After The One (The One Series Duet)

by Danielle Allen

  Tate’s expression didn’t change as he nodded once. “Understood.” He smiled a sad, yet brilliantly white smile. “I just wanted to be sure you were happy.” He stepped back. “I wish you nothing but the best, Zoe. I mean it. You’re a good one. Winters is a lucky man.”

  Without another word, Tate left the room and I was alone with my thoughts again. I inhaled deeply, calming myself. I wasn’t usually nervous to speak in public, but everything felt different in that moment.

  It’s one thing to do my vows in front of friends and family. It’s a whole other thing to do it in front of a bunch of strangers and then have it filmed for the rest of the world to see.

  There was a knock at the door. “Hi.” Peri Moore stuck her head in. “They want to get a couple of shots of you alone while you read this.” She walked into the room. “I was instructed to put this directly in your hand.”

  I looked at the white envelope with my name scrawled in Julian’s handwriting.

  “Thank you,” I said graciously. “Who wants photos of me reading this?”

  “The wedding photographer.”

  “Not the show?”

  She shook her head. “Not the show.”

  My entire demeanor changed. “Oh yeah, send him in,” I laughed.

  Peri laughed along with me. “The camera crew is out there waiting though so you’ll probably have five minutes before they want to show your bridesmaids helping you with your veil and then it’s show time. I’ll be back.”

  “Thank you.”

  The photographer who had also been at the rooftop ceremony entered with a smile. We exchanged greetings and then he started snapping pictures.

  I looked down at the envelope in my hand and opened it carefully. The foil-pressed stationery was beautiful, and my skin warmed as my eyes skated over the beautiful words on the page.

  January First

  Just me and you

  Say I do.

  Just you and me

  Faithfully.

  Today

  Tomorrow

  And for the rest of our life,

  I have the honor of calling you wife.

  Zoe,

  I’d marry you for a third time if I could. My love for you is endless. My commitment to you is forever. And I cannot wait to publicly announce that you’re my wife and the mother of my child. In a few minutes, we’ll come full circle. The world thinks we met on-air, during the first episode of our session of The One. Everyone thinks our encounter was the moment you walked into the mansion on set. But we know, our chemistry developed during that meet-and-greet cocktail party where you were nice to a busboy named Evan and I was instantly attracted to a woman who admitted to not even wanting to be on the show. We’re about to give the world an over-the-top wedding. But we know, our real wedding happened hours earlier with a rooftop ceremony surrounded by our loved ones. Our relationship has its public moments, but we also have our private moments that are just for us. This is the last time we’re obligated to give any of ourselves to world. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Being with you is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you.

  Forever and Always

  Julian

  “That was great,” the photographer said as he walked to the door. “Can I get a picture of the letter over your shoulder?”

  I’d forgotten he was in the room. Touching the corner of my eye to make sure it wasn’t leaking, I smiled. “No, thank you. It’s private.”

  He nodded with a smile. “Understood.”

  Opening the door, he beckoned to my best friends, parents, and grandma rushed inside immediately followed by the camera crew. After capturing my mom helping me with my veil and getting one-on-one time with everyone in the room, the camerawoman moved to the corner of the room and waited. I glanced at the clock and knew exactly what they were waiting for.

  “It’s time,” Peri announced as she poked her head in the door. “Let’s head out this way.”

  Koko, Keisha, and Lenny squealed happily and the wedding began. My grandma started crying. My mom and I looked at each other, almost daring the other to break first. When she smiled, I smiled and we wiped the corner of our eyes at the same time.

  Life is good.

  We relocated to the hallway in front of the main ballroom. No one was allowed in or out so I didn’t have to worry about being seen. I hugged Julian’s parents and grandma right before my brother and one of Julian’s cousins came out the door to usher our grandmas and then moms down the aisle.

  Rounding the corner looking like male models, Omar, Scott, and James appeared with Peri.

  “You look beautiful,” James whispered before kissing me on the cheek. He had his black hair blown out in a way I’d never seen it before; it brushed his shoulders and was perfectly styled.

  “Thank you and you look great. You all look like models.” I looked back at James. “Your hair is awesome like that.”

  “Thank you.” He glanced over at Lenny who was looking at him like she was going to rip his clothes off right then and there.

  I beamed at them as they were given the signal to start walking down the aisle. I turned my attention to the other two.

  “I never really thought of wedding dresses as sexy until now,” Scott joked flirtatiously. “I can see your whole back. I’ve never seen a dress like this in real life. That’s hot, Zoe.”

  I shook my head and snickered.

  Omar gave Scott a look as he got in position to walk down the aisle with Keisha. “I’m going to tell Julian you’re flirting with his wife.” Omar paused as he saw the camerawoman in the corner. “Soon-to-be wife,” he corrected quickly.

  I just smiled. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered.

  This wedding is for show. I’m already Mrs. Winters.

  They joked back and forth before it was time for Scott and Keisha to walk down the aisle. A minute later, Omar and Koko followed.

  Peri scurried over, a huge smile on her face. “How are you feeling? It’s almost show time!” She almost skidded to a stop. “Where’s your dad?”

  “I’m right here, right here,” my dad responded as he stood from a small bench in the corner. “You were walking so fast, you blew right past me.” He chuckled softly.

  The planner looked from me to my dad as she put us into position. “You two seem so calm compared to most of the weddings I did last year.”

  My smile grew. “I’m cool, calm, and collected.”

  She peered around the corner and gave a succinct nod.

  I closed my eyes as Super Casanova started singing a song Julian had written. Even though he had written the song about me, he said it fit best with their three-part harmony so he sold it to them, and it was to be the lead single off of their next album. Dad and I were supposed to come right after the first verse was done.

  The double doors opened wide and Dad and I rounded the corner. Even though I’d already married Julian and I truly felt relaxed, I was a bit taken aback by the amount of people in attendance. The entire back sections were full of reality TV show faces—most I didn’t know. Cameras were positioned at the end of the aisle, in each corner, and I didn’t realize until I had taken a few steps that the camera in the hallway followed us down the aisle.

  During rehearsal, we discussed cameras and a large crowd, but I was not expecting this.

  From the events over the weekend, I’d guessed two hundred guests would be in attendance. As I made my way down the aisle, clutching my father’s arm, I was sure at least four hundred people were present.

  Once I finished taking in the crowd, I glanced down the aisle at Julian. The love I felt for him flooded my system and I felt myself heating under his gaze. His beaming smile radiated with adoration that was evident from yards away. I let my eyes slide over his muscular body as he stood in a white tuxedo jacket with black lapels, a black shirt, and black pants.

  Holy shit.

  Julian had looked good when we married earlier—he always looked good—but in the custom tuxedo that wa
s tailored to the exact specifications of his body, Julian looked like a god amongst men.

  As I moved down the aisle to the song being performed live by the band, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Julian. I watched him watching me every step of the way. His eyes traveled up my body and when our eyes met again, he licked his lips and ran his hands over his chiseled jaw.

  Even when I should’ve been paying attention to the pastor as he spoke, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Julian. I just wanted to run up and kiss him. From the way he was looking at me, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he was thinking of doing the same.

  My dad and Julian shook hands before Julian intertwined his fingers with mine and led me onto the elevated platform. As everyone took their seats, the lighting in the room shifted slightly from a bright white to a soft white.

  The pastor stared at us as we positioned ourselves above the microphones that were imbedded on the platform below us. He gave us a warm smile before he began. “All of us here today have our own love stories. Some are short, while others are long. While some of us have love stories that aren’t yet fully developed, some of us are just getting back to the good part after a brief hiatus. There are chapters in all of our stories that are sad or disappointing, exciting or full of adventure, rough or challenging. That’s what the course of real love is: highs and lows, ups and downs, good times and bad times.” He stared at me before shifting to stare at Julian. “And today, we are all here to celebrate an esteemed high, an incredible up, a distinct good time. We’re here to witness Julian Winters and Zoe Jordan joined together in holy matrimony.”

  Someone in the huge audience behind us started applauding which erupted into the entire crowd cheering. The pastor smiled, holding his Bible to his chest as he nodded in agreement. Julian and I looked at each other and grinned. The crowd quieted once the pastor began speaking again.

  “Now we’ll have two special readings.”

  I hadn’t told Julian I was going to memorize a poem so I was extremely surprised when I realized he’d had the same idea.

  The moment the first line of Pablo Neruda’s Sonnet XVII rolled off Julian’s sweet lips, my stomach flipped. I closed my eyes for a second, letting his deep voice bathe me in one of the most romantic poems of all time. I absorbed Julian’s voice and those words like it was the moisture my skin craved. When he finished, I licked my lips and smiled.

  With the same poem I’d quoted the first time we met on camera, I delivered Sonnet XI by Pablo Neruda as if I’d written it myself. As the highly charged poem took on a different meaning than it had almost two years ago, I let my voice lightly float over each gritty word.

  Julian licked his lips and I swallowed hard. The poem wasn’t lying; I did crave him.

  “Pablo Neruda,” Julian whispered, just as he had the night of the first Bracelet Ceremony. He smirked.

  “Pablo Neruda.”

  As I got lost in the storminess of his grey eyes, I remembered being so surprised that night that he knew the poem and not being able to do anything but laugh. It had felt so unbelievable that I’d met a man who connected with my love of Pablo Neruda.

  I let my eyes close as our faces seemed to float closer together inadvertently.

  Our private moment was interrupted when someone said ‘aww’ and reality struck. My eyes flew open.

  We are not just in a room full of people…we are on television.

  That realization forced me to bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing.

  “Now the rings…” The pastor looked first at Omar and then to Koko.

  The gorgeous white gold bands shined against the Bible’s black leather cover. I picked up Julian’s wedding band and he picked up mine.

  “These rings, unbroken circles, represent unending love. As each of you look upon these rings, may you be reminded of this moment and the love you two have promised to one another.”

  After reading a verse from the Bible, we were asked to repeat the standard vows. As I listened to Julian repeat his vows to me, I thought about the heartfelt words he’d said earlier in the day. I thought about the way his words touched me, both the ones he recited from the pastor and the ones he spoke from the heart. When asked if he would have me as his wife for the rest of his life, he smiled.

  “Yes, I will. Always,” he responded with complete assurance.

  The pastor grinned and then turned to me. “Now, Zoe. Repeat after me please…”

  I repeated after him and watched as Julian’s eyes danced around my face before lingering on my lips. He didn’t make eye contact until I was done.

  “Yes, I do. I will,” I answered breathily before slipping the wedding band onto his finger.

  “By the power vested in me by the great state of California, I now pronounce you—”

  “Wait!”

  The word rang out like a gunshot. Julian and I whipped around quickly as shocked gasps and fraught murmurs rippled throughout the large crowd. Julian’s hand found mine as we stared out in disbelief.

  Standing in the aisle in a formfitting white mini dress, Leah repeated herself. “Wait!”

  I was in shock as my eyes swept the crowd. The people in the back sections were standing and gawking. Phones were out, pictures were being taken, and uncomfortable excitement rippled through as they waited for what would happen next. The people in the front sections were our actual friends and family and they sat, horrified and uncomfortable. Most of their expressions looked as if they were shocked and unsure of what to do next. The camera crews from The One seemed to be in sync as two cameras flanked Leah, one camera focused on crowd reactions and responses, and two cameras focused on Julian and me.

  Security was moving forward, but it seemed as if someone told them to stop. Both security guards slowed their pace as they stood behind the camera crews closest to Leah.

  I kept my composure, not allowing my emotions to play out on my face as I watched Leah make a fool of herself.

  “Julian, I love you,” Leah yelled as she took a couple of steps up the aisle.

  “And I love Zoe. I chose Zoe. I choose Zoe. I will always choose Zoe.”

  My stomach flipped twice as I squeezed his hand.

  “I’m the one for you,” Leah argued. Her voice was almost pleading. “I’m—”

  She grunted as she was grabbed from behind.

  Oh shit!

  For the first time since Leah interrupted, I had a reaction. My eyes widened and my eyebrows flew up.

  “Is that…?” Julian whispered.

  “Yep.” I nodded as I looked on appreciatively.

  Leah struggled. “Get your hands off me!”

  “Stop! Just stop!” Tate barked as he pinned Leah’s arms at her sides and prevented her from moving closer to the elevated platform. “You’re embarrassing yourself and ruining this wedding. Look at them!” He turned her so she was facing us. “If you’ve been in here this whole time, you’ve seen the way they looked at each other. You know you have no chance.” Tate looked back up at me and a sad smile played at his lips. “No one has a chance with either of them. They’re happy and it’s real. You have to let it go. I’ll walk you out. Let them have their moment.”

  The crowd was on their feet with thunderous applause as Tate escorted her out the way she’d come in. I couldn’t tell what was happening as security met Tate at the door to help him with Leah.

  “Well!” the pastor exclaimed looking from one of us to the other as we turned to face him.

  I glanced over at my bridesmaids and stifled a giggle. Koko had taken off her shoes. Keisha had taken off her earrings. Lenny was cracking her neck.

  “Just say the word,” Koko whispered.

  “If Tate hadn’t come down to get her, we were going down there after her,” Keisha added just as softly.

  Lenny gave me a look. “I’m still considering running down there and kicking her ass.”

  Koko stepped back into her shoes. “On sight.”

  I let out a giggle before looking back at the pastor, who wa
s thumbing through his Bible.

  “I think after what we just experienced, we need to say a prayer of support and protection for this lovely couple,” the pastor quipped, causing everyone to laugh.

  After the prayer, he grinned at us. “By the power vested in me by the great state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

  Julian grabbed my face gently and looked at me for a beat too long. The energy that moved between us as his face hovered over mine made my breath hitch.

  “I love you, Mr. Winters,” I breathed.

  “I love you, Mrs. Winters,” he returned even more softly, the last syllable absorbed by our lips touching.

  Julian kissed me in a way that caused a rattling in my chest. All of my senses were working in overdrive and I felt everything.

  I felt his kiss consume me.

  I felt his kiss devour me.

  I felt myself drowning in the perfection that was his mouth, his hands, his heat, his taste, his scent.

  I felt everything.

  And it was perfect.

  Chapter 16

  With my eyelids shut, I nuzzled my face into the crook of Julian’s neck, breathing him in. His cologne mixed with his natural scent creating butterflies in my stomach. I inhaled deeply as my body moved flush against his. With that deep breath, all of my senses were full of Julian Winters. Sight, sound, touch, taste and smell were all immersed in him.

  My eyes had feasted on the way his tailored suit fit his muscular body as he eyed me right before we started our first dance. My ears pricked as he quietly repeated the words of his vows, promising to love me unconditionally for the rest of our lives as we rocked back and forth to the music.

  In turn, I whispered the lyrics to the song, lyrics that cemented how I felt about him. I took the opportunity to run my hands through his hair, pulling his head closer to mine. Our mouths met intermittently as his hands lingered on my lower back, his fingers splaying out across the top of my ass. The restrained desire of holding back heightened the sexiness of the kiss, the dance, the moment.