A Question of Marriage (5 page)

“What is it baby?” Her father asked, opening the refrigerator removing a bottle of water; twisting off the cap, taking a healthy sip before placing the container on the granite counter top.”

“I’m engaged.”

“Oh congratulations,” her mother beamed. “Let me see the ring.

“I wasn’t aw
are you and Trent reconciled.” her father said, referring to her ex fiancé.

“We haven’t
, I’m marrying Jordan.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Daddy, I’m not a kid anymore. This is what I want.”

“Since when have the two of you become romantically involved? T
he last thing I’d heard, he was dating some movie star.”

“Well he isn’t
.”

Marshall Hollister stared at his daughter
, as if he were looking for something. “Are you pregnant?”

Payton rolled her eyes. “No daddy, I’m not pregnant.”

“Then why are you marrying him?”

“I love him.”

“I highly doubt he feels the same way, what’s really going on?”

Payton avoided looking into her father’s eyes because he could always tell when she wasn’t being truthful.

“Nothing,” Payton hedged. “I just thought I’d deliver the news personally.”

Before her father could say
anything more, her mother spoke. “Marsh, let’s be happy for our daughter, this is what she wants and we should support her decision.”

Her father
grunted, then nodded. “Fine, congratulations,” he said reluctantly. “So when’s the wedding?”

“In three months
,”

“Three
months, are you sure you aren’t pregnant?”

“Marsh,” Aoleon scolded her husband. “Leave Payton alone, are you staying for dinner?”

Payton was reluctant to accept the invitation. She really didn’t want to continue the Spanish Inquisition, she would have to endure at the hands of her father. However, not wanting to disappoint her mother, she reluctantly accepted the invitation.

Later, d
uring the drive back into the city, Payton’s thoughts went to her parents especially her father. She knew she’d disappointed him again. He wasn’t happy with her decision to marry Jordan, but accepted it none the less. It was just like when she’d announced she was becoming a Journalist; he’d hoped she would follow in his footsteps and join the force; when she hadn’t, their once close relationship changed. Feeling guilty for lying to her parents, she almost blurted out the truth but her mother’s constant probing about the wedding, kept her confession at bay.

One thing’s for certain
, once the truth comes out the fragile state of their relationship will be forever severed. Knowing her father, she highly doubted he’ll forgive her for withholding the truth.

“Could you tell me,” J.D Senior began, using the reasonable patronizing tone, Jordan hated. “Why you feel compelled to go against everything you know to be right? This engagement to Payton Hollister, why her? Couldn’t you have chosen someone much more suitable?”

“
Payton is suitable.” Jordan responded.

J.D Senior’s eyes narrowed as he studied his son carefully. “What were you thinking pro
posing? Have you completely taken leave of your senses?”

“As I recall
, it was you who suggested that I settle down, find a wife. What difference does it make who I chose, as long as I abide by your demands?”

“That may be, but I
never told you to pick a woman that isn’t even in our social class, she’s a reporter for crying out loud.”

“Who has degrees in business and
journalism?”

His father made a dismissive grunt. “Makes no difference
, she should not be made a part of this family.”

“I’m guessing you have someone else in mind, am I right?”

“As a matter of fact I do,” his father admitted. “I had a long conversation with Walter Ashmore and he’s agreed that if you were to marry his daughter, this would solve your problem.”

Jordan rolled his eyes.
Not this shit again, when is he ever going to give up?”

“What makes you think I’d even consider making his daughter my wife?”

“A union with Allison, would be beneficial,” his father explained. “Ashmore Gourmet foods, is about to embark on the biggest merger in its company’s history. Walter Ashmore has made it clear that if the two of you were to become engaged, this firm would handle the merger between his company and Barton Foods. If you were to marry his daughter, that’s a quarter of a million dollars added to this firms revenue.”

Jordan stared at his father in disbelief
, as anger began to build inside him. “So this is about money, you don’t give a damn about whether or not I’m happy or not, you just want to add to the firm’s financial portfolio.”

“
Listen to reason son, not only would this union be beneficial monetarily, it would provide the right connections, This firm needs to stay on top. Payton Hollister is the daughter of a retired cop and a school teacher, her background has no benefit to you socially or professionally.”

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, I knew you were rigid when it came to certain things but never in a million years would I have guessed you were a snob.”

“I’m merely looking out for your best interests,” his father reasoned.

“I know you don’t expect me to believe that
, do you? And for the record Payton Hollister has more class in her little finger, then Allison Ashmore has in her whole body. She speaks several languages, has interviewed presidents and dignitaries and not only that, she’s won a Pulitzer. Her father is a highly decorated Gulf War veteran, whether Payton has the right pedigree or not is none of your concern. I fully intend to make her my wife with or without your approval.”

His father’s expression remained passive, his opinion unchanged. “If that’s your decision you leave me no choice, you’re disinherited and you’re fired
. You have a week to clear out your office.”

Jordan stared at his father for a few moments then
he turned and walked out.

******************

When Payton unlocked the door of Jordan’s apartment and stepped inside, she was greeted with the soft glow of candlelight and the scent of fresh flowers. Placing her purse and keys down on the table, she made her way through the living room, calling out to him as she walked. She found him standing out on the enclosed terrace speaking with the man from the restaurant that often delivered his meals, when his cook had the night off, once the man had departed, he walked over and greeted her.

“Hey, how was your day?
” He asked wrapping his arms around her kissing her.

“It was long. What’s all this?” Payton asked gesturing towards the table.

Jordan walked over to the elegantly set table and removed a bottle of champagne popped the cork. Then poured two glasses, handing one to her.

“It occurred to me that we never properly celebrated our engagement.”

Taking a sip of the champagne, Payton gazed around the area, she hadn’t noticed that there were candles and flowers all over.

“This is nice
, so what else do you have planned?”

“Dance with me
first and I’ll show you.”

Taking the glass out her hand
, he sat both their glasses on the table. Then pulled her into his arms. Payton’s head rested on his chest as they swayed to the soft jazz that surrounded them. They danced to two more songs then they sat down to eat.

“When did you have time to plan all this?” Payton asked picking up her fork.

“The idea came to me today as a matter of fact,” he admitted.

“Y
our father dropped by my office yesterday, to see me.”

“Really, what did he say?”

“He wanted to know, how much it would take for me to break off our engagement, naturally I declined the offer.”

Anger surged through Jordan
. It was just like his father to do something that dirty and underhanded just to get his way. He was determined to split him and Payton up by any means necessary. Well he wasn’t about to let him get away with it. Whatever he had to do to put a stop to the old man’s plans, he would.

“I can’ believe that he would stoop so low.”

“Well he did, when he took out his checkbook and offered me two million, my jaw hit the floor.”

Jordan chuckled. “
I bet, so what else happened?”

“He launched into this spiel about how he was only looking out for your best interests. Then I told him a story about a bully
, naturally he was put out about the whole thing, but I didn’t care. Maybe he’ll get the message and leave us alone.”

“That’s highly doubtful
, my old man can be pretty relentless when it comes to getting what he wants.”

“Jordan
, are you sure you want to go through with this plan of yours? I mean it’s beginning to be more trouble than what it’s worth.”

“Don’t worry, everything will work out, trust me.”

“I don’t know Jordan so many things could go wrong.”

Seeing the look of doubt on her face Jordan knew he had to do something to take it away. Pushing his chair
away from the table he stood up, walked over to her and held out his hand. She looked at it, then up at him before she pushed her own chair away from the table stood up and accepted his hand. Then he lifted her up in his arms and started walking.

“Jordan
what are you doing? What about our dinner?”

“Later, r
ight now you need a little convincing.” He told as he headed in the direction of the patio door.

Once inside Jordan
carried her into his bedroom and sat her on her feet framed her face with his hands and kissed her. Both breathless from the kiss, still holding her Payton gazed into his eyes seeing desire in them.

“I need you Payton, you and I together as a team we can do anything
, please don’t back out on me now.”

When his mouth came d
own on hers, a breathless moan escaped from her throat, his tongue parted the seam of her mouth rubbing and stroking hers in an erotic rhythm, that made her throb with sweet sensual fire as her fingers tangled into his thick dark hair, she pressed herself against him.

His hands swept possessively down her back
, molding her against him, she could feel the evidence of his desire for her and all she wanted to do was to feel and taste him. Her body aching with a need that only he could satisfy. Jordan’s lips nipped and teased hers and she protested the sweet torment with a small moan, until his mouth came down on hers, once again and she saw fireworks. His tongue plunging into her mouth rubbing and stroking hers, making her body burn. She clung to him, trembling in response to their passion.

Lifting her shirt from her
, he let it drop, his hands covering her breast, he guided his thumb gently, purposefully over her nipple. Underneath the thin material of her lacy bra, the nipple tightened and hardened under his caress.

“Do you want me
, as much as I want you?” Jordan asked gazing into her eyes, his lips poised tantalizingly above hers.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat
, Payton could only nod in response to his question. As much as she rationalized with herself about why she shouldn’t have sex with him, the more her body screamed.
Take me now!

“I bet
you’re dripping wet right now, if I stick my hand inside your panties, your cream would coat my fingers.”

Undoing the button of her jeans
, easing the zipper down, he shoved his hand inside her panties dipping his finger inside the seam of her pussy, removing his cream coated hand, licking the essence off his fingers.

“Mm, you taste so sweet.”

Then, his lips claimed her once again, the kiss became deeper, hotter and more intimate, as she wrapped her arms around him. She moved sensuously against him, loving the feel of his warm body against hers. It felt so good, so right, to be in his arms.

Jordan kissed her with the hot, hard pressure she craved and welcomed his tongue into the moist warm depths of her mouth
. She arched her body against his, wanting him to touch her, aching for it. When his big hand slipped beneath the cool silk, touching the round softness of her breasts, Payton sighed in satisfaction, his hands covering her breasts in pure possession, he murmured something dark and sexy into her mouth as he slid his hand inside her panties again. She moved provocatively against his hand, as he slipped his finger inside her again. A spiral of exquisite pleasure spun through her, as his thumb strummed her clit while he worked his fingers in and out of her. She cried out as the sensation rippled through her. She moaned his name, as he lifted her and carried her to the bed. He unhooked her bra and lowered his head, taking a nipple into his mouth. His lips worship her nipples, licking, sucking, tasting and finally devouring until she was lost in the sensation. Leaning back Jordan removed her shoes then tugged off her jeans and pulled her silk panties down her legs.