Later, they sat on their balcony terrace. The view from their balcony was spectacular but so was the view of James’ physique every time she stole glances of him.
“You know, being with you these past ten days has been…wow, fabulous. I’ve never felt so alive.” And so in love and secure. So wanted. It was a pleasure to have someone who respected her choices and loved her for who she was. Sure, she had quirky habits like watching one Columbo DVD before bed or reading a romantic suspense on her Kindle. There was just something about solving mysteries that turned her on. But James interest in her activities and the fact that he thought her routines were perfectly okay made her feel appreciated. She ate her rice and peas with the peas first. He thought it cute and tried it, too.
“You really are a breath of fresh air, Jess. I’ve never met anyone like you before.” He said holding her as she leaned against the rail of the balcony, the wind blowing her hair gently as the warmth of the evening and the soothing waves sounded in the background.
7
“Good afternoon, the Mills’ residence.”
“Hi, Lady Mills. It’s me, Lady Eloise.”
“Oh, hi there.”
“You mentioned that you would call when the two are ready to meet.”
Mrs. Mills paused not knowing what to say. She had just made contact with the family, although she never told Jessica all the details yet about the family. But she really wanted to be a part of this society and based on Lady Eloise’s profile of her son, they seemed as if they’d be a perfect match. Jessica was not a party girl. She was sensible, caring and discreet. Mrs. Mills only wanted the best for her daughter. What more could a mother want? And yes, it was nice that she’d be a part of higher society. Coming from a hard working class family wasn’t such a bad thing but she’d always wanted better for her only daughter. She was turning thirty soon, after all.
“Um, well, she’s actually on a trip. She had a bit of a…an emergency.” Mrs. Mills crossed her fingers.
“Oh?”
“Oh, nothing major,” she gave a nervous chuckle. “But I can assure you that she will marry your son. It’s a perfect match and I think she will appreciate that we’ve set this up for the both of them.”
“Very good. I’m going to get things in place for the announcement. Any idea when she’ll be back in town?”
“Oh, very soon as a matter of fact. Very soon.”
“Good. I will let my son know that his bride will be back in Toronto and we could meet there. It will be a meeting none of us will forget.”
“I bet it will be.” Mrs. Mills got off the phone and called the Grandim Hotel in Jamaica. The concierge desk said that she and her partner were out at the concert and will leave a message.
“Out? With her partner? Oh, no this could not be, I will have to put a stop to this once and for all. She is to marry someone else and that’s that!”
8
James came out of the shower as Jessica finished blow drying her hair. The water pressure was amazing in the hotel. She’d had her shower first.
James stood in the doorway, looking drop dead gorgeous with his sinfully sexy lips and hard rock abs. He was dripping with charm and sexiness. She could not believe how lucky she was to be unlucky in getting the wrong hotel suite. She could tell by that he was also blessed with gracious proportions every where. His body was suggestive of health and strength, no doubt.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his eyes penetrating her as he grinned.
“S-s-so do you?” she whispered breathless. Her hormones were surging all over the place. How could this be possible? They both seemed to gaze hungrily into each others eyes. Her heart pounded in her ears. She was seduced by his intoxicating gaze. She ached between her thighs to feel his touch. Her nose was tantalized by his warm sexy scent. Oh, God, she wanted him now. For the past two weeks, James had dominated her thoughts and her heart, she felt so alive with him. Her mind was far from her worries back home. She’d chosen her own suitor. A man who made her heart flip flop as waves of desire swept through her.
“I think you’re so amazing.” His silky deep voice caressed her body. Excitement shot through her entire body. She was dizzy with excitement and the heat of expectancy.
He held her in a dream-like gaze. It was an empowering experience to be loved by someone powerful who treated you like a queen.
As they drew closer together a sense of urgency shot through her again. Every time his dark sexy gaze met hers, her heart turned over in response. His gaze seemed to then trace the silhouette of her body. Slowly and seductively, his gaze slid downward. Her heart jolted and her pulse pounded as he held her close to him. She could hear his own heart pound strongly in his chest. God, his scent was delicious. It was hard to resist his sexiness even if she wanted to.
“Are you sure you wanna do this?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” she said sounding throaty as her heart continued to thump erratically in response to his gentle touch.
He whispered into her ear that he loved her as his hands explored the hollows of her back. His breath was hot against her ear. She thought she would faint with desire. Her skin tingled when he touched her. The sexual magnetism between them was electrifying.
James leaned down to her and captured her lips again as he inched closer. His lips parted and claimed her hot tongue. She enjoyed the moist sweep of his tongue. Pulsations rippled through her. He kissed her slow and his lips were still warm and moist from the kiss. Hungrily they devoured each other’s lips which left Jessica melting into his passionate embrace. Her entire body pulsated in anticipation. She could tell that he couldn’t wait to strip off her towel to get her naked. They both pulled off each other’s towels.
“God, you are so beautiful, Jess. Inside and out. You’re special, you know that?”
She moaned into his embrace. He tenderly kissed her gently on the throat as he traced his fingertips across her lips. The gentle massage sent currents of desire through her. His lips touched her nipple with a tantalizing possessiveness and she cried out in pleasure. He hungered for her taste. The stroking of his fingers on her other taut nipple sent pleasurable jolts throughout her body. Before long, he took out his condom and unwrapped it as waves of hot desire shot through her. He was gentle with her and after moments of passionate foreplay she cried out for more. Soon, with warmth and tenderness he slid inside her thrusting with heated passion. The lovemaking was the most passionate and erotic experience she’d ever had. Jessica had read about toe-curling-scream-out-loud sex in sizzling romance novels but had never before had that experience until now. Their chemistry was electrifying. They were so perfect together.
9
Last night, Jessica and James experienced the most pleasurable orgasms during their lovemaking. Their passionate night carried on into the early morning hours as the orange sunrise peaked through the window blinds of their hotel room.
The sweet melodic sound of chirping from the birds and the crickets could be heard outside the window which was opened slightly. Jessica had read somewhere in China that a cricket singing outside the window was a sign of good luck. Well, she felt very lucky and in love that morning—so it must be true.
A smile touched her lips at the thought being blessed with good luck then she opened her eyes and reached over for James only to realize that he was no longer beside her in the bed.
“Oh, James,” she playfully called out. “Where are you?” The bathroom door was wide open and it didn’t look as if he were in there. Then she saw a note on the bedroom side table.
“I love you baby, didn’t want to wake you. Gone for an early morning run.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet. Of course, he loves to rise early for his exercise.” How could she have forgotten his routine after two weeks.
A sudden pang struck her belly. She really didn’t want this all to end. They had exchanged addresses and phone numbers to keep in touch. But what if he didn’t keep in touch?
Stop over-thinking, Jessica. It’ll be alright.
I’m sure he’s as legit as you think he is.
Her thoughts were then disturbed by the ringing sound of the phone. She leaped out of the bed with excitement, thinking it would be James calling her to get ready because he was going to take her to the buffet breakfast downstairs.
“Hey, baby!” she said in her morning voice.
“Hello? Who is this?” A woman with a thick British accent was on the line. Jessica’s eyes widened.
“I think you may have the wrong number.”
“Oh? Is James not there?”
“Oh, um…he went out for a bit, but he’ll be right back.”
“I see…and you are?”
Jessica felt taken aback and stumped for a moment. Who was Jessica to James? Not that it was Ms England’s business. Was Jessica now his lover? Holiday fling? Girlfriend?
“I’m his good friend.”
“Oh, well as long as that’s all it is, my dear. You know that he is engaged to be married next month.”
Jessica felt her heart crush and her spirit tumble to the ground.
“Excuse me? Who is this?”
“His mother, dear. Be sure to tell him that I called and he’s to call me back right away.”
The words struck Jessica like a freight truck at full speed. So that was why he had all those private conversations on his Blackberry, huh? Talking to his fiancé? Business back home? Meaning his wedding. God, how could she have been so foolish. Again. Mom was right maybe I didn’t have what it took to get my own man. A real man. Devoted to me and only me.
Well, Jessica was not going to wait around much longer. She left a note on the table and prepared to head out to the airport a day earlier. She was not going to go through that again. She deserved better. So this was too good to be true wasn’t it? She heard a trace of an accent but then she figured that James must have travelled to England since his company Romano Software seemed to have offices in London, Paris, New York and of course, Toronto.
What a fool I was to believe in him. Of course, someone that gorgeous and successful would be taken.
Moments later, Jessica packed fast not wanting to bump into James. She wrote out his mother’s message on hotel stationary and left his mother’s message and a small note right where he could see it upon his return.
So much for Island Romance.
10
James was confused when he got back to his suite to find Jessica gone. He had just spent the morning jogging and replaying the passionate night together over in his head. But when he saw the note that his mother had called. His eyes grew dark and his jaw tightened. “What did dear old mother say to Jess?” He could only guess. He just wished he’d told Jessica everything. The truth. He was sorry she had to hear it that way.
He could not believe that she was gone. Out of his suite. Out of his heart. Out of his life.
He supposed he got what he deserved for not being up front with Jess in the beginning.
* * *
The plane touched down in Toronto and Jessica couldn’t wait to get through customs and collect her baggage.
An hour later, she drew in a deep breath before turning the key into the door of her family home.
“Mom?”
“Hi, Darling. So glad to see you back. How was your trip?”
“Oh, please, don’t ask.”
“Oh?”
“What I mean to say is…it was an eye-opening experience.”
Later she told her mother about the resort but left out the part about James. She only said she’d met a friend there (who turned out to be taken).
“Oh, dear. Well, have you given much thought to the marriage arrangement? I mean, I spoke to the Earl’s mother yesterday and she says he would be thrilled to meet you. They could be here by Sunday.”
“That’s two days away!”
“Of course, darling. Gives you a chance to settle in.”
Jessica had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach but she would end up going along with it. After all, she wasn’t exactly a pro in finding the right guy. Only she thought she found the right guy but he ended up being wrong for her because he belonged to someone else.
Creep.
Why didn’t he say anything? Then again, she didn’t exactly tell him that there was a possibility of her being in an arranged marriage in the near future. At the time she was still uncertain if she would accept but that was then and this was now.
Later Jessica got on the phone to call her best friend who encouraged her to meet Earl. She had nothing to lose and she could always say no. Jessica pondered the situation. She drew a hot bath with sea salts from Jamaica and soothed her aching heart. The heart that was still with James in Jamaica. Though he probably flew back to his London office by now.
What a fraud James turned out to be! She may marry but she would never trust another man, again!
11
“You did what?” James was fuming the next day as he stood in front of his mother. He was now back in London after cutting his trip a day early.
“Mother I warned you about meddling in my affairs.”
“But this woman is perfect for you. We’re going to meet her. All you have to do is meet and date—with the intent of marrying her. You can always change your mind, darling.”
He was fuming but his heart was with Jessica. God, he missed her.
“So what is her name and where does she live?”
His mother sat him down in the den and began to tell him all the details.
12
“Are you ready, darling? They’re here. Remember his name is Earl and he is an earl.” Her mother called from downstairs. Sunday had arrived at the speed of light. She could not believe today was the day she would meet her—potential future husband. Will they have anything in common? Did he look like a caveman?
She’d heard the car pull up in the driveway and her heart began to pound hard and fast.
Jessica sighed deeply. She should have deleted all the photos she took with James on her camera phone but she decided not to. She had enjoyed the time with him. Now it was time to move on. To this Earl. A new beginning. At least she knew one thing about him. He didn’t have a fiancé back home.
When Jessica came down the stairs her heart stopped. She could not believe what she saw before her. “Earl?”
“Jess. So nice to meet again.” James had a grin on his face. “My mom told me what she said to you at the hotel. She had no idea that you were the one that was supposed to be my arranged wife.”
Jessica could hardly speak. She ran down the stairs in disbelief, looking to her mother, Mrs. Carrington and James. “But, I thought your name was James. So you lied to me?”
“Oh, no. If you had seen my passport, my legal full name is Earl James Carrington, but I always hated that name Earl so I use my middle name everywhere I go and on all my other documents. They don’t care which order you have your name. Besides, as you know, I’m now in line to become an earl which would sound pretty awkward.”
His Island Bride Page 4