My Only Desire. Adrianne Byrd

and aahed, Anna’s stomach started looping into large knots.

       Any minute now.

      She sucked in a deep breath as the group started toward the back lawn. As soon as Anna caught sight of a black tuxedo, she tensed. That is until she realized that it was just their father, Leonard Jacobs.

      “There’s my girls.” His smile stretched as he opened his arms wide to envelop them both. “I’ve never seen a lovelier sight.”

      Anna and Gisella shared a proud look. It didn’t matter that technically they were stepsisters. She from their father’s first marriage and Gisella being from the woman he left her mother for. Somewhere along the way they’d agreed to leave the drama to the grown-ups and just cherish each other.

      “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. “I have a getaway car souped-up with the valet.”

      Gisella laughed. “I’m sure, Daddy.”

      “Good. I think I like this joker.” He tossed her a wink and then turned his eyes toward Anna. “You’re next.”

      Anna immediately shook her head. “That’s all right. I’m … good,” she lied.

      Her father frowned. “My little workaholic. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

      “There’s nothing to be done. I’m happy. Really.” It was clear from reading their expressions that neither one of them was buying into that malarkey.

      “Let me tell you something, and I hope you listen to your old man. Having a great job and making lots of money is great and all, but living and loving is the real key to happiness. Trust me on this.”

      Anna smiled through the awkward silence that trailed his words and almost sighed with relief when he returned his attention to Gisella. “So, let’s get you married so that my grandson will be legit when he gets here.” He offered his youngest daughter his arm.

      Anna moved to stand behind Emmadonna so she could wait for the wedding planner to instruct them when to proceed. Then the music started up and Anna sucked in a deep breath. It’s time.

      A part of her wished that Taariq had just shown up for rehearsal last night so that she could have gotten this whole awkward moment over with. But since he had some business or something, he didn’t make it. So now she just had to hope that she would be able to keep it together in front of two hundred people.

       No problem. I can do this.

      The wedding planner appeared and started directing the bridesmaids to start their procession. That was about the time when Anna’s heart beat so loudly that it literally was drowning out the music. Finally it was her turn and she hesitated for just a beat before getting her feet to work. When she did, it just felt like two long rubber sticks that were about to drop her on her butt at any moment.

      Then she saw him and oxygen fled her lungs as if they’d collapsed. Pristine in a sharp Armani, Taariq strolled like an experienced male model toward … Emmadonna. Smiling, he offered her his arm and then proceeded to waltz her down the aisle in front of Anna.

       He didn’t even look at me.

      Insulted, Anna clenched her jaw and almost forgot to accept Derrick Knight’s offered arm. He smiled. She didn’t. Her gaze was too busy burning a hole in the back of Taariq’s head.

       Fine. If you’re going to ignore me, then I’m going to ignore you, too.

      She and Derrick parted ways so that they could take their positions on opposite sides of the reverend just as the wedding march began to play.

      An hour later, Gisella and Charlie Masters’s hands overlapped as they gripped the knife and together sliced into a Sinful Chocolate popular creation: white chocolate and lemon cake. The happy couple smiled at the wedding photographer and then toward each other before shoving a handful of the decadent dessert into each other’s faces.

      Laughter rippled among the large gathering of friends and family and then a cheer went up when Charlie tried to kiss and lick his wife’s face clean.

      “I love you, baby,” he whispered, snapping their bodies together despite the small baby bump and dipping his head for a long soulful kiss. She tasted so sweet.

      “J’taime, aussi,” she responded when he allowed her to come up for air.

      Charlie groaned at the instant hard-on he acquired whenever Gisella spoke French. Now that they’d said their “I do’s,” Charlie was ready to skip right to the honeymoon phase. So much so he found himself asking Gisella every five minutes, “Can we leave now?”

      “Behave.” She giggled and then allowed Anna to pull her away.

      “I’m so happy for you, Gisella,” Anna said, wrapping her arms around her baby sister. “I don’t think the Lonely Hearts will ever admit it, but you’ve renewed our faith in love.”

      Gisella smiled and wiped away a stray tear from her sister’s face. “I owe you so much. If you hadn’t gone to see Charlie that night.”

      Anna gave Gisella’s waist a gentle squeeze. “I’m sure you would’ve done the same for me.”

      “In a heartbeat.” She paused. “He’s out there, you know. There’s a perfect guy out there for you.”

      Anna shrugged. “Maybe. But until then, me and Sasha are going to be just fine.”

      Gisella smiled as her eyes spied on Taariq as he walked across the lawn.

      Anna followed her gaze and then experienced another punch in the gut. The sight of him just laughing and having a good time churned her stomach. “You know, I’m going to run to the ladies’ room. I’ll catch up with you later.”

      “Oh. Okay.”

      Charlie was laughing while his mother gripped his cheeks and tried to pinch the blood out of them. “My baby has made me so proud! Not only did you give me a beautiful daughter-in-law, but I’m finally getting my grandbaby.”