I Promise (2 page)

“Then there's no way around it. You're going to have to talk to him,” Alex said in a shaky whisper as she folded her arms protectively in front of her.

The uncharacteristic action didn't go unnoticed by Christian. “Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine.” Alex uncrossed her arms. “I think I'm as shocked as you are.”

Shaking her head, Christian fought desperately to make sense of the situation. “You're good friends with Malcolm. Has he ever said anything to you about me…about this?” She made a wide sweep of her hands.

“Do you want me to go find him for you?”

Christian closed her eyes, she didn't want to hurt Malcolm's feelings. She knew after this night, their relationship would forever change. Inhaling to gather her courage, she nodded. Her friend was right. The sooner she got this over with, the better.

“If you want, afterward, I can take you back to the apartment.”

“Thanks, Alex.” Christian leaned over and hugged her friend. “Thanks for everything.”

“It's no problem. I'll go and get Malcolm.”

 

Jordan strolled along the stone walkway, still angry at how everything had blown up in his face. He couldn't blame his father for turning his back on him. The family had expected him to one day take over Opulence. Their once small jewelry store had now turned into a huge conglomerate. Malcolm had made it clear that he wanted no part of the family business, so they all expected Jordan to do the right thing.

Jordan inhaled the fresh fragrances from the gardens' various flowers. A leisurely walk had always calmed him in the past and he sought the same refuge this evening. His father's dismissive and cold attitude toward Jordan's future plans hurt him, but it only made him more determined to prove that he wouldn't fail in his endeavor.

As he rounded a small bend, he found his usual hiding place occupied by a beautiful intruder.

She wore a short, glimmering white-sequined dress with thin straps; in her hands, she held a matching purse. She heard his footsteps and turned to face him. Her beautiful dark-chocolate complexion brought to mind a true African queen.

He moved closer, unable to trust his eyes.

“You scared me,” she said, then looked away.

Jordan smiled unable to believe his luck.

“I'm glad you came out here,” she rushed on. “I wanted to talk to you in private.”

Curious, Jordan crossed his arms. “Really?” Had he met this beauty before? Surely, he hadn't. How could he ever forget meeting her? He could tell she was nervous about something by the way she kept twirling the strap from her handbag around her fingers and avoided his gaze. “Is something wrong?”

A weak smile lifted the corners of her lips. “I don't know what to make of all this. I mean.” She struggled with her words. She blushed prettily and continued, “When I came here tonight, I had no idea that…” Her sentence died as she shook her head.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Jordan asked puzzled.

Her expression sobered. “I'm out of place.” She played with the strap again. “I didn't know why you brought me here tonight, Malcolm.”

“Oh,” he understood now, “I'm not…”

“Please, let me finish. I know we became fast friends and I've enjoyed the six months that we've been seeing each other, but the fact is I consider you more like a brother. And I want us to remain good friends. I didn't expect for you to propose to me in front of all those people.”

“But you don't understand—”

She gave him a pleading look that silenced him. Jordan shifted his weight. Her sad expression wrenched his heart.

“All of this is just too grand for me. I borrowed this dress from Alex.” Her attempt at humor failed. “Please try to understand.” She pulled the ring from her finger. “I can't accept this.”

He lowered his gaze and his heart tightened as he accepted the ring.
An engagement ring?

“I better go now.” She turned.

“Wait!”

She faced him, a sad smile in place. “Malcolm, you know this makes sense. There is still so much you don't know about me, about my family. I accepted the ring because I couldn't…I would never embarrass you in front of your family and friends. I just hope that we can still be friends.”

Jordan's gut wrenched at the sight of her turning away from him, her head held high. He had a sudden premonition that he would never see her again. He panicked. “Can I at least—”

She stopped and faced him.

“Can I at least kiss you goodbye?”
What made me ask that?
The moment he looked back into her earthy-brown eyes, a hunger ebbed at his heart. He wanted her.

She smiled nervously, then moved closer to grant him his request.

Jordan leaned down and tilted her chin up with his fingers. The kiss was meant to be a light peck, but as a fire ignited within him, the kiss deepened into something powerful. It thrilled him to feel her body arched against his. Her erotic scent of jasmine seduced his senses and before he knew it, he had enclosed her in his embrace.

“What in the hell is going on?” A familiar voice thundered.

Jumping apart, they turned to stare at Jordan's twin brother, Malcolm.

C
hristian blinked in horror. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.
Twins?
The word penetrated the boggled haze clouding her mind. Her hand fluttered to her mouth. She had forgotten Malcolm had a twin brother.

Malcolm's mirror image interjected, “I can explain.”

Malcolm stormed toward his brother. Fire blazed in his eyes. “I ought to break your neck.”

Not until he had yanked his twin by the collar did Christian snap out of her reverie. “Malcolm, wait!”

He turned a murderous gaze toward her as it she'd acted as a coconspirator against his trust.

She retreated, momentarily frightened by this side of her friend she'd never seen before. “It's not what it looks like,” she murmured the cliché, but wallowed in despair at how guilty the words sounded.

“It's all my fault, bro.”

Christian turned her own accusing gaze at the man who could only be Jordan. Why did she interfere with the beating he deserved? Why wasn't she angry or humiliated?

She took a bold step forward, determined to defuse the hostility. “Malcolm, it was all a misunderstanding. I thought he was you.”

When his combative posture slacked, Malcolm refocused his attention on Jordan. “You deliberately deceived my fiancée!”

“That's not exactly true.” Christian interrupted before Jordan could answer.

Both men looked at her.

Apprehension stole over her beneath their expectant gazes. “He did try to tell me…I think, but I wouldn't hear him out. So we're both at fault.” She looked to Jordan.

Malcolm's fist lowered. His rage remained visible in his icy expression.

Christian sighed with relief, her own emotions spiraled out of control. How had she found herself in the middle of this?

Jordan pulled himself out of his brother's grasp. His gaze remained locked on her. “I'm truly sorry for the misunderstanding, miss.”

The formal address seemed awkward after sharing such an intimate kiss, but she forced herself to reply in equal measure. “I apologize as well.”

Christian lifted her head and pretended Jordan's intense scrutiny had no effect on her, although butterflies fluttered in her stomach and dizziness lingered from the memory of their kiss.

A moment of awkward silence stretched between them, before Malcolm cleared his throat. Jordan caught the hint.

“I guess you two want to be alone.” He moved forward and took her hand.

A pulse of electricity surged through her body. Before she could snatch it back, he pressed the diamond ring into her palm.

“I think you'll be needing this,” he whispered.

Heat rushed into her cheeks as her gaze riveted on Malcolm. If looks could kill, they'd be nothing more than a pile of ashes.

Indifferent to the icy daggers Malcolm's gaze plunged into his back, Jordan kissed her hand before finally leaving them alone.

Her hand remained warm, as well as her lips, long after Jordan disappeared into the house. She'd almost forgotten about Malcolm until he appeared at her side.

When she stepped back to look at him, her mind made comparisons between the two men. They shared the same midnight-colored eyes and slightly curled lashes. Their short-cropped, wavy hair displayed traces of their Spanish heritage. At six-two and with broad shoulders, the brothers were every schoolgirl's dream and every woman's fantasy.

However, looking at Malcolm as she did now, she didn't feel the same flare of excitement that his brother caused.

“You have made me the happiest man alive.” He pulled her into his arms. Gone was the anger that had moments ago transformed his features. In its place radiated love.

Dread dripped into her veins. She knew what she had to do and she searched for the courage to say the words that would break her heart.

He smiled. “You'll have to forgive my brother. He can be—”

“Forget it.” Realizing that she may have sounded too short, she forced a smile, but it faltered.

“All right then.” He looked uneasy. “Let's change the subject. How are you enjoying the party?”

Tears blurred her vision as a cool breeze whispered across the gardens. She shivered.

Malcolm removed his jacket and draped it across her shoulders. “You must be cold out here. Do you want to go back inside?”

Christian shook her head. Why couldn't she love this kind, handsome man the way he deserved to be loved? Plenty of women would jump at the chance to win his heart.

He gently tilted her chin up to meet his probing gaze. “What's wrong? Did Jordan hurt you?” Bitterness seeped into his voice.

She sniffed and wiped at her tears. “No. It's nothing like that.” Her heart ached with what she was about to do. “We have to talk.”

 

The party was in full swing. Every other minute, someone it seemed, made a toast to the newly engaged couple. The guest list was a Who's Who of Atlanta. Many of them seized this opportunity for networking.

Jordan plastered on an artificial smile for the guests. As usual, most of them confused him with his brother, and congratulated him on his engagement. He corrected some, but grew tired, and occasionally nodded his thanks to others. He looked toward the balcony and out to the gardens. How would his brother take the news?

“How are you holding up?” An angelic voice asked from behind.

Jordan turned to face a striking woman with almond-shaped eyes and an hourglass figure. What astounded him was the fact that the statuesque woman nearly stood eye level with him. She was a stranger, yet she seemed familiar. Curious, he arched his brow. “I've had better days.”

The beauty pushed her hair back and started to say something, then paused. “You're not Malcolm, are you?”

Jordan smiled. “You're very observant.”

She held out her hand. “I'm Alexandria Cheney.”

“Jordan Williams.”

Alex nodded as he accepted her hand. “The infamous twin brother. I've heard so much about you.”

“It seems I'm at a disadvantage.”

“I'm sorry. Actually, I met your brother while doing some part-time modeling for Opulence.”

“Ah, so that's where I've seen you before. Well, it's truly a pleasure.”

They smiled as their hands fell apart.

Jordan retrieved two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter. He winked as he handed her one. “Let's make a toast.”

She lifted her glass.

“To new friends,” Jordan saluted, then clinked their glasses together.

As she sipped her wine, Jordan watched Alex's gaze shift toward the balcony. “So how do you know the happy couple?” He masked his interest by a casual shrug of his shoulder.

She smiled. “Christian is my best friend and roommate over at UGGA.”

Christian. He rolled the name over in his mind and liked the sound of it.

“Have you had the chance to meet her?” Alex asked.

“Only briefly. I ran into her outside in the gardens.”

Alex's interest piqued. “Oh? When was that?”

“Just a few minutes ago.” He took another sip of his drink. Jordan paused when his companion's musical laughter caught and drew a few casual glances their way.

“What's so amusing?” he asked, smiling.

“You,” she answered, sobering, but her eyes still sparkled. “Did she know who you were?”

Jordan flushed with embarrassment.

“I wish I could have witnessed the scene between you and Chris.”

He shifted uncomfortably for a moment. Alex's contagious hilarity soon had him laughing along with her.

A hand pressed against his arm, drawing his attention away from his companion.

Rosa gave her son a withering smile. “May I borrow you for a moment?” she asked, then nodded an apology to Alexandria.

“Sure.” Jordan turned back to excuse himself. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”

“Likewise. I'm sure we'll meet again.”

Jordan offered his arm to his mother and escorted her out of the parlor.

“Dear me, dear me. I can't believe this. This is a nightmare. I can't believe your brother has done this to the family.” Rosa's hand fluttered like a fan in front of her face.

Jordan smiled and shook his head. He, of course, knew what she was rambling about, having finally met Christian the “dreadful girl” his mother had referred to earlier. “Calm down, Mama. It's not as bad as you think.”

“How can you say that? He's trying to ruin this family, I tell you.”

Their butler rounded the corner.

“Clarence,” Rosa called out, “please bring me something for my splitting headache.” To her son she added, “I don't think my heart can take this.”

It took everything Jordan had not to laugh at his mother's dramatics, but he placed a reassuring hand beneath her arm and led her to a cushioned chair.

“Your heart is going to be just fine. Malcolm didn't ruin the family.”

“How would you know? You haven't even met the conniving witch, now have you?”

“Mama—”

“She's a gold digger, I tell you. I know a gold digger when I see one. You should see how she has your brother wrapped around her finger. I tell you he can't see straight whenever that girl is around. Your father had hoped to change Malcolm's mind about his coming on at Opulence, but he can't get a word in edgewise with your brother's talk of moving to Texas. Texas!”

Jordan laughed. “Why Texas?”

“To be near her family. Her family. As if we don't exist. Next, he'll be talking about raising pigs and chickens and heaven knows what else they do down there.”

Clarence returned with two aspirin and water.

Rosa took the pills and swallowed them as if her life depended on them.

“Mama, I wish you would calm down. Malcolm—”

“How can I calm down at a time like this? By tomorrow morning I'll be the laughingstock of Atlanta. My son marrying the daughter of some farmer. I'll never to able to live it down.”

“You're being melodramatic—”

Her pale complexion reddened. “Melodramatic! I assure you, the women at the Peachtree Country Club will laugh me out of Atlanta. And does anyone in this family care?”

“I care.” Jordan took his cue to reassure her.

She smiled as she patted his cheek lovingly. “Don't tell your brother, but you've always been my favorite.”

Jordan's shoulders shook with mirth. His mother often said this to one brother when the other had upset her, when in fact, she loved them both the same.

“Can I get you anything else to drink?” Jordan asked, rising from the chair beside her.

“No, this should be enough for me. Go ahead, enjoy the rest of the party. If you happen to see your father, tell him I want to see him.”

He kissed his mother and left her alone to ramble to herself about the destruction of the family's name.

 

Malcolm closed his eyes, unable to stop the words that crushed his heart. He'd hoped against hope that Christian would accept his proposal. He'd pretended he hadn't seen her brief hesitation when she accepted the ring in front of his friends and family.

The ring.

The hard, cold metal lay in the center of his hand. Anguish made him want to hurl it away in disgust. When he opened his eyes, Christian's sad expression completed his heartbreak.

“I never meant to hurt you,” she said through the tears that slid from her eyes.

He managed to smile, determined to get through this. “It's okay.” Emotion layered his voice. “I appreciate your honesty.” He shoved both hands into his pockets and lowered his gaze.

Christian stepped forward and laid her hand against his cheek.

He looked up.

“I do love you, Malcolm. Just not in the way that you want or need to be loved.” More tears pooled in her eyes. “Can we at least remain friends?”

Malcolm laughed in spite of his misery. In truth, it was the first time he could remember wanting to cry. The last thing he needed to hear right now was the “let's be friends” speech.

She lowered her hand and backed away. “I'm sorry.” She turned and left.

Malcolm's gaze followed her until she disappeared around the bend. He no longer possessed the will to confine his emotions and allowed his tears to fall a he whispered into the wind, “Goodbye.”