He shrugged. “I haven’t gone anywhere, so what does it matter?”
He moved to the sofa. “Fair enough, but since you smell like feet and despair, I’m going over here where I’m not downwind of you.”
Campbell glared at his brother.
“Don’t cut your eyes at me. You’re the one who’s boycotting bathing.”
He folded his arms over his chest but said nothing. What was the point? Savion didn’t know or understand the kind of pain he was in.
“You know something? Being the oldest sibling in this family can be a real pain in the butt.” He settled back against the cushions. “At work, I have to shoulder most of the responsibility. Then, outside of work, I’m the one who has to play Mr. Fix-it whenever you or Hadley get yourselves into a mess.”
“Nobody asked you to come here, Savion.”
“Au contraire, mon frère. Mom sent me.” He grabbed one of the throw pillows on the couch and tossed it in his direction. “No one has heard from you in two days. You haven’t been to work. You’re burning through your personal days while your interns bust their asses to get the data migration project done.”
He scoffed. “They’re young. They’ve got plenty of energy.”
Savion shook his head. “I’ve got instructions from Mom to get you showered, dressed and over to the house for dinner.”
He made a show of settling into his chair. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t feel like it.”
“Like I said, Mom is expecting you for dinner. I don’t know what’s going on with you, or why you’re acting this way. You may be crazy, but you know better than to test Viola Monroe.”
He groaned. His brother was right. If his mother wanted him to come over for dinner, he wasn’t going to have any choice but to leave his hovel and show up.
“I heard about what happened to Sierra on the news, but I know there’s something else at play here. You wanna talk about it?”
He stared at him. “You wanna hear it?”
Savion shrugged. “Might as well.”
He summarized the argument he’d had at his office Wednesday night with Sierra. “You were already gone home for the night when all this happened. So, go ahead and say it, I know you want to.”
“Say what?”
“I told you so. You warned me about Sierra, and I didn’t listen.” And now he would probably spend the rest of his days kicking himself for getting involved with her, for loving her.
His brother’s expression softened to something akin to sympathy. “You love her.” He stated it as fact instead of asking.
Feeling the tightness in his chest intensify, Campbell nodded.
“I’m not about to clown you for caring about her, Cam. I’m not a garage human.” Savion leaned forward, resting his clasped hands on his lap. “I will tell you that you need to get up from that chair, clean up and get your shit together.”
“Why? She walked out on me, so what’s the point?”
He shook his head. “If you love her, go after her. Duh.”
Campbell blew out a breath, hoping to release some of the pressure he felt inside.
Savion stood. “I don’t have all day, man. Mom’s serving dinner at seven.” He raised his wrist and glanced at his watch. “That gives you about thirty minutes to bathe your funky behind, get dressed and get in the damn car. Got it?”
Climbing out of the soft nest of his easy chair, Campbell stood. “Got it.”
“Good. Now scram.” Savion pointed toward the steps leading to the upper level.
Campbell trudged by his brother, muttering, “Thanks, Savion.”
“Yeah, right. You and Hadley are such a mess.” He gave him a firm but gentle push toward the stairs.
Chapter 18
Sierra looked around her apartment in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Sunday morning, and sighed. It felt good to be back home, though she wished she’d left things in better shape before leaving Sapphire Shores.
She’d enjoyed Campbell’s company, she could admit that. She’d probably even come to love him. But none of that mattered now. She couldn’t be with a man who couldn’t see past her image, to see her for who she really was.
After dealing with the situation at the police station, she’d gotten a call from her agent later than evening. The director she’d met with in Manhattan wanted to offer her the role for the romantic comedy they’d discussed. While on the phone, she’d accepted. In order to prepare for her trip to London, where the movie would be filmed, she’d taken a late afternoon flight home yesterday. Jazmin had agreed to return her rental car and hold on to the keys to the condo until the MHI office opened on Monday morning.
Now she was getting ready for her flight to London. She wished she had more time to hang around her place, but duty called. The director wanted to get an early start on filming promos. He also wanted Sierra to spend some time discussing the nuances of the character and the script with the writers. This would be her first role in a film like this, and she really wanted to nail it. This is my chance to break out of the ice queen stereotype, in a big way.
Standing in her bedroom, she looked at the two open suitcases laid out on her bed. She’d packed most of her essentials already, toiletries, makeup and accessories. Now she needed to decide what clothing to take, and how much of it. She’d be in London for several weeks at least, depending on how smoothly the filming progressed.
Her mother entered the room then, with the same disappointed look on her face she’d been wearing all day. Rachel Myers Dandridge, petite and thin, wore a red T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. “I wish you didn’t have to rush off like this. You just got home, and we hardly get to see you these days.”
Sierra smiled, kissed her mother on the forehead. “Mommy, I really need your help packing. I didn’t expect you to spend the whole day making me feel guilty about leaving.”
“I’m sorry, Sugar Plum. It’s just that we miss you.” She hugged her around the waist.
Sierra returned her hug. “I know. I miss you and Daddy, too.” She tossed a black pencil skirt over her mother’s shoulder and into the bag. “Tell you what. Why don’t we go pick Daddy up, and the three of us can have brunch?”
Rachel smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”
Sierra took her parents out for brunch, then delivered them to their house in Rustic Canyon before returning to her apartment to finish packing. She’d just zipped the first overstuffed suitcase when she heard someone knocking at her door.
Frowning, she walked through the apartment and went to see who it was.
She wasn’t expecting visitors and couldn’t say she was in the entertaining mood. But she drew a deep breath, bracing for whoever might be on the other side of her door as she looked out the peephole.
* * *
Campbell stood, nervously tapping his foot, waiting. The bouquet of two dozen white roses suddenly seemed to weigh a ton.
Finally, Sierra swung open the door, and stared at him, wide-eyed. “Campbell?”
He smiled. “Hi, Sierra.”
She looked beautiful in the lavender sundress that just grazed her knees, though her face registered a mixture of shock and confusion. “What are you doing here? And how did you know where I was?”
“I worried the hell out of Jazmin and Devon to find out.” He extended the bouquet toward her. “These are for you.”
She took them, holding them close to her chest. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“Would you mind if I came in?”
She stepped aside so he could enter.
“Nice place.” He looked around at her domain. She had all white leather furniture and glass-topped stainless steel tables. The walls were painted a soft aqua blue, and she was apparently a collector of African art. Various wooden masks, statuettes and other artifacts decorated the space.
“Thank y
ou.” He watched her walk away. He heard water running, then she returned without the flowers. “I put them in water.”
“It’s funny. I had a speech planned.” He clasped his hands together in front of him. “I was repeating it to myself the whole cab ride here from the airport. Now I just want to say what’s in my heart.”
Her eyes welled with tears. “I’m sorry, Campbell.”
He went to her, circling his arms around her waist. “No, no, Sierra. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I should have been there for you, without expecting anything in return.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Relationships are about being there for each other. I should have been more willing to listen to you.” She reached up, stroked her palm over his jaw.
Feeling her touch again made his heart thump like the bass line of a pop song. “I love you, Sierra. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise.”
The tears spilled over, running down her cheeks. “I love you, Campbell. Being without you these last few days helped me realize it.”
He smiled, then leaned down to kiss her with all the passion he felt inside. When he broke the kiss, he squeezed her hand. “Marry me, Sierra. I don’t want to waste another minute.”
She gasped. “Are you serious?”
He nodded. “Very.”
“Of course I’ll marry you.” She paused. “Oh, but we can’t do it just yet.”
“Why not?”
“Remember the meeting in Manhattan? I got the role in that rom-com.”
He gave her a squeeze. “That’s great! I knew you’d get it. Congratulations!”
“Thanks, Cam. But...”
He noticed the change in her tone. “But what?”
“The movie is filming in England. I’m flying out tomorrow for London, and it will be at least six weeks before I get back to the States.”
He thought for a moment. There had to be a solution here. After everything he’d gone through to come here and make amends, he wasn’t about to let anything stand in the way of their new life together. He snapped his fingers. “I’ll go with you.”
Her eyes went wide. “Really? Are you sure you can manage that?”
“Yes, it will be fine. My interns are almost finished with the data migration project. Hadley can oversee the rest of it, until I get back.”
“You’re really willing to leave your work to someone else, for that long?”
He nodded. “For you? Hell yes. If they really need me, I can always do some telework. I brought my laptop.”
She blinked several times, as if still in disbelief. “So, you’re going to leave your entire life on the island behind, and fly to London with me, on less than twenty-four hours’ notice, and for an unknown amount of time?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. I’m so happy, but I’m finding all this hard to believe.”
“Trust me, I get it.” He pulled her into his embrace. “Baby, if someone had told me a year ago that I’d be in love with you, and ready to drop everything to be with you, I wouldn’t have believed it, either. And yet here we are.”
She blessed him with that beautiful smile. “Oh, Campbell.”
Moments later, he pressed his lips to hers, and kissed her as if both their lives depended on it.
Chapter 19
Five Weeks Later
Sierra stood in the observation pod of the London Eye, with the whole city spread out below. Dressed in a knee-grazing, sequined white cocktail dress, white flats and a feathered white fascinator, she breathed in the happiness of this moment. Campbell looked dashing in a crisp white shirt, tan slacks, brown leather loafers and an authentic brown bowler. The view through the glass was breathtaking, but as she took Campbell’s hands in her own and said her wedding vows, she had eyes only for him. They sealed their promise with a kiss, and when their lips met, she was literally and figuratively on top of the world.
After the ceremony, Sierra and Campbell headed to a nearby pub to meet the cast of Her London Love, the film she’d just wrapped. When her castmates and the crew had discovered her upcoming nuptials, they’d insisted on celebrating the couple at the cast wrap party. They spent the better part of the evening dancing, drinking and enjoying the company of the people who had become their friends over the last several weeks.
That night, they eschewed staying at their rented flat in favor of spending their wedding night at the swanky Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel. Inside the well-appointed suite, Sierra relished being alone with her new husband for the first time.
“I love you so much, baby.” She kissed him on the lips, then sat on the edge of the bed.
He knelt in front of her, slipping her feet out of her shoes and setting them aside. “I love you, too, Sierra.” He began massaging her feet, and she purred.
“Oh, that feels good.”
“I figured you’d be sore from all that dancing.” He laughed. “Speaking of which, you know my parents will want to throw a party or something when we get back. They love playing hosts.”
She sighed. “My parents aren’t going to be too happy about us eloping. But I think they’ll come around once they see how in love we are.”
“I’ll be sure to put on a good show for them, then.” He winked. “With you, it will be easy to wear my heart on my sleeve.”
“Mmm-hmm.” She lay back across the bed, tugging up the hem of her dress to reveal the white thong beneath. “That’s fine, but let’s talk about it later.”
He whistled, eyes glowing with desire. “Yes, ma’am. I can see the real party is about to happen right here, right now.”
And as his large hand slid up her thigh and slipped between her legs, she closed her eyes and let him take her to paradise.
Epilogue
Late October
Sierra swirled around the dance floor in Campbell’s arms, feeling the smile stretch her lips. She could not remember a time when she’d felt so happy, so carefree. The flat shoes she’d chosen helped her maintain her stability as her husband guided her around the floor, and she enjoyed every moment of the dance. When the song ended, the newlyweds weaved through the cheering crowd of guests, back to the head table to sit down.
From her seat, Sierra surveyed the scene. Just as Campbell predicted, his parents had insisted on throwing a reception for them, and she could see that Viola Monroe had gone all out to plan a wonderful celebration. The big tent, set up on the lawn of the Monroe family estate, bustled with the conversation and activity of the one hundred or more invited guests. White-clothed tables, each topped with fine china, silver and flickering candles, surrounded the glistening dance floor they’d just left.
“Enjoying the party?” Campbell picked up her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss.
“Yes. It’s been so great meeting so many members of your family.” She squeezed his hand. “Do you think they like me?”
He chuckled. “I’m sure of it. Everyone who’s met you today loves you, just like I do.”
His words warmed her heart, and she smiled. “Glad to hear it.”
He fell silent for a moment, taking a sip from his champagne flute. “This may not be the best time to ask, but I have to know. Where do you want to live, now that we’re married?”
She could sense him bracing, as if he expected an answer he wouldn’t like. “Here.”
“Really?” Surprise registered on his face.
She nodded. “When I first came here, I thought the island was so boring compared to LA.” She paused, looking into his eyes. “But with you, I have all the excitement I need.”
His broad grin gave away his approval. “Great. And if you want to move into a bigger place, we can start building—”
She shook her head. “I don’t need that, at least not for now. Maybe after the babies come along.”
He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “
Babies, eh?”
“You know it. But for right now, all I need is you.” She released a contented sigh.
Hadley walked by then, tapping her on the shoulder as she passed. “There’s a show going on, Sierra. Five o’clock.” She pointed, and continued walking past the table.
Sierra turned, looking where Hadley had indicated. Eyes widening, she poked Campbell in the forearm. “Holy cow, Cam. Look.”
He shifted his gaze, as well. “Well, damn.”
There, just left of the center of the dance floor, were Savion and Jazmin. Their bodies pressed close together, they swayed to the strains of L.T.D.’s classic soul hit “Love Ballad.” Savion whispered something to Jazmin, and she giggled.
Sierra and Campbell watched the scene unfold before them. When they turned to look at each other again, they both laughed.
She shook her head in amazement. “Think anything will come of it?”
He shrugged. “Who knows? But if it does, I’m definitely going to tease him about it.”
She smiled, wagged her index finger near his face. “Oh, no, you won’t. You’ll be too busy entertaining your new bride.” She left her chair, easing onto his lap and folding her arms around his neck.
He groaned low in his throat as he pulled her close. “True. And I plan to keep you so warm, your new nickname will be Fire Bird.”
She felt the shiver of anticipation run through her body. “I love you, Campbell.”
“Not half as much as I love you, Sierra.” And he drew her in for a long, sweet kiss.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Heiress’s Secret Romance by Martha Kennerson.
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