Ghost Writer (Raven Maxim Book 1)

by Tiana Laveen

  “I didn’t ask you to insult her, just not beg her to move into our guest bedroom, then offer to serve her breakfast in bed is all. You rolled out the red carpet!”

  Emerald sighed and turned away from him as if he’d said nothing at all. They went through the motions, greeting and thanking their guests, smiles wide that proved painful as he put on a show. The song and dance seemed to never end. Sloan fell into some strange matrix that included pretending they couldn’t wait to open the blenders and coffee makers that some of the guests proudly stated they’d purchased for them.

  Sloan merely hoped the receipts were included in the carefully wrapped, glossy wrapping paper so he could get the cash instead, but he kept that little plan to himself. After they’d taken a few more photos and he’d laughed at some jokes he didn’t find very funny, he took the woman into his arms and planted a firm kiss on her lips. Every muscle in his body tensed as he deeply inhaled her heavenly, sweet scent. Eyes closed, he rested his chin on her head.

  “I apologize for how I acted, baby. She just threw me off guard is all. I didn’t expect her here. I’ll be nice for the rest of the evening.” He slowly released her and looked into her eyes, hoping she realized he was sincere.

  Emerald nodded in understanding and ran her fingers through his hair, brushing it back into place.

  “It’s all right.” Her lips lifted in a half smile. “You’re allowed to be human, even on your wedding day. Look.” She sighed heavily. “I need to go check on Aunt Sugar. She’s quiet—that means something horrible might be happening. I’ll be right back, okay?” He nodded and gave her a friendly little wave as he watched her saunter away, her ass so cute in the sexy dress that had been created by one of the top local designers.

  “You definitely have a type.” He almost bit his tongue in half as a voice he dreaded gang busted against his eardrum. On a dime, he turned to find Katie standing to his right, her arms crossed and her all too familiar kitschy smirk on her face.

  “You and her are absolutely nothing alike.”

  “I doubt that…” She widened her smile. “And anyway, our features are similar… same eye shape, high cheek bones, our hair styles even … and our body type is definitely the same. I remember seeing photos of some of the girlfriends you had before you and I made it official, too. Yeah, you have a type.”

  “Is this your version of an icebreaker?” He shrugged. “Let’s say it’s true—so what? You’re lucky, Katie. I just promised my wife I’d be good tonight. Don’t make me have to renege on that guarantee to her only five minutes in.”

  On a sigh, the woman inched a bit closer to him. Her platinum blond, shoulder length hair was bone straight, parted down the middle and flipped over one shoulder. She looked her usual picture perfect self in a pale pink jacket and matching skirt, her jewelry a cluster of diamonds and pearls sparkling under the ceiling lights.

  “So, tell me, Katie… why’d you come?”

  “I’m here to show support.”

  “But you weren’t invited. I don’t want ya here and I don’t need your support, your blessing, none of that, okay?”

  “For your information, Mr. Steele, Michelle invited me and since Emerald told her she could invite anyone she wanted, she chose me.” She pointed to herself. “I’m really surprised you’re still so angry with me after all of this time. Jesus! You’re a pro at holding a grudge.” She grimaced, a mixture of hurt and anger spread in her expression now.

  “I’m not angry with you, Katie. I just don’t like you.” He took a deep breath and remembered what he’d promised Emerald. “Look, I’m just going to let it go, all right? It’s a beautiful night. My wedding was great and in a few minutes, we’ll be leaving to have a blast at the reception party. So with that said,” he said, his smile tight as he linked his hands, “since you’re here, you might as well stay. I didn’t know Michelle had invited you, so now that I do, it’s fine.”

  “Well, I didn’t think you’d object and I assumed she’d told you. I guess I should’ve asked first.”

  “It’s all right, seriously.” He waved her off as if not giving a shit. A part of him didn’t care at all anymore, but another part of him did. Something about her mere presence smeared dirt on the day… but maybe the smudges were all in his mind. It was hard to deal with Katie at times, as she never seemed truly sorry for her transgressions. Perhaps he sought closure where none would ever exist. But that was life, and besides, he’d made his own closure, and it would simply have to suffice. He hated waving that damn olive branch, trying to make peace, keep quiet, but Emerald would be cross if he continued to take petty swats at the woman and now, what difference did it make? What was done was done, and he’d mulled this enough. Letting the dust of his thoughts settle, he came to a final decision.

  “See you at the reception,” Katie said. She turned to walk away, then paused, glancing at him from over her shoulder, perfectly shaped brow arched in question. “Hey, did you get my email?”

  He simply glared at her, not wanting to kick up mud again with a snarky remark.

  “You got it but didn’t read it…” She smirked and shook her head, knowing him all too well. “Read it, Sloan… seriously.” He looked about the big place, surprised to find himself all alone. Not physically, but a sense of alienation overcame him. In some strange, offbeat way, it was comforting. Voices and sounds abounded, his friends and family milling about, some making their way through the front doors of the church to their parked cars, to drive away to the reception venue. He stood there thinking about all that had transpired, the incidents that allowed him to have such a day, the psychological and transcendent transformation he’d undergone.

  The dead flower shop suddenly made sense to him at that moment, too…

  The dearly departed could live again in some capacity after all, even if their continued existence lay wedged between the pages of a book. He turned to the large, gold crucifix hanging high on the wall and bowed his head before it.

  “Thank you, God. I’ve got a lot to be grateful for. Please forgive me for the terrible thoughts I just had concerning my ex-wife… I’m sure you didn’t appreciate the ‘B’ word that entered my mind when I first saw her tonight.”

  Emerald made her way back towards him, this time with Aunt Sugar in tow. The old woman’s face was turned upside down, as if someone had stepped on her baby toe. The tight, hideous scowl somehow seemed tinged with amusement—at least on Emerald’s part. They got close. It was then that he noticed the wiry, white hair poking out of her chin.

  “Are you ready, baby?” Emerald turned to him. “The limo is waiting for us outside.”

  “A limo?!” Aunt Sugar squealed. “Well, I can’t wait tuh—”

  “No, no, Sugar,” Emerald’s cheeks deepened with an embarrassed blush. “It’s just for Sloan and me. You’re ridin’ with Nikki and Mya.”

  The old woman’s jaw dropped and her eyes grew big. “I don’t wanna ride wit’ Nikki and that silly little girl!”

  “Sugar, this is not the time and place for this mess!” Emerald put her hand on her hip. “I’m not about to argue with you up in here. Nikki drove you here, so what’s wrong with riding with her again to the reception hall?”

  “What’s wrong with it? I’ll tell you what’s wrong with it! She had all that crazy music playin’ in the car, songs ’bout spinners ’nd rims ’nd shit! All the windows were down and the wind was blowin’ so hard I had to put my hand on my head to keep my damn wig from whooshin’ away! I paid almost ten dollahs for dis wig, I ain’t got money to burn, and you know I ain’t got no damn hair, Emerald. I would have been sittin’ up here in this church lookin’ like a black roll on deodorant and her wife so damn goofy! Mya be laughin’ all the time and makin’ googly eyes at Nikki like she ain’t never seen no breasts befo’e! One mo’e minute with them two and I’ll go crazy. Why don’t you and big Sloan ride with ’em and I take the limo? Seems only fair to me.”

  “Sugar, I’ve about had it!”

  “You paid for
my plane ticket, Emerald, first class, too, but I coulda took the Greyhound and now you wanna give me some transportation wit’ carpet muncher one and two! I love my niece but I ain’t ridin’ no magic carpet with her no mo’e!”

  “Ignorant, backwards and ungrateful! You know what? This is the last time that I…”

  Sloan burst out laughing and walked away, letting the two women turn into serpents and give deadly verbal squeezes to one another—of course, wrapped in love. He sat down on the steps that led to the minister’s grand chair, slid his hat off his head, and simply waited. Who knew how long it would be before Emerald was finished or Sugar was ready to cease fire, but he figured if he’d waited for this wonderful woman all of his life, a few more minutes surely wouldn’t hurt…

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Simply the Best

  “Open it.”

  Emerald smiled up at the man as she caressed his chest, the soft, downy hairs tickling the tip of her finger. She rested her head in his lap, his nakedness a sight to behold. The white sheets were bunched across his waist, and her body begged for sleep, but she fought hard to keep awake and see what he held in his hand. And besides, she couldn’t get enough of lying close to him, smelling him, touching him. In a way, she felt like a young girl who’d just discovered love, fell head over heels for the football captain. But that feeling paired so beautifully, like a fine wine, with her wisdom and experience. Life smelled good all over.

  The bedroom was fragrant with the scent of strawberry and cream candles, reminiscent of their honeymoon hotel room on the island in the Atlantic Ocean. Turks and Caicos had been a fantasy come true. They’d held races in the sand, made love all times of the day, enjoyed private, fancy candlelight dinners, spas and massages, and swam in crystal blue waters.

  But now, they were back home in Maxim, in their new digs. Where one fantasy ended, another began—the new chapter of their life together. The scent of the candles intermingled with other odors she was trying to become accustomed to; the landscape of the place was still so fresh and uncharted.

  Two full floors of beauty, fit for friends and family to stay, an office made for a king decorated exclusively to satisfy Sloan’s tastes—things were coming together quite nicely, better than she’d even anticipated. Their new house smelled of brand spanking new carpet, fresh paint, and varnish. All these scents intermingled, floating from room to room. In the bowels of the abode, she’d carved out her special niche. They had a finished basement, large enough for her refurbishing business with room to grow. She still worked at the dental office, putting in her hours, while Sloan raced back and forth to NYC and L.A. for important business meetings. Tonight, they’d finally had a chance to settle in, take a deep breath and unwind, but the mail had come, and a letter Sloan had received captured both their attention.

  “Open it?” he repeated, pulling her out of her thoughts.

  “Yes.” She smiled up at him.

  He slid his finger under the flap and removed a hard stock sheet of paper with gold trim.

  “It’s from Deloris…” He grinned so big, his smile was practically a nightlight.

  “What’s it say?” She slowly sat up, pressing her head into her pillow against the headboard as she sidled as close to him as she could, peering down at the thing.

  “It says the book, ‘Black and White Love Letters’, written by Sloan K. Steele, is a New York Times bestseller.”

  The damn letter shook in his grip. She grabbed him close, laid kiss after kiss onto his cheek and lips. When she pulled away, she could see the grateful tears welling in his eyes.

  “Congratulations, baby!” She gripped his cheeks and kissed him once more.

  “I never expected this, Emerald, not for this book.” He shook his head in disbelief. “This is amazing… and you were right. I took your advice, and I just did it. Peter was talking to me. He told me what to write… This is his book; that’s why I dedicated it to him, Sadie, and baby Joseph. This is him on the New York Times Best Sellers list.” He swiped the tears away so fast, she almost missed the whole scene. He turned to his radio and selected one of his favorite stations. UB40’s ‘Red Red Wine’ was on air.

  “Sloan, this is what happens when you set your disbelief aside and just walk out on faith. Not everything has to make sense at first. Just trust it will work itself out. I am so happy for you and so proud of you!” She held him close, rocking him back and forth between fits of mutual euphoric laughter.

  “We have to thank Deloris for the beautiful wedding gift, too.”

  “Yeah, I gotta call her!” He laughed, filled to the brim with excitement as he grabbed his cell phone from the nightstand and dialed his agent’s number. “Hey, lady! It’s Sloan! Yeah…. Yeah I got the letter! Shit!” He emitted a loud and raucous laugh as he ran his hand down his face. “I knew the book was selling well, but you know me, I try to just pay attention to what I’m doing and not obsess about shit like that… I know! I know… thanks. It’s late but yeah, I’ll call you tomorrow. Love ya and thanks so much.”

  He disconnected the call and leaned against the headboard, a look of complete satisfaction on his face as his eyes closed. Emerald brought the covers up around them both. Opening his eyes, his expression turned sly. He grabbed her around her waist.

  “How about a little celebratory romp?”

  Before she could answer, she was on her back, flailing and giggling in the flying sheets as he pressed her down with the full length of his body. Soft, full lips traced slowly up her jawline, one hand on her breast, the other around her neck, until the warm breath from his mouth caressed her earlobe. Like an ocean wave against her current, he dove down and she pushed forward, their bodies fluid and grinding against one another. Big hands surrounded her, ravished her, his left one adorned with a shiny white gold wedding band. Love filled the room, and when Tears for Fears crooned “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” she really felt on top of everything, way up high…a queen of her own domain.

  Emerald glanced at the ceiling as he disappeared beneath the covers. Wetness against wetness, skin against skin, she bucked as he worked beneath the sheets, unable to see him, only feel the explosion he was creating within her core. The more she struggled, fought to keep her composure, the more aggressive he became, determined to make her cum. She lunged at the comforter, grabbing a fistful of nothingness in her sloppy attempt to get a hold of the man. Sensations washed over her. Arching her back, she floated away, gave them rein. Her moans echoed around her, and her shaking left her exhausted, a mere whisper of her former self. At last, he resurfaced, crawling slowly up her body like backwards flowing honey until she was coated in his love. Sliding his tongue within her mouth, he worked it in leisurely circles.

  He kissed her, then turned her loose, slamming her onto her stomach. Wrapped his palm around her mouth, he squelched her screams as he entered her deeply from behind, thrusting so hard the bed banged repeatedly against the wall. She looked over her shoulder to see the intensity dancing in his eyes as he rode her to the brink until they came at the same time. He gasped, his eyes growing wide. Falling onto her back, he sucked her neck like a ravenous vampire. Aftershocks riddled his body, and she felt each and every one of them as he throbbed inside of her. On a sigh, he rolled her onto her back, panting, looking as though he’d won some prize.

  “You’re so beautiful…” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Do you know what my next book is going to be about?” He smiled mischievously.

  “No, what? Another love story?” She grew a bit excited at the prospect.

  “It’s going to be about a demented dental nurse who murders her patients, steals their gold fillings, then makes tiny dollhouse furniture out of them and sells them on the black market.”

  “Sloan, I can’t stand you! I hope you have to get a root canal when you come into my office next week for your cleaning and examination!” She chuckled as he nibbled playfully on her shoulder. The room seemed to burst with the sounds of happiness. Maze’s “Happy Feelings”
played on the radio, and she couldn’t agree more…

  EPILOGUE

  The Past, the Present, and the Future

  Sloan set the book down onto his desk and rubbed his sore, tired eyes. He was certain they were summer cherry red, he’d been up so long. “Black and White Love Letters” was being made into a movie, and now he had three projects at once to juggle. Not to mention, Emerald’s refurbishing business expanded into the arena of her even creating custom made furniture, and she’d already been featured in several local magazines. She had to give up her dental career, but still stopped in to visit her friends from time to time.

  They both had been burning the candle at both ends, and though he wanted to run a few ideas past her, he wouldn’t dare wake her. The woman had plopped down into the bed and slept the entire night after working all morning and afternoon on some pieces for the museum. She hadn’t even come down for dinner, and their chef had made her one of her favorite meals: baked salmon, scalloped cheese potatoes, and asparagus.

  So after nursing several glasses of white wine, throwing in a red one for good measure, he got his tipsy self to finish another chapter of his current manuscript.

  “Shit…” He looked at the time and realized there were still five emails he hadn’t responded to, all of them time sensitive. He pulled up his music library, accepting his fate of another late evening at work, and selected Dave Brubeck’s, ‘Take Five.’ Bobbing his head to the comforting and familiar beat, he opened one email after another, responding in just fashion.