BOOK SUMMARY:
When Michele is forced into marriage to the son of a long time family friend, the only stipulation she makes is Brad must remain faithful. Brad agrees but faithful is one thing. Celibate is another. Their attraction to each other soon lights a fire in them. It’s too bad Brad’s assistant is determined to break up the marriage. Is Brad keeping up on his end of the bargain on those extended business trips and late night appointments? Or has he taken up with his sexy assistant again?
EXCERPT FROM SATIN SHEETS
Michele swore she’d scream if she had to look into one more smiling face or listen to the words, ‘you make such a perfect couple’, one more time. And her feet hurt. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. To make matters worse, Brad’s hand on her back about drove her up a wall, sending electrical jolts up her spine. How had she let them talk her into this?
She looked around the exquisitely decorated hall. It looked like a fairyland. Mother sure went all out this time. Twinkle lights sparkled through gauzy material that draped from the ceiling and cast a glow on Brad’s face. He’s so handsome in his tux. She could almost love him. That is, if she were inclined to love anyone.
She glanced at the guests sitting at round tables adorned with a single red rose in three-foot tall vases. Look at them, not a care in the world, having a good time while they awaited the announcement of the newly weds. She inhaled the scent of roses from her bouquet. She loved the red roses that cascaded through the center of the bridal table, one of the few things Brad had insisted on.
“Red roses,” he had told her, “not only mean love, they also mean respect. And though we don’t share love we promise mutual respect.” A sweet and surprising comment. Mother had loved that..
“Such a romantic gesture,” she had said. Little did she know the pact Michele and Brad had made.
Their seats awaited them, their places of honor, the happy newlyweds. Ha, happy, Michele felt anything but happy. What she felt was tired, irritable, and just plain sick of this whole charade. If she had the nerve, she’d kick off her shoes and run out of here. But she didn’t and she wouldn’t - couldn’t embarrass herself or her parents that way. She had agreed to this charade. So she’d stay here, smile and play the happy bride.
Brad almost felt sorry for Michele. Almost, but not quite. The last thing Michele expected from him was his sympathy. Nope, not independent, self assured Michele.Just for a minute there, she looked so uncertain, so stressed. He knew she had only agreed to this marriage because her grandfather pressured her into it.
She wouldn’t have accepted his proposition otherwise. Something about the way she fidgeted told him she regretted going along with this foolhardy marriage and wanted to bolt.
Heck, he’d like nothing better than to run away himself. Nothing about this wedding had been his or Michele’s idea. Well almost nothing. He chose the roses. Why, he wasn’t sure. The thought came to him when their parents dragged them along to the florist. One of the few decisions they consulted him and Michele about. When Michele’s mother thought his insisting on the roses romantic, he almost laughed aloud. Surely she didn’t believe him and Michele were in love.
Even now standing here he didn’t know what made him do it. Maybe he wanted some semblance of honesty about this wedding and he meant what he told Michele about respect. Besides he found his bride attractive and if they had to play at being married, he at least wanted respect and honesty between them. He’d settle on respect and friendship for now. But he hoped Michele didn’t think he’d remain faithful and celibate.
Faithful was one thing, but he was human after all and she was very desirable and sexy. He tugged at his tie, avoiding the sudden urge to stroke Michele’s curly, auburn hair. He liked her natural hairstyle, the way the curls framed her face. Her freshness excited him. Something told him she wouldn’t object to his fingers in her hair.
Not like the girls he usually dated, the swanky socialites, his mother set him up with, who spent hours in beauty shops, with their touch-me-not hairstyles. Not that it mattered - their hair was so stiff you couldn’t run your fingers through it anyway.
“Almost time to make our grand entrance,” he whispered to Michele. “Smile.”
Michele pasted a smile on her face and looked up into her new husband’s smoky blue eyes. He caressed her back, making circular motions with his fingers. The tingling sensation burned through her dress. She moved away, but some part of her wanted to move closer. Wanted to feel his arms around her. Something inside of her wanted his lips on hers again even if for only a brief moment, like when he kissed her at the altar after Pastor Bob pronounced them man and wife.
Of course, that kiss had been expected. Everyone would have thought it strange if they hadn’t kissed. Something about that brief kiss, though, the way Brad barely touched her lips, sent a ripple of excitement through her even now. One she had never experienced before.
Brad saw a look of confusion in Michele’s eyes. The smile she pasted on her face looked genuine enough, but he knew better. Discomfort screamed through her green eyes. He caressed her back, hoping to relax her, but she stiffened beneath his touch and moved away. What he really wanted to do was take her in his arms and feel his lips on hers again. For that one brief moment in church he felt something in her. She had responded to his kiss. But now he wasn’t sure. He wondered about his beautiful bride. The voice of the deejay broke through his thoughts.
The microphone crackled. “Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time let’s hear it for Mr. and Mrs. Brad Lawson.” The Deejay’s voice rose to a crescendo and their guests’ applauded and whistled as Michele and Brad hurried through the hall.
Brad guided Michele to the head table, while their guests tapped their silverware against their plates in anticipation of a kiss.
He looked at Michele’s bridesmaids and wondered how many of them knew the truth about this wedding. Their basic black dresses contrasted the cream of Michele’s ivory satin gown that hugged her small waist and accentuated her height. She looked beautiful, innocent, and sexy. He wanted to put his arms around her and pull her close. She took her place next to her bridesmaids and they posed for another picture for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.
Michele’s stomach growled and she wished they’d let her sit down to eat. Brad looked dashing next to his groomsmen in their black tuxedos. He held her arm and Michele shivered from his touch. He looked so handsome in his ivory colored tux. She shivered when he leaned down and ever so slowly took her in his arms. She stared into his eyes as his mouth met hers. With gentle pressure, his lips skimmed over hers in a whisper of a kiss that held long enough to satisfy their friends and relatives.
Involuntarily, her arms came up around his neck. Then he released her and held her chair out for her. A feeling of disappointment overwhelmed her when he let her go. What’s wrong with you, girl. She adjusted her dress and sat down, avoiding his eyes. His hand brushed hers, sending sparks like mini-electrical shocks through out her body. Darn, what was it about this man that attracted her so? Michele couldn’t quite figure it out.
The irresistible urge to kiss Michele didn’t surprise him. He’d wanted to kiss her again since they arrived at the hall. Heck, ever since he kissed her in church. And the guests clanging their silverware gave him the perfect excuse. He could hardly hear himself think through the din of noise. When he felt the pressure of her arms go around him something erupted in him like the first licks of flames.
Something about her helplessness and those frightened eyes, all of sudden he found himself leaning down kissing her again to the delight of their guests. Just a whisper of a kiss, but her lips begged for so much more.
“Okay you two, save it for later.” Mike, his best man, stood up and raised his glass in a toast. Michele’s hands trembled. She didn’t like this sudden attraction one bit. What had come over her?
A classic modern romance!
Review by Denise Cassino
Michelle and Brad don’t want this arranged marriage, but, as usual, allow their parents wishes to prevail. The merging of two important families is not what they had in mind for a future. But as the honeymoon begins, a magic that cannot be denied ignites sparks between them. Constant separations, interference from a female employee and misunderstandings keep them both guessing as to the other’s true feelings. With each connection, their romance grows but neither accepts it at face value. This novel is a true page turner, urging the reader onward, hoping for that final crescendo of love.
