Recipe for Desire (26 page)

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Authors: Cheris Hodges

BOOK: Recipe for Desire
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“What?” the three women exclaimed.
“When did you two get engaged?” Serena fired out.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Alicia asked.
Devon held his hands out. “Listen,” he said. “I have to go pick up my suit shortly, but this is a surprise. And there’s more: I’m going to Paris.”
Jade and Serena gasped. “Paris? For a visit?” Serena asked.
He shook his head no. “I’ve been given an opportunity to run a restaurant in Paris and to become the face of Paris’s Food Network.”
“And Marie’s going with you?” Jade asked.
He nodded. “This isn’t something that you ask your girlfriend to do, that’s one reason why we’re getting married.”
“I can’t believe you’re leaving us,” Jade said. “But I knew this day was coming eventually.”
“I hate to leave you guys, but Paris has always been my dream,” he said. Jade crossed over to him and hugged him while she silently cried.
“This is wonderful. Devon, I’m really happy for you,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said. “I’m going to need you ladies to help me keep this wedding under wraps.”
“What do you need us to do?” Alicia asked. “This is going to be so much fun.”
“I’ll let you know tomorrow. I have to meet my personal shopper at Nordstrom to get this suit. We can talk about it over breakfast tomorrow, say nine o’clock?”
“All right,” Alicia said. “As long as you’re cooking.”
“Come on, now,” he said as he headed out of the office.
Chapter 25
Marie was getting tired of seeing red. “What’s up with you and this obsession with red dresses?” she asked Adriana when she brought her another red dress to try on. It was the fifth one since they had been in the store.
Adriana held up the red gown, which was trimmed in lace and had a sheer tail. Marie had to admit that it was a beautiful dress. Even if it was red. “Are you telling me that you don’t think this is a show stopper?” Adriana asked as she handed it to her friend.
“I didn’t say that.” Marie held the dress against her body and gazed at herself in the mirror. The dress was hot. But she felt as if it was a little too flashy for the fundraiser.
“I don’t know if it’s appropriate for the fundraiser, though. However, I only have two days to find something.”
“Well, I think your job is done,” Adriana said. “This dress is classy, and if you need to get it fitted, the seamstress is waiting for your orders. Just try it on and I have some shoes to show you.”
“All right,” Marie said, slowly falling in love with the dress as she swished around with it. She was already seeing her hairstyle and thinking of a statement piece of jewelry. Maybe she’d get a large necklace, since the neckline of the dress would show off her cleavage in a daring, yet classic manner.
Old Hollywood,
she thought as she entered the dressing room. Once she put the dress on, Marie’s decision about the dress had been made. “OK, Adriana,” she called out. “I defer to your sense of fashion on this one. This dress is amazing.” Marie spun around, enjoying the way the dress hugged her curves like a second skin.
“Let’s see it,” Adriana said. Marie walked out standing on her tiptoes. “I told you!”
“You were right, Adriana. This dress is delicious.”
She handed Marie a pair of silver stilettos. “And these are going to set it off!”
Marie smiled and took the shoes. “I think you missed your calling, you could be a stylist to the stars.”
Adriana shook her head. “I don’t think so. It was hard enough convincing you to go red.”
“OK, I was wrong,” she said. “This red dress isn’t bad.”
“Are you going to call Rodricko? Do you think he can squeeze both of us in?” Adriana asked as she glanced down at her watch.
“I think he should be able to, especially since I’m about to be his former client. You should lobby for my standing appointment. After all, the face of M&A can’t have split ends, ratty roots, and God forbid, a horrible weave.”
“Ah, that would never happen. But you’re right, I am going to lobby for that appointment. Who’s going to do your hair in Paris? Do you think you’re going to like it there?”
Marie slipped into the shoes and forced a smile. She had no doubt that Devon loved her, but moving so far away gave her pause. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was a little afraid. Glancing at Adriana and the smile her friend had on her face, Marie didn’t want to share her fears. “I think I will,” she finally said. “Paris is beautiful and I’ve been wanting to visit there for years, now I get to live there with the man I love.”
“Are you going to miss Charlotte?”
“Charlotte is a part of me, and I will miss it and all of my friends here. But Paris, it’s a dream for most people, and I’m going to get to live it,” she replied with forced gaiety.
“And Devon,” Adriana said.
“Oh, yes,” she said genuinely. “I used to laugh when I heard women say a man was the best thing that ever happened to them, but in this case it’s true. I really wonder what I was ever thinking about when I dated William. Did I tell you he threatened to sue me?”
“For what? Gaining your sanity?” Adriana laughed. “Word on the street is Mr. Franklin is so down and out that he had to get a real job because no woman would have him. And Greta has a new job. She does promotions for a strip club.”
“Wow, how the mighty has fallen,” Marie said as she examined the silver shoes. “Are you sure this isn’t too Diana Ross from
The Wiz
?”
“No, and I’m impressed.”
“With the shoe?” Marie wiggled her foot in front of Adriana.
“No, silly, with you. I just dished some dirt and you didn’t have anything smart to say about it. That’s not the Marie I’m used to dealing with. Devon has really made some positive changes in your life.”
Marie smiled at her image in the mirror. “He really has. I will never admit this to anyone else, because it sounds so horrible, but that accident was the best thing that happened to me. It really woke me up to how stupid I was being with my life.”
“You could’ve saved yourself a night in jail and a totaled car had you just listened to me and never gotten involved with William. And by the way, Hailey sends her love. She’s decided that she doesn’t want to work in the public-relations industry,” Adriana said as she snapped a picture of Marie with her cell phone.
“Poor thing, but I’m not surprised,” Marie said as Adriana took another picture. “My father took care of William. He served him with papers that said if he comes near me or talks to the press about me, he’ll be sued for a million dollars. Something he clearly doesn’t have. Um, what are you doing? What’s with the pictures?”
“Old time’s sake,” she said with a laugh.
 
 
Devon put the finishing touches on the dessert selections for the fund-raiser when his cell phone rang. Putting the chocolate aside, he answered, “Hello?”
“Devon Harris, you have some nerve,” Kandace said.
“What?”
“I guess you forgot to tell me that you’re getting married,” she said, then laughed. “Congratulations. I knew there was something special about what you and Marie had. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you,” he said, smiling.
“I wish I could be there, but of course my doctor has not cleared me to leave the house,” she said. “And you’re going to Paris. I know how much that means to you.”
“Finally getting a chance to do it right,” he said. “Kandace, I don’t know if I’ve ever told you how sorry I am about what happened all those years ago.”
“Water under the bridge. I guess we were meant to be friends more than anything else. But a word of advice: Don’t mess it up with Marie.”
“I have no plans to do so,” he said. “She means everything to me.”
“I’ve noticed,” she said, then Devon heard Kiana crying in the background. “My baby’s hungry, so I have to go. But congrats again. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” he said, then looked up and saw Marie standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
She smiled sweetly as she sauntered over to him in a pair of silver shoes and a short trench coat. Devon dropped his phone as she untied the coat, revealing a black lace teddy that kissed her curves in a way that made his mouth water.
“Well, hello to you,” he said crossing over to her and pulling her into his arms.
“I missed you today.”
“If this is how you feel when you miss me, miss me every day,” he said, then kissed her neck with a deliberate slowness.
“Umm,” she moaned. “I just stopped by to show you my shoes.”
“You have on shoes?” he quipped as he brushed his lips across her neck again.
“Funny,” she moaned. “So, who was on the phone?”
“Kandace,” he said, then leaned in to kiss her again. Marie brought her hand to Devon’s lips.
“You were telling your ex that you loved her? Seriously?”
Devon stepped back from Marie and raised his eyebrow at her. “I can’t believe that you’re standing here getting upset because I told my friend that I love her.”
“She’s not just your friend, she’s your ex, and it seems that Kandace still gets to you. Am I supposed to be her replacement? Is that why you want to whisk me off to Paris, because you don’t want to see her raising her family with Solomon?”
“Are you serious?” Devon walked away from her and returned to the chocolate. “Marie, what is this really about?”
Marie dropped her head and sighed. This had nothing to do with Kandace and she knew that. When she looked up at Devon, she wanted to tell him that she was afraid, that she wasn’t sure if she could handle being so far away from everything that was familiar to her. He locked eyes with her and dropped his spoon. Crossing over to her, he drew her into his arms. “Aren’t you sure about us?” he asked softly, brushing his fingers across her cheek.
“I’m scared, Devon,” she replied in a near whisper.
“Baby.”
She held her hand up. “This is going to sound crazy to you, but who’s going to do my hair? What am I going to do while you’re running your restaurant and filming your show? There’s only so much tweeting and status updating that I can do. And I don’t want to be a burden to you, sitting around pouting—because I do pout ...”
Devon held her face in his hands and shook his head at her. “Marie ...”
“Maybe you should go to Paris without me at first,” she said. “Make sure that you want your girlfriend tagging along when you start your new life.”
Devon folded his arms and leaned back, wondering if he should tell her that he wasn’t taking his girlfriend to Paris with him. “Marie, do you want me to go without you? What do you think is going to change if you’re not there with me?”
She dropped her head as she tried to put her thoughts together in a coherent way. Why was she pretending that going to Paris with the man she loved was scary? “Devon, I have never gotten to this part before,” she said. “I’ve never been with a man who makes me want to be a better me, and someone who isn’t impressed by the media version of Marie. What happens if we get to Paris and you decide I’m not what you want?”
“I know who you are. You’re the woman I love and that is never going to change,” he said drawing her into his arms. “Why are you having such a hard time believing that?”
She looked up at him and sighed. “I’m tripping, I’m nervous, and I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“That’s because you’ve never been with me,” he said. “I got you, Marie. And if you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop, just keep in mind that when you have both feet on the ground, you can keep walking.”
“I’ve never looked at it that way,” she said with a small smile. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize,” Devon said. “I tell you what, we’re going to make up as soon as I cover up the dessert. Don’t move. I want to see exactly what’s underneath that coat.”
Chapter 26
The day of the fund-raiser, Devon felt like a nervous kitten. The conversation he’d had with Richard Charles two days ago put him at ease, but as the moments ticked down to his wedding, those words of encouragement floated out of his head.
“What’s the matter with you?” Marie asked as she stood behind Devon and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You look as if you’re about to pass out. Look at the tote board.”
Devon smiled when he saw that they’d raised nearly one million dollars for My Sister’s Keeper. He turned around and faced Marie. “You did it,” he said. “Your friends really came through.”
“As well as yours. It didn’t hurt to have Maurice Goings and some of the other Carolina Panthers to put up their jerseys for the silent auction and make those huge donations,” she said.
Devon looked Marie up and down, loving the way her red dress accented her body and made her skin glow.
Adriana waved to Devon, indicating that the pastor was ready. He turned to Marie. “We have to go and make a presentation,” he told her. “And there is a form you need to sign, as well.” He led her over to a small table in the corner where Richard had placed the marriage license underneath some official-looking papers.
“What’s this?” she asked, giving the papers a blasé glance as Devon explained that they were papers signing over the shoes she’d donated to the auction.
“Really?” she said as she signed. “Do you think I’m going to change my mind?”
Smiling, he took the papers from her hand. “Changing your mind is not an option,” he said. “Come on, let’s go make this presentation.”
“What is this presentation?” Marie asked as she looked down at the printed program.
“It’s something that just came up,” he said, taking her hand just as the music switched from thumping jazz to the first chords of the “Wedding March.”
“What’s going on?” Marie asked as Devon led her to the stage.
“Remember you kept talking about waiting for the other shoe to drop?” he whispered as he reached into his pocket.
“Devon?” she asked as he pulled out a velvet box. All eyes turned to the couple as they took center stage.
“I’ve decided that I don’t want to go to Paris with my girlfriend.”
“And you brought me on this stage, in front of all of these people, to tell me this?” Marie snapped, ready to bury her silver shoe down his throat.
“Yes, I wanted to bring you up here in front of all of these people and God because when we get on the plane to go to Paris, you’re not going to be my girlfriend, you’re going to be my wife,” Devon said, then nodded toward Reverend Layton Jackson.
“What?” she stammered, tears streaming down her cheeks as her father approached her.
“I love you, Marie Charles,” Devon said as he opened the box, showing her the four-carat diamond and platinum engagement ring that her mother used to wear. Marie’s knees went weak as he slipped the ring on her finger. She turned to her father, who smiled his approval.
“Told you she’d love it,” Richard said.
Adriana approached the stage and smiled at Marie. “And I told you this red dress was special.”
“I can’t believe that you all got me like this,” she said. Marie glanced at Devon and smiled. “What if I’d said no?”
“Like that was going to happen,” Devon replied confidently. Marie reached over and kissed him.
The reverend cleared his throat. “We haven’t gotten to that part, yet,” he said.
“Sorry, Reverend,” Marie said.
“All right,” Reverend Jackson said. “Let’s get started. Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today for many reasons. To help our fellow man and woman, to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than us, and to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Marie looked into Devon’s eyes as he took her hands in his. “I love you,” she mouthed to him as the reverend continued.
“Marriage is not an institution to be entered into lightly, without forethought and love,” he said. “The couple standing before me has shown love for each other and for others. This fund-raiser for My Sister’s Keeper shows the goodness inside all of us and how love extends from our hearts to the needs of our fellow man. It was that kind of love that brought this couple together and that will sustain their marriage. If anyone here has a reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Devon and Marie glanced out into the crowd and were happy to hear nothing but silence. The reverend nodded at Devon. “Devon, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Promise to love her from this day forward, and cherish her, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
“I do,” Devon said, then kissed Marie’s hand.
She wanted to melt. She’d never felt so loved and cherished. “Marie,” the reverend said. “Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Promise to love him from this day forward, and cherish him, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
She inhaled sharply. “I do.”
“Who gives this bride away?” Reverend Jackson asked.
“I do,” Richard said, then leaned in to kiss Marie. “I love you and I’m always just a phone call away.” He glanced at Devon and smiled, eliciting an uproar of laughter from the crowd.
“She won’t be making that call,” Devon said. “Unless it’s to tell you about the grandkids.”
“Hey, one step at a time,” Marie said with a giggle, though she couldn’t wait for that day to come.
“Well,” Reverend Jackson said. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Devon pulled Marie into his arms and kissed her as if they were in the room alone. She swayed in his arms, never wanting the feeling of his lips and tongue to ever leave her mouth.
When they finally broke their kiss, the crowd applauded excitedly. Marie smiled and looked at her husband. She couldn’t believe that Devon had pulled the wool over her eyes like this. “I’m going to watch you, Mr. Harris.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Mrs. Harris.” He kissed her cheek, and they walked off the stage into the crowd to shake hands with their guests.
Richard stopped the couple. “Devon,” he said. “I’ve never liked or respected the men my daughter spent her time with. I thought she was mocking me with her choices, and she probably was. But you had to be the man my daughter was holding out for. I’m glad. Welcome to the family.” Richard extended his hand to Devon and the men shook hands, then hugged.
“Thank you, sir. And know that I love your daughter more than I thought I could ever love a woman,” Devon replied, bringing a rush of heat to Marie’s cheeks.
“Take care of her, because she’s my little girl, no matter how grown she is. I’m just happy she’s finally grown up.” Richard held his arms out for his daughter, and Marie hugged her father.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she said.
Devon’s friends walked over to the couple, Serena, Jade, and Alicia dying to see the ring. Antonio and James greeted Devon with a glass of scotch.
“Welcome to the club, brother,” James said.
“I don’t know what Serena’s going to do with you in Paris. I guess it’s time to invest in some cooking lessons for my wife,” Antonio said with a smile.
“And for the last time,” Serena said, “I’m going to say this: You didn’t marry me for my cooking.” Antonio kissed his wife’s neck.
“You got that right,” he said.
Devon looked at Marie and got ready to kiss her when an eruption of applause moved through the building. “A million dollars!” someone yelled out, and the band began playing “Celebration.”
Devon spun his wife around. “What a night and what a beautiful site,” he said.
“The flashing total on the board is lovely,” Marie said, looking at the LED image with tears in her eyes.
“Oh, I’m talking about my wife in my arms,” he said, then kissed her with an intense passion that made Marie’s knees quake.
“Wait until you see what I have underneath this dress,” she whispered when they broke their kiss.
“And on that note, we’re out of here.” Devon scooped his wife into his arms and they headed out the door to begin their life together as husband and wife.

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