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Chapter One
Royce Winston craned his neck to survey the passengers exiting International Arrivals through Concourse B. Susie Chen should arrive from Bangkok anytime now. Hard to believe three years had passed since Susie had flown back to her native country to marry the fiancé chosen by her father when she’d been only sixteen.
The wide doors opened, and the throng of passengers exited into the arrival area. Royce’s eager gaze flitted over the female passengers, searching for his dear friend and rested on a stunning brunette with thick raven hair reaching her waist. His Susie was finally here, with no man at her side.
Eager to hug her and congratulate her on her newly acquired position as assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati, Royce navigated through the welcoming crowd.
He stopped a few feet away from her. Now she was flanked on her right by a blonde, older woman, and on her left by a young, oriental man, pushing a cart loaded with suitcases. It was Susie all right, but who were her companions?
“Royce, over here,” she called. Letting go of her two escorts, she darted forward to hug him.
“I missed you, Susie.”
He returned her hug, kissing her cheek, breathing in her flowery perfume. She was as beautiful as ever with her high cheekbones and pert nose, but a strange melancholy lingered in her huge, black eyes. When had she lost the bubbling joy that used to radiate around her?
“Susan, not Susie, no nickname. Shh, play along, I beg you,” she whispered, keeping her hand on his back. “Mae, meet Royce Winston. My mother, Carole Chen.”
Royce remembered Susan mentioning her mother was American and had met her husband when he was studying at Columbia University.
“Hi, Royce. Thank you for picking us up at the airport.” Mrs. Chen put her hands together and bowed in the perfect Thai style.
“Welcome Mrs. Chen.” Royce returned the bow.
Discretely rubbing his back, Susan added in her sweetest voice, “Royce is a real gentleman, who’s engaged to my best friend, Rosie.”
His eyes almost popped out. “Engaged?”Him, engaged?
Two sharp nails pinched his side. “So sorry, Royce. Not engaged anymore. I forgot you two got married last week. You were engaged for so long. Just like me and my fiancé.”
“I… huh…” Had she lost her mind? What was she rattling on about?
“Royce, meet my present fiancé, Kasem Chaison. Kasem was born in New York and studied electrical engineering at NYU.”
“Huh? Hi, Kasem.” Digging into his memory, Royce shook the young man’s hand. Was he losing it? He turned to Susan. “I thought your fiancé’s name was Ruang.”
“Ruang is my older brother,” Kasem said in fluent English. “He was fed up with waiting years and years for Susan to finish her PhD. By the time she returned to Bangkok, he was married with three sons. I volunteered to be our dear Susan’s fiancé. Still, she insisted on settling in the US and working at UC before getting married. I’d already waited three years for her to fulfill her dreams. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I came with her. We’ll marry here.”
“Ah, apparently, our dear Susan forgot to explain many things.” Glaring at his longtime friend, Royce arched his eyebrows, and noticed the wide gold necklace around her neck. “Beautiful necklace. Kind of heavy,” he muttered.
“It’s the engagement gift a Thai bride receives in lieu of a diamond ring.” Her face remained expressionless, a beautiful alabaster statue he’d admired forever, but a couple of blinks conveyed her irritation. “I’m sorry Royce. So many problems popped up in the last month, I can’t remember what I shared with Rosie, your dear bride, and what I forgot to mention. I hope she reminded you that Kasem is staying with you.”
“What? No way.” His lips curled in sarcasm. “Not when I just married her two weeks ago?”
“What difference does it make, when poor Rosie is visiting her sick mother? Mae and I will be staying at your step-mother’s house, the one I rented when I was preparing my PhD. I’ve already contacted Lillian. She welcomed us with open arms.”
A new pinch in his side reminded him he should play along, but she was going too far. This morning he’d tidied his condo, ordered a delicious meal for a romantic dinner on the balcony and prepared the guestroom for Susan… Not for her bothersome fiancé. Royce had even hoped she might try his bed at some point… What a mess!
“Susan, I need to explain—”
“No, please Royce. Later. We’ve been traveling for twenty-four hours. Mae is exhausted. If you can’t drive us to Lillian’s house, I’ll call a cab.”
“No need.” He huffed out. With Susan, he would never have the last word. “I’ll drive you straight to the house.”
Royce left them to bring his SUV around, stopped at the curb, and helped Kasem load in the multiple bags. To his disappointment, Susan was already settled in the backseat, and Kasem jumped into the passenger one. Arguing wouldn’t help. He started the engine and drove onto the highway.
“Royce, I’m so grateful for all that your family did for Susan when she came to the US a few years ago,” Mrs. Chen started. “Without your parents inviting her to stay in their mansion, her father would never have allowed her to travel abroad.”
“Ah… Huh. You’re welcome, Mrs. Chen.” No need to divulge that Susan had never lived in the family’s mansion.
