“Mom, I can’t listen to anymore of this. You will just have to get to know him better to see how much he cares about me. You should have seen how thrilled he was when I was expecting, I saw the love in his eyes.”
“Yes, because you were carrying the heir to the Hunter fortune, he was hoping for the splitting image of himself, I’m sure.”
“Mom, you’re cruel, do you know that?”
“Just stating the facts dear. How was your trip to Hawaii? I haven’t spoken to you since you got back to London?”
“It was nice,” is all I have to say as my memories of the beautiful Krista pops into my head. She would make a better trophy wife for Marcus.
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yes we did,” I don’t care to elaborate on the sordid details that I am sure my mother would love to hear, because they reinforce her theory about Marcus. She means nothing to me is his standard line about every one of his past dalliances.
“I need to get going Mom, I want to get started on dinner.”
“You’re cooking now?” Mom says in surprise.
“Yes, I actually bought a cookbook and try and cook for Marcus when he gets home from work.”
“Who would have thought my career minded daughter would ever be a little homemaker. Glad to hear it.”
“Yeah, ok Mom. I’ll call you again once we have a date set.”
“I will be waiting with baited breath.” I can hear the slight sarcasm in her voice. Parents, between my mother and Marcus’s mother we don’t have a very cohesive support system do we?
Needless to say, my mom steams me. The less I talk to her the better. All she does is make me feel bad about my decisions.
We should just elope, find a reclusive resort somewhere in Europe and just elope. I’m going to suggest it.
Chapter 15
Marcus
“We have our appointment on Friday with Denise Carter at the Savoy.”
“Marcus?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” I don’t like her tone of voice.
“Can we just elope?”
I look over at her, is she crazy?
“Why would you even suggest such a thing? I thought every girl wants a fairy tale wedding. I can provide that for you, money is no object.”
“It’s not about the money, or having some over the top wedding. I just feel like we aren’t getting much support, and I don’t mean monetarily, from our families.”
“What happened today?”
“I talked to my mom.”
Sophie’s mom makes me so angry. Every time she talks to her mother, I know the woman puts these seeds of doubt in my Sophie’s mind. Why doesn’t that woman like me?
“What does your mom have against me? She has only met me a handful of times and I have always behaved like a gentleman around her.”
“It’s just that…”
“I know, she was in love with that other guy. Well, then why doesn’t SHE go and marry him,” I huff out.
Sophie lets out a small awkward laugh at my non-joke.
“My mom just doesn’t know you like I do. She hasn’t had a chance to see the Marcus I see,” Sophie says.
To be honest, very few people see the Marcus I become when Sophie and I are alone, only then do I let all my defenses down. I’m sweet and sensitive towards no one but Sophie. She is my every thing, and I won’t let her get away from me again. No one will spoil it for us, including her mother. I won’t let her.
“It’s probably better that she is an ocean away. I won’t let her spoil what we have. Don’t you want a wedding? I know I do, but lets just keep it small and intimate. That’s doable, right sweetheart?” I practically beg her. I’m freaking pathetic. I should be slamming my fist down and be pissed that she doesn’t want a big wedding to announce us to the world. But Sophie is so different from any other woman I’ve ever known and that’s what makes her so special to me.
“We’re going to the Savoy to book our wedding date, agreed?”
“Alright, you know best I suppose,” she says, snuggling into the warmth of my body.
“Do you love me?” I can’t believe I have to ask, but I need her reassurance, right now, at this moment. I’m feeling so vulnerable.
“Of course I do. With all of my heart,” she says, pulling my face to hers and planting a big kiss on my lips.
“Why don’t you show me how much?” I say, with a wicked smile playing across my face. I roll onto my back inviting Sophie to do all of the work. I want her to start with her ruby red lips wrapped around my steely shaft that has risen to the occasion.
Chapter 16
Sophie
The next few months are a world wind of wedding planning and I think we have just about covered everything. The Savoy took care of almost everything, from the flowers, to the cake, to the wedding photography to the live band. I’m now beyond thrilled that Marcus pushed to have it there. Denise Carter, their wedding planner, made it so easy for me to not feel overwhelmed. I can’t help but feel Marcus said something to her because she was so accommodating at every turn. Goes to show you what his money buys, impeccable service.
I can breathe easier now that all the arrangements have been made, all I have to do is go in for another wedding dress fitting and start addressing the wedding invitations. I need to get those out early since most of our guests will have to make long distance travel plans.
We’re going out tonight with Julia and Richie, meeting them for dinner at an Italian Restaurant in Belgravia they seem to like.
“The food here is so good. The pasta melts in your mouth,” I remark to Julia, as Richie and Marcus are engaged in a business conversation.
“So is everything all set, wedding wise?”
“Yes, I just need to go in for one more fitting and start addressing the wedding invitations.”
“Do you need any help with anything?”
“How is your cursive handwriting?”
“Pretty decent.”
“Do you want to come over and help me address wedding invitations?”
“Sure, I would be happy to,” Julia says eagerly. She has really become such a good friend. I miss my girlfriends from home. My best friend can’t make it out for the wedding this summer because she will be way too pregnant to fly such a long distance. Her doctor already told her she couldn’t.
I’ve actually asked Julia to be my maid of honor, and she gladly accepted because that’s the kind of friend she has become to me. Even though we haven’t known each other all that long, we clicked immediately and have really bonded over the last few months. We are alike in so many ways. Independent and driven career girls who don’t expect a man to take care of us. We are self-sufficient on our own and our men are crazy about us! We’re both sickeningly in love, so we don’t make each other jealous. You know how that can be? When one friend gushes over her lover and the other friend has no one in her life, it gets awkward after awhile.
“Hey sweetheart, do you want to go hit a club tonight and go dancing?” Marcus leans over and asks, then gives me a loving peck on the lips.
“You know I would love to,” I squeal. I love to go dancing and he knows it.
*****
We’re getting down to the wire; the wedding is less than two weeks away. I have my dress hanging in the extra room. The honeymoon is booked to the South of France, pretty exotic and romantic wouldn’t you say? Marcus surprised me with it. I’ve always wanted to visit the Cote d’Azur and Saint Tropez. I have to pinch myself sometimes, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. But it’s not because of the trappings or the international travel I get to enjoy. It’s because I have the love and devotion of Marcus Hunter, that’s why I feel so lucky.
My Mom is due to fly in at the end of the week and a part of me is dreading it. Why can’t she be happy for me? Look, I know she loved John, but she has to get over it and learn to love Marcus too. He will be my husband, to have and to hold, like it or lump it Mom. In case you are wondering where my father is, he past away a few years ago, right after I graduated from college. Maybe that’s why my Mom wanted someone more like my father for me, someone loyal, devoted, decent and faithful. John was all those things. But I think Marcus is capable of those same qualities. He has shown them to me, time and time again since we have been engaged, right? I won’t think about it too long, yes, yes he has. Either that, or else I have been blinded by love. I am determined to follow my heart this time and not listen to any noise in the background of my head that says otherwise. My life took that route for too long.