My Only Desire

No problem. I can do this.

The wedding planner appeared and started directing the bridesmaids to start their procession. That was about the time when Anna’s heart beat so loudly that it literally was drowning out the music. Finally it was her turn and she hesitated for just a beat before getting her feet to work. When she did, it just felt like two long rubber sticks that were about to drop her on her butt at any moment.

Then she saw him and oxygen fled her lungs as if they’d collapsed. Pristine in a sharp Armani, Taariq strolled like an experienced male model toward … Emmadonna. Smiling, he offered her his arm and then proceeded to waltz her down the aisle in front of Anna.

He didn’t even look at me.

Insulted, Anna clenched her jaw and almost forgot to accept Derrick Knight’s offered arm. He smiled. She didn’t. Her gaze was too busy burning a hole in the back of Taariq’s head.

Fine. If you’re going to ignore me, then I’m going to ignore you, too.

She and Derrick parted ways so that they could take their positions on opposite sides of the reverend just as the wedding march began to play.

An hour later, Gisella and Charlie Masters’s hands overlapped as they gripped the knife and together sliced into a Sinful Chocolate popular creation: white chocolate and lemon cake. The happy couple smiled at the wedding photographer and then toward each other before shoving a handful of the decadent dessert into each other’s faces.

Laughter rippled among the large gathering of friends and family and then a cheer went up when Charlie tried to kiss and lick his wife’s face clean.

“I love you, baby,” he whispered, snapping their bodies together despite the small baby bump and dipping his head for a long soulful kiss. She tasted so sweet.

“J’taime, aussi,” she responded when he allowed her to come up for air.

Charlie groaned at the instant hard-on he acquired whenever Gisella spoke French. Now that they’d said their “I do’s,” Charlie was ready to skip right to the honeymoon phase. So much so he found himself asking Gisella every five minutes, “Can we leave now?”

“Behave.” She giggled and then allowed Anna to pull her away.

“I’m so happy for you, Gisella,” Anna said, wrapping her arms around her baby sister. “I don’t think the Lonely Hearts will ever admit it, but you’ve renewed our faith in love.”

Gisella smiled and wiped away a stray tear from her sister’s face. “I owe you so much. If you hadn’t gone to see Charlie that night.”

Anna gave Gisella’s waist a gentle squeeze. “I’m sure you would’ve done the same for me.”

“In a heartbeat.” She paused. “He’s out there, you know. There’s a perfect guy out there for you.”

Anna shrugged. “Maybe. But until then, me and Sasha are going to be just fine.”

Gisella smiled as her eyes spied on Taariq as he walked across the lawn.

Anna followed her gaze and then experienced another punch in the gut. The sight of him just laughing and having a good time churned her stomach. “You know, I’m going to run to the ladies’ room. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Charlie was laughing while his mother gripped his cheeks and tried to pinch the blood out of them. “My baby has made me so proud! Not only did you give me a beautiful daughter-in-law, but I’m finally getting my grandbaby.”