Zanaa bit her lower lip. “You’re right. I have been.” She wasn’t Zanaa bit her lower lip. “You’re right. I have been.” She wasn’t quite ready yet to think about the mess she had gotten herself into. The tension in her spine was making her back ache. Three nights under her parents’ roof together, sharing the holidays. Everyone was going to expect the two of them to look and act like they were in love.
I have every intentions of making love to my fiancée.
His promise flowed through her mind. If Zanaa hadn’t known it before, she knew it now. She was in trouble.
Scott pulled back slighted and stared down at her. “Having second thoughts?”
“Second, third and fourth,” she admitted. “This is crazy! You know that, don’t you?”
He gave a hearty laugh then cradled her in his arms again. His spicy masculine scent surrounded her. “Of course I do. That’s what makes it so interesting.”
She gazed up at him. “A challenge, huh?”
“Something like that.”
Zanaa had to respect that at least he was honest. Soft jazz music continued to fill the room and then the groups lead singer took center stage and began singing, “At Last.” Zanaa settled in his arms. Oddly she felt warm and protected. What was it about Scott’s she couldn’t resist?
Heat radiated from the hand he had placed at the small of her back, making her pulse race. She shuddered and tried to break the spell his touch was causing. Everything in her life had gone haywire and she didn’t know how to fix things. The truth was probably the wisest choice, but she couldn’t see confessing to her family she had lied about being engaged.
And even if she did, she would be back where she started. Madea’s matchmaking. Zanaa just couldn’t deal with that this year. At the same time she couldn’t hurt Madea’s feelings either. All she wanted was to see all of her granddaughters happily married.
As promised, at the end of the song, Scott placed a hand to her waist and escorted her off the dance floor. “Have you spoken to your mother?”
“Oh, yes. And she has been going on and on about our engagement.”
engagement.”
Zanaa heard a gasped and turned around to find her big sister Paulette standing behind her.
“Wait a minute. Did I just hear you say the two of you are engaged?”
“Hey, Sis.” Zanaa looked from Scott to Paulette’s wide hazel eyes.
“Uhhhh…” she didn’t know what to say. Thank goodness Scott stepped in.
“Zanaa, sweetheart, who’s your lovely friend?”
“I’m not her friend. I’m her sister, Paulette,” she huffed with a stubborn tilt of her chin.
“I should have known. I can see the resemblance,” Scott replied with a flirtatious grin.
Yeah, right. Paulette was tall with a rich honey coloring, big hazel-brown eyes, a small round nose and a short razor cut that reminded her of Rihanna. Oh sure, there was definitely a resemblance. “Paulette, since when did you become a wedding crasher?”
A faint smile touched her lips. “I wanted to see my sister in action.
Mother told me last week you were doing a winter theme at the Beaumont Hotel, and since Jonathan and I were on our way back from Philadelphia, I thought we’d stop through and see for ourselves.” She placed an impatience hand to her jean-clad hip. “Okay, now quit stalling and answer my question.”
Zanaa groaned inwardly. Her sister always was bossy. “Scott, will you excuse us, please?”
“Sure.” He planted a kiss to her cheek before Paulette grabbed Zanaa’s arm and yanked her away. As soon as they reached the other side of the ballroom, Paulette swung around. “Okay, what’s going on?” she asked, her red turtleneck sweater rising and falling with every breath.
“Where’s Jonathan?” Zanaa said then glanced around, stalling for time.
“Over at the bar ordering a drink.” She pointed to the tall gentleman who looked totally out of place standing near the bar, wearing khaki’s and chocolate bomber jacket. She knew Jonathan well enough to know a wedding was the last place he wanted to be. “Zanaa, are you listening to me?”
listening to me?”
No, I’m not. She allowed her eyes to travel around the ballroom, scanning the crowd that was dancing to the music or gathering in groups to talk. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
“I want to know if you’re really engaged.”
Zanaa closed her eyes not sure how she could answer her. If she told Paulette the truth, she might slip and tell Madea or even worse, their mother. But if she continued with the lie, her sister would feel betrayed when the truth finally came out. Torn as to what to do, she expelled a long breath. At one time, they shared everything with each other. No secrets between sisters, but Paulette and Madea were close. Real close. And they both wanted the same thing—Zanaa happily married. “Yeah, something like that.”
“What do you mean something like that? A person is either engaged or they aren’t,” Paulette retorted with a suspicious gaze.
“Then I guess I am,” Zanaa said with a sheepish grin.
Paulette didn’t share her humor. “Zanaa, this isn’t funny.”
When did her sister get to be so serious? She was thirty-three and already acting uptight like their mother.
Paulette made a show of taking a deep calming breath. “Okay, let’s start again. What’s your fiancé’s name?”
Zanaa felt a tingle at her gut hearing her used the word fiancé.
“His name is Scott. Scott Simmons.”
“And when did you meet him?”
“Three months ago.” That much was at least true.
“Love at first sight, huh?” she said with a grin.
Zanaa nodded, knowing her sister was a true believer. Paulette had barely known Jonathan three weeks yet knew he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Ten years later they were still together and the proud parents of two. “How did you two meet?”
“We’re neighbors.”
“Neighbors?” she practically shouted then glanced around to see if anyone was listening. “Does Mother know about this?”
Zanaa nodded. “Yes, I told her and Barbara.”
“So, in other words, I’m the last to know,” she pouted. “Why “So, in other words, I’m the last to know,” she pouted. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Sorry, Sis, it happened so suddenly,” she replied with a shrug.
Her perky sister stared with her brow lifted. “I guess so, especially since we spoke last weekend and you didn’t mention anything about being engaged.”
A small smile touched her lips. “Sorry, we weren’t ready yet to share with our families.”
Paulette tossed her arms around Zanaa and hugged her tight. “Oh, I’m so happy for you! He’s gorgeous.”
Yes he is. “Thank you.”
“Hey, let me see your ring,” she demanded abruptly as she released her.
Oh no. A ring. She hadn’t thought about a ring. Think! Think!
“She doesn’t have one yet,” Scott said as he came up behind Zanaa, wrapping an arm around her waist. The sensation made her breath catch.
“Zanaa has been so busy I haven’t been able to pull her away from her work. But I guarantee she’ll have one by the time we arrive at your parents for the holidays. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
She was grateful he had come to her aid and was playing along.
Zanaa glanced over her shoulder and smiled up at him adoringly. “Yes, I’m going to free some time in my schedule on Monday.”
Scott met her gaze and Zanaa felt her stomach quiver. He was looking at her with an intensity that made her knees wobble. Before she knew what was happening, Scott leaned down and she felt herself tilting her chin and meeting his mouth halfway. As soon as their lips touched, Zanaa felt her mouth relax and his tongue slipped inside. He was by far the best kisser she’d ever encountered. Scott had a skill one couldn’t gain with just years of practice. It took confidence in one’s ability to please a wom
an, and he by far exceeded those expectations.
“Wow!’ Zanaa heard someone say and suddenly remembered her sister was still standing there. Pulling back, she gave Paulette a sheepish grin.
“Sorry.”
“I guess we got a little carried away,” Scott replied. He wrapped “I guess we got a little carried away,” Scott replied. He wrapped his arms around her again then leaned forward over her shoulder, pressing his cheek to hers. Amazingly, Zanaa found his closeness comforting. Scott had a way of making her feel she didn’t have a worry in the world as long as he was with her.
“I was planning to pull Jonathan to the outlet mall before we head back to Virginia. How about the four of us, having dinner tonight? I would love a chance to get to know my future brother-in-law a little better.”
Panic knotted inside her. The last thing she wanted was for her sister to start asking a lot of questions she didn’t even have the answers to.
“I don’t know how long I’m going to be here this evening with the wedding and all.”
Paulette was clearly disappointed.
Scott didn’t miss a beat in responding. “I’ve got an idea. How about the four of us, going to dinner when we come down for Christmas…
my treat?”
“You’re on.” Paulette’s eyes sparkled. It was amazing. Paulette was already intrigued by Scott. Were all women just that weak when it came to him?
Staring up at Scott, she silently thanked him. She had never been able to think fast on her toes, which was why she was in the mess she was in now.
Paulette stood there with hands at her hips, shaking her head. “If I didn’t see it for myself I wouldn’t have believe it. The two of you are obviously crazy about each other. Wait until I tell Mother!”
Zanaa smiled although deep down she was starting to realize she was truly starting to like this man. Scott planted a kiss to her cheek and her flesh warmed on contact. Yep. He was definitely starting to get to her, which was not at all how this was supposed to play out.
“I guess I better go and get Jonathan. He looks like he needs a friend.”
Zanaa looked over at her brother-in-law admiring an ice sculptor then made the mistake of looking at Scott again. Longing burned in the depths of his eyes. Quickly, she turned and focused on Paulette. “The two of you are more than welcomed to hang around. No one will know the of you are more than welcomed to hang around. No one will know the three of you are wedding crashers. Well…the jeans might give it away.”
Paulette was laughing gently. “Sorry. I never thought about that.”
Scott released his hold. “Actually, I have something I need to do this evening. Sweetheart, unless you need me to stay, I’m going to run by and see Sheyna and then head back to Wilmington.”
Scott was playing the dutiful fiancé quite well. So well she almost wished they weren’t acting. Just as quickly as she thought it, Zanaa pushed the ridiculous idea aside. The last thing she needed was a fiancé. “No, dear.
I’ll see you back at home.” She smiled up at him and was ready this time when he leaned down and pressed his succulent lips to hers.
Zanaa watched as Scott strolled across the ballroom toward the lobby of the hotel. She wasn’t surprised at the number of women who stopped and stared. Scott was sexy. It showed in his looks, his body and the way he walked. He was definitely the most gorgeous man she’d ever been involved with. Not that they were really involved. Or were they?
Regardless of what was really going on, she knew deep in her heart there was something more than just mere sexual attraction brewing between them.
“Sis, you got it bad.”
Zanaa whipped her head around. “What?”
A mischievous smile touched Paulette’s lips. “You heard me, and as gorgeous as he is, I can’t blame you.”
Yes, he was definitely something else and if she wasn’t careful, she was going to set herself up for heartache. Their relationship was staged, nothing more, and the sooner she reminded herself of that, the better.
*
“You really like Zanaa, don’t you?”
Scott swung away from the floor-to-ceiling window and shot his sister a surprised look. “Why you say that?”
“Because I’ve been trying to talk to you for the last thirty minutes but your mind seems to be somewhere other than here,” Sheyna retorted as she chopped vegetables for a salad.
He tried to shrug it off. “Just been a long day.”
He tried to shrug it off. “Just been a long day.”
“Yeah, right. You didn’t drive all the way down here to see me.”
Scott gazed out the window that displayed a view of the wooded backyard and watched his brother-in-law Jace Beaumont, turning steaks on a charcoal grill. He was probably the only person he knew who didn’t mind barbecuing in December. “Can’t I just drop by to see you and my nephew?”
Sheyna narrowed amber eyes in his direction. “Jace Jr. is spending the weekend with Daddy and you just saw me on Wednesday. The only reason why you’re in Sheraton Beach is to see Zanaa.”
Scott couldn’t resist a smirk. Sheyna should have gone into private investigation instead of marketing. “Okay, I’ll admit I am curious about the work she does.”
“I think you’re curious about a lot more than that.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “You are something else.”
She smiled. “Of course I am. That’s why you love me.” Sheyna carried a large salad into the other room and set it on an antique dining room table along with a basket of rolls. “We decided to have Christmas dinner at Daddy’s this year instead of mine. You’re coming, right?”
He rubbed his chin and gave her a sheepish grin. “Actually, I’m spending it with Zanaa.”
“What?” Sheyna gasped, eyes growing large and round. “Okay, you need to back up,” she began, waving her hands in the air. “You’re not involved yet you’re spending the holiday together. What’s up with that?”
“She kind of asked me to do a favor,” he replied like it was no big deal but he knew better than to think Sheyna would have simply settled for his answer.
“What kind of favor?” she finally asked.
Scott paused before answering. “Pretend to be her fiancé.”
It took everything he had not to laugh at her stunned expression.
He swore all the blood drained from her face. “You’re doing what? When did all this happen? I thought you didn’t even like her?”
“I never said I didn’t like her. To be honest, I like her a lot.” He shrugged when he realized he said the words aloud. The wheels in his sister’s head were now turning. “She did me a favor with Henric and I sister’s head were now turning. “She did me a favor with Henric and I owed her one.”
Sheyna shook her head, laughing. “Yeah, but a fake engagement?
That’s big!”
Nothing about their relationship was supposed to be real, at least that’s what he kept trying to tell himself. You should have never kissed her. He shouldn’t have, but there was no way he could have stood in that room a second longer without tasting her. After Zanaa asked him to pretend to be her fiancé, Scott felt the next best thing to do was seal the deal with a kiss and what a kiss it was.
The second their lips touched, he felt it. Passion. Raw and rich and like nothing he’d ever experienced before. Her taste still filled his mouth.
And now that he’d sampled her, he wanted to do a lot more than kissing.
As Scott strolled into the family room, he thought about holding her in his arms again, only next time he intended to carry her off to bed. What had amazed him the most was the way Zanaa responded to him. When he parted her thighs and slipped inside, she was so warm and wet around his finger, his dick had been hard in a way he had never felt before. And that’s what scared him.
“Scott? Are you listening?”
He stared at a stone fireplace, taking up most of one wall in the room before he shifted his gaze at Sheyna, who was standing near a
beautifully decorated Christmas tree, giving him a weird look. “Sure, I’m listening.”
“Yeah, right,” she spat, not at all buying his story about their relationship being staged. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?”
Scott brought the glass to his lips then took a moment to think about her questioning before saying, “Yes, I’m quite aware of what I’m doing.” He had every intention of making love to Zanaa, and by the time he got his fill of her, the holidays would be over, and their relationship would end.
Chapter Seven
Zanaa smoothed an orange satin fabric swatch between her fingertips. She had spent the better part of the morning on the Murdock file. The couple wanted an evening wedding in July. Zanaa was planning a beautiful event at the botanical gardens with white silk tents and candlelight. The bride was just as excited about her vision as she was. Burnt orange and chocolate were the colors and Zanaa needed to find the perfect napkin rings and tablecloth to coordinate with the single piece of fabric.
Hearing a single knock at her office door, she looked up to find Ashley standing there with a silly grin on her face. “Boss, you have a visitor.”
“Who?” Zanaa asked with a curious look. Without bothering to answer, Ashley stepped aside and Zanaa gasped when she spotted the gorgeous man who appeared in the doorway, looking bigger than life.
“Scott.” She met his gaze and her heart started thundering.
“Did you forget we had a date for lunch today?” he asked with a grin.
Frowning, Zanaa thought for a moment then it dawned on her.
They were supposed to go shopping for her engagement ring! Suddenly she was jolted into reality, her breathe rushing from parted lips. This can’t be happening.
After the wedding at the Beaumont Hotel, she had returned home and spent the evening on the couch. It was close to ten o’clock when Scott and Henric came knocking at her door and convinced her to grab a coat and go walking with them. Zanaa found herself laughing and talking about her matchmaking family and before she realized it, an hour had past.
When they reached her door, Zanaa hadn’t missed the desire burning in Scott’s eyes and decided she had better end the evening, otherwise, she might have found herself doing a lot more than straddling his lap.
In Her Neighbor's Bed (The Beaumont Series) Page 6
