|
The Royal Chronicles 2:
PRINCE OF SEDUCTION
By
Donna Grant
© copyright May 2007, Donna Grant
Cover art by Jenny Dixon, © copyright May 2007
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
Chapter One
Southern Jamaica
Present Day
"Here's your room, ma'am," the bellhop said as he opened Marin's door.
She stepped inside and smiled at the brightly painted room and tiled floor. The king size four poster bed looked so good all she wanted to do was curl up on it and sleep. Instead, she followed the bellhop as he walked about the room telling her of the mini-fridge and the array of liquor at her disposal.
But when he pulled back the curtains and opened the sliding glass door, Marin sighed. Before her eyes was the magnificent Caribbean Ocean in all its glory just a few feet from her room. The white sand glistened in the sunlight, and the palm trees swayed in the breeze.
She inhaled the sea deeply and instantly felt her muscles relax.
"Does this meet with your approval?" the bellhop asked.
Marin turned and smiled at him. "Yes. This most definitely does."
"If you need anything, my name is Paul," he said and started for the door.
She went to reach for her purse to tip him before she remembered she was staying at the Whitehouse, a new Sandals resort where all the taxes and tips are included in the stay.
"By the way," Paul said as he reached the door. "Your fiancé is two floors above you in the Honeymoon suite."
"Thank you."
Marin waited until the door closed behind the bellhop before she allowed her irritation to show. It hadn't been her idea to come to Jamaica to be wed. That had been Johnny's. He had wanted something different. And since her parents were dead and she had no other family, she didn't have any argument other than the fact she really wanted to be married in a church.
Needless to say, Johnny won the argument.
She really wasn't angry. It just wasn't the wedding she had always dreamed about. But now that she was on Jamaica and feeling the urge to sink her feet in the sand and drift in the turquoise waters, she was glad he had talked her into this destination.
What she was angry about was the accommodations. Johnny had also managed to talk her into staying in different rooms until after the ceremony. Marin shook her head and unzipped her luggage.
Most men would be offended if the woman didn't want to stay in the same room as them, but Johnny was…different. He had certain ideas about their relationship, their wedding, and their future. And if she were honest, she'd admit that not all of his ideas were as crazy as wanting separate rooms until after the wedding.
It was just for one night, she reminded herself. She had the rest of the day and the night to herself before the wedding in the morning. And she was going to make full use of the time.
First, she was going to enjoy some of the sun, sand, and water as well as the ever flowing liquor and food, and then that afternoon she was going to get a massage and facial.
She hurriedly pulled off her clothes, feeling the draining effects of traveling leaving her as each piece of clothing hit the floor. Then she grabbed her black bikini and slipped it on. She chanced a look at herself in the mirror before grabbing her black wide brimmed hat and sunglasses and heading out her sliding glass door for the beach.
* * * *
Marin stretched her back as she pushed back the covers and padded to the window. She pulled back the drapes covering the sliding glass door and smiled at the morning sunshine.
As she worked out the kinks from doing too much kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming in one day, she went to answer the knock at the door.
"Good mornin'," a beautiful Jamaican woman said as she entered the room with Marin's wedding gown and veil. "Did you sleep well, ma'am."
"I did," Marin said and closed the door. "I had heard about these resorts before, and had I known how beautiful and fun they were I'd have been here sooner."
The maid smiled. "I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your time. I'm here to help you get ready for the weddin'."
"Wonderful. I know exactly how I want my hair."
The maid nodded. "Perfect. I'll let you take a quick shower while I get the rest of your things as well as your bouquet."
"I hope the calla lilies turned out okay," Marin said as she grabbed her lingerie out of the drawer.
"Actually, ma'am, the bouquet you ordered are all roses. Red roses."
"What?" Marin said as she straightened. "That's what my fiancé wanted, but I specifically ordered white calla lilies and tulips."
"I don't think there's time to change," the maid said apologetically.
"No, I doubt there is," Marin said as her anger grew. "Johnny knew exactly what he was doing." She took a deep breath and gave the maid a smile. "This isn't your fault. I apologize if I snapped at you."
"No harm done, ma'am. Go take your shower and relax. A bride's wedding day is very stressful. We'll handle everything."
But even with the hot water hitting her body, Marin couldn't relax. If Johnny had gone behind her back and changed her bouquet, she was almost positive he did the same for the cake. And possibly the decorations, too.
She kept telling herself that it was little things and she shouldn't be upset. But the truth was, she was extremely upset. She didn't want to have an argument before the wedding--not that there would be time--but she also didn't want to start their honeymoon off with an argument. Yet, she couldn't let this go. She had to speak to Johnny about this.
After turning off the water and climbing out of the tub to dry off, Marin wrapped the towel around her and another around her wet head then opened the door to her room. She turned the corner and saw her gown laid out on the bed with her veil and shoes beside it.
She had splurged on French lace lingerie for the wedding, and she was eager to put on the expensive silk finery. It was a sad state of affairs when a bride was more eager to put on her lingerie than her wedding gown.
Once she had the bra, panties, and garter belt fastened with her hose, she pulled on her robe and waited for the maid to return. As she waited, she gazed at her gown. It was a pretty gown, even though it wasn't the one she had always dreamed of having. Johnny had spotted the gown while picking out his tux and bought it.
He had been right, the gown did look great on. She had never bought a strapless gown before, and wouldn't have this time if Johnny hadn't gone on and on about how it looked on her.
Marin ran her hand down the silk gown. No beads, pearls, or lace adorned the gown. Its simplicity was charming and suited for their island wedding.
Laughter wafted through the screen on her sliding glass door drawing her attention. Marin, curious, walked to the screen and looked outside to see a couple walking down the beach arm in arm. Her white gown and long veil trailed in the breeze. The man had on a tux with his shirt unbuttoned at the collar and his tie hanging open. Suddenly, he lifted the woman in his arms and kissed her.
"Their ceremony just ended," the maid said as she walked up beside Marin.
"They're a lovely couple." Marin couldn't hide the wistfulness in her own voice.
The maid smiled and patted the chair she had set up. "Come and let's do your hair."
She sat in the chair by the opened window. Reggae music drifted over the sound of the birds and soft wind from the speakers hidden throughout the massive resort. She would never be able to listen to Reggae music again without thinking of Jamaica.
The maid began to comb her hair then.
Marin closed her eyes as her hair was being styled. She tried to quell the uneasy feelings within her, telling herself all brides feel the way she was. She had just about convinced herself when the maid announced she was finished.
Eager to see what the maid had accomplished with her hair, Marin rose and went to look in the full length mirror. Her dark locks had been swept away from her face to be gathered at the back of her head. Soft wisps of hair hung near her face and neck while the rest of her hair hung down her back in soft waves.
"I love it," she said to the maid. "Thank you so very much."
The maid beamed and gathered up her items. "Is there anything else you'd like, ma'am?"
"Just a few minutes alone."
"Of course. I'll be waiting outside your room when you're ready to go."
When the maid had left, Marin looked at herself one last time. "Marin Williams. Mrs. Johnny Williams. Johnny and Marin Williams."
She smiled to herself and hurried to apply her make-up. Johnny wanted her to go without, so she had compromised and just put on some bronzing powder, eye liner, mascara, and some lip gloss.
Once that was done, she stepped into her long, A-line shaped strapless wedding dress and zipped it up. She had refused to go barefoot as Johnny wanted and bought instead a gorgeous pair of satin stilettos. As she slipped her feet inside the shoes, excitement began to unfurl.
She grabbed the dangle pearl earrings and put them on, then reached for the pearl bracelet, the only two pieces of jewelry she had left of her mother's. "I sure wish you could be here, Mom," she said softly.
One more look in the full length mirror before she grabbed the bouquet of red roses and walked to the door. She opened it to find the maid waiting for her.
"Simply stunning," the maid said. "Follow me, Ms. Chapel."
With each step toward the wedding gazebo they had set up on the beach, Marin's anxiety and excitement mixed. She couldn't wait to start her life with Johnny and a family soon after. He might not want kids now, but she was sure he would change his mind.
She spotted the gazebo where the wedding would take place and saw all the red and white decorations that Johnny had wanted. It was a beautiful mix amid the turquoise waters and vivid blue of the sky. All the flowers were in place, as was the cake, the minister, and their witnesses.
The only person missing was Johnny.
Marin laughed as she approached the small group of people. "He was so worried about me being late that he's late."
Everyone chuckled, but ten minutes later, no one was laughing, least of all Marin. Paul, the bellhop that had seen them to their rooms the night before had been sent to find Johnny. When Marin spotted Paul walking toward them, his face grim, she knew what he would say before the words ever left his mouth.
"Mr. Williams checked out of the resort late last night," he said softly. His dark eyes held pity and remorse, both of which she couldn't handle at the moment.
What, her mind screamed? Johnny had left without any word to her? Not even the common decency to tell her that he was calling the wedding off, that he changed his mind, that he needed time? Nothing? What kind of lowlife person did that?
But she had her answer.
Johnny.
Marin didn't bother looking at the others. She knew their gaze would hold the same emotions that Paul's did, and if she was to make it to her room without breaking down, she had to leave immediately.
She took a step and felt her knees begin to give. She stopped and forced herself to breathe and focus. I'll cry in the privacy of my own room, not so the others can pity me more.
The resolve gave her the strength she needed to walk away from the gazebo to her room. The sidewalk seemed to stretch forever, and at one point, Marin wondered if she would ever find her room again.
When she finally came to her room, her hands shook as she tried to get the credit card like key to slide through. Once the light clicked green, she swung open the door and hurried inside. No sooner had the door closed than she fell back against it and slid to the floor as the tears finally came.
|
