The Tycoon's Temporary Bride: Book Four (43 page)

It may already be too late
, Tashi
thought, fighting the urge to hug her stomach as she watched
Michelle and Kaya place the plates on the children’s trays. Their
banging and whining immediately ceased as they began stuffing food
into their mouths with their hands.

“Kaya and I didn’t have the luxury with our
ready-made family.”

“Seems like you managed to get a few shots
in, anyway,” Adam said, tickling Eli’s tummy and making him
squeal.

Bryce laughed. “Even though we’re now living
on the estate, and our master suite is on the third floor and half
a mile away from their second-floor bedrooms, they still manage to
sneak into our bed at the most inappropriate times, sometimes all
five at once. Locked doors mean nothing to them. They just keep
banging until we open.”

“It was a wise decision to keep his penthouse
suite at your hotel, Adam,” Kaya said as she joined them. “And
we’re headed there tonight after we leave here.” Her brown eyes
sparkled as she gazed lovingly up at her husband who was grinning
shamelessly down at her, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind what
they would be doing later.

Tashi jumped when Eli suddenly threw himself
at her and, grabbing her cheeks, he dove in and glued his mouth to
hers.

“Hey, that’s
my
wife. Take your grubby
little hands and your drooling, toothless mouth off her.” Adam
tried to pry the toddler off Tashi.

“That’s my boy. Knows a beautiful girl when
he sees one, and goes right after her.” Bryce chuckled heartily as
he cradled his son again who was still drooling and eyeing Tashi as
if he wanted seconds.

Tashi’s lips burned from his sharp little
teeth gnawing her.

“You okay, sweetie?” Adam wiped the last
remnants of baby drool from her chin.

“Mama,” Eli said, springing into his mother’s
arms and locking his arms about her neck.

“Now you know how she feels when the little
girls give you kisses and play with your hair.” A grinning Erik,
with his arms about Michelle, made his way toward them. He gave
Tashi a peck on the cheek. “You’re glowing tonight, light years
away from the first time I saw you.”

“Thank you for taking care of me, Erik. You
saved my life. You and Adam.”

Michelle laid her cheek on Erik’s chest and
touched his face lovingly. “It’s always good to have a doctor in
the house. I love to play doctor with him.”

“I guess we know why you’re pregnant again,”
Adam remarked.

“I—” Tashi startled when, “Uncle Robert!
Uncle Robert!” rang through the air. She watched as Jason,
Precious, Alyssa, and Little Erik raced toward the door and threw
themselves at a tall, dark, handsome man.

Luckily for him, a sofa broke his fall or he
would have been on the floor with four rambunctious kids tackling
him. He didn’t seem to mind the attention, though.

Tashi glanced curiously at the slender,
attractive young woman of average height, dressed in a colorful
African outfit, complete with a matching, intricately tied head
cloth looking on as if she didn’t know whether to join the
frolicking group or run in the other direction.

“That’s enough.” Michelle pulled the kids off
Robert. She helped him to his feet, hugging him in the process. “Go
play,” she said, chasing them off. She brought the couple over.
“Tashi, this is my big brother, Robert, and my best friend, Yasmine
Reynolds.” She glanced from one to the other. “Are you guys
together, or not, on this trip? They have this on-again, off-again
thing,” she explained to Tashi as she rolled her eyes at them in
open frustration. “Yasmine, the ball’s in your court.”

“That’s right. Just air my business, Best
Friend Mitch.” Yasmine turned her back on Michelle and shook
Tashi’s hand. “Nice meeting you, Tashi,” she said with a genuinely
warm smile. “And congratulations.”

“It’s nice meeting you, too, Yasmine,” Tashi
replied. “I love your outfit.”

“You look like an African queen, Yasmine.”
Adam gave her a hug.

As Robert kissed the back of Tashi’s hand,
and congratulated her and Adam, Tashi wondered what was keeping him
and Yasmine from taking the love plunge. It seemed as if Michelle
blamed Yasmine for whatever it was. At least they still thought of
each other as best friends.

In the midst of her musing, Galen announced
that dinner was served. And as Whitney Houston sang, “I Will Always
Love You”, the adults and children claimed their assigned seats at
their respective tables.

For the next two hours, the room was aglow
with music, chatter, laughter, giggles, clinks of glasses and
silverware, and a few outbursts of toddlers screaming, as the
blended families and friends enjoyed each other’s company and the
delicious meal.

As Tashi glanced from one end of the table to
the other, her heart was filled with gladness like she’d never
known before, or even thought possible. This was just the beginning
of many more affairs like this, Adam had told her.

She was blessed. She was truly blessed.

“Can we borrow your wife for a little while,
Adam?” Michelle, seated to Tashi’s left, rested her hand on her
wrist.

“Of course,” Adam said, cutting short his
conversation with Bryce who was seated directly in front of him on
the other side of the table. “Just bring her back in one
piece.”

Michelle tossed him a pretty smile and nudged
Tashi to her feet as Shaina and Kaya, seated across from them,
gathered their dresses together in preparation to stand.

The men hustled to their feet to help the
ladies. In fact, all the men at the long table stood in respect as
the women stepped away from their chairs.

“What are they up to now?” Adam drawled as
they disappear into the room where Shaina had nursed Aria
earlier.

Bryce shrugged. “I have no idea. But as
you’ll soon find out, they are full of surprises.”

“Nice surprises,” Massimo said, rubbing his
thumb across his lips. “Cousin, you remember last year in the
limousine en route to Kennedy Airport when we talked about how
amorous they became after being together?”

“Yeah.” Adam remembered it quite well. “I’m
already understanding what you meant. That day they had lunch at
the esplanade—”

“That was a night to remember,” Erik said,
brushing his fingers through Tiffany’s hair.

“Oh, yes.” Adam choked back a groan as
visions of Tashi’s naked body covered in whipped cream and fruit
crashed over him. God, how could he be hungry for her again after
making love to her all afternoon? He had never, ever craved a
woman—anything—the way he craved Tashi.

“Can I have your attention please?”

The chatter died down eventually and everyone
turned to Galen who’d returned to the stage.

Adam’s eyes narrowed as the brides filed back
into the room with Michelle taking the lead and Tashi bringing up
the rear. They stood below the stage, facing the tables.

“Would Erik, Bryce, Massimo, and Adam, please
stand?” Galen asked.

Adam glanced at his friends who looked just
as puzzled as he was.

Philippe reached across the table. “Come to
Grandpa, darling,” he said, taking Tiffany from his son.

Once the men were standing, Galen ducked down
out of sight behind the ladies.

The wives each called out their husband’s
names, and with Train singing, “Marry Me” in the background, they
began to read from slips of paper, indicating that they’d planned
their speech.

“We love you with everything inside of us,
and we know that you love us. We mean, look at us. How could you
not love us?” They shrugged their shoulders and wiggled their
waists causing laughter to erupt. “However,” they continued, “none
of you ever got down on your knees and asked any of us to be your
wife. We think we deserve that honor.”

“You definitely do,” Henry shouted from his
seat. “Shame on them.”

“Ahah!
Same!
” Elyse agreed from her
grandfather’s lap, which made everyone chuckle.

“And so—” They held up their left hands and
displayed their bare ring fingers. “We would be honored if you’d
get on your knees and propose to us in front of our families and
dearest, closest friends.”

Rendered totally speechless, the men began to
walk briskly toward their wives.

“Wait.” Michelle raised a hand to stop
them.

“Mommy, I gotta go potty.” Little Erik ran
toward Michelle.

“Me, too, Mommy,” Alyssa said, racing for
Kaya.

“A mother’s job is never done,” Michelle
said, as she and Kaya shook their heads in resignation.

Two staff members led the children away, and
soon the amusement died down.

The ladies continued. “Furthermore. None of
us got married at church.”

“One of them got married in jail.” Adam just
couldn’t resist.

“I’m really going to sic Cameron on you,”
Massimo retorted.

“In the short time we’ve known each other,
we’ve grown to love, respect, and trust each other, just as you,
our husbands have since high school, and some of you, even since
birth. To strengthen our bonds with each other and with you, we
have decided to renew our vows standing side by side. And so, we
have asked Pastor Kelly if he would officiate our wedding at
Granite Falls Community Church where we’ll all say, “I do”,
together.”

They held out their palms, and the room was
ablaze as four enormous diamond rings and wedding bands studded
with smaller gems coruscated in the chandelier lights.

As the four men knelt in front of their wives
and asked for their hands in marriage while slipping their rings
back on to their fingers, a hush fell over the room and tears were
streaming down the faces of everyone who understood what was going
on. When they stood up and pulled their wives into their arms,
cheers and clapping erupted around them.

“I love you, Tashi,” Adam said, his tears
mingling with Tashi’s as he kissed her passionately. “I’ll get down
on my knees and propose to you every single day if that is your
desire. I love you with all of me.”

“I love you with all of me, Adam.” Her arms
tightened around his neck, and Adam found himself lost, lost, lost
in her love, her grace.

Galen cleared his throat—twice to get the
men’s attention. They reluctantly released their wives, and as the
couples stood, still embraced in each other’s arms, Galen spoke.
“Ladies, your husbands also have surprises for you. They have
chosen songs to which each would love to dance with his wife.”

Adam watched as they women exchanged glances
and smiles.

“Since Adam and Tashi are newlyweds,” Galen
continued, “they will have the first dance.” He handed the mike to
Adam. “Gentlemen, keep it short and sweet.”

Adam cleared his throat as he smiled at
Tashi. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He took her
hand and gazed into her eyes. “Tashi, my love, from the second I
met you, my heart was captivated by the splendor of your innocence,
your purity, your grace. I knew that I would always choose you
above everyone and everything in this world.” His voice shook as he
watched her lips tremble and new tears pool in her eyes. “And so, I
ask that you grant me the honor of dancing with you to “I Choose
You” by Sarah Bareilles.” With unsteady hands, he handed the mike
to Erik.

Erik took Michelle’s hand. “Michelle, our
love has been tested to the max, but if there’s one thing we know,
it’s that it’s endless. Thank you for coming into my life, for
forgiving my follies, and for being an exceptional mother to my
daughter, to all our children. No matter what trouble comes our
way, our love will remain true and strong. Dance with me to
“Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie, my love.” Erik
passed the mike to Bryce.

“All Of Me”, by John Legend,” Bryce said,
clasping his wife’s small hand in his. “Kaya, there was a time when
I kept part of my heart from you. A part that was dark and broken,
but your love mended it. You healed me, and taught me the true
meaning of happiness and the sweet rewards of loving you with all
of me. I’m yours, forever and ever.”

Massimo took the mike, and Shaina’s hand.
“Shaina, I loved you before I even knew you, and I thank God for
keeping you for me during the years I searched for you. Your love
has changed me in ways I thought impossible. You have shown me that
it’s okay to let myself be loved. Please dance with me to “The One
He Kept For Me” by Maurette Brown Clark.”

Adam looked around. More tears were streaming
down the adults’ faces, and the children were looking on in awe as
if they knew something significant was happening.

Then someone shouted, “Okay. Let’s get this
party going.”

Others shouted, “Woohoo,” and some, “Come on
Adam and Tashi. You’re up first.”

Adam’s knees were weak and his heartbeat was
out of control as he took his wife’s delicate hand in his and led
her to the center of the room. He pulled her gently into his arms
and opened his palm over the warm silky skin of her back. “We’ve
danced naked before,” he whispered in her ears. “Let’s see how it
feels to dance fully clothed.”

She quivered as she curved her soft sexy body
into his and rested her cheek on his chest—right where it belonged
and where his heart beat only for her—and wrapped her arms about
him, holding him tightly. As their bodies moved as one to the
rhythm of the song he’d chosen for his bride, Adam knew that the
only reason for his life was simply to lose it to Tashi, to
disappear completely into the light and shadow of her beautiful
soul. She was the shining star in his inner universe, forever
guiding him toward the perfect beginning and perfect end of every
perfect day.

***

Much later that night when Tashi was asleep,
Adam eased his satiated, naked body from her arms and the bed. With
a smile on his lips, he kissed her cheek and pulled the covers up
about her shoulders. Turning, he picked up his cell phone from the
nightstand and frowned when he noticed that he’d missed a call.