Body Heat
Page 16
Taariq’s hands shot up in the air. “Now don’t try putting no hexes on a brotha. I ain’t puffing on whatever it is y’all puffing on.”
“Then I’ll be next,” Stanley declared.
All eyes turned toward him.
“Are you even seeing anybody?” Derrick asked.
“Bump that. When was the last time you had a date?” Charlie razzed.
Stanley puffed out his thin chest and waved his brothers off. “C’mon now. Y’all know I gets the ladies.”
They all gave him the “get real” stare.
“A’ight. A’right,” Stanley said, determined not to pay them no mind. “Watch. I’m gonna find me a honey so fly, y’all gonna be trippin’ over your tongues.”
Derrick winced. “Honey?”
“Fly?” Charlie asked.
“See that’s your problem right there,” Taariq said. “You’re still lost in the ’90s. Just be happy that Tawanda over at the Waffle House takes pity on you and breaks you off a piece every once in a while.”
They all cracked up laughing.
“All right. We better get ready to do this.” Hylan said and then remembered something. “By the way, I got this business venture I want y’all to take a look at soon.”
They all looked confused at Hylan’s seemingly sudden change of subject.
“My baby girl wrote this cool play and I want you guys to consider investing in it.”
Once again, the men exchanged looks. “All right, man,” Derrick said, holding up his fist and giving his man dabs. “You got it.”
Hylan beamed as each one cosigned on the deal. Instinct told him that finding backers for his bride’s next play was the best wedding present he could ever offer her.
Two minutes later, Hylan and the Kappa men pushed and squeezed their way through a packed house. The moment the guests realized the groom was coming through, a sudden cheer went up and they finally started moving out of the way.
“Damn. Is everybody in the Caribbean in here?” Taariq grumbled.
“Trust me. They’re here for my wife,” Hylan chuckled. “They’re crazy about her.”
And it was true because the little whoop that Hylan had created was nothing compared to the full-out cheer that went up when Nikki and her small entourage made their way down the aisle before the smiling reverend.
“I guess you weren’t kidding,” Taariq whispered.
Hylan didn’t hear a word his brother was saying. His eyes were locked on the prize walking toward him. She was still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. It didn’t matter that they weren’t dropping a mint on an over-the-top ceremony where she could rock a one of a kind couture gown. She could never be more breathtaking than she was right now.
When she finally stopped to stand by his side, Hylan’s chest ached from the beauty of this special moment. Truth be told, he didn’t hear much of what Reverend Oxford was saying, either. All he could do was just marvel at the woman that he was about to call wife—well, for real this time. He didn’t know what the future held, but he knew for sure that he was going to love her for the rest of their days and that with her quirky personality, there would never be a dull moment in their lives.
“I do,” she said smiling.
A moment later, it was Hylan’s turn. “I do.”
“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Reverend Oxford slapped his Bible closed. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Hylan leaned in and sealed their lives together with a kiss that would be seared in his memory forever.
Everyone in the house roared with applause and a second later the bride and groom were literally bum-rushed by their guests with handshakes, hugs and kisses. After seeing her sister being jerked from one embrace to another, Barbara panicked and took on the role of bodyguard.
“Careful, careful. The woman is pregnant!” Realizing what she’d just said, Barbara gasped and slapped both hands over her mouth.
And just like that a hush fell over the crowd. Hylan stood staring at his wife, mouth open.
Nikki timidly hunched her shoulders up. “Surprise, honey.”
Charlie reached over and waved his hand before his friend’s eyes to make sure that he was still with them. “I think you’re supposed to say something,” he whispered.
Hylan pumped his fists straight into the air. “Yeah, baby! Victory!” He rushed over and swooped his wife up into his arms and spun her around.
Nikki squealed and then found herself smothered in the sweetest kiss she’d ever known.
Thanks to all my friends and fans who encourage me every day to keep going.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6033-1
BODY HEAT
Copyright © 2010 by Adrianne Byrd
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