Jezebel Koko Brown (best books to read non fiction txt) 📖

by becoming one of those clingy women she’dabhorred.

“I think I’vewanted to be your man from day one,” he whispered in her ear.

The blood rushed toCeleste’s head so fast she thought she was going to faint. Theeffect his words had on her resembled a flood after a long rain. Allthe feelings she had for him roaring to the forefront.

Celeste knew in that momentthat no matter what challenge this relationship threw her, she wouldbravely weather it because she was in love with him.

Too bad she was grapplingwith telling him. Even though the word was on the tip of her tongue,she found it hard to form the word and voice it. So she decided on aroundabout declaration.

“Youknow if you break my heart, I’ll rearrange your face.”

Hislips brushed the fine hairs at her temple. “You’llrearrange my face?”

Celesteturned around in his arms and hugged him back. “Completelypulverize it,” she said, snuggling into him.

“Only one problem, Ihave to have your heart to break it.” He lowered his head andwhispered, “Are you giving it to me?”

Celeste searched his eyes asif she could discover an inkling of his feelings for her there. Allshe saw was the man she’d fallen in love with. “Forsafekeeping as long as you want it.”

“Is this a reciprocaldeal?”

Celeste slowly nodded. Shecouldn’t do much else. Her heart was beating faster than alocomotive.

“Then you got it lock,stock and barrel cause’ I love you.”

Celeste’s toes curledin her galoshes. “I love you,” she said hesitantly. Theword rolled off her tongue as if she’d said the word bonjour.

Chuckling, Shane tipped herchin with his index finger. “You sound like you’ve neversaid it before.”

Embarrassed, Celeste lookedaway. His green gaze seemed to penetrate the depths of her soul. “Ihave. This is the first time I really meant it.”

Shane frowned. “Whatabout your mother and father.”

“My mother died inchildbirth and The Reverend he never acted like a father.”

“What do you mean?”He asked so quietly and with such purpose there was no way she couldbackpedal. In truth, she’d kept silent about her and herfather’s relationship not to tarnish Shane’s memory ofThe Reverend.

“He just never had anytime for me. To this day, I don’t think I ever remember himhugging me or even shelling out a kind word.” Shane’sexpression turned south. Celeste didn’t stop, getting herfather’s ill treatment off her chest proved to be cathartic.“There was nothing but derision and criticism especially overmy wanting to become a performer. Things came to such a head weagreed I would be better off on my own. So, I left home at the ageof fifteen.”

Shane cursed softly. “Andhere I had The Reverend on a pedestal.”

“You should keep himthere, baby.” Celeste grabbed the edges of his overcoat andtugged. “People put on different faces for different people.”

Celestefelt him stiffen under her hands, but she chalked it up to learningabout her father’s alter ego.

“Your tree’sready.”

Shane grabbed Celeste’shand and steered her over to a waiting cab and their Christmas tree.

“Where you headed?”the cabbie asked.

“Navy—”

“Holdup a minute will you?”

Thecabbie nodded as he flipped the meter. “Take as long as youlike, but it’s gonna cost ya.”

Shane ignored theimplication. He turned to her and enfolded her hand in both of his.Celeste tensed, waiting for the axe to fall.

“Marry me.”

Okay, a marriage proposalwas not what she was expecting! “W-why?”

“I’min love with you and I don’t want to lose you.”

“I’m not goinganywhere. So stop playing games.” She was suddenly getting coldfeet and it had nothing to do with the temperature.

“Iwant you to be my wife. I want you to be the mother of my kids. Iwant to wake up the rest of my life seeing your face in the morning.”

Celeste groaned. It wasn’texactly poetry, but it hit all the right buttons. “Okay,”she whispered. “I’ll marry you.”

Shane let out a loud whoopand banged the car’s roof. “Manhattan courthouse! Andmake it quick.”

“Were going rightnow?” The car swerved from the curb and Celeste grabbed for thedoor strap. “What about the tree?”

Shane tried the rope runningalong the roof. “The tree’s good and tight. It shouldhold while the clerk processes the license.”

“Why the rush?”

Shane glanced at his watch.“It’s almost five o’clock.”

His obliviousness was almostlaughable, but this was a serious matter. “Why do we have toget the license today?”

Shane pressed theirforeheads together, while his thumb brushed across her bottom lip,causing her to sigh and thank the stars he’d walked into herlife. “I want you sitting ring side as my wife.”

Why did he always have tosay all the right things? “We’ll have to get blood testsand rings,” she said falling in step with his plans. Who’sgoing to marry us? I haven’t stepped foot in a church since Istopped wearing curls.”

“I can call on FatherO’Malley and see if he can fit us in before Christmas.”He lowered his head and kissed her lips. “Other than that,”he kissed her again, “we can be married and on our honeymoonbefore the fight.”

This just couldn’t behappening. She’d set out to buy a Christmas tree and now shewas getting married.

Two days later, they werestanding at the altar in Vinegar Hill’s St. George’sChurch. With the promise of a hefty donation, Father O’Malleyagreed to officiate and Trudy and Lenny sat in the congregation aswitnesses.

“Dearly beloved, wehave come together in the presence of God to witness and bless thejoining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony.”

Shane’s hand foundhers and he entwined their fingers. Celeste wasn’t sure if itwas proper, but she welcomed the anchor his strength provided. Rightnow, she felt like she was floating.

“ShaneBrennan Colin McAllister, will you have this woman to be your wife;to live together in the covenant of marri—”

“Colin McAllister?”Celeste interjected.

Shanecleared his throat nervously. “Shane Brennan’s myfighting name,” he said, leaning close and keeping his voicebarely above a whisper. “Shane Brennan Colin McAllister is myfull birth name.”

“Like a stage name?”

“Like a stage name?”Shane parroted.

Although alarm bells soundedin her head, his excuse sounded perfectly logical. Half of theentertainers she’d worked with used a pseudonym.

“Are we ready toproceed?”