27 comments/ 18392 views/ 28 favorites The Stand-In Girlfriend Ch. 07-09 By: mspat CHAPTER 7 After dinner Chevonne said goodnight to Ashton, his mother, his father and Spencer saying she was tired after their long flight from the states. Chevonne said she was going to take a shower and then go straight to bed but she really wanted to call her mother and let her know what was going on before Alice called her to talk about her engagement to Ashton. During dinner Alice asked about her family, Chevonne told her about her mother, her father and her brother Martin. Alice insisted that Chevonne give her, her mother's phone number so they could discuss plans for the wedding (Chevonne had never met such a determined person in her life, the woman seemed determined to make her part of their family). Chevonne tried to tell her she wanted to talk to her mother and explain how things happened so fast between her and Ashton. But Alice was determined to talk to her mother. Chevonne gave her, her parents home phone number and explained that since her parents were away on a cruise that Alice wouldn't be able to talk them until they returned. But always thinking Alice asked if her mother had a mobile phone. Speaking before she thought Chevonne automatically answered that she did. Alice pushed the pen and piece of paper with her parents home number on it towards Chevonne and asked her to write down her mother's mobile number. Chevonne wrote the number down. Before she wrote the number down she got Alice to promise not to call until next week to give Chevonne time to talk to her parents, especially her mother. Chevonne planned on calling her mother that night to tell her the truth about what was happening with her and Ashton. But the thought of how disappointed her mother would be with her she pushed that idea out of her mind. She decided she easing her mother into the idea of her and Ashton being together and the idea of them getting married would be a better way to go. Having come up with a plan she could live with Chevonne went to her purse to get her cell phone only to discover that she'd left it downstairs. Now she couldn't call her mother. She decided the call could wait until tomorrow. Chevonne changed her mind about taking a shower and opted for a bubble bath instead to calm her nerves. Ashton came up to bed two hours after Chevonne did hoping he would find her asleep so he could slip into bed unnoticed. He didn't want to argue with Chevonne about them sleeping in the same bed. They had come with a plan that would've allow Ashton to sleep in his old bedroom. He was going to sleep in his old bedroom by making his parents think that he and Chevonne had an argument and she had locked him out of the guest bedroom. But he couldn't sleep in his old bedroom because Spencer had decided to spend the night instead of going home to his flat and was sleeping in there. Ashton could've slept in the guesthouse (which he suggested to Spencer that he use. Spencer turned it down saying it would create needless work for the house staff) but he didn't like the thought of Spencer being in the house with Chevonne without him being there. Spencer offered to let Ashton sleep in his old room and he would sleep in the guest bedroom with Chevonne, but Ashton wasn't going to allow that. He knocked on the door and flinched a little when he heard Chevonne answer "come in." He slowly opened the door to see Chevonne lying on the bed on top of the covers wearing a pair of shorts and a shirt that exposed her mid section. Ashton's eyes slowly drifted over her body as the scent of coco butter once again filled his nostrils. Because of the way Chevonne normally dressed he always pictured her wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt to bed. He never dreamed she would wear something so sexy and tempting. Her long brown legs seemed to go on forever, they looked so soft, smooth and sexy causing the desire to reach out and touch them to find out if they were as soft as they looked to rise up in him. "Yes," Chevonne said after he stood by the door staring at her and not saying anything for almost a minute. "I'm going to have to sleep in here tonight," Ashton said preparing himself for Chevonne's reaction. "Okay," Chevonne said. "Excuse me?" Ashton said surprised when she didn't get angry with him or start shouting like he expected. "Okay," Chevonne said. "You can sleep in here." Ashton breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face. "Thank you," he said making his way towards the bed. "I didn't expect you to be so understanding." "Hey, you have to sleep somewhere and I figured that Spencer might be staying when he stayed so late," Chevonne said. Ashton went over to the dresser and took out the things he would need to dress for bed. He went into the bathroom and took a shower. When he came out twenty minutes later and found the top mattress lying on the floor and the box spring made up for someone to sleep on. Chevonne was lying on the top mattress, her back propped up against three pillows, reading a book. He went over and gently kicked her foot with his foot. Chevonne looked up at him. "Yes," she said. "Why?" he asked. "Because I'm not sleeping in the same bed with you," Chevonne said. "Because you don't think you can keep your hands off me," Ashton said teasing her. "Please," Chevonne said homegirl style throwing in a neck twist, "you wish." "You could've waited," Ashton said, "I would've helped you." "It wasn't a problem," Chevonne said. "Why did you choose to sleep on the floor?" "The top mattress is way more comfortable than the box spring." Ashton climbed up onto the box spring. "You're right," he said as he laid down and the springs pressed into his body. "Goodnight," he said to Chevonne after he managed to find a comfortable position. "Goodnight," Chevonne replied back. "Are you still angry with me?" Ashton asked after being silent for a few minutes. "No," Chevonne said, "I'm more surprised than angry." "Why surprised?" "You didn't strike me as the type of person that needed to seek anyone's approval when you wanted to do something." "I don't normally." "Why now?" "I love Katrina," Ashton said. "I want to spend my life with her and I want my parents to love her too. I thought this might be a way to accomplish that." "Do your parents have a problem with black people?" Chevonne asked. "No." "Then why me?" "To shock my parents," Ashton said feeling the pressure of shame laying on his heart. "To show them you could've done worse than Katrina?" Chevonne asked swallowing the sob that almost escaped her mouth. "Chevonne, I'm so sorry." "Why did you think your parents would have to be shocked into accepting Katrina by bringing a black person to meet them if they don't have a problem with black people?" Chevonne asked ignoring Ashton's apology. "You know how almost every parent says they'll support their child no matter who they fall in love with?" Ashton asked. "Yes," Chevonne said remembering her parents always said the same words to her. "Well, I didn't believe my parents when they said it," Ashton said. "Did you think about how I would feel if I found out what you and Katrina planned on doing?" Chevonne asked even though she already knew the answer to that question she had to hear him say it. "No," Ashton said. "Why didn't my feelings matter?" "Because Katrina and I were only thinking of ourselves and what we wanted," Ashton said. "We were being selfish." "The two of you were being more than selfish," Chevonne said her voice becoming tense and tight. "You were both being asses. Selfish asses." Ashton understood her anger and the truth of her words left him unable to say anything in response. "What is your address?" Chevonne asked as she threw the covers back, put her book down and got out of her makeshift bed. "Where're you going?" Ashton asked. "I forgot to call Evelyn," Chevonne said slipping on her robe. "I need to call her and give her your parents' address." "The card I gave her has my parents address on it," Ashton said. "Oh, yeah I forgot," Chevonne said making her way towards the bedroom door. "Where're you going?" Ashton asked again. "I left my phone downstairs," Chevonne said standing in the doorway. "I'm going to go get it and call Evelyn so she won't worry about me and call the police to report me missing." "You can use my mobile phone," Ashton said reaching over to the nightstand picking up his mobile phone and holding it out for Chevonne to use. "No, thank you," Chevonne said, "I'll go downstairs and get my phone." "I'll go with you and help you search for it," Ashton said throwing back the covers and getting out of bed. "You don't have to do that," Chevonne told him. "I want to help," Ashton said slipping on his robe. "I'm trying to get away from you Ashton," Chevonne said her voice showing her frustration with him. "I know," Ashton said. "For some reason I don't want you away from me. Not even to go downstairs." "I need to be alone right now," Chevonne said, "away from you, because if I don't I'm going to hurt you physically." "Chevonne, I'm so...." "Please don't say you're sorry again!" Chevonne said cutting off his apology. "It's not enough. I know it's all you can give me but it's just not enough. It doesn't make what you did any easier to bear, it doesn't take away the pain you caused me. So please stop saying you're sorry because it just doesn't help." "Okay," Ashton said., "I'll go sleep on the couch and I'll see you in the morning." 'Not if I can help it', Chevonne thought to herself as he left the room. Ashton's alarm clock went off waking him up. He reached over and turned it off. It was six in the morning. His parents would be preparing to start their day at seven. He wanted to talk to Chevonne before they came downstairs to eat breakfast. He wanted to see if she was alright and if she was still angry with him. He headed up to the bathroom to clean up and to get dressed. Ashton reread the note he found taped to the guest bedroom door from Chevonne informing him that she had been invited to breakfast by Eric Commons the man they met on the plane and she would return before lunch and for him and his parents not to worry. At the bottom of the note was the license plate number, the model name, and color of the car Eric was driving, Eric's driver's license number and his home address. She also let him know that sent a picture of Eric and his car she had taken with her phone to him and Evelyn just in case. "I'm going to strangle her," Ashton said out loud. "Whom are you going to strangle?" Ashton turned to see Spencer coming down the stairs. "Chevonne," Ashton said. "Why?" Spencer asked. "She's not here," Ashton said. "Where is she?" Spencer asked. "I thought the only person she knew here was you." "She went to have breakfast with this bloke we met on the plane ride over," Ashton said. "You're a light sleeper," Spencer remarked, "how did she get passed you?" "We talked about the plan Katrina and I devised," Ashton said trying to keep the shame he was feeling out of his voice, "Chevonne decided she needed to get away from me so I slept on the couch in the family room." "I see," Spencer said. "You see wh...." Ashton's mobile phone began to vibrate. He looked at the caller I.D. and saw that it was Evelyn. "Hello?" "Who is Eric?" Evelyn asked without saying hello. "A fellow, Chevonne meet on the plane," Ashton said. "I thought you and she were pretending to be in a relationship," Evelyn said. "We are," Ashton replied. "We had a fight last night and Chevonne said she needed to get away from me so she went out for breakfast with her new friend." "You must've done something to really upset her," Evelyn said. Ashton didn't respond. "I'm calling because I've been calling her cell phone and not getting an answer," Evelyn said. "My call goes directly to her voice mail." "Maybe she's having such a good time she turned her phone off," Ashton said. "You're probably right," Evelyn said, "but if I don't hear from her one second after ten, I'm calling Scotland Yard." "I don't think that'll be necessary," Ashton said. "Just letting you know," Evelyn said. Translation: I don't give a damn what you think, if I don't hear from Chevonne by ten o'clock I'm calling the Yard." "I'll make sure she calls you," Ashton said. "Thank you," Evelyn said before hanging up the phone. "Good morning." Ashton turned to see his parents coming down the stairs. "Good morning mother," he said going over to give his mother a good morning kiss and hug. "Good morning dad," he said giving his father a hug. "Good morning son," his father said returning his hug. "Where is Chevonne?" his mother asked. "She went out to breakfast with a friend," Spencer said answering before Ashton could say anything. "I thought the only people she knew in London was our family," Alice said. "She met this bloke Eric Commons on the plane coming over," Ashton said giving his brother the evil eye. "You allowed her to go off with a stranger!," his mother almost screamed. "I didn't allow her go off with anyone," Ashton said defending himself. "She was gone when I awaken this morning." "How did that happen?" his father asked. "We had a fight," Ashton said. "What did you do this time?" his mother asked before Ashton could finish telling her what happened between him and Chevonne. "Why are you assuming I was in the wrong?" Ashton asked. Alice gave her son a look that said 'yeah right.' "I was hoping to give her some good news," Alice said sounding disappointed that Chevonne wasn't there. "What is your good news?" Ashton asked glad for the partial change of subject. "Chevonne left her mobile phone down here in the family room last night," Alice said. "It rung and I answered it. It was her mother calling. She asked who I was and I told her I was her fiancé's mother. She asked to speak to Chevonne and I told her that Chevonne was upstairs preparing for bed. She told me not to disturb her that she would call her tomorrow to talk to her. We started talking before she hung up, both of us going on and on about what a cute couple our children made together and how our families had never met." 'Please don't say it', Ashton pleaded mentally already knowing that praying was useless because for some reason God was still working against him. But still he prayed. 'Please don't say what I think you're going to say.' "So we're going to make arrangements for the families to get together sometime during the two months Chevonne will be visiting," Alice said. 'She said it', Ashton thought running his hand down his face. 'She said it.' "Isn't that wonderful," his mother said. "Yes," Ashton said his eyes looking upward and asking God once again why he had forsaken him. Chevonne returned to Ashton's parents' home at a quarter to ten. When she and Eric pulled up to the front of the house Ashton came out to meet them and he wasn't smiling. Eric got out, walked around the passenger side and opened the door for Chevonne. Ashton noticed that when Chevonne got out of the car she said goodbye to Eric without looking at him. Something had happened. "Are you alright?" Ashton asked. "I'm fine," Chevonne said walking past him. As soon as she walked into the house Alice asked her if she enjoyed her outing then she told her about her mother calling and their plans for both families to get together before she returned to the states. "Maybe we'll convince you and Ashton to tie the knot before you leave London," Alice said excitement flowing through her voice at the prospect of Chevonne and Ashton getting married while both their families were together. "It would be a good time for it," Charles remarked. "Both families together can pick a date that works for everyone." "Alice we need to tal..." "Yes, mother, Chevonne and I need to talk," Ashton said grabbing Chevonne by the hand and leading her out to the garden. "This has to come to an end Ashton?" Chevonne shouted leading her away from the main house to the guesthouse. "I know that," Ashton said unlocking the door to the guesthouse, opening the door, pulling Chevonne inside and then closing the door. "That's why I brought you here, to talk about how to end this situation. I didn't know things would get so out of control. Katrina and I didn't plan on things getting this crazy." "How are you going to fix this Ashton?" Chevonne asked. "I don't know," Ashton said his tone sarcastic. "I really don't know. You're going to have to give me some time to work this out so that things don't blow up in our faces." "You think things are blowing up now?" Chevonne said. "No, things are not blowing up now. That won't happen until my mother gets here and she finds out what's going on. You need to understand that not all the things you've heard about black women are untrue. My mother created and patented the head roll and with one hand on her hip and the other waving a finger in your face. And if she goes into that move there is no way of stopping her. You're going to get whatever it is she intends to deliver. She doesn't play when it comes to her family. I'm over twenty years old and she has no problem throwing me over her knee and tearing my butt up. Nobody and I mean nobody curses in front of my mother because they know she has no problem doing the same thing to them." "All the more reason for you to give me time to handle things so your mother won't have to come over here," Ashton said. "If we handle things just right there won't be any need for our families to get together." "I'll give you until it's time for me to leave to do something," Chevonne said, "if you don't I'm going to tell my parents and your parents what's going on and we'll all, you, me and Katrina will just have to deal with the consequences." "Okay," Ashton said. "What happened between you and Eric?" "Nothing for you to worry about," Chevonne said. "What happened?" Ashton demanded. "Evelyn said she tried calling you and the call went directly to voice mail." "That happened because I went to the bathroom at the place Eric took me for breakfast and I left my purse at the table. While I was gone Eric reached into my bag and turned my cell phone off." Chevonne said. "When I realized he'd gone into my purse and turned my phone off I told him I wanted him to bring me back to your parents house. After I made it clear to him that he'd crossed the line by sticking his hands in my purse. Nobody does that without my permission." "Something more than that happened," Ashton said refusing to drop the subject. "He kissed me," Chevonne said. "He what?!" Ashton said. "He kissed me," Chevonne said again. "We were heading back here, sitting at a traffic light when he said there was something he had to do, I said what and he leaned over and kissed me." "What did you do?" Ashton asked. "Nothing," Chevonne said. "He caught me off guard and I didn't want to create a scene by slapping him across his silly face in public." "That bastard," Ashton said folding his hands into fists as anger ran through his body. "How dare he put his filthy lips on you." Chevonne looked at Ashton wondering why he was reacting the way he was because another man kissed her. "Why are you so angry?" Chevonne asked. "He knows that you and I are engaged," Ashton said, "he shouldn't have kissed you." "We're not actually engaged Ashton," Chevonne pointed out. "He doesn't know that," Ashton said turning red with anger. "He shouldn't have kissed you." "I'm going back to the house," Chevonne said her head hurting from everything she'd been through that morning. The Stand-In Girlfriend Ch. 07-09 "Tell my parents I'll be in later," Ashton said. "And please call Evelyn before she calls Scotland Yard and reports you missing." "Alright," Chevonne replied 'I have to go and have a talk with Mr. Commons,' Ashton thought to himself taking out his wallet and pulling our Eric's business card. 'He needs to understand that he can't go around putting his filthy lips on women who are off limits to him.' Ashton headed to the garage so he could go and have a chat with Eric. CHAPTER 8 Chevonne was sitting out on the patio after eating a British-style breakfast. She was alone out on the patio trying to think of a way of bringing an end to the ridiculous situation she'd gotten herself involved in when Ashton joined her on the patio after he'd returned from his talk with Eric. Chevonne looked him over as he sat down on one of the lawn chairs, she couldn't miss the big red bruise on his jaw. She was about to go get him some ice to put on it when one of the servants brought a cold compress and handed it to Ashton. Ashton said "thank you" and placed it on his jaw. Feeling guilty, responsible and unable to continue looking at the bruise on Ashton's face Chevonne stood to go back into the house. As she passed him Ashton reached out and took hold of her hand. "This isn't your fault Chevonne," he said. "I know that you moron," Chevonne said pulling her hand out of his grasp, "at least not completely. I can't believe I'm attracted to such an idiot." "What did you say?" Ashton replied. "Nothing," Chevonne said heading towards the house once again. "You said you're attracted to me," Ashton said his hands grasping Chevonne's arms to keep her from leaving. "Take your hands off me," Chevonne said the warning in her voice letting Ashton know that she was serious. "Only if you promise not to leave," Ashton said his hands still on her arms. Chevonne growled at him, pulled her leg back, brought it forward and kicked Ashton in the shin. "Ow!" Ashton said taking his hands off Chevonne, jumping away from her and limping over to the closest chair to sit down. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked rubbing his ankle. Chevonne didn't answer him, she stormed off the patio into the house. "Come back here!" Ashton yelled getting up and going after her. As he got closer to Chevonne, Ashton reached out and put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. He pulled his hand back when she suddenly stopped, turned around and gave him a that said touch me and die. "Chevonne we need to talk about his," Ashton said. "No," Chevonne said whispering so Alice and Charles hopefully wouldn't hear them. "What I need to do right now is get as far away from you as I can. I'm going upstairs where I can be alone and you're gong to stay down here so I won't harm you. Have I made myself clear?" Alice walked into the kitchen and saw that Ashton and Chevonne were fighting. They both turned and looked at her. "Lover's quarrel?" she asked. "No," Chevonne replied. "Yes," Ashton replied. "Oooookay," Alice said. "Could the two of you stop fighting or not fighting for a moment? I have something I would like to discuss with both of you in the family room." Chevonne and Ashton followed Alice into the family room and they all sat down on the couch. Ashton sat next to Chevonne and took hold of her hand. Chevonne fighting the urge to snatch her hand out of his grasp managed to allow him to keep holding it. "I've gotten calls from family and friends after seeing Ashton's proposal at the airport on television and they're asking when they're going to meet Chevonne. I want to give the two of you an engagement party so everyone can meet Chevonne and Chevonne can meet some of our family and friends." "I don't know mother," Ashton said, "Chev...." "I think an engagement party would be wonderful," Chevonne said cutting Ashton off. "I would love to meet my future relatives and I can't think of a better way of doing that." "Great," Alice said a big smile on her face, "I'll go start the preparations." "What're you doing?" Ashton asked when he and Chevonne were alone again. "There is no way my mother can put together a party big enough for all my family and friends in two weeks or have you changed your mind about leaving?" "Yes," Chevonne said too stubborn to admit that she forgot that she was planning to leave in two weeks. "I'm going to stay at least until after the party where I might let everyone know just the kind of person you really are." "You wouldn't dare," Ashton said. "Why wouldn't I?" Chevonne asked. "You brought me here to use me. Why wouldn't I embarrass you? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't let everyone know what you intended to do to me?" "Because it would hurt and embarrass my parents," Ashton said, "and they had nothing to do with any thing that's happened to you." "What about my family?" Chevonne asked. "They think I'm engaged to be married, when they find out everything about this situation is a lie they're going to be hurt, embarrassed and angry and none of this is their fault either." "Chevonne.." Without saying a word Chevonne turned and headed back into the house making her way upstairs putting much needed space between her and Ashton. Because she didn't want to spend time in a London jail and that was where she was going to wind up if she didn't get away from him. Limping Ashton followed her upstairs. "We need to talk about this," he said as Chevonne entered the guest bedroom and tried to slam the door in his face. "Okay," Chevonne said plopping down on the bed, "talk." "Why didn't you tell me?" Ashton asked. "I don't want to talk about that," Chevonne said. "We have to talk about that," Ashton said. "We have to deal with this." "No, we don't," Chevonne said, "this is MY problem to deal with not Ours. We can talk about the engagement party or how we're going to tell our families we're not actually engage and how this entire situation is a lie, those are Our problems. My attraction to you is MY problem so it is not open for discussion." Chevonne was giving Ashton a headache and the more she spoke the worse his head felt. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked again. Chevonne blew out a breath. "What good would it to have done Ashton?" "If I had known how you felt I wouldn't have asked you...." "I needed to do this," Chevonne said. "I needed to see you do something so repulsive it would cause me to almost hate you. I needed you to do something to me that would put an end to what I was feeling for you, something that would deaden the pain I felt when I found you and Katrina were/are getting married." "I don't know what to say Chevonne," Ashton said. "Well, you're going to have to say something," Chevonne replied. "I told you didn't want to talk about this but you wouldn't listen. You can't back now that I've spilled my guts." "I....I....I." "Don't," Chevonne said holding her hand palm up towards Ashton, "say a word. I'll tell you what we're going to do. We're going to put an end to this farce. You're going to tell your parents the truth and I'm going to tell my parents the truth. Then we're going out on a date, fight, publicly breakup and get back to our own lives." "We have only been engaged two days," Ashton said. "If we breakup now everyone will figure out that we were never actually engaged. There will be a reporter out there who'll investigate and find out this whole thing was a sham and the fallout would be horrible for everyone." Chevonne just stared at him. She couldn't believe he wanted to continue with his plan. He was ignoring the pain she was feeling, the only thing on his mind was making sure his family's reputation wasn't damaged by what HE had done. She looked at him and noticed that his mouth was moving but she hadn't heard anything he said. "Okay?" Ashton asked. "Alright," Chevonne said not knowing she had just agreed to but too tired to care. "I'll select the restaurant and make the reservations," Ashton said. "Thank you, Chevonne. I know this is hard on you and this whole situation is the fault of Katrina and myself but I promise to make it up to you." "You know when I said you had to do something to help me get over my feelings for you," Chevonne said, "I didn't expect you to accomplish it so quickly." Ashton watched Chevonne as she went into the bathroom slamming the door behind her. His mind still swimming with the knowledge that she was attracted to him. He couldn't picture her being attracted to him the thought inconceivable to him. Chevonne a woman who was smart, confident, kind and beautiful interested in him. No way. But he had heard her say it with her own beautiful, full luscious lips so he couldn't and wouldn't ignore it. After he got over the shock of her words they would deal with her feelings for him and the ones he thought he would have to bury away for her because he thought there was no way he could have her. Things would change now that he knew she wanted him. They had to. Sarah Michaelson was still reeling from the conversation she had with Alice Bishop two days ago. She didn't know what to think as she listened to Alice explain what was going on between Chevonne and Ashton. Alice's confidence son Ashton belonged with Chevonne unnerved Sarah just a little. She couldn't understand why or how Alice could be so sure that Chevonne was the one for her son. That was until Alice started explaining all the reasons for her thinking. Like how Ashton would go on and on about his girlfriend's roommate. She chuckled when Alice said he talked about Chevonne so much she wanted to meet the young lady that had unknowingly caught her son's attention and made such an impression on him. Sarah also laughed when Alice talked about how the twit Ashton brought home to meet the family took no notice of how much her son talked about Chevonne. She said it was because the girl only listened to the words that came out of Ashton's mouth, she didn't take the time to listen to the tone of his voice or the look in his eyes when he spoke of Chevonne. Alice said twit only heard the things he said about Chevonne when he spoke of her only wearing sweat suits, sweatshirts or jeans and that he doubted she owned a dress because he sounded as if seeing Chevonne dressed that way disgusted him. She missed how his tone changed when talked about the one time he did see Chevonne dressed up. He spoke of that one time with reverence and awe and it was burned in his memory. He even remembered the smell of what he thought was perfume but later learned was simply body lotion. The twit didn't seem to mind Ashton going on and on about her roommate because she heard everything he said as a complaint or a slam. So she didn't see Chevonne as a threat because as she kept pointing out Chevonne was African-American like that would automatically make her unsuitable for Ashton. That remark made Sarah angry but what Alice said next made Sarah want to fly to London and get all up in Ashton's face. Alice was honest and told her everything about why Ashton brought Chevonne to London to meet his family. Sarah was really surprised and didn't believe Alice when she told her about the conversation she heard between Chevonne and Ashton where Chevonne told him she knew why he brought her to London. Sarah couldn't believe that her daughter went with Ashton knowing what he was planning on doing. That was until she did a little remembering of her own about the time when Chevonne came home from college during a Christmas break and doing something she'd never done before. She started talking about her roommate and the new man in Katrina's life. Chevonne told her about how she thought the new guy Katrina was dating wouldn't be like the other men she'd dated before. How this guy wouldn't fall over backwards to please Katrina and Katrina would have to work to keep him interested in her. Sarah took notice of the twinkle in her daughter's eyes as she spoke of Ashton. She said Ashton was interesting and if he were black she would take him from Katrina. That remark made Sarah raise and eyebrow at her daughter. "Why would the color of his skin keep you from taking him from Katrina?" she asked shocked that Chevonne would say such a thing. "Mom, you and dad would have a fit if I brought home a man who wasn't black," Chevonne said. Her mother's eyes grew big and her mouth fell open. Chevonne knew she had said the wrong thing. "So you think your father and I are bigots?" her mother asked. "No," Chevonne said, "I just think that parents expect and want their children to date and marry within their own race." "You're right," her mother said, "your father and I would prefer that you stay within your own race and by race I mean the human race. I would go off on you if you brought home a dog, cat or horse professing your love and declaring that you're going to marry said animal. But Chevonne, you have to know that as long as you bring home a "MAN" who loves you and whom you love the color of his skin wouldn't matter to me or your father." "So you're saying you meant it when you said you would welcome any man I choose to love?" Chevonne said. "Baby, we raised you the best we could," her mother said, "Taught you right from wrong and hopefully prepared you to make your way in the world. We also taught you not live your life seeking anyone's approval not even ours because your life is your own to live not ours. We raised you from birth knowing that you were not ours to keep, but to take care of until you were old enough to make it on your own. The one thing your father and I always remembered about being parents was that we couldn't pick whom you and your brother fell in love with and as far as I can recall we've never stressed in any manner that the person you dated or married had to be black." "No, you and dad never said that," Chevonne said, "but isn't it like some sort of unwritten rule or something?" "When have you ever followed rules written or unwritten?" Sarah asked. Mother and daughter laughed. "I'm sorry mom," Chevonne said. "You should be," Sarah said. "You should know that your father and I are not bigots." "I know that you and dad aren't bigots," Chevonne said, "but I thought you had preferences." "We do have preferences," her mother said. "We prefer that you be with a man that makes you happy and who isn't already married." Chevonne laughed out loud at her mother's little add on. Sarah brought her thoughts back to the present and the situation with Chevonne and Ashton. She fought to control her anger when she thought about why Ashton took her, daughter to London. His reason for taking Chevonne to meet his family left an awful taste in her mouth. Alice didn't sound like a bigot and Sarah couldn't make the assumption that she was based only on Aston's actions not after the conversation she had, had with Chevonne about love and race. But she didn't like the fact that he believed enough in his stupid plan to actually try and pull it off using her child. Sarah had to face the fact that Chevonne wasn't an innocent in this situation. She went into it according to Alice with her eyes wide open, meaning she knew what Ashton intentions were. The reason Chevonne gave for agreeing to go with Ashton sounded far fetched to Sarah but she knew her daughter. Once Chevonne made up her mind about a person the only thing that would make her change her mind about that person would be seeing whatever it was for herself. Especially if she cared about that person or if she was attracted to said man. And Sarah knew that Chevonne was attracted to Ashton. Sarah hadn't met Ashton or seen Chevonne with him but from talking to Alice and hearing about the way Chevonne was acting, everything she knew about her daughter said that she was attracted to Ashton. 'Well I have to meet the man who my daughter is attracted to,' Sarah said to herself. 'I also have to let him know that there are consequences for setting out to deliberately hurting my daughter. It would seem that my future son might need to be taught a lesson. If he does I'm going to be the teacher.' CHAPTER 9 Chevonne looked at herself in the mirror and liked what she saw. She wore a pair of jeans and a white short sleeved cotton blouse decorated with small blue iris bouquets all over it. She slipped on a pair of white flats and patted the French braid she'd fashioned in her hair then made her way downstairs where Ashton was waiting for her so they could go out on their first date. She just wanted the evening to be over with so she could put this day in the over column. "Where have you been mother?" Ashton asked standing up from the couch when his mother walked into the family room. "I had some business to take care of ," his mother replied. "Did you need something?" "No," Ashton said sitting back down on the couch. "I was just wondering where you had been all day." "I thought you and Chevonne were going out to dinner tonight," his mother said taking note of Ashton's casual dress of jeans, a pullover shirt and tennis shoes. "We were," Ashton said, "but Chevonne wasn't in the mood. So we decided to go to the cinema instead." "What movie are you going to see?" "We're going to wait until we reach the cinema plex to decide which movie we're going to see," Ashton said. "I'm ready." Ashton and Alice turned towards the sound of Chevonne's voice to see her standing at the bottom of the stairs. "You look lovely," Alice said walking over to Chevonne and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you," Chevonne said. "I love your hair," Alice said commenting on the French braid Chevonne had styled her hair. "Thank you," Chevonne said patting her hair glad she had decided to do a French braid instead of letting her hair hang loose. "I agree with my mother," Ashton said walking over and taking hold of Chevonne's hand, "you look lovely." "Thank you," Chevonne said as she tried to decipher the strange look in Ashton's eyes as he stared at her. "Well, I think the two of you had better get going," Alice said breaking Ashton out of his hypnotic trance. "You don't want to be late for the cinema." Ashton and Chevonne still holding hands made their way outside to the limo. The chauffeur stood by the car with to door open waiting for Ashton and Chevonne to get into the car. Chevonne stopped. "Can you drive?" she asked Ashton. "Of course I can drive," Ashton replied. "Do you know the way to the cinema plex?" "Yes." "Would you mind driving instead of being driven?" A big smile appeared on Ashton's face. He loved driving himself around but he never got the chance to whenever he and Katrina went out because she insisted on riding in the limo saying it left his hands and arms free to touch and hold her. But Ashton thought it was because she liked being driven around. "I wouldn't mind driving at all," he told Chevonne. "You can take the night off Winston," he told the chauffeur. "You wait here," he told Chevonne. Ashton climbed into the limo and rode with Winston back to the garage. When they reached the garage Winston told Ashton there were reporters from both the newspapers and the telly waiting outside the front gate hoping to catch a glimpse or get a picture of him and Chevonne. Not wanting to be hounded by reporters their first evening out Ashton came up with a plan. Just as Winston said there were reporters from all over standing around the front gate. A police officer had been stationed at the front gate to make sure none of the reporters broke any laws trying to get a story or a picture. They were all sitting around discussing how they might get an interview with or a picture of Ashton and Chevonne when the gate opened. The Stand-In Girlfriend Ch. 07-09 Everyone stood and watched as the limo with darken windows drove out of the gate and turned to the left. Right behind the limo came a PT Cruiser that made a right turn. A jeep came out of the gate behind the PT Cruiser and made a left turn. Then a Hummer H3 came out of the gate and drove straight ahead. The reporters stood around trying to decide which of the cars to follow no one took note of the dark black Mercedes Benz that came out of the gate next door. Ashton and Chevonne laughed as they passed the reporters and saw the confused looks on their faces as they suddenly raced to their cars. They took off in all three directions. "That was so cooool," Chevonne said. "It was fun wasn't it," Ashton replied.. "You want to go back and do it again?" Chevonne stopped laughing and gave him a look that said "don't make me hurt you." The movie they went to see might've been a good one but Chevonne and Ashton didn't get to enjoy it because people were staring at them and taking their pictures with their cell phones. They could've lived with that, it was the woman that came and sat next to Chevonne that was making them uncomfortable. She said hello to Chevonne, she also said that she recognized them from the picture of Ashton proposing to Chevonne at the airport that ran in the newspapers. The woman started asking them questions. She wanted to know when they met, how long had they been dating and when they were going to get married? Her questions and the way she kept pointing a pen she was holding towards her when she asked a question and back towards them when she expected them to answer made Chevonne suspect the woman was a reporter trying to underhandedly get an interview and not an average British citizen curious about Chevonne's and Ashton's relationship. Chevonne nudged Ashton in the side and told him, she was ready to leave. When they stood the woman stood also. She followed them as they inched towards the aisle asking more questions. "Ashton, I heard you were dating a Katrina Wellsman, before you started seeing Chevonne," the reporter said, "when did your taste which to the dark ervariety of women?" Ashton stopped dead in his tracks, turned and stared at the woman. He was about to ask the woman to repeat her question when Chevonne took hold of his hand and gently pulled him away. The reporter continued to follow them as they made their way up the aisle firing questions at them. "Is it true what they say Mr. Bishop, the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice?" the reporter asked. Chevonne stopped this time and turned to confront the reporter. Her plan was to knock the woman back to caveman times so she could truly start over and hopefully by the time she returned to the twenty-first century she would have more sense and be a lot more careful when she spoke to others. But before Chevonne could reach the woman a pale hand came out and smacked the woman so hard across the face the sound could be heard throughout the theatre. The reporter fell to the floor and looked up to see a woman standing about five feet, six and half inches, weighing about one hundred twenty pounds, with long blonde hair standing over her with her hands on her hips. "You will apologize for ruining their evening and your hateful words," the woman said, "or I'll gobsmack you again." By this time a crowd had gathered around Chevonne, Ashton, the reporter and the woman. The reporter looked as if she wasn't going to apologize when someone grabbed her purse, looked inside and found her press pass with the name of the paper she worked for written on it. The man who grabbed the reporter's purse told her that if she didn't apologize everyone in the theatre would make sure she lost her job by complaining to the rag she worked for. The woman begrudgingly apologized and stood to leave but not before the woman who hit her took the pen from her hand. "You won't need this," the woman said. Chevonne and Ashton watched surprised and stunned by what had happened. "Why?" Chevonne asked. "She went too far," the woman said. "I heard the questions she asked and the last two went too far. Besides she was trying to make one of you angry enough to hit her so I gave her what she wanted. Come on love it's time for us to be heading home." A dark skin black man about six feet tall with a muscular build weighing about over two hundred pounds, wearing dreadlocks reached out and took the woman's hand. He was holding in his arms a small sleeping child about six months old with skin the color of pecans and a head of dark curly hair. "Our daughter Chevonne," the man said smiling down at the sleeping baby, "I hope she doesn't grow up and have her mother's temper." Chevonne and Ashton followed the couple out of the theatre to thank the woman and to make sure she didn't have any trouble with the police when she exited the theatre. When they reached their car laughter she had been holding inside burst out of Chevonne's mouth. "Can you believe that?" Chevonne asked. "No," Ashton said. "I was there and I still don't believe it happened." "Why didn't you do something?" Chevonne said looking at Ashton and suddenly becoming serious. "Why did a woman have to come to my defense when it should've been you?" People coming out of the cinema stopped and stared at them. "I've never been so embarrassed in my life," Chevonne said walking over to the passenger side of the car grabbing the handle of the door, opening it, plopping down in the seat and slamming the door shut. Ashton watched her as she sat in the car an angry look on her face, her arms folded across her chest. Without acknowledging the crowd Ashton went over to the passenger side and kneeled down to speak to Chevonne. "I'm sorry sweetheart," he said taking hold of her hand. "I was caught by surprised by that woman. I thought we had managed to avoid the reporters when we left my parents house to come to come to the cinema. I never dreamed that one of them had followed us here. But you have to know that I would never let anyone insult you or harm you. Please forgive me." Chevonne looked at him as if she was thinking over what he said. "Come on Chevonne," a man in the crowd said walking over and standing next to Ashton, "forgive him. That taupie of a reporter was trying to get Ashton to hit her so she would have something to write in that rag of a newspaper she works for. You should be glad she failed in her attempt. Forgive him don't let that harpy and the rag she works for cause problems for you and Ashton." "Yeah, Chevonne," Ashton flashing a sad face and sad, pitiful puppy dog eyes. Chevonne looked at Ashton and back at the man, who was sporting the same look on his face as Ashton and she knew that Ashton had won this one. "Alright," she said managing to keep from smiling. "I forgive you." The people around them clapped and cheered. "Can I get a kiss?" Ashton asked. Chevonne looked at him as if he'd gone and lost his mind. "I don't think so," she said. "Please sweetheart," Ashton pleaded his voice slightly whiny. "I won't know you've truly forgiven unless you kiss me." "Give him a peck," a woman in the shouted. Chevonne knew she had no choice. There was no way she was going to get out of kissing Ashton. She turned towards him and waited for him to stick his head through the window and kiss her. Grateful she would have the car to shield from the way she knew her body would react to Ashton kissing her. When Ashton opened the passenger side door and took her hand Chevonne didn't know what he was up to. He took her hand and helped her out of the car. "You know I don't like anything between us when I kiss you," Ashton said as Chevonne exited the car and he eased her into his arms. The kiss started out as a gentle peck and slowly intensified. Chevonne tried to fight him, her body's reaction and the urge to deepen the kiss but Ashton wouldn't be denied. With a slight nip on her bottom lip Ashton's tongue found it's way into her mouth. She moaned and gasped as his tongue swept through her mouth like a storm sweeping through every nook and cranny. Ashton smiled mentally when he heard her moan as he broke through her resistance. He had to cheat a little by nipping her on her bottom lip but he wanted to, needed to know what it felt like to really kiss her. It was all he expected and more. He was acting, trying to get back at Chevonne for what she said about him not protecting her. He wanted to get back at her in a way that he knew she wouldn't like. He knew asking her to kiss him in public in front of the crowd that had gathered around them would be the perfect payback. But everything changed when his lips touched hers. A slow trickle of passion moved through his body when their lips touched and grew at her reaction to kissing him. Suddenly the kiss wasn't enough, he had to have more. He had to be inside her in some form, somewhere so he nipped her bottom lip and his tongue dove inside of her mouth. A moan escaped his lips when her arms went around his neck causing him to tighten his hold on her and press their bodies closer together. Chevonne broke the kiss by pressing lightly on his chest when their bodies pressed together revealing Ashton's state of arousal. Ashton didn't want the kiss to end but he allowed it to end when he realized that people were still clapping and cheering. Ashton held the passenger door open and Chevonne got back into the car, then he went around to the driver's side, got in, started it up then he and Chevonne headed back to his parent's house. "I know what you were doing," he said as he parked the car in the driveway. "It has to start at sometime," Chevonne said, "if we don't this mess won't ever end." Ashton couldn't argue with her because he knew that Chevonne was right, their situation had to end at some point, he just didn't know if he was ready for it to end so quickly not when he'd just found out that she was attracted to him and he hadn't told her that he was attracted to her. "Chevonne we need to talk," Ashton said. "There is nothing for us to talk about," Chevonne said getting out of the car and heading to the front door. The front door opened just as she neared it and Ashton's mother stood in the doorway. "I have a surprise for you," Alice said to Chevonne a big smile on her face. "You do?" Chevonne said wondering what it could be. "Yes," Alice said taking Chevonne by the hand, leading her into the house, into the family room where her surprise was sitting on the couch. "Hello, Peaches." Chevonne couldn't believe it as she mother and father ran over to her both of them giving her hugs and kisses. "When did you get here?" Chevonne asked returning her parents hugs and kisses. "We arrived about two hours ago," her mother said. "Alice flew us over." "You shouldn't have done that Mrs. Bishop," Chevonne said uncomfortable calling Ashton's mother Alice in front of her parents. "Of course she should have," her mother said. "She's throwing you and Ashton an engagement party and what better time for her family to meet your parents than at the party?" "I can't think of a better time," Ashton said joining the conversation. "You have to be the young man who swept my Peaches off her feet," Chevonne's mother said walking over to Ashton and giving him a hug. "If you mean Chevonne, I am," Ashton teased. "Of course I mean Chevonne," Sarah said. "She hates for me to call her Peaches but it's what we started calling her when she was three years old when the only thing she wanted to eat were peaches." "Mom, don't tell them about that," Chevonne said bringing her hands up to cover her face. "There's no reason for you to be embarrassed," her mother said. "These people are going to be family soon." "That's right Peaches," Ashton said, "you shouldn't be embarrassed. We're going to be family soon." Chevonne sent Ashton a look that said she was going to strangle him. "You're in trouble now young man," her father said walking over and putting an arm around Ashton's shoulder. "She inherited that look from her mother and believe me it means trouble. I'm William Michaelson the father of your soon to be wife." "I'm Ashton Bishop," Ashton said extending his hand out for Chevonne's father to shake. "The soon to be husband of your daughter." Chevonne felt as if she was in the twilight zone. She couldn't understand what was going on around her. She wanted to scream she wasn't going to marry anyone and she and her parents should head back to the states because there would be no wedding but for some reason she just couldn't bring herself to do it. "You and dad must be tired mom," Chevonne said. "Don't you want to go upstairs and lie down?" "We've been here for two hours Chevonne," her mother said, "we've rested enough. Your father and I came over so we could help with the engagement party and help you and Ashton pick a date for the wedding." "We just became engaged mom," Chevonne said. "There's no rush in picking a date for the wedding or an engagement party." "You don't want an engagement party?" Alice asked her bottom lip trembling as if she was about to cry. "Of course I do," Chevonne said rushing over to her side to assure her. "I'm glad you're giving us an engagement party. I just don't think there's any need to rush to set a date for the wedding." "Will it make you feel better if I promise that Chevonne and I will have an announcement to make about the wedding by the time of the engagement party?" Ashton asked. "Yes, it would," both mothers said in unison." "Then I give you both my word that Chevonne and I will have picked a date by then," Ashton said. Chevonne wanted to turn around and punch her fake fiancé in the nose but she managed to gain control of her temper and put a smile on her face. "Why don't we go sit out on the patio and get to know each other better," Ashton said to her parents putting an arm around both her parents shoulders and heading towards the patio. "Peaches would you go into the kitchen and ask cook to bring us some refreshments?" Alice laughed as Chevonne put a tight smile on her face and as she left to do as Ashton asked. She knew that her son was in for a serious tongue lashing when Chevonne got him alone she just wished she could be a fly on the wall when Chevonne laid into him.