Turning to his mother, he smiled and said, “I would still marry her, Ma. She has brought more than just a child into my life. She reminds me a lot of you.”
Maryann’s right eyebrow shot up. “Really?”
“Yes,” James said, pinching off a piece of one of the cinnamon buns and popping it in his mouth. “She has that same stubborn, independent streak that you have.”
“Boy, don’t think you’re too big for me to take you over my knee! I’m not that Carter boy. I’ll knock you out. Why don’t you go feed that woman?”
James gave his mother another peck on the cheek before taking the rolls over to Jade.
“I thought you forgot about me,” Jade said when he set the plate in front of her.
“That I could never do,” he said.
She leaned across the table and stroked his cheek. “Me either,” she said before planting a light kiss on his lips.
“All right, you two,” Maryann said as she walked over to the table, with a cup of coffee for James and a glass of milk for Jade. “People are going to think you two are in love if you don’t stop.”
“Thank you for the milk,” Jade said as she looked enviously at James’s steaming cup of coffee.
“I’ve got to take care of my grandbaby and his or her mother.” Maryann was about to sit down with Jade and James, but just then another crush of customers entered the bakery.
“People really love your mom and her treats,” Jade said. “She can always use our kitchen if she does want to do the Web-based business.”
“Our kitchen? As in that small room in my house with a stove that I rarely use?”
“No, silly, the kitchen at the restaurant. From the looks of things, she’s going to be filling a lot of orders.”
“Well,” he said after taking a huge bite of his cinnamon bun, “we’d better get out of here before she puts us to work.”
Jade took another bite of her cinnamon bun and didn’t make an effort to move. “Do you think I’m going to rush through this piece of heaven because you’re lazy?” She rolled her eyes and continued eating.
James sipped his coffee, chuckling at her. Jade was his match in every way. He couldn’t wait to spend forever with her. “All right. When you’re finished eating, we’re going shopping.”
“That’s not going to make me speed up,” she said as she took another leisurely bite.
James smiled and took the last bite of his cinnamon bun.
Jade smiled at James and finished her bun. “Let’s go,” she said as she wiped her mouth with the edge of her napkin.
Jade and James rose to their feet and headed to the register to tell Maryann good-bye.
“You two be good,” Maryann said as she waved good-bye to the couple.
“I’ll try to keep him in line,” Jade quipped. Then they walked out the door. Once they were outside, Jade suggested that they take the train.
“All right,” James said. “Do you think you’re going to miss all this?”
“No,” she said. “I’m leaving Atlanta but gaining something even better.”
“And what would that be?” he asked.
“A life with you. And no more two-eighty-five congestion.”
James wrapped his arms around Jade’s waist and lifted her in the air. “I’m glad you feel that way,” he said before putting her down. “I’m sure your friends are going to miss you.”
“They’re going to be just fine,” she said. “Besides, they’re going to be spending a lot of time in Charlotte.”
“From the looks of things, Serena might be joining you there,” James said. “Since she’s messing with that guy.”
“Our contractor, and I’m hoping she doesn’t mess up our business relationship with him. Or if she’s going to break his heart, I hope she’ll do it after the restaurant is renovated.”
“You never know. This contractor might tame your friend.”
“You talk about her as if she’s a horse or something,” Jade said as they walked to the MARTA station.
James shrugged his shoulders, not really knowing what to think of Serena.
The train arrived at the Lenox station, and Jade and James headed for the mall. She shook her head as they pushed through the crowd of workers heading back to their offices following their lunch hour. Holding James’s hand, she smiled.
“I’ve always wanted to be one of these people,” she confessed.
“One of what people?” he asked.
“The kind who shop during office hours.”
“Oh,” he said, pulling her closer as they headed for the Cartier store.
Jade raised her eyebrows as they walked into the high-end jewelry store. “You know, this is going to sound strange, but I’m not big on diamonds.”
“Really?”
She nodded.
“I thought it would be corny to get you a jade ring,” he said, with a laugh. “Besides, your girls made it seem as if nothing but two carats would do.”
She bumped her hip against his. “You know me better than that.”
James reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. “I sure do,” he said as he opened the box, revealing a red jade, white sapphire, and chocolate diamond ring. It had a white gold setting.
Jade was stunned at the beauty and uniqueness of the ring. She ran her finger across the pear-shaped red stone. “Where? When did you get this?”
“The day after I asked you to be my wife.” James slipped the ring on her finger, and it fit perfectly.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, with tears pooling in her eyes. “James, if you had the ring already, then why are we here?”
He waved for the clerk.
“Good afternoon,” the woman said. “How may I help you today?”
“You have a custom order for James Goings that I need to pick up.”
“All right. Give me one moment to get it,” the woman said, then disappeared behind the counter.
Moments later she returned with a box and handed it to James. He opened the rectangular-shaped box, displaying a platinum necklace with a red jade and diamond pendant that matched Jade’s engagement ring.
“Oh my God,” Jade said. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not half as beautiful as the woman who will be wearing it,” James said as he removed the necklace from the box and placed it around her neck.
The clerk smiled at the couple. James took a step back and looked at Jade. She was a vision. He handed his credit card to the clerk without taking his eyes off Jade.
“James, you’re spoiling me,” Jade said as she hugged him.
“I figured this trip was going to be taxing, and I set this up to put a smile on your face.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Did it work?” he asked.
“Yes, yes, it did. But being with you keeps me smiling,” Jade said.
After James was given his credit card back and he signed the receipt, he and Jade rushed back to the train station so that they could make it back to her place and she could properly thank him for the gift.
As they took their seats on the train, James wrapped his arm around her waist. “We need to set a wedding date,” he said.
“I was thinking about that,” she said. “We don’t have to make a big production of it.”
“Music to my ears. Big weddings don’t go over real big in my family,” he said, with a laugh, referring to Maurice’s incident at the altar.
“Then let’s go back to where it all started,” she said. “Let’s get married in Vegas this weekend.”
James smiled broadly. “I like the way you think,” he said. “We’re getting married in Vegas.”
CHAPTER 31
If James and Jade thought they were going to be able to skip off to Las Vegas and get married without anyone knowing, they should’ve never told Maryann their plans. Before the couple had booked seats on a weekend flight to Vegas, Maurice and Kenya knew about the proposed wedding.
“He’s truly lost his mind,” Maurice told his wife
after hanging up with his mother.
“Who’s lost his mind?”
“James. He and Jade are eloping.”
“Are you still criticizing Jade? They are going to have a baby, Mo. You need to stop... .”
“No, I’m glad they’re getting married, but he isn’t doing it without me standing there and giving him a shit-eating grin,” Maurice said. “Who would’ve thought that my brother would be following in my footsteps?”
Kenya hugged Maurice tightly. “My man is growing up. So, what are we going to do?”
He licked his lips and lifted his wife up. “Before or after I get you out of these clothes?”
Kenya slapped her husband on his shoulder. “You are so bad. And after you get me out of these clothes, what are we going to do?”
“We’re going to Vegas, baby,” Maurice said as he carried her into their bedroom.
James looked down at his watch. “If we’re going to make our flight, you’re going to have to hurry up,” he called to the closed bathroom door.
“I’m coming,” Jade replied. Seconds later she opened the door, dressed in a tracksuit, with her make-up bag on her shoulder. “Are you telling me that I’m not worth waiting for?”
“I think you are, but the TSA might not agree.” James took her bag and headed out to the car.
Jade took one last look at herself in the mirror; she was ready to do this. She was ready to become Mrs. James Goings. She couldn’t help but remember what had happened the first time they were in Vegas together. Who would’ve thought that I would be walking down the aisle and into the arms of a man like James, she thought as she headed out the door.
“You’re ready?” James asked as he opened the car door for her.
“More than you’ll ever know,” she replied as she slipped into the car.
James sped to the airport, hoping and praying that they didn’t have to get screened. Traffic on Interstate 85 South was uncharacteristically light, and they made it to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport with plenty of time to spare.
“You rushed me for nothing,” Jade said as they breezed through the security checkpoints.
“Nah, I rushed you because I’m ready to get on this plane and make it official.”
They took a seat in the boarding area. “Getting here early isn’t going to make that pilot take off any sooner,” Jade said as she snuggled up next to James.
“Do I need to call somebody?” he joked.
Leaning her head against his shoulder, she smiled and shook her head. “We’ll be fine.”
About ten minutes later they began boarding the plane.
“Maybe we should’ve invited Maurice and Kenya,” Jade said after they were secure in their seats.
“It’s too late now. What about your girls? Aren’t they going to be a little salty because you didn’t tell them you’re running off to make me the happiest man in the world?”
“Serena will have something to say, Alicia probably won’t say much, and Kandace is just going to want all the details.”
James wrapped his arm around Jade’s shoulders as the plane was readied for takeoff. “So how are we going to do this? Drive-through chapel or an Elvis impersonator for a minister?”
“Do I look like Britney Spears?” Jade asked, jabbing him in his ribs playfully.
“Not at all, but I’m sure if we shaved your head, you two might look like sisters.”
“Don’t quit your day job, because you’re not funny,” she said.
James kissed her on her forehead. “Whatever,” he replied.
As the plane lifted into the air, Jade snuggled closer to James and drifted off to sleep. He looked down at her and smiled. Little did she know, he had a beautiful ceremony planned at the chapel of the Las Vegas Hilton. Neiman Marcus was sending over a few gowns for her to try on and a tuxedo for James.
He slid his hand across Jade’s still flat belly. He couldn’t wait for the day when it swelled with their child. It didn’t matter if it was a girl or a boy as long as the baby was healthy. He knew that the child would have a happier childhood than he or Jade had had.
As he drifted off to sleep, he dreamed of the day that their child would be born.
Jade woke up as the flight attendants walked through the cabin, offering snacks. She grinned at her sleeping fiancé. How did she get so lucky? she wondered. She ran her hand across his lap and thought about spending the rest of her life wrapped in his love. James made her believe that forever was possible, made her believe that happily ever after was in her grasp. Inhaling, she hoped that the plane would land soon, because she could not wait to say “I do” to James Goings.
Hours later the plane began its descent into Las Vegas. James woke up, fastened his seat belt, and smiled at Jade.
“You have one last chance to change your mind,” he quipped.
“I thought about it while you were sleeping, but I couldn’t find the parachute,” she shot back. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”
“Good,” he said. “Because that’s the last thing I want.”
The captain announced that it was sunny and eighty-two degrees in Vegas.
James turned to Jade as the plane taxied to a landing. “You don’t have any condoms tucked in your purse this time, do you?”
She pinched his bicep. “Whatever.”
“Hey,” he said, throwing his hands up, “the last time we were here ...”
“I was being influenced by women who thought getting over one man meant finding a new one,” she joked.
“Did it work?”
She winked at him. “What do you think?”
Once they’d landed and retrieved their baggage, James and Jade headed to the rental car desk to secure a car for the weekend. He rented a red Ford Mustang convertible so that he and Jade could cruise the Strip in style.
“I always wanted one of these,” he said when they located the car. “Maurice and Kenya have two.”
“I wonder how a car seat would fit in the back of one of these,” Jade mused as she slid into the passenger seat.
“That’s a good question,” he said as he started the engine and listened for the roar of the horses. “Aw yeah.” James pressed the gas and took off from the curb.
Jade gripped her seat belt. “Yeah, you don’t need one of these,” she said as they pulled out onto the Strip.
He slowed the car down and smiled at her. “If you wanted me to slow down, all you had to do was say so.”
They pulled up to the Hilton, and Jade got out of the car to check in while James found a spot to park the car. She walked up to the counter and gave the clerk James’s name.
“I have special instructions for you,” the clerk said after typing his name in the computer. “You’re Jade, right?”
“Yes, I am,” Jade replied.
The clerk handed her a key card. “This is your room. We’ll check Mr. Goings into his room when he gets here.”
“There are two rooms?”
“Just following instructions,” the clerk said.
Jade shrugged her shoulders, took the key card, and headed to her room. When she got up to the room, she found Kenya waiting for her. “What are you doing here?” she asked as she crossed the room to hug Kenya.
“Did you and James really think you were going to get away with it?” Kenya asked.
“How did you find out that we were getting married here?” Jade asked, with a smile on her face.
“Maryann called as soon as you guys told her that you were going to elope, or as Mo said, ‘Return to the scene of the crime.’”
“Your husband,” Jade snorted.
“I know he hasn’t been the easiest person to get along with, but he’s come around. When he heard that James was going to get married, he was so excited and he wanted to be here. He knows that you’re good for James.”
“And he’s good for me,” Jade said. “James is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Kenya hugged her soon-to-be sister-in-law. “That�
��s good to know.” She took a step back from Jade, with a warm smile on her face. “Now, let’s get you ready to marry that man of yours.”
Jade placed her hand on Kenya’s shoulder. “Thanks for being here. I was so nervous.”
“I know what you mean, but when you see him standing up there, waiting for you, nervousness is the last thing that you’re going to feel.”
Jade nodded. “I know.”
The women headed for the settee by the mirror, and Kenya started fixing Jade’s hair.
James paced the floor in his hotel room. Where was his tuxedo, and more importantly, was Jade facing the same problems he was?
“This is not how today was supposed to go,” he mumbled.
“And just how was it supposed to go?” Maurice asked as he walked into the room.
“The hell? What are you doing here?” James asked in surprise.
“Saving you from making the biggest mistake of your life,” Maurice said.
James frowned and shook his head. “I don’t need this today,” he said. “I love Jade, and I’m sick and tired of you—”
Maurice held up the garment bag that he had behind his back. “The mistake that you were making was that ugly-ass suit,” he said as he held the garment bag out to his brother.
“What’s this?” James asked as he took the garment bag from Maurice’s hands.
“Open it,” Maurice said.
James unzipped the garment bag and revealed a black Hugo Boss tuxedo with diamond cuff links in the shape of a G. “Mo,” James said. “This is ...”
“A lot better than that ugly suit you had picked out yourself. Did you really think I was going to allow your wedding to proceed without me being here?”
“How did you find out?”
“Ma. She called me as soon as you and Jade left the bakery.”
James laid the tuxedo on the bed and hugged his brother tightly. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“So am I. Because you were going to have some ugly wedding photos without me.”
James punched his brother on the shoulder. “Leave it to you to make my wedding all about you.”
“Uh-huh,” Maurice said. “And Ma will be here in an hour, too.”
Betting On Love Page 26