FIVE
What’s wrong with me?Plain and simple, Calvin couldn’t think straight when he was around her. Her beauty had him breathless and had turned his mind into mush. Silently, he berated himself. Why did he always say the wrong things around her? He wanted her to think he was a good guy, not a player. But as he watched her face grow red and her eyes widen, he expected a slap across the face at any second.
“Tell me,” she said slowly and in a tight voice, withdrawing her hands from his grasp, “that you’re joking.”
He laughed uncomfortably. “Of course, I am.” He really needed to break the ice block she’d suddenly placed between them. “I was just joking. You know,” he nodded, “that’s something you’re going to have to get used to.”
“And what’s that? Your lewd way of joking?”
The bristle in her tone was unmistakable. He really needed to do something to make her relax. “I’m sorry, Rayne. I realize now that it was the wrong thing to say.”
She stood and moved toward the door. Her back was stiff as was the rest of her body. Gads, he was such a dope!
“Yes, it was the wrong thing to say.” She peeked over her shoulder at him. “But unfortunately, it is something that needs to be discussed, but not now.” She faced a picture and stared at the scenic drawing of mountains. Her chest rose and fell quickly, and she fisted her hands beside her.
“Rayne, it’s a very delicate subject,” he said, raising from the couch and taking slow steps toward her, “but you know what? Let’s not even think about it right now. We’ll worry about that after we’ve been married a little while and we’re used to each other’s way of teasing.”
When he reached her side, she turned toward him. “I want you to know right now, that this is something I don’t want to do.”
“I realize that.” He folded his arms and sighed. “In fact, if my father was in his right mind, I might be tempted to punch him.”
She chuckled and nodded. “Believe me, I’ve been thinking the same thing about my father.”
“Hey, don’t worry,” he took hold of her hands. “We’ll get through this. And hopefully, when the year is over, we’ll part as friends.”
Calvin could see she was more relaxed because when she smiled, her eyes were so pretty. At least she wasn’t going to slap him.
“Friends. Yes, I’d like that.”
“And...” he stepped closer, “we’ll somehow prove to our good-for-nothing fathers that we are better than they are.”
Her laugh came out louder this time, and he grinned. He loved hearing her laugh. It sure was a lot better than when her glare threw daggers at him.
“We are much better.”
He squeezed her hands softly before releasing them and moving to the door. “So, our marriage will take place a week from today on Valentine’s Day. Alright?”
“Yes. That works.”
He left her apartment feeling a little differently about this one-year adventure. At least he knew that if he made her upset, he’d be able to ease her worries. And he really needed to remember to watch his words.Think before speaking...
After all, he was a lawyer. He’d been taught to think about his words. So then why did he feel like tossing the rulebook right out the window with Rayne Kennedy?
* * * *
THE WEDDING WAS SUPPOSEDto be small. Quaint. Only a few family members and some friends. Rayne hadn’t even invited Eddie. She worried that seeing his sad eyes would break her heart and she’d want to back out. But when she’d arrived at her own wedding with her cousin and a few of her friends from work, Rayne was aghast at what Calvin had done.
Of all places to hold a wedding ceremony... why was it on Calvin’s father’s yacht? Decorations of white and silver were everywhere, and for the flowers... yellow roses. Other colors of roses were also sprinkled around the yacht – blue roses represented joy and harmony, pink for a positive attitude. Butred? Why were there red roses at their wedding? Red represented passion! There would be no passion in her marriage, so why did Calvin want that color?
Acting like the happy groom, Calvin slipped his arm around Rayne’s waist and introduced her to his brothers and sisters and their spouses. He introduced her to his best friends – five of them – and their dates. It surprised her that his mother wasn’t here, only because Rayne knew the woman was still alive.
It was difficult for Rayne to pretend she was happy about her wedding day, but she must play the part, just as Calvin was doing. Now she was relieved she’d asked Eddie to stay away from the wedding.
There were things she needed to adjust in her life during the next twelve months. She would have to sub-lease her apartment, which thankfully, her landlord understood. Not seeing her apartment every day wouldn’t upset her as much as not seeing Eddie every day or talking to him on the phone. Could she really go through with this?
