She's Got Dibs

by AJ Nuest

  She closed her eyes. Nodded a second time.

  “So, I should go. Any idea where I can find Michael? I still owe him an apology.”

  Oh, God, the man was too good. Too forgiving. She choked back a sob. “You don’t owe Michael anything, Dibs. Least of all an apology.”

  “Yes, I do.” He crossed to the door, shoulders hunched, grabbed the handle, and then hesitated. With one last glance in her direction, he pushed through and was gone.

  ****

  How in the hell had she been so stupid? Tessa strode briskly down the hallway, her thumb jabbing redial on her cell. Two hours she’d frittered away in her room. Two agonizing hours on top of the last twenty-four that she’d wasted.

  Not until she stepped into the bathroom to straighten her appearance had her memory lurched and chugged into overdrive. Running her brush through her hair, an image of Margaret swam into focus. She occupied the doorway of Dibs’s room, that purple love bite on her neck a gaudy siren’s song to all things crude. The visual was so stark Tessa’s shoulders wrenched and she slammed her brush to the counter.

  Margaret’s hair had been wrong, too sleek and perfect for a woman who’d just taken a roll between the sheets. All this time Tessa had dismissed her hair. As if that wasn’t enough, in the months she and Dibs spent together, he’d not once left a mark on her. Enthusiastic lover, yes. But a hickey? No.

  Caroline’s voice mail clicked over a second time. Tessa slapped her phone shut, burst into the Alabaster Ballroom and stormed up to Tiffany. “Caroline. Now.”

  Tiffany’s brows rose toward her hairline. “The last time I saw her was by the pool, over at the apartment building.”

  “Shit.” Tessa smiled brightly and exited the room.

  She half walked, half bolted across the sprawling lawn. Nearing the building, she slowed to a crawl and crept to the high fence. The last thing she needed was to run into Michael…or, God forbid, Margaret.

  Through the white slats, Caroline reclined on a chaise lounge, flawlessly tan under a yellow string bikini, paging through a fashion magazine. She sipped at a tall drink, three young men in swimming trunks perched at different spots near her feet. Laughing, she handed her empty glass to one of her doting admirers.

  “Caroline!” Tessa whispered harshly.

  She slid her sunglasses to the end of her nose, scanned the fence line. “Give me a second, boys.” She tossed the magazine aside and sauntered over to Tessa. “I heard you and Mother worked everything out. You must’ve made quite the impression. She’s even stalled the Strattford deal.”

  “Yes, yes, she’s called a ceasefire.”

  “Then, what’s the problem?” She wiggled her fingers at her gaggle of boys.

  “I spoke with Dibs this morning.”

  “Oh, good. So, when’s the big day?”

  Tessa huffed. “Not funny. He implied he and Margaret may have…consummated the merger.”

  “Yuck.” Caroline wrinkled her nose. “Are you sure?”

  “No, that’s why you need to speak with your mother. Truce aside, no way am I asking her the sordid details.”

  “Well, for God’s sake.” She sighed. “A girl just has to do everything herself. Okay, let me see what I can find out and I’ll call you.”

  “Nice idea, brainiac. Try answering your cell.”

  “Oh…sorry.” She pushed away from the fence to her fan club.

  Tessa strode back toward the main building, skimming the lawn. Everything appeared in order. Happy families, happy children, happy, happy…except—One of the large tents on the eastern side of the reflecting pool was listing farther and farther to the side. She tightened her jaw and veered in that direction.

  From the way the others were set, the one she approached appeared to have been tampered with. She propped her fists on her hips. Marcus! The poles had been disconnected, the ends haphazardly balanced against each other, swaying in the breeze. The man was going to be the death of her.

  A strong gust of wind lifted her hair from her shoulders and she seized the top flap when the tent threatened to topple into the pool. A few milling guests glanced her way, and she smiled, but shied away from asking for help. After the fiasco at dinner last night, everyone at BFG would think her completely incompetent.

  She braced her legs and tentatively reached for her cell, but immediately rescued the flap when the entire structure keeled to the side.

  “Now what are you doing?”

  And cue Dibs…Thanks bunches, Marcus. Kiss, kiss, and all that. She fought the angle to look at him through her arms. “Oh, just hanging around.”

  He grunted, but a hint of amusement twitched his lips. “You want some help?”

  “That would be great. I’m worried the whole thing’s going to collapse into the water.”

  He eyed the poles, walked around behind her and jammed the first set together.

  A heavy draft careened through the canvas. The sides rippled and swelled. She gasped when her heels slipped and the ground momentarily disappeared beneath her feet. “Oh-h-h, shit. Maybe you should hold the flap while I deal with the poles.”

  That low chuckle she’d so desperately missed rumbled from his chest as he shoved another set of poles together. “Maybe you should concentrate on staying earthbound and just let me do my job.”

  The entire assembly keeled and yanked her forward several steps. She danced around on her toes. “You know, there’s something I’ve never understood. How come you consistently find it so hilarious when I’m irritated?”

  “I don’t know. Because it’s funny?”

  She dug in her heels but couldn’t gain enough footing to get any leverage, and fought a battle the wind and gravity were quickly winning. “Dibs! Get over here and help me!”

  “Let go, let go!” He rushed around the tent and clutched her hips with both hands.

  “Pull!” she shouted.

  “Let go!” He laughed.

  A sharp jerk, the wind rushed past her ears, and she was lying face down in the water, the flap still twisted tightly in both fists. Flopping and splashing around like the catch of the day, she struggled to locate her footing. A strong arm cinched her waist and returned her to her feet.

  She parted her wet hair over her face. The tent lay floating in the water, gently bumping her knees. Across the far side of the pool a crowd had gathered, all staring at the scene with wide eyes.

  “My life is a complete disaster.” She shook her hands and blew the water from her lips. “Shit!”

  “You have a little smudge there.” Dibs swept a finger across his cheekbone.

  Meaning her mascara? She squinted. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

  He pinched his bottom lip, lowering his chin.

  “Knock it off.”

  “Why didn’t you just let go?”

  “I don’t know.” She dug her cell from her pocket and flipped it open. “I thought when you grabbed me, we could save it.” A small rivulet of water streamed over the side. “Perfect.”

  Muffled laughter spurted through his lips, his sense of humor another thing she’d deeply missed.

  She bit her lip against a smile. “Stop. Right now.”

  “I wish I could have gotten that on video.” He hooted and slapped his thigh. “Oh, my God…you flew…through the air.”

  Tossing her sopping hair over her shoulder, she chuckled along with him. “It seems I am bound and determined to spend the entire weekend in this godforsaken pool.”

  His laughter faded to a gentle smile. “Me, too, I guess.”

  Tiffany and Celeste sprinted up the lawn. “Are you all right?” Tiffany called.

  “Yes.” Tessa flipped a hand at the tent, high-stepping toward the grass. “We need to call maintenance and get this thing dried out and reassembled.”

  “I see that.” Tiffany crossed her arms. She slid her eyes back to Tessa, then to Dibs. “What the heck happened?”

  “Ah, the tent came apart.” Her shoe slipped from her foot, and she wobbled, hopping ar
ound on one leg.

  His warm hand propped her elbow. “Go ahead. I’ll get it.”

  A cool breeze skated over her skin and she swung a leg over the ledge, arms wrapped across her chest against a shiver. She filled her lungs to instruct Celeste, but Dibs touched her arm.

  “You should get inside and change before you catch a chill.”

  “He’s right.” Tiffany tipped her head toward Celeste. “We can handle the setup.”

  Tessa eyed them before grudgingly agreeing. She bobbed one-shoed at Dibs’s side to the apartment building and led them inside. As the elevator ascended to the fifth floor, he handed over her shoe.

  She flipped the ballet slipper back and forth. “I guess this is one of those rare circumstances when packing six sets of shoes worked in my favor.”

  They shared a smile.

  The elevator doors slid open, and she exited to the left, Dibs to the right. What she previously viewed as a horrifying coincidence—being assigned a room on the same floor as Margaret and Dibs—now seemed to work in her favor. She stole a peek over her shoulder. His broad shoulders worked the material of his shirt, delineating the curve of muscle on each side of his spine. She spun around when he glanced down the hall and caught her eye.

  Slipping her key card into the lock, she risked another glimpse in his direction. Dibs had paused before his door, his focus on her. He pushed the handle and disappeared into his room.

  The view inside the full length mirror was ideal…for Halloween. Black mascara lines dribbled down both cheeks, hair lank and hanging in clumps past her shoulders, silk suit stuck to places that should never be seen in public…Yep, she was a train wreck. She snagged a floral knee-length skirt and green scoop-neck blouse from the closet and sloshed to the bathroom. After a cursory repair of most of the damage, she pulled the battery from her cell and left both pieces drying on a towel. A quick straightening of her blouse and…

  She gasped and clapped a hand to her wrist. The diamond bracelet. It was gone!

  Shit! The pool!

  She fled the room and raced for the elevator.

  She tapped a nervous finger against her leg, waiting for the doors to open. Dibs appeared in the hall, the lock clicking into the latch behind him. Her breath caught. A pair of dark jeans encased his muscled thighs, a fitted, gray T-shirt stretched taut over the chiseled planes of his chest. She clasped her wrist with her free hand and studied the ceiling. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice…at least, not until she dove headfirst back into the water.

  He smiled. “Going back to the main building?”

  “Yep.”

  He faced the elevator. “You look very pretty for someone who just got fished out of the drink.”

  “Thank you.” She tightened the grip on her wrist, rocking on her heels.

  He squinted at her from the corner of his eye. “Although, something seems different. Did you change your hair?”

  “Ponytail.” She nodded.

  “No, no. That’s not it.”

  “Well, other than my clothes, that’s all I’ve changed.”

  He withdrew from her and crossed his arms, brow furrowed. He twirled a finger in the air. “Turn around.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Something’s missing, but I can’t figure out what it is.”

  Her shoulders fell. He’d found the bracelet. This whole time he had it and was teasing her.

  The elevator bell rang, and the doors slid open. She skimmed the empty car, and when she refocused on Dibs, a row of diamonds sparkled in the air, one end of the bracelet pinched in his fingertips. “Does this belong to you?”

  Her response lodged in her throat. Truth be told, she didn’t know whether the bracelet did still belong to her. But continuing on without it, everything those jewels once symbolized—her heart quaked at the thought.

  Warm tears rushed in before she could stop them.

  The amusement faded from his face, and he lowered his hand.

  Far off in the distance children played, their laughter echoing through the hall, as innocent and pure as the sun. Her breath hitched against a mounting swell of remorse. Don’t cry…don’t cry…

  But her heart wouldn’t listen. A bloated tear tumbled over her lashes and coursed down her cheek. “I’m…not sure,” she whispered.

  “I’m sorry.” He captured her hand, fastened the clasp around her wrist. “Here, don’t cry. This bracelet will always be yours, Tessa.”

  She pressed her trembling fingertips to her lips, containing a sob. “I wish you’d stop apologizing. Everything was my fault to begin with, remember?”

  He flipped her hand over, cradled it in his palm, opened her curled fingers, and swept a lazy circle along the creases with the ball of his thumb. Heat radiated up her arm, warming the pit of her stomach.

  “Not everything was your fault. Looking back, I really wish I’d done things differently.”

  Her heart fluttered like a trapped bird in her chest. No, no, he’d done everything right. “Please, don’t say that.”

  A harsh breath burst from his lips as he shook his head. “But if I hadn’t come on so strong maybe you wouldn’t have gotten scared. Maybe you wouldn’t have gone back to him. I should have given you more time. I should have—”

  “Stop it.” She grasped his hand, tugging it close to her body. Another tear wet her lashes. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Dibs.” She cupped his cheek, staring straight into his eyes. “The. Best. Thing. Do you understand?”

  She held a breath as he searched her face. His arm coiled around her waist, brought her to his chest, and she soaked in the warmth of his body. Too long. They’d been apart too damn long.

  “God, Tessa, I miss you so much. And it’s all I can do right now not to beg you to come back to me.”

  In that moment, she didn’t care if anything had happened between Dibs and Margaret. If he had sought solace with another, his actions were a direct result of what she had done to him. How could she hold that against him? What right did she have to judge? Because in the end, their time apart made no difference. All that mattered was she had finally returned to his arms, and she never, ever wanted to leave again.

  Words rushed to escape her throat. She suddenly couldn’t wait to tell him everything. How she was ready to let go her fears that their relationship might fail or he might one day leave. How it was her fault they ended at this place, and all the lies she had told to try and save him. That if he asked, without a moment’s hesitation, she would throw caution to the wind, relinquish all her control, and let his love guide her the rest of her days.

  Because she finally understood.

  True love was meant to be experienced with the whole heart. It deserved to be celebrated and flaunted, to be shouted and danced over. It needed to be free of constraints and worry, trusted and believed in. True love was meant be fought for, regardless of the obstacles, or the past, or whatever the future might hold.

  She needed Dibs to know. Even if he became angry, even if he decided what she had done was unforgiveable. But before one more word passed between them, before she chanced his resentment and forgiveness, while she stood in his arms, his face a mere breath from hers, she wanted one last kiss.

  She leaned in, knees trembling, longing to taste him like she had so many times before.

  “I should warn you.” He dropped his gaze to her parted lips. “If you’re planning to kiss me, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.”

  “Good.” She slid her hands up his shoulders, pressed on the nape of his neck.

  “This is a really bad idea,” he breathed. He swept his mouth lightly across hers, and a million brilliant fireflies took flight in her stomach. He slowly withdrew, but his arms cinched her waist, crushing her breasts to his chest.

  A thrill washed her body. He was hard against her. Steady and strong. She wanted more, went forward a second time, and urged him down to her waiting lips. His fingers tangled in her hair, tilted her head back…

  The elevator chi
med. Dibs stiffened beneath her as the doors slid open. Michael and Caroline waited inside, standing side by side. Caroline locked onto the two of them, her bright smile plumping her cheeks. Michael suddenly grew fascinated with his feet.

  Dibs dropped his arms and withdrew, footfalls heavy, legs stiff. He deeply inhaled and raked a hand through his hair.

  Disappointment surged through the bitter ache in her chest, the loss of his warm embrace, the promise of his kiss. They’d been so close, and so much remained to be said. She stutter-stepped in his direction.

  Michael cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but I heard you were looking for me.”

  “Of course.” Dibs retreated another step. “Excuse me.”

  Michael frowned past the closing doors. Caroline placed her hand on the side and pushed, forcing them open.

  “No, not Tessa. I heard you were looking for me.” He pointed at Dibs.

  “Oh, yes.” Dibs nodded. “I forgot.”

  The annoying buzz of the elevator alarm detonated at regular intervals, and Caroline waved Tessa onto the car. “Come here,” she mouthed.

  Tessa peeked askance at Dibs and entered, brushing past Michael as he stepped into the hall. Caroline released her grip, the alarm went silent, and the doors eased shut.

  “Wait.” Tessa jammed on the side, catching Dibs’s eye. “I need to speak with you. It’s important.”

  He frowned. “Okay.”

  She nodded and removed her hand, glancing between the two men past the closing doors. She jabbed the button for the bottom floor. “Nice timing, Caroline.”

  Lashes fluttering, she teased, “You were kissing.”

  “Not really. Did you miss the part when you interrupted us?”

  “Well, I tried to call, but your voice mail answered.”

  “Oh, right. Well, what did you want?”

  “I asked Mother about Margaret and she said they nev—”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Tessa held up a hand. The elevator binged and the doors slid open. “I know what I need to do.”

  ****

  Her back to the main bar in the Crystal Ballroom, Tessa sifted through the black tuxedos, the beautiful gowns as one after another charming couple entered the room. Under normal circumstances, she would have been heartened by the guest’s wide-eyed awe, their smiles and gasps of astonishment. But not tonight. Tonight no matter what beauty graced the outside, inside, a resonating death knell tolled with each beat of her heart.