With a heavy heart and a splitting headache, Jaden continued to her dressing room. As she changed out of her kitchen whites, her eyes fell on the calendar on the wall beside the vanity. She’d drawn large red Xs to mark off the days leading up to the Colorado trip—a trip she could no longer look forward to with her whole heart. But she needed to. She had to. This trip could be just the thing to help her move forward with Ivan and put Damian Gris out of her mind for good. Turning on her phone, she found an unread message.
Just thinking about you, baby girl,
and can’t wait for Colorado!!!
Me neither, she thought. Let’s just get there.
Chapter 18
“Don’t Let Me Down”
LOOKING OUT THE PENTHOUSE WINDOW of his new office, which now sat atop one of the beach’s staple boutique hotels, Ivan lounged behind his desk. The fresh smell of pine, with a twist of lemon and lavender, washed over him as he lost himself in thought.
Should I? I totally should. Hell yeah, I should.
His life and the decisions he made had always been calculated, but they often teetered on the sharp edge of risky. The rush of pursuing the unattainable or, even better, claiming the big prizes in life were what thrilled him most. His entrepreneurial spirit and most recent career change were testament to that. Practicing at his own medical spa before he hit thirty? Not bad.
Hell, even the way he’d chased after Jaden reflected this attitude. She’d been one shot in a million. But what he was considering now—the next big step—seemed like an easy one. It had to be low risk and high return, didn’t it? His instincts blazed green lights, and yet a small part of him wondered. She’d sounded strange on the phone when they spoke after the gala. At times he felt so close to her—as if their souls had connected—and other times he couldn’t quite get a read. Ah, women, he told himself with a silent chuckle. But what if she said—
“Dr. Rusilko, you have a walk-in. Can you see him?”
Startled, he turned to find his very petite and very beautiful blonde receptionist in the doorway. “Umm, ahh…” he stuttered, trying to find the heart to say no as he looked at his watch.
“Don’t worry, doctor. I’ll say you’re busy,” she said with a rather unprofessional but undeniably captivating wink. “The things I would do to you.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise.
“I mean for you! The things I’d do for you!” She blushed bright red and continued with her retraction. “I, ah…I didn’t mean—oh, God. I’m so embarrassed. Can you forget that last part, please? I’ll just do you—No! What I’m saying is I’ll just tell the patient—”
“You’re a peach, Liz. Thank you for bailing me out,” he interrupted, throwing the girl a lifeline. “Why don’t you see if you can schedule him tomorrow morning?”
She smiled and nodded and apologized once more before she turned to go. He couldn’t help but admire her as she went. If I was single…Jesus, she would be worth the lawsuit. Shaking the lusty visions from his mind, his thoughts returned a much more meaningful place: the task at hand.
He grabbed his keys, took one last look at the rolling waves below, and headed for the elevator. He swelled with pride as he passed by the elegant exam rooms—bone white tapestries and green-apple accents—on his way to the private elevator they used to usher in the VIPs and very VIPs that frequented his new establishment. The elevator descended to the ground floor, and he popped out into the opulent lobby. But when he pushed open the door to the outside, he found something even more beautiful: a seventy-five degree mid-afternoon.
“Fuck it. I’m walking,” he mumbled to himself. The colors were neon bright around him, and the beach bustled with sound. The world seemed almost spotless. He was confident and excited and couldn’t help but strut down Collins Avenue as he covered the fifteen or so blocks on his way to meet Micky.
He window-shopped a little as he entered the shopping district. “What a fucking clown,” he said aloud, shaking his head as he passed a particularly over-the-top boutique. Miami was full of wannabes—even on Collins Avenue. And in this case, not even a swanky address could save them. He turned his attention to the day once again, ignoring the rest of the storefronts that dotted his route. He didn’t rush, but he walked with purpose, anticipating the meeting with every step. When he reached Mina D’s, he found his friend already inside perusing the goods.
“You looking or buying?” Ivan asked as he entered the store.
“How about that one?” Micky replied not even acknowledging his joke.
“Nah, she doesn’t like yellow gold.”
“Okay, then, how about this one?” He pointed to an oval-cut diamond beneath the glass.
Ivan looked where he pointed and shook his head. “Ovals are nice, but not for an engagement ring. Look for something square, not round.”
“What about this one?”
“That looks like the first one you showed me. Shit!”
“Jesus, Ivan!” Micky walked to a second display case. “This one?”
He lifted his head to look. “It’s fucking pink, man. What planet are you from?”
“Perfectionist, are we?”
“When it comes to Jaden, yes.” He shot him a glare.
Micky laughed and raised his hands in defeat. “All I’m saying is this is the fifth jewelry store we’ve been to. Tasha may start to think we’re secretly dating or something. I can only make so many excuses to keep coming on these little shopping adventures with you. Why can’t we just tell her?”
He glared at him once more and raised an eyebrow. “You know that’s not a good idea.”
“Fair enough,” Micky conceded and returned to browsing.
Then, as he shifted his gaze back to the display case in front of him, it happened. He found the One. Sitting above the others on a small pedestal was the most spectacular ring he’d ever laid eyes on. The perfect Asscher-cut stone burst the light into prismatic flames. He couldn’t look away. “This is it.”
Micky moved in for a look from across the store, and he too became entranced in the spectacle of dancing colors.
Within moments, a salesman sauntered over. “Hi there. I’m Paul. Can I help you gentlemen with something?”
“I’ll take that one!” Ivan blurted.
“Whoa,” Micky said under his breath.
But it wasn’t just the ring decision that swelled Ivan with confidence, it was his decision to propose to Jaden. This beautiful diamond brought him one step closer.
A series of serendipitous events had led him to this point. He’d made a bold decision to step out of his comfort zone and talk to the woman who stopped his heart one wine-filled evening. He’d traced her to her restaurant to demand an explanation for her sudden disappearance. He’d spent nights of passion with her and come to know her in a way he didn’t realize was possible. His family had loved the small town Colorado girl who could shoot guns and drink wine with the best of them, and perhaps most amazingly, he’d been brave enough to break his promise about never pursuing a long-distance relationship again.
He felt certain his decision to propose was right. Jaden was the woman he envisioned himself waking up with every morning for the rest of his life. He could trust her with his most intimate thoughts and feelings. Just like the ring sitting before him, she was the One.
“Excellent choice, sir.” Paul the salesman plucked the maroon box from the case and slid it across the counter.
Ivan pulled the ring from the box and held it up to the light. A shot of nerves raced through him. A spectrum of bright, colorful flares danced as he twirled it between his fingers. Fine etching adorned the sides of the platinum band, along with a trickle of smaller diamonds. The setting gripped the diamond the same way Jaden gripped his heart: delicately, but with fierce strength. It was spectacular.
“This is the—” Paul began.
“An Asscher-cut diamond, colorless and flawless, about one and a half carats with…” Ivan leaned closer for a better look. “I’d say about anot
her half carat running down the side of a platinum setting that had better not wear or tear.”
“When the hell did you become a jeweler?” Micky asked.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve visited numerous jewelry stores. But thankfully last time I didn’t buy.”
“And what is the lucky lady’s size?” the salesman asked.
“Damnit!” Ivan cursed. “I don’t think she’s ever mentioned it.”
“Mr. Know-It-All doesn’t know the size of his girlfriend’s ring finger?”
“Blow me!”
“She’s a size six,” Micky replied. “Jaden was harassing me on the phone about proposing to Tasha one time, and she just happened to mention that she and Tasha were both a size six. So unless Jaden has gained sixty pounds since the last time I saw her, I’d say six is a safe bet.”
“About time you became useful!” Ivan laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “Well, there you go, Paul. She’s a six.”
The salesman returned the ring to the box and gestured to the back of the store. “If you’ll follow me, we can get started on the paperwork.”
“I’d also like to have the inside of the band engraved. Do you do that here?”
“Yes, sir.” Paul sat at a small wooden desk and motioned for Ivan and Micky to sit across from him. After a few keystrokes, the printer behind him hummed to life. He gathered the papers from the tray and slid them across the desk to Ivan. “At the bottom of page three there’s a spot for you to write out your inscription.”
With quick strokes of the pen against the paper, he wrote the message.
“What did you put?” Micky asked, leaning over his shoulder.
“Something from the heart.”
“You aren’t going to tell me?”
“Nope.” Ivan handed the paper back to the salesman.
When Paul finished filling out the last of the paperwork, he returned it to Ivan to sign.
“Aren’t you even going to ask how much it costs?” Micky asked.
“Nope. Don’t want to know, and I don’t care.”
“Sir, all together, the ring will cost—” Paul began, but Ivan cut him off.
“I really don’t want to know. Here’s my credit card. Charge whatever you need to charge me to have it ready by a week from Wednesday. Is that doable?”
“For you, anything, sir,” Paul replied. He ran the card through the machine, and Ivan scribbled a signature and stuffed the receipt into his pocket. Then the salesman showed the men back to the front of the shop, leaving them with a warm handshake.
“That was amazing,” Micky said as they stepped out into the muggy Miami Beach air.
“I agree,” said Ivan. “Wanna grab a drink?”
“No can do. I have to get back before the better half gets too pissy.”
Ivan snickered. He was fond of Tasha, but Micky was right. She could get pissy. “All right, next time then. Thanks so much for your help with this—and everything else. It means a lot.”
“No worries, man. If everything continues to go the way it has been, you’ll be doing the same thing for me soon.”
Ivan winked and slapped him on the shoulder, “Anytime, man, anytime.”
“Later,” Micky called as he turned the corner and disappeared.
Ivan turned toward the beach and began walking. He needed a bit more time, some time alone with his thoughts. There were still so many details to be hammered out before he could pop the question—the biggest one being the six-foot obstacle named Lee that stood in Colorado waiting to meet him. Time to get a game plan. Nerves swirled within him as he anticipated the trip ahead.
Chapter 19
“Demons”
TICK TOCK. TICK TOCK.
At an agonizing pace, seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours. The hands on Jaden’s wristwatch scuttled by, and the plane finally started its descent into Denver International Airport. Two torturous weeks of nervous phone calls, awkward moments at work, menacing guilt, and a maddening inability to remember any details whatsoever from her damned evening with Damian came to a head when the pilot’s voice demanded that all passengers secure their seat belts and prepare for landing. Jaden secured her seatbelt and wished she could just disappear.
She’d spent every waking moment since The Day After reminding herself she’d made the right decision in burying the whole stupid incident. It was behind her, and nothing she could do or say now would make a difference. Telling Ivan would lead to heartbreak for both of them. Damian was in the past. She and Ivan were the future.
But it had been a month since she’d seen him. How would she react when they met face to face? Their last few phone calls had certainly felt strained. Would she break down and cry out her confession? Would she act awkwardly enough to alert him that something was bothering her? Or would she see him smile, smell his alluring scent, and be swept back into his arms as if nothing had ever happened? She prayed for the latter.
The ground drew closer and the buildings more discernible. Tiny cars and trucks sped along the freeway beneath them. The plane dipped and so did her stomach. Ivan’s flight was scheduled to land an hour ahead of hers, which meant he was already in the airport waiting for her, likely with flowers in hand and a grin splayed across his face. Would her mother, who hadn’t seen her in months, know instinctively that something was off? Oh shit! She hadn’t thought of that. And now it terrified her.
Then the plane began to bank to the left and the mountains came into view through the portal window. Immediately she smiled and felt a wave of peace wash over her. It had been far too long since she’d seen her family. The sight of the mountains reminded her who she was, where she came from. Feeling more grounded, Jaden found renewed hope that everything would be okay. She’d work to make sure it was. Yes, the biggest mistake of her life had taken her show hostage, and she was about to face the man she loved, not to mention her family, while doing her utmost to keep it together, but she could do it. She had to. She forced herself to focus on Ivan, only Ivan. I love him, and he loves me. Our love is stronger than anything Damian or anyone else can throw at us. It will work. It will!
The plane slid to a grinding halt and moments later was docked at the gate. Tension crept back into her shoulders. This was it: truth or dare time. Truth? She was a cheating liar. Dare? Put all this behind her and make it work with the man she loved. Jaden felt her stomach rise into her throat and tried to ignore the voices.
She needs to tell
him now. She’s only
hurting him.
She isn’t
hurting anyone.
It was a mistake.
Mistake or not,
it was still wrong.
But should they both
have to suffer? Give her
time to get over it.
Time will just
make it worse.
Only if he
finds out, and he won’t.
Isn’t he worth
more than a lie?
Isn’t their happiness
worth more than
a drunken mistake?
We deserve to be happy, Jaden told herself as she stood and retrieved her bag from the overhead compartment. For God’s sake, she couldn’t even remember her night with Damian. It meant nothing. Just a terrible mistake. Confident once again, she exited the plane and headed into the terminal.
She burst through the doors and past security, where she was certain Ivan would be waiting for her with flowers in hand, a box of chocolates, or some other little token of affection. She prepared herself to react naturally when she saw him, but she looked around and was greeted by…no one? No flowers, no chocolate, and no Ivan anywhere to be seen. Fear crept up her spine. Did he find out and decide not to come? Oh, God. Why else would he not be here? Terrified, Jaden froze, blocking the way of the exiting travelers behind her as a million different scenarios ran through her mind. There had to be something, anything that could explain his absence besides the most obvious explanation.
He knows!
Your phone, you idiot! Snatching it from her purse, she switched it on and waited for the connection to reset. Once it did, the phone buzzed violently in the palm of her hand: missed calls, text messages, and emails, but none were from Ivan. He had to know. Tears clouded her vision and sadness overwhelmed her. After collecting herself for a moment, she wiped her face and turned her attention back to her phone. Skimming through the messages again, she found one from her mother and opened it:
We’re at the baggage claim. Can’t wait to see you!
Jesus! What am I going to tell them? Her mother had brought her sister along? Not that she didn’t want to see Magan, but it was bad enough that she was going to have to lie to her mother’s face. Now her sister’s too? She’d just tell them he got sick, or maybe that something came up at the last minute and he had to stay in Miami. Yes! That’s it. Ivan was a workaholic, so her telling them he had business to attend to wasn’t a complete lie, was it?
Maybe he doesn’t know. There could always be some other explanation, and what had Ivan said about making assumptions? He’d lost his phone. Yes, that’s it. He’d lost it three times before, so he’d probably done it again. Or wait! Maybe his flight is delayed. Running to the arrivals board, she scanned it, only to discover his flight had arrived nineteen minutes early. Damn!
As she stepped onto the descending escalator, she began to assess herself. Who am I? What the hell am I doing? I’m not only ruining my life, but Ivan’s as well. I’m not a liar. I’ve never lied to my family before, especially my mom. I’ll just have to tell her. She’ll understand and help me through this—they all will.
But no sooner had she come to this conclusion than the escalator dropped her off in a bright space decorated with spinning conveyor belts, colorful luggage, and jetlagged passengers. She found her mother, Diane, standing a mere fifty yards away and laughing with a six-foot tall Tarzan look-alike holding a box of chocolates.
Once more, she stood in disbelief, creating a bottleneck of annoyed passengers behind her. The “we” her mother had texted about was her and Ivan, and apparently they were having the time of their life. At the sight of him, Jaden’s resolve to tell the truth faltered. She felt a panicky wave of love for the beautiful man who stood just yards away, and she’d fight with all she had to hold on.
The Winemaker's Dinner: Entrée Page 12
