In Name Only Read online

  In Name Only

  By

  Vivian Rose Lee

  One Night

  Copyright © 2011 by Robin L. Jones

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photo copying, record, or any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the Author. Your support of Author’s rights is appreciated.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual person, living or dead. Business establishments, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Chapter One

  Skylar Carter sat in her small Honda debating whether to go into the wedding reception or just leave. It had been such a long time since she ventured out in any social setting, at least at this caliber. She watched as the elegantly dressed invited guest walked past her car still debating with herself whether to go inside the elegant hotel. This was the first time she had been out socially since her husband past away two years ago. After much prodding and almost begging Skylar let the mother of the bride convince her to attend the wedding and reception when she would have been satisfied with just seeing the wedding. However, Mrs. Georgia Smith, the bride’s mother had other plans and insisting she attend the reception also and than advising her, it was time to start to live again. Sky conceded and accepted.

  The bride was beautiful, she expected nothing less, and the bridesmaids were very pretty in the peach halter gowns of her own design. As she watched the five bridesmaids promenade down the aisle, Sky silently criticized her work. She was never truly satisfied with the finished product, although her customers seemed very pleased. That was how she met Georgia Smith. She and her daughter had come to her small tailor shop downtown Norfolk. Skylar Designs and Tailoring had come highly recommended by several of her clientele according to Mrs. Smith. That was a year and eight dresses ago with Sky and Ms Georgie becoming fast friends. A friendship Skylar valued highly. Friends were something she had few of in her life. As Sky and Ms Georgie’s friendship grew so did Skylar’s trust. Enough that Sky felt she could confide in her new found friend. Not only did Sky like her very much she admired and respected her even more. Georgia Smith was a woman so full of life that Skylar felt drawn to her. Ms Georgie had lost her husband five years ago, so she understood how Skylar felt about the loss of a loved one. Ms Georgie advising her she should not be wallow in her grief. What Ms Georgie didn’t know was she was not mourning her husband nor was she rejoicing in his passing. Truth be told, she actually wasn’t sure how she felt about her husbands passing.

  Sky just was not sure why she closeted herself away from people. It could be many things. It could be the sheltered life she was accustomed to or maybe she was simple use to being alone, which she was most of the time. She just told Ms Georgie she was mourning her husband. If Ms Georgie knew the truth about her relationship, she would probably pity her and pity was the one emotion she could not abide. Ms Georgie had confided in her telling her how much she and her husband loved one another; they had been married for forty wonderful years, but she was not going to jump in the grave with him, telling her she was sure her husband would not want that for her. Ms Georgie did not know her husband; he would have pulled her right along with him.

  Sky smiled when she thought of the way Ms Georgie had a way with words. For a woman of sixty, Ms Georgie was still quite lovely. Georgia is very elegant statuesque dark complexioned women with a beautiful full head of white hair that accentuated her lovely mature face. She had the warmest smile and the most kindly beautiful brown eyes she has ever seen. Skylar began looking at Ms Georgie as a sort of surrogate mother. Not that her mother was not still alive and she hope was well, it was just she had not spoken to her mother since the day she married David, whom her mother wholeheartedly disapproved of. That was three years ago, and it was too late. She now understood why her mother disapproved of David and running back home to her mother was not an option. Her mother would not think twice about throwing up in her face the mistake she made choosing David Nicholas.

  David Nicholas was not a good husband, nor was he a good man. At first, David was all charm and sophistication literally sweeping her off her feet. Yet after their hasty marriage and then to discovered her wealthy mother disowned her he didn’t even try to be. At twenty-eight year old, all she wanted more is marry and have children before she was thirty. Which with everything she had been through with David it still turned out that she was still childless. After she married the man she thought she loved, he turned out not to be that man at all. David barely kept a job, he drank excessively, and she knew he had been unfaithful to her on several occasions. Then on that ill-fated night while driving home from one of his nights out, while driving drunk that he did occasionally he struck a tree and was instantly killed according to hospital. Skylar closed her eyes needing to block out the memories of her life with David and his tragic death.

  Sky eyes opened to see most of the guests were arriving to the reception. A nervous tension seized her body. She was never one to go out alone. The times she had gone with David always ended up being a dreadful evening. His idea of an evening out was of him drinking until he was drunk subsequently becoming unruly and utterly embarrassing. She had never gone out with him again, not that he wanted her to, saying she didn’t know how to have a good time. His idea of having a good time held no appeal to her.

  Now here she sat scared to death. She had only been in Virginia three years and didn’t know many people, except for a few of her clients that had been invited her to this grand affair. The wedding ceremony was beautiful, the type of fairy tale wedding she dreamed of for herself. Since her mother did not approve of David, she didn’t get the grand wedding she had always wanted. She and David’s wedding was officiated by a courthouse judge in her hometown. They did not have elegantly dressed guest and well-wishers to celebrate with them. Her wedding was very simple; everything done in fifteen minutes, papers signed and witnessed by two strangers they grabbed outside in the hallway to stand with them as they exchanged vows. The honeymoon wasn’t any better. She and David checked to the local Ramada Inn where David afterwards passed out drunk.

  Taking a deep breath and pulling herself from her musings and long list of regrets, Sky realized it was now or never. Since she was already here, she might as well attend the reception, if only to make an appearance and give her gift to the happy couple while making a hasty retreat.

  Sky glanced into the rear view mirror at her reddish brown hair pulled back in a tight chignon and smoothed a stray hair down close to her head. Her makeup was minimal, just enough to hide the many flaws she thought she had. Since it was hot August day, Sky decided to wear a pale yellow linen sleeveless sheath dress she had made last year that she never had an occasion to wear until now. The dress displayed a boat neck front and dipped low to the small of her back. She found a pair strapped high-heeled pale yellow sandals and the only jewelry she wore were a pair of small diamond studded earrings and the gold bracelet her mother had given her when she graduated from college. The dress skimmed her petite body impeccably accenting her shapely figure. Gathering her courage, Sky exited her car. She passed many people loitering outside the building unaware of the passing glances she received as she entered the hotel where the reception was in full swing.

  Skylar stopped at the wide double doors of the beautifully ornamented reception room. The bride and groom along with the family had not arrived yet so Sky put her gift on the gift table located just inside the alcove beside the door and lifted the card with her name to see her table placement.

  Inside the room large round tables set wit
h beautiful fresh peach and white lily floral arranged centerpieces. A live band playing soft jazz music, as butlers walked around the room with tray laden with wonderful assortment of both hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. While another held a tray with glasses of golden champagne offering them to the guest who arrived early.

  Sky handed the reception card that indicating her table to the usher. He was a tall, lanky, and very handsome young man no more that seventeen years old. He stared at her awe stricken. Sky became self-conscious experiencing an urge to turn and just walk away, instead she nervously smiled.

  “Hello,” Sky finally spoke softly.

  “Hello,” he said, his tone friendly as he looked down at her card and then at her.

  Staring at her, he spoke. “Oh your Grandma’s friend, she told me you were to sit with her with the family, and I had better be on my best behavior.” He said grinning mischievously. Her nervousness somewhat easing, Sky smiled back at him.

  “You’re Ms Georgie’s grandson,” she stated.

  “I’m Jonathan,” he introduced.

  “And I’m Skylar,” she introduced herself smiling, “It nice to finally meet you Jonathan, I’ve heard such wonderful things about you; your grandmother talks about you all the time and is she very proud of you.”

  Thanking her, Jonathan extended his elbow. Skylar took it as he led her to the table helping her to sit.

  Skylar place her small bag on the table her eyes scanning the large room. She was relieved that she is sitting with Ms Georgie’s family; she really didn’t know anyone other than Ms Georgie, Nyja, the bride, and Ms Georgie’s daughter in law Jana. Skylar took the glass of champagne offered to her from the passing butler. Lifted the glass to lips she sipped slowly and sat it down. She had never been much of a drinker limiting herself an occasional glass of wine. The champagne delicious so she took another sip, before she knew it she drained the glass. The server removed the glass and offered her another. Accepting it, however this time Sky vowed to sip it very slowly.

  Benjamin Smith stood in the entrance of the ballroom slowly surveying the beautifully decorated room. He smiled; thinking his mother really outdid herself for her only daughter’s wedding. Ben was the second eldest of Georgia Smith three offspring. His older brother Edmond, now forty and happily married to Jana, his favored sister in law, and then there was Nyja the baby of the family, now twenty eight, whom he cherished and he even decided he liked her new husband Kevin. Benjamin knew without a doubt that Kevin would make his sister very happy, and that was all he expected. Nyja’s new husband was also an attorney as he; the only difference was he is an attorney for the Department of the Navy. After graduating high school and receiving his appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, his dream had become a reality.

  At a very early age, Benjamin had decided he wanted to assume his role and become a Naval Officer. Now after fifteen years of dedicated service in the Navy he has reached the rank of Commander in the Second Fleet with the Legal Service Command. In other words, he was a lawyer for the Navy, and has travel frequently in those fifteen years of his commission. Raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Benjamin was always happy to be home and close to his family again.

  Smiling Ben entered the room. The wedding was all Nyja hoped it would. His only regret would be now his Mother would begin to badger him about settling down and getting married now that her oldest and youngest children were married. Mom didn’t understand why he refused to marry; as he had told her time and time again, he simply moved around to much to think about getting married. When his father was in active service the family moved all the time. It seemed when the family became comfortable with their new surrounding they were again packing to move to another place and having to start all over again and become accustomed to their new home. He started to hate the moving every two or three years. His family had been stationed from the east coast to the west coast and sometimes overseas over the thirty years of his father enlistment. He made a vow that he would not marry until he retired from the Navy, which would be no time soon. He simple had to remind his mother about this before she started fixing him up with every available women in the Virginia.

  Benjamin continued to survey the room that was filling with invited guest. His eyes came to rest on the young women that sat at the family table. The breath he wanted to exhale stuck in his chest. Her small exquisite face was impeccable. Her facial structure delicately carved; a small dainty nose, perfect coral lips, and a complexion that reminded him of wild golden honey. Ben was captivated.

  Jonathan came to stand beside his uncle instantly noticing where his attention centered; directly on the woman that sat at the family’s table. Jonathan understood the feeling well; when he first saw her standing in the doorway he was captivated by her himself. After finding out who she was he remembered his grandmother and Aunt Nyja talking about how pretty Skylar Carter was, pretty did not seem to do her justice, she was beautiful. If she were younger he would be on her like white on rice.

  “Hey Unck, she beautiful isn’t she, I wonder if she like younger men?” Jonathan asked impishly looking in the direction his uncle was. Benjamin turned his head to his nephew.

  “Behave Jon,” he said a smiling playing on his mouth. “Who is she?”

  “She’s a friend of Grandma’s, the dressmaker for Aunt Nyja’s wedding, and they said she was pretty, but I think they underestimated her, she beautiful.”

  “Get a hold on those hormones there Playa, I think she a little too old for you,” Benjamin said smiling.

  “Hey Unck this is new millennium, older woman like younger men now,” Jon said laughingly. Benjamin chuckled and glanced over at Jonathan. He loved his nephew; they were great friends and had developing an unspoken respect for one another. At a young age, he had taken Jon under his wing and at the tender age of seventeen Jonathan was proving to be a wonderful young man. He still had those teenage ways, a jokester, mischievous, but overall a good kid.

  “Not a seventeen year old.” Benjamin stated smiling. “Why is she sitting with us?”

  “I don’t know Grandma said when she arrived to put her at our table and for me to behave.” Jon said shrugging. “You know what Unck, you should hear her talk, she has the sweetest voice I ever heard and a smile that would make time stand still. I heard grandma tell Mom she was very shy, I think they are right,” he added while both men’s eyes still fixed on her.

  “Hey don’t let that coyness fool you Jon, all women are shy when you first meet them, that’s how they reel you in, and then when they have you in their clutches the true shrew rears its ugly head, and then the next thing you know you’re holding her purse in the mall.”

  Jonathan laughed. “I don’t think so, she seems pretty genuine.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Benjamin warned him laughing. “Come on introduce us.”

  Chapter Two

  Skylar was sipping another glass of the excellent champagne when she noticed the most magnificent man standing beside Ms Georgie’s grandson. His arresting good looks totally captured her attention. She placed the glass down on the table experiencing a giddy lightheadedness as her gaze perused the handsome man. Sky took a breath deciding the delicious champagne was the reason her head was in a slight whirl. He was taller than most men in the room with an air of authority and the appearance of one who demanded instant obedience. He was handsome man with dark eyes and a secret expression. He had a haughty square-jawed face, skin as brown as nutmeg, angularly shaped cheekbones and a straight patrician nose, hair short and neat. His cool urbanity was only slightly disturbed, appearing to have a monopoly on virility, along with an attitude of self-control, studied relaxation, and an air of command that exuded from him.

  Sky became even more aware of his tall frame and of the expansion of his broad chest in the navy tuxedo that fit him with flawlessness. Skylar let her eyes close briefly as the champagne flowed through her bloodstream. Not wanting to, yet forcing herself, Sky quickly turned her gaze
on something else. This was a new experience for her. She encountered handsome men before but never has she reacted to man in the way she reacted to him. Sky stopped being interested in attractive men after her experience with her husband who was definitely handsome in his own right. She realizes now a pretty face usually had flaws beneath their fine exterior. Having lived a sheltered life until she met and than married David, she didn’t have much too compared this handsome man to, though she recognized that she was attracted just as every woman in the room more than likely would be. In her limited experience, Sky found handsome men spoiled, vain, and extremely selfish, and it was best if she stayed as far from them as she could.

  In her musings, Sky did not realize they were drawing nearer to the table where she sat. Her eyes widened, her breath caught, and a nervous tension filled her. Unconsciously Sky lifted the glass to her lips and drained the last of the amber liquid. The closer they got to the table, the more nervous she became. Skylar took another deep breath and looked at her now empty champagne flute wishing for more to soothe her now suddenly dry throat. With eyes downcast, she felt the unsteady increase of her heart as it beat a rhythmic pounding against her chest. Jonathan and his companion came to stop at the large table.

  “Miss Skylar,” Jon said her name softly.

  Her head rose. For the second time Benjamin’s breath caught in his chest and seeing up close the most amazingly beautiful face he has ever seen. It intoxicated him.

  Her sleek reddish brown hair pulled back displaying her small face, but it was her eyes that captivated him. Never had he seen a combination of hazel brown with a hint of green eyes before. He had seen his share of beautiful woman before, but she was exquisite.

  Jon watched his uncle and was shocked at his reaction. He had never seen his uncle so taken with one woman and his uncle dated many pretty women. Jon noticed the Adam’s apple in Ben’s neck move as he swallowed hard. Jon leaned toward his uncle. “I told you,” he whispered. Benjamin glared at him.