Chapter 7
The wedding…
The chapel at Hollow Haven Country Club was draped in white roses and baby’s breath, sunlight streaming through stained glass windows onto Coupeville’s elite. I stood beside Lesley, watching his cousin Taiwan marry his longtime girlfriend, feeling elegant and out of place at the same time.
The custom dress I’d selected was perfection, gold velvet that skimmed my body in all the right places. The dress had arrived this morning from the boutique with a note in Lesley’s handwriting:
For today. You look beautiful in everything, but this was special. -L
I was beginning to love his notes. No matter the message.
My Manolo Blahnik heels were the perfect height, and the Cartier watch and tennis bracelet on my wrist caught the light with every movement. I felt like I belonged in this world, standing beside a man who commanded respect just by breathing.
“You had to have the best suit, didn’t you?” I whispered to Lesley as the bride made her way down the aisle. He looked incredible in his custom Tom Ford tuxedo, the black fabric fitting him as if it were sewn onto his body.
“You’re the one stealing the show,” he murmured back, his hand finding the small of my back.
“Thank you. You know you have fabulous taste.”
One of the things I was adjusting to was his constant attention.
We hadn’t been together long, but every day he found ways to show me he was paying attention.
Sometimes it was a simple compliment about my hair or the way I’d handled a difficult client.
Other days, things would just appear, fresh flowers on the kitchen counter, a piece of jewelry that perfectly matched something I’d worn, my grocery order mysteriously completed before I could get to it.
Little gestures that said he was thinking about me even when we weren’t together.
Either Malice was reporting every detail of my daily routine, or Lesley actually listened when I talked.
It was probably both, but I suspected it was more the latter.
Despite his occupation—despite the dangerous world he moved through—nothing I’d witnessed suggested he couldn’t be thoughtful when he wanted to be. Gentle, even.
That realization caught me off guard because I wasn’t supposed to be seeing this for anything more than what it was.
During the ceremony, his hand stayed possessively on my waist, his thumb tracing small circles through the fabric. When Taiwan kissed his bride, Lesley’s fingers tightened slightly, and I felt him looking down at me.
At the reception, we were seated at the family table with Legend and his girlfriend, whom I no longer trusted.
Luckily, we sat along with other key family members.
I played my part perfectly—charming, elegant, the perfect wife—but Lesley made it easy.
For the most part, he wasn’t insufferable.
I could feel the tension between a few members of his family, but he whispered for me not to worry, and I trusted him.
“Beautiful ceremony,” I said to Lesley as we sat down with our drinks.
“Did you want one?” he asked quietly. “A big wedding like this?”
I looked around at the elaborate decorations, the five-course dinner, the happy couple surrounded by family and friends celebrating their love.
“No,” I said.
“No?” His eyebrow lifted. “Most women dream about weddings. You didn’t want the fairytale?”
I took a sip of champagne, choosing my words carefully. “If anything, it would be destination. But most women have people to invite. Family to walk them down the aisle. Bridesmaids who’ve known them since childhood.” I shrugged. “It’s just me. Always has been.”
His brows pulled together. “What do you mean, just you?”
“I mean, I don’t have family, Lesley. No siblings, no aunts and uncles who actually care, no parents to give speeches about how proud they are.
” I looked back at the happy bride surrounded by her family.
“A wedding is supposed to be about bringing two families together. I don’t have a family to bring. ”
He was quiet for a long moment, studying my face for the lie, when he didn’t find it, he replied, “I didn’t know that.”
“Why would you? We don’t exactly share our deepest secrets.”
His hand found mine under the table, fingers intertwining. “Maybe we should.”
I stood, feeling the need to get some air. Thinking about my absent family was still a sore subject for me. He didn’t need to know my sob story to be my fake husband.
I found myself on the terrace overlooking the golf course, the evening air cooled my heated skin; it was as hot as two rats in a wool sock in there. Plus, things had been shifting slowly into territory I wasn’t sure how to chart.
“This spot taken?” I heard from beside me. It wasn’t Lesley, but the man who approached was older, maybe in his fifties, with silver at his temples and laugh lines that spoke of a life well-lived.
“Nope, outside is free to everyone.”
He smiled, extending his hand. “I’m Eric. Friend of the family,” he gestured toward the reception. “Beautiful ceremony. Taiwan’s a lucky man.”
I accepted his handshake. “I’m Colecion. And yes, it was lovely.” I smiled, but not for long. The last thing I needed was for my shark to smell blood in the water.
“Are you family or a friend?”
“Family, I guess. I’m Taiwan’s cousin’s wife.” The words still felt strange in my mouth.
“Ah, the mysterious Mrs. Grimson.” His smile was warm, fatherly. “Taiwan mentioned his cousin finally settled down. Good for him, and good for you, from what I hear.”
We spent a few minutes in comfortable conversation about the ceremony, the venue, and the kind of small talk that happens at weddings between people who don’t really know each other but are connected by family ties.
He told me about his wife, who was the wedding planner.
I gave my props because she had done a beautiful job.
“Everything alright out here?”
Lesley’s voice cut through our conversation, and I should’ve known he wasn’t going to let me out of his sight for long. I turned to find him standing in the doorway to the terrace, his expression unreadable.
“Just talking business,” I said. “Eric’s wife is an event planner, too. She did the wedding.”
“Beautiful job. Ready to go back inside, baby? They’re about to cut the cake.”
“Actually, I should head back in myself,” Eric said, pocketing his phone. “Colecion, it was a pleasure. I’ll make sure Monica receives your praise.”
After Eric headed inside, Lesley moved to stand beside me at the terrace railing.
The possessiveness in his voice was unmistakable.
“Making friends?” he asked.
“Having a conversation. Is that not allowed?”
“Depends on what kind of conversation.” His eyes were darker now, that calm mask slipping just enough for me to see the slight jealousy underneath.
“Come on,” he said, his hand moving to the small of my back. “Let’s go inside. I don’t like you being out here alone.”
The band started playing The Closer I Get to You and couples made their way to the dance floor. This was my song.
“Dance with me,” he said, offering his hand. On the dance floor, he pulled me close, and we swayed to the music. His strong arms wrapped around me, and for a second, I felt like we were a real couple.
“For what it’s worth,” he said softly, “you wouldn’t have been alone. If you’d wanted a wedding, a nigga would’ve made sure you had everything you wanted.”
“Even if it was just your family and my two friends watching?”
“Especially then. You’re my family too, and maybe not here yet,” he said, touching just above my heart, “but when it comes down to it, you know what’s up. I got your back.”
“Lesley,” I started, not sure what I wanted to say but needing to say something about this feeling building between us.
“I know,” he said softly, his forehead almost touching mine. “I feel it too. It’s why I came outside. I didn’t like seeing you talk to another man. At first glance, my mind went to the basement.”
I tried to step back, but he wouldn’t let me. “That’s not funny.”
“Who’s laughing, Coco? You gotta understand, seeing you smile at another man does something to me I can’t control, I’d dead that shit before it got misconstrued. You’re a beautiful woman, and every man in here has had his eyes on you since we arrived.”
“I barely said anything to him. Maybe seven sentences.”
“And that’s seven to muthafuckin many if you ask me. I was never good at sharing. And while I know I’m a lucky nigga, I’m still a crazy one.”
I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to hide my grin while he pulled me in closer and kissed my cheek. I married a mental patient. One minute, his tone was soft and playful, and then it changed; it was like he was switching between characters.
“I’m not a toy to share. Jealousy doesn’t suit you.”
“I’m jealous of anyone who gets your attention when I’m not around,” he murmured against my ear, his breath warm on my skin. “Even harmless old niggas. But you got a light in you, Coco. I wouldn’t dare snuff it out. Shine, baby.”
“Well, if I had a ring, it would be clear I was spoken for. Same for you.”
His gaze sharpened, heat flickering low. “I didn’t know you wanted one.”
I swallowed, surprised by my own honesty. “I didn’t know I did either.”
The song ended, but neither of us moved. We stayed wrapped up in each other, past the contract, past the game we thought we were playing.
Then his phone buzzed against his chest, unwelcome. He didn’t move at first, jaw locking like the world could wait one more second. But the second stretched, and finally he sighed, pulled it free.
“Business?” I asked softly.
His eyes flicked to the screen, then back to me. “Always.”
The spell cracked. Not completely, his hand was still on my waist, thumb tracing slowly across my back, but enough for me to feel the shift.