One Love for Liv

by Marianne Arkins

  She opened the back door for Spike and then slipped into the front, leaning across the console to give Larry a quick hug. “I’m so glad you could make it. I’ve missed you.”

  “I got the invitation for your wedding, Liv.” Larry pulled out of the parking lot before sending her a concerned look. “Are you sure about this?”

  “What else is there for me to do? I’ve tried calling Mike and he doesn’t respond. I’m not going to hunt the man down.” She rubbed her forehead, feeling another headache looming. “If he wanted me, Larry, he’d have come for me by now.”

  “He struck me as a proud man, Liv.”

  “And I can’t keep my pride?”

  “Will it warm your bed at night?” When he stopped at a red light, he patted her knee. “I love you like a daughter, Olivia, and if you were mine I’d tell you the same. Marriage is forever, or should be, even in this age of divorce and ‘starter marriages’. You’re going into yours with the full knowledge you don’t love Geoff the way you should. That’s not fair to either one of you.”

  “I’m growing to care about him more every day. He’s changed, really changed, since we’ve gotten back together. He’s everything I could possibly want in a man. In a husband.”

  “Marriage takes a lot of work. I was with my wife more than fifty years and there were times I wasn’t sure we’d make it through the rough spots.”

  “But you did.”

  “We did indeed, and even though she’s been gone for more than five years now, I still miss her every minute. We worked at our marriage, but we had something you don’t.” He sat quietly at the stoplight for a moment and then took her hand in a tight grip. He leaned in until he was nose to nose with her. “We loved each other more than life.”

  Liv was breathless when he finally let go of her hand. “I have to do this, Larry. It’s the right decision.”

  “Does Mike know you’re getting married this weekend?”

  “Not unless Daisy told him.” She couldn’t keep the snarl out of her voice. Despite the truth of Geoff’s relationship with the woman, Liv still couldn’t stand the thought of her.

  “Fat chance.” He parallel parked in front of the boutique. “I’ll drive around with the mutt for an hour or so and then come get you.”

  “Better make it two hours. I suspect I’ll be awhile this time.” She stepped out onto the sidewalk, turning to look back inside. “Thanks, Larry. For everything.” She flashed a sad smile and walked away.

  *

  “Perfect,” Mike muttered, picking up his rubber mallet and whacking at the wheel in front of him a few times. “Frozen stupid rear wheel.” He really hated safety inspections and wouldn’t offer them if they didn’t bring in the majority of his customers. Owning a shop was a pain in the butt, and he thought back to the days before he’d bought Doug out. When he was just a peon and didn’t have anything to worry about.

  “Mike!” JT hollered to be heard over the country music blasting inside the shop. “You got a visitor.”

  Mike’s heart leaped. Liv? He frowned and told his heart to get a grip. Even if it was Liv, he didn’t care. He didn’t date women who lied to him, even if they did twist his insides into double knots. She hadn’t called him in a week, though, and he missed hearing her voice. He’d kept the last message on his voice mail for several days just to play it over and over. Finally, calling himself all kinds of stupid for acting love-starved, he’d deleted it. And regretted it ever since.

  He took a deep breath and headed out toward the front counter, wishing it was Liv out there but hoping it wasn’t.

  It wasn’t. An old man stood just inside the entryway, a huge brindled dog sitting next to him. “Spike!” Mike ripped off his gloves and went over to the dog, patting his head and scratching behind his ears. “Oh, buddy, I’ve missed you.”

  “Is that all you’ve missed, Mike?” The old man’s voice drew Mike’s attention.

  “Do I know you?” The man looked familiar, but Mike couldn’t place him.

  “I’m Larry.” He stuck out a gnarled hand.

  Mike shook it automatically and then pulled it away as he remembered where he knew the guy from. “You’re Liv’s friend.”

  “That’s right.”

  “What are you doing with Spike?”

  “I’m dog-sitting while Liv is at the final fitting for her wedding dress.”

  Mike’s heart dropped to the floor so fast he swore he heard a “thwack” when it hit bottom. “Her wedding dress,” he repeated dully.

  “That’s right.” The old man looked at Mike with knowing eyes.

  Mike looked away. “So, she’s marrying that loser who was messing around with Daisy.” Mike was surprised he could talk, considering how tight his throat felt, but he managed to squeeze out the words.

  “Turns out they weren’t messing around at all. Liv’s a bit foolish, but not a complete imbecile.” Larry shrugged. “Still, she is marrying Geoff. Unless you do something about it.”

  Mike snorted and sneered. “Just what am I supposed to do about it? She’s made her choice.”

  “Has she?”

  Mike played with one of Spike’s floppy ears, flipping it left and right, over and over, the only outward sign of his frustration. “I don’t see her here, pleading her case to me. Instead, she sent her cab driver.”

  “She didn’t send me. I chose to come all by myself.”

  “Proves my point.” Mike shrugged. “If she wants to get married to some rich jerk, that’s her problem, not mine. There’s plenty of fish in the sea.”

  Larry shook his head sadly. “She has pride, too, and just as much as you. It’s a tragedy the two of you are letting that come between you.”

  “I don’t know what she told you, old man, but it’s not pride that came between us. It was her lies.”

  Larry looked at his watch. “I need to go or I’ll be late picking her up.” He lifted his gaze to Mike and said, “The wedding is Saturday at five. If you’re interested.” Larry shoved a bit of paper at Mike, who grabbed it automatically. With a whistle for the dog, the cab driver walked out the door.

  Mike watched them drive away, anger and loss fighting for dominion in his gut. He looked down at the paper he held. It was Liv’s wedding invitation. Well, damn. He crumpled it up and tossed it into a nearby wastebasket.

  He marched back to the car he’d been working on, twisted the plug on the oil pan to drain it and then cursed. He stormed back to the trash can and fished the invitation back out. With another look at the words, and the sweet love poem on the front, he shoved it into his coverall pocket. It didn’t mean anything that he’d wanted to keep it. He’d throw it away later, maybe in the dumpster at the apartment so he couldn’t get it back.

  When Mike got home that night, he threw a bag of burgers onto the table. He still needed to talk to the manager about getting a new stove. It seemed that he couldn’t remember much of anything lately. Except Liv. He remembered her too well—her face, her skin, her scent. He paced around the apartment, angry and frustrated. Damn that old man for coming by and stirring things up. He was getting over her and didn’t need anyone telling him he wasn’t. He even managed to keep the apartment tidy without her help—or rather, without the help of the maid she’d hired with her ridiculous amount of money.

  Even that had been a lie. It had all been a stinking lie.

  Despite the enticing smell of burgers and fries, he decided to clean up before he ate. He stripped off his greasy coveralls and showered quickly, changing into a pair of sweats. Rett dogged his heels when he returned to the kitchen. He chopped up a bit of burger and gave it to the ferret, before eating the rest of his now-cold meal.

  He lay down on his bed to eat, staring at the wall. He set the plate on the weight bench and took the crinkled invitation out of his sweatpants pocket and smoothed it on his thigh. So, Liv was getting married in a couple of days. Good for her. Why should he care?

  His hand slipped under his pillow before he could stop it and caressed the
bit of silk tucked underneath. He’d found the piece of green lingerie in the trashcan a few hours after Liv left and had pulled it out, unwilling to get rid of the only tangible thing he had to remember her by.

  He was an idiot. And he wasn’t going to fall for that damn cab driver’s emotional blackmail. He was glad she was getting married and he wished her all the luck in the world.

  He was glad. He crumpled up the invitation and threw it into the corner. In a flash, Rett ran to the new toy and batted it around a few times before picking it up in his mouth and trotting away with it. Mike fought the panic inside when he realized the ferret would hide the paper ball somewhere and Mike would surely never see it again.

  No need to panic. The loss of the invitation was a good thing. It wasn’t like he planned on using the thing anyway. He wolfed down his dinner, determined to forget about the whole fiasco.

  Mike set his empty plate on the nightstand and rolled to one side. He slipped his hand beneath the pillow again and pulled out the teddy. He pressed the bit of green silk to his face and breathed in her scent.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Marissa tugged at Liv’s hair. “It just isn’t going to stay back, Liv, you’ll have to leave it down. But I have an idea.”

  Liv sat in the chair in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. She looked strange as a blond, and was a little sorry she’d dyed her hair back to its natural color. Marissa, the miracle worker, had skillfully applied makeup to hide the dark circles under Liv’s eyes.

  She was dressed only in a white corset, bustier and garter belt, not quite ready to put on her gown. Her stomach was jumpy and she worried the bit of fruit salad she’d forced herself to eat at lunchtime was going to make a return trip. She should have known better than to try to eat, but Daddy had insisted.

  She laid a hand on her flat stomach to calm it, trying not to look at the huge diamond ring that glittered on her fourth finger. She put her other hand on Spike’s head where he sat beside her. “I’m glad you’re here, boy. I wish you could be in the wedding party. I could use you next to me.”

  Spike gave her hand a quick lick as Marissa walked back into the room. She held a pile of tiny hairpins decorated with faux seed pearls.

  “I’ll put these throughout your hair for decoration. It’ll look lovely and as if you meant to wear it that way.” She got to work immediately, humming the wedding march under her breath.

  Liv shrugged, not caring what was done, just wanting everything to be finished. The strain of the day was killing her.

  In a moment of weakness, she’d called Mike the night before and gotten his answering machine. Considering it had been a Friday, she figured he must be out on a date. Even now, the thought of him with someone else made her ill and she pressed a bit harder on her nervous stomach. He had every right to date. After all, she was getting married and certainly had no right to him.

  She’d left him a message. Nothing very exciting, just that she’d called to say hello. No invitation for him to call back, no entreaty he save her from her wedding. She had lain awake all night imagining him bringing his date home and sharing his bed with her.

  She closed her eyes against the pain of that thought. She reminded herself she was moving on with her life, and she should wish him well in his. She honestly did want the best for him, but it didn’t make the thought of his involvement with other women any easier. He was a guy who didn’t do serious, so he’d surely be playing the field.

  The door to the dressing room opened and Geoff strolled in. Marissa hurried to him and jammed a hand in his chest while Liv struggled to cover herself. She jumped into the heavy slip that sat next to her on the vanity and just managed to pull it up to her waist before he pushed past. At least that was something.

  “You’re not supposed to see her now.” Marissa tugged at his arm. “It’s bad luck.”

  He shrugged her hand aside and moved next to Liv. “Nothing could hurt our wedding, right, Lee Lee?” He brushed her cheek gently with the back of his hand.

  Liv forced a smile on her face and tilted her head back to beam at him. “Of course not, Geoffrey.” She accepted the kiss he dropped onto her lips, feeling nothing at his touch. She figured nothing was better than the disgust she’d felt before. See, things were getting better by the minute. In time, she would learn to love this man who adored her.

  “You look fantastic.” He ran a hand down her bare arm. “It’s a shame to put your dress on and cover that up.”

  “You’re looking quite dapper yourself.” Liv looked at her husband-to-be, dressed in a tailored tuxedo. Though the tie hung loosely around his neck, he looked amazing—a little like James Bond, and she couldn’t understand why he didn’t stir her senses. Any other woman would be thrilled to have him. She should be. Why would she prefer five o’clock shadow and greasy coveralls? That was just foolish.

  “I’d better go, but I’ll see you in an hour.”

  “Yes, you will.” The moment Liv heard the door shut behind him, she slumped in her chair.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Marissa’s quiet voice came from behind Liv.

  “Of course I do. Geoff’s a wonderful man. We’ll be good together. Besides, my father loves him.”

  “But do you?”

  Liv opened her mouth to answer but never got the words out. The door swung open once again, and her eyes widened in shock when she saw Mike standing there. In the doorway of her dressing room. Was she dreaming?

  “That’s something I’d like to know, too.” He walked to Liv’s side and looked down at her, his face somber and tense. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Do you love him?”

  Liv heard Marissa’s soft footsteps as she left the room, but it barely registered that she and Mike were alone. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?” Liv knew the club was screening the guests.

  Mike held up a crumpled bit of cream-colored paper. “I had an invitation.”

  “How?” She’d thought about sending him one, partly out of spite and partly out of hope. But she hadn’t.

  “Larry.”

  Mike swung her chair around and knelt in front of her, his hands on her knees. She trembled in response to his touch and fought back the tears. His precious face was close to hers and she couldn’t think of a thing to say.

  He asked again, “Do you love him, Liv? Because if you do, I’ll turn around right now and never bother you again. But if you don’t, then call this whole thing off and come home with me.”

  “I can’t…” The words choked in her throat. She’d hoped Mike would call but she never dreamed he’d come here today. How could she possibly call off her wedding? There were five hundred people out there waiting for a ceremony. Not to mention her father. How could she do that to her father? Or to Geoff? No matter what, her fiancé didn’t deserve that kind of embarrassment.

  Mike leaned closer and she shivered at his nearness. “Do you love him?”

  She lifted a hand to Mike’s face, traced the lines of exhaustion around his eyes, his mouth with feather-soft fingertips. She shook her head. “No. No, I don’t love him yet, but—”

  Mike cut her off with a kiss. He yanked her out of her chair and pressed her against him as if he couldn’t get close enough. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All she could do was feel.

  Liv wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with all the passion she had, thinking this kiss would be the last one. She had to taste him one more time.

  Mike pulled back, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. “I love you, Livvy. Don’t marry Geoff.”

  “I don’t have a choice, Mike.” She framed his face with her hands, looking straight into his eye. “I have to.”

  Mike shook his head. “No, you don’t.” He stared back at her, the intensity of his gaze nearly burning her. “Marry me instead.”

  Her legs gave out and she fell back into her chair. “What? You don’t do serious. You told me so yourself.”

  He nodded. �
�I didn’t think I did, but you’ve changed my mind. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s right. We’re right. Nothing has ever felt so right in my entire life.” He knelt in front of her again and lifted her hand. “Marry me.”

  The door to the room slammed open and Geoff stormed inside. “Get your hands off my fiancée.”

  “Geoff!” Liv jumped from the chair and stood between the two men, arms outstretched to keep them apart. “Stop!”

  Mike grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Just say you will, Livvy. Marry me.”

  “Marry you?” Liv twisted the ring on her finger, hearing the words from Mike as though they were in a foreign language. “But I’m marrying Geoff.”

  “Damn straight you are.” Geoff reached for her, but Mike wouldn’t let go. Liv was caught in a game of tug-o-war, for her body and her heart.

  “Take a stand.” Mike gave her a little shake. “Stop letting everyone else dictate your life.”

  She stepped away from Mike, lifting her hands to block him when he reached for her again, and backed into Geoff who slipped an arm around her waist to anchor her firmly against him. Her place there felt normal, the silk of his shirt rustling against her back, the smell of his cologne tickling her nose. With Geoff, she knew where she stood—there was no chaos, no pets, no greasy stoves or oily clothes. She wouldn’t have to cook or clean again.

  She glanced down at her new manicure, the stubby nails beneath the silk clear evidence of the work she’d done, cleaning Mike’s tiny apartment. She’d be giving up so much to marry him. Geoff represented everything she’d ever wanted out of life. He was a man she deeply admired and would surely learn to love someday. Passion like she felt when she was near Mike wasn’t love. She couldn’t have fallen in love with Mike in less than a week, could she? That was just crazy.

  Besides, Geoff had her father’s stamp of approval. He was handsome, successful, and elegant. He never came home with dirt under his fingernails, and wouldn’t think of dumping leftovers on the ground for a dog or keeping a stray ferret. Her father would never understand a man who worked as a mechanic, who was happy living in a tiny, disordered, studio apartment.