by D. A. Young
“Oh yeah? Like announce it on CNN?” he asked jokingly, but Georgina shook her head firmly and cupped his bearded cheek.
“I love you,” she informed him solemnly. “You’re my world.”
Epilogue
Two months later…
Their engagement party was held at Nate and Valerie’s house, which they were adamant about hosting. They were extremely pleased to have all three of the Carlton siblings, along with their precious granddaughter, together at home. Guests dined al fresco on a buffet-style dinner of flank steak with green chile chimichurri, lobster mango salad and crab cakes with jicama slaw, roasted fingerling potatoes, and garlic butter rice. Smooth R&B flowed from the speakers as Nate deejayed.
Graham and Tavish were in charge of the margarita machine, and the line was packed with women of all ages waiting for drinks from the two handsome men. Eliza was running the popsicle bar where guests could pick from cherry-coconut milk, honey-lavender, or strawberry-watermelon mint popsicles as well as homemade pb&j and smores ice cream sandwiches.
Georgie smiled as she watched all of their friends and family having a wonderful time. According to her family, under no circumstances were she and Max to do anything but socialize and enjoy themselves. She glanced down at her ring and felt pleasure engulf her at the sight of the four carat, pear drop diamond set atop a rose gold pave band. True to his word, Max had “put a ring on it” as soon as they got back to Baymoor.
“It’s gorgeous, Max! When did you do this?” she exclaimed holding her hand out and admiring the exquisite ring. “I can’t accept this! It’s too much!”
Max took her hand, satisfied that his woman was now wearing his ring. “The week I was gone. You will accept it, and I expect you to wear it every day, Georgina. Preferably with nothing else on. Set the damn date already.”
“Girl, that man of yours did good, and you know it!” The teasing voice came from her employee Yolanda. While Renee continued to run the Vegas team, Georgina was building an east coast team. After advertising for open positions, the ad was answered by an extremely talented seamstress that was hungry for work. Georgina interviewed her and was impressed with her work. She had two adorable kids, and they’d just moved to Baltimore. Yolanda drove to Baymoor for the interview and liked it so much, that after accepting Georgina’s offer, she decided to move there. She was an excellent employee and kept to herself, not really volunteering too much information about herself or her family.
“Didn’t he, though?” Georgina said with a happy laugh and Yolanda joined in.
“Yes, ma’am. Georgina, thank you so much for inviting us; the kids are having a blast with Camille,” Yolanda said earnestly and gestured to where her daughter, Joana and son, Aidan were playing with Camille and Wade’s two nieces Sosie and Paisley. “When’s the wedding again?”
“November eighth, and you’re very welcome. I’m so glad you decided to come today. We work so hard, that it’s nice to get out and let loose. I would love to get to know you guys away from work if you’re open to it. We always have get-togethers at the farm. I’m sure the children would love to hang out and see the animals,” Georgina offered with a friendly smile, already knowing what the answer would be as the other woman’s smile faltered.
“Well, that sounds great, but we’re pretty busy on the weekends. Oh, if you’ll excuse me, I need to put more sunscreen on the kids,” Yolanda said and hurried off.
Georgina watched her retreat with concern. She definitely had a story, but Georgina knew in her heart of hearts, it wasn’t anything bad. Max would be furious if he knew that she hadn’t done a background check on the other woman, but something had told her not to. That if she did, she would find Yolanda laying low just like Annabelle still was. Her application showed a high turnover of employment in different places, which meant she was on the move. A background check might trigger what or whoever she was hiding from. If she didn’t do such amazing work, Georgina would never have hired her, but she really liked the other woman and her kids, so, for now, she was happy with her decision.
She glanced across the yard to where Graham was flirting with the ladies, particularly Farah. He was supremely frustrated with tracking Annabelle and how good she was at evasion. Georgina was almost nervous at the unholy gleam that entered his eyes whenever he spoke to her about her old friend. It was a good thing for Davis Fowler that he’d left town after being discharged from rehab. Georgina had the distinct feeling Graham would have loved to have “words” with him The hospital decided that Max’s business was more important than keeping Davis, so they relieved him of his position and brought in Max’s recommendation. Graham didn’t think they’d seen the last of the asshole, though, so he asked his friend Darby Sullivan to put a security detail on him.
“What’s put the frown on your face, pretty girl?” Max drawled as he came up behind her with a manila envelope in his hand. “Wade said he’ll be by later after his shift ends. Chelsea just pulled up and will be out here shortly.”
Georgina turned to him, and he dropped a kiss on her ready lips. “Hi, babe! Whatcha got there?”
“This is from Capex’s office. I believe it’s the magazine with your ad in it,” Max said and handed it to her. “Here, you do the honors.”
Georgina eagerly opened it and pulled the magazine out. Quickly she flipped to their spread and was speechless as Max gave a slow whistle. “Damn, they did good work!”
The photos had come out better than Georgina could have dreamed. So rich and vivid in color, her designs looked great, and even though Lavon was a wizard at hair and makeup, she’d secretly been praying that she didn’t wind up looking like a crazy fool with the blonde wig on. But the best part of the pics was the way she and Max looked at each other. You could feel their love, and Georgina couldn’t believe she’d ever doubted him from the way he’d looked at her so early on in their relationship. “You knew back then didn’t you, babe?”
Max dropped his chin onto her head and happily surveyed the joyous celebration that was taking place in honor of their love. He no longer felt guilt over Danielle. Georgina had entered his world and filled it with light and love. Max couldn’t wait to make her his wife and practiced saying his vows in the mirror every morning. “I knew when I woke up alone in the hotel, baby. I was just waiting for your fine ass to catch up.”
“I love you, smart-ass,” she said sweetly.
“Come on, let’s go celebrate,” Max took her hand and they joined the festivities.
THE END
COMING FALL 2016
LOST & FOUND
(BAYMOOR BOOK TWO)
PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A SNEAK PEAK!
Eliza needed a moment. Just one to herself, away from the loud music and crowd enjoying the celebration. Even though it was nine-thirty at night, the party was still going strong. People continued to stop by her aunt and uncle’s house to congratulate Georgina and Max on their engagement. Eliza was so happy for her sister because Max was exactly what she needed. You could just see in Georgina’s face all the love, trust, and respect she had for him. He was a really great guy, not to mention extremely easy on the eyes, and perfect for her little sister. Just being around them made you feel good to witness their love and unbreakable bond.
Yes, her sister was indeed a lucky woman. Her relationship was the second great love story of this family. Uncle Nate and Aunt Val were definitely a tough act to follow, and at one time, she thought that she had a love like that, but she was wrong. Hers had shattered around her, the broken pieces embedded in her skin like teeny, tiny splinters that couldn’t be pulled out. The agony of living with that feeling had been unbearable, but she had lived with it for six months until Camille had been placed in her arms for the first time.
Camille. She looked across the back yard to where her eight-year-old daughter sat, playing Goldfish with her Uncle Graham. Her beautiful darling girl. She had walked through fire to have her. As if he knew she would be watching, Graham looked up to meet her eyes. She shook her head
slightly at his questioning look and motioned she was going outside. He nodded and went back to teasing Camille. Eliza smiled as the sounds of her daughter’s delighted giggles reached across the room and wrapped around her heart.
She entered the house through the backdoor and didn’t stop moving until she reached the front door, opened it and stepped out onto the empty porch. The cool air hit her, and she shivered but refused to go back in to retrieve her jacket. Instead, she went to sit on the loveseat enclosed in the shadows of Aunt Val’s rose trellises and looked up at the sky. Tonight the sky was colored in various shades of blue, ranging from a baby blue to midnight. The full moon played peek-a-boo among the shifting clouds, and the stars shined brightly like diamonds.
As Eliza stared at the group of clouds hiding the moon, she thought about how good it was to be surrounded by family. In Boston, it was only her and Camille rambling about in their big house, and her daughter had hinted on more than one occasion that she wouldn’t mind moving here. They had only been in Baymoor, Maryland for only two days, but she had made several friends already at the Easter celebration Eliza had been unable to attend due to an emergency meeting at a client’s house. Maybe it was time to think about it. Her family was here, and David had left her with more money than she knew what to do with. Truth be told, her architect firm could be run from anywhere.
David. God how she missed him! He had been her friend, mentor, and in the end, a great father to Camille. After his death two years ago, she became a recluse in their community, resigning from all social positions except for the kids programs that Camille was involved in.
The clouds shifted, allowing the moon its right to shine brightly, bathing all of the porch in silver light except where she sat hidden from it. The symbolic moment was not lost on her. It seemed fitting considering how she now lived her life— away from the world hidden in shadows. Eliza laughed softly, thinking that she made the perfect vampire. It hadn’t always been this way, though. Once she too had been bathed in moonlight like this. Lovers light is what he had called it. Her soft limbs tangled with his bigger, muscular ones. Their skin covered in a fine sheen of perspiration as they flew together, soaring through the sky to land among the clouds. Suddenly she thought of that famous line from Batman.
Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
Oh, she had. A dance that had set her soul on fire as she twirled and whirled to the rhythm of two in sync hearts beating furiously for each other. She would never forget his devastating kisses or the way he possessed her body. Their passion for each other had been all-consuming, and in the end, it had almost destroyed her. It was on nights like this that she thought of them together, and all that had been lost with betrayal. It had been nine years since Eliza saw him last, but every now and then she would see a man similar in build and hair color, and her heart would race. But then he would turn, and it would be a complete stranger who paled far beyond in comparison.
A car pulled up to the curb. She glanced through the bushes to see a tall, broad- shouldered man get out and start down the walkway. The clouds moved again, and all went dark. He didn’t seem to be aware of her sitting still in the darkness as he moved steadily up the stairs. His cologne reached her. It was spicy and dark, shrouded in mystery just like him, and Eliza wondered if she should she say something. As he knocked on the door, the clouds shifted again. He turned to take in the moonlight, and she forgot to breathe.
The years had been good to him. He was a good-looking man. Not conventionally handsome, but he oozed sex appeal. His once shoulder-length blonde hair was now cut a little below his ears and slicked back. The brows, thick and straight, sat above intense, dark blue eyes that were closely set. His nose was strong and slightly crooked, cheekbones high. He had sensually firm lips surrounded by a dark blond, trimmed goatee. Underneath the dark suit was a body made for sinning. Her heart was beating so loudly, she thought he would be able to hear it.
He can’t hurt you anymore, Eliza told herself. She was a different person now. Stronger, harder, and not so gullible. She must have made a sound because all of a sudden he was looking right where she sat with narrowed eyes. Slowly he approached, and his eyes went wide, first with recognition, followed by disbelief. She rose to her feet, tall and erect, with her head held high, appearing calm even though her heart was racing.
Coolly, she spoke, “Hello, Wade. It’s been a long time.”