Free A Tropical Rendezvous: A BWWM Interracial Bad Boy Billionaire Multicultural Romance (African American Romance) by Ella Celestine Page A

“Do you really?”
    “I do. I was going to tell you after the wedding, once we were far away from here. I didn’t want to taint it with all of this family crap.” His thick brows furrowed, telling her more than any words could have, just how tense things still were.
    “What happened?”
    Maddox sighed. “Everything.” Briana tried to comfort him as he told her all about what went down at the restaurant after she left. When he was done, he asked, “Can you believe he said that to me? That I’m not the victim? Like I could ever forget that fact.”
    Her heart went out to him. She had no family to speak of so she knew what it was like to lose them all. “You’re a victim too, no one gets to take the title alone. However, you don’t have to act like one. We’ll get all dressed up today and go to that wedding. We’ll smile and play nice, and then you can decide what we do after. Okay?”
    “How did I get so lucky to win your love?” The sight of his smile hit her right in the chest and spread out, warming her body all over.
    “You were just you.” It was true, she realized now. She never stood a chance against his charm, his kindness, and his big heart.
    “Now, you’re going to make me blush.” He batted his sun-whitened eyelashes and leaned in for a kiss that quickly spiraled out of control, and turned to the most thrilling, satisfying lovemaking of her life.
    Maddox separated their bodies with a smile as he stood. “If you hurry we could shower together before we have to get to the church.”
    Briana hopped off the bed with a smile. “Last one in the shower stands in the back!”
    ~
    The wedding ceremony was short and sweet, just how Maddox hoped it would be. Angie was a vision in a white dress that made her look like a princess. He told her as much as he greeted her before the ceremony and she’d started crying, terrifying him until she stopped. Even his brother had tears in his eyes as he spoke his vows.
    It was all very touching, and Maddox was happy for them both. However, he was anxious to get the hell out of there now that it was all said and done. Everyone looked at him like he shouldn’t be there like it wasn’t his family too.
    “Hey Slugger, smile. There are cameras everywhere.”
    He smiled down at Briana, who had done her best to distract him from the tension of the day. Her green eyes sparkled with love and her hand remained wrapped in his.
    Maddox put on a bright fake smile for her sake, and she laughed. “Better?”
    She nodded. “Much. So what are we doing? Are we staying or going?” He knew she was up for whatever he decided to do.
    The problem was, he had no idea what he wanted to do. He would love to stay and see the first dance and hear the toasts, but he couldn’t stand another minute of the tension, the stares, and the discomfort. “I don’t know, babe. Help me out here.”
    She laughed and pulled him into the sunny day. “I don’t know how to answer this for you. I want to tell you to stay because I think it will be good for you, but I can’t stand to see you in pain.”
    Damn, he loved this woman. Tears shimmered in her eyes on his behalf. No one had ever cried for him before. He released a burdened sigh and looked around. His brothers and their wives were busy taking photos. Without him.
    “Let’s get out of here!” He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the street.
    “Are you sure?”
    “Hell no, but with you by my side, I don’t think it’ll matter where we are.”
    Suddenly, she stopped, and he turned to see why only to find more tears shimmering in her eyes.
    “You mean that, Maddox?”
    He nodded. Of course, he meant it.
    “Then I think we should go to the reception, at least for a little while. If it becomes too much, we can get the hell out of there. Okay?”
    He took a big breath and reached for her hand. “Okay.”
    “Okay?” Her smile widened, and Maddox knew how lucky he’d gotten to have such a wonderful woman being proud and in love with