The Bachelor and the Beauty Queen

“You’re not going to show anyone that tape, are you, Uncle Nate?” Kimber asked from the end of the row.

Still laughing to the point of tears, Nate nodded his head. “I’ve already uploaded this directly to the web.”

When the men came back into the audience, Stephen was given a standing ovation. Everyone cleared the way for Lexi to come out into the aisle and for them to meet halfway. Her mouth twitched with a smile and desire to kiss him. He didn’t need to be asked. Stephen took her in his arms and wrapped her up in a hug.

“Lexi, I’m so sorry for what I put you through. I was fighting a ghost—my brother. Thanks to you, I finally understood what he tried to tell me about finding the right woman and wanting to settle down. I’m just sorry in order for me to understand, I hurt you in the process. I embarrassed you and to prove that it’ll never happen again, I will go to any length to top what I’ve done to you. You must have thought I was such an ass.”

“Well, if the shoe fits...” She grinned.

“It did,” he whispered, “but I promise, if you’ll allow me, I will do whatever is necessary to make things up to you. Nothing happened between me and Natalia. We had dinner to talk, for closure. You’re the only one I want. You’re the only one I...you’re the only one I love.”

“Stephen, it’s okay.” She kissed his jaw. The crown tilted off his head so she straightened it.

“I love you, Lexi.”

Her heart melted. She bit her lip as he set her down. She’d found her prince, crown and all. “I love you, too, Stephen.”

Through the microphone, the emcee cleared her throat. “Are we ready to announce the winners of this weekend?”

Stephen took Lexi’s hand in his and led her to the Reyeses’ row. She didn’t have to sit through the rest of the event. She already knew who the real winner was tonight. The Reyes family.

Epilogue

Seated on a king-size bed strewn with golden, orange, yellow and red rose petals, Lexi shook her head to the upbeat song’s tempo as Stephen strutted his stuff in the privacy of her bedroom in the condominium they shared. At the end of summer, they had moved to the top floor in a bigger place with more rooms for the kids when they came over.

“I’m beginning to think you’re making fun of me,” Stephen said, slowly spinning around to reveal his ripped torso in a pair of white boxer briefs. “How many nights are you going to make me do this?”

As far as Lexi was concerned, she’d never get tired of Stephen working the faux runway of carpet before the bed. It had been a few months since they’d returned home as the winners of the Southern Style Glitz Pageant. Kimber insisted on keeping her Miss Ultimate Grand Supreme Queen trophy at Grits and Glam Gowns in the new storefront window on the corner of Sunshine Boulevard and Sunshine Street. Philly slept with her Mini Grand Supreme trophy every night. Every morning and evening Lexi walked by her desk she pressed a kissed finger to the framed photograph of her and Stephen in his first and only beauty pageant sash. Right next to the photograph sat a simple congratulations card signed “Mom and Dad.”

“Forever,” Lexi hummed to herself. Her parents had yet to make an appearance at Grits and Glam Gowns but the card was a definite start in the right direction and there was always hope. Maybe they realized their daughter was a pillar of the community. She’d taken out the photograph her parents sent her in her congratulations card and set it on her nightstand.

This weekend Stephen and Lexi had celebrated their six-month anniversary by hanging inside and decorating for the Halloween party they had planned for everyone later at Grits and Glam Gowns. Their Saturday Night Fever costumes hung over the door of their walk-in closet. With the renovations upstairs and down the street, their businesses boomed. The former upstairs apartment had been converted into a bridal salon with a special Realtor right next door.

“Happy six-month anniversary,” Stephen said when the song ended. He stood at the end of the bed and stroked her red-painted toenail.

Lexi curled her toes and grinned. “I cannot believe it has been six months since you stormed into my life.”

/> Stephen cocked his head to the side and gave a lazy smile. “Storm is such a strong word.”

“Barged, intruded, disrupted?” She offered a range of words, but anything else she wanted to say got lost in her yelp when he grabbed her by the ankles and yanked her body down to the edge of the bed. She rested her heels on his shoulders while he stroked the length of her calf. “You can’t be serious about going another round?”

“Didn’t I say I’d make love to you every hour on the hour?” He dipped his head to kiss her ankle. “We’re already behind schedule.”

This morning Stephen had woken her up with breakfast in bed, catered by Henri’s restaurant. And every night since returning, he had been at Lexi’s side. He showered her with gifts. She refused to take the space next door but had stood back and admired him as he donned a pair of workman’s boots and helped remodel Grits and Glam Gowns.

“New picture?” asked Stephen, when he stopped fiddling around. “Let me see.”

Lexi reached over and handed him the photograph in the frame by her nightstand. “You want to see a picture of my parents before you’re about to make love to me?”

“Scandalous woman.” Stephen winked. “Why have I never noticed this picture?”

“My mother sent it to me yesterday.” Lexi felt her cheeks rise as she beamed. “It’s a start, right?”

“Your dad runs a bank, right?”

“Yes, David and Mary Pendergrass in the flesh.” Her smile dropped. “Well, sort of.”

“I’ve met this man before. He’s the one who suggested I give you the Dancing Lady orchids.”