Unbreakable Bonds of the Heart

"Who would have thought that wild Tammy James would be the first to get married?" Kelly Martin said cattily to the other ladies around the table. Naya sighed as she sipped her mimosa.Tammy and Kelly had a some what hostile relationship. Kelly was mad because of Tammy 's height and beauty.Tammy was mad because her father expected her to be nice. Naya smiled asTammy and Kelly bantered back and forth. It was good to be home, Naya thought smiling. She had enjoyed her time in Sydney, besides the reason she ran there after graduation. Her time in Sydney had matred her and made her into a successful wedding planner, and now she was back to make a name for herself in the States. “As much as I love trading insults with you Kelly, Im afraid we have to leave"Tammy smiled falsely grabbing Naya 's hand and pulling her to her feet. Naya waved goodbye as she was dragged out the restaurant and was dragged out the restaurant and onto the bustling sidewalk. I love New York in the fall" Naya said she pulled her wrap on. "I love to be away from that cow"Tammy grumbled linking arms with Naya . "She's just jealous because you are madly in love and about to get married to a very handsome man" Naya laughed as they walked towards the James limo with a bodyguard by the back door. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"Tammy asked "we can go for ice Cream after" Naya laughed «No thanks, I have to go feed mom's cat" and she would feel like a third wheel asTammy and Michael picked out wedding bands. "Is Naya still on her trip?" Yes shell be back in two weeks" Naya was enjoying herself in spain. It was her first time back since her husband had died and Naya was happy she was there. Especially at this time in her life. Her mom had wanted Naya to stay in her small apartment, but she knew Naya needed more space for her business. Aunt Celia's brownstone had just enough space for her to run Weddings by Naya until she could get her own shop. "Call me when you get back, we'll talk about cake" Naya huggedTammy again and walked away. Thankfully her mom's apartment was only a few blocks away. Feeling happy she smiled as she strolled down Fifth Avenue. It was good to be back after her self imposed exile from New York. Then her phone rang making her grimace. She knew who it was, Mrs. Eugenia Harriman-Smyth. The Grande dragon ofPark Place. Dragon, as Naya called her, had called ten times during her lunch withTammy . Even though Naya had told her she was unavailable until later that day. But Mrs. Harriman thought that her only son getting married was the most important thing to everybody in the City, and refused to be told otherwise. Sighing Naya answered the phone in her most polite voice. Hopefully soon she would the reputation to pick and choose her weddings. "Of course I received you messages" all twenty of them "I thought the florist that was chosen was a wonderful choice" The florist was a friend of her mother's who had recently suffered bad times and Naya wanted to help small mom and pop businesses when ever she could. "But she barely spoke English" Mrs. Harriman-Smyth gasped as if shocked by the thought of someone not speaking English. Actually Rosa spoke perfect English, but she switched to Spanish when she meets someone she'd rather not talk to. And Naya couldn't blame her she'd do the same thing. "But what if she didn't understand and we get pink roses instead of White? If that happens Ill blame you Ms. Jones" the Dragon snapped I speak perfect Spanish and repeated everything you said word for word" Naya spoke calmly "Well it had better be perfect" the phone went dead Eugenia was not the easy person to get along with. A saint would have a hard time liking her. Naya felt sorry for her daughter in law, Rebecca. The woman must really love her soon to be husband, because his mom would not be an easy mother-in-law. Naya stopped by a*****e window showing bridal gowns. Her mind working on what she had to accomplish today. Smiling at the shop owner through the window she waved and moved on. It felt good to be home. “Are you sure you can trust her?" Briggs ,James frowned down at his little sister Tammy sighed dramatically "Are you serious? Why wouldn't I trust Naya to plan my wedding? She knows me like I know myself and is the only person, besides you and dad that I trust with no doubt" Briggs snorted “Sure she won't run away again" he sat behind the desk and plopped his feet on the desk. “Naya would never, NEVER do anything to ruin my wedding"Tammy said glaring at her brother Ieven asked her to be my maid-of-honor, and that means that youl be paired with her at the Wedding and THAT means you had better be nice to her" "I feel sorry for Weston, he doesn't know what a bossy woman he's marrying" Briggs laughed.Tammy had always stuck up for Naya and vice versa. Michael believes I am a wonderful, loving, caring woman and you better not tell him otherwise" The office door opened and Tammy 's fiancé came in his eyes only on Tammy . Briggs liked Michael Weston, he was happy that the bright accountant was marrying his baby sister now he'd have to deal with her. "So where are you two lovebirds going?" He asked, while standing up as he pulled on his suit jacket "Where going to pick out wedding rings"Tammy gushed still looking at Michael bye, big brother" she waved absently pulling Michael out the door Briggs smiled and shook his head, he had a feeling Tammy would always be leading Michael around. Walking out to his Assistants office he gathered his mail to be out for a few hours, Callie please call Russo and have him come in as soon as possible" Russo was a private investigator that he used for special reasons. Checking out would be mistresses, a business partner, and his sisters fiancé. And now he would use Russo to find out if there's anything in Naya 's past that would cause Tammy hurt. Briggs did not trust Naya or any woman of her elk. He wondered what she looked like now. At eighteen she had been beautiful with long black hair and hazel green eyes. She had liked to wear shorts and short skirts and she had definitely had the legs for it. Long, toned from playing soccer, that had had plenty of boys following after her. That and the fact that Naya had a beautiful laugh, a laugh that drew people closer to her. But he knew the real her, the gold digger inside the beautiful façade. He remembered Tammy 's and Naya 's graduation party his father had thrown for them at Stone Ridge, the family's main home. Briggs had been on his way to find his sister and Naya to give them gifts he'd had made for them. Personalized gifts for each girl, a diamond butterfly pendant for Tammy and an antique ivory elephant that Naya had wanted. He had finally admitted to himself that he was starting to feel more then brotherly towards his sister's best friend. But when he got to Tammy 's room the door wasn't closed all the way and he heard them laughing. "Ugh, Im so sick of Braden and his goon squad" Naya said throwing herself on the bed Tammy laughed What sick of our star quarterback already? He's been asking you out for what two years?" Naya snorted “He refuses to take no for an answer. I wished he bother Kelly" Kelly had been after Braden for years. “He's not my type anyway" "Oh, so what type is for you?"Tammy asked studying herself in the vanity Naya giggled I want man that's super rich to buy me anything I want and take me to beautiful exotic places" her voice had been high and squeaky. When the girls burst into laughter he had heard enough and had stormed away after that. She was just like the others. The graduation party had been in full swing when Briggs had bumped into a tipsy Naya in the hall trying to fix her hair that had fallen down. Spotting him she swung around and smiled. "Hi Briggs, enjoying the party?" she leaned back against the small table a little wobbly after the spiked punch. "Yes I am" he said looking beyond her for the person she was out here with. "Shouldn't you be in there?" he gestured towards the closed ballroom doors Naya shook her head “It was hot I needed some air" She came closer to him “I always wondered how it would feel" she said lowly Reaching up on her toes she kissed him. His little sister's friend had kissed and all he could do was wrap his arms around her and kiss her back. She felt soft and womanly and smelled like cinnamon. A thump from behind him brought him back to his senses and he pulled away from her soft mouth "enough" he grated out. “But I was enjoying that" Naya complained her speech slurred "I am not one of your rich boyfriends who you can bend to your will" he said coldly angry at himself for letting it go so far. Naya stared at him with hurt eyes and shook her head “I never thought that" she whispered He snorted “Please, what young beautiful lady doesn't want a rich lap dog" Naya smiled widely "you think Im beautiful?" "Like no man has ever told you so" Briggs looked at her closely. Her red dress was a perfect compliment to her honey coloring; her long black hair tumbled down her back in hair tumbled down her back in dark waves and her hazel eyes were framed by long lashes. Her dress stopped mid thigh and her legs went on forever. On her feet was the sexist pair of stilettos he had ever seen. The red dress looked like it had been painted on her it hugged her hourglass shape figure perfectly and the modest collar showed her full breasts. "You're body was made for pleasure, Pippin" he used his nickname for her but not from me, pick someone else to be your meal ticket" ignoring the tears that welled in her eyes he turned and strode down the hall. After that night he hadn't seen Naya again, she had left for Australia. He refused to believe that he was wrong about her. He had heard what she said clearly. She might fool Tammy but he wasn't that easy. Three days later Naya was uncomfortable sitting in Briggs' office. Luckily Tammy was beside her be moaning the pitfalls of being engaged to an important man. “We have been sitting here for almost an hour waiting for that stupid meeting to get over and I have had it" Tammy said jumping to her feet and pacing back and forth I know Briggs is doing this on purpose, he knows I HATE Waiting" Naya smiled as she flipped through a bridal gown magazine "Everyone knows you hate waiting Tammy , you've been vocal about you're feelings on numerous occasions"Tammy frowned Just for that I'm putting the bridesmaids in a dress that will show your tattoo" Naya laughed "Oh, no you wouldn't, because then Ill tell about the one you have"Tammy smiled smugly “Michael has already seen it" They burst into laughter, laughing until tears came to their eyes.