Page 75 of The Secret to a Southern Wedding

“That’s true,” Halle agreed. “We all know how precious life is. If you want something, you have to go for it. Tomorrow isn’t promised.”

They all knew that. Halle who’d lost her parents so young. Tracey who hadn’t been able to rely on her parents for anything but scandal and instability. Imani whose life was snatched away from her in a matter of seconds. They’d all experienced heartache. Heartache that had kept her from trying to find peace enough to let her heart heal. Maybe now was the time for her to be like her mom and stop living in fear and step out on faith.

Cyril sat under the umbrella at one of the picnic tables outside of the Peachtree Cove Dairy Bar. The crowd wasn’t too bad and with the outdoor seating any conversation he had was less likely to be overheard. A folder stuffed with papers related to the St. Patrick’s Day Festival sat in front of him in case anyone questioned why he was meeting Imani there. The hot topic in Peachtree Cove was no longer him kissing someone in the middle of Main Street. Apparently Tracey’s younger brother, Devante, had been caught in a compromising position with Joanne the beautician during her grand opening. That scandal had outweighed Cyril kissing someone, but not by much. Though after talking with Joshua earlier, he doubted he could keep the truth from getting out if anyone really tried to put two and two together.

He noticed Imani as soon as she pulled up. She got out and his breathing hitched as the afternoon sunlight glowed off her brown skin. He’d thought she’d looked irresistible under the streetlights when they’d kissed but honestly, Imani was gorgeous no matter the light. Had he really been lucky enough to have had her in his arms that morning?

She grinned when she saw him then pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket. She tapped the screen then held it up with the screen facing him as she approached. “Do you want a corn dog?” she said laughing.

He glanced at the text he’d sent her on the screen then back at her. “You like corn dogs.” He pointed to the two corn dogs on the table next to his folder. He’d gone for the mustard packets instead of the larger container to avoid a possible repeat of their first encounter.

She sat across from him at the picnic table. “I thought maybe it was some new slang for hooking up or something.”

Cyril chuckled. “You thought I was texting you to hook up?”

“How was I supposed to know. You might be using the word corn dog as a euphemism.”

He raised a brow. “Please don’t tell me you think I’d refer to my penis as a corn dog?”

“Hey, I’ve heard men refer to their penises all kinds of ways.”

He cringed and shook his head. “I don’t know who you dealt with before, but I can guarantee I would never call my dick a corn dog. I’m actually a little offended,” he said grinning. “I mean, if I said, do you want an extralong, twelve-inch, monster dog...”

Imani held up a hand. “Okay, sir, stop it right there. Now you’re doing too much.”

“What? You don’t think I’ve got an extralong—”

She reached over and tried to cover his mouth with her hand. “How about we stop talking about that out here before someone hears us.” Laughter danced in her eyes. She was so cute he wanted to kiss her.

He laughed and lightly pushed her hand away. He let his fingers glide across the soft skin of her hand before pulling back. Her breath quickened and her laughter faded as heat flared in her gaze.

He was playing with fire, and he liked it. No one appeared to be paying attention to them, but that didn’t mean they weren’t. He’d follow up that look later. Hopefully, if she still spoke to him after he finished telling her what he’d invited her here for.

“Fine. We’ll let your dirty mind slide. I really did invite you here for a corn dog and so we could talk.”

She pointed to the folder before opening a mustard packet. “What’s all that?”

“Stuff about the St. Patrick’s Day Festival. In case anyone wonders why we’re meeting we can say that’s why.”

She squirted a line of mustard down the middle of her corn dog. “There are plenty of reasons for us to be together. Planning our parents wedding for one thing.”

“I figured this was easier to focus on than the other.” He didn’t want to think about the looming wedding and how that could mean the end of what they’d just started.

“Maybe, but it’s not something we can forget about.”

He didn’t regret kissing her or sleeping with her, but he did regret that he hadn’t at least waited until they were out of the middle of Main Street to kiss her. “I’m sorry that you’re having to deal with the gossip again.”

“This isn’t that bad. If anything, I’m kind of okay if people did know it was me.”

He stiffened. Surprised by her words. “What about your mom finding out?”

“I was worried about that, but my friends forced me to face a few things.”

“Things like what?”

“That I like you. I liked what we did. I’ve always been afraid to let go and trust a man in a relationship after what happened to my mom, but for the first time in a long time I want to try. I also think my mom will be happy for me. Your dad likes me, too. Them knowing may not be a bad thing. Maybe they’ll even encourage us.”

The words were spoken so easily. She picked up her corn dog and took a bite. She closed her eyes and let out a low moan of pleasure. “This is so good.”

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