Michelle had almost barfed when she saw the price tag, but she’d managed to swallow her reaction. It was a special occasion, probably the only one of this kind in her lifetime, and she wanted to shine. Most of all, she wanted Erik to be proud of her. Hair, shoes, nails, and a few sexy undergarments from Victoria’s Secret had just about wiped out the money she’d earned in the time she’d been working for Erik. The rest of it had paid for Jessica’s camp.
She twirled, feeling like Cinderella on her way to the ball. Only difference was, she’d already snagged Prince Charming. Oh, had she snagged him, she thought, remembering the conversation she had with Erik yesterday.
They’d been sitting on the patio off the kitchen watching Precious and her play date, Belinda, when Erik suddenly blurted out, “Marry me, Michelle.”
Certain she was hallucinating and wondering what the heck Mrs. Hayes put in her lemonade, Michelle had just ignored him.
But he’d said it again. “Let’s get married in secret. No one else has to know.”
At that point, Michelle had eased her glass down on the tempered glass top table as carefully as she could. Under the right circumstances, she would have jumped up, wrapped her arms about his neck, locked her lips to his and screamed, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
But it was not the right circumstance. That suggestion was born out of Cassie’s moral beliefs about sex before marriage—the convictions he said had rubbed off on him. Michelle had looked at him sprawled out on the lounge chair, looking all potent and irresistible. “Why, just so you could have sex with me without feeling as if you’re doing something wrong?”
“That’s not the only reason.”
“Do you love me?” she’d asked, simply and quietly.
“I have very strong feelings for you, and I’m certain that once I have the answers to Cassie’s death squared away, I will allow myself to fall deeply and hopelessly in love with you, Michelle. You want to have my babies, and I would love nothing more than to put them inside you when the time is right. For now, I want to commit to you, show you I’m serious. We just have to keep it secret for the time being, especially for Precious. And,” he’d added, a bit sheepishly, twirling his glass between his long fingers, “you’re going to meet a lot of handsome doctors at the gala. I want you to remember who’s taking you home at the end of the evening.”
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His insecurity had deepened her love for him. She’d smiled, feeling a bit of feminine power surge though her. “You’re afraid another man would snatch me up.”
“Yes,” he’d admitted, giving her a heart-rending smile.
“You’re the only man I’ve ever said I love you to, Erik, and if a secret marriage is the only way I can express just how deep that love runs, then I’ll be your wife.”
And so this afternoon, on their way to Boston, they’d stopped to exchange vows in the office of Anthony Paul, Erik’s trusted friend and a Justice of the Peace. No rings were exchanged, just promises to love each other and be faithful to each other through sickness and in health, for better and for worse. In fact, Erik still wore the ring Cassie placed on his finger over twelve years ago, reminding Michelle that it wasn’t a real marriage, just a license so he could make exculpatory love with her.
But as she’d pledged her life to Dr. Erik LaCrosse, Jr., Michelle realized that a secret marriage was the best thing for her, as well. News of her marriage into such an affluent family would spread like wildfire in her neighborhood, and beyond. She was certain that it would eventually reach her father and ultimately flush him out from whatever dark hole he’d crawled into over two years ago. She couldn’t risk that happening—not until she had time to probe into his past—shake up her family tree, and see what fell out. That was the next item on her list of things to do.
So until then, she couldn’t even share her happy news with her brother and her best friend. Robert and Yasmine would think she was out of her mind for sure. As far as Michelle knew, neither one of them had ever been serious about any of the people they dated, so she wouldn’t expect them to understand how this kind of irrepressible love can cause one to do many stupid things.
People got married for all kinds of reasons, she’d told herself. At least she loved the man, and foolish or not, the ink was dried. She was Mrs. Secret Dr. Erik LaCrosse. And tonight after the gala, they would consummate their vows, just like a real honeymoon couple. She couldn’t wait.
Michelle turned at the knock on the door that led to the living room that separated her and Erik’s bedrooms. Even though they were husband and wife, Erik had booked a suite to keep up appearances, but he didn’t need to knock, she thought as she crossed the room and opened the door. She was his wife.