A Tiara Under the Tree

by Carolyn Hector

  “You guys clean up this mess,” Dominic barked.

  “We’ll clean it,” said Dario, “in the morning. We have some more pizza on the way.”

  The doorbell rang just as an announcer on the television said, “Live from Savannah!”

  “I’ll get that.” Dario jumped to his feet, almost pushing Dominic out the way. “When they say fast, they mean fast.”

  In the meantime, Dominic picked up the empty pizza box to make room for the new one. On his way into the kitchen with the garbage, he flipped off the light in the family room, leaving it in the glow of the television and the flickering lights on the Douglas fir tree the family had decorated. When he returned to the living room, he caught a glimpse of Lexi Reyes being interviewed. Dario stood in the archway and cleared his throat.

  “Hey, uh, ’lisha and Darren, let’s go pick up that pizza.”

  “What? Why?” Alisha whined. “Wasn’t that the pizza guy at the door?”

  “No, just me.”

  Dominic’s heart crashed against his rib cage. “Waverly?”

  “I would have come sooner, but do you know how hard it is to get an Uber driver on Christmas Eve? Everyone had plans and commitments with the pageant and could not bring me last night. My own mother wouldn’t speak to me.”

  “How did you get here?” Dominic asked.

  “Johnny just dropped me off. And if you don’t want me here, you’ll have to bring me back into town.”

  “I want you here,” he said. He wanted her here more than she’d ever know.

  He turned back toward the television, showing the top three candidates now standing next to Lexi. Waverly stood in his living room, in the flesh, wearing a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a white T-shirt with a red plaid, long-sleeved shirt wrapped around her waist. Her hair was down and hung over her shoulder; nestled at the top of her head was her Miss Southwood tiara.

  The Crowne siblings and Hamilton scattered out the front door. Dominic crossed the living room and stood in front of Waverly. He wasn’t sure how to greet her. Yesterday he would have with a kiss. Tonight he didn’t know if should simply shake her hand. He settled for clasping his hands behind his back.

  “How is it possible you didn’t make it?” he asked.

  “I made it,” Waverly answered. She held her hands out in front of him, visibly hesitant to touch him, as well. “I had all the points to win.”

  “But?”

  “I won,” said Waverly. “I won when I chose you.” She finally pressed her hand against his heart.

  “You won, but you’re here.”

  “I turned the committee’s nomination down, Dominic.” Waverly stepped up on tiptoe. Her lips were bare of any makeup. He twitched to kiss her. “I won the runoff.”

  “You’ve worked your whole life to be Miss Georgia.” Dominic reached for her hands. He brought her away from the door and into the living room.

  “And I know in my heart I can be Miss Georgia, but I’m not interested in that title. Is this the tree I missed out on decorating?” Waverly turned her attention toward the old ornaments the twins had brought up.

  “It is. Waverly, talk to me.”

  Waverly turned her back to him. She fingered an old race car ornament with his name. The gift had been from his father when he first showed interest in cars. “I don’t have anything like this in my condo.”

  “I offered to get you another tree.”

  “I didn’t want another tree.”

  Dominic placed his hands on her shoulders and coaxed her to turn around. “What do you want, Waverly?”

  He didn’t expect to greet her tearful eyes. “What happened yesterday will never happen again,” Dominic vowed. “You’ll never see me reach that level of anger.”

  “You had every right to be angry,” said Waverly. “If you saw my pictures on Anson’s phone, then I believe you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I love you, Dominic.” Waverly blinked back a tear. “I love you more than I love pageants. I didn’t leave with you because I realized at that moment just how much I love you. I had to sit back and process it again. I had to have them tell me I was practically a shoo-in to win, in spite of the Morality Committee. Remember how the votes were going to help influence the decision of the committee? My votes spiked so high, the pageant closed the polls on social media. I’ve worked so hard, Dominic, in search of that title. And just when it was in my view, I realized it’s not the title I want.”

  “What title is that?”

  “Whatever title you can give me.” Waverly shrugged. “I mean hell, what other title can there be? Roommates? Bunk mates?”

  At that point Dominic relaxed at her words. “You want to make fun of me at a time like this?”

  “What time, Dominic?”

  Without a second thought, Dominic bent down on one knee. He reached for her left hand. “I realize at this moment I am unprepared to give you a ring, but the important part of this is moment is... Will you marry me, Waverly?”

  Waverly batted her lashes. She pressed a finger against her high cheekbone and pondered his proposal. Dominic yanked her down to his level. Waverly came down slowly, kissing his forehead, cheeks and lips.

  “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you, Dominic.”

  Dominic leaned Waverly back and brought her closer. She laughed beneath him and brought him down toward her face for another kiss. He loved this woman. “I promise we’ll go ring shopping.”

  “I don’t have to have a ring,” Waverly said. “You bought me my freaking dream home. Maybe there will be something in Santa’s bag after the parade.”

  All the parents attending the parade always received a gift in the town square for their children. After the parade Santa would pass out one final present.

  “That was more of a Christmas gift,” said Waverly. “And speaking of the parade, rumor has it the current person scheduled to play Santa has to bow out due to some emergency dental work.”

  “I’m not apologizing.” Dominic grimaced. “That bastard...”

  Dominic’s words were drowned out when Waverly kissed him. She tried to roll him onto his back. When she succeeded, Waverly positioned herself right on top of his raging erection. “I wonder who we can get to play Santa.”

  “Isn’t it bad enough I’m going to dress up as a soldier?”

  Her pink lips parted. “Oh, crap, I didn’t get you anything.”

  Dominic stroked her hair out of her face. The tiara untangled from her tresses and rolled next to the wrapped presents under the tree. “Trust me, you did already.”

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Early-summer sun spilled onto Waverly Crowne’s face. She smiled at the memory of her place in life one year ago when she’d felt destitute and lifeless. Now here she sat in the rocking chair on her wraparound porch seated next to Marion Strickland from Pageant Pride Gazette, literally full of life. A small tray holding a pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade and two now-empty glasses stood between them. Their time together had come to an end. Waverly tugged the hem of her pastel yellow shift dress and rose from her seat.

  “Things certainly have changed for the better,” said Marion, tucking her pink sparkly pencil into the front pocket of her purse.

  Waverly had welcomed Marion into her home that afternoon for a standard interview right before big pageants took place. Marion chose to do her report on Waverly, since she’d followed her pageant career for years. Waverly didn’t mind one bit that she been placed in the nostalgia archives. Her tiara days were over with and nothing made her happier. Well, maybe something did; she smiled at the way her heart melted when Dominic strolled up the walkway with Hamilton on a leash. When she and Dominic had married, they’d talked Alisha into giving them custody. She wouldn’t have time to properly care for
him now that she was in school full-time in Atlanta.

  These days, when Dominic wasn’t participating in Union Blues reenactments to fulfill the two-year contract he signed with Mr. Harvey, he hung around the house in ballers and T-shirts. The coveralls and expensive suits remained in the closet on hiatus. Right now he was scouting places in town to expand his business. Since moving upstate into the Harveys’ home, Dominic turned the daily grind of Crowne’s Garage over to his family. The twins moved into the ranch home and Alisha kept her condo. They still traveled to Southwood on a weekly basis so Waverly could work with her students at Grits and Glam Studios as the vocal coach.

  “Are you sure we can’t talk you into coming to the Miss Georgia Pageant? Everyone is dying to see you.”

  Of course they are, Waverly thought to herself. Not one meme had been created since Dominic beat the mess out of Anson. Nothing was ever proven about Dominic’s accusations, but everyone had their answer. Anson wouldn’t press charges against Dominic because if he did, the truth would come to light. Marion stood and gave Waverly a hug.

  “You know I can’t travel right now,” Waverly said.

  Stepping backward, Marion hiked her purse onto her shoulder and offered a thoughtful smile. “Any regrets about not going after the crown?”

  “Oh, I got the right crown, Marion.” Waverly chuckled.

  “Make sure you spell crown with an e,” said Dominic from the bottom of the steps. Hamilton oinked in agreement. Dominic jogged up the steps, stood behind Waverly and wrapped his arms around her protruding belly.

  “Any chance there’s a little beauty queen in there?” Marion asked.

  After Christmas, Dominic dragged Waverly down to the courthouse and married her on the spot, just as he’d wanted to the first night he arrived at her place with the misdelivered pizza. Shortly after exchanging vows, they discovered they were expecting. Dominic went out and bought every car decoration for a baby’s room that he could find.

  “It’s a boy,” Dominic blurted out.

  Waverly elbowed him and shook her head. “He thinks if he keeps saying it, it will be true.”

  Marion laughed once more and bade them goodbye, leaving the happy husband and wife on the front porch alone. Hamilton, tired from his walk, took a nap in the flower bed against the house.

  Dominic took hold of Waverly’s hand and turned her around. “You’re missing the Miss Georgia Pageant this weekend. Any regrets?”

  “No,” Waverly said, her heart fluttering as Dominic brought her hands to his lips for a kiss.

  “You sure? I know this pageant might bring up some old feelings,” said Dominic.

  “I am perfectly fine with sitting next to you on the couch, watching the pageant.”

  “Good.” Dominic gave her hand a squeeze. “I’ll pay attention. Maybe we can make a friendly wager on who will win?”

  Waverly pulled her hand away. “The last time I made a bet with you, I ended up as Miss Southwood. What do you have up your sleeve, Mr. Crowne?”

  “Dust off your tiara,” Dominic said with a lopsided grin. “There’s this thing held before Miss Georgia. Ever heard of the Mrs. Georgia Pageant?”

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this romantic story, don’t miss these other titles in Carolyn Hector’s ONCE UPON A TIARA series:

  THE MAGIC OF MISTLETOE

  THE BACHELOR AND THE BEAUTY QUEEN

  HIS SOUTHERN SWEETHEART

  THE BEAUTY AND THE CEO

  Available now from Harlequin Kimani Romance!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from TAMING HER BILLIONAIRE by Yahrah St. John.

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  Taming Her Billionaire

  by Yahrah St. John

  Chapter 1

  Maximus Xavier Knight stared at the beautiful woman who’d just entered the library of his family’s estate for the reading of his father Arthur Knight’s will. Had she really just said she was his partner? Was he in some alternative universe? Surely his father’s attorney, Robert Kellogg, hadn’t just informed him that his father had bestowed 49 percent equally to him and his illegitimate older brother, Lucius Knight, and given this random yet stunning woman the remaining 2 percent?

  One thing was for sure, she was a knockout. His eyes skimmed over her. The wrap dress she wore clung to her shapely curves, showing him she had generous breasts and hips he could grab on to and legs that went on for miles. Long, flowing black hair hung down her back in soft luxurious waves. Her smooth tapioca-colored skin looked soft to the touch. He drank in every detail, her high cheekbones, finely arched eyebrows and full kissable lips, which held a hint of pink lipstick. Her expressive large brown eyes were mascara-coated and looking at him intently.

  “Maximus, I presume.” She held out her hand. “Tahlia, Tahlia Armstrong.”

  Maximus extended his hand, cupping her small, soft one in his, and shook it. The brief contact sent an arc of desire shooting straight through him. They stared at one another for several beats before she lowered her hand, making Maximus wonder if he’d imagined the electric connection.

  “Ms. Armstrong, welcome,” Robert said. “I was hoping you would have come earlier.”

  “Sorry.” Tahlia blushed. “Promptness isn’t my strong suit.” She found an empty chair beside his half brother, Lucius, and took a seat. She was clearly embarrassed by her tardiness but seemed to have known more than any of them did.

  “Omigod!” Maximus’s mother, Charlotte, cried into her handkerchief by his side. He knew she must be in shock just as he was by his father’s bequest, but he was determined not to show weakness.

  “Robert.” Maximus remained standing and walked over to his father’s longtime friend. “Is this will iron-clad?”

  The attorney frowned. “Meaning was your father of sound mind when he wrote it?”

  “Of course he was,” Lucius’s mother, Jocelyn Turner, burst aloud, jumping out of her seat. “This was his way of finally acknowledging Lucius.” She pointed to her son, who was still seated next to his fiancée, Naomi Brooks.

  “You have no say here.” Charlotte Knight stopped sniffing long enough to speak and rise from her seat to face her nemesis. “Arthur was my husband, not yours. You were nothing more than his low-rate mistress, one he couldn’t bother to be seen with.”

  “Mother! That’s enough
.” Maximus didn’t want an all-out brawl to break out. Lucius had stood as well and stepped in front of his mother in full protective mode.

  “Everyone, please,” Robert spoke loudly, interrupting the crowd. “I need you all to take your seats.”

  Reluctantly, both mothers sat down while Maximus and Lucius remained standing. Maximus didn’t know what to make of his older brother, but he knew he’d be a formidable opponent. He was six foot two with a square jaw and an athletic physique. Even though he worked out often, Maximus wasn’t sure he could take him down physically, but there were other ways.

  “Why would he do this?” Lucius asked, turning to Robert. “I know nothing about the shipping business, and I want no part of any inheritance Arthur Knight may have left for me.”

  “Good.” Max smiled. He was glad to see that he and his brother were on the same page. He didn’t need or want Lucius around, and apparently he felt the same way. “It’s settled. You can sign over your shares and we can be done with this business.”

  “No!” Tahlia’s voice rang out. “It’s not what your father wanted.”

  Maximus spun around on his heel. The withering look he gave her may have frightened many an employee in his office, but not Tahlia. He guessed she was somewhere in the neighborhood of five foot nine or ten, and wasn’t backing down from him even though he stood several inches taller. “And how would you know what my father wanted?”

  “I’d like to know the answer to that question, as well,” his mother said. Fury was etched across her face. How was it that she was in the dark about yet another woman in his father’s life?

  “Because he talked to me about his failure to do the right thing by his sons,” Tahlia responded.