Evidence of Desire Read online

  “How far is your place from the airport?”

  “About an hour. Why?”

  “Your sister has a layover in Philly, and I thought she could spend the night at your place, but you’re much too far and I’d hate for her to miss her six o’clock flight the next morning.”

  Azure wondered why Eden hadn’t called her directly, but decided not to make an issue of it. She and her younger sister had never been close, and they only spoke during the holidays. Azure had been jealous of her sister since they were kids and envied the close, loving relationship Eden had with their mom. To avoid feeling like the third wheel, Azure visited her parents when she knew her sister wouldn’t be around, and she never asked her mom about Eden’s modeling gigs.

  “There are a lot of really great hotels near the airport,” she said, taking her planner out of her purse and flipping it open to October. “If you know what day Eden’s coming in, I can book a suite for her at the Hyatt.”

  “She’s arriving on October twenty-fifth at seven in the evening.”

  “I’ll make the arrangements and text it to her by the end of the day.”

  “That would be perfect, honey. Thanks a bunch,” her mother said, her tone bright and cheery. “Did you get the email I sent you?”

  “Which one?” Azure grumbled, tapping her ball-point pen on her computer keyboard. Every week, without fail, her mother sent her an exhaustive list of diet tips and interval-training routines that would cause a participant on Celebrity Fit Club to go into cardiac arrest.

  “The recipes are nutritious and tasty and real easy to make.”

  Hell no, and no, thanks, Azure decided, remembering the vegan recipes her mother had emailed days earlier. I’d rather die chubby and full than thin and hungry.

  “I’ve only been on the green bean diet for a week, but I’ve already lost three pounds!”

  “That’s great, Mom. Good for you.”

  “What would be great is if you took your health a little more seriously.”

  “Not everyone can be a size six like you, Mom.”

  “Honey, please, I’ve never been that fat. I’m a slim and trim size four.”

  Azure didn’t want to argue with her image-obsessed mother about her weight, but she had to set her straight. Again. Every time they spoke, her mom put her down, and Azure was tired of having to defend herself and her body. “I eat well, I exercise several times a week and I hardly drink alcohol.”

  Unless I’m on a date with Harper Hamilton and I need a cosmopolitan or two or three to help calm my nerves.

  “I didn’t want to say anything when you came down to visit for Labor Day, but you have love handles, Alice, and they’re most unflattering.”

  Only her family still called her Alice, her given name. Pushing her chair away from her desk, she stared down at her hips. What love handles?

  “You career will never take off if you keep putting on weight, and if you’re not careful, you’ll lose your job altogether,” she stated, her tone matter-of-fact. “I’ll ask Eden to show you some of her workout routines when she comes to town. Your sister’s in talks to be in the Victoria’s Secret holiday fashion show and she’s been working her butt off to get in tip-top shape. Eden looks better than ever, and I bet she wouldn’t mind showing you some of her tricks.”

  Azure’s good mood fizzled and died, and when her mother encouraged her to try the Master Cleanse for thirty days, the knot in her chest threatened to choke her. Will I ever be good enough? she wondered, overcome with sadness.

  Azure was relieved when her mother ended the conversation seconds later to head off to her Botox party, but long after Azure hung up the phone, she could still hear her mother’s

  words playing in her mind. First, I get reamed out from my boss, and then my mother bashes my body. Hell of a way to start the day, she thought sourly, tossing her pen down on the desk.

  The telephone buzzed. And when Azure saw the editorial director’s name pop up on the screen, she knew her day had taken another turn for the worse, because the only time her director called was when there was a problem.

  Hands shaking, mouth dry, Azure picked up the receiver and greeted the South African–born mother of two warmly. The news was worse than bad, and when Azure hung up the phone twenty minutes later, the tears in her eyes broke free.

  * * *

  “You’re never going to believe this,” Maggie Sharpe said, busting into the living room of the two-bedroom condo she shared with Azure and dumping her shopping bags at her feet. “Guess who eloped to Cancún?”

  From the floor where she was exercising, Azure stared at her roommate, and for the second time that week wondered what Maggie was thinking when she got dressed. The high school drama teacher had a fabulously curvy figure, but instead of wearing flattering pieces that enhanced her bootylicious assets, she hid her plus-size shape in peasant dresses and bulky blazers. Her makeup was flawless, but her cheeks were flushed and it looked as if a toddler had been playing in her blond-streaked hair. “I don’t know,” Azure replied, rolling onto her back. “One of the Jersey Shore kids?”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “No, silly, it’s someone we know.”

  “Beats me. Most of my friends are either dating or unhappily married.”

  “Do you remember my cousin Danity?”

  “No.”

  “Of course you do.” Maggie put her cell phone down on the coffee table, then plopped on the love seat and folded her short, plump legs under her butt. “We ran into her a couple months ago at that fusion club on a hundred and twenty-first Street. She has ridiculously long hair and a gorgeous, surgically enhanced body.”

  Azure nodded. How could she forget Maggie’s politically incorrect cousin who’d flirted with everyone from the bouncer to the bartender? “Yeah, I remember her,” Azure said, as bits and pieces of that night resurfaced in her mind. “She’s got quite the personality.”

  “Well, her sister, Sienna, just eloped with some dude she met online. Isn’t that insane?”

  “Maybe it was love at first sight.”

  “More like lust at first sight. They’ve only known each other for six weeks!”

  You think that’s fast? Azure thought. I’ve got her beat by almost a whole month! Thinking about her own shotgun wedding in the works reminded Azure about the article she’d turned in yesterday. The one her editorial director hated and insisted she rewrite. Azure scowled, shook her head. A month’s worth of research and five days of writing down the drain. And if she wanted to meet her Thursday morning deadline, she’d have to skip tonight’s Dancing With the Stars and pull an all-nighter. “You’re right, Maggie, six weeks isn’t a lot of time to get to know someone, but I recently interviewed couples who got hitched twenty-four hours after meeting, and they’re all still going strong.”

  “Wow” tumbled out of Maggie’s mouth. “Kardashians don’t even get married that fast.”

  “I guess when you know, you know,” Azure said, using her white cotton towel to clean the sweat off her face and neck. “Or at least that’s what I’ve been told.”

  “I’d never do something that impulsive. I want to get married once. Not once a year.”

  Azure opened her mouth, then quickly closed it. She wanted to tell Maggie about her meeting with Harper last night, but sensed now was not the right time. Not after what her roommate had just said. The funny thing was, Azure agreed with Maggie. Marriage wasn’t something to be entered into lightly, and although she’d agreed to marry Harper at the end of the month, she was having a serious case of buyer’s remorse. The truth was, Azure was attracted to him, which in the end had made her easy prey. He’d worked his magic on her, one boyish grin and smoldering gaze at a time. Harper wouldn’t take no for an answer. Like with the rest of the Hamilton clan, the word didn’t exist in his vocabulary, and sadly, she’d been no match for the sua
ve, persuasive attorney with the bedroom eyes.

  Last night, they’d sat at their secluded corner table drinking, talking and laughing for hours. If not for the restaurant closing, they probably would have stayed there all night. After paying their bill, Harper walked her to her car and helped her slip inside the driver’s seat. His rich, wonderful cologne settled over her, and when he leaned in for a hug, Azure brushed her lips across his cheek. Hoping he’d take the hint, she waited anxiously for him to kiss her. It never happened. Instead of taking her right then and there in the front seat, he promised to be in touch, closed the driver’s-side door and strode off. Azure couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so bummed. Twenty-four hours later, she was still thinking about what could have been. One thing was for sure, though—she had to smarten up. Harper was only pretending to love her; it was not the real thing. And as long as she remembered that, she’d come out on top.

  “Will you come?”

  Azure blinked. She’d been so busy thinking about Harper, and the kiss that didn’t happen, she’d missed what her roommate said. “Of course I’ll come,” she replied, matching her friend’s enthusiasm. Azure wondered if she’d just agreed to attend a play at the high school Maggie taught at or a gallery opening. Either one would bore her to death.

  “Great!” Maggie beamed. “Is Friday night good for you?”

  I should probably check with my fiancé. It was an absurd thought, but she’d agreed to marry Harper, and until he changed his mind, that’s exactly what he was—her fiancé. “I’ll have to get back to you—”

  The doorbell rang.

  Panic flashed in Maggie’s eyes. “Oh no, Greg’s an hour early! Roomy, keep him company while I get changed.” Swiping her shopping bags off the floor, she shot up the stairs faster than a gold-medal-winning track star and disappeared down the hallway.

  Glad she’d taken the time to clean up before working out, Azure smiled in satisfaction as she glanced around. It had been her idea to decorate in white, and although it was impossible to keep the condo clean, she loved the fresh, modern look it gave her home. Vases overflowing with bamboo stalks stood in each corner of the room, vintage paintings lined the teal walls, and the cinnamon candles filled the air with a rich, intoxicating scent. The open-concept design was perfect for entertaining, and the tall windows ushered in streams of natural sunlight.

  The doorbell buzzed again. And again.

  Azure grabbed her water bottle and guzzled down the rest of her drink as she dragged her weary body into the foyer. She opened the door, fully prepared to tease Maggie’s boyfriend for ringing the doorbell like a maniac, but when Azure saw who the caller was the rebuke died on her parted lips. Her knees buckled, and she struggled to stay upright. Azure wanted to rub her eyes but didn’t. She wasn’t seeing things, wasn’t hallucinating like a character in a paranormal movie. Harper was here. For real. Standing on her doorstep, looking all GQ in a black tailored suit and an eye-catching striped tie, he wore a rich smile that only enhanced his killer sex appeal.

  “Honey, I’m home.”

  Harper chuckled, but Azure didn’t. There was nothing to hee-haw about. She was wearing tiny booty shorts, not a stroke of makeup and she reeked of sweat. Not a pleasant combination, and when Harper raised his thick, trimmed eyebrows, Azure wondered if it was because her hair was a wild, frizzy mess or because her post-workout look was frightening.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked tightly.

  “I came here to discuss our wedding plans.”

  “You could have called.”

  “Yes, but then I wouldn’t have been able to see you.” He sounded sincere, as heartfelt as a lawyer could be. “Besides, we have a lot to discuss, and a ten-minute conversation on the phone wouldn’t suffice.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “You’re in the phone book.”

  Azure winced. Duh. That was a stupid question. “We went over everything last night during dinner. What else is there to discuss? We’re getting married at the end of the month, at the courthouse, at noon. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”

  “There’s been a slight change of plans.”

  “Why? I like the plan we already have.”

  Harper tried to keep his eyes on her face, but his gaze kept sliding down to her bare midriff. Her T-shirt said Kiss My Abs, and her spandex shorts were so small they could double as a handkerchief. Azure was still all arms and hips and legs, and when he caught sight of her cleavage, he lost the use of his tongue. Clearing his throat, he hoped he didn’t look as foolish as he felt. “Can I come in?” he asked, forcing the words up his throat and out of his dry mouth.

  “Here? Now?”

  “Is this a bad time?”

  Azure replied with a nod. “Yeah, I just finished my workout, and I was about to go take a long shower.”

  “Do you have plans tonight?”

  “I have an article to write.”

  “Can I persuade you to have dinner with me?” he asked, lowering his voice to a soft, silky hue. “After we eat, we can choose a venue and discuss the wedding ceremony.”

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, Greg. I couldn’t find my—”

  At the sound of her roommate’s voice, Azure stiffened. Her body shut down, and for several long seconds, she couldn’t move.

  “Sorry,” Maggie said, wearing a sheepish smile. “I thought you were my boyfriend.”

  “We all can’t be that lucky, now, can we?” Harper replied.

  A giggle tumbled out of her mouth. “No, I guess not.”

  “You must be Azure’s roommate. Maggie, right?”

  “Yeah, and you are…”

  “Harper Hamilton.” He stepped forward and shut the door skillfully with the back of his right foot. Azure stood there, dumbfounded. Guess we’re staying in, she thought miserably, bolting the lock. As Azure turned toward the living room, she caught a whiff of her T-shirt and wrinkled her nose. I smell so bad I could kill a skunk! A shower was just what the doctor ordered, but Azure didn’t want to leave Harper alone with Maggie. No way. No how. Her roommate knew too many of her embarrassing secrets and unfortunately had the gift of gab.

  “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Maggie,” Harper said smoothly. “Azure’s told me a lot about you.”

  “She has? I’m surprised. She hasn’t mentioned you once.”

  Harper rested a hand on Azure’s shoulder. He tenderly stroked her neck, and when she stared up at him, all bright-eyed and surprised, he nuzzled his face playfully against her ear. “That’s to be expected,” he said smoothly. “We haven’t been dating long.”

  Maggie’s vivid blue eyes were the size of baseballs. “S-so, you’re her boyfriend?”

  “That’s right, and proud of it. I’ve waited my whole life to meet a woman like Azure, and now that I’ve found her, I’m never going to let her go.” Then Harper bent down, cupped her chin and pressed his mouth softly against hers. His lips tasted like peppermint, and his refreshing, citrus scent wrapped itself around her in a sensual embrace.

  Before Azure knew what was happening, the kiss was over.

  “Azure!” Maggie whispered, speaking out the side of her mouth, just loud enough for Azure to hear. “Why would you agree to go on a blind date with my school janitor if you were seeing someone? And not just anyone. You’re dating Harper frickin’ Hamilton! I want details, roomy, and I want them now!”

  Azure’s head was spinning. Still reeling from Harper’s kiss, she tried to make sense of what her roommate had just said. Tilting her head to the right, she squinted, thought hard for a minute. She didn’t remember agreeing to go out with anyone, let alone a high school janitor. Seconds passed. Then recognition dawned. It must have been earlier when Maggie was talking, and I was zoned out, Azure decided, glad she’d cracked the mystery. I guess that’s what I get for daydreaming
about Harper. “I’ll explain later,” Azure whispered back.

  “You better, or else.”

  “This is a great condo,” Harper said, glancing around the spacious main floor. “Cool décor, and I love all the framed movie posters.”

  Azure started to speak, but Maggie cut her off.

  “How did you guys meet?” she asked, directing the question at Harper. “My roommate’s been keeping me in the dark, but I’m dying to know how you two hooked up.”

  Harper lowered his hand to Azure’s waist and held her close to his side, as if to prevent her from running away. “We went to prep school together, but lost touch after graduation. Azure interviewed my family for Eminence last month and when she walked into my uncle’s estate, I instantly recognized her. We’ve been inseparable ever since.”

  “You have?”

  Azure’s heart flip-flopped in her chest. Harper was staring at her with such longing, with such adoration, Azure almost forgot that this was all part of the plan. She found herself falling under his spell, believing every word that came out of his mouth, and she could tell by the love-struck expression on Maggie’s face that she was eating it up, too.

  “I’m going to go change,” Azure said, hoping the sound of her voice would snap her roommate out of her haze.

  It didn’t. Maggie continued staring at Harper, and when her pink, rhinestone-studded cell phone buzzed, she made no moves to answer it.

  “That’s probably Greg.” Azure snatched her roommate’s iPhone off the glass coffee table and handed it to her. “Here. Answer it.”

  Maggie flapped her hands in the air like a bald eagle taking flight. “We have company, Azure. That would be rude.” Smiling at Harper, her baby blues shimmering with delight, she offered him a drink. “What can I get you? Water? Coffee? A Heineken, maybe?”

  “I’d love one.”

  “Go ahead and freshen up, roomy. I’ll keep Harper company while you’re gone.”

  “I bet you will,” Azure grumbled, giving her roommate the evil eye.

  Chapter 7