AFTER THE ENGAGEMENT

Two

Denzel walked outside and spotted Janelle standing by the pool. Arms folded and staring at nothing in particular.

He still couldn't understand why she would go on with this charade. She might be his cousin's fiancée, but he still knew her to her finger prints.

She tried to sound excited in announcing her engagement but she wasn't such a good actress.

She must have sensed his presence because she turned around and smiled.

He walked up to her, handing her a glass of wine. "Tell me you're not a witch."

She chuckled. "I am not a witch."

"How did you know I was standing there?"

She rolled her eyes. "I always know."

He chuckled. "Wow. So, it's been finally decided, huh?"

She sighed. "Yeah. I'm finally engaged to James Morgan. I'm getting married to him in two weeks."
She said and laughed.

He turned to her, watching quietly while sipping his wine as she whispered something to herself and then chuckled.

"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself."
He said.

She looked at himself, smiling and placed her hands on his chest as she  moved forward. "I should have strangled Tope right there if you hadn't stopped me."

He frowned. "Are you drunk? Seriously? How many drinks did you take?"
He asked.

She laughed out loud and shook her head. "Do I look drunk? I'm just..."
She looked down at his lips and then smirked at him beneath her lashes.

"What will happen if I kiss you right here and now, Dee?"
She asked.

He swallowed hard and shook his head. She swayed a bit but his strong hands closed around her waist to steady her feet.

She laughed again, with her hands around his shoulders. "Come on, stop being a killjoy."

"You're drunk. Its official."

°°°

Denzel could hardly focus on work at the office.

Damn!

How was he supposed to focus even when he had a meeting in a few seconds? They've known each other since childhood. Since his parents died when he was little and James parents took him in as his foster parents.

The whole marriage had been planned since they were little. And he knew that James wasn't into Janelle that much. How can a Casanova be into her anyway?

James was only complying because of his parents and not for love.

Nothing would have stopped him from kissing her that night bit somehow, the saint in him had reminded him of his vow to never take advantage of her and last night, she was damn vulnerable.

He really tried. Janelle Anderson was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Everything about her was perfect. Her laughter, her smiles, her stubborn attitude, the way she stomps her feet to the ground when she's trying to make a point and no one is getting it. Even her playful nature was appealing to him. Her heart was a rare one and she was always loyal to all her friends.

But now, he will have to stay away from her, before he repaid the people who took him in and raised him by stabbing their son at the back.

Last night, it had been difficult to stop her from kissing him. But he did. Even when he took her upstairs to her bedroom, it had taken more than his willpower to just call Nana to assist her instead of sitting there and allowing his heart decide for him instead of his head. The sound of his ringtone, pierced through his train of thoughts and he sighed to pick up the receiver.