Rules of Love

by Shelia M. Goss

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was unlike Jason to be home on a regular basis before seven, but this week he’d left the office no later than five thirty. Amber greeted him with a home-cooked meal every night. Tonight, however, they would be attending the wedding reception her parents were throwing for them.

  Jason stood in front of the mirror and adjusted his bow tie. Amber had informed him it was a black-tie event. Jason had several tuxedos in his closet, so there was no need for him to rent one.

  Amber had insisted on using one of the guest rooms downstairs to dress, so he left the master bedroom and went to see if she was ready.

  Jason’s phone rang.

  “I’m outside,” the driver said.

  “We’ll be out shortly,” Jason responded.

  Jason had ordered a car service to take them to and from the Simones’.

  “Knock knock,” Jason said aloud as he stood outside the bedroom door.

  Amber opened the door. “I’m ready.”

  Jason greatly admired her beauty. Her hair was pulled up in a bun, with a few ringlets of hair framing her face. The makeup she wore perfected each one of her features. The pink lipstick on her brown, full lips was appealing. Gone were the glasses, so he could peer into her hazel eyes.

  Once he got past her beautifully made-up face, he noticed the thick strand of pearls around her neck.

  The long, strapless, hot-pink dress fit her body perfectly. The diamonds fixed on the waist sparkled.

  “You look stunning,” Jason said.

  “Thank you.” Amber blushed.

  “I’m the luckiest man alive,” Jason noted.

  “You think,” Amber teased.

  Jason smiled. He knew Amber’s attitude was her defense mechanism. There was no way a woman like Amber could make passionate love to him on a daily basis the way that they had and not have feelings for him.

  Every time he wanted to approach the conversation about his feelings, something seemed to interrupt, so he decided to just go with the flow. Let everything just happen.

  He loved Amber. He hoped his intuition wasn’t off, hoped she loved him too.

  Amber cleared her throat. “Are we going to stand here all day?”

  Jason snapped out of his thoughts. “You have me in a trance.”

  “Whose car are we going in?” Amber walked around him and asked.

  “I ordered a car for tonight. The driver’s waiting outside for us now.”

  “I’m ready,” Amber said.

  A few minutes later, they were in the back of the limousine and headed to the Simones’.

  * * * * *

  Amber got lost in her thoughts as she looked out the window on the ride over to her parents’ house. Jason wasn’t talking, so she didn’t know what was going on in his mind. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

  He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts as he looked out the other window. She wished she knew what was on his mind. They were probably thinking the same thing. How did they end up in this place?

  Tonight she planned to enjoy being a married woman because she knew soon she wouldn’t be. Jason had made her feel special. If she hadn’t known any better, she would think they were actually a real newlywed couple.

  The sex between them was sizzling hot. Their conversation never got dull. They were a perfect fit. If truth be told, Amber couldn’t imagine how she had lived without Jason.

  She didn’t want this fairy-tale week to end.

  She wanted to be the happy bride, not just tonight, but every night. She wanted to live the life she wrote about. She wanted her fictional world to become a reality. She’d hoped that Jason would feel the same way, but she realized he wasn’t the settling-down type. He’d admitted that marriage wasn’t part of his immediate personal plans.

  So tonight, she would be like Cinderella and enjoy the ball, and tomorrow, she would face reality and deal with how to dissolve their marriage.

  When her parents said they were throwing them a wedding reception, Amber had had no idea this many people would be invited. Her mouth dropped opened when she noticed all of the cars outside as the driver drove up the circular driveway. There was no reason to use the valet service her parents provided, since they were in the limousine.

  The limousine parked. The driver got out and opened the passenger door. Jason exited first. He held out his hand to Amber. She reached for it and allowed him to help her out.

  Jason had been quiet most of the ride there. She turned to face him. “Are you having second thoughts?” she asked.

  “No. Did I give you a reason to think that?” Jason responded.

  “You haven’t said but a few words. I wasn’t sure how you were feeling,” Amber noted.

  “Just thinking, that’s all.”

  “You sure there’s no problem?” Amber’s stomach was filled with butterflies. She didn’t know what to expect when they walked through the front door.

  She liked being in the background, but she knew the moment they stepped inside, all eyes would be on them.

  Jason picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “Baby, I’m fine.”

  She loved it when Jason called her baby. He said it in a way that actually made her feel that he was sincere. That she was actually his.

  “Get ready for the circus.” Amber squeezed Jason’s hand.

  “This is our night, so let’s enjoy it.”

  Jason and Amber walked up the stairs hand in hand.

  Amber’s hand shook as she placed it on the doorknob.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  It was like a who’s who of Hollywood in attendance. Jason and Amber were immediately met by her parents.

  After they exchanged hugs and kisses on the cheek, they followed her parents through the mansion. The place was decorated with pink-and-white flowers, balloons, and ribbons. Jason thought he’d even noticed a few doves.

  They stopped right outside the doorway that led outside. The backyard had been transformed to an outdoor ballroom. Jason was impressed.

  Max was handed a microphone. “Ladies and gentleman, our guests of honor have arrived. I have the pleasure of introducing to you my daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Amber Lewis.”

  Cheers were heard.

  Max handed Jason the microphone. Jason covered the microphone. “I didn’t know I had to say anything.”

  “Improvise. You’re good at it,” Amber said between gritted teeth and her plastered-on smile.

  Jason smiled on the outside, but his stomach was flipping on the inside. He could charm a crowd at someone else’s wedding reception, but this was his own. What was he supposed to say?

  Amber’s mom leaned close to him and whispered, “Just speak from the heart.”

  Amber squeezed his hand. Jason looked at the crowd of people. Some he knew and most he didn’t.

  “Amber and I would like to thank you all for coming out tonight to help us celebrate our union. Although our marriage caught many of you by surprise, including ourselves—” Jason looked at Amber.

  Some people surrounding them laughed. He continued speaking, “—we are glad that you took time out to come help us celebrate love. I didn’t know what love was until the day I met Amber. Since knowing her, my life has changed.”

  “You can say that again,” Amber said and chuckled.

  Jason tuned out the people around him and placed his attention on Amber as he talked. “Amber’s filled my world with gladness and joy that’s immeasurable. Having her as my wife has been one of my biggest accomplishments. Thank you all again for coming.”

  Jason looked at Amber. “Do you want to say anything?”

  Amber shook her head no.

  Her mom took the microphone from Jason and handed it to Amber. Amber tried to resist, but her mother insisted.

  Amber cle
ared her throat. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but as you can tell, I have no choice.”

  More chuckles could be heard around them.

  “I’m not one for many words unless they’re on the pages of a script. Nevertheless, tonight I want to say that I’m happy to see all of your smiling faces staring back at me to help celebrate this wonderful occasion. As you all know, I’ve written countless romantic comedies, but never thought I would be living out one of my own romantic tales—that is, not until I met this dude here. Jason Lewis has come into my life like a whirlwind, and it’s been an enjoyable ride. A ride I don’t ever want to end.”

  Jason listened to Amber’s speech. For someone who didn’t have much to say, she was saying a lot. The passion in her voice when she spoke of him seemed real. Jason felt like there was hope for them after all. Their marriage didn’t have to end after tonight. It could truly be a new beginning for the both of them.

  “To echo what my husband said—let me say that again—husband. We thank you for coming. I see my parents went way out on the food and drinks so let’s get this party started.”

  As if on cue, the deejay started playing some music.

  Amber and Jason were then swamped by some of Amber’s relatives.

  “Jason, this is my Aunt Shirley, one of my mom’s sisters.”

  Jason took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Beauty is a common theme in your family, I see.”

  “Amber, he’s charming. I like him already.”

  They all laughed.

  “These are my cousins Blythe, Shannon, and Kelly and their husbands.”

  Jason shook their hands.

  “It’s about time you got married,” Blythe blurted.

  Her sisters gave her mean looks. “What?” Blythe asked. “You know y’all were thinking the same thing.”

  Amber nudged Jason. “Come on. Blythe’s always putting her nose in someone else’s business. Her sisters will deal with her.”

  Amber led Jason away. Jason looked back and saw Shannon and Kelly lecturing Blythe about her lack of etiquette.

  “Uncle Buck,” Amber stopped and said. She gave the elderly man a tight hug. “I’m so glad you made the trip from Louisiana.”

  “You know I wouldn’t miss my favorite niece’s reception. I would have liked to have been at the wedding, but I know you young folks like to do things differently than us old folks.”

  “Uncle Buck, our elopement was just as big a surprise to me as it was to you.” Amber turned her attention toward Jason. “Jason, this is my great-uncle from Shreveport, Louisiana. He cooks the best barbecue in the South.”

  “The South?” Uncle Buck winked.

  “I mean the world. The best barbecue in the world.”

  Uncle Buck shook Jason’s hand. For a man in his seventies, he had a tight grip. “You treat my niece right or you’ll have to answer to me. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jason responded.

  “Uncle Buck, are you terrorizing my new son-in-law?” Amber’s mom walked over and said.

  “No, sweetie. I was just telling my second-favorite niece, because you’re my favorite, how happy I am for them.”

  Amber looked at Jason. “You see how he is. He is something else, isn’t he?” They all laughed.

  Max walked near them and said, “Amber, let me borrow your husband. There are a few people I want to introduce him to.

  Jason looked at Amber, and she shrugged her shoulders. Jason felt like he was walking into the deep unknown.

  Amber watched Jason being led away by her father.

  “Dear, don’t worry. Your beau is going to be all right.”

  Amber made sure no one was nearby. “Mom, you know he’s not going to be my beau for long.”

  “Something tells me you can change that if you want.” She looped her arm through Amber’s. “Come. Let’s go say hello to the rest of the family.”

  Amber wished she had the confidence her mom had.

  Amber chatted with her family and friends until Jason returned to her side.

  After they took their seats at the long table, Max stood up. “Bishop Franks will say the grace and then we can eat.”

  Amber held Jason’s hand, bent her head, and closed her eyes as her pastor prayed over the food.

  She prayed that a miracle happened. She prayed that Jason fell in love with her and they could live happily ever after.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Jason extended his hand to his blushing new wife. She took his hand, and they danced the first dance to “Inseparable” by Natalie Cole. The lyrics described how Jason was feeling. He never wanted to be separated from Amber. He looked down at her sparkling hazel eyes and saw love; at least, he hoped he did.

  Maybe she was caught up in the moment. For him it was more than that. He was in love, and after the reception he vowed to let Amber know his feelings.

  After their dance, Amber danced with her father and he with her mother. The dance area filled with other couples. Jason felt a little sad that his parents were both deceased and not able to see this moment.

  He had other relatives but hadn’t kept in touch much over the years. Seeing the love displayed by Amber’s family made him think about reconnecting with his own.

  The music tempo picked up. Some of Jason’s and Amber’s favorite songs played. They’d given the deejay a list of songs earlier. To their surprise, the deejay was able to play most of them.

  Everyone, especially Jason and Amber, appeared to be having a good time.

  Amber’s mom stood near the table that held the five-tier wedding cake. “It’s time to cut the cake.”

  Jason and Amber walked to the table. They posed for pictures. Jason placed his hand over Amber’s as she cut the first slice of cake.

  “You better not do it,” Amber said between clenched teeth.

  Jason was so tempted to do the tradition and smash the cake in her mouth, but he respected her wishes. He placed the cake in her mouth but did something unexpected. He kissed her. They now both had icing on their mouths.

  Everyone cheered.

  Amber picked up a napkin and wiped Jason’s face first and then wiped her face with another napkin.

  Charlotte wobbled to where they were, with assistance from her husband Sean.

  Amber said, “Thank you for coming.”

  “Only thing that could have kept me away was if my water broke,” Charlotte said.

  “When are you supposed to have the baby?” Amber asked.

  “We’re on baby alert,” Sean stated.

  “The doctor says in three weeks, but the way I’m feeling, I’m hoping it’s sooner.”

  “Do you need to sit down?” Jason asked. He was concerned about Charlotte being on her feet. She looked so uncomfortable.

  “No. But I do need to talk to you. I know this is your reception, but something came up and it’s important.”

  “Amber, you don’t mind, do you?” Jason turned and asked her.

  “Go ahead. Sean and I can get to know each other better.”

  Sean left with Amber, and Jason and Charlotte went inside the house, where it was quieter.

  “You look so happy,” Charlotte noted.

  “I am. Amber makes me happy. I’m going to make sure she knows how I feel when this night is over.”

  “Do you happen to know where the bathroom is?” Charlotte asked.

  Jason helped locate a bathroom. While she used the bathroom, he wondered why Charlotte needed to see him alone.

  * * * * *

  While talking with Sean, a writer Amber worked with, Mona, and her husband Terrance appeared. Standing next to them were television executive Kem Phillips and her handsome, award-winning, actor husband, Brent.

  “You look absolutely breathtaking in that dress,” Mona said as she gave Amber a hug.

/>   “Good seeing you here.”

  “You know I wasn’t going to miss it. I was glad your mom invited me. I would have been disappointed if my name wasn’t on the guest list.”

  “My father has worked with Terrance before, and he’s quite fond of him.”

  “It’s hard not to like my snookems.”

  Terrance appeared to be embarrassed. “Dear, can we stop with the pet names in public?”

  “Oh, he knows he likes it when I call him that.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Where’s Charlotte?” Kem asked.

  “Her and Jason went inside to talk about something,” Amber responded. “I’ll go check on them.”

  Amber left her guests, in search of her husband and Charlotte.

  She heard voices coming from one of the nearby rooms. The door was slightly ajar. She stopped to make sure it was Jason first before entering.

  What she heard kept her frozen in place.

  She heard Charlotte say, “Thanks to you, Jason, the office in New York is a reality. Signing Max Simone is what our investors wanted to hear, and the contract should be delivered on Monday.”

  “That’s great news. Who would have thought me marrying Amber would lead to this?” Jason noted.

  “Here’s to a job well done, my friend.” Charlotte gave Jason a high five.

  Amber clapped her hands. “Yes, well done, Jason. And here I thought I was the actor. Your performance was award-winning, in fact. Had me believing that you actually cared, but I was only a means to an end for you. You’re just like the other men from my past. You used me to get to my dad.”

  “It’s not what you think,” Charlotte interrupted.

  “Oh, it’s not?” Amber folded her arms.

  “I’m going to leave you two to discuss this,” Charlotte said before leaving the room.

  “Amber, what you thought you heard isn’t what you heard,” Jason said.

  “Did you or did you not say marrying me led you to signing my father on as a client?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “That’s the gist of what you were saying. Jason, I get it. Now I’m beginning to think you weren’t really drunk after all. You pretended to be.”