Resigned, Shayla nodded. That was true when presented that way.

  “So, what do you want to do about it? Callie thinks you hate her, and poor Paul is a basket case, because he isn’t sure how you feel about him one way or the other.”

  Nicholas’s hold on her tightened securely. “I know you love your aunt, and I tried to assure her that things would work out. I know that, like me, you believe true love overlooks a multitude of faults. And that would include any she has. Right?”

  Shayla blinked away her tears, then raised her eyes to Nicholas. “Right. Can I see her now?”

  “What about Paul?”

  “I’d like to see him, too.”

  Nicholas smiled down at her. “Later. It’s been one hell of a day, and right now I think we both need this.” He leaned down and captured her lips. The heat in his kiss warmed her soul, repaired her torn heart, and promised her many tomorrows with him. It also made her thankful for the day Nicholas Chenault had walked into her life.

  Shayla was standing at the window when she heard the sound of the door to Nicholas’s office opening. Taking a deep breath, she turned around to face the older couple who had walked in behind Nicholas.

  Her gaze immediately lit on her aunt’s broken features before moving to Paul’s stiff and uncertain stance. They were the two people who had created her. She could imagine a young, handsome, self-assured Paul Dunlap falling in love with the beautiful, vibrant, and classy Callie Foster. Seeing them now it seemed that was how it was meant for them to be—together.

  Slowly walking over to them, Shayla leaned over and kissed her aunt’s cheek. Then she reached out and took Paul’s hand in hers. Through misty eyes she looked up at them. “Nicholas is right. Not everyone gets the chance to have two sets of parents. I feel blessed that I’m lucky enough to get that golden opportunity.”

  She then pulled the two of them to her, holding them close and feeling the tension leaving them, appreciating the value and importance of true love.

  Chapter 31

  Shayla slowly opened her eyes, and her gaze drifted up to the hard masculine body that had just moved on top of her.

  “You’re awake,” Nicholas said softly as his gaze locked dead center on her mouth.

  The intense look in his eyes as well as the hard body that settled gently over hers shot immediate heat through her bloodstream. She blinked the sluggishness from her eyes and smiled up at him. “It seems, Mr. Chenault, that you have great timing.”

  Nicholas chuckled, and when he did his entire face radiated just how happy he felt. “That’s not all I have. Feel.”

  Shayla sucked in a quick breath when she felt his hardness against her thigh. Her smile widened. “And I guess you want me to do something about it.”

  “I was hoping that you would, but first I think we need to talk about our future.”

  To be quite honest, Shayla didn’t think she would be able to talk at all, not when the evidence of his desire was resting in an area of her body that was too close to home. “Talk?” she asked simply.

  “Yes.”

  “About our future?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why? Do you have any suggestions?”

  Nicholas’s gold eyes glittered with love when he said, “Yeah, I have quite a few, but I think we should start off with marriage. Your father’s orders. And Paul was pretty adamant about it, too.”

  Shayla couldn’t help but smile. She had to get used to the fact that Paul Dunlap was indeed her father. “So he wants you to make an honest woman of me, huh?”

  Nicholas chuckled. “Sweetheart, you’re already an honest woman. Regardless of what Paul wants, what I want is to give you my name, my love, my babies.”

  “Umm, in that order?”

  Nicholas shook his head, grinning. “No. In fact, after last night and not using a condom that one time, it just might be that a baby is somewhere in our future.”

  “I’m game if you are.”

  “So, it’s settled, then,” he said, giving her a smooth smile. “We’re getting married.”

  “Are you sure you really want to, and not because Paul wants you to?”

  He bent his head and his lips grazed hers softly, feeling the quiver that touched her body. “Yes. I’d planned to ask you, anyway, before all that mess with Stockard came up. That’s why I’d wanted you to take the day off to spend with me. I was going to take you shopping for an engagement ring.”

  Nicholas’s words filled Shayla’s heart. She couldn’t seem to quit smiling at him.

  “So I’ll let you set a date.”

  “Do you have a preference?” she asked, still smiling.

  “What about next month?”

  Her smile vanished immediately. “That soon?” Her mind began whirling with all the things she would have to do to pull off a wedding in a month.

  “Sweetheart, if I had my way it would be sooner than that.” He captured her mouth in his, kissing her deeply and thoroughly as a flood of hot sensations ignited passion between them. Shayla wrapped her arms around his neck and tightened her hold.

  “Well…I guess that settles it,” she whispered when he released her mouth.

  “Yes, I guess it does.” His lips quirked when he saw her smile return. “Besides, you aren’t in any position to argue right now.”

  Shayla’s smile widened as she realized just what position she was in. She was flat on her back beneath him, definitely a position she liked.

  “I love you, Nicholas,” she said, lifting her hands to capture his face and trapping his gaze.

  “And I, you. You’re my one true love,” he whispered as he leaned down and captured her mouth. He shifted and smoothly united their bodies, the same way they had promised to unite their lives. As one.

  Epilogue

  One month later

  Shayla had been vaguely aware of the people who had been invited to her and Nicholas’s wedding. She’d only had eyes for the groom. However, as she circulated among the guests she realized just how many people had attended what was supposed to be a small and private outdoor wedding on Sterling’s mountain.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Trent in deep conversation with his wife, Brenna, a beautiful woman he had met, fallen in love with, and married on his African cruise. Trent and Brenna would be having another wedding ceremony in June for the benefit of family and friends who had missed the first.

  Shayla glanced around and saw Angeline Chenault, mother of the groom, standing by the pond, looking ravishing on the arm of the man she was currently seeing, Jessup Baron.

  After stopping to hold conversations with Sterling’s wife, Colby, the Garwoods, the Wingates, and the Madarises, Shayla scanned the crowd looking for Nicholas. She saw him standing next to her parents.

  Her parents.

  She inhaled a deep breath of mountain air, still feeling happy and blessed. Callie and Paul had told her everything, including what had driven them apart twenty-seven years ago. Nothing would make her happier than to see them put the past behind them and get together again. She knew they were pretty close to doing that, since they were now seeing a lot of each other. Aunt Callie had gone sailing with Paul on his yacht for an entire week. And there was also talk of expanding her business and opening another dress shop in Jacksonville. Anyone who saw them together could quickly see that they were still in love, even after twenty-seven years of separation and misunderstanding.

  Shayla’s own relationship with Paul was growing. They had both agreed they would take one day at a time. She knew she had made him happy by asking him to be the one to give her away to Nicholas today.

  Shayla was about to walk off in Nicholas’s direction when she happened to notice Thomas Jordache standing alone near a group of oak trees. She walked over to him. She and Nicholas had made a decision to invite him. It was time to forgive and forget. “Mr. Jordache? Are you enjoying yourself?” she asked, trying not to notice how much weight he had lost.

  “Yes, I am. Thanks for inviting me.”

  Shayla looked at him before asking something that had been nagging at her for a while. “You knew all along that I was Paul’s child, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t acknowledge me as your daughter that day we met.”

  He looked up at her and smiled warmly. “Yes. That day I met with Eva she told me the truth. Even if she hadn’t, it would have been obvious to me after seeing you up close.”

  Shayla lifted a brow. “Why?”

  “Because you and Trent look so much alike. The two of you can pass for brother and sister. Trent has a lot of Paul’s features, and so do you—only you’re a lot prettier than Trent and Paul.”

  Shayla smiled. “Thank you.” She glanced over at where Trent and Brenna were standing. He had whispered something in her ear, and whatever he’d said had brought a warm blush to Brenna’s features and a huge grin to her lips.

  Shayla grinned, as well, seeing how happy the couple were. “So, what do you think of your new daughter-in-law?”

  Thomas Jordache followed her gaze and smiled. “I think she’s a wonderful person who’s truly made my son happy. He’s blessed to have found her. I’m glad that when the time comes, he won’t be left alone. Trent is all I have, but now, for my remaining days, I’ll have a daughter to love, as well.”

  Moments later Shayla was finding her way toward her husband again. He happened to look up and see her approach. Instead of waiting he excused himself from her parents and began moving toward her, to meet her halfway.

  Smiling serenely with love in her eyes, she took his hand in hers. She glanced around the crowd, then looked up at him. “Well, it’s over.”

  Nicholas pulled her to him, closer in his arms. “No, sweetheart, the best part is just beginning. Besides getting a brother-in-law who’s a famous movie star, a sister-in-law who believes in doing everything properly, a beautiful niece, and a pretty nice mother-in-law, you’ll also share ownership of that desk in my office. We haven’t tried it out yet, you know.”

  Shayla grinned. “And you get a father-in-law you’ve known all of your life, a mother-in-law who I think is the greatest, and marriage to your best friend’s cousin. What more could a man want?”

  Nicholas released a deep chuckle before leaning closer, bringing her lips mere inches from his. “I can think of one other thing.”

  In the sight of everyone, Nicholas kissed his beautiful bride for the second time that day.

  TRUE LOVE

  An Arabesque novel published by Kimani Press/March 2009

  First published by BET Books, LLC in 2000.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-2950-5

  © 2000 by Brenda Streater Jackson

  All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Kimani Press, Editorial Office, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ® and TM are trademarks. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and/or other countries.

  www.kimanipress.com

 

 

  Brenda Jackson, True Love

 

 

  Thank you for reading books on GrayCity.Net
Share this book with friends