Champagne Kisses. Zuri Day

beating a fast sprint any day—” she chuckled “—everyone listening knew exactly what that meant! I can’t believe that he’s almost a hundred years old. He doesn’t look a day over eighty, seventy even.” Even in her frazzled state of mind she thought that saying someone looked eighty didn’t sound good, even though she’d just shaved twenty years off someone’s existence. “Well, what I meant to say was—”

      “It’s all right, Marissa,” Diamond said, her hand in midair to ward off the oratorical flow. “And I don’t mean to be rude. I just need to gather my thoughts and…” The sentence died on Diamond’s lips as Jackson placed his arm around her shoulders.

      “Of course.” Marissa looked between her boss and Diamond and for the first time noticed a strain on her face. Considering how flawless the ceremony had gone, and given the meticulous organization of the upcoming dinner and dance, what was there to be worried about? “I’m sorry, girl, going on and on like that.” Jackson gave an almost imperceptible nod, one that Marissa caught only because he’d been her employer for several years. His expression prompted her to ask the question that must have shown in her eyes. Her voice lowered to a near whisper as she looked at Diamond. “What’s wrong?” She noticed Diamond’s deep breath, and she could have sworn that tears also threatened. “What is it?” Marissa asked again with growing concern.

      “We received some troubling news last night. One of our employees had emergency surgery and is in very critical condition.”

      Marissa placed a hand on her friend’s arm. “I’m so sorry, Diamond. Was it someone who works in the PR department?”

      Diamond shook her head. “It’s Donovan’s assistant. Sharon has been with the company for twenty years. She’s like family to us all.”

      Donovan’s assistant. Like family. That’s what was wrong last night. The reason he’d been quiet after the rehearsal dinner, and so withdrawn… No wonder he’d lashed out at her. I’m sorry to snap at you. I’ve got a lot on my mind.

      By the time she’d rounded the golf cart to help Diamond and the maid of honor with the gargantuan train, four more carts had pulled up behind them. Her personal assistant for the day, a young college intern working in PR for the summer, jumped out of the cart and was at Diamond’s side in an instant. Jackson shooed him away as he turned, lifted Diamond from the cart and deftly placed her on the ground. The rest of the wedding entourage, including Diamond’s stylist, hairdresser and makeup artist, all began walking toward the building where Diamond would change into her second dress. It was a good thing that there were so many people to help, leaving any assistance needed from Marissa to be minimal at best. Because all she could think about was Donovan and how unfairly she’d treated him.

      She’d been so quick to lump him into the jerk category with the rest of the men she’d recently encountered when nothing could have been further from the truth. The eldest Drake sibling was just as she’d first believed him to be: considerate and thoughtful, and now she could add caring. He’d been preoccupied with his concern for someone else, someone who wasn’t even a family member but a longtime employee. It’s how Jackson would have reacted, with fierce loyalty and unwavering focus. That’s because her boss, Jackson Wright, was a good man. Now, she was convinced that the same was true of Donovan Drake. And before the end of the day, come hell or high water, she was going to let him know how she felt.

      Chapter 5

      “That was a beautiful toast, brother,” Jackson said once Donovan had taken his seat and the applause had subsided. They were seated on a raised dais facing the wedding guests seated at round tables of ten.

      “Meant every word. There was a time when I doubted whether or not you were good enough for my sister.”

      “And now?”

      “Couldn’t find a better brother.” Donovan felt his phone vibrate. His body instantly tensed as he pulled it from his pocket and discreetly held it under the table as he read the message.

      “Everything okay?” Jackson asked.

      Donovan sighed. “Get Diamond’s attention.” Jackson tapped Diamond and gave her a kiss as she turned to face him. Her lips met Jackson’s, but then her eyes were squarely on her brother. “Did they text you?”

      Donovan nodded. “They are scheduling another surgery first thing tomorrow.”

      “On a Sunday?” Diamond sounded shocked. “Donovan, I totally understand if you need to leave and go to the hospital.”

      Donovan slowly nodded, knowing the strain of the situation was showing on his face.

      “Oh, wow,” Diamond continued, as if finally understanding the gravity of the entire situation.“Your project! You’re supposed to be pulling it all together in the next two weeks.”

      “I know,” Donovan said, hating to bring such a topic into their wedding celebration but knowing that Diamond totally understood.

      “What are you going to do?”

      “I don’t know. I thought about asking Mama to help—”

      Diamond released an unladylike snort. “Good luck with that.” While Genevieve had worked in the offices during the first couple years, she’d been a stay-at-home and run-the-home mother for more than three decades.

      “What about Marissa?” Jackson asked, looking at Donovan. After not getting an immediate answer, he swung his head toward his wife. “What do you think, baby? There isn’t going to be anything major happening at my company while I’m away, and—” he turned and continued the thought with Donovan in his line of sight “—whatever your project entails, I’m sure Marissa can handle it. She’s an intelligent woman who catches on quick and has a knack for breaking the big picture into manageable bites. You know what, Donovan? I like the idea. Your project is of a sensitive nature, and I know that Marissa could be trusted with this confidential material. Right, baby?”

      Diamond looked at her new husband with a smile. “No doubt. Marissa seems loyal to a fault.”

      A scowl passed across Jackson’s face so quickly that Donovan thought he imagined it. “If you give her something to do, she’ll get the job done.”

      Diamond took a sip of her champagne. “What do you say, brother? I think Jackson has suggested a solution to your problem, and, while we’ll all not totally rest until Sharon is well, at least this part of your business will only be minimally affected.”

      Their conversation was interrupted as their father, Donald Drake, stood to make a toast. Several other toasts followed and the dinner service began. Halfway through the entrée, a delectable combination of Dungeness crab, Kobe beef tenderloin, Bhutanese rice and steamed vegetables, Jackson made a move that had it not been for the deliciousness of the food would have ruined Donovan’s appetite. He requested a pen and pad from one of the floating waiters, then quickly scribbled ten numbers onto the sheet of Drake Resort stationery. Above the numbers was one word: Marissa. And without even thinking about it, Donovan knew that the number on that paper was a game changer. He didn’t know the name of the game or the rules. But he knew who would be playing.

      * * *

      It was a shame to waste such delicious food, but Marissa couldn’t get a bite of the tender beef or a spear of the perfectly steamed broccoli past the lump in her throat. Didn’t matter. If she had, the food would have just collided with the knot in her stomach. She was seated at a table with other bridesmaids and groomsmen, including Reginald, one of Donovan’s first cousins, who’d been bugging her nonstop ever since they’d been paired up for the walk down the aisle. He wasn’t a bad-looking guy. In fact, he was fine: tall, butterscotch complexion, a pretty boy. Nice enough, too. Another time, another day and she would have been interested. But her thoughts, and eyes, kept shifting to Donovan, who for better or worse was seated directly in her line of vision. She’d watched as her boss conversed with him and Diamond, and she’d also noticed when one of the waiters was summoned. Unfortunately, Reginald, the determined groomsmen from New Orleans,