Mr. and Mrs. Tam came right in, William gripping his daughter in a bear hug.
"It's so good to see you, Honey!" he said.
Neither of her parents noticed Harden.
"Mother said you'd been down. I hope we can do something about that, Sweetie."
Her father's kind words made the girl want to cry, and she felt her lower lip begin to quiver when William caught a glimpse of movement by the fireplace.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said, smiling at the Texan. "Why didn't you tell us you had company?" he directed at Kiki.
"I—I—" she started.
"Hello, I'm Louis Harden. So pleased to meet you both," he said, his deep, rich tone filling the small living area.
Noble had already reached her parents, his arm outstretched to shake their hands.
"William Tam," her father said warmly, grasping his hand in a sturdy shake. "This is my wife, Julie," he added.
He took her mother's hand in both of his and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I see where Kiki gets her beautiful smile," he said, flustering Julie.
She stood back, amazed at Noble's effect on her mother.
"We were just heading to dinner. Won't you join us?" her father asked.
"He can't," Kiki snapped. "The reservations are only for three," she added when she saw her parents' stunned expressions.
"Ah, that doesn't matter, Honey. We'll just have an extra cocktail if they can't seat us right away. What do you say, Louis? We insist. We don't get to spend much time with Kiki's friends."
Mrs. Tam added, "Yes, please come. We'll make an evening of it."
"I'd like that very much," he rumbled, giving her parents a smile the size of Texas.
William Tam insisted they all ride together in his rental car. His daughter sat in the back seat with Harden, and she noticed he cast sidelong glances at her legs whenever her father allowed a lull in the conversation.
"So, how did you meet my daughter?" he asked, looking in the rear view mirror.
"She came out to Texas to curate my collection of Asian art."
"Texas? Where in Texas?"
"North of Amarillo, Sir."
"Oh, I have fond memories of Texas, especially Dallas. I'm in the petroleum industry and spent time there in the '80s. And, please, Louis, call me William."
"What do you do in Texas, Louis?" her mother asked.
"I'm a rancher, Ma'am."
"No, you must call me Julie," she gushed.
Kiki rolled her eyes towards heaven.
"You're not involved with Harden Oil, are you, Son?" her dad asked.
"My grandfather started the company. I've pretty much stayed on the ranching side of things."
"I bet we know some mutual people, Louis," her father said as he eased the vehicle to a stop next to the valet station at Yamashiro's.
Noble helped Kiki from the car and guided her into the restaurant, keeping his hand on her bare back. Her parents pointed out the Hollywood sign, on a hill behind them, to Louis on their way inside.
The hostess offered to seat them right away, even with the extra guest. As they walked to their table, past a courtyard dining area complete with snaking koi pond, plants, and rocks, she noticed how her father still turned heads. Tall and handsome, even with his hair silvering at the temples, her dad must have had a Samoan somewhere up in the family tree, she guessed. Her mind flashed to the tall, green eyed blonde Noble had hoped to marry. Unfortunately, Kiki thought, she'd inherited her height from her petite mother.
Once seated, after they'd ordered cocktails and several appetizers and admired the city view, the conversation began in earnest. Again, her parents focused on Harden, practically ignoring their daughter.
"So, Louis, did you receive your education in Texas?" her father asked.
Oh, boy. Let's see how impressed they are with him after this. I hope he at least finished high school.
"After high school . . ."
Here it comes.
She cringed, hoping Noble wouldn't feel embarrassed. Her father was Ivy League, like most missionary descendants, and her mother had attended Vassar. Education had always been a priority for them.
"I wanted to experience something a little different. I decided to try the East Coast and ended up at Harvard. Then, I received my MBA from the University of Chicago. So, I guess I just worked my way back to Texas," he said with a laugh, joined by her parents.
She almost fell out of her seat. He'd never mentioned an education. A kick to the shin under the table told Kiki to pick her jaw up from the floor. Mom had the situation in hand, even if she did not.
"Good for you. I'm a Yale man, myself. Couldn't get into Harvard," William added with a stage whisper and wink.
Waiters arrived with their starters, and everyone tucked in like they hadn't eaten in days. Everyone except Kiki, who had no appetite. Her father suggested the men exchange numbers, whipping out his cell phone to record Harden's.
Will wonders never cease?
Julie dipped a piece of shrimp tempura into Saki sauce and rolled her eyes when she took a bite. Noble enjoyed snow peas, shiitake mushrooms and noodles in the spicy hot pot, while William tackled pork carnitas in a hoisin reduction. Kiki picked at the vegetable tempura, rearranging the food on her plate.
They ordered dinner and the conversation continued. Her father had friends of friends in common with friends of the Harden family. He explained his business. It was clear Noble had an idea of what her dad did for a living. Her mother asked questions about ranch life and emphasized how Kiki had learned to handle a horse in Hawaii's upcountry. The Big Island ranch, once admired by the Texan, came up, and they discovered they had even more in common. Noble, the only member of their party intent on including her in the conversation, did his darndest to draw her in, but she stuck with monosyllable answers and comments.
A chef cooked William's American steak tableside, on a slab of pink Himalayan salt. The beef sizzled.
"Not one of yours, is it?" her dad jested, pointing towards the meat.
Of course, the three joined in for a hearty laugh. Then Harden explained how a good portion of his business involved selling bovine embryos to customers in Japan.
"That's brilliant," Julie gushed before taking a bite of her loch salmon.
"They say necessity is the mother of invention," he replied, tucking into a plate of sashimi.
Kiki chewed on her black cod in shoyu glaze. The fish proved delicious and gave her something to focus on. Her parents seemed consumed with making Noble comfortable, taking an interest in his business, laughing at all his jokes, and finding shared interests.
When her mother asked him what hotel he settled in, she was shocked to hear him say he'd holed up at a friend's beach house in Malibu. The man was a fount of surprises.
Julie Tam invited him to stay at one of their homes when he next visited Hawaii. As the staff cleared their plates, Mrs. Tam insisted they order dessert and coffee.
So unlike Mom.
They decided upon berry filled doughnuts with crème anglaise, a fresh banana crepe, and peanut butter ice cream sandwich cookies. Everyone shared in the sweet course. How her mother made it back to the car without bursting, Kiki couldn’t tell.
"We're going to say good night here," Mr. Tam stated in the hall outside of her door.
She watched as her father placed one palm on Noble's shoulder and took his hand in a firm grasp with the other.
"It's been a pleasure getting to know your young man, Kiki," he said, shaking the cowboy's hand.
My young man?
Mrs. Tam moved in for a hug when the men parted.
"Yes, we look forward to seeing you tomorrow. We'll save a seat for you at our table," she said, reaching to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Then in a wink, her parents were gone, leaving her alone with Noble.
Pretty slick. Mom and Dad had more street smarts than she had ever realized.
"I'd say that went very well, wouldn't you?" he said at last.
"Why are you here?" she gasped, dropping her hands to her side. Exasperated and exhausted, she'd felt under a strain all evening. In fact, the entire week had been tiring.
He took a step towards her. All night long, he'd maintained a respectful distance in front of her parents. Now, they'd abandoned her to him and he was up to his usual tricks.
With one smooth move, he had his large paw at her back and pulled her against his chest. She felt her skin burn at his touch as electricity surged through her veins. He grabbed her hair with his other hand and gently tugged, drawing her face up towards his. He dipped his head, bringing his lips close to hers. She could all but feel them against her mouth. Kiki closed her eyes, ready to surrender to his kiss.
"You didn’t think I'd leave you to James, did you?" he said in a rough whisper, lips rumbling against hers.
Her eyes flew open in time to see him draw back. She tried to wriggle free, but he only held her tighter, restricting her movements. He let go of her hair and rubbed a calloused thumb over her cheek, then her lip, before he moved her face against his chest, stoking her neck. She hoped he couldn't hear her heart nearly beating out of her chest. She felt his, thumping hard against his rib cage, and his muscles pulling taut across his chest.
Too soon, he released her and pried the house key from her hand. He opened the door and made a quick survey of the place, making sure no intruders lurked inside. She watched him cover the small condo in a few steps, his movements somehow graceful yet full of raw power.
"I'll say good night," he said, once assured the place was secure.
He left without a kiss or a look back. She had no idea when she'd see him again.
Chapter 15
-The Big Day-
Kiki arrived at the church at one p.m. The service wouldn't begin until four, but first, the girls needed their hair and make-up done. Then the photographer would take pictures, keeping bride and groom separated before Katrina's walk down the aisle.
A beautician gave the bridesmaids updos while another hair stylist perfected the bride's look. A make-up artist kept the cosmetics simple, but made sure lips and eyes were dark enough for good photographs. An employee of the wedding coordinator helped Kiki into her dress. It fit like a glove. The aide commented on how lovely her milky skin looked in the dress.
As the maid of honor, she took photos alone with the bride first. She gasped when she saw her friend in her wedding gown.
"You look so beautiful!" she gushed.
"Not too much?"
"Absolutely not. Girl, when Robert sees you in that, he's going to want to skip the reception and go straight for the honeymoon!"
"That's what I was going for," Katrina said, laughing.
Kate's dress had sheer netting at the jewel neckline, with patches of lace growing more dense at the bust. These areas formed a deep V, giving the illusion of a plunging neckline, while also appearing to keep the dress from slipping off the shoulder. In fact, the netting fashioned capped sleeves. A tiny crystal belt cinched the waist, and from there down, the lining changed from nude to white opaque. The dress clung to Katrina's every curve. A detachable train, reaching around to past the hips, added volume to the skirt while parting in front to reveal the bride's slim shape. Countless silk-covered buttons ran down the sheer netting back. An exquisite veil, filled with Swiss dots and tiny crystals, lent a magical quality to the ensemble.
"Well, at least these buttons will keep him busy for a while," she said, circling the bride.
"I don't know. Robert's pretty dexterous with his hands."
Both girls broke into peals of laughter. The photographer took several impromptu pictures, then moved on to formal portraits. Later, the rest of the bridesmaids posed for group shots and individual photos with the bride. Kiki took note of her friend's new assistant. The girl had an otherworldly beauty. When she got the chance, she questioned the bride about Ireland.
"Kate, what's her story?" she asked, nodding towards the doorway the girl had just walked through.
Katrina shook her head and frowned. Kiki immediately regretted bringing up something unpleasant on her friend's wedding day.
"Landi's alone in the world. From what I gather, both her parents passed when she was quite young. I'm not sure if a relative or a court-appointed guardian looked after her. She's been a dream assistant, very sweet and eager to work hard. Try and befriend her today, will you? I think she's going to be lonely while I'm off on my honeymoon."
"Speaking of which, has Robert shared any of the details yet?"
Katrina giggled. She'd confided to Kiki that the groom wanted to keep the entire trip under wraps to surprise his bride. Being a world traveler, she guessed they could end up anywhere.
"He broke down and gave me a hint. We're sticking to Europe."
"Whew! I was afraid he'd have you basket weaving for six weeks in Honduras or some such thing," she teased. "When do you leave?"
"We're taking off Monday morning. He's got a hotel booked somewhere for the next two nights, but he's not sharing that information either."
The photographer returned and escorted Katrina to a small courtyard, free from prying eyes, where she could take pictures with her father and brother. They had about a half-hour until show time. Kiki tracked down Ireland and insisted she eat something. The church had provided cheese, bread, fruit, and cookies for the wedding party to nibble on while they awaited the service.
"Have you ever been in a wedding before, Ireland?"
"No, I haven't, and I'm a bit nervous."
"Don't worry. I've been in at least a dozen since high school and they usually run like clockwork. If you forget anything from the rehearsal, there's always someone nearby to give you a shove!" she joked.
Landi giggled, releasing some of the tension she felt.
"Wow, you've got a lot of experience with these things, then," the girl stated.
"Yes, but we are usually more informal in Hawaii. We do a lot of outdoor weddings there. The guys wear Hawaiian shirts and the girls often wear short dresses. The bride and groom each don a large lei, usually made of big green leaves. A minister conducts a short service, and boom, it's all over."
"That sounds quite nice, actually."
"Well, there's something to be said for going all out too. Landi, I've been meaning to tell you how pretty you look in that dress."
The girl seemed shocked. She obviously hadn't received many compliments on her appearance.
How strange.
"Thank you, Kiki."
"Oh, the other thing I wanted to do is exchange numbers. I know Katrina's going to be gone for a long time. My next client is based here, in Southern California. So, if you'd like to get together, I'm going to have plenty of time on my hands."
"Really? That would be great, Kiki!" Ireland said, unable to contain her excitement.
The girls exchanged numbers, the Hawaiian noting that Landi's shoulders seemed more relaxed after their conversation. Maybe they would become friends. Then the wedding coordinator came by, trying to herd everyone together.
She organized the group and waited for the Hi Sign, signifying the men had lined up at the front of the church. She walked the girls, Katrina, and her father to the quaint church's foyer. Kiki arranged her friend's train and watched as the other bridesmaids slipped through the doors into the sanctuary. A string quartet played Vivaldi from a balcony. Finally, she received the nod that it was her turn to make the march up the aisle. She squeezed Kate's hand one last time and smiled at Donald Crimshaw. The man seemed on the verge of tears.
Holding her head high, she made her way down the aisle, glancing at the tall, peaked, timbered ceiling. Dramatic stained glass hung above the altar, and light streamed in from the tinted windows to her left. She saw James, hands clasped behind his back, rocking forward and backward. She looked to the groom. A sublime expression of anticipation stretched across his face. She climbed several steps at the front of the church and turned towards Robert. The quartet finished their number, and for a moment
, all was silent.
She took the opportunity to scan the room for familiar faces. She spotted Harden right away, him being so tall. He perched beside her parents, who appeared incredibly pleased he'd graced them with his presence. Her heart rate increased, drastically. Nearby, her old boss, William Dodd, flashed her a smile. His flame, Samantha, sat beaming at his side. Some people from the Heller museum sat in the back rows. She spied Chuck Manning and Mike Johnson sitting on the groom's side. Scattered about the church, several old clients waved or nodded at her. Irina and Ivan appeared in a pew, the store owner ramrod straight, clad in her usual black.
An organist struck up Here Comes The Bride, and everyone stood. She kept her eyes on Robert LaSalla. She couldn't wait to see his reaction to Katrina in her wedding dress. A breeze hit her, and she knew the chapel doors must have swung open. The groom's face reflected pure love, awe, and ardor, all at once. She shifted her gaze to the aisle, where the stunning bride smiled at guests, looking back and forth at each side of the church as she made her way forward.
The rest of the service went by in a blur. The photographer took more group shots before banishing everyone to the vintage cars Robert had arranged for to carry them to the reception. Kiki chatted with Douglas, James and Ireland, all assigned to the same cream Rolls Royce. They waited for about an hour until the bride and groom appeared and jumped into their own chauffeured car. The caravan then pulled away from the tree lined street, containing the perfect church, made for the perfect wedding.
Cocktail hour took place around the courtyard at the oceanside Fairmont in Santa Monica. By five-thirty, a cool breeze had come in off the Pacific and Kiki needed a glass of wine to keep warm. She broke away from her group to stand next to a heater, scanning the crowd for her folks.
"You look beautiful, Beatrice," the familiar voice hovered just above her ear.
"Where are my parents?" she asked without turning.
He placed a hand on each of her shoulders and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms about her waist once he'd removed the space between them. She could feel his muscles tense against her back.
A Lone Star Romance: Book 2 in The Only Love Series Page 16
