Forbidden Heat

“I don’t date women.” She grinned and he laughed at her obvious sidestep maneuver.

“And Mr. Right? Is he hanging around back home waiting for your return?”

“If he was, do you think I’d be going to a wedding dateless?”

“Ah, the perpetual search for love. Life never makes it easy.”

He’d certainly said a mouthful. Life had never made anything easy for Danielle. Not from the time she’d been dropped off into foster care when she was a toddler. Actually, foster care was a step up from living with her mother . . . a woman with severe emotional problems who simply saw her as a huge inconvenience, and didn’t care what happened to her.

Danielle had lived her whole life with the pain of knowing that the one person who should love her no matter what . . . her mother . . . didn’t want her. She knew her mother faced a lot of demons—being in and out of mental hospitals and drug rehab facilities for most of her life. Even so, if Danielle couldn’t win the love of her own mother, why did she think she’d ever win the love of a man?

The cab pulled up in front of a lovely stone church with a beautiful stained-glass window over its huge arched doors. Danielle placed her hand on the arm Cole offered as they walked up the steps to the doors, then stepped into the church. The usher led them to a pew on the left side of the aisle, about five rows from the front. The sweet scent of fresh flowers filled the air.

As more people drifted into the church, she glanced around and saw a few faces she vaguely remembered. A few moments later, she saw Jake and Trey arrive. The pew Danielle and Cole sat in had filled up—a young couple with three children—and so had the couple of rows behind them, so Trey and Jake sat several rows back. They didn’t notice Danielle as they sat down, both looking exceptionally handsome in their dark, well-tailored suits.

“Ah, there’s Trey and Jake,” said Cole.

“I saw them checking into the hotel yesterday, but I didn’t get a chance to say hello. Have you seen them since college?”

“Oh, I see them from time to time.”

“Are they still together?”

Before Cole got a chance to respond, the organ music began, signaling the bride’s arrival.

A lovely bridesmaid in a soft violet dress proceeded up the aisle, followed by another, then another, then another. Danielle sighed. They were so beautiful. Their dresses, snug in the bodice, the skirts flowing in a softly draping fabric, flattered their graceful figures, and they carried pretty bouquets of soft pink roses.

The organ music paused, then the wedding march began. Harmony glowed as she walked up the aisle, luminous in a beaded, fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and a full-length skirt. Her veil flowed to the ground, a light froth over the train that swept along behind her in delicate waves of white beaded satin. She carried a lovely bouquet of roses in soft pink, dark rose, and lavender, interspersed with baby’s breath.

As Danielle watched Harmony approach the man waiting for her at the front of the church, her heart swelled at the amazing look of love on the handsome man’s face. His brown eyes glowed with warmth as he smiled at her, revealing a charming dimple in his cheek and softening the strong line of his square jaw. He obviously cared deeply for Harmony.

As the ceremony proceeded, and Danielle heard the words of love they shared in their vows to each other, their gazes locked in a look of absolute adoration, a shiver ran through her. Cole handed her a handkerchief to wipe the tears trickling from her eyes. She felt truly honored to be a witness to this joining. Warmth washed through her as she realized, with a deep and unbending confidence, that these two were meant to be together and that their love would last a lifetime.

Harmony had found true love. Something Danielle hadn’t even known she believed in . . . until now.

Danielle dabbed at her eyes as Harmony and Aiden turned to face their guests.

“I would like to present, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Aiden and Harmony Curtis.” The minister beamed as he began the applause.

Harmony and Aiden kissed one more time, then proceeded down the aisle to a swell of organ music, followed by the wedding party. Once they had all left the church, the guests began their orderly exit.

The sun shone brightly as Danielle watched people take pictures of the happy couple, who stood at the top of the stone stairs outside the church. People milled around. Family members, reunited by this happy event, embraced. Children laughed and raced around the lovely park behind the church, happy to be out in the sunshine.

Danielle plucked at her skirt, uncertain whether it was too soon to leave. The reception wasn’t for another two hours, so she figured she’d return to the hotel and relax during the downtime.

“Did you bring your camera?”

She glanced up at Cole’s voice. “Camera?”

“We could go over and get some pictures of the happy couple.”

“Uh, no, I didn’t think to bring it. You go ahead,” she continued. “I think I’ll just go back to the hotel.”

She walked toward the parking lot and pulled her cell phone from her small purse to call for a cab.

“Hey, Danielle. Wait.”

Danielle turned around at the sound of Harmony’s voice. There was the bride, clinging to her full skirt, hurrying down the last few steps. Danielle walked toward her, and Harmony scooped her into a warm embrace, hugging her tight to her body.