A Silken Thread - Brenda Jackson [71]
She nodded. “Yes, because I couldn’t have you,” she said quietly. She drew in a deep breath. “And I still can’t.”
He frowned. “Why not? You know there’s nothing between me and Erica, and you also know I don’t give a friggin’ damn what Mrs. Sanders thinks.”
“Yes, but Hattersville is your home and it will always be. You love it there. It’s just the opposite with me. I couldn’t wait to finish school and leave there. I hated growing up with people thinking my mother was a tramp because she had me and wasn’t married, and that I was beneath them because my grandmother cleaned houses and took care of other people’s kids for a living.”
He reached out and lifted her chin. “Erica never thought that. Neither did I. In fact, I always admired your accomplishments, was proud of your achievements. Not everybody in our town is as closed-minded as Karen Sanders and my parents.”
“Maybe not, but you’re thinking of running for mayor and I won’t do anything to ruin your chances of winning.”
“And how can loving each other ruin my chances?”
She inhaled deeply and then said, “No one would accept me as someone you’re interested in.”
His eyes narrowed. “I intend to prove you wrong, sweetheart. I’ve always admitted that there are closed-minded people living in Hattersville, and it won’t change overnight. But it will change. I told you my platform. You’re going to have to believe in me. Believe that somehow there can and will be an us, and that no matter what we will be together.”
When she didn’t say anything he murmured against her lips, “Tell me that you’re willing to believe that, April.”
She didn’t respond and each second that passed made his heart beat that much faster. “Okay, I’m willing to believe that,” she finally whispered. “But you have to promise that you’ll still keep our affair a secret until after the wedding. I want to be the one to tell Erica about us, but only after she marries Brian. The less drama before Erica’s wedding, the better.”
“All right. I promise.”
And then he covered her mouth with his, knowing that his top priority was not winning the mayor’s race, but showing April that they were meant to be together. When all was said and done, they would be.
Chapter Nineteen
Erica laughed and opened yet another gift. This was her first bridal shower and she was totally enjoying herself. The past two weeks had moved by quickly and now she only had three weeks left…and another half-dozen bridal showers to attend.
This one was being given by a few friends from college who’d come to town for the weekend. They were using the patio of the Hattersville Garden Club and the weather had cooperated nicely.
To her surprise her mother had not put up a fuss about attending. In fact, lately her mother hadn’t complained about anything. When Erica had mentioned it to Brian he’d said Karen had probably finally resigned herself to the fact that Erica would be marrying him.
Erica had also noticed a difference in her father. The other day she had heard him humming the lyrics to Marvin Gaye’s “Distant Lover.” And another day she actually heard him whistle. She couldn’t ever recall him walking around the house whistling before, and the sound had both surprised and pleased her. And she’d noted he was smiling a lot lately and wondered if her upcoming wedding had him in such a jovial mood.
She talked to Brian every night and their phone talks were getting more heated than ever. He’d outlined in full detail and high definition just what he intended to do to her every single minute of their two-week honeymoon in Paris. And likewise, she had outlined with the same noteworthy specifics just what she intended to do to him. Needless to say their conversations would end with both of them needing cold showers. Especially since they hadn’t made love since their weekend in Myrtle Beach.
They had decided to abstain from lovemaking to make their wedding night more special and meaningful. However, they were now seeing it was making them that much hornier. There was no doubt in her mind they would leave the reception