“She didn’t make it easy for me.”
“I’m glad. Because you’re just a little too cocky for your own good.”
He smiled. “Being cocky got me the woman I wanted as a wife, and with the added bonus of a baby.”
“I’m going to hang up now before I say something that ain’t too ladylike. Congratulations and tell Jasmine I’m going to call her.”
“We’re in Savannah right now and we should be back home around midnight. Jasmine will call you once we’re on the road.”
“Drive carefully. You’re carrying precious cargo.”
“I will. Bye, Tonya.” He set the phone on the table and headed for the bathroom to shower. Cameron pulled back the curtain and stepped into the tub with Jasmine. He kissed her passionately, and then reached for a bottle of shampoo to wash his hair.
Events in his life were moving at warp speed and he didn’t want it to slow down until he exchanged vows with Jasmine, and then held their baby in his arms. Only then did he want to sit back and enjoy his new family.
Chapter 20
“This has to be some crazy shit!” Nydia spat out as she helped Jasmine into her wedding gown. “You call and give me less than three weeks’ notice that you want me to be your maid of honor. You showed up last night as Daddy’s fiancée at his parents’ anniversary and now twenty-four hours later, you’re about to be Mrs. Daddy.”
Jasmine pulled the dress up over her belly and breasts, and slipped the straps over her shoulders. The Empire waist on the gown of beaded silk crepe and silk georgette artfully disguised her slightly rounded belly. She was four months into her term and hoping that what she wore could conceal her condition.
When the news that Cameron was getting married swept through New Orleans, he’d become somewhat of a local celebrity and everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the woman who’d captured the bachelor’s eye and heart. Jasmine had attended the Singletons’ anniversary dinner without wearing her ring and didn’t sit with Cameron or any of his family members. She had stayed for an hour before retreating to their suite to get some rest for her big day.
His family had all agreed to the subterfuge to keep everyone in suspense as to who he would marry the following day. Many of the guests, as close friends of the Singletons, were also invited to attend the nuptials.
Nydia fastened the tiny covered buttons on the back of the golden beaded bodice. “I was talking to Hannah yesterday and the woman’s worse than Rasputin. She like a Svengali weaving her spell to get me to move down here and handle the inn’s finances.”
“You have until January to make a decision, Nydia. The grand opening has been pushed back again to February. When they were installing the electrical cables in the elevator something shorted out and caused a smoky fire that damaged all of the walls throughout the mansion. Hannah was so upset that St. John threatened to have her sedated. Once she recovered she sued the company and hired the same company who maintains the elevators in the hotel.”
“Good for her,” Nydia said. “At least she didn’t have to hire anyone to handle the suit.”
“You’re right about that,” Jasmine said. “Thankfully she has insurance but it’s going to take several months clean up the mess.”
“Tonya and Gage didn’t seem that upset that they won’t be able to open their restaurants.”
“That’s because they’re working at Chez Toussaints and catering a lot of parties.”
Nydia smacked her lips. “Yum, yum. I’m glad they’re catering your wedding because I need my food to haveun poco de sabor.”
“Well, you definitely get some flavor from the food Eustace and his family prepare.”
There came a knock on the door. “Ten minutes.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Jasmine called out. She just needed to put on her shoes and engagement ring. Cameron had elected to wear a wedding band and when they returned to the jeweler he had ordered a rose-gold band with a brushed finish. Her wedding set included a rose-gold diamond eternity band.
She checked her reflection in the full-length mirror. Her hair was a mass of tiny black curls that reminded her of the pictures of Grecian goddesses. The stylist had threaded a narrow silk ribbon through the curls, tied it in a bow with streamers flowing down her back and ending at the hem of the gown. Her only jewelry besides her ring was a pair of diamond studs.
She turned to stare at Nydia. Her friend looked stunning in a sunny-yellow, one-shoulder chiffon gown, nipped at the waist, and flowing around her feet like frothy meringue. The color brought out the green and gold in her large hazel eyes. Her curly hair, brushed off her round face, was secured on top of her head with jeweled hairpins that added height to her diminutive frame.
There was another knock on the door. “We’re ready out here.”
“Coming,” Jasmine and Nydia chorused.
Jasmine slipped her ring on her right hand, pushed her feet into a pair of silk pumps, and then picked up her bouquet of yellow and white roses with matching streamers, as Nydia picked her own bouquet of yellow roses, mums, and daisies. Cameron’s band was on her left thumb.
She opened the door to find her father dressed in wedding finery. Jasmine took his hand as they walked to the private elevator, Nydia following. Cameron had selected Philip Baxter, his former college roommate and frat brother, as his best man. A hotel employee waited for them to enter the elevator car and swiped his keycard. When it reached the lobby level, he escorted them to the ballroom where Philip waited for Nydia. His eyes widened when he saw her, but Nydia was prepared for the overly flirtatious man. Jasmine had told her about the number of times he’d been married so to ignore his not-so-subtle advances.
The doors to the ballroom opened and a string quartet continued to play as Philip processed in with Nydia on his arm. Necks craned to see who the bride could possibly be, but Jasmine remained concealed behind her father’s back.
