by Pamela Yaye
When Azure heard the opening bar of the song “This I Promise You”—the one she used to listen to religiously when she was in tenth grade—her heart melted to a puddle at her feet. The tender love ballad brought back memories of high school, of all the times she’d sat in the cafeteria watching Harper, or writing in her journal under her favorite oak tree. How did Harper know this was her favorite love song of all time? Harper Hamilton was truly something. Not only was he charming, but he was by far the most romantic man she had ever met. And when Harper bent down and brushed his lips across hers, Azure prayed he’d be in her life forever.
“Azure…” he breathed, sliding his arms around her waist and caressing her hips. “This dress is something else.”
“Do you think it’s too much?”
“I think it’s perfect. You couldn’t look any more beautiful.”
“I can’t take any of the credit. Your mom is an incredible fashion designer.”
“You’re right, she is, but that dress was nothing but a piece of fabric until you put it on.”
Cradling her in his arms, he murmured words of admiration and praise in her ear. Azure swayed to the music, moved slowly against Harper’s tall, athletic body. Her breathing increased, came in quick, short gulps. Desire rose, grew to crushing heights. Azure didn’t know if she could pretend to be Harper’s wife for the next three months without crossing the line. Or rather diving over it. She wasn’t a raging sex fiend, and she’d rather clean her house than sweat out her perm having sex, but every time Harper touched her, she wanted to ride him until she was spent.
And that’s my tamest fantasy, she thought, ignoring the tingles pulsing between her legs. The song ended, and the emcee invited guests to join the happy couple on the dance floor. No one moved.
Azure didn’t mind one bit. She liked being alone with Harper and enjoyed being in his arms so much she draped her arms casually around his neck as they moved and swayed together to the slow, sensual Whitney Houston number playing.
“Wow, the emcee went deep into the musical vault for this one,” Harper joked.
“When I was a little girl I wanted to be Whitney Houston so bad.”
“You did? Why?”
“Because I thought if I was thin and pretty my life would be perfect.”
“Azure, baby, you are all those things and more.”
“Not according to my mom.” The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“Then when I meet Mrs. Ellison I’m going to have some very harsh words for her.”
“You do not know my mom.”
“But I know you,” he said softly, drawing his finger along her cheek, “and you’re a smart, captivating woman, a woman any man in this room would kill to have on his arm.”
Azure felt her eyes began to itch and burn, but she checked herself before she lost her cool. Harper was acting, saying and doing all the right things, gazing longingly at her, pretending he was a groom who was madly in love. The attorney was giving their friends and family one hell of a show. It was all for publicity’s sake, a scheme he’d cooked up one night at the bar after too many drinks, and she’d be a fool to forget it.
If this is all for show, she wondered, resting her head on Harper’s chest and closing her eyes, then why does it feel like the real thing?
Chapter 10
“Congratulations, roomie! I’m so happy for you!” Maggie shrieked, rushing over to the dessert table and throwing her thick, fleshy arms around Azure’s neck.
Giggling, Azure hugged her roommate back. “You really mean that, Maggie?”
“Of course I do! Why wouldn’t I be happy for you? You’re one of my closest friends.”
“I know, but I thought you’d come down on me for marrying Harper. You said, and I quote, ‘Only a truly desperate woman would marry a man she just met.’”
“Oh, I still think you’re crazy for trying the knot, but who am I to judge?” she said with a shrug. “But now that you’re moving in with Harper, you can sublet your room to Greg, so I don’t have to travel halfway across town to see him. See, roomie, everybody wins!”
“You just couldn’t wait to get rid of me,” Azure teased, wearing a sad face. “Some friend you are. I haven’t even packed my stuff, but you’re already showing me the door.”
“Damn right! And I can’t wait to be an auntie, so hurry up and get knocked up!”
The women laughed. Perusing the dessert table, arm in arm, they sampled each sweet, gooey dessert and discussed their new living arrangements. Laughing and joking with Maggie helped Azure to relax, and she was having such a good time chatting with her roommate she didn’t notice Harper’s
mother standing behind her until Maggie acknowledged her presence with a friendly wave. Mrs. Hamilton did not return the gesture.
Maggie plopped a handful of chocolate éclairs onto her plate, grabbed a bottle of wine and rushed off. Azure had never seen her friend move so fast, but when she saw Mrs. Hamilton’s pursed lips and narrowed eyes, she understood why her roommate ran for cover. Fear drenched Azure’s skin, and her heartbeat drummed painfully in her ears.
“I have to admit, Ms. Ellison, you do look amazing in that dress.”
Licking the dryness from her lips, Azure nodded and clasped her hands out in front of her. “Thank you, Mrs. Hamilton. That means a lot coming from you. And congratulations on the success of your new fall line. It’s received rave reviews, and last week Sarah Jessica Parker tweeted that your fashion show at the Metropolitan Pavilion was outstanding.”
“I had no idea Sarah tweeted about the event,” she said, her tone losing its cold, hard edge. “Maybe that’s why my phone has been ringing off the hook.”
“I’m not surprised. I love fashion, and wear all of the top designers, but your line is by far my favorite this season.”
Mrs. Hamilton raised a thin, perfectly sculptured eyebrow. “It is?”
“By far. I love that your pieces are timeless and elegant and ultrafeminine.” Staring down at her dress, she touched a hand to the embellished neckline and indulged in a dreamy smile. “I feel so glamorous in this gown, and Harper keeps telling me how beautiful I look.”
Mrs. Hamilton’s eyes caught fire.
Azure searched her mind for something to say, something that would put Mrs. Hamilton back in a good mood. “I’m sorry you weren’t able to attend last month’s photo shoot—”
“I’m not,” she said tightly, crossing her arms. “I didn’t come over here to shoot the breeze with you, Ms. Ellison, or to hear how great you think my family is. I came over here to discuss your relationship with my son.”
Azure gulped.
“You’re an attractive woman, and from what I’ve heard a fine writer, but that doesn’t mean I think you’re the right woman for my son. I don’t.”
Sensing a threat, Azure searched the room for Harper. Guests were mingling around the banquet hall, posing for pictures and admiring the chocolate cupcake tower, but her tall, dark and handsome groom was nowhere to be found.
“You’re not the kind of person Harper needs in his life.”
To that, Azure had nothing to say. She refused to get into an argument with Mrs. Hamilton, or admit that their wedding was a publicity stunt, so she remained quiet.
“I don’t know much about you, Mrs. Ellison, but I know I don’t like you.” Her face was ageless, free of blemishes and imperfections, but when she scowled, wrinkles creased her forehead. “You remind me of Harper’s ex-fiancée. She was a sly, opportunistic—”
“Ex-fiancée!” Azure stumbled over the word. “Harper said they weren’t serious.”
“He lied to you. My son loved that girl with all his heart.” Mrs. Hamilton sniffed, blinked back the tears that had filled her eyes. “She broke his heart. I’m his mother. I should know.”
&nb
sp; “That’s terrible.... I had no idea, Mrs. Hamilton. Harper never told me.”
Mrs. Hamilton spoke through clenched teeth, and when she shook her head, her diamond teardrop earrings swung furiously back and forth. “I’m not going to stand by idly and let you or anyone else play my son for a fool again.”
“I would never do anything to hurt Harper.”
“That’s what his ex said. Then the hussy cheated on him with some fat, tattooed rapper!”
Azure stepped back and bumped into the dessert table.
“Maybe you can help me figure out what’s going on, because frankly this shotgun wedding doesn’t make any sense. Harper is a meticulous planner, who doesn’t act impulsively or do anything by happenstance, so there must be a very compelling reason why he married you.”
“You’re right, Mrs. Hamilton. There is.” Azure paused for effect and to steady her frazzled nerves, but when she opened her mouth to speak, Mrs. Hamilton cut her off.
“I have a feeling there’s a lot more to your whirlwind romance than meets the eye, Ms. Ellison. I don’t understand the rush to get married. From what I gather, you’ve only been dating my son for a few short weeks.”
“We’re so madly and desperately in love we…” Azure paused, tried to recall what she’d heard on The Bachelorette during last season’s finale. “…that we can’t stand to be apart from each other, and we wanted to make things official as soon as possible.”
Mrs. Hamilton lowered her gaze to Azure’s stomach. “Is there maybe something else you recently discovered that you’d care to share, Ms. Ellison?”
Azure boldly met Mrs. Hamilton’s glare. The question was carefully worded, but Azure was skilled at reading between the lines and knew exactly what Harper’s mother was getting at. “I’m not pregnant,” Azure replied, keeping her tone even and her temper in check. “And I didn’t pressure Harper to marry me, either. He popped the question, and I said yes.”
“You liar!”
Mrs. Hamilton’s outburst caught the attention of the guests chatting at the bar. Azure swallowed the lump in her throat. Her body was on fire, a sweltering two hundred degrees and rising fast. This showdown with Mrs. Hamilton ranked right up there with the day her mom announced—in front of all their family and friends—that Azure would be attending fat camp in Arizona. Oh great, Azure thought miserably, wiping the perspiration dotting her hairline, my boss heard every word and is salivating like a dog with a steak bone.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Ms. Ellison, or what you’re after, but you’re never going to see a dime of my family’s money.”
“Harper and I signed a prenup—”
“Of course you did,” she spat, clutching her pearl necklace in her hands. “Harper’s an attorney. He wouldn’t marry you without one. I don’t care how pretty you are.”
“No, actually I suggested it.”
Surprise clouded Mrs. Hamilton’s oval brown face.
“Harper said we didn’t need one, but I insisted.”
Her opponent’s lips parted, but no words came out.
“I knew people would think that I only married Harper for his money, and I didn’t want to give the haters a leg to stand on.”
Mrs. Hamilton looked deflated, defeated, but quickly recovered. “Just know this,” she began, the hard edge back in her voice, “if you hurt my son or humiliate him or this family in any way, you’ll have to answer to me.”
“With all due respect, Mrs. Hamilton, you don’t know me or what I stand for.”
“You’re right, I don’t, but I know your type. All you care about is advancing your career, and once you get what you’re after, you’ll be on to the next man. Probably a fat, tattooed rapper just like the last floozy my son dated!”
Did she just call me a floozy? Azure opened her mouth to give Mrs. Hamilton a piece of her mind—a piece that was fueled by rage—but when she felt a strong arm slide around her waist, she swallowed the blistering retort. Harper to the rescue, just in the nick of time. Taking in some air, Azure allowed his light, refreshing cologne to soothe her troubled mind and dissolve her murderous thoughts.
“There’s my lovely bride.” Harper hugged her to his chest and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “I’ve been looking all over for you, cupcake. Are you ready to cut the—”
“What an odd pet name. Wherever did it come from?” Mrs. Hamilton asked.
“When we were in high school, Azure baked me a batch of red velvet cupcakes, and they were so scrumptious I’ve been calling her Cupcake ever since.”
It took everything in Azure’s power not to crack up. Me? Bake? Ha! I can’t even make cookies in my goddaughter’s Easy Bake Oven without burning them to a crisp!
Mrs. Hamilton frowned. “You’ve known each other since high school?”
Harper’s gaze darted between the two women. “Yes, of course, I thought Azure would have mentioned it. What exactly have you ladies been over here discussing all this time?”
“I was, um, just welcoming Azure to the family, Harper.”
That was a welcome? A shiver tore down Azure’s spine when she recalled the vicious threat Mrs. Hamilton had made, but when Harper glanced at her, she fervently nodded.
“I’d like to meet Azure’s parents. Are they here?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Ellison really wish they could be here, Mom, but they’re traveling out of the country and couldn’t get back to the States on such short notice.”
Harper wore a sad face, one that caused a giggle to tickle Azure’s throat. Harper could give Pitt, Damon and Clooney a run for their money, she thought, casting an admiring glance at her new husband. He was one hell of an actor and had convinced everyone—from his wary father to his shell-shocked brothers—that he was completely smitten with her.
“It looks like congratulations are in order!”
Azure watched Jake and his fiancée, Charlotte, approach, and smiled at the cozy twosome. They were standing arm in arm, so close it looked as if their bodies were fused together and were gazing longingly at each other. Azure thought they made a striking couple, who were sure to produce adorable kids, and wondered when they were going to tie the knot.
“This is the mother of all surprises, man.” Chuckling, Jake clapped Harper on the back.
Mrs. Hamilton excused herself, and Azure finally released the breath she’d been holding. She’d never been so relieved to see someone leave, and when Mrs. Hamilton stomped back to her seat, Azure cheered inwardly. Yes, there is a God!
“We’re glad that you and Charlotte could be here to share this wonderful occasion with us,” Harper said, returning his arm to Azure’s waist. “Right, Cupcake?”
Azure agreed. “It’s great seeing you guys, and hopefully one day soon we can all get together for drinks or something. This time, I promise to leave my tape recorder at home!”
Everyone laughed.
“I have to admit,” Jake conceded, his eyebrows raised and his head tilted in a questioning slant, “I didn’t see this impromptu wedding ceremony coming!”
Harper shrugged. “It happens like that sometimes. I didn’t see your engagement to Charlotte coming, either, and we all work together!”
“Yeah, but you knew I’ve been feeling Charlotte for a while.”
“Yes, but I’ve been feeling Azure for years.” Harper lowered his mouth to her face, stared intently at her. “From the moment I laid eyes on you in the halls of Willingham Prep, I knew you were the only girl for me. And from this day forward, I plan to treat you like the queen that you are. I’m going to make all your dreams come true. Every last one.”
Azure knew she was wearing a dreamy expression on her face, but she couldn’t stop her heart from going soft. She would never forget this moment—this magical, enchanted night—for as long as she lived. She was wearing a couture gown, thousands of d
ollars’ worth of jewelry and a diamond wedding ring that was going to make her the envy of all her single friends. And best of all, Harper had kissed her! And it wasn’t an innocent peck, either. He’d kissed her deeply, passionately, like a man hopelessly and desperately in love.
“We better let you two lovebirds cut the cake,” Charlotte said, gesturing to the heavyset videographer who was filming them, “before things go from PG to too hot for TV!”
Still holding Azure to his side, Harper led her across the room to the round, glass table displaying their lavish cupcake tower. Guests gathered around, cameras poised, anxious to capture the moment. The mood in the banquet hall had changed from tense to festive, and their friends and family were teasing and laughing. Everyone was having a good time, but when Azure caught Mrs. Hamilton glaring at her, her smile fizzled. Harper’s mother stood at the back of the room, her lips pursed into a furious scowl, and her hands clenched rigidly at her sides. Murder was in the fashion designer’s eyes, and Azure knew she was the unlucky target.
Azure picked up the knife, clutched it so tightly her hands throbbed. Now if Harper’s mother attacks me I can defend myself. The thought of her and Mrs. Hamilton duking it out in their designer gowns was so absurd Azure burst out laughing.
Harper frowned. “What’s so funny?”
To stifle her giggles, she cleared the image from her mind and gave her head a hard shake. “I was just thinking about that story you told your mom. You know, about me baking you cupcakes when we were in high school.”
“I wasn’t going for funny,” he confessed. “I was going for sweet and endearing.”
“That you are. And gorgeous, too.”
Azure didn’t realize the words had left her mouth until Harper leaned in, brushed his lips against her cheek and said loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, “You better stop flirting with me, Mrs. Hamilton, before I devour you like one of these here cupcakes!”
Feigning shock, Azure made her eyes big and wide, but inside she was praying earnestly that her new husband would make good on his threat.