His Island Bride (7 page)

“Hey, baby!” she said in her morning voice.

“Hello? Who is this?” A woman with a thick British accent was on the line. Jessica’s eyes widened.

“I think you may have the wrong number.”

“Oh? Is James not there?”

“Oh, um…he went out for a bit, but he’ll be right back.”

“I see…and you are?”

Jessica felt taken aback and stumped for a moment. Who was Jessica to James? Not that it was
Ms
England’s business. Was Jessica now his lover?
Holiday fling?
Girlfriend?

“I’m his good friend.”

“Oh, well as long as that’s all it is, my dear. You know that he is engaged to be married next month.”

Jessica felt her heart crush and her spirit tumble to the ground.

“Excuse me? Who is this?”

“His mother, dear.
Be sure to tell him that I called and he’s to call me back right away.”

The words struck Jessica like a freight truck at full speed. So that was why he had all those private conversations on his Blackberry, huh? Talking to his fiancé?
Business back home?
Meaning his wedding.
God, how could she have been so foolish.
Again.
Mom was right maybe I didn’t have what it took to get my own man.
A real man.
Devoted to me and only me.

Well, Jessica was not going to wait around much longer. She left a note on the table and prepared to head out to the airport a day earlier. She was not going to go through that again. She deserved better. So this was too good to be true wasn’t it? She heard a trace of an accent but then she figured that James must have travelled to England since his company Romano Software seemed to have offices in London, Paris, New York and of course, Toronto.

What a fool I was to believe in him. Of course, someone that gorgeous and successful would be taken.

Moments later, Jessica packed fast not wanting to bump into James. She wrote out his mother’s message on hotel stationary and left his mother’s message and a small note right where he could see it upon his return.

So much for Island Romance.

10

James was confused when he got back to his suite to find Jessica gone. He had just spent the morning jogging and replaying the passionate night together over in his head.
But when he saw the note that his mother had called.
His eyes grew dark and his jaw tightened. “What did dear old mother say to Jess?” He could only guess. He just wished he’d told Jessica everything.
The truth.
He was sorry she had to hear it that way.

He could not believe that she was gone.
Out of his suite.
Out of his heart.
Out of his life.

He supposed he got what he deserved for not being up front with Jess in the beginning.

* * *

The plane touched down in Toronto and Jessica couldn’t wait to get through customs and collect her baggage.

An hour later, she drew in a deep breath before turning the key into the door of her family home.

“Mom?”

“Hi, Darling.
So glad to see you back. How was your trip?”

“Oh, please, don’t ask.”

“Oh?”

“What I mean to say is…it was an eye-opening experience.”

Later she told her mother about the resort but left out the part about James. She only said she’d met a friend there (who turned out to be taken).

“Oh, dear.
Well, have you given much thought to the marriage arrangement? I mean, I spoke to the Earl’s mother yesterday and she says he would be thrilled to meet you. They could be here by Sunday.”

“That’s two days away!”

“Of course, darling.
Gives you a chance to settle in.”

Jessica had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach but she would end up going along with it. After all, she wasn’t exactly a pro in finding the right guy. Only she thought she found the right guy but he ended up being wrong for her because he belonged to someone else.

Creep.

Why didn’t he say anything? Then again, she didn’t exactly tell him that there was a possibility of her being in an arranged marriage in the near future. At the time she was still
  uncertain
if she would accept but that was then and this was now.

Later Jessica got on the phone to call her best friend who encouraged her to meet Earl. She had nothing to lose and she could always say no. Jessica pondered the situation. She drew a hot bath with sea salts from Jamaica and soothed her aching heart.
The heart that was still with James in Jamaica.
Though he probably flew back to
his  London
office by now.

What a fraud James turned out to be! She may marry but she would never trust another man, again!

11

“You did what?” James was fuming the next day as he stood in front of his mother. He was now
back
in London after cutting his trip a day early.

“Mother I warned you about meddling in my affairs.”

“But this woman is perfect for you. We’re going to meet her. All you have to do is meet and date—with the intent of marrying her. You can always change your mind, darling.”

He was fuming but his heart was with Jessica. God, he missed her.

“So what is her name and where does she live?”

His mother sat him down in the den and began to tell him all the details.

12

 “Are you ready, darling? They’re here. Remember his name is Earl and he
is
an earl.” Her mother called from downstairs. Sunday had arrived at the speed of light. She could not believe today was the day she would meet her—potential future husband. Will they have anything in common? Did he look like a caveman?

She’d heard the car pull up in the driveway and her heart began to pound hard and fast.

Jessica sighed deeply. She should have deleted all the photos she took with James on her camera phone but she decided not to. She had enjoyed the time with him. Now it was time to move on.
To this Earl.
A new beginning.
At least she knew one thing about him. He didn’t have a fiancé back home.

When Jessica came down the stairs her heart stopped. She could not believe what she saw before her. “Earl?”

“Jess.
So nice to meet again.”
James had a grin on his face. “My mom told me what she said to you at the hotel. She had no idea that you were the one that was supposed to be my arranged wife.”

Jessica could hardly speak. She ran down the stairs in disbelief, looking to her mother, Mrs. Carrington and James. “But, I thought your name was James. So you lied to me?”

“Oh, no.
If you had seen my passport, my legal full name is Earl James Carrington, but I always hated that name Earl so I use my middle name everywhere I go and on all my other documents.  They don’t care which order you have your name. Besides, as you know, I’m now in line to become an earl which would sound pretty awkward.”

Jessica giggled. “Earl
Earl
.” She could not contain her emotions as she reached out and hugged James in a tight embrace.

“Well, what were you going to say about arranged marriages, dear?” Her mother gave a wink to Mrs. Carrington.

“What are the odds that we would end up meeting on our own…and in
Jamaica.
” James grinned not caring who was present in the room as he stroked her chin. He reached over and kissed her and told her that he loved her for better or for worse, for close or far.

“What are the odds that we’d have a honeymoon before the wedding?” she grinned.

The two mothers exchanged glances of confusion.

Jessica smiled appreciatively. “You know we never did finish our…um…honeymoon. And I think we should check out those wedding packages. I heard destination weddings are the best in Jamaica.”

James kissed her tenderly again as their mothers excused themselves with smug expressions on their face to the living room.

“I agree,” James said.

* * *

One month later…

The
Grandim
Resort and Spa staff had everything in place for the wedding. The Gazebo on the beach overlooking the beautiful sea was simply breathtaking.
Picture perfect.
The seats had white chair covers and flowers adorned the entire setting. It was pretty. The gentle breeze blew as the warm sun kissed her skin. The speakers were
blaring
the unforgettable romantic tune of all time, At Last by Etta James as Jessica walked down the aisle. James
stood,
looking tall, dark and gorgeous as the sea breeze gently blew his dark hair. He was the epitome of good health and good physique. Jessica couldn’t believe how lucky she was. At last, she’d found her groom and James was glad he’d found his bride on the island of
Ja
maica
.