Mistaken Identities

by Lockwood, Tressie

  Grayson gestured to the older man. “This is Frank Jones, a private investigator.”

  Tonya’s eyebrows rose. “The one that found me?”

  “The same. I also contracted him for another job.”

  She moved to the opposite side of the desk from Roman, but she felt his gaze on her and ignored it. Frank stepped between them and tossed a picture he held in his hand on the desk. Tonya, along with Grayson and Roman, leaned over to examine it. Tonya squeaked in alarm and slapped a hand over her mouth. Tears sprang from her eyes, and she shook her head, backing away.

  “That proves it,” Roman snapped.

  Grayson rushed around the desk. Tonya stumbled, but his arms encircled her, and he drew her to his chest. “Easy, baby, it’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” She could say nothing more but dropped her forehead against him and shut her eyes. Tremors rocked her from head to toe, and Grayson’s hold tightened. If he wasn’t there, she’d have crumbled on the floor.

  “Yes, it proves something,” Grayson said above her head. “It proves that it wasn’t Tonya.”

  “Damn, man, just how lost are you over her?” Roman shouted. “We all see the same picture with Tonya practically in that guy’s lap. Even her reaction shows she’s guilty.”

  “Really?” Grayson turned Tonya toward the desk. She tried resisting being hauled over to it, but Grayson wouldn’t be denied. “I think Tonya isn’t looking close enough. Baby, take another look.”

  “No, why are you torturing me?” She pushed his hand when he raised the picture.

  “Look,” he demanded.

  Tonya peered again at the woman in the picture, who looked just like her. The same long hair, same color that she’d enjoyed wearing back then. Even the same leopard print outfit, which she’d never worn before that day or after, but the woman…wasn’t her. She gasped, and Grayson nodded.

  Frank spoke up. “The man who took this photo said he was hired to do so. He was hired by Letreece Boyd.”

  “That’s Letreece in the picture,” Tonya whispered. “I never thought it was possible because we don’t look alike, but the picture is done in a way that you can’t see her face. How the hell did she get my same outfit and know I was going to wear it that day?”

  “Was it really that hard to do?” Grayson asked. “You and she were friends. You gave her access to your apartment constantly to help with the puppy.”

  “And I saw her that morning.” Tonya moved from Grayson’s arms and studied the picture now that her emotions had died down. “We talked about clothes a lot. She advised me on dresses since I never wore them. Really, it could have been anything. She might have tried this countless times and intended to get the picture.”

  Grayson agreed. “Exactly. It seems I played into her hands and made the picture unnecessary when I saw ‘you’ at that hotel.”

  “She didn’t have to say or do anything after that.” Roman sank into a chair, his face white.

  “Thanks, Frank. That will be all.” Grayson waited until the PI left his office and then turned to Tonya. He took her hands in his. “No one allowed you to tell where you really were the day you were supposedly at that hotel. You felt betrayed, and you didn’t want to admit it later. You wanted to be believed for your word. You were with Nola, weren’t you, when she got the abortion?”

  Tonya drew in a steadying breath. “Yes, earlier in the day. Then I felt so guilty, I walked around for hours. By the time I got back, all hell had broken loose. That bitch, Letreece. I had thought she was my friend—a lousy friend—but a friend nonetheless.”

  Roman stood up and stuffed his hands in his pockets. His head hung low like a chastised little boy. “I’m sorry. I know I can never make up for the horrible part I played in this charade. Gray,”—he raised his head and looked his friend in the eyes—”I would like a leave of absence so I can spend some time working on my marriage, if it’s even possible to save it.”

  Grayson walked to Roman and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Take all the time you need. Your position will be here waiting for you when you get back.” When Roman had left, Grayson approached her. Tonya shivered. She knew that look in his eye. He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. Taking one finger into his mouth, he sucked it gently, and she suppressed a moan. He let her finger ease from between his lips, the entire time staring into her eyes, and then turned her hand palm up to kiss the center. “No more excuses.”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” she lied.

  Rather than press his point, he released her and walked around his desk. She watched as he pulled open the top drawer, and when he retrieved the small, black box, she fell into the chair behind her, thankful it was there or she’d have landed on her ass.

  Grayson returned to stand in front of her and dropped to one knee. He held up the box and flipped it open. The diamond ring glittered in the velvet fold. “Marry me, Tonya. I love you with all my heart, and I will spend my life giving all my energy to making you happy.”

  She trembled, and her mouth fell open. When he took her hand and slid the ring up her finger, she couldn’t say a word or pull away. Grayson stayed where he was, waiting for her answer. Fear shouted in her head to say no, to run and get the heck out of Charlotte. Old memories washed over her, the pain, the accusations, the betrayal, the abandonment, but as quickly as they came, she pushed them away. That had never happened before. Not like it did now. She remembered the emotions washing over her and doing her best to tread water while they threatened to drown her. Her way of overcoming had been to keep swimming despite everything—to forge a life that wasn’t exactly happy, but at least content. Now she wanted it to be different. She didn’t want to just deal with the hurt. She wanted to rise above it and stomp it down, to destroy it and not allow it to stay around her.

  Goodness, I’m getting too poetic in this craziness. Fact is, I love him, and I will have him.

  She remembered Aunt Linn’s words. “Choose to stay no matter what, and life will go down a different path.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out. The ring fit on her finger, and she touched it gingerly then looked at Grayson.

  “Yes, I will marry you Gray.”

  She didn’t get his entire name out before he whipped her into his arms and swung her around in a circle. His laughter filled the office, and she’d never seen him so animated. A banging started on his door, and someone called out, “Boss, everything okay?”

  Tonya laughed as he set her down, trying to pull himself together. “I don’t think your people have heard you so crazy before.”

  His cheeks pinked, and he tugged at his collar. Tonya threw herself into his arms for another hug. He captured her around the waist, and she parted her lips as his mouth came down on hers. The door opened, but she didn’t care who stood there or who knew she loved Grayson with every fiber of her being. Too late, she realized she’d done it again, let a man too deep into her heart.

  When Grayson let her go, she was drunk from his kiss and clung to him. He never removed his arm from her waist as he turned her toward the door. “Ted, you’re the first to know,” he boomed, pride in his voice. “Tonya and I are getting married.”

  Ted’s eyes bulged. “Whoa, didn’t see that coming. I—”

  Grayson raised an eyebrow, and whatever the outspoken man Tonya didn’t like that much was going to say died. He grinned and held out his hand to Grayson.

  “Congratulations, boss. I’m happy for you both.”

  Grayson shook his hand. “Thanks.”

  * * * *

  Tonya rethought her decision a million times over the next few days. Grayson railroaded her into letting the hotel suite go and moving into his house immediately. He insisted if she felt she needed to go back to Los Angeles to give proper notice, he would go with her, but first, he needed to wrap up a couple projects. There was also Aunt Linn’s health to think of, he’d said, which was to say he did not think she needed to give three weeks notice as she’d wanted to do, not even two.

 
“You can’t be serious, Grayson? I have to find a replacement, and it’s not good to just walk out on them. I’ll need the reference.”

  “You won’t since you’ll be working for me.”

  She glared at him, hands on her hips while they argued in his bedroom. “I never agreed to that.”

  “It makes sense.”

  “Whether it does or doesn’t, it’s my decision!”

  He sighed. “Fine. I won’t push, but I want you there.”

  “Duly noted,” she quipped. “And about me going back to Los Angeles, you don’t have—”

  “No,” he bellowed.

  “What?”

  “You were going to say I don’t have to come. You are not going if I don’t go.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He stormed over to her, and she took a step back. He reached out and caught her wrist, keeping her from getting away. He raised her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You think I haven’t noticed?”

  She tried looking away. “Noticed what?”

  “You haven’t slept the last few nights, and you’ve barely eaten. You’re skittish, Tonya, and I’d be a fool if I couldn’t tell you’re ready to bolt.”

  “I beg your pardon? I’m not going to run. I’m not some scared little girl.”

  His voice dropped low, and she heard pain. “Aren’t you?”

  She gasped. “Gray.”

  His forehead touched hers as he stroked her hair. “Baby, I know you’re scared.”

  “I’m not… Yes. I am. What if everything goes wrong? There’s so much to do, and we haven’t even started to plan the wedding.”

  He grabbed her hands, which she’d started swinging all over the place when she ticked off her points. “Easy, baby. Breathe. Everything will be fine.”

  “How can it be?” she wailed, and stupid tears began. She’d been hiding them from him the last few days, but he didn’t appear to be surprised at their surfacing.

  “Come here.” He led her to the chair in the corner and sat down, then drew her onto his lap. Tonya buried her face against the place where his neck joined with his collarbone. The warmth and his male scent went a long way in soothing her fragile mind. He stroked her back in silence until she stopped crying and the sighing passed. “Hey.”

  She raised her head, but stared at his shirt and played with the top button. “What?”

  “How about we don’t plan a wedding.”

  A new fear surfaced. “You’re changing your mind?”

  “Never! No, baby, I mean how about we just get a minister, gather our family and close friends, and just get married. No planning. We just do it.”

  “That’s so not romantic.” Even as she said it, her mood brightened, and she fought the grin spreading over her face. “Are you sure, Gray? I want you to be happy.”

  “You want to know what will make me happy?”

  She nodded.

  “You officially as Mrs. Tonya Porter. Just saying it gives me a high. Will you do that for me, baby?”

  Her heart pounded, and she swallowed, but her throat had gone dry and refused to be wetted. “I don’t know if I can bear another week.”

  He shook his head. “Today.”

  She squeaked. “Today? Are you serious?”

  “Very serious. I have the license. I can get the minister. We will do it at Aunt Linn’s so she doesn’t have to miss it. Are you ready?”

  “Yes, more ready than I’ve ever been. Let’s do it!”

  * * * *

  “I think I’m going to pass out,” Tonya croaked. She smoothed down the material of her white lacy dress for the millionth time while she sat in front of the mirror. The dress had been a last minute purchase, but a good one with its simple form-fitting design covered from top to bottom in sheer lace overlay. A boat neckline in the front and a button-keyhole in the back gave the dress stylish detail that made it look like a mini wedding dress, perfect for their eleventh hour ceremony.

  Laura, an employee of Grayson’s, stood behind her putting her hair up. She was the only guest other than family and close friends who was attending their joining, and Tonya was grateful since she had no best friend to stand with her.

  “Just breathe, darling,” Aunt Linn said from her bed. “You’ll be fine.”

  Tonya gazed at the baby’s breath being intricately placed in her hair. She had to admit she looked great, and Grayson would be happy. Wouldn’t he? Her heart seemed to stop in her chest. “What if—”

  “He loves you,” Laura interrupted.

  Tonya frowned. “Am I becoming a broken record?”

  “Yes,” the two women said at the same time, and laughed.

  “Well you’d be nervous too if it was you.”

  “I would have thrown up by now and had to be put on an IV,” Laura confessed. She patted Tonya’s hair one last time. “You’re doing great. Just think, it’s going to be over in less than an hour.”

  Tonya nodded, and Laura was right. Aunt Linn was lifted gently and carried to the living room while Tonya hid in the bathroom. Moments after, she heard the music start, and Laura signaled her. The house wasn’t so big, so she didn’t have far to “march” as she headed down the hall. Having no family, she had elected to walk alone. Grayson hadn’t liked that decision. He’d wanted them to just come together at the same time into the living room, but she preferred it this way. Just as Aunt Linn told her, she’d thought she was alone, but there were those who loved her, and when she turned the corner from the hall into the living room, she saw them, her family. There weren’t many, but they were there. Aunt Linn, Grayson, his parents, and even Roman and Lukas. Abby hadn’t come, and she didn’t blame the woman. Tonya admired her for allowing Roman to stand with his best friend.

  Focusing on the man she loved, Tonya managed to keep breathing despite the lightness in her head. She stepped forward, and when she wobbled a bit, Grayson’s strong hand came up to steady her. He drew her to his side, and she gazed into his eyes, eyes filled with so much love it overwhelmed her. This man had suffered too, she realized. He’d loved her in silence all that time, had done all he could to support her and Roman. This wasn’t just about her pain, but about Grayson’s happiness. She would do all she could to make sure he never regretted marrying her.

  “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the minister, a tall, slim man with a neat salt and pepper beard and mustache intoned.

  “I do,” Aunt Linn announced with pride.

  Tears filled Tonya’s eyes, and she smiled at the older woman, thanking her silently. As the minister led Grayson in his vows, Tonya took him in. He wore a dark suit with black tie and black vest, stark against a crisp white shirt. The material fit well across his broad shoulders and big chest. He looked so good he took Tonya’s breath away, but it was his eyes and the happiness reflected there that captured her attention and wouldn’t let go.

  He held her hand to slide her wedding band on with such care, as if she were a fragile flower. “With God as my witness, I, Grayson Porter take you, Tonya Cole, to be my lawfully wedded wife…”

  Somehow, she made it through her own vows, willing him to receive all the emotion locked inside her, the love, the wonder, and even the hope she felt for a future with him. When the minister spoke the final words “You may kiss the bride,” she tumbled into Grayson’s arms to be swept away by his kiss and the feeling of being held in his tight embrace. A cheer rose amid the small group, and at last the nerves ebbed from Tonya’s body. She rested a moment in her husband’s arms, breathing deep. Grayson stroked her back, giving her as much time as she needed.

  “Hey,” he whispered.

  “Yes?” She didn’t look up.

  His lips touched her temple. “Now you’re mine, and I’ll never let you go.”

  She stared at him, tears hanging on the tips of her lashes. “Promise?”

  He kissed her. “Promise.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Mrs. Porter, have I told you how beautiful you look in that dress?” Grayso
n moved up behind her and splayed a palm over her belly. The lust in his gaze as he looked at her ignited an answering desire in her.

  “I don’t think you have, Mr. Porter,” she cooed. “In fact, I feel very neglected.”

  “Can’t have that.” He studied her with a critical eye. “I think I’ll have to show you just how delectable you are.”

  He pinched the buttons open at the back of her dress and let the material fall low over her breasts.

  “I thought you said I’m beautiful in this dress.”

  He made a noise of protest. “You’re more beautiful naked. Besides, tonight is my wedding night, and I am fully claiming what’s mine.”

  She wiggled in his hold and spun around to lean against the dresser. Grayson shoved several items out of the way and raised her up on the edge. He skimmed his hands up her thighs, his eyes widening as he took in the expanse of exposed skin.

  “Woman, you make me desperate.”

  Her heart beat out of control, and she parted her lips to drag in more air. “Desperate for what?”

  “You. All of you.” He reached beneath her dress and yanked her panties down. Tonya scarcely had time to raise her hips to allow him to get them down her legs. He stopped when the panties were at her knees and ran a finger along the crotch. “Wet. Seems my wife is more than ready for me.”

  She bit her lip. Every move he made turned her on a little more, and he knew it. “Are you going to make me wait?”

  “There’s no way I can do that and not kill myself.” He took the white scrap of material the rest of the way down her legs and removed them without taking her heels off. A groan rumbled up from his throat when he raised the panties to his nose and breathed deep. “Damn, you smell good, baby.”

  She spread her legs. “The real thing is right here.”

  He tossed the panties on the floor and raised her legs. Leaning back a little, he examined her pussy, and just having him look at her that way made her box clench. He thumbed the area above her clit, and she gasped.

  “Dripping wet. I don’t know if I should eat you or drive as deep as I can inside you right now. It almost hurts.”