The Wedding Secret Read online

  A chance encounter with a handsome groomsman turns into so much more for a newly single wedding florist in this romantic reader-favorite story from Kianna Alexander!

  After discovering her fiancé’s public and utterly embarrassing infidelity, florist Renata McPherson is left dateless to her beloved client’s nuptials. But meaningful eye contact with one devastatingly handsome groomsman leaves Renata unexpectedly breathless…

  As a contractor, Amir Robertson has quite the knack for design. Though he has no plans for rebuilding the gorgeous shop owner’s heart…at first. Their no-strings-attached arrangement could soon fail when a secret that joins them forever is revealed.

  Previously published.

  The Wedding Secret

  Kianna Alexander

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  CHAPTER 1

  Carrying an armload of tulips, Renata McPherson moved slowly across the floor of Natural Inspirations. She’d opened the flower shop nearly seven years ago, with a unique spin. All her flowers were silk, but she took great care and pride in making them look like the real thing. In her mind, the quality of her work made her shop stand out above the hundreds of other stores in Charlotte. If the steady stream of orders coming into the shop were any indication, folks around the city agreed.

  Laying out the pile of flowers on the front counter, she sorted them by color. Once the pink, white and yellow blooms were arranged in their respective color groupings, she took a moment to glance around the bustling interior of her store. Six customers were currently in the shop, and two of her clerks were handling orders at the registers to her left. Her brow crinkled. Where’s Shauna? The shop was busy, and she needed her third clerk on the floor. Turning, she slipped past the end of the counter and returned to the back.

  When she entered the storeroom, her eyes bulged at what she saw.

  There, in a corner between shelves holding her floral foam and other supplies, was Shauna, her missing clerk. But she wasn’t alone. Renata’s fiancé had the young woman wrapped in a tight embrace.

  Renata shouted, “Gary! What the hell?”

  Gary’s eyes widened. “Ren! I uh…”

  As if sensing danger, Shauna ducked and slipped out of Gary’s hold, skittering away. As she passed Renata, Shauna said in a cautious tone, “I’ll be back next week to pick up my final check.”

  Without looking away from Gary, Renata shook her head. “We’ll mail it.”

  Not needing any further prompting, the young clerk disappeared.

  Still stammering, Gary moved in her direction. “Honey. Let me explain. It’s not what you think.”

  Tears gathered in Renata’s eyes and she dashed them away angrily. “Save it, Gary. The best thing for you to do is get out of my sight, immediately.”

  “But, Ren. Just let me…” Gary came closer, attempting to enter her personal space.

  Reaching out, Renata grabbed a pair of floral shears from a nearby shelf. With fire in her eyes, she warned, “Don’t. Just get the hell out.”

  Throwing up his hands in exasperation, Gary sneered. “That’s the problem with you. You always have to have your own way.” Then he stalked past her and left.

  Standing alone in the silence, Renata realized how tight a grip she had on the floral shears. Setting them aside, she leaned against the nearest wall. More tears fell, despite her anger at what had just happened right before her eyes. Tomorrow, she was supposed to be present as the Yamada wedding festivities kicked off. The events would continue through the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and she was a guest of the groom’s sister as well as the florist. Now, thanks to the duplicitous Gary, she was left dateless.

  CHAPTER 2

  Amir Robertson sat on the front pew of Mount Olive Methodist Church, phone in hand. Around him, the sanctuary buzzed with activity as about twenty people, both children and adults, waited for things to kick off. It was Friday, the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend. The rehearsal for the wedding of his cousin Nona to architect Ken Yamada was due to begin at 11:00 a.m. He’d been honored they’d asked him to be a groomsman. Neither he nor Nona had any siblings, so they’d been close growing up.

  A cheer went up, drawing Amir’s attention to the church doors. Seeing Ken and Nona enter, Amir smiled and tucked away his phone. The glow of love was all over the couple, and Amir enjoyed seeing his cousin so happy. Making his way through the gaggle of people standing in the aisle, he took a moment to greet them. After shaking hands with Ken, Amir drew Nona in for a hug. “It’s good to see you, cuz.”

  “Thanks so much for coming, Amir.” Nona’s voice held a tinge of emotion.

  “You know I wouldn’t miss it, Big Head.” He released her from his embrace and stepped back to allow the couple to proceed to the front.

  He stood in the aisle for a few moments more, taking in the scene, until the wedding coordinator gestured for him to come to the front. Once there, he lined up with the other groomsmen so the rehearsal could commence.

  From where he stood at the altar, he had a full view of the sanctuary. Nona, in accordance with tradition, sat in the front pew and watched, while one of her bridesmaids stood in her place. As Amir’s eyes swept the room, he saw a petite, curvaceous woman near the rear of the sanctuary. Clad in dark denim jeans and a close-fitting white top, she was leaning over a pew. He couldn’t see what she was doing, but he could tell she wasn’t part of the wedding party.

  Using his elbow, he nudged Rashad, one of the other groomsmen. “Yo. Who’s that in the back?”

  Rashad looked in that direction. “Oh, that’s Renata. The florist.”

  He continued to watch her, and saw her taking floral arrangements out of a box and go about affixing them to the pews. The tight set of her lovely face indicated either concentration or anger, perhaps a mixture of both. Despite her expression, she was a beautiful woman, so much so that Amir found it difficult to look away from her.

  “Rashad, I’ll be right back.” Before the sentence was fully out of his mouth, Amir walked away from the altar and started toward the beautiful florist. When he reached her, he said, “Excuse me. It’s Renata, right?”

  She looked up, her eyes indicating her confusion. “Do I know you?”

  “Not yet. Have you ever been on a carriage tour of the Fourth Ward?”

  “No.” Her brow furrowed.

  He smiled. “Then let’s fix that.”

  CHAPTER 3

  I can’t believe I agreed to this.

  Renata took Amir’s outstretched hand and let him help her into the seat of the white open-top horse-drawn carriage. Less than an hour ago, she’d been minding her own business, getting the church ready for Ken’s wedding. Somehow that had led her to this moment, and as Amir climbed onto the seat next to her, she wondered how it all had happened.

  He settled in next to her, and the uniformed driver got the carriage underway. With Amir sitting so close, Renata couldn’t help but notice how good he smelled. With each inhale, she took in another helping of the delicious masculine fragrance rolling off his tall muscular body. She had no idea what kind of cologne he wore, but he smelled like good loving and a stack of one hundred dollar bills.
/>   He turned to her, his smile showing off two rows of perfect white teeth. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind.”

  She didn’t dare say what she was thinking, as her vulnerability over what had just happened with Gary threatened to get the best of her. “I guess I do.”

  “I’m not trying to get in your business. But you’re too gorgeous to be frowning. So, could you set whatever’s on your mind aside, just until the ride is over?” He watched her expectantly.

  Feeling the warmth in her cheeks, she nodded.

  As she’d promised, she turned her attention to the passing scenery and was soon caught up in the beauty that surrounded her. The ride took them through Charlotte’s historic Fourth Ward. The district, one of the oldest and most scenic parts of town, boasted many examples of classic Victorian homes. The houses, painted in pastel colors with their white trim, stood along the tree-lined streets as testaments of the city’s past.

  By the time the carriage ride ended, and the driver delivered them back to the pickup spot at Trade and Tryon Streets, Renata felt a lightness come over her. She hadn’t felt this calm in the last twenty-four hours, and she was grateful for the break from her righteous anger. To that end, she looked up into Amir’s beautiful golden-brown eyes. “Thank you for this, Amir.”

  He grinned. “You’re welcome.”

  “You’re quite the charmer.”

  “Only when the situation calls for it.” He reached out.

  She allowed him to clasp her hand in his, then watched him raise it to his full lips. For a few moments, she simply enjoyed basking in his attention. Then, logic and sense kicked in. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the rehearsal dinner tonight?”

  He nodded. “I am. But to be honest, all I want right now is to spend more time with you.”

  Renata couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face from his flattery. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and she wondered if she could really be feeling so strongly attracted to someone she’d just met. Was it vulnerability that made her susceptible to his overwhelming charm?

  Or was it something more? Something special?

  CHAPTER 4

  Walking through the New Gallery of Modern Art, Renata paused to view the artwork on display. Located on The Green in the museum district, the gallery boasted a wide variety of works by a diverse cross section of artists. The quiet interior provided a welcomed escape from the crowds and noise of downtown Charlotte.

  Looking at the colorful piece before her took her breath away, and she spent several long moments studying its intricacies. The abstract painting, done in oil, featured broad strokes of rich color punctuated by strategic white space.

  Amir’s deep voice cut into her thoughts. “It’s really breathtaking, isn’t it?”

  She turned his way, found his gaze waiting. The sensual energy radiating from him shimmered on her like early morning sunlight. “It is. I love the style, the use of color.”

  He brought his hand up to scratch his chin, as his gaze shifted from her face back to the painting. “What do you see when you look at this image, Renata?”

  Grateful to have his piercing eyes off her face for a moment, Renata thought about how to answer his question. “It makes me think of sunset on a beach. See the way the colors are positioned, with the oranges, reds and yellows at the top, and the blues and greens at the bottom?” She gestured toward the image as she spoke.

  He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I can see that. I also see it as an inner struggle.” He used his hands to form a frame around the painting. “If the reds and oranges represent heat and passion, and the blues and greens represent logic and practicality, then it could be about our constant effort to find balance between being staid and responsible all the time and letting our passions have free reign.”

  She slowly looked toward him, lifting her eyes up to meet his. “Wow.” She couldn’t recall ever being in the presence of a man like him. His insight into the painting amazed and impressed her, as did his willingness to join her in the gallery in the first place. None of the other men she’d dated had loved visual art the way she did, and most didn’t even bother to feign interest.

  He smiled, turning her way again. “Now, one more question. What do you see when you look at me?”

  She didn’t mince words. “Trouble. But I have to admit, I’m intrigued.”

  His brow furrowed. “Trouble? Why do you say that?”

  She searched for the right words, because she didn’t want to reveal too much. “I’m just coming out of a relationship, and it didn’t end well.”

  “Will I at least see you at the wedding tomorrow?”

  “I’ll be there, but…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Should she tell him she looked forward to seeing him? “I can’t promise anything.”

  “You’re a hard nut to crack, I see.”

  “That can happen when you catch your man making out with your employee.”

  His expression held a mix of sympathy and surprise. “What about this—we agree to remain on a first-name basis. No last names, no contact information, no strings. How’s that?”

  What the hell, why not? “Ok. I can get with that.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Amir walked slowly down the aisle, with Miyu, the groom’s sister, on his arm. Once they reached the altar, they separated, going to their appointed spots. As the ceremony progressed, Amir kept his eyes on the processional, aware of his role.

  When Nona appeared in the doorway, Rashad patted Ken on the shoulder. Amir’s attention was on his cousin, who looked radiant. He smiled as she made her way to the altar. Seeing the look in Ken’s eyes as he awaited his bride caused a pang of jealousy to slide through Amir. It surprised him, because he wasn’t normally that type of guy. But what man wouldn’t want the joy of a good woman in his life, one who’d be by his side through all of life’s ups and downs? He’d already known betrayal, and he’d like to experience the joy he saw in Ken’s eyes.

  While Nona and Ken exchanged vows, Amir’s gaze slid away from the couple to scan the faces of the people sitting in the pews. He spotted Renata, seated a few rows back on the groom’s side, and he couldn’t help staring. She looked gorgeous in the shimmering, soft green dress she wore. Their eyes met, and he saw the blush creep into her cheeks as she looked away. Her endearing shyness touched his heart in a way he would have never expected.

  Despite the temptation Renata presented, Amir knew where his focus should be. Turning his attention back to his cousin and her groom, he smiled as he witnessed their first kiss as husband and wife. As the smiling Nona and Ken dashed down the aisle, Amir joined the recessional and the applause filling the sanctuary. He made eye contact with Renata as he passed her pew, holding her gaze for a long, meaningful moment.

  * * *

  As the wedding party exited the church, Renata shivered under Amir’s intense gaze. The feelings his presence stirred up within her excited her, and simultaneously made her nervous. Could she really be feeling something for him after what had just happened to her? Mere days had passed since she’d discovered the betrayal of the man she’d thought she loved. And now her heart was fluttering in her chest like a smitten teenager. What’s happening to me?

  She moved with the rest of the wedding guests, sidestepping when necessary to navigate through the crowd, until she made it through the vestibule and out onto the sidewalk. There, Nona and Ken were climbing into the white limousine that would transport them to the reception being held at a local hotel. As she joined in the cheers of the other guests, someone tapped her on the shoulder.

  She knew who it was before she even turned around. When he’d stepped into her space she’d immediately picked up his scent.

  Turning, she lifted her eyes up to meet Amir’s. “You’re not going to give up, are you?”

  He grinned. “No.”

  Her attention momentarily shifted as the limousine pulled away from the curb. With a sidelong glance in his direction, she said, “You’re determined. I l
ike that in a man.”

  He winked.

  She melted.

  CHAPTER 6

  Amir stood by the punch bowl in the hotel ballroom, filling his crystal cup with the bright red drink. The reception was well underway, and since he and Renata had traveled there in separate cars, he hadn’t reconnected with her yet. Lifting the cup to his lips, he took a long swig of punch, while scanning the room.

  He spotted Renata standing near the head table. She bent slightly at the waist as she spoke to one of the bridesmaids, and Amir reveled in the view of her full cleavage. She was beautiful and seemed completely unaware of it, which only made her more appealing. Draining his punch, he set the cup aside and strode in her direction.

  When Amir approached, Renata straightened. He stood back a bit, not wanting to interrupt her conversation. When she walked over to him, he couldn’t hold back his smile.

  “I knew you would find me.” She came abreast of him, bringing with her the soft floral scent of her perfume.

  He reached for her, and marveled as she slipped her small hand into his. “I’m a man on a mission, remember?”

  She chuckled. “You’re really something, Amir.”

  He kissed her hand. “So are you.”

  The DJ dropped the dance jam “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team.

  “Wow. There’s a classic.” Renata looked out at the people gathering on the polished dance floor.

  He tugged her hand. “Care to dance?”

  She smiled, nodded.

  The mid-tempo pace of the song encouraged a lot of rowdy dancing, so he guided her around the flailing limbs until they found an empty spot. Once there, Amir danced, facing Renata. She shot him teasing glances as she turned her back to him and wiggled her hips. He enjoyed watching her dance, not only because of the way her shapely body moved, but because of how carefree she appeared. From the moment he’d met her, he’d sensed something troubling her, something holding her back from him. But now, as she danced, she seemed to have released whatever negativity had plagued her.