by Pamela Yaye
“I can’t do this.”
At the sound of Azure’s voice coming from the ladies’ room, Harper released the breath he’d been holding. He clasped his hands together and stared up at the ceiling. Thank you, God. All wasn’t lost. He could still pull off the biggest publicity stunt of the year. And score more press than a tween pop superstar slapped with a paternity suit.
“I know I agreed to marry you, but I can’t. I’m so scared I’m shaking like a leaf.”
Harper tried the lock, jiggled it. “Azure, let me in.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s bad luck—”
“For the groom to see the bride before the ceremony,” he finished with a slow nod. Harper wanted to remind Azure that their wedding was just a publicity stunt, an over-the-top event to garner free press, but he didn’t say any of those things. He had to talk her off the ledge and into the banquet hall where their guests were impatiently waiting, and reminding her of the terms of their deal wouldn’t help any.
Clearing his throat, he braced his hands against the oak door. It was time to employ the Hamilton charm, and not a moment too soon. He’d worked too hard and invested too much time and energy into his plan to sit back and watch it fall apart now. “It’s normal to be scared, Azure. Every bride’s nervous on her wedding day, even celebrities. I read somewhere that Reese Witherspoon chipped a tooth on her wedding day, and apparently Beyonce threw up twice before she married Jay-Z.”
“You’re lying,” she accused, the anxiety in her voice giving way to amusement. “I’m the biggest Beyoncé fan ever, and if she’d puked on her wedding day, I would have known about it!”
“You can do this, Azure. I know you can. Just think of tonight as one big party, and when we finish cutting the cake and posing for pictures, we’ll go next door and crash in our suite.”
“Our suite?”
“Yeah, I got us a room at the St. Regis Hotel.”
Her tone grew softer, serious. “You did?”
“Of course. And not just any room. The honeymoon suite.”
“Get out!”
Harper chuckled. Again. He did a lot of that when Azure was around. “What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t get my wife the best suite in town?” he asked, hoping he was softening her up and alleviating her fears. “Azure, please come out. I need you. You’re the only person I want to play my wife, and if you bail on me now, I’ll look like a fool again.”
A moment of silence passed.
“Okay, Harper, you win. I think I’m ready to do this.”
“Great. We’ll walk into the banquet hall together, and—”
“No way,” Azure quipped, her tone filled with fire and sass. “This is my moment to shine, and no offense, but I’m not sharing the spotlight with you!”
Spoken like a true woman, he thought, indulging in a grin. One minute, Azure was refusing to come out of the ladies’ room, and the next she was calling the shots. Harper liked that. Liked being with someone who wasn’t afraid to stand up to him or speak her mind.
“Harper, did you remember to bring the prenup?”
“Yes, the officiant has it. But like I said earlier, we really don’t need one.”
“I know, I know,” she singsonged. “Just humor me, okay, Mr. Hot Shot Attorney?”
Harper chuckled. Azure never failed to make him laugh, to make him feel like a kid again. That’s why she was the perfect person to play his wife. There was never a dull moment when she was around, and he’d cracked up more in the last week than he had the whole month. “Oh, and one last thing…”
“Yes?”
“Smile for the cameras.”
“I smile all the time.”
“Not enough,” he countered, “and that’s a shame because your smile is truly a thing of beauty. It lights your eyes, warms your face and brightens every room you enter.”
“Harper, stop. You’re making me even more nervous.”
“I’m telling the truth, Azure. I could never, ever get enough of your smile. It’s as stunning as a dozen sunsets, and the single most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Azure giggled. “You shouldn’t be practicing law, you should be writing for Hallmark!”
“I can’t wait to see you strutting down the aisle,” he confessed, once her laughter died down. “I’m leaving now, Azure, but I’ll meet you at the altar in ten minutes. I’ll be the guy in the charcoal-gray tuxedo, standing beside the officiant, who only has eyes for you.”
She’ll show, she’ll show, he told himself, turning around and striding down the hallway. Harper thought about his ex, thought about all the times she’d disappointed him over the course of their relationship, and wondered if Azure was capable of hurting him, too. He shook off his doubts, ignored the heavy feeling in his heart. Azure wasn’t his ex. Sure, he didn’t know her that well, and they’d only hatched their plan a week or so ago, but his gut was telling him Azure was someone he could trust.
Your gut, huh? jeered his inner voice. The last time you listened to your gut you ended up dating a woman who cheated on you with a chubby, gold-toothed rapper!
Harper stopped outside the banquet hall, took a minute to catch his breath and clear his mind. He felt confident, strong and loved how his sleek tux made him look powerful, like the man in charge. This was the moment he’d been waiting for, the day he thought would never come. Stealing the spotlight from his cousin Jake was sure to boost his celebrity, and after today, everyone would know his name. But as Harper straightened his tie, he wasn’t thinking about the media buzz his surprise nuptials were sure to generate. His thoughts were on Azure. On the saucy, sassy sister he couldn’t seem to get out of his mind. He was going to enjoy being her husband. For the next three months, he had the pleasure of seeing the titillating magazine writer every morning and every night.
Harper strode through the banquet hall doors, and into the quaint private room, feeling like that man. Azure Ellison’s man. At the thought, a broad grin eclipsed his face.
Six long strides, and Harper was at the altar, standing beside the silver-haired officiant with the jovial Father Christmas disposition. Seconds ticked by on the wall clock Harper fixed his gaze on. He stood straight, with his hands clasped in front of him, trying to ignore the quizzical looks on the faces of his parents. The tension in the room was high, as if everyone was holding their collective breath. The whole family was there except for Nelson. His brother had landed a small role in the new Spike Lee movie and wouldn’t be back in town until the charity banquet his aunt Jeanette was hosting next month.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his family members exchanging worried glances. Guilt troubled his conscience, made his stomach feel queasy. Deceiving the people he loved went against everything Harper stood for, but to compete with his cousin Jake he had to fight fire with fire, and his plan was sure to boost his popularity.
Searching the crowd, he found his cousin Jake and his fiancée, Charlotte, seated at the round table closest to the stage. Jake was fidgeting with his cuff links, moving around in his satin-draped seat. Harper swallowed a laugh. His cousin was jealous, so wound up that Harper could almost see the steam shooting out of his ears. Perfect, he thought, my plan is already working.
The male pianist began playing the Wedding March, and a hush fell over the crowd. Harper stared at the banquet room doors. Anxious to see his bride, he peered down the rose-
scattered aisle, hoping to be the first one to catch a glimpse of her. This was the moment of truth. Was Azure going to join him at the altar, or had she already bolted out the back door?
Harper tried to clear his mind of all doubts, of all misgivings. But his fears persisted. Standing on the podium, in front of his family and friends, waiting for Azure to appear was stressful, as nerve-racking as testifying in front of the gran
d jury. The truth was, Harper was looking forward to playing house with Azure. To getting to know her better, to discovering her likes and dislikes, to seeing her in those itty-bitty workout shorts again. But when the clock struck six, and she didn’t appear at the banquet hall doors as planned, his hope faded. His disappointment was so heavy, so crushing, it felt as if a bowling ball had been dropped on his chest. And it hurt like hell.
The silver-haired officiant cleared his throat, then leaned over and whispered, “Maybe you should go check on her again. Your bride-to-be probably has a terrible case of the jitters and…” His eyes spread wide. “My, oh, my…”
Whispers and gasps pierced the air. Harper swung back around, and when he saw Azure standing expectantly in the doorway of the banquet hall, a vision in ivory satin and blinding sapphire diamonds, his jaw hit his chest with a painful thud.
Their eyes met, collided with the force of two high-speed, out-of-control freight trains.
Harper followed Azure with his eyes, through the doors, past the twenty-foot chocolate waterfall, down the straight, narrow aisle. Her face, like her hair and skin, had a natural, healthy glow. Azure glided into the hall with inherent grace, moved in slow, gliding steps that commanded the attention of every bewildered-looking guest.
* * *
Azure was trembling, so scared out of her mind, she pictured herself fleeing through the emergency doors. It took all her effort to breathe and walk at the same time. All eyes were on her, and the realization made her stomach coil into a dozen knots. She wasn’t used to being the center of attention. That was Eden’s gig. Not hers. She was the smart, educated one, not the sexy, titillating one who craved male attention.
Wrestling with her conscience about her surprise wedding increased her anxiety. Azure’s nerves were wrought, and her legs felt heavy, as if they were coated in cold, wet clay. Her personal demons, rooted in her childhood, were tormenting her, and all Azure could hear in her mind were the cruel taunts of her peers. And her mother. She’d always felt that she wasn’t good enough, that she didn’t belong, and her family reinforced that belief on a daily basis.
No one’s ever going to marry you looking like that.... Sis, if you were more disciplined like me, you would have a slim, gorgeous body, too.... Of course your father and I love you. We just want you to look your best and represent the family well....ƒ
To steady her nerves, she needed to focus on something, on someone with a warm demeanor, but Azure couldn’t find a single friendly face in the crowd. And when her gaze landed on her boss, her eyes narrowed in confusion. Leland was holding a piece of Kleenex to his eyes, and his shoulders were convulsing violently. Oh God, is he crying? The thought made a giggle rise in her throat. Leland got a kick out of bullying his employees, but deep down the man was a big old softie.
Azure concentrated on her breathing, ensured that her nerves didn’t get the best of her. Lightbulbs flashed in
her face, but she was too nervous to smile for the cameras. Her gaze locked in on Harper, and when their eyes met, Azure felt her heart bounce up into her throat. Oh my, she thought, gripping her bouquet. He’s gorgeous! Harper was a sharp dresser who looked great in everything, but his sleek charcoal-gray tuxedo, crisp white dress shirt and polished black shoes gave him star power. Charm oozed from his pores, and his energy was so imposing, so powerful, her body hummed with desire.
“You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, Azure, and I feel so honored to be sharing this moment with you,” Harper said, offering his right hand. When Azure laced her fingers through his, a bolt of electricity ripped through him. Harper felt himself go hard and hoped that none of their guests saw the giant bulge in his pants.
“Friends, family and well-wishers, I want to thank each and every one of you for coming tonight to witness the union of these two people…” the officiant began, sweeping his hands toward the guests seated at the round, satin-draped tables.
Harper didn’t hear a word the officiant said. Not a single one. His gaze was fixed on Azure, and he didn’t have the power to turn away. His thoughts took him down a rocky road. A road he had no business being on. He was hungry for her. So turned on by her floral scent, her slinky, fitted dress and her tight, lush curls he couldn’t think of anything else but making love to her. All Harper cared about was seeing what she had on under her dress. The thought consumed him, made it impossible for him to focus on anything else.
Pressing his eyes shut, he struck the thought from his mind. He knew better than to touch her. Their marriage was for show, and if he ever crossed the line, Azure would never forgive him. And he didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize their friendship.
“Harper, please repeat after me…”
Harper recited his vows, and as he promised to love, honor and cherish her all the days of his life, he saw Azure’s eyes fill with tears. He lowered his voice, moved closer. Got so close he could see the tiny freckles on her nose. “Are you okay?” he whispered, his face pinched with concern. “Have you changed your mind about all this? Do you want me to stop?”
“Yes. No. Oh, I don’t know.”
Cupping her face in his hands, he smoothed his thumbs over the apples of her cheeks, then tenderly caressed her neck and shoulders. His touch had a profound effect on her. Her breathing slowed, her hands stopped shaking and her fears evaporated like water on a hot, sunny day. Harper spoke softly to her, and his praise bolstered her confidence. He said she was beautiful, that he’d never seen a more stunning bride, that he cared about her deeply. His words moved her, filled her with calm and peace. It was a sweet, magical moment, one Azure would cherish forever, for as long as she lived.
“I’m okay,” Azure told the officiant. “Let’s continue.”
The officiant lifted a velvet ring box off the podium, opened it and nodded at Harper.
Harper took Azure’s left hand, cradled it gently in his palm. Sliding the ring onto her fourth finger, he said in a clear, confident voice, “I, Harper James Hamilton, take you, Azure Ellison, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”
Azure blinked, stared down incredulously at the wedding ring Harper had just slid on her finger. The three-carat diamond was the size of a jawbreaker and flanked by dozens of delicate, pear-shaped stones. Azure’s head was spinning a hundred miles an hour, and the more she stared at the enormous rock, the more convinced she was that this was all a wonderful dream.
The officiant gestured to the box, and Azure took out the platinum Cartier wedding band she’d selected for Harper while out shopping the day before.
Using her bouquet as a shield, Azure rested a hand on her stomach, hoping the act would quiet her fears. But the butterflies remained, fluttering and flittering around her belly in earnest. Harper rested a hand on the base of her neck and gave a light squeeze. The gesture calmed her, reminded her that they were in this together. Lifting her chin, Azure looked him straight in the eye and confidently recited her vows.
“Tonight, we have all witnessed the union of these two souls and the ultimate demonstration of their love. May they both remain faithful to their vows, committed to their marriage and steadfast in their growing love. I now pronounce Harper and Azure husband and wife,” the officiant said in a loud booming voice. “And now for the moment Harper has been waiting for all night. Son, you may—”
Before the words left the officiant’s mouth, Harper kissed her. He wrapped her up so tightly in his arms, Azure could feel his heart beating through his tuxedo jacket. The kiss was slow, thoughtful, but caused delicious shudders to pass through her. Her flesh burned with desire, her nipples strained against the soft, shimmery material of her dress and her hands grew clammy with sweat. Azure groaned something fierce, released an audible plea that would make an exotic dancer blush. Her bouquet slipped from her grasp
and dropped to the floor with a thud. Azure decided to retrieve it later, after she was finished kissing her new husband.
Harper cupped her face, and Azure layered her hands over his. The kiss kindled her passion. Her pulse raced, accelerated into overdrive, and every nerve in her body tingled and shuddered. Lost in the sensual whirlwind of their embrace, she pressed her body flat against his and shamelessly kissed the man she’d lusted after since high school with everything she had. I could never get enough of this, she thought, tenderly stroking the back of Harper’s head. Never, ever, not for a million years.
For a moment, Azure forgot that they were standing in the banquet hall, surrounded by their family and friends. But when the officiant loudly cleared his throat and pried them apart, Azure came crashing back down to reality.
Holding a microphone in his hand, the pianist stood and addressed the well-dressed guests. “Please join me in welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Harper Hamilton to the dance floor!”
The audience was dead quiet. No one moved, spoke or blinked an eye.
“Come on, Azure. It’s time for our first dance as husband and wife.”
“B-but we don’t have a song.”
Harper winked at her. “Of course we do.”
Azure’s smile masked her fear. Of course Harper had selected a song. Nothing got past him. He was the King of Cool, a debonair mastermind who never overlooked anything.
Harper took Azure’s hand and led her toward the dimly lit dance floor. There was a smattering of applause, and as they crossed the room, Azure noticed all the stunned expressions on their guests’ faces. The only people who seemed to be enjoying themselves were her teary, champagne-guzzling boss and Maggie. Her roommate was up on her feet, waving wildly and snapping pictures with her cell phone.
