“I haven’t met your mom. Where is she?”
“She’s with her boyfriend. They’re sitting with Ozzie’s parents. I’ll introduce you after dinner.”
Zack sniffed and frowned. “Vivian, do you smell something funny?”
“No. What does it smell like? Rotten food?” She had a flashback of Timothy Golden’s food poisoning and felt her muscles tighten up.
“Nothing like that. It smells a little like…car exhaust. Nothing to worry about, I’m sure. I just have a sensitive nose.”
She relaxed. It was actually rather sad that Timothy, quite a nice fellow, had been relegated to her memory for the incident of food poisoning, but she had been honest when, the day the audit was complete, he asked her if she imagined anything could ever happen between them. He had been utterly charming when she told him she couldn’t see it and she knew his Ms. Right was waiting for him somewhere. Even if her heart wasn’t with Zack—and there was no doubt in her mind that it was—she didn’t think she could cope with a newly divorced man who had children. It was a delicate situation she just didn’t want to be in the middle of.
Jaws that had been chewing at twenty miles an hour began to stall as everyone’s bellies reached capacity, and the conversation up and down the table was peppered with variations of, “I’m stuffed.” Mickey Spivey tapped on his coffee cup with a spoon to silence them, then stood up. “I’ve known Austin for a long time, and I even met Desireé before he did, which means it could have been me getting married tomorrow...” he cleared his throat delicately to laughter, then continued.
“I knew they would be an item by the time they returned from that assignment in West Africa, and I was right. That’s where it all began, and who knows where it will all end.” He turned to the betrothed couple. “Pretty soon you’ll have a ton of little rug rats who’ll be begging you to take them to Casa Bonita for dinner.”
“What’s Casa Bonita?” Vivian asked Alisha, Desireé’s matron of honor, who was sitting across from her.
“It’s a Mexican-themed restaurant all the kids love. It’s got a lot going on to keep them occupied, kind of a cheaper version of Disney.”
Mickey continued with his speech, but Vivian became aware of the buzzing of whispering voices.
She remembered thinking it was very rude of people to talk while Mickey was making a toast, but then everything became hazy. She thought she heard coughing and choking sounds, maybe coming from her own throat. Her hand caught on to something tubular-shaped, and she held on tightly. She wanted to ask what was happening, but her brain wouldn’t cooperate.
Then she went limp and passed out. If Zack hadn’t caught her she would have fallen to the floor.
Her body jerked at the strong odor that filled her nostrils, and she opened her eyes. She didn’t recognize the strange man who stood over her. “Who are you?”
“Emergency Medical Services, ma’am. Apparently, there’s some kind of fumes coming out of the air conditioning. A lot of the people inside were overcome. Some, like yourself, fainted.”
It was then that Vivian realized she was lying on a stretcher outside. “Where’s Zack?”
“I’m sorry. I wouldn’t know who that is, but whoever he is, you’ll see him at the hospital.”
“Hospital?”
“Everybody has to be checked out. We’re trying to bring everybody to the same place. Most of you will be examined and let go.”
“I can’t go to the hospital! My friend’s getting married at two-thirty tomorrow afternoon.”
“I don’t think there’ll be a problem with that. From what I’ve seen no one looks bad off enough to be admitted. Once they call us we’ve got to bring you to the hospital. It’s up to them to release you.” Then Vivian felt herself being lifted and put in the back of an ambulance. Desireé’s friend Alisha was already inside.
On her arrival she was rushed into an exam room. The EMS technician had started an IV, which made no sense to her whatsoever. She hadn’t thrown up even once, and there was no way she could be dehydrated.
But she felt lousy. There was a sourness in her stomach, and it hurt to even breathe. And she was worried about Zack and the others. No wonder Mr. Warner said he felt nauseated before they sat down to dinner. It hadn’t come from thin mountain air, it had come from the air conditioning ducts. Even Zack had noticed it.
“There you are!”
“Zack!” She tried to get up, but quickly fell back.
“Don’t get up. And don’t worry. I have it on a very good source that you’re going to live to a ripe old age.”
“How are your parents?”
“I think they’re going to keep my dad overnight. He has a touch of COPD anyway. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It’s a respiratory ailment that comes from smoking.”
“Oh, no!”
“Actually, I think it’s for the best. He’ll be monitored overnight and released in the morning. Phil and Sandy’s place in Golden is at an even higher elevation than Denver, and I want to make sure he’ll be all right.”
“And your mother?”
“She’s fine. As far as I know my dad’s the only one they’re keeping for observation. Even the matron of honor, who’s four months pregnant, is expected to be released.”
“Alisha. She and her husband were in the ambulance with me. I didn’t know she was pregnant. I’m glad she’s okay.”
“Everyone is just a little shook up and maybe nauseated, but that should go away in a few hours.”
“What about Austin and Desireé?”
“They’re both fine. Has the doctor been in to see you yet?”
“Yes. He said he’ll be back to check on me in a few minutes. I guess that means at least a half hour in MD time.”
“Well, I brought you a little present.” He handed her a small, plain white box.
She stared at it, instantly trying to figure out what it contained. A four-leaf clover or other good luck charm would be appropriate right about now. “I guess I could be coy and say, ‘Oh, Zack, you shouldn’t have,’ but hey, I’m a material girl.” She opened the box eagerly, revealing a round gold compact. She raised an eyebrow. He’d gotten her some kind of makeup?
“Don’t just stare at it, open it.”
She complied. It was a mirror, but the shrill female scream that accompanied it made her shut it quickly. The screaming promptly stopped, and she began to laugh. “This is supposed to cheer me up? This thing suggests I’m so ugly I’m frightening.” It was so like him, but she knew him well enough now to know it was a harmless joke.
“It made you laugh, didn’t it?”
*****
Vivian was released an hour later. She tried to comfort Zack’s mother. “I’m sure Mr. Warner will be fine. Zack said he thinks it’s the best thing for him.”
“I can’t remember the last time we spent a night apart. We’ve both been blessed with good health. I just can’t remember,” she repeated.
“We’re going to bring you back to your hotel, and you get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow morning Zack will bring you to pick up your husband. At least you know he’s getting round-the-clock care in the emergency room.”
“If I know my husband he won’t sleep a wink. I have a feeling I’m going to have a hard time going to sleep myself.”
*****
“Are you sure you’ll be all right, Vivling?”
“I’ll be fine.” She sniffed playfully. “Go ahead, leave me to go somewhere that has semi-naked ladies—and I use that term very loosely—shaking their boobies in your face.”
Zack gave an embarrassed shrug, but not before his gaze settled on her own chest, as if it was her boobs he really wanted to see. “Something like that. Mickey and Phil have invited the guys to a club. But I won’t be late.”
“You don’t have to say that, Zack. You’re a big boy.” I’m not your wife. “But I do hope you don’t get too carried away. If you’re hung over, you might embarrass yourself at the ceremony tomorrow and trip over your own feet
.”
“No hangover for me. I’m not much of a drinker anyway. Besides, I’ve got to pick up Dad from the hospital in the morning.” He kissed her lightly. “Get a good night’s sleep. I hope you don’t mind if I leave the connecting door unlocked. I’d like to check on you when I come back.”
Vivian hesitated only for a second. Not only was Zack concerned for her well-being as a physician, but he had stayed at her apartment for nearly a week and had made no improper advances. This wasn’t some silly Lifetime movie or an episode of the Law & Order franchise that concentrated on sex crimes, where the kind and helpful doctor was really a psycho serial killer in disguise. “Of course.”
He left through the door to his room, and Vivian went to change into her nightgown. The experience of breathing in those fumes and the aftermath had drained her, but she couldn’t help thinking of Zack’s mother, who would no doubt toss and turn all night long.
*****
Zack quietly opened the door that connected his and Vivian’s rooms. It hadn’t been a late evening: A few toasts, some boisterous conversation, and appreciation of the dancers’ physical attributes…from a distance. None of the fellows were interested in having an up-close-and-personal lap dance. No doubt Austin was concerned with marrying the woman of his dreams tomorrow afternoon. Zack didn’t know about the rest of the fellows, but the only naked body he wanted to see was that of Vivian’s.
He’d hoped to be able to act on his long-held desire tonight, to the point where he’d told Austin beforehand that he might end up leaving the bachelor party early or even skipping it altogether. He’d asked the operators of the inn for the “romance package,” which included flower petals sprinkled over the bed and cellophane-wrapped chocolate-dipped strawberries placed on the pillows. They’d spent a wonderful three days together, and he planned on making his desire for her known the moment they returned after the rehearsal dinner. But then came those fumes, and everything changed. Instead of a passionately romantic evening at the bed and breakfast, they ended up spending several hours in the ER, and Vivian’s treating physician had advised she take it easy the rest of the evening to prepare for tomorrow’s festivities.
He walked to her bedside and gazed down at her. Her chest rose and fell in sleep, and her head rested on a pink satin pillowcase she’d apparently brought from home. Apparently sometime after he left she’d changed into a nightgown with big pink and purple flowers against a white background and a low-cut neckline. The covers were low enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. Desire rose in him like the sun in the dawn sky.
Theirs had so far been such a non-traditional relationship, for up until the day she found him sprawled on the floor in the apartment upstairs from her after his fall, there had always been another man in the picture. That time he spent with her as her houseguest, truly enjoying being with her, convinced him that he should do everything he could to be the next man in her life. He’d planned on moving their friendship to the next level during this trip, but Fate apparently had other ideas.
He spent a few more minutes watching her lovely face with its finely arched eyebrows and flawless skin, then turned to go to his own room, where he almost violently shook the fragrant floral petals off the quilt.
*****
“Hi, is this Vivian?”
She didn’t recognize the female voice on the other end of the line. It wasn’t Desireé. Maybe it was Zack’s mother calling to inquire when he would be picking her up. He was actually on his way; he’d left right after they had breakfast, looking no worse for the wear after his night out. “Yes, this is Vivian. Who’s this?”
“This is Lorna Nairn, Desireé’s friend. I’m one of her bridesmaids. We’ve got a problem, and I’m thinking you might be able to help us out.”
“What is it?”
“We had the final fittings for our dressings just last week, but Alisha can’t get into hers today. She’s pregnant, you know.”
“Yes, I know. Four months, right? It’s that tight around her stomach already?”
“It’s not her stomach that’s the problem. It’s her chest. It’s made this rather sudden expansion, practically overnight.”
“Oh, no!”
“I’m at her house now. We’re afraid to say anything to Desireé; this just isn’t the type of thing a bride wants to hear on the day of her wedding. But we were thinking…you’re about five-five and a size ten, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“So is Alisha. Would you be willing to fill in as matron—I mean, maid of honor, provided her dress fits you?”
Vivian hedged. “I don’t want to seem uncooperative, but wouldn’t it be more appropriate if you or one of the other girls took that part? And then I can take your place. The maid of honor should be a very close friend of the bride, and while Desireé and I are friends, I’m technically not a close enough friend to even be a bridesmaid.”
“I understand what you mean, and we thought of that, but Alisha’s dress won’t fit any of us. Actually, it would fit me, but it’ll be too short because I’m five-nine. Eva’s a size eight. I just met Austin’s sister at rehearsal when I met you, and I can tell she’s larger than a size ten. She was telling me she’s still trying to lose the weight she put on when she was pregnant. Incidentally, what size shoe do you wear?”
“Eight.” Vivian listened as Lorna relayed this information, and from Alisha’s delighted squeal she knew it was a perfect fit.
Lorna delivered the dress and shoes in a half-hour. “I’ll be holding my breath,” she said when Vivian brought the ensemble into Zack’s unlocked adjoining room to change. He’d left the door between them ajar after he informed her he was leaving to pick up his father from the hospital. It was roomier than the bathroom, especially for a dress with so much material.
As she laid the dress on the queen-sized bed, she noticed a few flower petals on the quilt. The quilt had been pulled up to cover what Vivian suspected were rumpled sheets, if the lumps under it were any indication. She wondered where the petals had come from. No one had put anything like that in her room.
The dress fit fine. Made of some sort of filmy fabric, the bodice was tightly fitted—no wonder Alisha couldn’t wear it anymore—and flared at the waist. The crinoline-lined skirt was full and ended just above her ankles; and it was shirred at the shoulders. The only difference between this dress and the bridesmaids’ was that her dress was cream-colored and the bodice was printed with roses in varying shades of pink, and theirs were solid dusky rose. Unlike most bridal attendants’ dresses, this was a dress that really could be worn again, to a garden wedding as a guest, perhaps.
“Ta-da!” Vivian held her hands outstretched as she emerged from Zack’s room through the connecting door, closing but not latching it behind her. She didn’t want Lorna to know she and Zack were actually sleeping in separate rooms. Best for her to think they had a suite.
She made a complete revolution so Lorna could see the full effect, loving the way the material of the dress swirled around her ankles.
“Oh, it’s perfect,” Lorna said. “We’ll see you at Desireé’s mother’s house, then? One o’clock?”
“Yes. I’ll ask Zack to drop me off on his way to the chapel.”
“Good. It’s easy to get there from here. Here are the directions. If you have any trouble just call. Alisha will break the news to Desireé. Right now she’s waiting with baited breath to find out if the outfit fits you. I’m going to call her when I get in the car.” She let out a sigh. “Thanks so much, Vivian. You saved the day, and I mean that literally.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
“You know, this is going to be work out very nicely. As the maid of honor, you’ll be escorted by Zack, since he’s the best man.”
Vivian was still smiling after Lorna left. She’d been right—Zack was the best man…for her.
She slipped out of the dress and hung it up in the closet, placing the shoes on the floor of the closet. Glancing around for her clothes, she frowned until she
remembered she’d left them on Zack’s bed. She plodded barefoot through the connecting door. She was reaching for her clothes when the door swung open, startling her.
Zack froze on the spot, an awestruck look on his face. Vivian’s shorts and top fell out of her hand as she found herself unable to move under the heat of his penetrating gaze.
Chapter 19
At Last
“Wow,” he breathed.
She faced him without shame, inadvertently pulling in her stomach and straightening her spine. “I know this looks bad—” she began.
“Oh, no. Trust me; it looks good.” He moved forward swiftly. “Coming back here and seeing you like this…it’s a dream come true.” His eyes traveled down the length of her body and then back up again. His Adam’s apple throbbed as he swallowed, and he didn’t care if it was ten o’clock in the morning and he was scheduled to serve as best man at a wedding in just a few short hours. Right now he was going to make love to the woman who’d captured his heart.
He pulled her into an embrace, closed his eyes and simply breathed in her scent. Then his hands began to freely roam over her smooth back, finally moving down to take in the fullness of her backside. He let out a pleasured gasp as her lush, firm flesh filled his hands. “Vivling,” he murmured.
Eyes closed, joy filled her spirit as she felt Zack’s healing hands moving over her body. “Touch me, Zack.”
“I’ve waited so long for this.” He pulled back a little so he could see her face. “Tell me you’ll dump all those jerks you’ve been dating because you want to be with me.”
“Oh, Zack. Haven’t you figured out by now that’s what I want? That it’s what I’ve always wanted?”
He kissed her, and as their tongues tantalized and teased each other his hands settled on the back of her bra. She felt the hooks being undone, and she broke the kiss to step backward, her arms crossed over her chest to slip the straps down the opposite shoulder and down her arms. She removed the bra, revealing herself to him.
The look in his eyes told her it didn’t matter that, although she’d managed to lose ten pounds, she was still a little thick around the middle, and that her belly was more rounded than she would have wanted. He looked at her like she was perfection…and it made her feel beautiful.
Accidentally Yours Page 23
