Loving the Princess

by A. C. Arthur

  “I’m glad that you’ve found love, too. I know Mom would have wanted you to be happy. After the wedding, I will be spending more time in Maryland with Gary, so I’ll make sure to give Malayka everything she needs to run the palace,” Sam told him.

  Rafe smiled and Sam noticed the tears filling his eyes, as well. “I can’t say that I’m happy about this man taking my Sammy-Girl to another country. But I understand that he is not just a former soldier, but that he also has a budding writing career. I commend you both for being so fearless in this ever-changing world.”

  “I thank you for giving me everything I needed to be prepared for this world. I love you, Daddy. More than any words can possibly express.”

  “I love you, too, my darling,” he said and hugged her closer to him. “Now, let’s go get you married. I saw Gary this morning and he looks as anxious as a kid on Christmas.”

  Sam chuckled. “That’s a good thing, right?”

  “Oh, baby, that’s a wonderful thing. Love is a wonderful thing.”

  * * *

  Samantha Raine DeSaunters walked down the white runner amid white-iron chairs placed at tables covered in white, floor-length, satin tablecloths. Large crystal vases filled with blue hydrangeas with large green leaves were used as the centerpieces. The napkins on the table were blue, a saucer and teacup at each seating in a pattern that almost exactly matched the one her mother had given her. There were carafes of water and of hot tea in three different flavors. After the ceremony a fabulous brunch would be served with mimosas and fresh fruit, individually made omelets at Gary’s request and a grand buffet of foods.

  Her aisle had been created with a white runner and candelabras holding tall, white candles separating the fifty tables. As she walked slowly, Sam looked around to see people she’d worked with in town. Detali and her daughter, the women from the Children’s Hospital where she spent a lot of her time, as well as all the members of the Bella Club and the girls currently enrolled there. It had been one of her girls from the club that had suggested Sam wear a blue wedding gown.

  Malayka had been appalled by the idea but Landry was instantly hyped by the prospect. Sam’s sister-in-law had taken great care in selecting designers to send their ideas for Sam’s perfect gown. And it was perfect, she thought as she came closer to the altar. The strapless, fitted bodice that flared out at the waist in a traditional ballroom style was a gorgeous shade of blue, with an overlay of white chiffon from the waist down. She felt unique and beautiful and happier than she ever imagined she would be.

  Gary’s smile confirmed everything she’d been thinking. Sam was happy and she couldn’t wait to marry this man.

  The moment their vows were said and they were pronounced man and wife, she kissed and hugged her husband, whispering in his ear, “Your mom’s probably smiling down on us right now because she knows that this time you really did marry for love and that this princess has no intention of ever letting you go.”

  “And I’m never going to stop loving this princess,” Gary told her.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from

  MIAMI AFTER HOURS by Yahrah St. John

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  Miami After Hours

  by Yahrah St. John

  Chapter 1

  Daniel Cobb strode through the glass doors of Cobb Luxury Real Estate, confident and poised in a custom Tom James suit and Ferragamo loafers. He’d started the company with the commissions he’d made while working with his father. Now he was the proud owner of his own thriving and highly sought-after real estate company.

  Daniel only accepted wealthy clients looking for the most high-priced condominiums and homes in Miami. Anyone walking through the double glass doors of his agency knew what to expect. A skilled agent with expertise in the marketplace. As head broker, he’d hired only six other agents because he wanted to ensure that his clients received the most discriminating customer service.

  Determined to make Cobb Luxury Real Estate the premier firm in Miami for luxury homes, he was at the office early in the morning and late into the night, reviewing numbers and overseeing staff. Along with his commitment to Prescott George, a men’s club he belonged to, that left very little time for play...or for women. Not that he was celibate. He had the odd date or two, which usually ended up with a beautiful female in his bed and a smile on his face. But he had no time for serious relationships.

  He’d made sure of that after he’d foolishly fallen for Mia Landers back in college. She’d been petite and adorable, with dark doe eyes and a shy demeanor. Daniel had been instinctively protective of her, but Mia had been head over heels for Ashton Rollins, a fellow student of Daniel’s who paid her no attention. Daniel had thought if he bided his time, Mia would see the light. She hadn’t and had died in a tragic car accident later that year, leaving Daniel alone with his anger and regrets. And his guilt. If he’d managed to keep Mia away from Ashton, would she still be alive? Daniel would always wonder if he could have done more.

  After that tragedy, he’d focused all his energy into building an empire. He wanted to own homes around the globe, and that required lots of money, especially if he wanted to travel.

  Thanks to the phenomenal last few years, he’d added a penthouse in Key Biscayne to his portfolio. The building housed only three other units and was surrounded by nothing but glass. It was sleek, modern and sophisticated. Just like him.

  “Good morning, Myrna,” he greeted the receptionist as he passed by.

  “Good morning, Mr. Cobb.” Myrna smiled back at him as he made his way to his all-glass office facing downtown Miami.

  Myrna was easy on the eyes, which was exactly what Daniel wanted to portray to prospective clients. However, he wasn’t fooled by the cool blue eyes, slick blond hair and slender figure. At twenty-five years old, Myrna was not only smart and capable, she was hungry for more. He could easily see her obtaining her Florida real estate license and becoming one of his agents. He recognized the drive; he had it himself.

  Closing his office door behind him, Daniel walked over to the window and looked out over the bay. He’d always been driven to succeed, but it hadn’t been easy. Even though it appeared as if he came from rich parents, he’d been raised in a middle-class family. And once his parents had divorced, because of his father’s philandering ways, he’d been shuffled between two mid
dle-income households.

  Daniel grew up learning the business from his father, Kenneth Cobb, who had a small real estate company in Fort Lauderdale. He’d been required to man the phones during school breaks. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have gotten a chance to spend any time with his father, who, when he wasn’t working, was more concerned with the ladies than his only son.

  Once he’d graduated from Nilson University with a degree in finance, he’d decided to open his own firm, except he would cater to a select niche of young, hip and most of all wealthy buyers and sellers. Cobb Luxury Real Estate was a frequent poster on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And thanks to meeting the illustrious Rollins family, a connection he’d made in college, the doors to the rich and famous had been opened to him. Too bad that connection had cost him the only woman he’d ever loved.

  “Mr. Cobb,” his assistant, Mary’s voice echoed from his phone’s intercom. “The Archers are here to meet with you.”

  “Tell them I’ll be with them in a moment.” Daniel stood up, straightening his tie and smoothing his designer suit even though nary a wrinkle could be found on it.

  The Archers were new clients who had been referred to him by the Grants, a couple to whom he’d recently sold an amazing five-thousand-square-foot condo. He was grateful for the referral because the Archers’ price range was six to nine million dollars, which would mean a substantial commission for him.

  Daniel swung open the doors and got started doing what he did best. Conquering the market.

  * * *

  Real estate agent Angela Trainor rolled her eyes as she watched her potential buyers, the Harrisons, nitpick the modern kitchen of an exclusive penthouse in Bal Harbour. Did they even know what a find this was? Homes like this rarely came on the market, and the fact that she’d found this for them should have been a feather in her cap. Instead they were finding anything that they could wrong with the luxurious condo.

  “Do you see the handles on these kitchen cabinets?” Mrs. Harrison turned to her, and Angela immediately resumed her sales persona. “They’re ghastly.”

  “Hardware is easily changeable to suit whatever design concept you desire,” Angela responded.

  Mrs. Harrison shook her long straight black hair that hung down her back and fiddled with the diamond-studded bracelet on her thin wrist. The bracelet had to cost more than Angela made in a year! And that wasn’t the only expensive bauble she wore. The woman was draped in jewels, no doubt by her wealthy husband who appeared to be about thirty years her senior.

  “I don’t know about this, darling,” Mrs. Harrison said, turning to her husband. “You know I want something move-in ready.”

  “Move-in ready?” Mr. Harrison chuckled. “Julia, you know as soon as we purchase, you’ll be gung ho to have the entire space redesigned. I’m with Angela on this one. Surely the hardware is a little nuisance we can easily overcome?”

  Angela moved in for the kill. “As you know, this neighborhood is considered the crème de la crème by Miami magazine.” She knew Mrs. Harrison was one of those women who cared about social standing among her peers. “And with the amenities like the twenty-four-hour concierge, gourmet market and state-of-the-art fitness center, you won’t find a place quite like this. Come, look at the view,” she said, motioning the couple toward the terrace so they could once again admire the panorama of Miami Beach.

  “Give us a few minutes, Angela,” Mr. Harrison said.

  Angela nodded and quietly left the terrace to give the couple privacy. With any luck, they’d agree to purchase the penthouse. Her stomach was in knots just thinking about the fifty-thousand-dollar commission that awaited her if the couple accepted the asking price.

  She’d never sold a property as expensive as this one. With her earnings from this commission, she would be close enough to the amount she needed to buy her own luxury condo in a new building in Brickell near downtown. Meanwhile she was living modestly in a one-bedroom apartment in Coconut Grove.

  The Brickell developer was known for its luxury appointments including gourmet kitchens and sumptuous master baths. Angela couldn’t wait to be the proud owner of one of the condos, which was what had prompted her move to Cobb. She’d known that selling $500,000 homes to middle-class clientele at the larger real estate firm where she’d worked for nearly three years wasn’t going to get her there. She needed the big commissions that she pulled down with Cobb Luxury Real Estate, and now she was finally moving in the right direction.

  Of course she had to dress the part and had to upgrade her wardrobe to ensure that Daniel Cobb would take notice and consider her a good fit for his firm. He’d personally handpicked every agent who sold for him, and Angela had considered herself lucky when he’d agreed to hire her. He’d told her she needed some grooming and had vowed to take her under his wing. In the interim, Angela was trying her best to fit in.

  Everyone in the office wore designer clothes, and Angela could be no different. She’d taken a portion from her savings and gotten a complete makeover. Her usual brown hair had been stylishly cut by a top hairstylist in Miami and highlighted with honey-blond streaks. She’d gotten a makeup lesson from an artist who worked on the rich and famous, and now Angela knew how to artfully do her makeup to make it appear as if she were barely wearing any.

  Changing her clothes was easy, because Angela always had a love for fashion. She’d just had to raise the bar. And she had. She’d raided several designer boutiques until she now had a stylish array of suits, dresses, skirts and tops that bespoke her new role as a luxury real estate agent.

  Today, to impress Mrs. Harrison, who would recognize a designer outfit a hundred feet away, Angela was wearing the latest Marc Jacobs dress along with a pair of Gucci sandals that had come on the market a month ago. The entire outfit had cost Angela a substantial chunk, but it would be worth it if she made this deal.

  Suddenly the doors to the terrace slid open and the Harrisons walked in.

  “Have you made a decision?”

  “We’ll take it,” Mr. Harrison replied.

  And just like that, all of Angela’s dreams for her future started to come true.

  * * *

  Daniel watched Angela Trainor drift past his line of vision. New to his office, she was under his tutelage and coming along rather nicely. He’d handed a plum client like the Harrisons over to her with faith that she could seal the deal. He hoped he hadn’t missed the mark.

  Angela knocked on his door even though it was open and poked her head inside. “Are you busy? If so, I can come back another time.”

  “No, c’mon in.” He motioned her forward.

  As she approached, Daniel couldn’t help but admit she was a fine-looking woman, but then again he only hired the best. He had an image to protect. That’s not to say that he couldn’t appreciate a thing of beauty from a distance. And he certainly appreciated Angela.

  She wore an elegant sheath that hugged all her curves, and her shoes were high enough to do wonders for her long, toned legs. Then there were her smooth tawny-colored skin, honey-blond hair that looked like it had been kissed by the sun and those lips that had Daniel thinking thoughts he shouldn’t.

  He blinked rapidly, refocusing. “So? How’d it go?”

  A large grin spread across her full lips, showing even white teeth. “Slam dunk,” she replied. “The Harrisons want to make an offer on the penthouse. I’m putting together a comparative market analysis so we can negotiate the price.”

  “Excellent,” Daniel said. “I knew I made the right decision in hiring you.”

  To some, he’d taken a risk. On paper, Angela Trainor was relatively green. With only one year of college and a varied work history, Angela might appear flighty to some. But since obtaining her Florida real estate associate’s license a few years ago, it seemed as though she’d found her calling. She was just the breath of fresh air he neede
d to ensure the firm stayed relevant.

  “Was there ever any doubt?” she asked boldly.

  He liked her confidence and tenacity. She would need it in this business. “Don’t get too cocky. This is only your third high-value sale.”

  “But it won’t be my last.”

  “Ambition is good,” Daniel returned. “You’ll need it because this business can be rather cutthroat, dog-eat-dog, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do. This isn’t my first rodeo, Daniel,” Angela responded. “Working at one of the largest firms in the country taught me that I’ll have to make my own luck.”

  “Good to hear,” Daniel said. “Now you just have to seal the deal and get to closing.” He knew that just because an offer had been made didn’t mean the sale was a foregone conclusion. Deals could fall apart before closing. Not that it ever happened to him. Daniel took every precaution to ensure that it didn’t.

  “Of course.”

  “Speaking of deals, I’ve recently signed a new client, a developer that has tasked me with selling out the eighty condos in his building in downtown Miami.”

  Angela’s eyes grew large. “Sounds amazing.”

  “It is, but it’s a challenge. The lower-end condos go for a thousand a square foot, and the penthouse is fifteen hundred a square foot.”

  “Well, if anyone can do it, you can.”

  Daniel appreciated her ego boost. “Thank you, but praise is not the reason I’m mentioning it.”

  “No?” She quirked a brow and he couldn’t resist returning with a grin.

  “I want you to work on the project with me.”

  “You do?” Astonishment was evident in her voice.

  “Why do you think I plucked you away from that other firm? It was to give you the opportunity to grow and to learn under my tutelage.”