Fire & Desire (Hero Series)

by Monique Lamont

  Tiffany and Trevor’s eyes observed the silent mountain as he walked past them to the door. She glanced at Trevor who looked at her, a single eyebrow lifted a confirmation to her thoughts that possibly Wallace was somehow the one responsible for retrieving the pictures and negatives.

  “Why do I have a feeling this conference is not what we originally discussed?” Trevor said as he followed Tiffany and her father out of the office.

  “You’re right, but patience is a virtue, Trevor.” The governor led the way to the pressroom, trailed by Tiffany, then Trevor as Wallace brought up the rear.

  “A daily practice for me, Governor.”

  Tiffany could feel his hand squeeze her shoulder, as he continued, “A daily practice.”

  She wrinkled her nose at his sarcasm as they entered the elevator. With a quick decision, Tiffany slid her rings from her left hand, giving Trevor her band and placing her engagement ring back on her finger. Just that morning, she had removed the ring from the gold chain she wore under her clothes and placed it on her hand, and Trevor had given her the band with a kiss before they left the house. His earlier words echoed in her thoughts. It’s not the way I had planned to give it to you, but I love you and that’s most important.

  Now, because of the death of a reporter, they were being given a second chance to do things right.

  As the elevator descended, her father said, “When we get in here, I’ll begin the conference. You two just stand beside Wallace and follow my lead.”

  Before either of them could answer, the doors slid open, and they exited across the hall from the entrance of the pressroom. Her father stepped up to the podium among flashing lights exploding through the room from several cameras as Wallace directed her and Trevor to stand along the side out of the lens range. Pretend spectators.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the press. It’s good to see friendly faces in a crowd. My staff and I selected each of you specifically because most of you have been loyal and faithful constituents. I could always count on you to be both objective and trustworthy.”

  Tiffany noted the warm responses her father’s words invoked over the group of anxiously waiting reports. A few nodded and others smiled. As always, Governor Selina had a way of making everyone in his presence feel appreciated.

  “Thanks for your kind words, Governor. Lester Neil with Eye on Washington. Like everyone else in the room, I’m eager to know what this ninth hour call is about. There’s speculation that it has something to do with your candidacy for Senator.”

  Tiffany watched her father give Lester and the other reporters a broad smile as laughter danced in his eyes.

  “A smart group of people, you all are.” He paused as his gaze traveled the room, connecting with each person of the press. They sat on the edge of their seats, pens poised on mini tablets. “I have decided not to run for the office of Senator of Virginia.”

  Shock reverberated throughout the room. Tiffany pasted a smile on her face and schooled her features. No need to let the press on to the fact I didn’t know anything about this announcement.

  As a conductor orchestrates musicians, her father selected each reporter, maintaining control over the firing squad of multiple questions. He let them know that after his term of office ended, he would be looking at going back into the engineering business.

  Tiffany admired his skills as she wondered to herself why her father would keep his plans from her. They always discussed his plans for his career. A part of her tried to understand his possible reasoning, but the other half of her admitted she was hurt.

  “Governor Selina, Liza Wilkerson with the D.C. Chronicle.”

  Acknowledging her, her father said, “Yes, Ms. Wilkerson.”

  Liza, an older woman with frosted blonde hair, stood. “Governor Selina, like most have already said, I will be sad to see you go. My question is directed to your daughter.” Never one to let a scoop on a story drop, Liza Wilkerson called the attention to her.

  Her father grinned and directed Tiffany to stand beside him on the podium. Tiffany walked the few steps to the front of the room with assurance while she ran through her mind a list of possible questions Liza would ask. She knew this was her opening to discuss her and Trevor’s relationship.

  “Your question, Ms. Wilkerson?”

  “Ms. Selina, I’ve been following you most of your life as you’ve stood by your father in his career; no need to stand on formalities, call me Liza.”

  “Liza.” Tiffany beamed a smile at the older woman.

  Murmurs of laughter fluttered in the room.

  “Tiffany, for years the public has been awaiting an announcement about a Selina Manning wedding. Can you tell us why that never came?”

  She had dreaded these questions. After the breaking report this morning, she knew the topic would come up.

  “My relationship with Christopher Manning, beyond our friendship, has never been up for discussion and will not be today. But I will say, don’t believe everything you read and hear in the news.”

  Amusement erupted among the reporters.

  When the noise level returned to a normal hum, Liza asked, “Do you believe he’s guilty?”

  Bulbs flashed as Tiffany leaned toward the microphone to reply. “My father and I have been protected by the men and women on the police force for years, and we have the fullest confidence in the law enforcement agency. I believe justice will be served, however this plays out in the end.”

  “Point well made, Tiffany. My last questions are about this new man in your life,” Liza stated.

  Other reporters chuckled at the plural ending to the word question.

  Tiffany made brief eye contact with Trevor who stood proudly along the side. She saw his brief nod and smile. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that Wallace had taken care of The Weasel, so there were no pictures. “I believe, Liza, you’re speaking of Trevor Wayne, my fiancé.”

  “Isn’t he the person you were standing beside a moment ago?” Liza was a seasoned professional, her question performed its intent as all cameras swung toward Trevor vying for a good shot of him. “I must add that’s quite an impressive piece of jewelry you have on your hand.

  Have you set a date?”

  Camera personnel snapped pictures of her folded hands, motionless at the upper rise at the top of the podium.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Trevor incline his head toward her. They had spoken about having a wedding, but the blackmail pictures had put a halt to those plans. Now the pictures were no more.

  Enthusiastically, Tiffany forged ahead. “Yes, he is and, yes, we have. But forgive us. It’s only open to family and close friends.”

  Performing for the cameras, Trevor blew a kiss at her. Tiffany couldn’t stop the heat that spread into her cheeks.

  Liza continued, saying, “My research tells me…”

  Tiffany’s heart plunged. This was the decisive moment. The instant where she would discover whether or not other reporters had been privy to the Vegas incident.

  “…that he is the owner of Computer Bytes, and his company is handling a recent contract to develop a network for the governor’s old company, Heritage. Is this correct?”

  Tiffany could feel cool tingles drift across her spine as she relaxed. “Yes, it is.”

  “Donald Woodson, Governor, from the Minute Report.”

  Tiffany stepped to the side as her father stepped back to the podium.

  “Mr. Woodson,” her father recognized the reporter.

  “I’m not sure you would tell us if it did, but did the relationship between your daughter and Mr. Wayne have any influence on your decision to hire his company.”

  Her father stepped to the side of the podium and casually leaned on his elbow. It was his let’s-speak-as-friends pose.

  “Now, Mr. Woodson, what kind of man would I be if it did? I didn’t find out about the relationship until after I’d made my decision. I would have picked his company regardless. By Mr. Wayne being the astute and p
rofessional businessman, he made sure his company won the contract without there being a conflict of interest.”

  “Will you be going back to Heritage, Governor?” A male reporter, standing beside a man holding a camcorder labeled Washington Sentinel threw out.

  “That and a lot of other things remain to be seen. Thank you everyone for coming, good day.” Her father raised a hand, signaling the meeting had concluded.

  When the four of them were once again secured inside her father’s office, Tiffany approached her father.

  “Dad, why didn’t you tell me you had decided not to run for Senator?”

  Grasping her hands, her father said, “Tiffany, forgive me. I’ve been very concerned about you. Until recently, I didn’t know how you would fare not being constantly by my side. Not because I didn’t have confidence in you.” He reached up and touched her chin. “You didn’t have a lot of confidence in yourself.”

  Her father’s words hurt, but she couldn’t deny she had lived in his shadow for years out of comfort.

  “You mean, you would have continued in politics for me?” She was flattered by her father’s admission.

  “Yes, but thank the good Lord, I didn’t have to. You and Josephine have built a very successful business, and I’m proud of you.”

  Leaning forward, she kissed her father on the cheek. “Thanks, Dad. Now for the exclusive scoop…” She held her hand in front of him as if a microphone was in it. “Will you be returning to Heritage in the future?”

  Continuing with the play, her father placed his lips above her closed fist, saying, “The discussions are on the table but will not be approached fully for some months when my governor responsibilities have been satisfied.”

  The four of them enjoyed a laugh as he pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

  Epilogue

  It had been two months since the press conference, and Trevor had counted every day until Tiffany would be his. No pretense, no lies and no secrets. Today, he and Tiffany would begin their life as man and wife.

  He stood at the altar next to Pastor Anthony McKinley, the man he had met the day he went to the church for guidance. He turned out to be the Selina family minister. He had come to have a deep respect for the man and his wife, Paula, during his and Tiffany’s six sessions of marital counseling. At that time, he and Tiffany had been honest with them about their original vows spoken. Without judging or condemning, the ministerial couple agreed to conduct the ceremony to renew their vows.

  Trevor looked to his left and glanced at the mountain standing next to him. His best man.

  Over the years, he’d worked hard to make his business a success at the sacrifice of developing friendships. Even though he was close to the men he worked with, he had never allowed himself to bond with any of them outside of the office.

  He was grateful that while he and Tiffany made the wedding plans and arrangements, his relationship with Wallace had moved to another level. They had become friends and confidants.

  Wallace had availed himself to Trevor, assisting him at times in his “groom’s duties.” Trevor had learned over the weeks that, like himself, Wallace had lost both of his parents. Their deaths occurred during his first year of internship with Congressman Selina, explaining the bond between Wallace and the Governor.

  Trevor smiled at his Aunt Leslie who sat in the front row, as Josephine, Tiffany’s maid of honor, and the last of her five friends came down the aisle.

  He heard the beginning notes of Jim Brickman’s song “Beautiful,” the cue for the two ushers who had closed the double doors to re-open them for Tiffany’s entrance.

  The first sight of her standing in the archway in her wedding gown, holding onto her father’s arm, astounded him. He understood how the prince felt awaiting Cinderella. Tiffany was beautiful.

  Trevor’s chest swelled with pride. Peace settled around him. Their day had finally arrived.

  Tiffany advanced toward him in a slow fluid walk as the skirt of her white suit trailed behind her. His eyes never left the transparent material of the veil draping over her face.

  Though I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you…

  Wayne Brady’s lyrics echoed the emotions filling Trevor’s heart as Tiffany approached him. He was speechless.

  She stopped in front of him, close enough for him to reach out and touch her, but he remained in his place.

  As the music faded, Pastor McKinley asked, “Who gives this bride to this man?

  Governor Selina said in a rich baritone, “I do.” He kissed Tiffany’s covered cheek, then placed Tiffany’s hand in Trevor’s awaiting one, squeezed them together, then stepped away.

  Trevor didn’t miss the glistening water in his father in-law’s eyes.

  He and Tiffany stood facing each other as the pastor began the ceremony. Trevor wasn’t sure if it were his or his bride’s hands trembling.

  The pastor spoke briefly about the biblical purpose and sanctity of marriage. He and Tiffany had decided to forgo the question about anyone having a reason why they should not be joined together in holy matrimony. After all the obstacles they had hurdled to be together, they refused to let another thing or person stand in their way.

  “Tiffany, you may give Trevor your personal vows,” Pastor McKinley said.

  Tiffany gave her bouquet to Josephine, retaking Trevor’s hands. Her brown eyes gazed at him through the cloud of her veil. “All my life I’ve waited for someone I wouldn’t have to question whether or not to give my heart to him,” she said, voice quivering. “It would just happen as naturally as I breathe.”

  A tear dropped from beneath her veil onto his hand.

  “You came along, Trevor, and changed the way I thought about myself. You stepped in, and I began living.” Her voice broke. “I love you, as my friend, my lover and my husband.”

  “Now your personal vows to Tiffany, Trevor,” Pastor McKinley instructed.

  The emotions bubbling inside of him earlier squeezed at his throat. He had to swallow several times in order to speak. “I wasn’t looking for a friend, but I got you. I didn’t know I lacked light in my life, and then you smiled,” he said shakily. He drew in a deep breath to regain control. “I never knew I was empty until you filled my life and my heart. I couldn’t see I was broken until you made me whole.” He pulled their clasped hands against his heart; his throat was so tight, and his last words came out raspy. “With you I learned to trust and believe. You are my friend, my lover and my wife. I love you.”

  Pastor McKinley directed them through the traditional vows and the placing of the rings, and then said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

  Lifting the gauzy material to the top of her head, Trevor cradled her face in his hands.

  Gazing into her eyes, he said, “I love you.” Then he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her into an embrace and kissed her passionately amongst the cheers and shouts of joy bestowed upon them by one hundred family and friends.

  What do you do when you get caught in the revenge you have set for someone else?

  Fall in love.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Monique Lamont was born and raised in San Diego, CA, and now currently resides in Virginia with her loving husband and two wonderful children. She loves to travel, read and write. She holds degrees in both education and counseling. She has always enjoyed working with people and dreaming of romances between soul mates. Monique Lamont is the sensual romance side of erotic romance author Yvette Hines.

  In her stories, she loves taking the impossible and making it possible, sensual and believable.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelv
e

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-one

  Twenty-two

  Twenty-three

  Twenty-four

  Twenty-five

  Epilogue

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR