Behind Her Smile (12 page)

“But David . . .” I try.

“Don’t you want to settle into married life? It will be a change for both of us.”

When he explains it that way, I agree. David actually makes the decisions in our relationship, and I just follow his direction. At thirty, he’s more mature and experienced than I am, and I trust that he’s making the right choices. And, deep down, I’m afraid if I don’t go along with him, David will toss me aside. With one disapproving cock of his head or a glint in his eye, I retract like a puppy worried about upsetting her master.

Of the two of us, David has the more discriminating eye. Most of the time, I’m thankful for his instruction because if it weren’t for his social cues, I would be clueless. He understands what is expected of the man leading the Morgan Financial Empire. Being married to such a powerful man comes with certain demands. David has a good point—how would I be able to dedicate myself fully to my schoolwork when I’m learning the ropes of being a married woman? All my life, I have made decisions on my own, but that isn’t the case anymore. I am a wife, part of a team. It would be selfish to think my life would go on as it always has.

If being married to David means changing my nail polish color and putting school off for a little while, that’s doable. The companionship and love I’m getting in return for making those concessions outweighs hurting or even embarrassing David.

The next morning, a manicurist arrives to paint my nails in a feminine color aptly named Tutu to match the one on my toes. When the varnish dries on my fingers and toes, I stare at the result with pride.

David will be pleased,
I think with relief.

Four days later, with three hundred guests surrounding us, David twirls me around a white dance floor. A lighting fixture splashes our wedding monogram—something I learned about from the event planner—on the panels over which we dance. The taffeta skirt of my Oscar de la Renta
wedding gown shimmers under the lighting effects. Underneath the dazzling lights, my engagement ring and wedding band sparkle with pride on my fourth finger. As David and I glide across the room to a choreographed number, the bandleader croons “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”
.
I feel like the ultimate princess today with David as my Prince Charming. In a tuxedo the color of a raven’s wing, he is every bit the part of my handsome prince. All evening, he has bestowed me with looks of reverence.

“You’re handling yourself beautifully,” he murmurs. His lips brush against my ear as he speaks. “All of our guests are demanding to know where I’ve been hiding you.” A throat chuckle makes me shiver with delight. The dance instructor who arranged the first dance as husband and wife would be upset to see me slip out of the choreographed posture when I melt into David’s embrace, but I can’t help myself. “The men in this room can’t keep their eyes off my wife.”

“They can look all they want, but I belong with you.”

“Damn right.” David pulls me tighter against him. Sighing in pleasure, I snuggle closer still. For some women, possessiveness turns them off, but for me, it’s a gift to know that David wants me all to himself.

Dancing leads to dinner, and ultimately, more dancing. Eventually, I beg off the dance floor and follow David around the ballroom to meet our guests. Of the three hundred people in attendance at the party, I only know a handful of them personally. Dora and her family are here and a few other friends from school. Most everyone else is somehow related to the Morgan family—through business or friendship and, oftentimes, both.

“Now that you’re officially married, don’t you think it’s time we tell Karolina about our little bet?”

The hand David has curled around my waist tightens until I gasp at Alec Christos’ goading. Floral lace decorates the bodice of my dress and digs into my skin uncomfortably. Tilting my head up, I study my husband’s tight expression. He gives no emotion away. If he’s bothered by the way Alec emphasized officially, David doesn’t let it show.

“Karolina doesn’t want to hear that story.”

It’s then I notice Alec has brought a date, a statuesque blonde with a figure on par with a Barbie doll. Her fake breasts nearly spill out of a black bandage dress. In a graphite tuxedo and a black shirt, Alec stands out among the penguins wandering around the party. He’s like Bruce Wayne and David Gandy rolled into one magnificent package. A tiny zing of awareness shocks me when I take in the full effect of Alec Christos.

This is your wedding day! You can’t be checking out another man.
The instantaneous reaction to Alec shakes me.

“Come on, friend, she’ll love this one.” Though his delivery is lighthearted, aggression is obvious in Alec’s rigid shoulders.

“Alec, you haven’t introduced us to your date. I’m Karolina. Thank you for coming to celebrate with us.” In an attempt to defuse the situation, I extend a hand to the plastic blonde. For some reason, David continues to invite Alec around, even though most of the time his company annoys him.

“I’m Carrie. Congratulations!” Alec’s date gushes, pumping my hand vigorously with hers.

As if I hadn’t spoken at all, Alec continues. “David and I have always had a healthy rivalry. Isn’t that right?” The frown on David’s face deepens, and his displeasure is evident. “That day at the Hotel Monroe, you caught both of our attention. You’ll have to forgive me, Karolina, but it was my idea that we make the bet.”

Slowly, I shift my attention to Alec. I’m almost afraid to ask. “What bet?”

“Really, Alec? You want to bring this up now and ruin the day for my wife.” An unspoken threat underlines his words.

“Come on, David, it’s all in good fun. In the end, you got the girl.” Alec shifts his full attention to me. I can’t help but wonder why David would keep something that sounds so innocent from me. Our interactions have been limited, but every time I’m around Alec, he speaks his mind without reservation. With him, there’s no polish or pretense smothering the truth. “Both of us wanted a shot at you, so we let it come down to a football game. The Dolphins lost and David won, which was probably for the best. I’m not really one for commitment or marriage. The better man got the prize, wouldn’t you say, David?” Alec grins, but there’s nothing pleasant about it.

Undisguised rage makes David’s body tremble next to me. Meanwhile, my knees knock against each other. Luckily, I have the full skirt to shield prying eyes from my physical reaction. It’s absolutely insane, but a sense of loss washes over me. But why? Alec said himself he doesn’t want to be married. To this day, I know next to nothing about him. He’s cloak and dagger, and David’s an open book. Alec is a master at chess, and I’ve never played the game. Still, I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Alec had found me in the club that night instead of David . . .

What the hell are you thinking?
If I could, I would slap myself. What-ifs don’t matter. I’m with David until death do us part. David Morgan is the perfect man for me.

Cocking my head back, I flash all of my teeth to David in an exuberant smile. “Luckiest day of my life, you winning that bet,” I murmur adoringly.

The steel in David’s expression softens and he dips down to press his lips to mine. When he pulls back a moment later, Alec and his date have disappeared onto the dance floor. That’s the last talk of any bets or Alec Christos for the rest of the night. David keeps me glued to his hip—and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

It’s past two in the morning when David and I finally make it back to the Morgan Estate. When Carlo opens the passenger door to help me out of the car, I’m barely able to keep my head up straight. In one hand, I clutch the red-soled, four-inch, lace, ivory sling-backs. The other hand holds the pale pink clutch David insisted I buy for the occasion. On my wrist, a diamond tennis bracelet glimmers. It was a gift from my husband before the wedding. I am the most glammed I’ve ever been. The entire outfit costs more than I got when David sold my clunky Saturn. By five times. I’ve been pinching myself the whole night—
is this real?
Yes, my life most certainly has changed. Cinderella became the princess.

“Oh!” I gasp when suddenly I’m floating above the driveway. “What are you doing?” With renewed energy, I giggle as David effortlessly carries me toward the front door.

“Carrying you over the threshold, my jewel. All the traditions for my sparkling bride.”

The sensual promise makes me tingle in anticipation. “Mmm. Does that mean you’re not too tired to consummate the marriage?”

Carlo hurries ahead of us to make the entrance into the home easier. My husband’s eyes darken when he looks down at me. He doesn’t waver as he steps into the house, nor does he acknowledge the driver.

“Thank you, Carlo!” I tilt my head back and to the side to face Carlo, but the man has already shut the door quietly behind us.

David takes the stairs two at a time, his strides wide until we reach the master bedroom. With an easy toss, he sends me flying onto the mattress. I can’t help but laugh when my body connects with the pillowtop. Somewhere along the way, I dropped my shoes and purse. Lying there with David standing above me, I have the chance to study him. Triumph makes his posture seem straighter and his shoulders broader. The predatory hunger excites and scares me at the same time.

“Now, what was that about consummating the marriage?”

Only a few hours later, David bustles me into the back of the luxury sedan. We have an early flight to Atlanta en route to
South Africa
for our safari honeymoon. I’m delirious from the lack of sleep. The arches of my feet ache with each step, still smarting from the unforgiving shoes I wore all night. Everything aches. I’m grateful for David’s arm around my shoulder, guiding me where I need to go.

“It’s probably a good thing we’ve got a seventeen-hour flight from Atlanta, hmm?” he says jokingly, running a hand through my hair while Carlo navigates the dark streets.

Snuggling my face deep into his chest, I hum happily, content not to give a response. David chuckles, his breath still minty from toothpaste.

It doesn’t get better than this.

Classical music fills the cabin of the car, David’s preferred musical selection. The melody lulls me into a relaxed sedation until we arrive at the airport, and David jostles me awake.

“Time to get up, my jewel,” David murmurs into my hair.

The passenger door is wide open, Carlo waiting patiently for me to exit the car. David’s warmth surrounds me when he climbs out of the vehicle next, only a foot behind me. Carlo moves to the trunk to retrieve our luggage. When we’re all situated, Carlo nods politely our way, silent as ever. I must be full of love today because all of a sudden I’m emotional and cannot contain myself.

Carlo halts when my hand lands on his bicep. “Thank you for
everything
,” I nearly gush. “We’ll see you in two weeks.” The older man’s gaze flits to my husband quickly before he looks back to me and nods. “Yes, ma’am,” he says curtly. The awkwardness of the exchange doesn’t escape me. I chalk it up to the early hour and my emotional overload.

David leads the way again, first to the first class check-in and lounge. With one hand pressing into the small of my back, he murmurs quietly among the hustle of the airport.

“Karolina, there’s no need to thank the help for every small thing.”

Frowning, I glance up at him. “I’d feel funny saying nothing. Carlo and Miranda have been wonderful and incredibly helpful. I cannot help but thank them.”

The pressure on my back intensifies. “You misunderstand me, Karolina. You do not thank them.” He says it with finality. I open my mouth to argue then snap it shut. Another example of how I don’t understand the workings of the Morgan lifestyle.

There’s nothing wrong with showing gratitude.
I push the thought aside. This is my honeymoon, and I’m not going to start it by fighting with my husband.

Eventually, we board the airplane and settle into adjacent, luxuriously plush leather seats. There’s a printed menu on each seat, a toiletries bag, and even
pajamas
.

“Wow,” I whisper in an awed voice.

“It’s only the beginning of the ways I want to spoil you,” David says adoringly.

“This is a world I never knew existed. I can’t help but be wowed by all the splendor. I don’t mean to upset you. It’s that I’m constantly surprised by the beauty of your world.” I click my seat belt into place and settle back into the seat with a happy sigh.

“Well, you’re going to have to get used to this style of life. I want to give you the world.” David gestures around the plane and the other passengers filing into the oversized seats. “Expect the best, my jewel, and nothing less.”

I can’t help but smile at him. “I’m the luckiest woman you won that bet.”

Darkness sweeps over David’s features like a shadow. It disappears so quickly I wonder if I even saw the emotion. A serene façade masks whatever he’s thinking. “No, I’m the luckiest man.”

High above the clouds, the stewardess serves breakfast. Adrenaline spikes and the exhaustion fades.

“I’ve taken the liberty of setting up a standing manicure appointment for you at Breeze,” David says casually after a sip of coffee.

“Oh, I don’t need a manicure every week. Whenever the polish starts to chip, I pick at my nails. It’s an awful habit. Plus with sewing and sketching, my nails get messed up easily. Thank you for such a kind gesture.” I hope he can hear the sincerity in my words.

“Karolina,” David says patiently, “did you forget about all the events you’ll attend with and without me?”

The plane hits a pocket of turbulent air making the tea on my dining tray slosh over the edge of the cup and giving me a moment to gather my thoughts.

“Without you?”

“You aren’t officially on the payroll, but you’ll be working to make connections for Morgan Financial just like me.” David leans across the empty space between us and captures my hand. He dips down to drop a chivalrous kiss on my knuckles. “That means connecting with the wives of my associates at luncheons, playing tennis with them at the club, and hosting dinner parties at our home. That’s just the beginning because I’m sure you’ll come to like the women you meet. They will be your friends and a way for me to secure my good standing with their business.”