When Mariah Smiles

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When Mariah Smiles By Delores Walker

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. When Mariah Smiles by Delores Walker Red Rose™ Publishing Publishing with a touch of Class! ™ The symbol of the Red Rose and Red Rose is a trademark of Red Rose™ Publishing Red Rose™ Publishing Copyright© 2007 ISBN: 978-1-60435-122-4 ISBN: 1-60435-122-5 Cover Artist: Shara Azod Editor: Lara Parker Line Editor: Melissa Glisan All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any ebooks away. Red Rose™ Publishing . www.redrosepublishing.com Forestport, NY 13338

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When Mariah Smiles By Delores Walker

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Chapter One The cordless phone sailed across the room to shatter into pieces against the intricately designed fireplace grate. “If I could get my hand around his neck, I‟d squeeze until...” “Is everything alright Mr. Williams?” the security guard asked cautiously as he peeped into the room, his hand resting on his gun. Travis Williams took a deep cleansing breath and reigned in his anger momentarily. “Just fine Jason. The phone slipped out of my hand. Thank you.” “You‟re welcome, sir.” Jason wisely chose not to comment on the fact that the phone had “slipped” and landed approximately twenty feet away. “Good night, sir.” “Good night.” Travis‟ feet sank into the plush brown carpet as he retrieved the pieces of the phone. He dropped the now useless instrument into the compact trash container behind his huge cherry desk then collapsed into his seat. Travis rested his head in his hands while the telephone conversation replayed in his head. He was sure he had misunderstood when the loan

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officer, Michael, had given him seventy-two hours to pay the accumulated interest on his loan. Michael had called personally to deliver the bad news. “Mr. Williams, you do understand that our economy is very unstable,” he began. Distracted, Travis had been busy fine tuning the last minute details of his latest investment. It seemed Michael felt Travis was over extended, and it would be in the best interest of the bank to require an expedited payment. “Are you serious? I would hardly call it being over extended when I‟m just weeks away from doubling my net worth,” Travis had responded “I‟m sure you understand that I have the bank‟s interest at heart. Please don‟t take this personally,” Michael had continued undaunted. “Of all the… Where‟s my loan officer, Adrian? He‟s been handling my accounts for years.” “He‟s no longer working at this office. He took a position as the head of the Loan Department at our Toledo branch, sir.” “What is the problem? I‟ve never even been late on a payment.” “Oh, perhaps I forgot to tell you my last name? It‟s Young.” “Young? Wait. Did you play college football?” Travis vaguely remembered a Michael Young from his senior year in college. That was the year he led the Fort Valley State University football team to an undefeated

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season. His three touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory charge had garnered him a Most Valuable Player Trophy. Travis glanced down at the heavy silver SIAC Championship ring he still wore on his right hand “One and the same. You made three touchdowns on my watch, Mr. Football Hero. You blew my chance at making pro.” “Put one of your superiors on the phone.” “I‟m afraid that won‟t be possible. They‟re at a wellness retreat. You know — teamwork, love for your fellowman — all that good stuff. Unfortunately, they won‟t return until after your seventy-two hours are up.” “Damn, I‟ve worked too hard to lose it all over some childish rivalry.” Travis contemplated Michael‟s demand. There was no way he could liquidate enough assets in seventy-two hours to cover the payment. Presently, Travis was putting the finishing touches on his latest multi-million dollar investment. He had purchased a floundering cruise line for a song. With a lot of hard work and elbow grease he had finally gotten the ships ready to set sail. However, it was necessary to open a million dollar line of credit to take care of the loose ends. Would be investors were waiting on the success or failure of this maiden voyage. Precisely four weeks from today he would be breaking champagne over the ship‟s bow. Now some jerk was pulling his chain.

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“You do realize I won‟t hesitate to pull my assets from your bank, Mr. Young. How happy will it make your bosses when they lose millions?” After a brief hesitation Michael replied, “The bank will be sorry to see you go Mr. Williams. However, we can collect your cruise line for collateral due on the loan if you default. I believe the several million dollars we stand to gain over the next few years will more than make up for any inconvenience.” “Well, Michael,” Travis had calmly replied. “I believe you‟ve forgotten that old saying we had in college.” “Well, Travis, since the gloves are obviously off I‟ll bite. What saying are you referring to?” he asked obnoxiously. “One you should keep in mind, „Remember where you drop your shit on the way up the hill. You might step in it on the way down.‟” He ended the call and hurled the phone across the room.

Travis impulsively grabbed his rolodex. He froze as an embossed business card fell from the deck. The card read Edward L. Mason, CEO Mason Industries. He could be the answer to his problems. Edward would probably jump at the chance to get involved in Travis‟ life.

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However, Travis would exhaust all other options before asking his father for a dime. He leaned back, steepled his fingers together and forced himself to take a few calming deep breaths. He had always been able to work his way through difficult times. Surely, this wouldn‟t be any different. Travis studied his dual degrees sitting proudly in his mahogany display case. He had been a participant in the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program, or CDEP, during college. It was a one of a kind program offered only at Fort Valley State University. He had used this program to his advantage. Not only had he worked hard and garnered a dual degree, but he‟d made important contacts. His mother, Janice, had encouraged him every step of the way. She told him that hard work paid off in the end and it had. He was able to build a successful career. Travis stood and walked over to the windows that comprised one wall of his office. His company was located on Bay Street, one of the most sought after locations in the city. The Savannah River was easily visible through the huge floor to ceiling windows. This was prime real estate. From his bird‟s eye view he often watched the busy streets below. Although, the reflective glass allowed him to see out, he knew no one could see in. He turned from the window in frustration. Damn it, he had worked his butt off to get here.

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Finally admitting there was no other viable option, Travis swallowed his pride and picked up his cell phone.

Edward Mason hurried toward his office door. He glanced back at his panoramic view and noticed the graying sky. Weather in Savannah, Georgia was always unpredictable. So, at the last minute, he decided to grab his trench coat. As he was taking the coat from his closet the phone buzzed. Edward started back to his desk then decided to let the service pick up. He had an important engagement he didn‟t want to miss. He turned toward the door but when the phone buzzed again, he instinctively grabbed it himself. “Edward Mason speaking… Hello?” Travis had been expecting the service to pick up. “Edward? It‟s Travis.” His son‟s hesitation worried Edward. “Travis is something wrong? Is your mother alright?” The coat slid unnoticed to the floor “Mom‟s fine. You figure that there must be something wrong with mom if I‟m calling.” Travis said sounding more like his confident, assured self. “You know that‟s not by my choice.” “It was a choice you made thirty years ago, Father.”

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Edward sighed heavily. “All right son, let‟s not argue. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He walked around his desk and eased down into his seat. Travis was again hesitant. “I have a business opportunity I‟d like to discuss.” Edward forced himself to listen calmly. He had been waiting for years for his son to ask him for help. As a walking success story, he too, had worked hard to make it to the top. He was almost totally content with his life as it was now. If he could just share his success with the two most important people in his life he would be satisfied. Hopefully, this was the opportunity he‟d been waiting for. “You know that I‟m always interested in business opportunities,” Edward said encouragingly. “I know. That‟s why I thought of you,” Travis paused briefly then added almost as an afterthought. “When can I stop by to discuss it?” “I happen to be free now.” Edward returned his trench coat to the closet. “I‟m on my way.” Travis‟ voice sounded relieved. Edward hung up the phone with a satisfied smile and reached for his rolodex. “Now, if I can just find someone to cover this ribbon-cutting

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ceremony for me. It‟s not everyday that a hospital names a research wing after you. But, my son finally needs me.”

After finishing the necessary phone calls, Edward leaned back in his chair and took a deep cleansing breath. His son was asking for his help. He planned to take complete advantage of this Godsend. He‟d missed out on an opportunity to do the right thing thirty-one years ago. That one lapse in judgment had cost him dearly. He vowed to make sure it never happened again. He looked at the attractive woman in a silver framed photo behind his desk. He smiled and placed the frame deep inside his desk drawer. Edward was carefully perusing the latest issue of Ebony when Travis arrived. Their resemblance was almost uncanny. There could be no denying the bloodlines on his part even if he had the inclination to do so. Travis was the spitting image of his father. They'd both inherited pecan colored skin and broad noses from their African ancestors. The thick wavy hair was undoubtedly a gift passed down from their Native American bloodlines. Light brown eyes and kissable lips completed the recipe for good looks and this particular recipe had produced two devastatingly, handsome black men.

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Their looks had proved to be both a blessing and a curse for each of them throughout the years. In fact, it was Edward's skin that made Janice's family dislike him so much. She was Travis' mother, and the only woman he had every truly loved. Her family had insisted that he was too "light complected" for her. They felt Edward held himself in higher esteem because of his lighter hue. Janice‟s dark skin, in their minds, restricted her to others of her same complexion but Janice had her heart set on Edward. Although her parents finally gave in and allowed the relationship, they had misgivings. They were sure he would leave if the going ever got tough. They spent months waiting for the opportunity to prove themselves right. Unfortunately, Edward had given them that moment.

Travis stepped from the private elevator into the reception area of his father‟s huge suite of offices. Mason Industries not only owned the eighteenstory building, but his father resided on the top floors. Travis followed the directions given by the security guard on the first floor. The offices screamed success. No expense had been spared on the decorations and furnishings. Walnut tables, chairs, and tastefully done paintings were the theme. Projecting a prosperous façade was important to gain clients‟ trust. But, it was a double edged sword, in order to gain investors and trust you had to

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make money. However, in order to make money you had to have investors that trusted you. It was obvious Edward had both. Travis stood on the threshold and watched as his father lowered the magazine he had been reading. Edward slowly rose from behind his huge cherry wood desk. His muscled body was the result of a healthy diet and exercise. His perfectly fitted, charcoal Armani suit showed little wear. His stride was calm and confident as he vacated his seat and headed toward Travis. “Travis. Good to see you son. Come in.” He extended his hand to his son in greeting. “Edward,” Travis answered curtly. He met his father‟s strong grip with one of his own. “Well, take a seat,” Edward paused to allow Travis to be seated then returned to his chair. “How can I help you?” “First, you can help by realizing this is a business arrangement. I want no handouts from you. I neither want, nor need, your help. You had the opportunity when my mother needed help. You didn‟t offer it then. So, please feel under no obligation to do so now,” Travis paused to watch his father‟s reaction closely.

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Edward concealed the pain Travis‟ words gave him with tremendous effort. “By all means, please proceed with your business proposal.” Travis placed his leather portfolio on his lap. “As I‟m sure you are aware, I have recently acquired a cruise line.” Edward always had someone with his or her ear to the ground where his son was concerned. When he was told that Travis wanted to invest in a cruise line he quietly helped make it happen. “Yes, and I‟m sure it‟s a good investment. You have a sound head for business. Just like your old man.” “No, actually my step-father was an abusive, alcoholic. But that‟s another story.” Travis got to his feet. “Look it‟s a sound investment. Here‟s the prospectus.” Travis dropped the leather-bound volume on his desk. “Let me know your decision in forty-eight hours. If you don‟t want to take advantage of this I‟ll find someone who will.” Having delivered his large bluff, Travis turned on his heel and walked out. He rounded the corner from his father‟s office and stopped to lean against the wall as his heart slowly returned to its normal pace. He found himself staring at dozens of plaques that were proof of Edward‟s skill and

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hard earned respect. “Businessman of the Year” and “Most Philanthropic” multiple plaques declared. Despite his personal feelings about his father, Travis knew him to be an astute businessman, despite being ruthless in business dealings. Edward was known for always playing fair. People, often said if they had a choice of partners, it would be Edward Mason. Truth be told, that was one of the reasons Travis had such hard feelings for his father. Under different circumstances, they would have been great friends. If Edward only displayed half the honesty in his personal life that he displayed professionally.... With a small sigh Travis gathered his thoughts and pressed the elevator button. The well-oiled doors slid open without making a sound.

Edward leaned back in his luxurious leather chair. He shook his head in defeat. Maybe it was too late to mend fences with his son. Maybe he needed to accept that their relationship would never be a close one. Well, he knew his son‟s business sense was sound. He didn‟t need to read the proposal. Grabbing a ball point pen, Edward prepared to sign the papers. Suddenly he remembered a recent conversation with Travis‟ mother. She

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didn‟t believe Travis would ever allow himself to love anyone. In his experience, love didn‟t exist. He still felt ashamed of his reaction when he first heard of Janice‟s pregnancy. He‟d left her behind to face the consequences alone. He could still see her face, a mixture of fright and bravado as she confided in him. He told her he needed time to think. Then he‟d left town. He‟d changed his mind within a couple of days and decided to do the honorable thing. He had planned on joining the Air Force and marrying Janice. Edward returned only to find that Janice had been “shipped” off to live with an aunt. He had been unable to find her for three years. Unfortunately, by that time, Janice had married and started a new life without him. Not wanting to interfere with her happiness, he‟d walked away. Throughout the years Edward had tried hard to make his own life. He‟d had his share of girlfriends, some of whom had even shared his condo but he had never married. Edward loved only one woman. That woman was Janice. He had spent half his lifetime regretting choices he‟d made and now it looked as if he would grow old alone. Edward would make sure that didn‟t happen to his son.

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He was deathly afraid that the few sentences of the contract, binding them together, even for a little while, would give Travis even more reason to hate him. Then, after gathering his thoughts, he began to compose an ironclad clause.

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Chapter Two

Travis grabbed a towel as he finished the last repetitions on his bench press. When his muscles protested violently he realized he'd probably overdone it. He snatched a V-8 from the fully stocked fridge in his training room. Pausing a minute, he laid the ice-cold beverage on his forehead. He usually felt much less stressed after a good workout. Today, fortunately, was no exception. Absent-mindedly he attempted a few "he-man" poses in front of the full-length mirrors on the wall. His eighteen-inch biceps glistened with sweat and his six-pack abs rippled as he posed. “Thank God it‟s Friday.” All of a sudden a picture of Jessica popped into his head. "Please don't let today be Friday." He quickly checked the calendar to find that indeed it was. He glanced hesitantly at the clock. The clock face glared at him mockingly. "Eight-fifteen, she's going to kill me.'" A couple of quick strides took him to the bar where he snatched up the phone receiver and saw six messages were waiting. Jessica's honey smooth voice came over the line. "Hi, Babe, don't forget, my parents will be here at seven-thirty. I know it's just six-fifteen

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but I‟m getting a little nervous. I‟m sure you‟re probably in the shower but I wanted you to know I have something special planned for later. A little hint, it includes chocolate pudding and strawberries." The next message was at six fifty-five, still honeyed but a little salt edging in. "You must be on your way. This is the third time they've traveled from Macon to meet you. Please, be here on time." Suffice it to say that by the time Jessica left message number six her tone had become strident. The last message ended with a threat to his manhood by way of a steak knife. He thought of hopping in a quick shower and heading over but the thought of a knife wielding Jessica changed his mind. How in the world had he gotten himself into this? This morning he‟d started out with an extremely profitable company and a beautiful companion. Now it looked like he had lost both in less than twenty-four hours. To make matters worse, his future rested in Edward Mason‟s hands. God help him.

Mariah Smith gritted her teeth and began to unstitch the hem of the bridal gown. A slow and methodical process she had already gone through once. Although they had signed a contract calling for a floor-length gown

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and an eight-foot train, they were now uncertain. In fact, Mariah was afraid she would literally be on hands and knees hemming as the bride started down the aisle. The clients didn‟t seem at all concerned that today was Friday and the wedding was to be held on Sunday. Just as the mother started to suggest that perhaps she should just leave the hem tea length after all, Mariah stood up. She had had enough. “Ladies you must make your final decision now. If not, I can‟t guarantee the gown will be ready. You must decide this instant. If not it will be up to me to make the final choice.” The gowns for the bridesmaids and matron of honor were already completed. The teal green garments had been carefully pressed and were now hanging in bags awaiting pick-up. The dress for the bride‟s mother, done in a beautiful emerald, was also finished. Neal Exclusives Bridal Shop and Designs had completed the dresses before schedule as usual. Mariah usually enjoyed the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations. But, not only was enough, enough. In this case it was too much. “Now, ladies what will it be? I am not going to make another cut. I have spent the last forty-eight hours adding beadwork at this hem line. You remember, you insisted that I cut the dress there. Then you changed your

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mind before I finished cutting the material.” Mariah could hear the frustration in her own voice. “But, we have a contract,” the mother whined. She tried to give Mariah an intimidating look though it was hampered by the fact that Mariah had a four-inch height advantage. “Yes, and according to the terms of that contract, you are to have a floor-length gown. I have bent over backwards, literally to try and ensure that you have your dream wedding. You have got to help this process along. I have my reputation to consider ladies. Now, what is it to be?” Mariah pressed. The mother gathered herself preparing to launch into an all out attack. Thankfully, the bride found her voice for the first time in seventytwo hours. “To be honest, I much prefer the full-length”. “Done! It‟ll be ready at ten o‟clock tomorrow morning.” Within minutes, Mariah shooed them out, turned the deadbolt, and hung the closed sign. She then turned on the spotlights in the showcase window. The spotlights were trained on a full wedding party of mannequins. The bride seemed to be tossing her bouquet to a bevy of waiting bridesmaids. The bridesmaids wore dresses in various shades of pink. Each shade was subtly different from the last. The bride herself, however, wore a beautiful fuchsia

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dress. This display had brought in dozens of inquirers, but it was Mariah‟s final display for Mrs. Neal. Mariah sighed; she knew she had at least three hours of work ahead of her. However, she would keep her word the gown would be ready when the shop opened in the morning as promised. Taking a step back she looked at her handy work. She felt the familiar sense of pride and achievement at a job well done. When she had started working with Neal Exclusives, she had signed a two-year contract. Thankfully, this dress marked her two-year anniversary. Mrs. Neal had offered to re-work her contract for a more substantial amount but, Mariah wanted her own shop. Heck, she wanted her own clothing line. Who would have thought that this high school wallflower would be traveling with the upper echelon of the fashion world? Mariah stretched, at five-feet ten; she towered over most people she met. Her deep mocha skin and wide lips had caused her to be the brunt of more jokes than she cared to remember. Now she took pride in her looks and dressed to make the most of them. She wore her hair closely cropped, which emphasized her high cheekbones, and dark brown eyes.

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“The next contract I sign will be ironclad,” she vowed. “And that contract is in the hands of Edward Mason. Thank the Lord”, she added reverently.

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Chapter Three

Mariah waited patiently to be shown into Edward‟s office. The welldressed assistant, Ms. Evans, had indicated that she should be seated. Ms. Evans had come over exactly ten minutes later to offer apologies and reassurances. With military precision she had returned every ten minutes thereafter, offering more apologies and various beverages. In approximately two minutes Ms. Evans would be making the short walk from behind her antique desk for the fourth time. She knew that Mason must be tied up with something vitally important. Besides, Ms. Evans informed her of this with each trip. Mariah had finished reading an article on Edward a little earlier. During the in-depth interview he mentioned a son several times. This was news to Mariah. Edward had never once brought his son to worship services with him. Apparently, the son had inherited his father‟s business acumen; a fact that, according to the article, seemed to make Edward especially proud. This made it all the more unusual that Travis, his son, was not a frequent visitor to the church.

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Ms. Evans was preparing herself to make yet another visit. At the same moment, the door to Edward‟s inner office flung open. A very handsome coffee-colored gentleman exited the office with less than proper decorum. Mariah couldn‟t help but admire the way he wore the pinstriped two-piece suit. It didn‟t take her trained eyes to see that it was hand tailored to perfection. Butter pecan skin and light brown eyes that were fairly menacing sent her heart racing. Good-Looking paused briefly to fling a parting remark “Thanks for all your help, Dad. I owe you.” The way he said it sounded more like a threat than gratitude. Edward stood in the doorway looking oddly calm and somewhat smug. “Mariah, Mariah, come in. I hope I haven‟t kept you too long.” He extended his hand, greeting her with a semi-handshake then a big hug. Somewhat surprised at this enthusiastic greeting, Mariah returned the hug. Although, they often hugged in church, she never expected Edward to be so informal in his office. She reclaimed her balance and began talking. “Not at all sir. In fact, I was enjoying the opportunity to catch up on the latest business and fashion magazines. Being a formalwear designer, I keep a close eye on eveningwear. You know gowns, tuxedos, and wedding dresses. But, I‟ve also noticed that the latest trends in casual wear effect formal

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designs. Especially since hip-hop has decided to take over a corner of the market. Did you know that there are even rappers designing tuxedos these days?” Edward nodded offering her a seat. He then surprised her by not only answering in the affirmative but adding, “They have also made a big impact in make-up and scents.” Catching the shocked expression on her face, he smiled. “I thoroughly research any investments I plan on making. I want you to know I am pleased with your prospectus. It was well put together. Thank you for your attention to detail.” He paused as he went behind his desk and was seated. He picked up her prospectus, but did not open it. “Before we begin would you like something to drink? I can have my secretary bring you something. Perhaps a diet soda, coffee, or water?” Mariah had slid forward and was now perched on the edge of her seat. As he made each offer she shook her head negatively. The only thing she really wanted was to hear his verdict. If the answer was no, she would have to begin looking for a job. She didn‟t doubt her talent, but her name would probably be “mud” by now. This morning she had burned her bridges at Neal Exclusives. She had received a call from Mrs. Neal informing Mariah that she had been

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committed to another wedding. The total package included designing gowns for the bride, bridesmaids, matron of honor and flower girls. The bride wanted the package showcased in the window. She had politely declined at first; however Mrs. Neal had refused to take a polite no for an answer. Apparently, this client had some clout in Hollywood. Mariah had politely pointed out that she could complete the wedding, as an independent designer. She offered Mrs. Neal ten percent as a finder‟s fee and the discussion became more heated. Until finally, Mariah had told her where to get off. Mariah came back to the present. …and so you understand my dilemma.” Edward was saying. “I truly want to help you. But I have to help him as well. After all, he is my son, and I can‟t let him down either. So, here is my proposition.” Edward paused to clear his throat. “Marry my son. At least temporarily, and the business is yours.” Later, Mariah was certain she would laugh at the spectacle she must have presented. “I‟m sorry. You must think I‟m a complete idiot. It‟s just that I could have sworn you said „marry your son‟. I realize I must have misunderstood. Now, what did you really say?” She laughed at her blunder. It took a few seconds before she realized that Edward had not joined in her laughter.

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“That‟s not what you said is it?” Mariah pressed on. “You didn‟t ask me to marry your son, did you?”

Mariah‟s reaction had been comical. It took every ounce of Edward‟s famed self-control to prevent his laughter. “I‟m afraid so. You see, Mariah, my capital is all tied up. I have money that can be invested either in starting up your business, or bailing my son out of a slight financial jam. I can‟t do both. I can not readily use my investors‟ money. Unfortunately, the majority of them are from „the old school‟. Travis is not settled enough for their liking. I would just give Travis the money but the investment would surpass the amount allowed as financial gifts for family members. You, on the other hand, I can invest in. I can easily use personal funds to invest in your business because we are not blood kin.” He paused to see if Mariah was keeping up with the conversation. “I‟m following you so far.” “So I found a loophole. If I give you the money as an investment in your new cruise line, I‟ll be able to help you both,” Edward finished proudly. “Now see, you‟ve lost me.”

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“I can‟t invest in Travis‟s cruise line. Not without beggaring him with taxes. However, if it was your venture I could easily give you money from my personal cash flow. So, you take the money I give you, buy Travis‟ loan from the bank then I will give you all the capital you need to start your design business.” “But where does marriage fit in?” “Well what I just suggested could easily be considered fraud, especially if you then sign the cruise ship over to Travis. However, if he was your husband…” “It would be perfectly legal for me to give him the cruise line,” Mariah finished. “Exactly, now the question is...are you willing to go to this extreme for your future?”

Mariah wasn‟t sure if she should wait for the punch line or look for the nearest exit. If someone had told her fifteen minutes ago that she would even consider something so outrageous, she‟d have slapped them and called them crazy. Yet here she was, stuck between a rock and a hard place. This was an impossible situation. Her mother always said, “Don‟t put all your eggs in one basket.” Now why couldn‟t she have remembered that

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before burning her bridges with Mrs. Neal? Her choices were now either marry for convenience or lick Mrs. Neal‟s feet. Neither choice seemed particularly appealing. Wait a minute she thought, I’m not the only person with choices here. Maybe if Edward‟s son was against this whole idea, than she‟d be off the hook. “What does your son think? I mean he has a vested interest in this as well.” “My son has decided to let you have the final say so. He is somewhat disappointed that my help comes with strings attached. But he knows that my hands are tied. What about you? Will you be able to accept help with my conditions?” he questioned. Thanks a lot Travis. “I need a day or two to think about it”, she hedged. “Can you make it an hour or two? Travis took out a sizeable loan at the bank. This has never been a problem before. At least not until this time…” Edward paused as if he was unsure how much to share with Mariah. “It appears that an old college rival is Travis‟ new loan officer and he has called for an expedited interest payment. This would never have happened with his old loan officer.

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“Now, Travis must come up with the necessary cash or he‟s calling in the loan. He had seventy-two hours, of which forty-eight have passed, so I‟m afraid your decision will have to be quick.” “But what if I don‟t agree? What happens to Travis…? What happens to me?” “Now, I could still float a loan for you. But it would have to wait awhile. I couldn‟t just hand you the money without first trying to use it to save my son‟s business. Travis never asked for this vendetta.” He shook his head, “It would be terrible to lose it all because someone is seeking petty revenge. Now that would be the ultimate kick in the…ah…shins.” Instantly, his words took Mariah back in time. She was again in high school. An outsider, not because of something she had done wrong. She was miserable because of the color of her skin. To compound the insult her persecutors were not Caucasian. They were “high yellow heifers” as her mother had called them. She was simply too dark and way too smart. She felt a kinship for Travis‟ predicament. If she could help the two of them at the same time why not do it? “What exactly would this entail? I mean the marriage wouldn‟t have to be real would it?”

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“No, however, it would have to appear to the entire world as if it were. No one, I mean absolutely no one, could ever be the wiser. If we were convicted of fraud, all three of us would spend a long time in jail.” “But won‟t someone become suspicious of all of the buying and transferring?” she questioned. Edward nodded in agreement. “I‟ve already taken care of that aspect. I have an ironclad contract. It allows for ownership to be turned over by degrees or percentages. Eventually Travis will regain full control over his ships as you will quietly turn control over to your husband. There‟s no limit on transferal of funds among spouses.” Privately Edward was certain that this marriage would become permanent. If ever there were two more perfectly matched people, it was Travis and Mariah. Now, they just had to meet. “If the nice looking gentleman who stormed out of here is Travis... I don‟t know that this will work. He didn‟t seem too keen on the idea of a „shotgun wedding‟”. Edward gave a little grimace. “Travis was somewhat frustrated at the choices he was given. However, he did say that he would respect your decision.” “What happens if I say yes?”

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“I will immediately start the paperwork to purchase the loan. After which, I will write you a check for the entire amount you requested. First, I want you to read over this contract. As long as you get back to me in the next four hours we‟ll still have plenty of time.” Mariah‟s decision was swift. “I don‟t need a lawyer. Is there somewhere private where I can study these?” “Here, use my office. I‟ll just move to the conference room. Get my secretary to buzz me when you‟ve made a decision.” Edward exited quietly. Mariah would have been amazed had she seen the small dance of triumph he performed on the other side of the door.

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Chapter Four

Thanks to Edward, Travis had been able to make the payment personally. It had given him great pleasure to hand deliver the cashier‟s check to the bank. He strode into the gleaming lobby of the huge structure. “Is Michael Young in?” he questioned the young female at the service desk. “Yes, Mr. Williams. He‟s in his office.” She practically simpered. “Would you tell him I‟d like to see him please?” He bestowed his most charming smile. “Why certainly.” She gave him a sappy grin and scampered away to do his bidding. “Travis, what brings you down to our lovely bank?” The hearty voice of the bank‟s CEO carried across to Travis. He turned to see the swarthy middle-aged banker crossing the lobby. “Anderson Dean? I thought you were away on a retreat,” Travis said as he offered his hand.

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“I had to leave early. All of that togetherness was getting on my last nerve.” He paused, “If you tell anybody I said that, I‟ll deny it.” Dean smiled. “So do you have another money making proposition for us?” “No. In fact, just the opposite. I‟m down here to sever all ties with this establishment.” The chairman‟s mouth dropped and his face flushed. “What the…why? Is there something I can do to change your mind? Look. Here‟s your new loan officer Michael Young. Let‟s meet in my office to discuss this.” He motioned with his hand for Michael to hurry over and do Travis‟ bidding. “Michael, I don‟t know if you‟ve had the pleasure of meeting one of our most valued customers. He has apparently gotten it into his head to move his business elsewhere. Now, we can‟t have that can we?” Travis intervened. “Oh, we‟ve met. I‟m here at the insistence of Mr. Young.” At this point, Travis presented the cashier‟s check to Michael. “The expedited payment, just as you demanded.” Travis was sure Michael had been in a hurry to see him and hear him beg for more time. He probably had planned out exactly what he was going to say. Michael would likely have made a lame football analogy and signed away Travis‟ lifework without a second thought..

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What he thought was going to be a dream come true; was now a living nightmare. “What expedited payment? There must be some mistake,” Dean almost blubbered. Travis couldn‟t decide who was more shocked at the appearance of the check, Michael or Anderson Dean. Although, he suspected some of Michael‟s shock was due to Dean‟s timely appearance. He smiled pleasantly and gently placed the check in Michael‟s hand. He turned to face Anderson who appeared to be in a state of shock. Travis offered his hand, Anderson shook it firmly. “Thank you. You have helped me become what I am today. Now if you don‟t mind, I need to take care of a few wire transfers. I‟ve found a bank that trusts my decision making process, as this one once did.” “But we did...I mean we do. I mean, what the hell is going on here Michael? This is one of the bank‟s most valuable accounts…” Anderson visibly gathered his thoughts. “If you‟d just give me a few moments, I promise I‟ll straighten this out.” Michael could feel the ship sinking, with him on it. “I believe there‟s been some mistake. I never actually intended for you to make this payment. I was merely running through some ideas…thinking aloud, if you will.”

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“Well, keep thinking…while you‟re doing that, I‟ll be transferring my money.” Travis turned toward the nearest customer service desk. “Travis there must be something I can do,” Dean said plaintively. Travis started to walk away then paused. “Oh, I almost forgot, Anderson there is something you could do for me…” Dean looked at Travis gratefully. “Just name it.” He was positively giddy at the opportunity to save several million. “I need your authorization on these withdrawals.” Travis withdrew some forms from the folder he held in his hand. “This one is mine. But, my father gave me authority to transfer his funds as well. So, I‟ll need your signature on the form.” “What the hell have you done Michael?” Anderson practically roared. Anderson looked as if he could easily commit murder. There had to be some missing aspect to the story. He looked speculatively from Michael to Travis. “Sir, there‟s a reasonable explanation for this,” Michael began. Dean lowered his voice as he noticed the interested customers. “In my office... Now!”

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“Michael, remember what I said” Travis couldn‟t resist delivering the final blow. “You might need to check your shoes. It smells like you‟ve stepped in something.”

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Chapter Five

Travis paused in his pacing to readjust his tie for the third time in as many minutes. Edward watched him with carefully concealed amusement. Travis had been very vocal about his dislike of the new clause in the contract. But, with no other options, he‟d signed it. The final decision had been left in Mariah‟s hands at Travis‟ insistence. Edward didn‟t know whether his son was relieved or upset that she had chosen to go through with this whole wedded bliss idea. Travis felt nervous about meeting her. Especially after he had discovered she was the dark chocolate honey he‟d seen in Edward‟s office a couple of days back. Although he had been upset, his body had taken notice. Edward decided to take advantage of the time he had with his son. “Travis, I want you to know that I came back.” Edward knew he understood to what he was referring. Travis paused and seemed to be waiting for him to finish. “When your mother told me she was pregnant, I panicked. I had just graduated from high school the week before.

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“I was full of dreams for the future. My parents had such high hopes…anyway I left but I came back. I don‟t know if it‟ll make a difference. I just wanted you to know,” his voice trailed off. “Thanks for telling me.” He paused. “Edward, it does make a difference. Now, tell me a little more about Mariah Smith.” Edward filled Travis in on Mariah‟s background. He told him that she was talented and had just completed a two year contract with an exclusive boutique. “She signed it without benefit of an attorney. So, as you would imagine she wound up with the short end of the stick. Neal promised her that she could design gowns, which was her lifelong dream. As it turns out...Mariah let herself be taken advantage of.”

Travis could relate to her predicament. He remembered his driving need to be in charge of his own destiny. That need is what had led him to the top so quickly. He had almost lost that… but now he held the power once again. Thanks to Mariah. “Mr. Mason?” a soft voice called from the outer office. Immediately Travis felt his pulse accelerate. “Come on in Mariah,” Edward called as he rose from his chair.

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Mariah appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a light pink two piece business suit. The jacket stopped at her waist; the neckline opened to reveal a silky white camisole. Cotton candy was the first thought that popped into Travis‟ head. The frothy concoction was his biggest weaknesses and she looked like a lifesized version of his greatest temptation. Travis noticed Edward‟s reaction was a pleased smile. He managed to hide his annoyance. “Mariah, I‟d like you to meet my son Travis Williams. Travis, meet Mariah Smith your wife to be.” Edward added mischievously. “Pleased to meet you Mariah,” Travis offered his hand. After a small hesitation Mariah accepted his invitation. “Well, this is a little awkward, isn‟t it?” “I know what you mean. We‟ll be man and wife in a few weeks, yet we‟re shaking hands.” He continued to hold onto the hand in question. “I guess you have to start somewhere. A handshake is a good way to start.” Mariah offered as she retrieved her hand.

Travis and Mariah spent the next two hours discussing likes and dislikes. Edward tried to help prepare them for every possible scenario. Their topics ranged from politics to cotton candy. Travis had sheepishly

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admitted a fondness to the sweet fluff. Mariah found it hard to believe that Travis could be a cotton candy addict. “Mr. Mason can you believe that? It‟s nothing but pure sugar.” She noticed Mason‟s guilty expression. “Don‟t tell me,” Mariah said. “You‟re an addict too.” With a guilty nod Edward opened the bottom drawer of his massive desk. He removed two bags of the stuff, tossing one in Travis‟ direction. Travis was stunned at this development himself. “I didn‟t know this was genetic,” Travis said as he opened the bag. “Sorry about that son.” Edward opened his own bag. “But hey, you got the good looks to go along with it.” He laughed aloud. Travis found himself laughing along with Edward. He had always wondered where this particular addiction had sprouted from. Who would have thought a man like Edward would be addicted to….abruptly he stopped laughing. “I really need to be going.” Travis was not quite ready to let go of old hurts. “Oh, just one more thing,” Edward added. “Everyone is going to want to know how you two met.” “Well, Mariah, how did we meet?” asked Travis.

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Mariah smiled. “I was just about to ask you the same thing. I don‟t know. Maybe…deep-sea diving in Acapulco or skiing in the Swiss Alps? Neither one of which I‟ve actually done. Can you think of anything?” She waited expectantly. “You have a beautiful smile,” Travis announced. Mariah looked puzzled. “Ah…thank you.”

This is going to be even easier than I imagined, thought Edward. “Why don‟t we stick as close to the truth as possible, I introduced you two. Travis and I were working late in the office one evening when you dropped in. You two started talking and found you had a lot in common. Next thing you know… you were engaged” “Perfect” Mariah said. “Now, let‟s all get a bite to eat,” Edward said. “Real food this time I hope.” He couldn‟t resist adding. They chuckled as they followed Edward down the hallway of his office suite. He led them into the small canteen where he often grabbed lunch. The larger cafeteria where the bulk of his staff ate their lunch was two floors down. For this reason, Edward made sure to visit the larger one a couple times each week. He always approached a group of employees and insisted 44

on buying their lunches. Then, he took the time to actually listen to their concerns and ideas. It wasn‟t unusual for one of these ideas to be implemented. The entire group would receive a bonus check, or some other award for their efforts. For this reason, employees felt they had ownership in the business and Edward was considered the perfect employer. However, time often demanded that he and his staff have their lunches sent up to their offices. So, they made use of the canteen when they didn‟t have time to leave. Tonight, there was a mini buffet on the largest table. Grilled or fried chicken strips, meatballs, grapes, cheese and crackers were arranged on large trays. A variety of beverages were placed in sterling silver ice buckets. Edward had instructed that finger food be provided as he suspected that they would all be hungry before the meeting ended. They chatted like old friends over the late night feast. After the delightful meal, Edward walked them back to the entrance of his office. “You two probably need to be seen around town a couple of times. Why not take in a play, or go to the opera. I still have box seats.” It was decided they would take in the next opera. Mariah was especially excited at the idea of studying the costumes.

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“It works for me,” Travis said. “Mariah, would you like me to escort you to your car? It‟s dark outside, and I‟d feel much better.” “Mr. Mason? Are you leaving now?” She asked Edward. “It‟s Edward, Mariah. After all, we‟ll soon be kin. No, you two go ahead. I have some last minute phone calls to make.” “Are you sure you‟ll be all right?” She questioned. “Yeah, I‟ll be fine. Good night, you two.” “Good night,” they answered as Travis ushered Mariah out of the door. “Well that went well,” Edward said aloud. “Let me escort you to your car.” He mimicked. “He knows full well that the security guards escort everyone to their cars after hours.” Edward leaned back with a satisfied smile on his face. “I think I‟ll call Janice. She‟ll be excited to hear how well things are going.” He retrieved her framed picture from his desk drawer. “Now if I can just convince her to marry me. Then I won‟t spend so much time talking to myself.”

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Chapter Six

Mariah felt an overwhelming sense of panic as the ship slowly pulled away from shore. She considered jumping overboard…until she remembered the one hundred foot drop. If she was lucky enough not to break her neck, the ship‟s powerful engines would assuredly do the rest. They were off on a six-night, seven-day cruise to beautiful Mexico. “I can do this.” She told herself quietly. “After all you‟re Mrs. Travis Williams. The bride of one of the most sought after bachelors on the continent… I mean former bachelor. Everything will work out fine. He‟ll have his cruise line and you‟ll have your design shop.” After taking a couple of soothing breaths she felt almost human again. Unconsciously, she held her perfectly manicured fingers up to the sunlight. The exquisitely cut diamond stared back at her. She had made a fruitless attempt to talk Travis into something a little more conservative. They had compromised by taking a smaller karat than the original five he had intended. In exchange, he had designed a very unique, yet discrete ring. The pear shaped one and one-half karat was surrounded by a karat of smaller diamonds and sapphires.

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The wedding ceremony had been headline news. One of the South‟s most sought-after bachelors was off the market. People wanted to know who Mariah was, and how she had managed to achieve the impossible. She still couldn‟t believe the media frenzy that had followed the announcement of their forthcoming marriage. Paparazzi had camped out across the street from her house. Old Miss Whitt, her neighbor, happily made a killing on parking fees. The spots on her lawn ranged from seventy-five to two hundred dollars a day. Cookie, lemonade and sandwich sales had also aided the budding entrepreneur. According to the canny older lady, the engagement even allowed her to pay for new furniture. Miss Whitt was now thinking of installing a Jacuzzi. The shrewd little lady had attempted to bribe Mariah into postponing the wedding for a few days. Mariah refused despite being offered fifty percent of the profits. She smiled as she remembered Miss Whitt‟s final offer of sixty percent. Her feisty nature reminded her of Janice. Travis‟ mother had turned out to be somewhat of a surprise. She had assumed Janice would be the same pecan tan as her son. In reality, her skin tone was a lot closer to Mariah‟s. She had worked very hard alongside

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Mariah‟s mother, and between the two of them they had managed to get all of the wedding details sorted out. Now here she was, Mrs. Travis Williams, she was unsure exactly how she felt about her new role. Would she be able to maintain the charade? The press was also aboard ship. Their main concern was supposed to be the maiden voyage. However, Edward had warned them that all eyes would be watching them. Mariah gave herself a mental shake. She had to admit, the whole experience had been wonderful. Edward and her father had gotten along really well. She remembered their participation in the wedding rehearsal limbo contest and smiled thinking about it. She was shaken out of these pleasant thoughts, as she turned and watched three familiar figures approaching. They were engrossed in conversation. Eva Montgomery‟s sultry tones were easily recognizable, even seven years later. Right now the tone was petulant, just as it had been many times in the past. “Honey, I can do „bad‟ all by myself. Eva don‟t need or want a steady man,” she continued. “I just need a little something to scratch my itch…..Well, maybe not that little,” she smirked. “I just need a „no strings

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attached‟ booty call. Why else would I travel all the way to Savannah, Georgia?” For a moment Mariah froze, overcome by memories of past insults and cutting slights. She heard Eva‟s voice as if it was yesterday. If the old saying is true about the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice, then Mariah can just stick her pinky in a gallon of lemonade. They say black is beautiful, obviously they never saw her.” Mariah had never known what caused Eva to dislike her. She had everything Mariah desired, looks, money and popularity. Part of her popularity was undeniably the fact that no one wanted to be caught on the wrong side of her decidedly wicked tongue. She would take someone‟s self esteem and squash it with delight. Eva had gleefully squashed Mariah‟s all too often. But, Mariah was not the same person. In her place was a calm sophisticated woman of the world. Or was she? She was about to find out. She self-consciously checked her apparel. The tangerine color of her two-piece gaucho outfit suited her darker skin tones. Make-up had been expertly applied to compliment her dark eyes and luscious lips. Her short locks drew attention to strong cheekbones. Diamond infinity earrings matched the diamond and gold infinity necklace resting on her full breasts.

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Drawing her composure around her like a cloak, Mariah turned to face her past. “Hello ladies, and welcome aboard Mariah’s Smile,” she said proudly. The looks on their faces were priceless. The expressions varied greatly, ranging from “Is that who I think it is?” to the “Aw, hell,” look displayed on Eva‟s face. Mariah immediately recognized the Gruesome Threesome. All three were considered “light-skinned.” The years however, had treated them with varying degrees of kindness. Back in school, Sharica Lucas had been tall and willowy. Her hair had been cut in a style that drew attention to large brown eyes. She was easily led, and followed Eva‟s every whim. Sharica‟s shape was no longer willowy. Her hair was cut in a bob that drew attention to the shadows under her eyes. Lindsey Smith‟s once voluptuous figure now was merely plump. The make-up that was considered a little extreme in high school was now clownish. It seemed that for each pound added to the scale she had matched it with make-up. Eva looked almost exactly as she had in high school. She was still “Eva the Diva.” Her hair was perfectly coiffured, her toe and fingernails perfectly

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manicured. The same ice still projected from her light brown eyes. This time daggers seem to be aimed at the heart. “Well, what do we have here?” she purred. “Well, if it isn‟t little Miss Mariah Smith? How‟s life treating you sugar? Are you here for the prereunion cruise? We couldn‟t find you to offer you an invitation. I guess you found out anyway.” She looked around at her two cronies and tossed her head. “Actually, I‟m not here for the pre-reunion cruise,” Mariah paused for dramatic effect. “I‟m here on my honeymoon. I‟m now Mrs. Mariah Williams. My husband was romantic enough to name the ship after me. He says my smile is what first attracted him.” Here she paused giving a lovesick look and a contented sigh. She could actually see the cogs turning in their heads as they made the connection. Husband owns cruise ship, cruise ships cost money, and therefore, Mariah has money. Now it was their turn to notice her outfit, her hair, and most importantly her ring. “So you reeled in a really big fish. Congratulations.” Sharica smirked. “With all this money he must have one foot in the grave already.”

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“You‟d be surprised,” Mariah countered. “But, seeing how we‟ll be spending the next seven days together you‟ll get the opportunity to meet my husband.” “I can hardly wait,” Eva muttered. “He must have worked a long time to own something this nice. I ain‟t hating on you girl. If I could find a halfdead one with a boatload of money...I‟d sign up too. I don‟t know if I could handle having his hands on me. But, a girl‟s gotta do what a girl‟s gotta do.” She looked down at her perfectly manicured nails. “Ditto girlfriend. Ditto,” Lindsay added. She and Sharica exchanged high fives. “To tell the truth I didn‟t know you had it in you.” “I think you‟ve got the wrong idea,” Mariah smiled. “You don‟t have to explain girl. It is what it is. Though I never thought of you as one of those gold diggers…But then again it‟s a whole lot easier going through hard times with a rich husband than a poor one.” “You tell it girl. Eva would probably still be married, if Anthony‟s mommy hadn‟t controlled the money,” Sharica started to say. “And we all know that wasn‟t gonna work...” “What is your problem?” Eva interrupted. “I think I know how to put my own business in the street if I wanted it there,” she snapped. “Besides, I

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don‟t think we were talking about me...I thought we were talking about „Miss Thing‟ over here” “Excuse me. Please pardon the interruption.” The accent was definitely Aussie and the uniformed man was definitely handsome. “Madam, you‟re needed on the bridge. Your husband asked me to escort you.” This was said as the young purser offered his arm. “If you are available he would appreciate your company.” “Ladies if you will excuse me? I‟m sure we‟ll have the chance to catch up on old times later.”

They barely waited for Mariah to walk away before the three divas began muttering. This man they decided was either old as Methuselah or ugly as sin. Who else would have married Mariah? But hey, if he was loaded what did age or looks matter? “I know one thing for sure,” laughed Eva. “I would hate to have to share a bed with an old coot. There‟s not a thing he can do for me.” “But pay your bills,” corrected Sharica. “I kinda feel sorry for her.” Lindsay paused, “Not.” “I can hardly wait to meet Grandpa. They are having some kind of special Captain‟s Ball tonight. It‟s especially for the people who are looking

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to book group cruises. I had planned to skip it….but now, I wouldn‟t miss it. We are going to be all up in the formal dining hall this night.”

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Chapter Seven

Mariah walked to the bridge with a jaunt to her step. She knew she shouldn‟t be so excited about showing off Travis. It wasn‟t as if he was her husband in the true sense of the word. However, the Gruesome Threesome didn‟t know that. She could hardly wait to see their faces when they laid eyes on Travis. “Revenge is indeed sweet.” “Excuse me ma‟am,” the purser said with a perplexed look. “Nothing, I was just talking to myself.” “Well, you know what they say. „It‟s alright to talk to yourself. As long as —‟” “— you don‟t answer yourself,” Mariah finished with a smile and a chuckle. Travis looked up to see her smiling at her escort. Without reason he grew irritated with the young man. His eyes flashed a “no trespassing” sign at the purser who immediately recognized the glare for what it was. With a flourish, he relinquished Mariah‟s arm to Travis, gave a proper salute, and bid a hasty retreat. Like most males he could smell the hormones rising.

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There was no way he would willing place himself in the path of a predatory male. No matter how good looking Mrs. Williams was or how nice she smiled. Mariah missed the entire exchange. She was gazing out of the three hundred and sixty degree windows. The sight was absolutely breathtaking. “This is fantastic. I don‟t think anyone could see this view and not be touched to their very soul.” She turned and looked at Travis. “Thank you.” Travis looked deep into her honey brown eyes. He readily agreed with her statement. He couldn‟t believe that anyone could look into her beautiful eyes and not be touched to their very soul. He knew he had been touched. Travis was not a believer in love at first sight. Heck, he didn‟t believe in love. His friends had fallen in love many times and each time they had gotten over it. So would he, it couldn‟t be that hard. Logically, he figured he must just be in deep like, not love. Travis watched Mariah‟s perfect silhouette against the backdrop of the receding shoreline. Okay, it might take awhile. But, get over it he would. In the meantime, he planned to see where these feelings would lead. Travis shook his head. Mariah still waited with an expectant smile on her face. He quickly thought back. What was the last thing she said? His mind

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raced frantically. Bingo. “You‟re welcome. I thought you might enjoy getting a bird‟s eye view.” He found it surprising how much he wanted to please her. Although he could admit pleasing her was not always a priority. He‟d burst into Edward‟s office like a mad man. He couldn‟t wait to tell him he would rather go belly up than be forced into marriage with some tramp. Travis couldn‟t quite believe Mariah was everything Edward described. Only Edward didn‟t have to tell him that Mariah was the complete opposite of what he thought he would find. He had changed his mind the day they met. Travis may have had enough pride to turn down Edward‟s money for his problem. However, he couldn‟t block Mariah‟s dream. So here they were a happily married couple by all appearances. Legally married, but not physically married. This last part is what he didn‟t exactly agree with. He couldn‟t see any reason why the marriage shouldn‟t be consummated. They were man and wife after all. He just hadn‟t informed Mariah of the little change he planned to make. “I ran into some old classmates,” Mariah was saying. From the tone of her voice this was not good news. Focus man, focus, Travis told himself.

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“So, were they good friends of yours?” He turned to watch her expression. “Yeah sure, if by good friends you mean someone who knowingly and willingly makes your life hell, then we‟re like…what were the names of those two from the Greek myth?” Mariah turned and looked questioningly at Travis. Travis looked puzzled. “You know, one of them was thrown in jail while the other agreed to take his place so that the condemned could visit his family before he was put to death. Then he got waylaid by some thieves, and almost didn‟t make it back to keep the other from dying in his place.” Travis still looked puzzled. “Damien and Pythias. That story is one of the greatest examples of trust. I gave my trust to them a couple of times in high school and it proved to be misplaced.” Mariah was deep in thought. “Oh never mind, just suffice it to say, there was no love lost between us.” “I can‟t imagine you not getting along with anyone.” “Take my word for it. It was not my doing. I wasn‟t part of the „in‟ crowd and being from a small town that‟s pretty much a death knell.”

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His handsome brown features took on a serious look. Without realizing it he began to frown. He could imagine the scene vividly. He pictured a young insecure Mariah being tormented by a bunch of upper class snobs. The scene didn‟t set well with his protective nature. Although he had never taken part in it, he‟d seen it played out countless times. He had to intervene on more than one occasion when his teammates had decided to make someone‟s life miserable. He wished he had been able to do the same for Mariah. But, maybe it wasn‟t too late. “I know how nervous you‟ve been about the banquet tonight. So, I‟ve arranged for you to spend some private time at the salon. You go take a long relaxing bath and when you‟re finished call the salon. They‟ll give you the works. Not that you need much help.” “That‟s so incredible,” she grabbed him and kissed his cheek somewhat shyly. “How did you ever think of it?” Travis could hardly admit he‟d thought of it just moments before, so he settled for a contented smile. The salon would have to be called immediately.

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Chapter Eight

Mariah gazed at herself in the full length mirror. “Not bad if I do say so myself.” “You look stunning, Mrs. Williams,” the make-up artist, Danielle, enthused. “Fuchsia is definitely your color.” Mariah turned around. Her make-up was flawless. Danielle had used pale hues of pink to highlight her eyes. Her short cropped hair now sported auburn highlights. Her fuchsia strapless gown hugged her generous curves. The material ended just below tea-length. Tiny seed pearls were hand sewn around the hemline. Gauzy material flowed from the hemline to her ankles. The material matched the filmy wrap she held in her hands. “It‟s my own design,” Mariah announced modestly. “You‟re kidding, right?” Shock was written all over her face. “You probably don‟t recognize my name. But, maybe you recognize my designs. Until recently I was under the Neal Exclusives label.” “Get out! I knew I recognized the look. I know I shouldn‟t ask but, momma always said if you don‟t ask you won‟t know. I‟m picking up a ball

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and chain in a few months.” The young lady laughed. "Do you do reasonably priced designs? No disrespect intended, but I can‟t invest three years salary in one outfit. I‟m willing to pay for quality but I don‟t have to have the „one of a kind price tag,‟ you feeling me?” “I plan to launch more designs at different price ranges. I‟ve been there. In fact, that‟s one reason I started making my own clothing. I could never find what I wanted, at a price I could easily afford. I tell you what, get back with me before the cruise is over, and maybe we can work out an employee discount.” “Thank you. Have a wonderful evening. I can‟t wait to tell my mom about this.” She waved merrily as Mariah headed to the door. Taking a deep breath Mariah opened the salon‟s door. Travis was leaning against the opposite wall looking devastating in a black tux. “I hope I haven‟t kept you waiting.” “It was well worth the wait,” He paused. “Remember, we‟re on our honeymoon. So, people will be expecting a lot of affection. Don‟t be surprised if you find yourself being thoroughly kissed." He appeared pleased at the prospect. Mariah was relieved. She planned to pull out all the stops, for the benefit of the Gruesome Threesome. Now she didn't have to embarrass

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herself by asking for his cooperation. She felt guilty as she nodded. The thought of being held and touched by her husband was strangely exciting. She stepped closer and deeply breathed in his unique scent. Travis felt his body instantly react to Mariah‟s presence. Just the sight or scent of her called his hormones to attention. He linked her fingers through his, and the evening began.

The excitement in the main dining room was almost tangible as the staff hurried through last minute preparations. Mariah looked around at the exquisitely decorated hall. "This is wonderful. People will be impressed." "I certainly hope so, because the doors are opening as we speak." Mariah noticed the tension in Travis‟ voice and tried to relieve some of it. "Listen, Travis, I'm sure my classmates will be here tonight and they want to meet you. They‟re convinced you must be either desperate or an old geezer.” It worked. "What? Why would they think that?" "Because…you'd have to be, either one or both if you married me," she finished in a small voice.

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"Where in the hell would they get that idea?" He felt an irrational anger pumping through his veins. "I hope you told them —" "Mr. Williams!" a frantic voice interrupted his tirade as a waiter rushed up. "Can it wait? I'm speaking with my wife." "It's pretty important sir." "Well, so is this.” After seeing the expression on Travis' face the waiter beat a hasty retreat. As he scurried off, Mariah laid a hand on Travis‟ arm and patted it reassuringly. "It's all right Travis, it'll keep." "If you want I can drop them off at the first land call. I'll fly them home first class. Or, we could drop them overboard in a lifeboat, without the paddles." She smiled at the offers. "Thanks, but no. Now, go off and take care of whatever is wrong. I'll be here." As people begin to file in, the staff naturally turned to Mariah with any concerns. Mariah acted as Travis‟s unofficial right hand. She became more relaxed and confident as she answered questions and solved minor problems.

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“Mariah, Mariah honey, can you give us a hand with the hired help. They can‟t seem to find our seats,” Lindsay called out condescendingly. She was wearing a shimmering midnight blue tea length gown and matching heels. Lindsay had apparently decided to display every piece of jewelry she owned as her accessories overwhelmed an otherwise tasteful garment. “I‟ll handle this, Randall, thanks.” She accepted the clipboard Randall willing placed in her hands. His expression was one of extreme gratitude. “Ladies, you aren‟t on the seating chart. We never received a RSVP. Of course it wasn‟t necessary to attend, but it assured you your choice of dinner companions.” Mariah studied the chart for a few moments. “I believe I can still fit all three of you at the Captain‟s Table.” “It helps to have friends on high,” Eva acknowledged arrogantly. She was stunning in a chocolate two-piece full-length skirt. The halter top displayed Eva‟s strong shoulders to perfection. She wisely wore only gold hoops and bracelets which matched her gold stilettos. The divas followed Mariah‟s graceful figure to the Captain‟s Table. “Well, where‟s old geriatric?” questioned Sharica. Her doublebreasted charcoal dinner suit was a study in perfection. “You mean Travis?” Mariah smiled. “He had to step away to solve a minor crisis but he‟ll be back shortly.”

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“You mean he can still walk? We thought you had to push him from place to place.” “Not yet. He‟s in fine shape if I do say so myself. I must compliment each of you ladies. You all look absolutely stunning.” “These are Neal Exclusives,” Eva stated proudly. “It is almost impossible to find anything classy for women of color. For some reason designers want to keep us in fire engine red or bright yellow. But, I see you must be familiar with the line. That looks to be one of her designs you‟re wearing.” “Well, yes and no. It is a Neal Exclusive. However, it‟s one of my own designs. I am proud to be able to claim rights to your designs as well.” Mariah paused. “You see I know about problems finding colors that compliment your skin tone. In fact, I have you three ladies to thank. “Because of you, I spent a lot of time by myself in high school. So, I put it to good use sketching. After graduation I attended the Savannah School of Fashion Design. And the rest is history.” Sharica was the first to regain the power of speech. “You know, I do remember you walking around with a sketch book.” Her look had changed from patronizing to awe. “Get out! Mariah, honey you have made a mint off us three.”

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“Yeah girl,” Lindsay continued. “We can always find the perfect outfit at one of her locations. Am I right Eva? And to think, we‟ve been helping you make house payments. Now that‟s hilarious. Isn‟t it Eva?” Eva appeared to be fuming. She failed to acknowledge either question. Mariah just wanted to seat them, so she could compose herself. Eva took matters into her own hands. “I‟ll sit here on the end, if it‟s okay with you two?” “Oh, my, my, my. Where did he come from?” interrupted Lindsay. “Okay ladies, I‟m staking my claim right now. I‟ll be good all year long if Santa will leave him under my tree.” Eva took out a cosmetic mirror. “How do I look?” “Fine, but what makes you think that you can claim him. It‟s every woman for herself.” “You tell her Sharica,” encouraged Lindsay. “Oh hell, he‟s headed this way.” Mariah knew without looking they were drooling over her husband. She didn‟t bother to look back. “Sorry ladies, but I‟m afraid he‟s spoken for.” “Oh really, by whom? Just because she got him don‟t mean she can keep him,” Eva boasted.

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“Oh, but I think she can.” Mariah said with steel in her voice, “and she fully intends too.” Mariah watched as realization hit Eva seconds before Travis‟ arms snaked around her waist. He pulled her back against his chest and kissed her neck. “Hi, babe. Sorry that took so long.” He could feel Mariah‟s tension. “These must be the three classmates you mentioned earlier.” He pulled Mariah to his side and kissed the top of her head when he felt her trembling. “Lindsay, Eva and Sharica may I present my husband, Travis Williams.” “Ladies, I‟m pleased to meet you.” He stepped forward and shook each one‟s hand in turn. His slightly spicy, totally sexy scent followed him. “How are you enjoying your cruise so far?” The three stood flabbergasted. This was a Kodak moment if there ever was one. For the first time in Mariah‟s memory all three of the divas were speechless. Travis waited patiently. “That bad huh…or maybe it‟s that good?” he prodded hopefully. “You can‟t think of a way to express what a great time you‟re having?” Finally Sharica pulled herself together long enough to answer. “It‟s fabulous. I believe I speak for all three of us when I say that you‟ve done an

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excellent job. Don‟t I girls?” This was accompanied by a not so gentle nudge with her elbow. The other two nodded dumbly in support of her answer. “Glad to hear it. Now if you‟ll excuse me. I‟m stealing my better half. I haven‟t really had her to myself since we left port. So as soon as possible, we‟re sneaking out the back way to do what honeymooners do.” This was said with a less than angelic wink. Putting her hand through his crooked elbow, he led her away. “As the song says, let‟s „give them something to talk about.‟” With that whispered statement Travis lifted her chin and stole a breathtaking kiss. Now she knew what it felt like to freefall. Her breath was whisked away and she fell in a death defying plunge. Unfortunately for her, there was no rip-cord to pull to stop the plummet. As quickly as it had begun the kiss ended. She leaned against her husband in an effort to catch her breath. She looked into eyes that appeared to be as badly stunned as she felt. As soon as the world stopped spinning she pushed away. “Whoa, momma,” she murmured. “You can say that again.”

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“What happened? I didn‟t know we could feel earthquakes, aboard ship, uh, a tidal wave perhaps.” “I beg to differ, but that felt more like a tsunami. I wouldn‟t mind trying that again…only somewhere a little more private.” Travis grabbed her hand and headed for the nearest exit. “Slow down big boy. Aren‟t you supposed to be the main speaker at tonight‟s little event?” she said referring to the banquet. “Damn, forgot about that. Watch this thirty minute speech turn into, „thanks for coming and goodnight.‟” Mariah socked him in the shoulder and linked her fingers confidently through his. “Come on let‟s get this show on the road.” She walked away with her head held high.

“Oh my God! What the hell is going on?” Eva had finally found her voice. “Please tell me what I think happened, didn‟t.” “That depends on what you think happened,” offered Lindsay. “I think that Mariah just introduced one of the most sought after men on the planet as her husband,” Lindsay counted on one of her fingers. “True,” said Sharica.

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“A brother that not only smells divine but dresses like money,” Lindsay raised a second finger. “Also true,” chipped in Sharica. “And last but not least he looked like he could just eat her up all the way down to her crooked left pinky toe,” Lindsay finished her assessment by raising a third finger. “That pretty much sums up the entire situation, my sister,” agreed Sharica. “Oh well, all I‟ve got to say is more power to her,” added Lindsay. “Who asked you Lindsay?” Eva snapped. “I‟m with Lindsay on this one Eva. I‟m happy for the sister,” Sharica agreed looking surprised at Eva‟s attitude. “Well, I‟m not. Why should she have prime choice when all I ever get is ground beef?” whined Eva. “If she‟s got the smarts to get Mr. Right, she‟s got mad props from me,” Lindsay said somewhat testily. “Well, we know you always lacked the smarts in the first place,” Eva ground out, snapping her fingers. “I can‟t see hating on a sister if she‟s lucky enough to hook a good one,” Lindsay said through gritted teeth.

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Sharica nodded her head in agreement. “Just because he‟s hooked, doesn‟t mean she‟s reeled him in,” vowed Eva. “Honey, did you just miss something? She‟s wearing a rock the size of my elbow. Plus she‟s wearing the man draped over her like a mink stole. I‟d say that‟s pretty much a done deal. What do you think Lindsay?” “Amen sister, Amen.” “Well I say if you can get a fish to bite why not throw a little bait his way,” retorted Eva. “Hold up. I lost my husband to some hussy who disrespected me and my marriage. I swore I‟d never do that to another woman. If you are thinking along those lines — count me out,” declared Lindsay. “The same here. Eva, why do you want to go and mess with sistagirl‟s marriage? What did she ever do to you?” asked Sharica. “Oh, you were all with me in high school, and I don‟t recall her doing anything to either one of you,” whispered Eva. “The operative words being high and school, we‟re grown-ass-women now,” gritted Lindsay. She stepped in front of Eva. “I say let her have her happiness. It‟s one thing if it doesn‟t workout on its own. But nobody‟s got any business messing with someone‟s marriage.”

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“Listen, if her marriage is solid it‟ll hold out. If not, I‟m doing little Miss Mariah a favor. This way she won‟t have her hopes up. Look at that man. Do you honestly think he can be faithful to her?” Eva arched her brow and looked from one to the other. “Honey, leave your history out of this. She may or may not have found a good one, but let her find out. It‟s not as if you actually mean her any good anyway. She never did anything to me. I just hated that the teachers all thought we should be like her. We probably should have tormented the teachers instead,” finished Sharica. “Well, it was just the teachers for you. I had to hear it at home too. My mom hated her mom. Every time Mariah made the honor roll my mom climbed all down my throat. „Why can‟t you be as smart as Mae‟s daughter? Mae never has to come to school for Mariah. Why can‟t you think of something besides boys?‟ I have reason to dislike her. In fact, I have reason to hate her. My life would have been a whole lot easier if it wasn‟t for her,” Eva finished vehemently. Her two companions stared at her in silence. They could have easily pointed out that maybe she should hate her mom and not Mariah. However, they wisely held their tongues.

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Eva continued, “Now she has to go and marry some big shot millionaire. Anthony was well off and I scored pretty big in the divorce settlement. Do you know that my mom was actually proud? She is always bragging about how „Eva got this‟ or „Eva got that‟ in her divorce decree. I finally beat Mariah at something. Now she comes back and marries better. I can‟t let her get away with that.” “Eva, I hate to break it to you, but she already has,” said Sharica. “I wouldn‟t go betting my implants on that honey,” Eva‟s voice dripped with venom. “Let it go girl,” Lindsay begged. “All my life my mother has said the only thing I could do was pull men. I never got A‟s. But I always got my man, and now, I‟m gonna get hers.” Eva turned and walked to her seat leaving her companions to trail behind in silence.

Mariah‟s fingers were linked through “her man‟s” hand as they made their way to the head table. Travis was stopped several times by friends and acquaintances. People were very curious about the woman who captured his heart. It seemed everyone remembered something that they just had to mention to Travis and each time he dutifully introduced his new bride.

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Mariah made a valiant attempt to remember the names and faces of the people he introduced. However, she soon realized the attempt was hopeless. There were too many names and titles. So she set plan B in action. This plan only required a lot of smiling and nodding. She promised herself that she would learn the names of his “inner circle” ASAP. Slowly they made their way to the head table. He gave her a brief smile and whispered, “Let the games begin.” Travis tapped his fork lightly against his crystal wine glass. Conversation ceased. People begin to wind their way towards their seats. Travis seated Mariah and very gallantly placed her napkin on her lap and a kiss on her cheek. This action was greeted by smiles and sighs from most of the ladies present. Travis stood and introduced himself and the captain. He welcomed them to a night in “Paris.” This particular ballroom, he explained, was one of three themed rooms. This concept allowed the guests to dine wherever their hearts desired. In „Paris‟ you would find the most scrumptious meals offered in the city itself. Tonight‟s meal would consist of a choice of aperitif, which the guest now held in their hands. Some had chosen Kir a white wine made with Cassis while other diners chose to stick to Pastis. Hor d‟oeuvres and charcuterie would serve as the L‟entrée. Lamb was the principal dish for this

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night‟s menu. For dessert there would be a tray laden with a variety of cheese. Atmosphere was tantamount to make these concepts work her husband explained. She easily remembered the name of the artist responsible for the mural that covered the ballroom walls. In actuality, it was a succession of murals that ended with a life-sized dining Bateau floating down the Seine River. The boat held a basket loaded with cheese, grapes, strawberries and an unopened bottle of wine. The details were so realistic it seemed you could easily climb in the gondola with your companion of choice. Travis asked the muralist to stand; she and her assistant received a well deserved ovation. He then invited Captain Marshall to make a few remarks. Marshall gave a report on the knots per hour, the distance traveled, and the weather. The captain also said they were on course to reach the Gulf of Mexico as expected then took his seat. Travis gave his brief thank-you speech which amounted to “Thanks for coming.” He explained how he was a newlywed, and was his honeymoon, so he had intentionally shortened his remarks so they could get back to their suite. Travis then pulled his blushing bride into his arms and

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carried her out of the ballroom to thunderous applause. Eva was the lone exception. She stared after the bride and groom and smiled, just like everyone else, however her eyes were void of humor. As soon as the elevator doors closed leaving them alone Travis placed her on her feet. “Well, that was fun.” He smiled good-naturedly. His attitude was infectious. Mariah nodded. “I just wish I could have seen Eva‟s face.” “To say she wasn‟t pleased would be an understatement,” he paused, “They must have really done a number on you in high school.” “You don‟t know the half of it. I spent four years wondering what I did to make them hate me. I finally realized that I was a little too dark. Apparently, vanilla and chocolate don‟t mix in their world.” She removed her shoes and allowed them to dangle from her fingertips. “But, I have to thank them. Without them I would have never made it.” She smiled proudly. “How so?” “Every second of every day during design school I thought about them. I dreamed about making it big and driving home in my fancy car. I‟d see them on the street and wave at them from my red convertible.” She laughed at her adolescent nonsense. “But, reality is even sweeter. I‟m sailing

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along in a cruise ship with my name on it, and to top it all my husband is a certified hunk.” Raising her hand in the universal victory sign she jogged around him in the elevator. Despite himself Travis felt the corners of his mouth turn upward. It would be all too easy to fall in “like” with this woman. He again swept her up into his arms. Mariah finally managed to free her room card from the bottom of her purse. Singing a slightly off key version of Luther‟s “Here and Now,” he carried her across the threshold, kicking the door shut behind him. He deposited her on the floor and twirled her around as he finished the chorus. “Your love‟s the only love I‟ll ever need.” He paused, as passion raged a war with common sense. Mariah continued to smile oblivious to the nuances around her. “Well, I hope that was convincing to anyone looking.” Mariah smiled. “They‟re probably just glad you hushed. I finally discovered something that you don‟t do well.” Travis, who actually sang quite well, gave a chuckle. “Practice makes perfect. Or so I‟ve been told. So what do you think of the deluxe bridal suite? It was once two separate cabins.” He gestured toward the separate

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bedroom. “The bedroom was actually another cabin. I wanted the honeymoon suite to be special. So, I added a few simple touches.” Mariah privately thought that Travis was being too modest. There was nothing simple about the suite. This could easily rival many of the finest hotels around the country. The separate sitting area boasted a loveseat and a recliner. There was a dining area that contained a small mahogany table set with fine china and crystal. A computer desk completed the room with a wireless laptop set in a corner. The entire suite was tastefully decorated in warm shades of honey and gold. “Are you kidding? The only thing that this suite is missing is romantic music. We just need a little Percy Sledge to top this whole thing off.” “I believe I can provide the music,” whispered Travis. The chorus from “When a Man Loves a Woman” sent chills down Mariah‟s spine. With little effort he led her thru a complicated two step. Mariah realized that they were drifting toward dangerous territory. The marriage was just on paper but her mind and body argued that they were truly married. She didn‟t want this moment to end. Thankfully, she didn‟t have to resist temptation. Travis deposited her inside her door, kissed the

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top of her head and turned away. This was not going to be easy, she sighed and closed the door. Travis entered his bedroom and abruptly ceased humming. “This is going to be hell.” He gathered his things for a cold shower. Mariah woke later than usual. She was astonished to see the clock read almost ten o‟clock. Her body needed the rest. She had finally dropped into a deep sleep sometime after five. Travis had left a note explaining he had a ship inspection that morning. He promised to join her on the promenade deck around eleven. Mariah spent some time checking her e-mails, took a quick shower and began preparations for going on deck. She spent more time than usual on her appearance as she felt certain that Eva and her entourage would be somewhere nearby. She sought an outfit that would make the most of her skin tone. A gold bikini and matching skirt seemed to fit the bill. Slipping her feet into matching sandals, she headed toward the promenade deck. Mariah paused as she looked around searching for Travis. She was hailed by Eva. “Girlfriend! Why don‟t you come and join us.” She waved enthusiastically.

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Straightening her back Mariah returned the gesture. “Ladies,” Mariah greeted them as she headed toward their table. A shipman appeared to pull out her chair. Immediately a waiter materialized with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. He produced an equally tall glass of ice. “Compliments of your husband, ma‟am.” Somewhat embarrassed she thanked him. “Will there be anything else?” “No, Thanks.” “Anytime, Madam.” “Must be nice,” Sharica stated somewhat amused. “What?” “Everyone at your beck and call.” “It‟s not like that at all,” Mariah explained. “I hope that you‟re all being treated well.” “Of course, just not as well as you. Not that I blame them.” “What do you mean?” Mariah asked. She reached for her napkin, accidentally knocking it to the ground. Out of nowhere, a waiter appeared to retrieve and hand it to her.

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“Need I say more?” Sharica asked. “Watch this.” She pretended to drop her napkin as well. No one materialized. After a few seconds she picked up her own napkin. “Now drop yours Lindsay.” Lindsay did as she was told. She met with the same result. “Drop yours Eva,” Sharica ordered. “I ain‟t got time for these childish games,” Eva snapped. “You‟re just mad „cause you know, they won‟t pick up yours either,” Sharica teased. “I just don‟t want to drop my freaking napkin on the floor.” The diva all but shouted. “What of it?” “Drop yours again Mariah. This time we‟ll put the stop watch on them,” Lindsay joked. “No,” Mariah whispered looking subconsciously over her shoulder. Both Lindsay and Sharica burst into peals of laughter. Suddenly Mariah found herself laughing along with them. Eva was quietly seething. “Please,” begged Sharica when she caught her breath. “It‟ll make Eva feel better if they don‟t come to your rescue.” “Better yet, both of you do it,” Lindsay invited.

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Mariah shook her head. Sharica took up Lindsay‟s challenge. “Do it. Do it,” she began chanting. “All right, I‟m game if you are,” Eva abruptly changed her mind. She decided to play to her own strengths. If there was one thing she could manipulate it was a man‟s brain. She suddenly removed her wrap. It revealed a bikini top that was barely there. Two tiny scraps of material were bravely attempting to prevent overflow. “On the count of three, one, two, three,” Eva dramatically dropped her napkin from her lap. Until she uttered three, Mariah hadn‟t planned to go along with it. This was too childish to be believed. But the memories came rushing back — Eva and „the girls‟ holding court in the school cafeteria. Only the chosen few were allowed to sit with the royal family. You were granted seats in the area next to them based on your popularity. Mariah, of course, sat in the furthest corner of the lunchroom. Suddenly this seemed like the perfect opportunity for oneupmanship. Almost of its own volition her hand dropped the napkin. It never made the fall; Travis retrieved it and placed it back on her lap. At the same time he planted a kiss on her neck.

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Eva turned in triumphant as a busboy appeared from nowhere to rescue her napkin. A scowl soon replaced her gleeful expression when she turned around and saw Travis was placing another kiss on Mariah‟s neck. “So we meet again ladies,” he greeted them cordially. “Thanks for entertaining Mariah while I was tied up. In order to show my appreciation, I‟m sending a little something over for you to enjoy. Now, if you‟ll excuse us? “But my breakfast,” Mariah began. “How about we order in breakfast? It should be at the suite shortly. The Brunch Sampler is a new menu item. It has a touch of everything, from quiche to strawberries. I thought you ladies might like to try one, if that would be all right with you three?” Not bothering to wait for a reply, Travis took charge. “Samuel, I ordered a brunch sampler for the ladies. Please make sure it‟s coming up soon,” he continued without a pause. “I hate to rush but we didn‟t get too much sleep last night. I believe a nap is in order. Ready sweetheart? I know I am.” He laughed at Mariah‟s horrified expression, his dimples showing. “I mean ready for a nap. What did you think I was talking about? But hey, I‟m ready for whatever you have in mind.” He arched his brows suggestively and winked.

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Mortified beyond belief Mariah beat a hasty retreat from the table. Travis turned and winked at her tablemates. “„Well, a man‟s gotta do, what a man‟s gotta do,‟” he said in a dead-on imitation of Popeye. Tipping an imaginary cap, he strolled behind his wife. As soon as the doors closed on the elevator Mariah rounded on Travis with what seemed like a command. “Will you stop doing that?” “Doing what?” “You know exactly what I mean.” “Oh you mean stop acting like a man on his honeymoon?” “Yes. I mean, no. You know exactly what I mean.” “I am trying to hold my part of the bargain. Are you doing the same?” “That‟s not what I meant.” The doors opened and they stopped talking until they made it inside the suite. “Mariah, you are being watched closer than most soap operas. Your friends…acquaintances,” he corrected, “Are waiting for any sign that this marriage is not as it should be. I‟m sure they would be more than happy to hear that you bought yourself a husband. I, on the other hand, would like nothing better than this marriage to look happy to everyone.” “I just need more time to get adjusted.”

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“Look, I need this. I need this marriage. I want my ship back, I want my business back. I want my life back. Maybe you need to stop and figure out what you want.” Travis yanked the door open and started out. Suddenly, he whirled around and closed the door gently. He began undressing quickly. He reached up to snatch his shirt up over his head. She didn‟t know what game he was playing but she was about to find out. Mariah opened her mouth to fire off the second volley of their argument. Her eyes skimmed over his body and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. “Hurry, give me your cover-up,” he frowned as she continued to stand there mesmerized. Talk about a six-pack. Travis‟ perfectly formed torso started her heart racing. He dropped his shirt to the floor. “Honey, I would gladly stand here all day long and let you look your fill, but, your trio just got off the elevator. They are headed in the other direction. Which means they‟ll soon figure out they‟ve gone the wrong way.” Mariah still appeared confused. “They‟re obviously looking for us. Personally, seeing that it‟s our honeymoon, I think we should be playing house. Now hand it here.” Finally, Mariah snapped out of her trance. She handed him her coverup and slipped out of her skirt.

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“Why are we undressing?” “So it looks like we‟re finishing what we started on deck.” He almost laughed at her confusion. “We took off like bats out of hell,” Travis paused. “Why do they think we were running?” “Oh….OH!” Mariah finally caught his meaning. Travis draped her cover-up across the back of a chair. He took her skirt and tossed it to the floor beside the bedroom door. “Go on in. I‟ll handle this.” Almost on cue there was a knock at the door. Travis quickly stepped away from the door and ushered her into the bedroom as the knocking continued. “Stay quiet,” he whispered. “Coming,” he called. He swung the door open. “I‟ll take the tray…” He stopped and looked surprised. “Oh, I thought you were room service.” His muscular body was in full view.

Even Eva became speechless at the sight of Travis standing there shirtless. “May I help you ladies with something?” he frowned. “Did something happen? Do you have a complaint?”

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Eva smiled prettily, “We just wanted to make sure that Mariah‟s all right. When she left so abruptly, we didn‟t know if she was upset.” “She‟s fine, I assure you, but we‟re kind of in the middle of something.” They literally peeked over his shoulder. The cover-up and the skirt were in plain sight. “No problem, you must excuse us,” Sharica apologized. Lindsay continued rolling her eyes at Eva, “We somehow got the idea that Mariah was crying when she left.” Unexpectedly, Eva ducked under Travis‟ arm and called for Mariah. “I have to make sure she‟s okay. I would never forgive myself if I hurt her feelings on her honeymoon.” The door to the bedroom swung open to reveal Mariah wearing a beautiful light pink negligee. Her hair was mussed. She all but purred, “I assure you I‟m fine. I‟ll be even better when you leave. Thanks, but believe me, I can manage this part all by myself.” Eva turned without another word. She breezed past Travis, managing to accidentally bump into his chest with her bosom. She apologized without sounding a bit apologetic and headed toward the elevators. Sharica and Lindsay had already pulled a disappearing act. They waited by the elevator doors.

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“What is wrong with you? I should have known you were up to no good,” Lindsay threw out in a frustrated voice. “I just need to know the lay of the land, so to speak. Forgive me for doubting Ms. M. It won‟t happen again.” Eva nodded apparently satisfied. “I know it won‟t. „Cause I‟m through with you. Leave her and her marriage alone. Boyfriends, heck even fiancées are fair game. But hands off the married men,” Lindsay stated emphatically. “Any woman who knowingly pursues one is the lowest kind of low,” chimed in Sharica. “Remember, we always said that any one who sets out to break up a home, is trash? Honey, I‟m afraid that includes you. My advice is to let it go. She‟s happy and so is he,” finished Lindsay. Eva knew they were right. She wanted to let it go. But, for some reason it wasn‟t easy. Throughout the years Mariah‟s imagined failure had kept her going. She could always make herself feel better by thinking of Mariah. She‟d always imagined Mariah sitting at a desk at some dead-end job. It was easy to still feel superior if Mariah was still unmarried and unhappy. She probably could have handled her success as a designer. Even a married Mariah was acceptable. If only her husband was some old Geritol®

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geezer. She would have still been happy. Mariah married and miserable was fine. But Mariah married and successful was not to be tolerated. However, they had made a pact. She would play along with these two heifers. For her plan to work, Mariah had to be caught off guard. “All right, all right — don‟t have a heart attack. I‟ll leave little Ms. Goody Two Shoes alone.” She caught the suspicious look the other two shared. “Look do you want to hang out or what?” Eva questioned. “I said I would leave her alone.” For tonight she thought. “Now let‟s get in the elevator. I‟m ready to get my drink on.” Not entirely convinced, the other two joined her. They had known Eva too long. A humble Eva was a dangerous one. Heaven help anyone or anything that stood in her way.

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Chapter Nine

Travis concentrated on controlling his breathing. This was especially difficult with his heart in his throat. Mariah literally stole his breath away. That frothy, lacy concoction made him think of cotton candy, his greatest weakness. But he had just found something more tempting. Mariah nervously cleared her throat. “I decided that you were right. I„ve not been the happy bride.” She chanced a glance back at Travis. His expression puzzled her. He looked strangely hungry. "Uh, Mariah, what color would you call that little number you're wearing?" "Cot...Cotton...Cotton candy. Why?" "God in heaven, I was afraid of that. This must be payback for all of my sins. I need to go check, make sure everything‟s okay. He began striding toward the door. Mariah‟s voice halted his progress. "If you leave now, won't that defeat the purpose? What if they‟re still hanging around? " Travis didn‟t turn around. "If I don't leave…this ship is gonna sink."

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“What?” She questioned confused for a moment. He missed the awareness shining in her eyes. "Isn't the captain supposed to go down with the ship?" a hesitant voice asked him. “Yeah…something like that.” He turned around at the hitch in her voice. "Well, you don't have to go alone," she stretched out her hand invitingly. "Mariah, baby. I'm just a man not a superhero. I don't think...I know I won't be able to abandon ship...once it begins to sink." “I was hoping you'd say that. The last word I want to hear right now is „abandon‟,” with that she grabbed his hand and tugged him into the room. “Sorry, I don‟t know too much about this whole seduction thing,” she apologized. “Don‟t worry. I know enough for the both of us.” “I just don‟t want to disappoint you. I„ve been trying to get the nerve to ask you. I didn‟t know if you were interested.” “Mariah, I‟ve been waiting for this since the first time I saw you.” “I.…you don‟t have to say things like that. I know I‟m not your typical date. I‟m certainly not your first choice for a companion. I read Black Enterprise and Ebony. The women you chose are from the lighter side of the

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color wheel. I‟m not hating you for that because everyone has their own taste. Just don‟t feel obligated to make me feel like Tyra.” “I wouldn‟t patronize you like that. I„ve dated every hue under the sun. I guess, I‟m just caught on camera with those that some think are every man‟s ideal. My ideal mate has nothing to do with her skin color.” Mariah felt a since of relief course through her body. She had prepared herself for his admission that he preferred light-skinned sisters. She had thought he might even offer some lame excuse. But, she couldn‟t doubt his sincerity. “Now, we‟ve gotten all of that excess baggage out of the way. Let me show you how I feel about you.” He pulled her close. There was no way that he could deny his arousal. Not that he wanted too. “I‟ve never...I‟m still a virgin.” “Do you trust me?” “Yes.” “Mariah, look at me.” He nudged her chin upward. “I have been imagining this moment forgive me if I seem a little impatient. I need you to trust me. I would never hurt you. I promise I‟ll take good care of you.” He guided her to the bed and slowly lowered her onto the soft mattress. Travis clasped her hands together and held them loosely behind

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her back. This left her throat vulnerable to his touch. He planted gentle kisses all over her face and eyes. They trailed down her face to her throat. Pausing, he licked the spot where her pulse was throbbing noticeably. As his tongue brushed over that area her heart beat even more rapidly. Good, Travis thought. He wanted her to be as aroused as he was. It had become the most important thing in the world to make this special for Mariah. His heart seemed to be trying to jump from his chest. He couldn‟t remember ever feeling this way. He continued his inspection with his lips and tongue. He brushed her lips and sought entry for his tongue. Shyly she opened up. She was placing her trust in him. He wouldn‟t disappoint her. “Cotton candy,” he murmured as he sampled her sweetness, nuzzling his way into the plunging neckline of her negligee. He pushed the sides apart tearing the delicate fabric as he hungrily latched onto her nipples. Travis spent long minutes there tasting and lavishing each nipple in turn. He reluctantly left her nipples and continued his quest for the sweet taste of spun sugar. He began a slow tender tour of her body. He licked and kissed and sampled her body thoroughly. Slowly, painstakingly, seeking the ultimate quest…his tongue traveled lower.

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Mariah could hardly stand the wait. She felt an urgency that seemed to start at her toes and continue to the hairs on her head. “Please,” she begged. She desperately wanted him to hurry. But she as desperately wanted him to take his time. Her body tingled all over with a need that was indescribable. “Please what baby?” Just before his tongue found at long last what he had been seeking, Travis felt the instinct to rush. He felt the pleasure he was giving her as deeply as if it was his own. His tongue danced along the entrance almost, but not quite slipping inside. He performed this erotic hide and seeks over and over before finally allowing himself access. He plunged his tongue inside and lapped hungrily. Plunging and sucking thirstily. She tasted like honey and smelled like that same sweet nectar. He thrust deeply inside her with his tongue. She tried to withdraw from the sensation by inching backward. Ruthlessly he grabbed her hips and continued to feast greedily. Within minutes he felt a rush of her sweetness. She moaned and screamed his name. Before he realized it he too was caught up in a fierce orgasm. It was the first time he had ever achieved one by just giving pleasure. “Well, I must say you have definitely overcome your shyness.”

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“I thought it was all drivel. I mean, I‟ve read about it in books…I just never imagined that it was so wonderful.” To his disbelief, Travis could actually feel himself blushing. No one had ever paid him a higher compliment. Oh, he had been assured that his technique was good, great even, but Mariah‟s shy admission had him stunned. “Thank you. I aim to please,” he teased. It was Mariah‟s turn to be embarrassed. “I bet you‟ve heard that a thousand times.” “Not a thousand,” he added slyly, “Just nine hundred and ninety nine, including yours.” For a moment Mariah was upset then noticed his grin. “Let me just hold you for a few minutes.” He pulled her gently into his arms. Travis placed a gentle kiss atop his wife‟s forehead. Now that she was truly his he never intended to let her go. He gave a satisfied smile as he listened to her gently snoring. After making himself more comfortable, he closed his eyes and joined her mid-snore.

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Chapter Ten

Mariah woke with a start. Embarrassment came in waves…if only the ship would sink before she had to face Travis again. She couldn‟t believe she had thrown herself at him that way. She peeped through her lashes to find the bedroom empty. Mariah quickly grabbed her robe and raced to the bathroom. As soon as she was safely inside she released the breath she hadn‟t known she was holding. She saw her face in the mirror, and was shocked at her reflection. She looked different; there was a subtle change in her face. “I have can‟t believe the way I acted,” she moaned. “I bet Travis thinks I‟m an idiot.” She stood in the shower making an action plan. She would act as if nothing had happened she decided. As a master plan, she knew hers left a lot to be desired. But she didn‟t think she could complete the back up plan. Stealing a life boat and rowing back to shore was out of the question. She swiftly toweled herself dry. Now, to get dressed…but that would be impossible without actually bringing in something to wear.

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Gritting her teeth, she prepared to make a mad dash to her closet and back. She snatched the door opened and started out, bumping into Travis who stood waiting outside the bathroom. “Oh hi,” she stammered. “I was just about to get freshened up….so, if you‟ll excuse me.” “I ordered us brunch,” Travis stated, ignoring every word she‟d said. He had waited past thirty minutes to hear movement in the bedroom. He had managed to catch a glimpse of her scurrying into the bathroom. Travis had known she would be embarrassed, but he had no intention of allowing her to build a wall between them. Mariah pulled her robe tighter. “Brunch should be here in just a few minutes,” Travis attempted to escort her into the sitting area. He could feel that his light touch on her elbow was not truly welcome. Mariah pulled away. “I need to get dressed. Give me a few minutes.” Oh no, you don’t, he thought. “Don‟t bother,” he said. Quickly he removed his t-shirt and briefs. He confidently strolled to her closet and removed another robe. He turned around allowing her to see the unmistakable affect she had on him. She averted her eyes.

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He caught her chin in his hand and looked at her embarrassed face. “Mariah…” “Room service!” A voice called from the door of the suite and was followed by three discrete taps. “Stay here, I‟ll be right back.” He planted a kiss on her downcast mouth as he headed out. “Don‟t get you dare get dressed,” he called back reading her mind. Travis appeared in the doorway a few minutes later and extended his hand. Mariah took it and walked into the living room. He seated her at the dining table that had been set for two. He removed the covers from several small trays arranged on the table. There was an assortment of food items. One tray contained miniature omelets and quiches. Others held strips of bacon, steak and chicken. A variety of fruits such as strawberries, grapes, orange and apple slices were included. There was a bottle of champagne as well as a pitcher of orange juice and tall glasses filled with ice. Travis filled two plates with a variety of foods. He then poured a mixture of orange juice and champagne into the glasses. He raised his glass and waited for Mariah to do the same. “To these feelings…may we be brave enough to pursue them.”

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Mariah clinked her glass against Travis‟. She drank a little too enthusiastically and choked. Much to her embarrassment, Travis had to pat her on the back and help her catch her breath. “Are you okay?” She nodded her head in the affirmative. Mariah kept her eyes down and her head bowed. She tried desperately to think of a conversation starter. Suddenly she blurted out, “I never even knew Edward had a son.” Travis‟ eyes narrowed. “I've never truly acknowledged him as my father.” He stopped to carefully consider his words. “My mom and dad weren‟t married. She was sixteen years old when she got pregnant with me. Edward didn‟t bother to stick around. So, I was raised by a stepfather who not only drank, but detested my very existence.” Mariah was silent for a moment as his words sank in. “You know it‟s hard for me to picture Edward leaving your mother like that. I never would have believed it…if you hadn‟t told me.” “I just recently began to think about things from his side. He‟d just turned eighteen and his parents were very formidable. They had his future planned from the day he was born. He was going to become a doctor and come back home to practice.” “It‟s sad the amount of pressure parents put on their kids.”

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“For the first time I can see things from his point of view,” Travis continued. “My mom always did. I just never wanted to listen. To his credit, he did come back but by then my mom had been „sent off‟. She went to live with my Great Aunt Shirley. Back then teen moms weren‟t common. It was an embarrassment to the family.” Mariah bit into a strawberry and waited for him to complete his story. She thought he‟d paused to catch his breath. Eventually, the continued silence caused her to glance up. She froze as she noticed that Travis‟ eyes were fixated on her lips. Her tongue had darted out to lick the remaining juice from her bottom lip. Travis shook his head and pulled himself together. “Tell me about your childhood.” “You already know that I was an only child. I was my parent‟s greatest joy. They had long given up on having children. She was thirtyeight and he was forty-one. After fourteen years of marriage they were sure that having children was not in their plans.” “Then along came Miss Mariah with her beautiful smile,” Travis finished.

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“Actually, I didn‟t smile for quite a while. My mom always says I was a sickly child. My dad says I am the reason his hair is so gray. He didn‟t sleep for the first year and a half.” “Your dad seemed very proud at the wedding.” “I know. I just didn‟t have the heart to tell them that this was just a sham. My mom was so excited about planning the wedding and the reception. I couldn‟t take that pleasure away. Now she‟s probably at home dreaming of grandchildren.” “You did the right thing. Let them be happy for the next year. I‟ll tell you what, let‟s go visit at Thanksgiving. There‟s no reason to burst their bubble. Besides, who knows what can happen in a year‟s time.” Mariah wasn‟t quite sure what to make of that statement so she settled for nodding her head. Travis refilled her glass. “So, tell me a little more about the Three Stooges.” “It‟s the classic nerd versus cheerleader story. But, my skin tone made it worse.” Travis raised his eyebrows but said nothing. She took another long drink from her glass. “I have been called everything you can think of; Midnight Mama, Blackberry, oh, and the infamous, tar baby.” She placed her

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empty glass on the table. “For some reason they had a big problem with my skin. There‟s enough prejudice to go around. We don‟t need to practice it within our race.” Travis filled her glass. “I had the same problem — only in reverse. Some people didn‟t like me because they thought I was stuck up. I know it wasn‟t nearly as bad as your experience. My mom told me about growing up deep dark chocolate as she calls it.” Mariah had been shocked the first time she had seen Janice. For some reason she had pictured her as honey brown with long hair. Janice however, was a beautiful dark sister. Her hair was worn short and natural. She walked around looking poised and confident. You couldn‟t tell by looking at her that she‟d ever been any other way. Edward had taken full advantage of the time they had together. He had never strayed far from her side throughout the entire wedding process. Mariah had never seen him prouder than when he escorted Janice down the aisle. The two of them had laughed and danced the night away at the reception. Her guess was they had probably awakened together the next morning. She hadn‟t shared these suspicions with Travis. She didn‟t think he was quite ready to let bygones be bygones.

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“I‟ve been thinking. Why don‟t we try and make this thing work? I know that you only signed up for a year, but, let‟s be man and wife in every sense of the word until then.” He held up his hand to stop her when she would have jumped in. “Mariah, I‟ve told you things in these few weeks that I‟ve never told anyone else. My best friends don‟t know what happened between Edward and my mother. Yet, I‟ve divulged all of my deepest secrets to you.” Well, maybe not all, Travis thought to himself. He had just discovered a secret he hadn‟t known existed. This was one that he wasn‟t yet ready to acknowledge. How can you acknowledge something you don‟t believe in yourself? “You mean true man and wife?” Mariah stressed each word carefully as she slid to the edge of her seat. Travis nodded his head, his expression was hopeful. Mariah was filled with a false sense of bravery, encouraged by the Mimosas she drank so enthusiastically. “On one condition…” “What?” Travis inquired. “I want to know what true carnal knowledge is…” She nodded to emphasize the point.

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Travis almost choked on the blueberry he just swallowed. “How often do you drink?” He asked cautiously. The last thing he wanted was to take advantage of an inebriated Mariah. “I know exactly what I‟m doing. I want to make love with you Travis. I want to feel your body join with mine. I need to know exactly how it feels when a man…” Travis interrupted this detailed explanation. He didn‟t think his body could withstand the entire lecture. “I just want you to be sure…last night we didn‟t…I mean you‟re still…” It was his turn to hesitate. “I‟m still a virgin. Is that what you‟re trying to tell me? But, I‟m not. My body has the experience. Now it has the yearning. In fact, just talking about it has it all in an uproar. It wants...fulfillment and so do I.” Travis stood and swung Mariah into his arms. “If you want to stop you‟d better tell me now. I don‟t know that I‟ll be able to stop later.” “I don‟t want you to stop. I want you to get started as soon as possible.” To prove her point she pulled Travis‟ head down to her waiting lips. Travis was patient and gentle. He loved her with his hands, lips and even his eyes. He looked deep into her brown eyes to make sure she was feeling what he felt. At the exact moment when her need was greatest he

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eased into her. The discomfort was momentary as he used every skill he possessed. She quickly forgot the pain as her senses heightened. She was no longer embarrassed as she vocalized her need. The sensation she felt was almost frightening in its intensity. Instinctively she matched his rhythm, moving to unheard music. Their bodies joined in a primitive dance. The crescendo built slowly and continued with ever increasing speed. Finally they reached the pinnacle, the dance ended and they lay sated and out of breath. “Did I do all right?” Mariah wondered as she untangled herself from his grasp. Travis appeared to be considering the question. “Define all right.” “I want to be able to turn you on. I want you to feel as good as I feel. I‟ve been dreading this moment.” She peered up through her long lashes. “I was afraid that I‟d embarrass myself. I just didn‟t want to disappoint you. So, was it all right?” “Honey, if that was just all right. I know my heart couldn‟t hold up to good, but, I‟d be more than willing to try.” Travis pulled her hand downward to prove his willingness. “But I believe you might be a little uncomfortable.” “Sort of,” she admitted shyly.

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Travis disappeared into the bathroom. Within seconds she could hear water running into the garden tub. The tub was one of only two on board. They were rarely found on ships. Her thoughts were interrupted by Travis‟ return. “Come with me.” Travis swept her up into his arms and carried her into the bathroom. Gently he placed her in the tub before climbing in himself. He took great pains to focus on her and her needs. He denied himself the pleasure of even holding her.

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Chapter Eleven

He‟d heard of a little black dress. So, a little white dress wasn‟t too big of a stretch but this was ridiculous. Mariah was exposing way more skin than necessary. Travis didn‟t like it one little bit. The dress clung to every curve of her body and the plunging back made a bra impossible. To think, he‟d actually been relieved when Mariah had stepped out of the bedroom. The front view was completely innocent. The dress was glued to her body, but her front was totally covered. She had walked out all in white except for her black choker and the tiny black bow on top of her white stilettos. Then she turned to retrieve her wrap from the bedroom. The dress plunged down exposing her back for all to see. The dress was stopped short of being indecent by the large white bow that rested on top of the curve of her generous hips. “You are not wearing that.” “Excuse me?” Her voice practically dripped ice.

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Damn. He hadn‟t actually meant to say those words aloud. True, he‟d been thinking them, but he knew from past experience that confronting a woman about her clothing choice wasn‟t the brightest idea. Luckily for Travis he had always been „quick on his feet‟. “I mean…your wrap. It just seems to detract from the beauty of your dress. It would be my pleasure to stop in at the boutique and pick up a different wrap.” Mariah‟s perfectly arched brow raised skeptically. “Really...how sweet of you.” “I‟ll call down now.” He reached for the phone. “Don‟t bother. I think I‟ll just go without a wrap.” Her smile was a mixture of mischief and innocence. “Why of course, if you‟re certain that you won‟t be too chilly.” “Of course not, don‟t be silly. I plan on dancing all night. I should be fine.” Mariah walked determinedly toward the door. Travis opened it and followed his half-naked, thoroughly sexy wife. Boy was this going to be a long night.

Travis wished he could drill a hole through the captain‟s heart. Unfortunately, the only weapons available were his eyes. He had spent the

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last ten minutes attempting to stare a hole through Captain Marshall‟s chest. It had just occurred to him that maybe he could use brain waves to stop the captain‟s heartbeat. Travis had just decided to go for it when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find Eva had invaded his personal space. There were about three inches separating them. “Good evening, Travis.” “Good evening, Eva.” “You remembered my name, how flattering.” Eva‟s already pouting lips poked out even further. Travis briefly wondered if there was some reason she was wearing that nightmarish red shade of lipstick. Then he realized that he had glanced away from his wife. He turned just in time to see the captain‟s hand move an inch lower on her bare skin. He didn‟t notice the way Eva licked her lips and smiled at his profile. She leaned over and accidentally brushed her breast against his bare arm. Travis was too preoccupied with the captain and his wife. She leaned forward again. Suddenly they were joined by Lindsay and Sharica. “Hello Travis. Eva, we‟ve been looking all over for you,” Lindsay stated.

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“Hi, Travis. Eva, you just disappeared on us. One minute we were talking and the next, you‟d melted away.” Sharica continued. “We were just about to give up and go back to the cabin looking for you. Luckily, I just happened to glance in this direction.” “Isn‟t that just the luckiest thing Travis?” Lindsay questioned. “Yeah, lucky,” he repeated dutifully. “Is something wrong Travis?” “No, not really. I‟m just about to find if my theory is correct.” “What theory is that Travis?” Eva cooed. “My theory that Captain Marshall can steer this ship with one hand in a cast,” he said bitterly. “If you don‟t mind me asking, Travis, why would you make a theory like that?” Sharica wanted to know. “Because if his hand goes a half inch lower; I‟m breaking it.” “There‟s no need for violence. Come on big guy,” Lindsay laughed aloud. “Let‟s go get your girl.” She grabbed Travis‟ hand and led him out on the dance floor.

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As soon as they were out of hearing distance Sharica rounded on Eva with a vengeance. “Leave the man alone,” she said each word distinctly and emphatically. “Why are you all up in my business? Why don‟t you let Mariah take care of her man…if she can,” Eva turned to flounce away. Sharica grabbed her arm to stop her getaway. “Let this be the last discussion I have with you. If Mariah can‟t keep you away, I will. Although, judging by the looks of things, that won‟t be a problem.” She paused, “Eva honey, didn‟t you see the way that man was looking at Mariah? He probably doesn‟t even know we were here. He was way too busy planning how to do in the captain. You don‟t have a chance. Let it go.” “And what if I think I do have a chance? How are you going to stop me?” “I‟ll call in the Delta Force Honey. Don‟t force me to tell your momma.” “You wouldn‟t dare,” Eva spewed. “I‟d hate to bring Ms. Delta all up in this. Don‟t push me.” “Girl you know what? Do what you need to do. My Momma don‟t run this.”

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“Yeah, that‟s what your mouth says. You‟re just as scared of your Momma as you were in high school. With good reason, Ms. Delta don‟t play.” Eva suddenly laughed. “You got that right. She most assuredly does not. All right, I give up.” Eva threw her hands up as a sign of surrender. She grabbed Sharica‟s hand and headed toward the bar. “Hey, the bartender is kind of cute. I wonder if he‟s married.” As she led Sharica away she glanced back for one last look at Travis.

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Chapter Twelve

Lindsay led Travis to the dance floor and she managed to maneuver them close to the captain and Mariah. “All right, now we get Mariah back where she belongs.” She tapped the captain on his shoulder. “May I have this dance?” When he looked somewhat perplexed she leaned in and whispered. “If you like having two hands I would hurry and take them off his wife.” She nodded her head back toward the menacing Travis. Captain Marshall changed partners with comical speed. Mariah was shoved into her husband‟s arms. The captain then saluted and bid a hasty retreat towing Lindsay behind him. “Travis, I know you can‟t be jealous.” “Jealous, why should I be jealous? I mean what husband wouldn‟t enjoy watching some other man touching his wife‟s naked body?” “Now Travis…” “I guess what I‟m trying to say is,” Travis took a deep breath and tried to regain his composure. He caught an envious glance being given to him by an elderly gentleman. His composure snapped.

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“What were you thinking when you put that dress on? Were you trying to make me act like a jealous idiot? If that was your plan you‟ve achieved your goal. I just hope Lindsay doesn‟t mention my theory to the captain.” “You‟ve lost me. What theory?” “You don‟t have to worry about it. Thanks to Sharica and Lindsay, it‟ll never have to be tested. Now let‟s dance.” Travis led her into the complicated steps of a waltz. She found it easy to forget all of her natural inhibitions and get lost in the nuances of the dance. Travis danced as well as he did everything else. So, the dance was beautifully executed. The feeling was definitely bittersweet when the music ended. They joined in the applause for the band, Divinity. The music choices had been perfect. They had achieved just the right mixture of classical, easy listening, soul and rock. The young manager, Eyric, was the son of Janice‟s best friend. Janice and Edward had called to check up on Eyric‟s progress. They had also announced they would be meeting them at the last port call. Edward said they had important matters to discuss. Mariah believed these matters included a wedding dress and a ring. At least she hoped it did. She

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knew true love when she saw it. She also knew it when she felt it. Just like now. She reached up and gave Travis a peck on his cheek. “What about a little stroll around deck?” Mariah asked. “You left your wrap. Remember? “I was hoping you could figure out a way to keep me warm.” She turned around giving him an unrestrained view of the plunging neckline. “You don‟t have to ask me twice.” Travis quickly caught up with his beautiful wife. He carefully draped his jacket over her shoulder. After all, he didn‟t want her catching cold. As they strolled around the promenade deck Travis pulled Mariah against his side. “I‟ve discovered something tonight,” his voice trailed off into silence. “So, what did you discover?” Mariah asked after a few seconds of silence. “I discovered jealousy. I‟ve never felt that way about a woman until tonight. I don‟t want to lose you. Mariah, we can make this work. Are you willing to forgive me for acting like an idiot?” “Sure if you forgive me for encouraging you to behave like one.”

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“Done. The only thing that I want; or need is your trust. Do you trust me? I would never do anything to betray your trust.” Travis looked deep into her eyes. “That is the hardest thing for me. Can you give me some time?” Travis always took pride in being totally sincere. He knew how important trust was in any relationship. He had only to look to his parents‟ broken trust for proof. He nodded. He knew trust had to be earned. He would just have to wait until she was ready. “I‟ve just discovered something myself,” she purred. “And that would be…” “It is really cold….if you‟re wearing nothing but a garter and pantyhose.” She dropped his jacket. “I‟m going in to warm up. Care to join me?” Mariah walked away. “I‟m right behind you…and enjoying the view.” Travis picked up his jacket and walked hastily behind her.

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Chapter Thirteen

The next morning Mariah woke up to find Travis‟ pillow empty except for a red rose. She picked it up and breathed deeply. For the first time in a long time she was at peace. For the first time ever she was perfectly content. Mariah took her time rising and getting dressed. She bundled her sheets for room service and left them by the door then left her suite. She nodded to the maid who was emerging from the elevator. She indicated that she was leaving the door ajar and headed blissfully down the hall. Eva appeared from the shadows just as the maid returned to the elevator for her trolley. The maid, Cecilia, was somewhat befuddled to see the Do Not Disturb sign hanging on the door. Muttering to herself about people not being able to make up their mind, Cecilia pushed the trolley back onto the elevator. Mariah joined Sharica and Lindsay for brunch in the dining hall. They were waiting on Eva who was apparently running late.

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“You know, I believe we‟re having a better time without her,” Sharica said as they laughed about an old English teacher. “But, she was insistent that we meet her here.” Lindsay‟s face became pensive. “This is not like her to just totally blow us off. Unless, there must be a man involved.” “Well good. At least you don‟t have to worry about her chasing after your man now that she has one of her own.” Sharica laughed and raised her orange juice glass in a mock toast. “To Eva, may she get her man, and leave everyone else‟s alone.” Three orange juice glasses clinked.

Eva finished placing the black satin sheets on the bed. She heard the door key being swiped and hastily dropped her shift. She heard footsteps heading toward the bedroom. With a huge smile she dived under the covers. Travis entered the room and began stripping off his shirt. Humming to himself he strolled into the bedroom and came to an abrupt halt. Eva had been hoping for this scenario. She stretched allowing the sheet to fall away exposing her generous bosom. “What the hell?” He scowled fiercely, “Get out of my bed. Now!”

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Surprisingly, this was not the reaction Eva had expected. She was used to men dropping at her feet. She could not believe that Travis was any different. However, the expression on his face proved otherwise. Apparently, Travis truly loved Mariah. Lust not love, had factored heavily into her plans. But, Eva always had a plan B. It was time to put it into action. If she could just keep him talking…maybe Eva couldn‟t get Travis. But, neither would Mariah. With a show of reluctance Eva begin talking. “Despite what this looks like, I‟m trying to help Mariah. I know that you really love her,” she paused theatrically. “That‟s why this is hard for me to say this to you. But, Travis, I believe that Mariah is staying with you out of a sense of duty. She doesn‟t love you. She just got caught up in the romance and married you.” Travis almost laughed. “You actually expect me to believe that Mariah shared all this with you?” “Listen, I don‟t know if Mariah told you this, but we were not really close in school. In fact, I‟m afraid her high school days were not very pleasant. You are actually the first real boyfriend she ever had. Now, she feels like she might have missed something.” “I know all about you and your cronies.” Travis was glad Mariah had

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shared this with him. “So I know damn well she wouldn‟t talk to you about any problems she might have.” “No. I just happened to overhear a conversation she was having.” She stopped after seeing the skeptical expression on his face but then continued. “I knew you wouldn‟t believe me. I don‟t blame you. Listen, I‟m trying to make up for all those things that happened in high school. I was a first class…you know. But I‟ve changed.” “And what may I ask brought about this transformation.” “You did. I saw how dedicated and loyal you were to Mariah. I realized that not all men are dogs. So, I decided to go find a real man. A man that is unattached.” She smiled innocently. “And, you did this by hopping into her bed?” Travis rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “Yeah, right. Get your sorry behind up and…get out now.” He began re-buttoning his shirt. Eva pulled the sheet back up around her breasts. “I know Mariah. She is one of those people who would go out of their way to avoid hurting anybody,” Eva paused dramatically. “So, you see, she really doesn‟t want to hurt you. She would never just leave on her own. You‟ll have to do it for her.” “Just for the hell of it, how would I go about doing this?” Travis‟ face hardened into stone.

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“You‟re gonna have to find a way to make her think you‟re not in love with her anymore. She even said that as long as you were in love with her she‟d stay. I‟d be willing to pretend that we were having an affair. That way it‟ll be her choice.” “When hell freezes over. Women like you make me sick. I couldn‟t pretend to care about someone like you. The only pretending going on is your pretense that you give a damn about anybody but yourself.” Travis headed toward the door. “Now get dressed. I‟ll wait in the other room.” Travis picked her shift up and tossed it toward her face. “Besides, I know Mariah‟s happiness is not a priority of yours.” “You‟re right.” Eva smiled in triumph. “Her happiness is not my priority. But…her unhappiness is.” Eva launched herself out of bed. She placed her arm on his shoulders. Travis heard Mariah swiping her card at the same moment he realized that he was in a compromising position. It seemed that Mariah entered the room in slow motion. He knew exactly what it looked like. He watched shock, hurt, than anger fly across her face.

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His words from last night replayed in his mind. I would never do anything to betray your trust. She was thinking the same thing as she turned to face him. He knew that her deep insecurities would prevent her from seeing the real picture. Eva played it to the hilt. “Mariah, I‟m sorry….This…” She gestured with her hands. “This should never have happened. I just came up to see the bridal suite. In fact, he insisted that I come up to view the suite.” She paused here as her voice broke. Eva lowered her head as tears filled her eyes. “Look. Neither of us meant this to happen. I got caught up.” “Shut up, tramp!” Travis shouted. He turned to face Mariah. Eva swallowed and continued, “I would never knowingly wreck a marriage. You got to believe me.” “Mariah, honey,” Travis attempted. He moved to block Mariah‟s clear exit. “I can‟t believe this.” Her eyes were riveted to the bed and its black satin sheets. No, I can believe it of you Eva. But Travis? You asked me to trust you.” “I need you to trust me now. More than ever before,” Travis waited on her verdict.

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Mariah eyes filled up with tears. “I don‟t need for this to be happening. I love you Travis.” “If you love me, you‟d listen to me.” He grabbed her arms. “Listen.” Mariah wrenched herself from his grasp. “Just. Just don‟t be here when I get back,” Mariah spat out before turning on her heel. On her way out she kicked aside the bundle of sheets she had placed there a couple of hours before. Eva shook her head, “Oh dear, she was rather upset wasn‟t she? Well, my work here is done.” She stooped to retrieve her shift. She turned to find Travis in her face. He was infused with fury. Eva felt a warning tingle go down her spine. “If I can‟t fix this...if I don‟t get my wife back…you‟ll know what hell feels like.” “I‟m not afraid of you.” “Oh, but you should be.” His eyes narrowed to slits. Suddenly she was. “You see, I‟ve had a private investigator doing a little background check. That nice little house you‟re just about to close on? It belongs to one of my mortgage companies. I would hate for the deal to fall through.” He leaned calmly against the doorframe. His eyes belied his calm exterior.

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Eva now saw Travis for the cold calculating businessman he was. “It‟ll be impossible to obtain a mortgage. Especially if you‟re blacklisted, it will be hard to rent a shoebox, let alone an apartment.” He abruptly pushed himself away from the door jamb. He tapped his forehead. “I almost forgot about that new job. It would be a shame if your boss, my fraternity brother, suddenly learned some thing that could harm your career.” It occurred too late that this brother was dangerous. For the first time in a very long time Eva backed down. “Ah hell, I‟ll go and explain. I don‟t want you anyway.” She pulled on her shift. “You‟re too much of a…..” “Gentleman, but don‟t push it,” Travis opened the door. “I believe we‟ll be docking in a few hours. I suggest you leave the ship there. Fly, walk, or drive, hell, swim with the rest of the barracudas. But make sure you‟re off my damn ship.” “Are you threatening me?” Eva‟s heart began pounding a little faster. She turned to the door. “I‟m just saying. It would be awfully easy to get rid of a body in the middle of the ocean.” His expression was serious. Eva marched through the door without saying another word.

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Outside she mumbled, “Oh, I‟m gonna get my yellow behind off this boat, but don‟t think I‟m explaining anything to Miss Midnight. But I might have a thing or two to explain to the press.” She quickly checked over her shoulder to make sure Travis wasn‟t looking. Confident that he wasn‟t, she gave the door the finger and sashayed down the hallway.

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Chapter Fourteen

Mariah managed to hold it together until she reached the relative safety of the elevator. “I can‟t believe he would do that to me. I should have known better. Why would I think he would want me?” She continued to berate herself. “I shouldn‟t blame him. Eva has that effect on men. I can see it now. Come look at these nice satin sheets. Of all the,” Mariah stopped short. “You big dummy. Satin sheets. I took the sheets off myself.” She banged her head against the wall. “He just asked me to trust him. I failed with the first test. Damn. How will he forgive me?” The elevator stopped on the first floor. Mariah stormed off and ran right into Lindsay and Sharica. “Hey girl, have you seen Eva?” questioned Sharica. “She hasn‟t shown up. We‟re starting to get worried,” Lindsay said. “Oh, you‟re right to be worried,” Mariah enunciated carefully. “She‟s about to die a slow and painful death. I just found her in my bedroom with my husband.” Lindsay and Sharica exchanged glances.

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“Oh, it wasn‟t any of that going on. But, she wanted me to think so,” Mariah paused and slapped her hand against the wall. “What‟s worse, I actually fell for it. It was obviously a setup. I was just so furious.” Her voice trailed off. “You see I have this little trust issue.” She breathed deeply. “The one thing, the only thing, my husband asked for was trust, but no, I couldn‟t even give him that.” Lindsay and Sharica looked totally confused; however they nodded sympathetically. Mariah came to a sudden decision. “I can fix this but I need your help. Let me tell you what just happened.” The three heads joined in a quick huddle. It was punctuated by cries of “That little bitch” and “that dirty heifer.” After the huddle disbanded they walked with purposeful strides, seeking their quarry.

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Chapter Fifteen

Eva was throwing clothes into her suitcases when the newly formed trio arrived. She heard the door open. Without bothering to turn around Eva explained about a sudden family emergency. “So, I‟ll be getting off at the next port. You two are welcome to stay on and finish the cruise. Don‟t let me spoil your fun,” Eva paused before repeating what she‟d just told one of the reporters aboard ship. “Guess what? I heard that all may not be well after all with the newlyweds. In fact, I hear the press is clamoring for an update at the next port call.” “Don‟t believe everything you hear, Eva,” Mariah said quietly. Eva spun around and found herself face to face with a very angry wife. She backed up and found herself trapped against the bed. “Why would you try to ruin my marriage, Eva?” “I couldn‟t have done it without your help. Your poor husband begged you to believe him. „Just trust me Mariah,‟ stupid fool.” “Don‟t go all high and mighty with me sister.” Eva‟s words dripped with venom. “You don‟t deserve that man. He loves you. Or at least he did. Until you took his love and threw it back in his face.”

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“How did that happen in the first place?” Eva‟s voice gained volume. “What did you do to get the heartthrob to go all heartsick? It should have been my life. Not some tar-baby‟s.” Mariah didn‟t realize that she had moved until she heard the slap echo, and felt Lindsay‟s restraining hand on her wrist. Eva grabbed her cheek. “Oh, I‟m glad you did that. Now, I‟m about to get paid. People with money can‟t go around slapping us common folk.” She nodded her head in satisfaction. “When I get through with you and Travis, you‟ll be lucky to own the SS Minnow.” Eva turned to Sharica for backup. “I have witnesses who will tell everything they saw. Isn‟t that right Sharica?” Sharica shook her head. “Sorry, Eva, but the only thing I saw was you throwing yourself at this woman‟s husband and he apparently threw you right back. Skank” Eva realized she had lost her allies, “The hell with you Sharica.” “Right back at ya!” “You little,” Eva began. Lindsay took a deep breath. “I always knew you were shallow, so trifling shouldn‟t have been a surprise. If I were you I‟d start stepping before I let Mariah go and kick your high yellow ass.”

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Eva snatched a shoe from her bag and aimed it at Lindsay‟s head. She easily dodged the missile. “Watch it tramp. You‟re about to burn your bridges. You know the homefolk can‟t stand you. I hang around because they can‟t stand me either, now that I think about it.” She laughed sadly. “But, maybe if I stopped being your sidekick I could make a few friends.” Eva began snatching her jewelry off and kicked off her shoes. “Bring it! I‟ve got plenty of friends, forget you tramps.” “Girl, please,” Lindsay yawned. “We know you.” “I don‟t want to have to tell ya Momma,” threatened Sharica. “I can take care of this myself,” Mariah attempted to intervene. “Na‟ll girl. We got this. It‟s been a long time coming.” Lindsay dismissed Mariah‟s statement. “Too damn, long,” Sharica chimed in. “I don‟t know who the hell you two think you‟re talking to but you better start minding your own business,” Eva shouted. “That‟s what we‟re trying to do. Finally, a few years late,” Sharica paused and gave Lindsay a high five. “Nevertheless, it‟s time we took our own business back. Now if you know what‟s good for you, you‟ll back up and leave this woman‟s husband the hell alone.”

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Mariah opened her mouth to tell them she could take care of herself. But a look from Lindsay convinced her to do otherwise. “Mariah? Run along. Go find your husband. Catch him before he does something you‟ll both regret. I‟m pretty sure Eva will leave you alone. I know she doesn‟t want us to tell her momma.” Lindsay actually grinned. “Tell my Momma? I don‟t give a damn. I‟m a grown-ass woman. She can‟t do a thing to me. Even give me advice. Ya‟ll heifers have gone psycho up in here,” Eva roared. Suddenly, Sharica‟s cell phone came to life. A voice came over the speakerphone. “I know she didn‟t just say what I thought she did? If she‟s a grown-ass woman why is she up in my house? Put her grown-butt on the phone now,” Eva‟s mother ordered. “Oh my, I must have accidentally dialed your number and pressed speakerphone. I can‟t imagine how that happened,” she finished innocently. “Mrs. Montgomery?” she spoke directly into the phone. “I‟m afraid if I hand her my phone she‟s gonna throw it at me. Or smash it.” “Ya damn straight,” Eva promised. “You don‟t have to worry about that honey. If she does I‟ll come through this phone and whoop her ass for you. She better sit her „hot‟ tail

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down somewhere, chasing after somebody else‟s husband. I‟m still her Momma, and she‟d better respect that. Give her the phone.” Mariah heard this last bit as she headed down the corridor. She hurried toward their suite. Suddenly, a small smile came over her face as she back tracked. There was one small stop she needed to make first.

Travis finished packing his overnight case and looked around his bedroom. He supposed that he could stay in the suite. It was technically his as much as it was Mariah‟s. However, if he hoped to patch things up at a future time, he needed to regain her trust. It would be best for their situation if he did not remain in their suite. Unfortunately, Eva had been busy. Edward had already sent an urgent message demanding an explanation. The press had gotten wind of something involving the newlyweds and their marriage. Edward was taking his company jet. It was his intention to be at the port call well before they arrived. Apparently, he had come up with some grand scheme to save their hides. Travis had expected him to be furious at the turn of events. After all, Edward had emphasized the importance of „newlywed bliss‟. However, Edward had sounded strangely satisfied at the turn of events. If Travis hadn‟t been so distracted with his problems this fact

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would have alerted him. At the moment, he wasn‟t even the least curious about what solution Edward had found. For the moment, Edward and his cockamamie plans were the least of his worries. If only he could stay here. He was sure he could straighten out the situation. But he knew he would have to wait until she was ready. Travis didn‟t have the will power necessary to stay in this suite without her in his bed. Even now thinking about her in bed brought a familiar urge to his body. No, staying here was definitely not an option. Grabbing his case Travis opened the door and stepped out — right onto something soft. Looking down he shook his head in disbelief. It was an unopened bag of cotton candy. “What in the world,” he looked around and found a trail of these bags leading right up to Mariah‟s doorway. The door stood open. He dropped his case and in his haste, trampled over several more bags of candy. At last he stood in front of her door. He felt as nervous and excited as a sixteen year old kid — there his beautiful wife stood. She was once again dressed in her frothy pink negligee. In her hand, Mariah held an opened bag of cotton candy. She extended the bag slowly.

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He immediately understood the gesture. He took the bag but tossed it aside. Mariah was now his biggest temptation. He reached for his wife and gladly gave into the temptation.

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Epilogue

One year later Mariah was cocooned in her husband‟s arms completely sated. She could not believe all that had occurred in just one year. The cruise line was a complete success. In fact, Edward and Janice were now aboard „Mariah‟s Smile‟. It was their turn to make use of the Honeymoon suite. At first Travis had been none too pleased to hear about his parent‟s relationship. In fact, Travis had come close to punching his father. Edward and Janice had been waiting for them at the next port of call. Edward‟s solution had been to announce his and Janice‟s engagement. Travis had to be restrained from throttling his father. Luckily, his long lost brother had intervened. Jeremie had been a surprise to both Travis and Edward but Jeremie was definitely one of the Williams men. Apparently, Edward had fathered a child with a nurse on one of his tours of duty. The nurse, knowing his true feelings for Janice, had kept the baby a secret. After her death, Jeremie had been given a letter explaining the entire story and he immediately set out to find his father. His arrival could not have been more opportune. The press 136

had a field day. The long lost son, the long lost love affair; this was stuff Pulitzer Prizes were made of. Somehow, Edward had been able to salvage their individual reputations. The crowd had been moved with his tale of lost love finally found. He had declared his love for Janice and dropped to one knee. Her tearful „yes‟ had brought many to tears, themselves. He turned with one arm around his soul mate and asked the press to allow his newly formed family to heal. They had melted away like snowflakes, leaving them to work on their relationship. Edward‟s elegant, yet heartfelt plea to unite his family hadn‟t impressed Travis. But, his mother‟s happiness had won him over. Now he and Edward were as close as father and son should be. Edward and Jeremie were quickly making up for lost time. It had taken awhile, but they were working on it. Edward had no idea of Jeremie‟s existence until he showed up unannounced. Janice and Edward had been growing closer while Travis and Mariah were on their honeymoon. Jeremie had arrived full of misunderstandings and accusations. Once he had realized they were unfounded, the gap had slowly started to close. Janice‟s open armed acceptance of Jeremie had gone a long way to mending hurt feelings.

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Mariah‟s life had changed dramatically in the last nine months. Her designs were fabulously successful and her wedding dresses had taken off with a vengeance. In fact, she had designed the gown for Jeremie‟s fiancé as well as the tuxes for Travis and Edward who were his „best men‟. On a professional level, things could not be better. She had been courted by the self-proclaimed king of fashion, Removu. Removu‟s annual fashion premiere was scheduled for tonight and Mariah was the top designer. The show would culminate with two of her wedding dresses. One had been designed for the upper echelon who craved one-of-a-kind, unique designs. The other was designed for people with a much smaller budget. Removu had originally forbid her to include the second dress. He changed his mind as soon as he saw it. It would be nearly impossible for the untrained eye to tell the difference. Mariah smiled as she felt Travis‟ hand moving slowly up her body. “Good morning handsome.” “How is my incredibly famous designer doing this morning?” his deep voice whispered. Her smile deepened as she turned to look into his eyes. “Wonderful, just a little hungry.”

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“How about a cheese omelet with a little steak on the side?” Travis asked as he reached for his robe. “You wouldn‟t happen to have a bag of cotton candy around here somewhere would you?” Travis stared at his wife; she looked part vixen and part angel. “You threw out my supply when the dentist snitched on me about that cavity.” He sounded like a small child. “And you know perfectly well you restocked, it‟s hidden all over this house.” “Why do you want it anyway? I thought it was too sweet for your taste buds.” This last remark was made in mimicry of her. “Well, my taste buds are changing. I suddenly have a craving for cotton candy. The doctor said it‟ll go away in about eight months,” she finished somewhat breathlessly. The look on Travis‟ face was comical. She almost laughed, but, managed to contain it. “Eight months, are you sure? Is everything alright? Do you feel okay?” he asked in rapid fire fashion. “Yes, yes, and yes!”

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He let out a whoop and picked her up to swing her around. Apparently, he thought better of it, and placed her gently back onto the bed. He sat beside her, grinning proudly. “I‟m going to be a dad.” He gave his „cat that swallowed the canary‟ grin. “Is there something I can do for you?” “Cotton candy?” “Oh yeah, wait one.” He dashed into his walk-in closet and came back carrying a stack of shoeboxes. He began to open them one by one. Each box had a different flavor of cotton candy stowed inside. “So, mommy, what‟s your pleasure?” He waited patiently. His face however, looked sad at the prospect of sharing his treasure. After a moment of careful review, Mariah reached for Travis instead. “How about this flavor?” Travis hastily returned the candy to the boxes. He turned to face her, a mixture of guilt and relief covered his face. “You know I don‟t really mind sharing right?” “I know.” She kissed her husband…Then Mariah smiled.

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You can find out more about her at :

www.freewebs.com/deloreswalker

www.myspace.com/deloreswalker

AUTHOR BIO:

Delores Walker is the pen name for an educator with over 16 years of experience in the classroom. Delores has been happily married for 17 years and has three children. She is presently working on two more manuscripts. A sequel to Mariah Smiles is in the works. Delores loves reading stories almost as much as writing them.

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