Winter wedding, p.1
Winter Wedding, page 1
Winter Wedding
A Lennox in Love Novella
Tina Martin
Copyright © 2019 Tina Martin
WINTER WEDDING
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For Entertainment Only | Only for Ages 18+
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Praise for the Lennox in Love Series:
“Loved It. I read Claiming You and Remy and Emmie were amazing together. I’m rereading Claiming You now. Loved their connection and how they were destined for each other.” – Reader Review of Caught in the Storm with a Lennox
“Claiming You was a great read could not put it down until I was done. I loved the chemistry between Emory McNeil and Remington Lennox. Tina Martin job well done…you always write books that pull at the heart strings.” – Reader Review of Claiming You
“The much anticipated story for Giovanni Lennox was just what the doctor ordered, a heavy dosage of laughter, emotional issues, and loves unbounded connection between an unlikely pair.” – Reader Review of Making You My Business
“The Lennox series is easy to read and fun. This story takes you through the eye-opening experience of acknowledging a love that was there all the time.” – Reader Review of Wishing That I Was Yours
“I absolutely loved this book. I stayed up until three in the morning trying to finish it. The story is so timeless. And it actually helps you learn a lesson. Don’t rush someone – don’t rush yourself into something that can impact your entire life.” – Reader Review of Before You Say I Do
“Tina Martin penned a winner with Winter Wonder. A delightful page-turner with the perfect formula of drama, humor, and romance to keep you turning the page from beginning to the end. It was great to see the added spice of the inclusion of the Lennox clan. I thoroughly enjoyed Winter Wonder, the story of Drake and Lavina so much that I read it twice, back to back.” – Reader Review Winter Wonder
WINTER WEDDING
Chapter 1
Lavina could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The plane had landed. The flight attendant came over the intercom system with a smooth, pleasant voice welcoming passengers to New York. Sounded like her lips were brushing across the microphone as she talked. She warned them of the frigid temperatures and wished everyone a pleasant stay. On December twenty-ninth in New York City – shoot – every part of your body had better be covered if you didn’t want frostbite or some other instantaneous sickness related to cold weather. She’d landed at night – nine something – so she didn’t see much of the snow while they were in the air. But you didn’t have to see it to know it was there. The temperature spoke for it.
After retrieving her suitcase from baggage claim, she waited at curbside pickup for her brother. The wind whipped between the buildings like it had a score to settle. It was sharp enough to cut through the thickest of jackets. A harsh wind slapped Lavina so hard, it made her eyes water. Granted, it was cold back in the North Carolina mountains and they too had steady snow showers already, but this – this right here – was a different kind of cold. The kind that hemmed you up, grabbed you by the throat and threatened your life.
“Shrew,” she said shivering, teeth chattering. “Where are you, Emmet?” She looked down the lane at a long row of headlights for her brother’s white Range Rover. She reluctantly pulled her hands from the safety and warmness of her pocket to dial his number.
“Yo, hey sis,” he answered. “You out yet?”
“Yes. I’m outside, freezing my tail off looking for you. You’re in the Range, right?”
“Yeah, but I’m a ways back—in this long line.”
Horns honked. Trunks slammed. The police wearing those bright green vests directing traffic by blowing whistles every so often. More horns sounded. Engines purred. Car doors opened and closed. Lavina rose to her tiptoes, hoping she’d see him, but that hadn’t helped. “How far back are you? I’m almost completely frozen.”
Emmet chuckled. “Frozen…”
“Oh, you think this is funny, do you?” she asked.
“Ah…you’ll be fine, girl. You act like it doesn’t get this cold in those North Carolina Mountains.”
“It does, but New York takes it to a whole new level. Oh, my gosh! People shouldn’t be allowed to live here. I’ma step back inside for a minute.”
“Okay, sis. What airline did you fly?”
“American.”
“Cool. I should be up there in about five, maybe ten minutes. I’m inching along.”
“Woo,” she said shivering as she passed back through the sliding glass doors to wait on the inside. “Okay. I’ll be the girl in the Eskimo coat with snow for eyebrows. I look like a frozen Jack Nicholson from The Shining.”
“You’re so dramatic, V,” Emmet said laughing. “See you in a minute, girl.”
After hanging up with her brother, the phone rang before she had the chance to slide it back into her purse. She smiled when she saw Drake’s name on the screen. She was cheesing so hard, she answered but forgot to say hi.
“Hello? Baby? Are you there?”
“Oh, yes. I’m here, Drake,” she said. “I sent you a text when I landed. Tried to call first. Where are you?”
“I’m at home now…had an emergency at one of the hotels, and get this—it wasn’t Smoky Mountain Lodge.”
“Well, that’s a first,” she said, peering through the windows, still looking for Emmet’s SUV. “Is everything all right otherwise?”
“Everything’s fine here. You know you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Everything is not fine. You said there was an emergency at the hotel. Tell me what happened?”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about, baby.”
“I’m not worried about it. I’m just asking.”
“A pipe failure issue…that was the emergency. Water soaked the carpet in the lobby. I had to go down there to make sure my guys took care of it the way I wanted it taken care of.”
“Oh.”
“Now stop being nosy and tell me about you. Have you been by baggage claim to get your suitcase yet?”
“Yeah. I got it.”
“If you didn’t pack all those sweaters, you could’ve bought the carry-on luggage.”
“I need sweaters in this weather. Do you realize how cold it is here?”
“Yes, sweetheart. I know. Is Emmet there yet?”
“Yeah, but he’s in this long line. Traffic is insane—bumper-to-bumper. And these stone-faced, yellow taxi cabs drivers look like they stay hit-and-run ready.”
Drake giggled. “They probably do. You’re in the big city now, sweetie. People in high places usually come with low patience.”
“That’s true.” She stepped forward to peer out the window again. Still, no sign of Emmet. “I wish you came with me, Drake.”
“It’s a whirlwind trip—you’ll be in and out—back in my arms in no time.”
“That’s if I don’t get snowed in. It’s two degrees here.”
Drake laughed again.
“Stop laughing at me.”
Still amused, he said, “I don’t mean to laugh at you, dear. You’re just my…my sweet Lavina.”
She suddenly felt warm all over and that was a good thing. “Keep talking like that, Drake. You’re making my body heat kick in.”
“Oh. Say no more. Let me see…I wish I was there to take some of your chocolate kisses. To hear you moan and feel your body shake just because you can’t handle the way I eat your lips.”
She blushed.
“And I’d rub your feet until they’re nice and toasty then suck on your stubby lil’ toes—”
She laughed. “You’re a fool. First of all, you’ve never done any toe-sucking and why do my toes gotta be stubby?”
“You gotta ask your Maker that, baby. All I know is, they’re pretty and I would love to dip them in some vanilla ice cream and go to town.”
“You’re crazy.”
“And yet, you still love me.”
“That, I do. On the flight, I was thinking about how I’m supposed to look ringing in the new year without you next to me.” She looked outside again – still no sign of Emmet.
“You said this was something your parents always wanted to do and now y’all are finally doing it. Be in the moment, baby. Forget about me and enjoy yourself.”
“I will enjoy myself, but you’re waaay too fine and delicious to be forgotten about.”
“Now, you’re making my body heat go up amongst other things…”
She grinned. “Drake, I see Emmet. I’ll call you when I get to his house, ‘kay. Love you.”
“Love you, too, stubb y.”
“Bye, silly.” Lavina stuffed the phone into her purse, stepped outside and waved at Emmet like she’d lost all of her common sense just to get his attention, just in case he hadn’t already seen her. She’d waited long enough. It was time to get away from that noisy airport and relax.
Emmet pulled out of the passing traffic lane to a parking space, jumped out of the car and threw his arms open. “Sis!”
“Hey, Emmet,” Lavina said, closing her arms around him. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too, sis.”
He released her. “Ay, let me throw your bag in the back. Go on and get in. I got the heat cranked up to inferno just for you.”
“Ahh, you know me so well.” She opened the door, sat down and rubbed her hands together. She wiggled her nose and sniffled, then held her hands out in front of the vents.
When Emmet jumped back in the car, she told him, “This cold weather is brutal. How do you live here?”
“I’m used to it.” He checked the mirror, pulled out into the passing traffic lane and followed the line of cars to the Interstate, merging onto the highway. Seemed everyone was jumping on the freeway. “Besides, with the money I make here, I’ll endure the cold for an eternity.”
“It’s all about the money, huh?” she asked, sniffling. She dug around in her purse for some Kleenex.
“I know you ain’t talking, Ms. Millionaire Before Thirty.”
She smiled. “That’s a nice accomplishment, ain’t it?”
“It is. You beat me to it, but I’m right behind you. You can take that to the bank.”
Emmet switched lanes after grumbling about the car in front of him, saying something about the person riding the brakes. After successfully making the transition, he asked, “How’s Drake?”
Lavina wiped her nose but couldn’t wipe the smile from her face when she replied, “He’s Drake.” She was thinking of the conversation she’d just had with him. About ice cream. And toes.
Her brother glanced over at her. Talking about a man with her was new for him. Lavina was always the low-key sister. The one who stayed quiet and glued to the books – not the one who wore makeup and gushed over a guy. Lucky for Drake, Emmet and the rest of the family actually liked him. Drake had invited them to his home in Bryson City just two weeks ago – the entire family – her brothers, sisters and parents. Drake had met them all at the same time and didn’t have any qualms about doing so.
“You really like him, huh?”
“Yes. Drake’s a good guy.”
“A good guy…”
“Yeah. He’s a good guy. A great guy.”
“Are y’all getting serious?”
“Um…” She was still smiling. “I think so.
“You think?”
“You want definite answers, Emmet. Okay, yes. We’re getting serious.”
“How long have you known him?”
“We’ve been dating for a month and a half.”
“And y’all are serious already?”
“Yes. We’re exclusive. He likes me. I like him. We have a lot in common. We’re both business-focused. We like to laugh and have fun together. We’re extremely compatible and he gets me.”
“That’s good.”
“It is because you’re interrogating me like you have concerns?”
“I’m not interrogating you, sis. You just need to know how much the family loves you—how much I love you and I want you to be happy. That means making sure the man you profess to love has the same love for you. I can’t have you being mistreated by no man. I’d been done broke somebody’s face.”
Lavina laughed. “You won’t have to worry about breaking anyone’s face, Emmet. Drake is good to me. He understands me. He has this ability to look beyond my flaws and push me toward the direction of my dreams. There’s nothing like having people support you like that, you know.”
“I get it, and I know Drake’s a good dude. I’m just making sure you’re ready.”
Lavina frowned. “Ready for what?”
“You know—the seriousness of being in a relationship. This is your first real relationship, isn’t it?”
“It is. Yes.”
“Drake is a grown man. He’s grown, grown – nine years older than you, grown. I don’t take him as the kind of man who’s going to play around with his time.”
“He’s not.”
“Okay…as long as you realize that.”
Lavina glanced at her brother, then back out into the night. Drake was playful and carefree in a lot of ways, but when it came to serious matters like her and work, he could display a serious side, too. He definitely wasn’t the type to play around. She liked that about him.
* * *
When they arrived at his apartment, he showed her to the guest bedroom.
“Thanks, Emmet.”
“Welcome, sis. Holla if you need anything.”
“Will do,” she said, but all she needed right now was a hot shower.
And that’s what she got – a long, hot shower and after she rubbed some lotion on her body, brushed her teeth and applied some moisturizer to her face, she sat on the bed and called Drake.
He answered, “Hey…didn’t think I would get another call from you tonight. I was all set to go to bed cranky and miserable.”
“Oh, stop it, Drake.”
“I was. I need my daily dose of you, girl. Meanwhile, you out there in them New York City streets living Lavina loca…forgot all about your man.”
“Living Lavina loca—you’re funny.” She fell back on the bed laughing. “And no, I didn’t forget about you. I could never forget about you. Muah, muah, muah,” she said, sending kisses through the phone.
“Okay, enough of all that. You’ll have me catching a flight tonight, baby. I prefer my kisses up close and personal, especially with those juicy, super sweet lips you have.”
“You honestly got me wishing I never came here.”
“Sweetie, you need to enjoy this time with your family.”
“I know, and I will but you’re my family, too. And my family never does family trips and then, all of a sudden, we’re doing a family trip to freakin’ New York. In December. In the winter, we’re supposed to be traveling south. Not north! Anything but north. Who’s idea was this?”
“You’ll have to ask Emmet about that. He seemed to be the ringleader behind all of this. Plus, didn’t you say your mother wanted this to happen?”
“Yeah, she did.”
“Then I guess it was her idea. Whatever the case, just try to relax. You get a little frustrated when you’re tired so get yourself a good night’s sleep. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
“Okay.”
“I love you,” he said, deep-voiced.
“I love you, too, Drake. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Chapter 2
Lavina woke up to the sound of afro-beat party music. And was that bacon she smelled? Emmet Nelson didn’t cook breakfast, did he? If so, that would definitely be a first. He wasn’t the cook-a-meal, settle down, domestic type. Neither of them. Both Emmet and Easton enjoyed the fast life. They both worked for the same finance company and even though they grew up in the North Carolina Mountains, they’d transformed into typical New Yorkers with the accent and all – working fourteen-hour days and cramming down takeout whenever they got the chance. At night, they’d pop antacids like vitamin supplements. And they were oblivious to the cost of things because, well, they had money and no one to take care of but themselves. There had to be a certain level of freedom that came along with that lifestyle – especially for men. They could do what they wanted when they wanted without having anyone to answer to. It’s how Drake was before she met him. She wondered if her brothers would ever meet women who’d make them reevaluate their life and change their old ways.
After showering and getting dressed for the day, she emerged from her room with her hair up in a bun, decorated by a small, gold bow. It went nicely with her outfit – a cranberry sweater flaked with tiny gold sparkles, a pair of dark blue Lucky Brand jeans and black, chunky-heeled boots. She stepped into the kitchen and saw her brother dancing and carrying on as he took some plates from the cabinet.
