by Candace Shaw
The masseuses asked the ladies to turn over on their backs so they could massage their legs and feet.
“What would you do if you were in my shoes, Sherika?”
“Since you aren’t interested in the full-time position, I would just keep my adjunct position and get my things in order to move back to Memphis within the year.”
“You are truly my best friend and sister. That’s what I was thinking. Plus, the school system here really keeps saying they wish I could stay. Maybe I could continue my consulting work with them.”
“Girl, you already got this figured out.”
Yasmine laughed. “I guess I do. Now to tell Cannon.”
Chapter Twelve
Yasmine sat at the head table next to Cannon, along with Sherika and Doug, at their rehearsal dinner upstairs at Lillian’s. It was coming to a close, and the men were heading out soon to the private air field to fly to Las Vegas for the bachelor party. Yasmine had barely seen or spoken to Cannon since the bride and groom arrived in town yesterday. He held her hand under the table, smiling at her in a loving way. She knew she was doing the right thing by moving back to Memphis. She had things to wrap up in Atlanta, like selling her home and a few workshops she was already committed to for the school system. She hadn’t told him yet. She wanted to talk to him yesterday, but he was stressed with the Doctors Unlimited situation, and her news could wait. However, she wanted him to know before he boarded the plane that night with the guys.
She leaned over and whispered to him, “Cannon, can we chit chat before you leave?”
His eyebrow raised, and he whispered back, “Sure, and you have on a dress. That’s perfect.”
She giggled. “Not that kind of chit chatting. I mean a real conversation.”
“Oh. Yeah. That too. I’ll ask Justin if we can use his office.”
A few moments later, they were settled in Justin’s office. Cannon sat on the couch and Yasmine stood.
“This wedding is finally here,” Cannon said, sounding exhausted already. “Just two more days.”
“I know. I’m so happy for them.”
“What did you want to talk about? I believe we’re leaving in a few.”
“Well, did you get everything straightened out for the medical team in Argentina?”
He shook his head. “Yes and no. The board has decided before we hire another director that we’re going to go down there and see what’s really going on.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Sometime after the conference. Maybe the beginning of July. I know you’ll be here, so you’re welcome to stay at my house while I’m away. I shouldn’t be gone more than three weeks top, baby.”
“Okay,” she smiled, “I’ll do that. Besides, I think my mother would like that, too. She likes her space.”
“What did you want to tell me?”
“Dean Patrick has officially offered me the full-time position,” she said nervously.
“Congratulations, baby. When do you start?”
She was a little taken aback. “Well … I haven’t said yes. She just told me to think about it, but it would start in September when the fall semester begins, but I may have to do some things before then.”
His cell phone beeped, and he glanced at it. “That’s Rasheed asking me where the hell I am. The limo is out front.” He jumped off of the couch and hugged her. “I’m very proud and happy for you. I think you should go for it.” He kissed her cheek. “Gotta go, baby. I’ll text you when we arrive in Vegas.”
And then he left. What the hell just happened?
*****
“What the hell did I do?” Cannon asked as he sat next to Doug on the plane.
“Let me get this straight … you told your woman to go for it, but you really don’t mean it?”
Sean leaned over the seat from behind them. “Yes, why is that?”
Cannon sighed and turned to Doug. “Why did you invite him?” he asked somewhat jokingly.
“Because he’s your brother, and since Rasheed didn’t come, we needed someone who knows where all of the best strip clubs are. But, seriously, what’s up? I thought you were going to ask her to marry you?”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to, but at the same time, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for her. Years ago she didn’t stop me from going to Brazil. Unfortunately I lost her, but we’ll make it work, somehow. I love Yasmine, but I’m not going to stop her from following her dreams, either.”
“Okay, so what about the three carat rock you showed me earlier?”
Sean leaned back over the seat. “Damn, bro! Three carats? Is it returnable?”
“I’m not returning anything. I just don’t want to hold my girl back.”
“Well, it will all work itself out if it’s meant to be. I mean, look at me and Sherika. We dated briefly years ago but always remained friends, and now we’re getting married in two days, and I couldn’t be happier. Then there’s you and Yasmine. Mine and my boo’s meant to be put you two back together. If I had never gotten that job in New York, I wouldn’t have started dating Sherika again, fall in love and now we’re getting married. Yasmine just happened to be in Memphis to be with her mom, we decided to get married there and needed the two of you to help plan our wedding. Plus, you confused the dates of your medical conference and almost wouldn’t be in the wedding. Now tell me what all of that is?”
“I hear you, man, I hear you. Besides, I promised her I’m never letting her go again and I’m not.”
Sean clapped from behind them. “Go get your girl, but after we come back from Vegas.”
*****
Cannon stood next to Doug, who wasn’t even nervous, but Cannon was. He was anxiously waiting for Yasmine to come down the aisle. He’d only spoken to her briefly yesterday. She was at the spa with the wedding party getting facials and what not. He knew last night was the big bachelorette party at her mother’s house, and she was busy make preparations for that. When he called her tone was curt and short with him. He couldn’t think what he’d done wrong and figured she was just on the edge because of the wedding.
The bridesmaids were currently being escorted by the groomsmen and then the maid of honor would be coming soon after. Doug turned to him for a second and exhaled with a smile. When Cannon turned his gaze back toward the congregation, there was his Yasmine; a vision of loveliness in a white gown, with three white roses in her hair, and carrying a bouquet of white calla lilies tied in a fuchsia bow. At first, he thought it odd that Sherika wanted all of the bridesmaids to wear white, but now he was glad they did. Yasmine looked every bit of an angel in her white straight dress. His heart skipped a few beats as she walked down the aisle slowly to the pianist playing “Canon in D”. When her eyes locked with his, he knew in his heart she was the only one for him, and he wasn’t going to let her get away. For a minute, he forgot it wasn’t his wedding day when she didn’t walk to him but instead stood next to the bridesmaids. He smiled, and she displayed her simply amazing one just for him.
Hours later—after pictures, the greeting line, best man and maid of honor toasts, first dance, bouquet and garter toss, and cake cutting—Cannon hadn’t been able to get Yasmine alone yet. His eyes scanned the reception hall, and he finally found her talking to her mom and his mom by the champagne fountain.
“Hello, ladies,” he said when he approached. “Can I steal my Yasmine away for a moment?”
“Of course, dear,” his mother said. “We’ll be right here.”
He turned and winked knowingly at both ladies who clapped silently. He scanned the room for a moment before his eyes rested on his father who raised his champagne glass and gave a knowing nod before Cannon walked out the door behind Yasmine.
He led her outside to a small garden that was on the side of the building.
“Finally, a breather,” she said, sitting down on a bench under a pergola with ivy vines and pink tea roses.
“I know. It has been a long time getting here, but I think they had a lovely
wedding.” He sat down next to her on the bench and stretched his feet out.
“Yep,” she said in the same curt tone she’d used earlier.
“Yaz, is something wrong?”
“No … why do you say that?” She tried to sound pleasant, but he could still hear the disdain in her voice.
“Because I know you. I know when you’re happy, mad, or sad. I know if something is bothering you, and in this case, something is bothering you. So what is it?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
His father told him a long time ago when a woman says nothing it’s definitely something.
“Is it because I’ll be in Argentina pretty much the entire time you‘ll be here this summer?”
“Wait?” She turned her head toward him with an attitude. “You said it was only a few weeks.”
“Oh … yeah about that. I may be there for a few months, but I have a solution for that.”
“Cannon … that’s not what’s bothering me even though now it kinda is.”
“What’s bothering you, baby?”
“That stupid job offer that you keep pushing me to take. I thought you wanted to be with me.” She stood and walked to the other side of the pergola.
And there was her nothing.
“Wait … Yasmine, I think you’re missing the point. All I said was I thought it was a good opportunity. You’ve worked hard to achieve your dreams, and I wasn’t going to stand in the way of them.”
She laughed sarcastically. “I turned it down yesterday.”
“You did?” He stepped toward her.
“Yes. I never wanted that type of position. I like my flexible schedule the way it is.”
“Then why have you been so terse with me?”
“Because I felt like you didn’t want to be with me by pushing me to take it. That’s not the type of job you just up and quit within the year because you’re moving.”
“Wait. Where are you moving in a year?” he asked a little too sternly.
“That’s what I wanted to tell you the night of the rehearsal dinner, but you left so abruptly. I want to move back to Memphis to be with you and my mother, the two people I love the most.”
He pulled her toward him, picked her up, and twirled her around while she laughed her beautiful infectious laugh. He put her down on the bench and stood in front of her.
“You know, I think a year is good.”
“Oh really? Why is that?” she asked with a puzzled expression.
He bent down on one knee in front of her as she gasped, “Oh my goodness!” He pulled out the ring box and showed it to her, but didn’t open it.
“A year would be good because then you’ll have enough time to plan our wedding, that is if you’ll give me the honor of being my wife.”
Tears streamed down her face as she kissed him before jumping into his arms and they both fell onto the grass. They laughed and kissed some more before he helped her up.
“I’m assuming that was a yes,” he said holding her close.
“Yes, Cannon, I’ll marry you.”
Pulling back, he opened the ring box.
“It’s beautiful.”
He slid it on her finger and kissed her hands.
“So I guess we have another wedding to plan?” he asked.
“Cannon, if I plan another wedding, I’ll scream.”
“You’re saying you don’t want a wedding?”
“I just want to be with you. I don’t care about the wedding.”
“Hmm … well, when we were in Vegas, there were a lot of wedding chapels there … maybe we can do that next summer or have a destination wedding?”
“You want to wait that long?”
“Yasmine, if I could I’d take you to Vegas right now and marry you.”
“Okay.” She pulled his hand toward the building. “Let’s go.”
He stopped walking. “You’re serious?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, but you still have the other two classes to teach in the fall, your consulting work, and a house to sell.”
“I haven’t signed my contract for the fall, only the summer, and while you’re in Argentina I’ll go back to Atlanta to take care of putting my house on the market.”
“No … you’re going to Argentina with me. I can’t spend that long without my wife.”
“I still have the online class during that time.”
“Didn’t you say you can do the online class anywhere as long as you have the Internet?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Well then, I guess I’m going to Argentina as Mrs. Cannon Arrington.”
“You know, you’re the only one for me, Yasmine.”
“And you’re the only one for me, Cannon.”
Epilogue
Yasmine lounged in the bed with her laptop, reading the midterm exams from her students. She had twenty more to grade before sending them all back at one time. Her and Cannon were finally settled as a married couple of four months. After returning from their one-month stay in Argentina, Yasmine returned to Atlanta for a few weeks to put her house on the market and pack. Most of her belongings had been moved from Atlanta to Memphis into Cannon’s home, and she lucked out when her friend Demond decided to buy her house as rental property because of its great location in downtown Decatur.
Dean Patrick was disappointed with Yasmine’s decision to not take the position as a full-time professor, but completely understood. She was able to keep her adjunct position and only do two online classes per semester. She was also able to stay on as a part-time consultant with Memphis City Schools.
Yasmine smiled as Cannon entered the bedroom with a tray of kiwi, strawberries, pineapples and non salted crackers.
“Need anything else?” he asked, setting the tray on the bed and sitting on the edge of it.
“Baby, I’m fine.” She patted his hand and pushed her laptop aside to sit on his lap.
“I know, but I just want to make sure you have something in your stomach.”
She giggled and looked down at her flat stomach, rubbing it tenderly. “What are we going to do with your Daddy?” she asked. “You’re so paranoid. It’s normal for me to have morning sickness at six weeks. Raven said I’ll be fine.”
He kissed her forehead and held her tight in his arms. “I know. I just want you to have a comfortable and happy pregnancy.”
“And I will with you by my side.” She scooted off of him and dragged her laptop back in front of her.
“I guess we’ll get in some practice this weekend with RJ while Rasheed and Bria finally get a chance to go out.”
“I can’t wait. RJ is such a little ham at three months. He reminds me of his Daddy.”
Cannon laughed and stood. “That he does.” He leaned over and kissed Yasmine on the cheek. “Gotta go to my office for the conference call, Angel face. Is there anything else you need?”
“Nope, thanks to you bringing a mini fridge in here, I’ll be fine.” She glanced at the refrigerator in the sitting area of their bedroom stocked with all of her favorite healthy snacks.
“All right. The call shouldn’t last too long. I have to be at the practice at noon to see patients for the rest of the day. The flu is going around. Which reminds me. You need to come in and have the flu shot done this week.”
“Yes, Dr. Arrington, Raven already told me. Anything else?”
“Yes,” he leaned over once more and kissed her softly on the lips, and then bent down to kiss her stomach. “I love both of you very much.”
Moments later he was in his home office holding the phone in his hand staring at it. He’d just finished the conference call with the board. The clinic in Ghilaua was now without an OBGYN because the replacement one changed her mind. The board did hire another one, but she wouldn’t be arriving for another six to eight weeks for personal reasons. Cannon hated for the clinic to go without one for that long, even though Dr. Phillips was a general doctor.
Cannon tapped his finger on his des
k and dialed a number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Raven. I need you to do me a favor…”
~The End~
About the Author
Candace Shaw is the author of fun, flirty and sexy contemporary romance novels. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
When Candace is not writing or researching information for a book, she’s reading, window shopping, gardening, listening to music or spending time with her loving husband and their loyal, over-protective weimaraner. She is currently working on her next novel.
Feel free to drop her a line at [email protected] or visit her website at http://CandaceShaw.net
Books by Candace Shaw
Arrington Family Series
Cooking Up Love: May 2012
The Game of Seduction: August 2012
Simply Amazing: December 2012 (short story)
Only One for Me: June 2013
Prescription for Desire: May 2014
My Kinda Girl: Winter 2014
