released it slowly before replying, “If I agree to marry him.”
Robert nearly dropped the plate onto the countertop. He stared at his sister, horrified.
When he spoke, his voice was barely controlled. “Please, tell me you’re joking.”
She walked away from him to stare out the kitchen window. “I wish I was, but you know I wouldn’t joke about this.”
“Damn him!”
Alesha quickly walked to his side and placed a restraining hand on his arm. “Be quiet! Remember, Mom is just down the hall. We can’t let her know what’s going on.”
When he spoke next, his tone was lower, but just as enraged. “I hope you told him what he could do with his idiotic proposal!”
She remained silent, lowering her gaze from his. Robert’s heart skipped a beat at her demeanor.
“Alesha, you didn’t agree to this insanity, did you?” He watched her closely.
She raised her eyes and responded truthfully, “He’s given me until tomorrow to decide.”
“There’s nothing to decide. There’s no way I’m going to allow you to sell yourself to him to save me! I knew what I was doing when I took that money. I’ll suffer the consequences for it.”
“Bobby, even though you were wrong to embezzle from him, I won’t let you go to jail if there’s anything I can do to stop it.”
“I won’t let you do this.” He was equally unyielding.
“You can’t stop me.” She shook her head. “If Mother finds out what you did and you’re sent to prison, the shock would kill her—you know that.”
“But, Alesha…”
“No buts.” She placed silencing fingers on his lips. “I can’t risk losing either of you. If that means I have to marry Derrick Chandler, then I’ll marry him.” She wished she felt as calm as she sounded.
“You’re a wonderful sister, but I will not allow you to marry someone you don’t love to save me.”
He turned and left the kitchen. She ran after him, but reached the front door only in time to see his car pulling away.
She closed the door and sighed. Her decision was already made—it had been the very second Derrick had made her the offer. She would do whatever it took to save her loved ones, even if it meant sacrificing herself in the process.
Cam’s mouth was wide open in shock. “What did you say?”
Derrick laughed heartily before reiterating, “I’m getting married.”
“To whom? When? How?” Cam shook his head vigorously as he fought to comprehend his friend’s unexpected announcement.
“To Alesha Robinson and very soon.” He chuckled at Cam’s understandable confusion.
“Who?” He frowned as he racked his brain to put a face to the name he instinctively knew he should recognize.
“Robert Robinson’s sister.” Derrick played with the slender stem of his wineglass.
“Robert Robinson?” Then leaning closer to Derrick and lowering his voice so as not to be overheard, he asked, “The dude who embezzled from your campaign?”
“The one and only.” Derrick nodded before bringing the glass of wine to his lips.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Cam’s question was relayed so earnestly that Derrick couldn’t refrain from laughing out loud again. He had laughed more today than he had in a very long time.
“You’re the one who said I needed a wife.” His gray eyes twinkled with merriment.
“I know, but…”
“Cam, this is perfect.” His countenance was that of a kid set loose and given free rein in a candy shop. “It’s a business arrangement, no emotional entanglements—just a plain, simple agreement that I will end once it’s served its purpose.”
It was also an opportunity he had waited two years for, a chance to exorcise the demons Alesha’s abrupt departure had left in her wake. He was certain once he had some answers, and maybe even a measure of retribution, he would be able to permanently purge the tenacious memories of their past association from his mind and heart once and for all.
“Which is what?”
“To help me get elected, of course.” Derrick sighed loudly. Boy, was Cam being dense tonight!
Cam’s eyes took on a seriousness that was relayed by his next words. “Sometimes when we think we have something figured out, it takes on a life of its own and goes in directions we never expected.”
“What am I going to do with you?” Derrick raised his eyes heavenward in exasperation at his friend’s prophetic statement. “If I don’t do what you suggest, I never hear the end of it, and if I take your advice, I get prophecies of doom and gloom.”
“When I suggested marriage, I wasn’t referring to the farce you’re contemplating.” Cam took a much-needed gulp of his wine.
“Never again.” Derrick adamantly shook his head.
“Derrick, you’re my best friend. I’d like to see you happy.” He lowered his glass to the table.
“I appreciate that, buddy, and I am happy. I’m also going to marry Alesha—on my terms.”
“She’s agreed to this?”
“Not yet, but she will tomorrow.” His voice was confident as he fingered the slender stem of his wineglass.
“How can you be so sure?” He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to his friend’s inane proposal than met the eye.
“She doesn’t have a choice. It’s the only way to save her brother.”
“She might surprise you. Maybe she’ll decide the price is too high to pay.” Cam played devil’s advocate.
“She won’t.” His short response was delivered confidently.
“Why won’t she?”
“As I said before, she doesn’t have a choice.” Derrick hadn’t noticed his tone turn somewhat cold.
“I get the feeling you know this lady—very well. Have you met her before?”
“Two years ago.” Derrick silently cursed himself for slipping up in front of Cam, of all people.
“Wait a minute.” His eyes reflected understanding. “Is this the same Alesha you dated briefly?”
“She is.” He didn’t see any reason in denying it.
“The one you abruptly stopped seeing, which sent you into one of the longest and foulest depressed moods of your life?”
“You’re exaggerating.” Derrick took a suddenly much-needed swig of his drink. Cam wasn’t exaggerating. If anything, he was being kind.
“No, I’m not.” Intense eyes bore into his. “You wouldn’t talk about her—not even to me.”
“There was nothing to say.”
“Really? I didn’t believe you then and I don’t now.”
“Cam, we dated once or twice, it didn’t work out and we ended it.” He silently cursed the nerve in his jaw that was pulsing erratically.
“We both know there’s more to it than that.” He refused to be silenced. “I was there, remember? I know what happened to you shortly after the breakup.” At Derrick’s continued silence, Cam asked, “Are you out for revenge?”