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  Thoughts of her mother filled her mind, and tears pricked the back of her eyes. If Carmelita was alive, she’d be celebrating her fifty-sixth birthday. To mark the occasion, she’d taken fifty-six red roses to the cemetery that morning, and spent hours “talking” to her mom about her career, her relationship with Morrison and his family, and reuniting with her dad. It was an emotional visit that left Karma feeling drained, and she was thankful she’d taken Feisal up on his offer to drive her to Brooklyn.

  “Do you have a minute to visit with an old friend?”

  Karma blinked, spotted Jazz standing in the doorway and leaped to her feet. Her arms outstretched, she crossed the room and greeted her friend with a hug. They hadn’t seen or spoken to each other since Jazz quit, and Karma was thrilled about the unexpected visit.

  “Of course I have time for you. It’s great to see you, Jazz,” she said, meaning every word. Giving her the once-over, she admired her bold, cutout dress and her new hairdo. The sleek, two-toned bob framed her face perfectly, accentuated her cheekbones and gave her a fun, youthful vibe. “How have you been?”

  “Great, but I really miss you.”

  “I miss you too. We had some incredible times here at the salon, and I cherish those memories,” Karma confessed with a sad smile. “How are things going with Lorenzo?”

  “Better than ever. He filed for divorce last month.”

  Shock must have registered on her face, because Jazz raised a hand in the air, as if swearing an oath in court, and fervently shook her head.

  “Lorenzo and his estranged wife had problems long before I came along, and were legally separated when I met him at the gym,” she explained. “I regret putting you in the middle of my relationship drama though. That wasn’t cool, and I’m sorry.”

  “Apology accepted.” Raising an eyebrow, Karma gave her friend the once-over. “Lorenzo must be a good guy. You’re glowing!”

  “We’re renting a mansion in East Hampton, and having a lot of fun together. He’s the most incredible man I’ve ever met, and I’ve never been happier.”

  I know just how you feel, Karma thought, unable to wipe the goofy, lopsided smile off her face either. I’m madly in love with Morrison, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.

  “I’m sorry about the things I said about Lorenzo, and for cramming my opinions down your throat,” she said in a quiet voice. “I had no right to judge him, and I’m glad I was wrong about him.”

  “I got so caught up in Lorenzo, and our red-hot romance, I stopped being a good employee and friend, and I’m ashamed of how I treated you.” Jazz hung her head. “I know I’ve been a pain in the ass, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. You’re not just a friend, you’re my family, and all I want is my bestie back.”

  “I do too.” Karma gave Jazz another hug, rocked her vigorously from side-to-side to make her laugh, and kissed her cheek. Just yesterday, she’d been telling Morrison how much she missed Jazz, and here she was... Karma frowned. Had Morrison reached out to Jazz? Had he convinced her to come to the salon? Was he behind her friend’s unexpected visit? Curious, she opened her mouth to ask the questions running through her mind, but Jazz interrupted her, and Karma lost her train of thought. It didn’t matter. Her bestie was back at the salon, talking and laughing with her, and that was all that mattered.

  “Let’s have drinks at Oreya Restaurant and Lounge,” Jazz proposed, tucking her purse under her arm. “It’s my treat. I want to hear all about you and Morrison, the Hamptons Women’s Association banquet and your fabulous new clients, of course.”

  “I can’t tonight, but tomorrow I’m all yours. It’s Morrison’s birthday, and I have a special evening planned for him.” Karma glanced at the wall clock above the door, realized it was two o’clock, and yelped. “I have to go. I still need to stop at the mall to pick up his gift.”

  “Girl, I understand. No worries. Have fun with Judge Hottie!”

  Karma returned to her desk, grabbed her handbag off the floor and tossed her cell phone and wallet inside. Morrison needed to unwind, a distraction to take his mind off his troubles, and Karma had planned a romantic night for him. Yesterday, Morrison and Roderick had had another meeting with investigators at the SEC—their third meeting in three weeks—but nothing had been resolved. Morrison feared the investigation would drag on for months, and Roderick’s drinking would get worse. He thought the stress of the insider trading case was weighing heavily on his youngest brother, but Karma disagreed. Roderick missed Toya dearly, and was struggling without her. Sure, he put on a brave face in front of his family and friends, but it was obvious he was lost without the woman he loved. Every day, he seemed more hopeless, and at the banquet he’d talked about his ex-fiancée nonstop.

  “I saw the pictures you posted online at the banquet,” Jazz said with a toothy smile. “Things must be going really well with you and Morrison if you’ve already met his family.”

  Karma turned off the lights and exited her office with Jazz in tow. “Things are great. To be honest, after my dad showed up, I was worried his parents would pressure him to dump me, or threaten to disown him if we continued dating, but they’ve been incredibly supportive.”

  “As they should be. You’re a strong, intelligent woman with a thriving business, and your dad’s paid his debt to society. If someone has a problem with that, screw them!”

  “I lost some clients who I guess were uncomfortable with Feisal being an ex-con and didn’t like seeing him at the salon, but it’s their loss not mine...” Hearing R & B music playing loudly in the salon—her favorite Bruno Mars song—her thoughts drifted away and she trailed off speaking.

  Entering the main floor, Karma was struck by the lavish flower bouquets and scented candles all around the salon. Red rose petals were sprinkled on the floor, creating a romantic ambience and fragrant aroma in the air. Everyone was there—her staff, her father, her grandparents, the Drake family—and their excitement was palpable. Reagan waved, Mrs. Drake beamed and Abigail mouthed the words, “Relax, relate, release.” Before Karma could ask her friends and family what was going on, Morrison appeared at her side and took her hand in his. He looked dashing in his black tuxedo and crisp white shirt, like a groom on his wedding day, and the earnest expression on his face made her heart swoon.

  “Morrison, what’s going on?” she whispered, wishing her palms weren’t slick with sweat. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in court.”

  Flashing a sly, bad-boy grin that made his eyes twinkle, he slowly shook his head. “No, beautiful, I’m supposed to be right here with you...”

  Her pulse thumped inside her ears, and her thoughts spun out of control. Karma couldn’t understand what was happening, and struggled to focus on what Morrison was saying.

  Cameras flashed, temporarily blinding her.

  “All week, my friends and family have been asking me what I want for my birthday, and when I gave it some thought I realized the only gift I wanted was you. You mean the world to me, Karma, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you in wedded bliss,” he confessed.

  Incredibly, tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision, but she didn’t cry. “But what about my past? I’m worried if the truth gets out it could embarrass you or ruin your chances to become a Supreme Court judge in the future.”

  Morrison cupped her chin. “If I could only choose one, I’d choose you.”

  Their friends and family oohed and ahhed.

  After dropping to one knee, he reached into his pocket and took out a small, white box.

  “I don’t know what the future holds, but as long as we’re together, I know it’ll be great. You’re my heart, Karma, everything I didn’t know I wanted in a woman, and I love you more than anything in this world.”

  Karma choked down a sob, willed herself to keep it together. “I love you too, Morrison. More than I’ve ever loved anyone, and
I feel fortunate to have you in my life.”

  “Will you give me the best birthday gift I’ve ever received and agree to marry me?”

  “Yes! I’ll marry you! I’d love to!” Karma shouted, showering his face with kisses.

  Taking her left hand in his, he slid the pink, heart-shaped diamond ring onto her finger, then kissed her palm. Moved by his words, Karma draped her arms around his neck and vowed never to take him for granted. “I love you, baby, and I always will.”

  “I love you more, Mrs. Morrison Drake-To-Be, and I will cherish and adore you always.”

  Overcome with joy and happiness, Karma wiped the tears from her eyes and gazed up at her new fiancé. How did I ever get so lucky? she wondered, caressing his handsome face. Morrison not only reunited me and my father, he taught me how to forgive and love unconditionally, and for that I’m deeply grateful.

  “I want you to be my wife, and have my babies.” Morrison winked. “Two of each sex would be nice.”

  Karma whispered in his ear, “It’s never too early to practice, so when we get to your estate, it’s on!”

  Surrounded by friends and family, they shared a sweet, tender kiss on the lips, and as Morrison—her real-life Prince Charming—held her close to his chest, Karma realized dreams really did come true.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Tempting the Beauty Queen by Carolyn Hector.

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  Tempting the Beauty Queen

  by Carolyn Hector

  Chapter 1

  “I was able to find a Hamilton ticket easier than trying to find a date for this month,” said Kenzie Swayne, Southwood, Georgia’s town historian. To say she had problems was the understatement of the century. Her strictly platonic go-to date, Rafael “Rafe” Gonzalez, bailed on her this morning. Something about the time being right to go after the woman he loved. Deep down inside, Kenzie knew she needed to be happy for her friend, but damn, couldn’t love wait a month?

  With a heavy sigh, Kenzie flipped her word-of-the-day calendar over. “Lugubrious,” she announced. “Yep, gloomy, bummed and bleak pretty much summarizes my life right now.” Where else could a girl get a hot guy who lived in the next town over to show up for important dates and who wasn’t looking for long-term commitments?

  At the hint of a chuckle, Kenzie glanced up at her dear friend, Lexi Pendergrass Reyes, who graciously hid her laughter behind her left hand, where her blindingly gorgeous wedding ring caught the fluorescent lights of the room. Kenzie grumbled and leaned back in her black leather office chair and rolled her eyes when the chair hit the wall behind her. Sure, her tiny headquarters in City Hall were small but she had bigger problems. She needed an escort for her cousin’s wedding tomorrow and the four major events of June, when three friends were tying the knot, along with a gala and a beauty pageant.

  “Come on now,” encouraged Lexi. She shifted the four teal garment bags into her left hand and leaned against the door jamb. “What about one of the Crowne twins? Surely they’re going to their brother’s ceremony?”

  The last wedding Kenzie agreed to attend and be in was a surprise for the bride. At least with Waverly Leverve, knowing about the nuptials meant she could at least back out of this one. Kenzie shook her head from side to side. The coppery, red-gold hair fell over her shoulders. She frowned as she twisted it up into a bun. She couldn’t control her hair in this humid weather, so what made her think she’d be able to control her life?

  Last winter Kenzie became fast friends with the handsome Crowne twins, Dario and Darren. They took Southwood by storm when they moved here to run their brother’s garage. The single ladies in town were smitten with the twins and their playboy charm but alas, neither Dario nor Darren would work well as a believable date for her cousin’s wedding tomorrow. Most of the Hairston clan, her mother’s family, coming back to Southwood wouldn’t believe Kenzie was involved in a relationship with either twin. Kenzie did not date playboys. Anymore. Playboys were a waste of time and she saw no need to be strung along by a man with a commitment phobia.

  Four weeks. That was how long Kenzie was going to have to endure the scrutinous gaze of her kinfolk, especially Great-Auntie Brenda—Auntie Bren for short. She’d be there for Cousin Corie’s wedding tomorrow, Felicia Ward’s next week and the Southwood Sesquicentennial Gala. In her mideighties, Auntie Bren was a force to be reckoned with. You’d never know her age by looking at her or witnessing her spunk. At her assisted living home in Miami, Florida, she kept friends like a queen held court. At the hundred-and-fifty-year celebration, more of Auntie Bren’s friends would come and hear the story of her twenty-eight-year-old great-niece who was still not married or dating anyone serious. Both the Hairston and Swayne sides of Kenzie’s family were attending and everyone would have a date but her.

  “The twins offered to split two of the weddings, one with each, and the Southwood Sesquicentennial Gala and thought the three of us could attend Dominic’s all together,” said Kenzie, “but I can’t. I need someone, as in the same guy, who will be here every weekend. Dario can do the first two but then he’s swapping places with Darren. I think they’re working on a project with Dominic, something about the baby’s room.”

  “Aww,” Lexi cooed.

  “They look alike but not that much. You know Erin Hairston has an eagle eye. She came here last summer to help Chantal pack up for her big move overseas and had to point out to everyone in the studio how I had more freckles from being in the sun so much.” Kenzie scowled and pressed her fingers against her freckle-covered face. As a child it was bad enough she sported this distinct red hair, but to top it off with more than a splash of freckles was downright cruel. Cousin Erin...perfect Cousin Erin, turned her nose up at beauty pageants to become an occupational therapist. In Auntie Bren’s eyes, Erin was the closest thing to a doctor on the Hairston side of the family.

  Lexi, gorgeous since the day she was born, rolled her eyes toward the barbaric florescent lights in the room. “Your freckles are what make you, you.”

  “Whatever. The least these spots can do is shield me when I’m dying of embarrassment when my eighty-five-year-old aunt is quizzing me about my sexuality.”

  As hard as she tried not to, Lexi laughed. “What? She wouldn’t.”

  “She did with Maggie,” Kenzie said of her older sister, Magnolia “Maggie” Swayne. “Auntie Bren started questioning her about whether or not she liked men and Maggie got graphic with the pe
ach in her hand.” Kenzie laughed along with Lexi. “So needless to say Maggie won’t be seated at the family table.”

  “With any luck you won’t be seated with Auntie Bren then,” said a deep voice from behind Lexi. “I’m sure she put a hex on me.”

  One could hope, Kenzie thought before she realized who the deep voice belonged to at her door. The half laugh she almost shared with Lexi died and in its place came a scowl. By cruel fate, Kenzie’s high school boyfriend, Alexander Ward, had been appointed city manager by his best friend, Mayor Anson Wilson. Kenzie was positive Anson had placed Alexander on the same City Hall floor just to annoy her since he held her responsible for not being able to get close to her friend Waverly. Last year Waverly Leverve came to town as a dethroned beauty queen being taunted by mocking memes of her crying when she’d had to give up the crown. Anson thought he could win her heart but Waverly was destined to be with someone better. “What do you want, Alexander?”

  “Aw, babe, is that any way to talk to the higher-ups?”

  Kenzie sneered and cut her eyes over at Lexi who made room for Alexander to stand in the doorway with her. “When the higher-up refers to me as babe, he reverts back to an ex-boyfriend.”

  Foolish as it sounded, Kenzie had accepted Alexander’s marriage proposal at their high school graduation, caught off guard in front of hundreds of witnesses. She’d figured since they were both attending Florida A&M in the fall there’d be no problem. But the problem came when Alexander made several friends of the female kind over the summer semester. Kenzie didn’t find out about his extracurricular activities until the first week she arrived on campus and was greeted by several other women who claimed Alexander as their boyfriend.