CHAPTER 15

 

 

Desmond saw her the moment she rolled up in the parking lot with her little, navy blue Honda. He’d been standing in front of the courthouse, waiting for her, pacing back-and-forth, dressed in a gray suit, black leather shoes, a royal blue and white checkered shirt and a solid royal blue tie that brought the outfit together.

With his hands in his pockets, he watched her get out of the car and swallowed hard at the sight of her. She actually had on a dress, a white one, but it wasn’t a gown. It was more like a summery, beachy dress – one that stopped at her knees, showing off her legs. She had her hair curled in spirals, bouncing all around her face and then there was her make-up. It was done beautifully and the sparkle of her lip gloss caught his attention. Held it.

“Hi,” Sherita told him, and it took everything inside of her just to say that.

Desmond didn’t say a word. He just stared at her lips. He wasn’t sure what to expect from this courthouse wedding. Would they say vows? Would he have to kiss her? Could he handle kissing her and manage not to feel anything from it, unlike the last kiss they’d shared? He’d been thinking about it last night while sitting at the dinner table.

“So, are we going to do this or not?” she asked.

“We are. Here, take this.” He handed her a platinum band. “You’ll have to put it on my finger, so you may as well hold on to it.”

“Was I supposed to get a ring for myself?”

“No. I got your ring. Let’s go,” he snarled, reaching for her hand.

She looked puzzled.

As if reading her thoughts, he said, “We have to make this look good, right? May as well start now.”

The moment she grasped his hand, she felt a current navigate through her body. And why was he holding her hand with a death grip?

Together, they walked inside of the building. Desmond hadn’t realized how tightly he was holding Sherita’s hand until he felt her attempt to wiggle her hand free. So he loosened the grip, then waited patiently. They weren’t the only couple getting married today.

 

 

“Do you, Sherita Wilkins take Desmond Champion to be your husband?”

Still in acting mode, Sherita looked at Desmond and smiled big. “I do.”

Desmond hid a frown.

“And Desmond Champion, do you take Sherita Wilkins to be your wife?”

He faked a smile. “I do.”

“Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Desmond, holding Sherita’s gaze, leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. It hadn’t been anything further than a prolonged peck on the lips, but it was enough to signify this union. Enough to send his heart pounding again. Enough to confirm what he’d already known – that Sherita was the woman for him. Still, he didn’t like it. He could acknowledge it, but he wouldn’t act on it.

They exchanged rings. Sherita gasped when she saw the yellow diamond Desmond slid on her finger. It was one spectacular, jaw-dropping ring.

Walking back outside, hand-in-hand, the same way they had walked in, Sherita looked at Desmond. “Now what?”

He let go of her hand. “Carry on with your day. I’m going to work. You do whatever it is you do on a Friday.” He turned to walk away then stopped and said, “Oh, almost forgot…” He reached in his pocket and took out a key. “You need to move in today, so if you don’t have anything to do with your time, why don’t you get started with that.”

Sherita took the key from the palm of his hands. “Thanks.”

Desmond turned around and walked away. There was no you’re welcome or enjoy the rest of your day…nothing of the sort. He just walked away.

Sherita shook her head. This had to be the coldest, most unimpassioned wedding in history.

 

* * *

 

“So how’s married life?” Dante asked, withholding sarcasm from his voice as he peeped around Desmond’s office door.

“I knew I should’ve locked the door,” Desmond grunted.

“Come on, Des,” Dante said walking in. “Sherita’s a good woman, and you know it.”

“Do you know how many good women I’ve been with, Dante?”

“I don’t think you know how many good women you’ve been with,” Dante quipped.

“You joke, but it’s true. I don’t know. My point is, I never put a ring on their fingers, so being a good woman doesn’t necessarily mean Sherita’s worth changing for. None of the others were.” With his elbows on his desk, Desmond massaged his temples. “All I know is, Victor better not back out of this deal. I still can’t believe I actually went through with this nonsense.”

Dante took his cell phone from his suit jacket when he heard it beep. He read the text message from Emily. It was a simple I love you text that brought a smile to his face. He texted her back, told her the same and then focused his attention back on Desmond. “After you blew up at dinner last night, I suspect I know what’s going on with you…I know why you’ve never been in love.”

“Dante, I really don’t need this right now.” Desmond kept rubbing his temple.

Ignoring him, Dante continued, “When Mom and Dad died, you were the youngest. We all took their deaths hard, but you took it the hardest, and I tried…I tried to be there for you, but—”

“Stop. All right? Just stop! You got what you wanted, Dante. I married the girl! Now go make Victor happy. Fifty-million dollars is on the line, remember?” Beyond irritated, Desmond pushed away from his desk and left the office, slamming the door. Four hours later, he’d already regretted his decision to marry Sherita, and he was angry at Dante for putting him in this position.