by Leanne Tyler
He grinned. “I caused that much of a stir?”
“Yes. Don’t act like you don’t know how gorgeous you are. You’re perfection.”
“I am?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes. At least I think so.”
He thought about what she said and it pleased him that she found him that attractive, but he didn’t think other women agreed. At least not that many. Did they?
“So what was their reaction at work when you told them I was your boyfriend?”
She swallowed and looked away. “I didn’t tell them.”
“Why not?”
“Because…well…I wasn’t sure we were an item at that time.”
“But now you are?”
She nodded.
“What changed to make you so sure?”
“We adopted Queenie together.”
He smiled and pulled her to him, kissing the top of her head before they began to walk the distance back to his truck. They spotted a deer along the wooded edge of the trail but it skittered away as soon as it sensed their presence.
Once back at the parking area, he helped her inside his truck and they drove to the gift shop. “We better make a pit stop here before we get stuck in traffic leaving the loop. There isn’t another stop until we reach the stables.”
“Good idea.”
Sue made her way back to the ladies room while Alex headed in the other direction of the store. Of course there was a line to the single restroom so she browsed the rack of postcards depicting scenes and wildlife found in the park. She picked out a few cards for the photographs and laid them aside to retrieve when she came back out.
When she finally made it to the register with her purchase, she saw Alex waiting near the door. He grinned when she came toward him.
“Why does it always take girls longer?”
“There’s always a line.”
“Why is that?”
She shrugged. “If you ever find the answer tell us. We’d love to know.”
He laughed and opened the door for her. They headed back to his truck. “What did you buy?”
“A few post cards. I think I can use them in my scrapbook with the photos I took today to remember our outing.”
“Do you scrapbook often?”
“Not really. But I might start.”
He opened his truck door and helped her inside.
“Thank you, Alex.”
“You’re welcome.” He lingered staring at her.
She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. “Did I mention how much I like your five o’clock shadow?”
“No.”
“I do.” She leaned in and brushed her lips against his not believing how bold she was being with him today. It felt natural to speak to him this way and she liked that. “I don’t want to go home yet.”
“We don’t have to. I was going to suggest driving over to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge and walk around. Maybe we can grab dinner at Bubba Gumps.”
She nodded, dropping her hands and sitting back. He shut the door and went around to his side to get in. She watched his every move, unable to take her eyes off of him.
Chapter Thirteen
Alex punched the button, ringing the doorbell for the second time at Keely and Darren’s the next day. He paced back and forth on the front porch that ran across the front of the brick rancher anxious to talk to his sister. Finally the door opened.
“Alex, glad you could make it,” Darren greeted.
“Where’s Keels?”
“In the kitchen. Is something wrong?”
“No…Yes…I don’t know.”
Darren frowned and shut the door. “Okay.”
He followed his brother-in-law finding it more difficult to breath with each step. He didn’t understand why it felt like someone had reached inside his chest and was squeezing. It had all started last night after he dropped Sue off and he’d had difficulty driving home. Once they left Cades Cove, he drove them over to Gatlinburg and they’d window shopped and talked, walking from one end of the strip to the other. They’d even taken the sky lift up one side of the mountain and back before going to dinner. It had been a perfect end to a perfect day with her, but he hadn’t wanted it to end.
Keely stopped chopping vegetables when he walked into the kitchen. “Alex, are you okay?”
He shook his head.
“Darren, get him some water.” She wiped her hands on the dishtowel lying on the counter and came over, pulling out a chair for him to sit down at the kitchen table. “Did you and Sue have a fight?”
“No.”
“Then what is wrong?”
He swallowed and stared at her, shaking his head. “I don’t know. I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Like what?”
Darren handed him a bottle of water.
“Like a part of me is missing.” He sat the water on the table and ran a shaking hand through his hair. “I was fine until I dropped Sue off after our date. Then I had the hardest time leaving her. I—I feel like I’m choking, that someone is trying to rip my heart from my chest.”
Keely smiled and Darren placed a hand on her shoulder. She reached up and covered it with her own.
“It sounds like you’re in love, Alex,” she said. “And not the infatuation kind, but truly, madly, deeply in love.”
“But we haven’t known each other that long.”
“Bro, it doesn’t take long when it’s the right woman,” Darren said.
Alex looked up at him. “What am I going to do?”
“You tell her how you feel. And in your case I’d say the sooner, the better.”
“What if—”
“Don’t question it.” Keely reached for the bottle of water and unscrewed the cap handing it to him. “Just do it.”
He drank the water. What if she didn’t feel the same?
Sue walked into Keely’s office the next morning with the mail and a printed schedule for the week. She laid the items on the desk and was headed back to her work area when Keely came in.
“Someone’s been out in the sun.”
“Yeah. Alex and I went hiking Saturday.”
“Nice.”
“I need to ask a favor.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I need to take Friday off if that is okay. I know it’s short notice, but my sister is insisting that I throw her bachelorette party this weekend in Vegas.”
“Really? Alex said he’d be going out there this weekend too for Phil’s bachelor party.”
Sue nodded. “Yeah, see the urgency.”
Keely nodded. “You gotta do what you gotta do. Just try to have some fun for yourself while you’re away.”
“I doubt I’ll have time for it. The plan is to fly out Friday morning and then fly back Sunday. There won’t be a lot of time to do anything other than let Kimberly get wasted.”
“So I’ll see you on Monday then?”
“That’s the plan. And I’ll work half a day the Friday before Kimberly’s wedding to make up for it instead of taking a full day.”
“I think I can manage without you both days. It isn’t like you are always asking for time off.”
“Thanks. I appreciate your understanding.”
“The wedding is coming up pretty soon isn’t it?”
“Yeah. A little less than a month now and I can’t wait.”
“I’m sure she feels the same way. I remember counting down the final days before I married Darren. It was a frantic time.”
“I know.”
Keely smiled and picked up her mail, shuffling through it. “Yeah. I guess you do. You kept me calm through it all. When it’s your time you’ll be an old hand at planning a wedding.”
She laughed. “If I even want one. Helping Kimberly has been more of a challenge than I anticipated.”
“I bet you’re looking forward to seeing Alex in a tux.”
She blinked. “A tux?”
“Yeah. He’s a groomsman right?”
“Right
.”
“What did you think I meant?”
She gave a nervous giggle. “I thought…never mind. I better get back to my desk.” When she reached her work area, she opened the bottom desk drawer and took out the package of photos she’d had printed at the one hour lab yesterday. She’d had several copies in various sizes made of the picture of her and Alex. After their conversation about letting others at Wright and Associates know he was her boyfriend, she’d reconsidered putting a picture on her desk. She’d also picked up a woodsy frame from one of the many shops along the main strip in Gatlinburg.
Turning the frame over, she opened the back and slipped the photo in place. Then set it on her desk so she’d see it easy enough. Satisfied she turned her attention to her work knowing she had lots to do before she could take off to Vegas on Friday.
Alex double checked his wallet and suitcase to make sure he had everything for the weekend before he locked up the house and headed out to the truck. He had to pick up Brandon on the way to the airport. Mrs. Bradshaw from next door was waiting for him when he came out of the house.
“Don’t you worry. I’ll take good care of Duke and Queenie while you’re gone.”
“Thanks. You’ve got my number as well as Keely and Darren’s in case something should go wrong.”
“Yes. I’m sure everything will be fine. Mr. Brubaker has kept to himself since the animal control incident. A few of the neighbors had a talk with him after it. I don’t think he’ll be doing that again.”
He stowed his suit case in the back of the truck and walked over to the fence. Duke jumped up for him to pet. Queenie held back, but inched forward when she saw what he was doing. He was worried about how she’d handle him being gone more than Duke. Maybe it was too soon for him to be leaving her alone, but what could he do? Brandon and Phil were counting on him and he would only be gone two nights. Reluctantly he turned back to his neighbor. “Thanks again for watching them. I’ll see you Sunday evening.”
Getting in his truck, he headed to Brandon’s apartment complex a few streets over. His friend was waiting in the parking area by his truck, talking on his cell.
“Hey,” he opened the truck door and tossed his suitcase in the back. “Phil and Kimberly are on their way to pick up Sue before heading to the airport. They wanted to make sure we were on our way. He tried calling you, but it went to voice mail.”
Alex reached into his pant pocket and pulled out his phone. “Sorry. I must have accidentally turned it off.”
“Be more careful about that this weekend. That is the only way we can keep in contact if we get separated. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about getting to Vegas.”
“Yeah. It’ll be great.”
“It’ll be more than great. It’ll be a blast. I scored us entrance to an exclusive poker game tonight.”
“How’d you do that?”
“A friend of a friend at work knows this guy who works at the casino in the hotel where we’re staying. He got us in.”
Alex listened as he drove not sure he was up for playing that type of poker tonight. It had been a few years since he’d played so forking over five hundred to enter a game wasn’t something he was ready to do. Not when he could lose much more if he wasn’t careful. “What does Phil say about this? Is he game?”
Brandon shook his head. “He thinks the stakes are too high.”
“So do I.”
“Dude, not you too?”
“Sorry.”
“And here I thought you’d be the voice of reason he’d listen to. Man. It wasn’t easy to get the invite.”
“None of us have that kind of money to throw around. Phil’s paying for a wedding and a honeymoon trip. I just moved back to town so I’m still waiting for my moving expenses to be reimbursed. It was a stretch to afford the tickets to fly out to Vegas for the weekend on such short notice.”
Brandon slouched on his side of the truck. “Okay. Okay. I get it. I should have asked before going out on a limb to get us into the game. But I wanted to make sure we did more than hit the slots or have a few drinks too many.”
They drove the rest of the way to the airport in silence. Alex found an empty parking spot in the garage and they went in to find the ticket kiosk to pick up their e-tickets. Phil, Kimberly and Sue were there as well. The only person missing was Audra but he spotted her coming out of the ladies room.
“Hey, the gang’s all here,” Phil called as they approached.
“I’m ready to get this party started,” Kimberly said.
Brandon grimaced. “Like that’s going to happen with you along.”
Alex punched him in the arm and then took his ticket from the machine. “We can still have a good time. So check your attitude or Phil will pick up on your sour mood.”
“Yeah. Yeah.” Brandon pulled out his wallet and typed in the reservation code for his ticket.
Alex hung back and watched Sue chat with Audra instead of going over to speak to her even though that was what he wanted to do. She ran a finger behind her ear, tucking her hair there. Then she looked his way as if she sensed him staring. A smile formed at her mouth and she waved at him.
Audra said something that made her laugh. Her face lit up and he felt a tightening in his chest again. He really did love her, but did he dare tell her yet? He didn’t want to scare her away.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to be mooning all over her this weekend.” Brandon’s bark caused him to turn and glare. “Because if you are my suggestion is that you nail her and be done with it.”
Without thinking, Alex grabbed him by the collar. “Don’t ever say that again. Do you hear me?”
Kimberly gasped.
“Hey. What’s going on?” Phil stepped toward them.
“I’m sorry, man.” Brandon held up his hands.
“Back off, Alex,” Phil urged. “You don’t want to attract security’s attention. We’ll miss our flight if you do.”
He released Brandon, but pointed a finger at him. “You just watch your mouth.”
Phil stepped between them and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. “We’re here to have fun. So whatever is going on let’s leave it here. Come on let’s go get our luggage checked in.”
Alex shook his head and followed him to the counter before going on to the security check point, but he steered clear of Brandon as much as he could. His friend had always been crass, but saying what he had crossed the line.
The girls chattered as they waited in line and he tried to focus on the sound of their voices instead of replaying what Brandon had said in his head. But it wasn’t doing much good.
When it was his turn at security, he removed his shoes and emptied his pockets, staring at the bottle of potion Lucinda had given him. He put it in the bin with everything else hoping he wasn’t questioned about its contents. It would not be easy to explain why a man was carrying a good luck potion in his pocket. Holding his breath, he stepped through the detector and waited for his things to come through. No alarms began to blare and he hurried to put the items back in his pocket.
Sue came through behind him.
“Hi.”
“Are you okay?” She asked. “I see Brandon is being surly.”
“Yeah. He’s running his mouth.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and they walked toward the waiting area together. “I kinda botched his plans for this evening. And he isn’t thrilled that Phil is getting married or that I’m seeing someone now too.”
“Is he feeling left out?”
He nodded. “Though to hear him talk he isn’t interested in a relationship.”
“Maybe that will change. Audra was telling me about him escorting her to an event last week. She sounded interested.”
“Poor girl.”
Sue laughed. “I’ve missed seeing you this week.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
“I was very tempted to drive over.”
He smiled, feeling the tension finally leave his body. “Then you should have
.”
“But I didn’t want to seem clingy.”
“You never could. Besides I know Duke and Queenie would have loved to see you.”
“Do you think Queenie will be okay while you’re gone?”
“I’m wondering the same, but she’ll have to be left alone sometime. My neighbor, Mrs. Bradshaw is looking after them and Keely and Darren said they’d drop by to check in on them too. Try not to worry.”
“I guess I’m more worried about Mr. Brubaker.”
“I know what you mean.”
She laid her head on his shoulder and he inhaled the fruity scent of her body wash.
“Break it up, you two,” Kimberly said with a smile. “Sue, we probably should visit the ladies room. It’s a four hour flight.”
“Okay.” She pulled away from him. “I’ll see you later.”
She followed her sister and Audra to the women’s. But their intent was not to use the facilities. As soon as the door closed they began to question her.
“Did he tell you what Brandon did to cause that scene?” Audra wanted to know.
“No. Just that he said something he shouldn’t.”
“But what?” Kimberly asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. He didn’t tell me.”
“Whatever it was must have been bad. Alex seemed agitated until you started talking to him,” Audra said.
“Yeah, you seem to have a calming effect on him,” Kimberly agreed.
“And he can’t keep his eyes off of you either,” Audra added. “It’s so cute.”
“Really?”
They both nodded.
She smiled and went into the first available stall. When she came out of the ladies room, she saw that Phil and Brandon were sitting together, but Alex was over near a bay of windows staring out on the tarmac. She started to go to him, but the first boarding call for their flight came over the PA system.
“Come on, Sue,” Kimberly urged.
She hesitated a moment, then took a step toward her sister and they walked to the gate with Audra. Fishing her boarding pass out of her purse, she showed it to the attendant at the counter before going down the ramp to the plane.
Kimberly and Audra were sitting together on the right side of the plane, but her ticket had her two rows back on the left. The window seat at the wing. She pulled out her paperback book and settled in the seat wondering who she’d get stuck sitting with on the flight. Brandon sneered at her as he and Phil went by and took the seats directly behind her. Alex stopped in the aisle and double checked his ticket with the number on the overhead.
