” Maggie wrapped her arm around Gigi’s shoulder. “You know how us gals can get.”

  “She got salty, though,” Gigi spat out. “I mean, she went back into the closet and grabbed a big old bone.”

  “What?” Maggie laughed gaily. “That I had the hots for my fiancé? Gigi—” Maggie paused to make eye contact with the reporter “—can you blame an immature girl for talking about what she wants?”

  “No,” Gigi answered slowly. “There’s been some mention about your statements being empowering. How do you feel about that?”

  “Well, I can say I am embarrassed by allegedly crass words. It’s hard to call that empowering. I just did not have the appropriate words to express how I felt about Caden Archibald.”

  “And how do you feel now?”

  Maggie licked her lips and faced the camera. “I love him. Caden, if you’re watching this, I just wanted to say, I love you.”

  “Awesome,” said Gigi. “Thanks for clearing that up for us.”

  From the corner of the foyer, her parents, Kenzie, Richard, Kit and Vonna came over to Maggie once the interview ended. Kenzie wrapped her arms around Maggie’s shoulders. “I know that was hard.”

  “Have you seen him?” she whispered.

  Kenzie shook her head. “Not since this morning.”

  Heartbroken, Maggie nodded and then held her head high. The show still needed to go on. “Vonna,” she gasped, “thank you so much for the cupcakes. I’ll write you a check later.”

  “A check for what?” Kit asked, looking between them.

  “The cupcakes,” said Maggie. “I put down a deposit Thursday night.”

  Kit pressed her lips together. “Why didn’t you use the pageant account? You didn’t have to use your money.”

  “I am not on payroll,” Maggie declared.

  “Of course you are,” said Kit. “I had Jason draw up the paperwork to send it to your email.”

  “Oh no.” Maggie covered her mouth. “I haven’t been on any form of social media in a while.”

  “What are you waiting for? I can’t have my employees not being paid.” Kit patted Maggie’s hand before turning her attention Vonna. “Dear,” she said to Vonna, “I would pay triple for what you did.”

  “Well, Maggie holds a special place at The Cupcakery and in my heart,” Vonna gushed.

  “As well with us at the Southern Style Glitz Beauty Pageant,” agreed Kit. “Now come with me, Miss Vonna.”

  The Swayne family gathered closer with the exit of the two women. Dalton Knight, Caden’s choice for emcee, announced the next competition. People began to head back to their seats.

  Paula sighed irritably. “Can you two stop with this silly no-social-media thing?”

  Mitchell and Maggie stared each other down. She raised a challenging brow.

  Richard cleared his throat. “If you both were listening, Miss Kit said Maggie’s been a part of the company since the beginning of the summer, when she made the announcement. According to my calculations, Maggie held up her end of the bargain of holding a job and staying off the internet.”

  Seconds ticked on. Eventually Mitchell opened his arms. “Welcome to the working class, princess.”

  Somehow Maggie knew she was supposed to be happy for herself, but it was hard without Caden by her side—or worse, out of her life for good.

  The evening didn’t come to a close until well after dark. The newest Miss Southern Style Glitz Beauty was crowned, and just those involved with the pageant stayed behind for the private dinner and crowning of the next event, Kit’s retirement party. Rows of Archibalds and supporters filled the banquet hall.

  A wooden dance floor was set off to the side with a live band playing zydeco music. Maggie sat at her table with her siblings, mortified at the sight of her parents, Auntie Bren and Oscar shaking their tails on the dance floor.

  Richard picked up a conversation with EJ at the next table. Maggie waved over in Ebony’s direction and tried to smile. It was hard. There was no sign of... Before she finished her thought, the people at the front of the room began to clap. Maggie craned her neck. Her heart sank even further.

  Caden strolled through the doors dressed in a black tux, looking sexy as hell—as well as taken. A tall brunette with braids done in a French twist at the back of her head was on his arm. A gold dress clung to her long, lean frame. Damn, he moved fast, Maggie thought. She slipped her hand in her lap and took off the fake engagement ring to save face from further humiliation.

  “Isn’t that Becky from Southwood High?” Kenzie asked, leaning over into Maggie’s space.

  Maggie shrugged her sister away. “I don’t care,” she lied. Betrayal stabbed her heart. She remembered Caden staring at her at the fair. She’d even campaigned for Caden to sign her to his company.

  Someone moved the microphone and pierced everyone’s ears with the screech. Attention turned to the dance floor, where the guests were tiptoeing off to the side. The water glasses shook when Maggie’s family returned to the table. The bottles of Toast of the Tiara from Second Vine Wine wobbled on the fine linens. Ellison Archibald made a speech of gratitude to Kit and introduced her for the next part.

  “Thank you, Ellison,” Kit said with a blush.

  Regardless of what Maggie had learned about Ellison and Kit, Kit still loved him. She beamed when their eyes met.

  “Before I make an announcement, I’m supposed to acknowledge my son. Caden, where are you?” Kit covered her eyes from the spotlight. “Come up here, son.”

  Doing as his mother bade, Caden came to the front of the room, depositing Becky at an empty seat his father left.

  “Evening, everyone,” Caden said taking the microphone. “I know I’ve been absent today, but there’s a very good reason for it.” The room buzzed with whispers. Maggie felt the eyes on her and watched people point at Becky. “As you all know, before Kit decided to tell us all she wanted to step down, my company, A&O Sports Agency, was under fire for not repping women.”

  He was met with a few boos, including from Kenzie, Auntie Bren and even Paula.

  “Well, I’ll have you know we’ve just signed Rebecca Miller to our agency.”

  This time the sound everyone made was a round of applause.

  “That being said,” Caden said with a clearing of his throat, “I’m withdrawing my name from the president seat at Southern Style Glitz Beauty Pageant. Please take my name out of consideration, Mom.”

  The whispers returned.

  Kit took the microphone from her son. “Oh, sweetheart, I love you dearly. I love all my boys dearly, but there’s been no competition to take my seat. Nobody else but her will do. Magnolia Swayne, we all decided from early on, you were the right person for the job.”

  While the spotlight zoomed in on Maggie, her heart dropped. Her eyes watered. “What?”

  Balloons and glitter fell from the sky. Maggie blinked back her tears and accepted the position from her seat at the table. People came over to congratulate her one by one before mingling back in with the crowd on the dance floor.

  “See, I told you,” Auntie Bren called from her side of the table.

  Maggie turned to offer her aunt a wink. When she turned back, Caden stood in front of her. She pressed her lips together. Caden looked beyond her and nodded. She followed his gaze and caught her father nodding. Again when she turned back, Caden was down on one knee. Maggie’s hands flew to her mouth.

  “I’m glad to see you took the fake engagement ring off.” Caden half smiled. “I would like to take this moment and offer you this ring, Miss Magnolia Swayne, this symbol of my love for you.” He opened a black velvet box, and a pear-shaped diamond ring blinded her. “We met eleven years ago, and we weren’t ready for each other. I used to think I would have to be under a spell before I ever considered getting married. In the last eleven weeks, we’ve been together, I’v
e been under the spell. I just didn’t know what it was. It was love. I don’t give a damn about your socialite status, your inheritance or even your new job. I’m in love with you, Maggie. I’d like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you, if you’ll have me.”

  Maggie swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Caden, it took me eleven seconds after you walked into The Cupcakery for me to realize I was still in love with you. Of course I’ll marry you.”

  * * *

  Pleasure in His Arms

  Pamela Yaye

  The smile faded from her lips. “What makes you think I have a boyfriend?”

  “Because you’re gorgeous and vivacious and guys go crazy over women like you.”

  “Look at you getting all up in my business.” Demi giggled. “You’re fine, but nosy.”

  Chase chuckled long and hard. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for beautiful women.”

  “If you must know, I’m happily single, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Fervently nodding her head, her teardrop earrings swung wildly back and forth, grazing her bare shoulders.

  “Care to elaborate?” he asked, curious to know what her story was.

  “Relationships are a lot of work, and I can’t be bothered. Most men aren’t honest, let alone faithful, and I don’t have the time or the energy to play games.”

  “It sounds like you’ve been dating the wrong guys.”

  Demi scoffed. “Are there any good ones left?”

  “You’re looking at one. I’m trustworthy, loyal and sincere.”

  “You sound like a politician.” Her features softened, and her voice lost its warmth. “I don’t want you to think I’m bitter. I’m not. I’m just tired of meeting boys masquerading as men.”

  “I understand, but don’t worry. By the end of the night you’ll be singing my praises.”

  Pamela Yaye has a bachelor’s degree in Christian education. Her love for African American fiction prompted her to pursue a career in writing romance. When she’s not working on her latest novel, this busy wife, mother and teacher is watching basketball, cooking or planning her next vacation. Pamela lives in Alberta, Canada, with her gorgeous husband and adorable, but mischievous, son and daughter.