Romancing the Fashionista: The Flirty Fashionistas, Book 1

by K. M. Jackson

  “Kids? How many do you have?” Mel asked.

  Andrea beamed. “This little one here will be my fourth. Another girl, which thrills the hell out of my husband, John, and scares the shit out of me. I’m thinking it’s all payback, and my mom’s prayers are being answered.”

  “Four, wow. You may be right there.”

  “Yeah, wow is right. Which is why I want you to try my Timber-tini. John is part owner here. We handle the catering and support staff, and I made this drink up special for the reunion as part of the planning committee.”

  “Wow!” Mel said. “So you moved back to town?

  Andrea laughed as she shook her head. “I know, shocker, right? After running off with that dude from the mini-mart after graduation, I got all the way to Tampa and realized what a dumbass I was. It took me over two years to admit it and make my way back home. I’m glad I did. I had a lot of making up to do, especially to my mom. I wasn’t the easiest of kids.”

  Mel and Lexi exchanged looks. Well, she didn’t lie there. The girl spent more time out of class than she did in. And on most days if she wasn’t found smoking in the girls’ bathroom she could be found hanging out one town over where there was a huge biker community.

  The bartender put two Timber-tinis on the counter. “Try your drinks. I wish I could.”

  Lex and Mel picked them up. “Well, cheers then. Thanks for planning this. It’s good to see you back and doing so well.”

  Andrea shrugged. “It’s not much. My husband is sweet and he makes being back in Timber not only tolerable, but a dream. Not to mention he looks good and is just successful enough that it bugs the shit out of Ramona and her brood. That part is a bonus.” She leaned in. “I know it’s wrong, but secretly I live for pissing them off by being so happy.”

  Lexi took a sip of her drink. “Amen to that. And yum on the drink!”

  Andrea grinned as a waiter came by and whispered in her ear. “Well, duty calls, but we’ll catch up this weekend? I’m really happy you made it. There weren’t many people who were nice to me in school. You two were some of the precious few.” She leaned in and gave both Lexi and Mel hugs as far as her belly would let her before turning to the bartender with an easy smile she never had as a teen. “Treat these two right all weekend. They’re friends of mine.”

  The bartender smiled. “You heard the lady. Your money is no good here so drink up. I’ve got you.”

  Mel and Lexi left with their drinks and the beers to head back to their table and the guys. Something about the encounter with Andrea struck Mel. It was nice to see someone who she hadn’t thought of in years doing so well and looking truly happy. It was as if all that hurt that had twisted and tangled, choking Andrea from the past, had been unfurled and released out into the atmosphere. Now it bloomed into these precious little beings she seemed to be happily creating.

  As she walked back, Mel watched Nolan as his dark eyes slid over her body. She felt the heat as his gaze scanned her from top to bottom, taking stock, assessing her from head to toe. He licked his full lips before spreading them into an easy, inviting smile. One she suddenly wanted to melt into. She handed him his beer bottle and felt a rush that went right to her core as his finger grazed over the back of her hand before she released his beer. She looked up. Every nerve in her body pointed in his direction, highly sensitive and on full alert as the DJ’s voice came over the top of the remix of “Single Ladies”.

  “Let’s hear it for the 90s babies! I need you all to get your asses on the dance floor. You’re not dead yet! This is supposed to be a parrrr-tay! All my independent women, put your hands up! All my independent women, put your hands up! If you got your own money and you really don’t care, let me see you wave your hands in the air!”

  Nolan was reaching out to put Mel’s drink on the table when yet another, this time female, voice came over the microphone. “All the single ladies! Excuse me, single ladies? I guess he’s not talking about me. Ramona Spencer-Patterson over here!” She held up her ringed left hand. “Seven years married. Thank you, Jimmy! But Melinda, Alexia, better known as Eenie and Meenie, I think he’s calling for you two! By special request the DJ is playing your song.”

  Mel and Lexi’s heads shot towards the DJ table in unison before turning back towards each other. Yeah, it was high school all over again as they said in unison, “Fucking Ramona Spencer-Patterson,” and hit the floor grabbing hold of Ian and Nolan along the way.

  “Oh shit now!” Ian yelled playfully. “Don’t hurt me, woman!”

  “You should be so lucky,” Lexi yelled to him over her shoulder.

  Seemingly as one, the two women started a dance that was so in sync it looked choreographed, but in the best of ways. They spun on their heels and shook their booties around Nolan and Ian, bending low and dropping like it was hot before coming back up, shimmying and switching partners before Nolan and Ian could tell what was happening to them. The more they moved, the bigger the crowd around them got. And though she hated to admit it, since it was so out of her comfort zone, Mel was having a fantastic time. It was like they were kids again, dancing up in Lexi’s bedroom, but this time their imaginary partners were real. Live and right in front of her.

  She gave a glance at Nolan, and though he was clearly stunned by her moves, he was putting up some pretty good moves of his own. When the song switched to an old R&B boy band hit, he and Ian took over high-fiving and flipping the script, turning the tables on the women. They danced around Mel and Lexi, throwing up their hands and freak-dancing like they didn’t have a care in the world.

  The other classmates were now trying to join in, and Mel spotted Ramona and her crew attempting to pull their significant others into the fray before the fun was over. But they were hopelessly tragic. It was official. They were now the coolest no-longer kids at this party. And in a fit of complete impulsiveness, Mel caught Ramona’s eye on her ring-less left hand, then turned back to Nolan and pulled him in for a kiss.

  Chapter Six

  Holy shit, I’m kissing Nolan Parker!

  Yes, Mel was kissing Nolan Parker in front of her entire graduating class. Wait a minute, she was kissing Nolan Parker in front of her entire graduating class, and he was kissing her back.

  This moment just keeps getting better and better.

  Mel took a second to really assess what was indeed happening. Her lips were no longer just hers and no longer the aggressor’s. No, there was an opposite but equal force coming right back at her, applying the right amount of delicious pressure to let her know she wasn’t in this alone. Go physics! At the same time, she noticed the music changing once again. It was still upbeat but had now slowed a bit and had taken on a cool guitar with a low bass and a crooner singing about making love.

  All righty then.

  Nolan seemed to be taking it to heart too as he eased his arm around Mel’s waist and smoothly pulled her in towards his, holy moly, hard-as-hell body. They now swayed and the heat of him warmed her as they were thigh-to-thigh and chest-to-chest. Heartbeats became one and breaths mingled as Nolan turned his head slightly and eased his tongue along the crease of her lips, asking for entry. In her mind Mel opened her mouth to say no, but as her tongue reached out for his it was clearly a yes. When they came together for the first time to the beat of the slow jam, her heart raced to a tempo no song could keep up with. This was magic.

  “Now wasn’t that invigorating?” Ramona’s strained voice came over the speaker, breaking the mood and the spell way too fast by reminding Mel where she was in the real world. She and Nolan came apart slowly, both wide-eyed and a little off-kilter.

  Mel looked over her shoulder, and there was Lexi grinning that “cat that not only ate the canary but the whole fucking pet store” grin as she gave her friend a pinky wave before easing away from Ian, who looked terribly forlorn at the dismissal. Lexi went towards Sexy Mr. Stuart, who stood over by the door with two Timber-tinis ready to m
ake a quick exit. Geeze, who knew both Lexi and I had an odd Mr. Robinson thing to work out?

  “And don’t forget we have a big day tomorrow with the parade and the pep rally and then the big dance. I can’t thank you enough for showing your school spirit in such a wonderful way!” Ramona was now finishing up her speech. “Oh, and there is a box with ballots to be cast for our king and queen redeux. So cast those votes. Members of the homecoming court, please meet here for the parade at 9:30 sharp, but first, can we all meet for a moment in the far left corner?” She cast a very pointed look at Nolan with that comment.

  Mel snorted. “I think that means you, Mr. Parker. Or shall I say, King Parker. Your court awaits.” Mel made her way towards their little table where her purse was and pulled out her phone. Her mind now actively pushing past their kiss and on its way to work and how she’d spend the rest of her evening.

  Mel shook her head as her phone buzzed, knowing already it would be Lexi texting her.

  Lex: Don’t wait up for me. I’m grabbing some things and will meet up with you tomorrow after I see my parents.

  Mel: Watch yourself. Be safe.

  Lex: Maybe you should text him that.

  Mel: SMH

  Lex: Don’t worry I’ll be fine. You have fun. Real fun. You know what I mean.

  Mel: I’m sleeping alone tonight. Your plan will not work.

  Lex: My plans always work.

  Mel: Go live out your teacher fantasy so we can quickly get out of this town.

  Lex: Night Girlie!

  Mel: Goodnight :-)

  Despite all her protests, while signing off, Mel’s lips still tingled and that damn kiss popped back into her thoughts. As she licked her lips, Mel swore she could still taste and feel Nolan—the touch of cinnamon mixed with beer and masculinity. Mel sucked in a breath and tucked her phone back into her bag and prepared to walk away. This day and night had been exciting enough. Time to pack it in. But Nolan caught her by the arm as she was leaving the room.

  “What are you doing?” She challenged him on a turn. “Your court awaits you.”

  “Let them wait. I’d rather dance with you some more. Why don’t you stay, then I’ll walk you up? Since we’re neighbors and all.”

  Mel smiled, though not at all happy with the words about to come out of her mouth. Especially with the way Nolan was looking at her. Eyes smoldering, traveling from her eyes to her lips and back. She should say yes. Why not just say yes? Lord knows she fantasized about an offer from Nolan Parker for way too many years, and this was her chance. Besides, judging by his dance moves and the quite-generous bulge that greeted her when they danced, she was pretty sure he would definitely live up to the fantasy.

  Mel shook her head. “No thanks. It’s been fun, but I’m ready to pack it in. If I go now, I still have a few hours to get some work in tonight. Thanks for the dance,” she paused. “And the extra. This was way more than I’m used to. I’ll see you around tomorrow, I’m sure.”

  Mel eased her arm from his grasp, slower than was probably necessary, but savoring what she could, as she made her way out of the Tahoe room and away from Nolan Parker for the night.

  Nolan continued to watch Mel go for about five seconds after she was gone. Damn it! He should have gone after her. Kissed her. Something. Anything other than standing there. Still, he knew that some part of him worried that she may just be out of his league. Hell, even back then, when they were kids, he felt that way. Something about her cool attitude and that smart, know-it-all way of hers, did it to him. And truth be told, he still felt it today.

  Yet here he was once again, watching her go and following the rules, doing what was expected.

  Nolan stood over with the rest of the crew, which consisted of the old homecoming court and Ramona droning on about where they had to meet in the morning to be propped up on the homecoming float and dragged through the town square like old-timey bread thieves. What the hell? The reason he was even here doing this had left the room and was probably, at that moment, slipping out of her sexy slip of a dress not twenty feet from his own bed for the night.

  “Nolan, are you paying attention?”

  He blinked and looked at Ramona. “To what?”

  She gave him an exasperated look and rolled her eyes. “I was saying as king and queen, it would be nice if we opened the dance.”

  “Really, Ramona? Don’t you think we should leave that to the kids?”

  Silence.

  Jeeze. For a moment he thought the DJ even stopped the music, as if anyone questioning Ramona was that serious. She blinked. “Well, this is a special occasion, and we do have a reputation to uphold.”

  Nolan yawned. He was tired, well if not tired, then tired of this conversation, and ready for it to be over. “Trust me, I’m sure for all of us our reputations are bigger in our own minds than they are in anyone else’s. How about you take your turn around the dance floor with the current king in your life, and we’ll just leave it at that.”

  Ramona blinked as if she could wash away his dissention with her glued-on lashes. Finally she spoke up. “Well, I see somebody came back home with his cranky pants on.” She reached out and ran a hand across his chest. It was so blatantly sexual he was nothing but embarrassed for her, and worse, her husband who was by the bar visibly on his way to shitfaced throwing back a Jack.

  Nolan stilled her hand and gently put it aside, not liking that her hand was in the same spot Mel’s had been not long before. But still he smiled. He was good at it. “I’m cool. Not cranky at all.” He looked at the small gathering of his so-called friends. “Listen, I’m going to turn in. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

  There were nods and murmurs of goodnight as Nolan left the party, nodding to Ian who was now chatting up one of the waitresses. Nolan knew he screwed up by letting Mel go without him, and because of that he had a long night ahead of him of staring longingly at an adjoining door while he wished away a massive hard-on.

  Chapter Seven

  Mel pulled her shades down over her eyes and headed out of the coffee shop clutching her cup tightly. She and Lexi were supposed to be breakfasting at her parent’s house this morning, but with Lexi falling back into the room somewhere around 4 a.m. and only budging long enough to text her mom to tell them she’d see them later, Mel knew she was on her own for the morning.

  She’d thought about taking the day and working on next month’s Anguilla layout. Shelby had overnighted her all she needed so she probably should skip the planned festivities today. But despite the pull of going over the tropical photo spread, Mel still found herself out on Main Street cautiously blending in with the small crowd of town folks standing around waiting for the annual Timber Day parade to start.

  As Mel stood in between a group of stroller moms and some old men who looked as if they had their lawn chairs out since daybreak, the parade started with the marching of the color guard. The military represented were greeted with cheers and some salutes from the crowd, followed by the cub and boy scouts, and then volunteers from the ambulance corps and the fire department. When the Girl Scouts came by with their bright faces full of hope, Mel was once again transported back to the days of growing up in the town and those old feelings of isolation came surging back on the rush of a wave. She remembered how her mother took her to a scout meeting at the suggestion of a friend she worked with at the bakery. But the girls took one look at Mel and couldn’t wait to point out the differences in her hair and skin tone. With the comment of an upcoming overnight at the lake, Mel went home and told her mother she would not be going back to the troop. Looking at the girls now, marching happily, Mel was thrilled to see the town and the Scouts had become more inclusive with, not many but at least some, children from varying ethnic backgrounds. They all seemed to be thriving and happy marching behind their Timber banners with pride.

  Up next was the Timber marching band followed by the current Timbere
ttes. Mel lowered her shades a fraction of an inch and pulled out her cell, snapping a pic. Lexi had to see this. The Timberettes had indeed changed from their time there and, like the Scouts that preceded them, they were no longer a sea of blonde but now a lovely array of girls in all colors and even shapes that looked fantastic in the traditional Timber blue and gold. Mel was suddenly pulled up short. What had happened to the old backwater town while she was away? She looked down at her coffee cup and wondered if this was what a Starbucks could do to a place?

  Mel pushed her glasses back up and reluctantly bobbed her head to the sound of the horns as she watched the processional. Her bobbing stopped when she had the feeling of being watched rather than the one doing the watching. Mel looked up at the oncoming float and connected eyes with Nolan. He looked good this morning, and she was thankful she had her shades on to hide her reaction and the fact that she got so little sleep last night. At first she told herself she was up listening for Lexi. But of course when Lexi was in and snoring and she was still tossing and turning, she told herself it was because she had so much work-related stuff to take care of, and it wasn’t because she was thinking of that delicious lip lock with Nolan and where she would have liked it to have gone.

  But today, in the blaring sun, with the cool Timber breeze on her face, Mel could admit to herself that, yeah, it was all about him and how she should have taken the opportunity last night to get him out of her system once and for all.

  Nolan looked good. Still sexy as hell, though uncomfortable, up on the float, which as she shifted her focus she noticed held the former homecoming court in the front with the current homecoming court in the back. The “queens” were each highlighted on raised daises. Ramona, for her part, beamed and waved from her seat as if she was indeed royalty. Mel couldn’t help shaking her head and feeling for the current queen having to share her moment with that piece of work.