by Gardner, A.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes," he barely forces out of his mouth. The way his skin crinkles around his mouth makes him look older. I listen intently, taking his hand. "My advice." My eyes water.
"I could always use good advice."
"You're still single." He pauses to take a breath. "Because you're afraid." I nod.
"Afraid of what exactly?"
"Of him," he whispers back. I look around the empty room. Earl stares up at the ceiling.
"Who?"
"Him," he mutters. He opens his mouth but can't say much more. He coughs and opens his mouth again. "He loves you, my dear." My heart pounds, knowing who Earl must have meant. But I was too nervous to admit it.
"Does he?" I say in a quiet voice. Earl forces a smile and gently rubs my hand. Did Jack really love me? Even after the way I turned him down? My mind wanders back to Rex and our time spent together. Did Rex love me?
"Take care of him," Earls coughs. "Please."
"I will," I promise.
Chapter Ten
It came. The phone call I'd been eagerly waiting for and dreading at the same time. Rex was home. I could hardly make it to the weekend without showing up at his doorstep but last time I did that it had been disastrous. I pushed Jack far back in my mind, hoping that if I spent more time with Rex I'd know for sure that he was the one for me.
I smooth my pencil skirt as I approach the elevator. My legs are shaky as I push the button to Rex's flat. Last time I'd pushed this button I'd flashed an old woman and almost gave her a stroke. As long as Rex and I were alone I'd be okay. My chest flutters as the doors open. Rex is waiting in an Armani suit. His hair is gelled, face shaven, and I can smell the spicy scent of his aftershave. He's holding something. A box with a precisely tied bow. He immediately hands it to me.
"For you," he says. His first words since returning to San Francisco.
"Is this supposed to be an apology?" Our eyes lock and there is no denying the attraction between us. The energy pulses strong. I hang onto that feeling, desperately wanting it to be enough. All I needed to know.
"It's a start." He brushes my delicate hand as he passes the box to me. It's light and shiny. I pull the bow and put a smile on my face before I even open it.
"Is this?"
"Just open it," he urges. Was this it? The one thing I'd been after for so long? And why wasn't Rex down on one knee? My mind is buzzing in my ears as I open the box. A flash of something shiny gets me excited and I pull out a diamond necklace. Not what I was hoping for but still the most expensive present I'd ever received. I swoon and hold the gift to my neck, moving my blouse slightly so the necklace rested on the skin of my chest.
"I love it," I respond.
"I knew you would." He walks forward and gently clasps the gift around my neck. He's breathing heavily, eyeing the top of my cleavage. His hand slips around my waist and I'm instantly pulled back to where we left off. My back is pressed against his front. I can feel his excitement as he runs his fingers along the top of my neckline. He passionately kisses my cheek. My legs feel weak like they want to drop to the floor.
I turn and kiss him, letting my fingers unbutton his shirt. I'd finally see the sight I'd been fantasizing about. Well, one of them. Rex's hands rub the back of my neck as he pulls me farther down the hall.
"Are we alone?" I whisper, remembering the horror of last time. A fear that left right away.
"Completely," Rex answers. He can barely contain himself. I feel his hand running along my zipper, freeing me of another layer. My mind is in a trance and my body is pulsing as I wait for what Rex has planned for me.
"And-" I can barely get a word out as Rex firmly kisses me again, this time doing me the favor of removing his shirt. His muscles flex as he grabs me again. His warm skin brushes against mine. My heart drums and my chest burns, desperately wanting to be bare. It was happening. Rex and I were finally alone, and our desires were about to take over. "But-"
"Shhh," he holds a finger to my lips and clutches the side of my thigh. Waves of heat pulse through me. I tilt my head back, letting my hair swing wildly. Kat!
I couldn't concentrate with the blinking question in my brain. The thing I'd been thinking about for a week was still unanswered. Was this how Rex planned on explaining everything?
"Rex," I breathe. He's lost in the curves of my hips. "Rex." He pulls at my blouse and I stop his hand. "Rex, there's something I need to know."
"Now?" It's clear that his voice of reason is far far away. He massages the sides of my stomach and slowly circles farther down.
"Yes," I whisper. I couldn't lose myself until I knew. I had to know.
"Okay," he says, disappointed. He frees his hands, stopping the rubs, the kisses, and the numbing tingles. "What's wrong?"
"It's not that I don't . . . I mean . . ." Why was this so difficult? He wasn't into Holly. This was just verification. He wouldn't be pulling me to bed if he were into Holly, right?
"Just say what's bothering you," he impatiently steps in. I grip the shimmery diamond around my neck.
"It's just." I take a deep breath.
"It's the diamond isn't it? You don't like it."
"No!" I smile. "I love it. Really."
"Is it the traveling thing, darling?" he eagerly asks. "Because there's nothing I can do to change that. This is how's it's going to be."
"No," I softly mutter. "No, I understand that's part of your job." I was delaying mentioning another girl when the two of us were minutes away from having sex for the first time. "It's . . . we never got to talk about you and . . . Holly." There. I said it! I said the word "Holly" and Rex didn't respond to it the way I'd hoped. His face slightly flinches at the mention of her.
"Holly?" He looks away for a minute. "What about her?" The flame inside me dies as I watch him uncomfortably adjust his unbuttoned pants. I nod.
"I only want the truth," I continue. "Are you and Holly . . . is something going on between the two of you?"
"Where is this coming from?" He steps back, fixing his messy hair. "You only met her that one time."
"Yeah." And she won over your crazy mother! Remember that? "And do you blame me for wondering what's going on between you?" I follow Rex to the posh leather sofa in his living room. He sits down.
"Okay," he replies. "You have a point. I do owe you an explanation." He rubs the cushion next him and gestures for me to sit down. "Holly and I met around the same time you and I did." Try, the same night!
"Yeah," I encourage him to continue.
"The two of us talked, we had a few laughs-"
"And?"
"And that's it," he finishes. But that couldn't be it. Holly would never let things slide that easily.
"Are you sure?"
"Kat," he says, cupping both my shoulders. His dark eyes take hold of me, putting me under a spell. In that moment I believed him and I wanted our fantasy to come true. "You're the one. You're the one I'm going to marry." The words hit me hard. It was like a million dollars worth of Jimmy Choos had fallen into my lap.
"You want to-"
"Yes," he smiles. "Kat, you're the girl I've been looking for. You're calm, you're smart, you're sexy."
"And your mom?"
"Will learn to love you," he finishes. He cups my cheek and the electricity between us sparks again. "Kat, I'm going to announce our engagement next weekend. But only if you'll accept of course."
"Yes," I blurt out. How could I say no? Rex was hot, loaded, and I'd finally get the chance to plan my dream wedding. "Yes!" I lean forward and kiss him. This time all my worries were tossed aside. This was the answer I'd been hoping for. The revelation I needed. Who to choose? And I can't believe that choice had been clouded. It was obvious. It was always Rex. I let out a sigh of relief. I'd almost ruined this moment by climbing into bed with the wrong guy. Well we did climb into bed but nothing happened.
I let Rex kiss me and wander to all the places he'd only been thinking about until now. He aggressively picks me up and
sets me on his lap, his trousers off and his chest racing. He pulls my thighs again and I let the euphoria of this moment take the lead. Rex tugs at strands of my hair, rhythmically moving me against him.
I couldn't have imagined our first time more perfect.
I wake up in a comfy bed with silky sheets. Rex is sitting next to me, typing on his laptop. His bare arm is flexed and the sheets drape his body just enough to tease me. I sneak a look at his lean body - the body that had carried me through a night of hotness. I smile, touching the tip of his side.
"Good morning," he says, still typing. He pauses for a moment. "Breakfast?"
"Mmm," I respond. "What do you have in mind?" I wait for him to grab me by the thighs and take me on another climatic journey. Instead he looks at the clock on his bedside table.
"Actually we should get going," he says, closing his laptop. "I had a few shops open early for us." He grins, waiting for me to sit up and squeal.
"We're going shopping?"
"Well yeah," he chuckles. "We've got to get you something for next week."
"Of course."
"I thought you'd be pleased?" He stands up, his sculpted buttocks in full view.
"I am," I argue. "Really."
"Good." He disappears into the bathroom and I hear the shower switch on. His voice echoes through the bedroom. "Now come join me."
* * *
It was the first time I'd been escorted around Union Square with a body guard. A sidewalk was blocked off so we could shop and flashing bulbs made it hard to think. Rex hands me a pair of sunglasses so my eyes can relax from the constant paparazzi pictures. I hold tight to Rex's arm and follow him into Burberry. The store is empty apart from a beaming manager and gleaming white.
"Right over there love," Rex instructs. I'm immediately nudged into a dressing room full of outfits. All had been chosen for me. Dark colors. Form fitting. Sleek. Not really my style. When it came to a gorgeous dress I was drawn to color. "Go ahead." Rex is sitting on the other side. I hear a woman bringing him coffee.
"Sure," I agree. "But I would like to take a look at some things myself." I unbutton my blouse and begin trying to stuff my hips into these tiny sizes.
"No time for that I'm afraid," he responds. "Don't worry though. All those were picked by a professional stylist. They're the absolute best the store can offer, darling." I stare at myself in the mirror, sucking in my stomach and literally squeezing myself into the first dress on the rack. It was black with a goldish belt that was supposed to tie around my waist. I finally get the thing on and adjust the hem.
"Uh-"
"Let me see," Rex responds. He gets up and opens the dressing room door before I have the chance to argue. He nods.
"Very nice. Try on the next one." It was becoming more and more clear that Rex was doing the choosing here.
"Eh," I spin around. "I'm not sure i like it."
"Really?" His eyes do a once-over. He grins, shutting the dressing room door behind him and letting his gaze slip down to my bare legs. "Because I think it looks lovely." I let him kiss me with a yearning look on his face. His hands feel the luscious curve of my hips and slips under the hem.
"Do you," I smile, letting his fingers caress my pulsing skin.
"Now," he whispers. "Try the rest on so we can go somewhere new." He winks, leaving me alone again to change into other look-alikes. I hear my cell phone buzz. I have a new text message. It's from Holly. I stare at her name, sure that the message would be something about London. The studio must have told her that I'd called. I touch my screen. Hi. We need to talk.
Talk about what? About how she flew across the world without telling me? It was too late for that. Rex had chosen his girl. He chose me.
What about? I text back.
You know what about. Her reply comes immediately.
I can't. And that was the truth. I wasn't going to step aside and I wasn't about to cut down on the little time I had to spend with Rex before the announcement. There was no way she could ruin this for me now. Oh wait . . . there was one way.
Please, Kat. Her keenness made me nervous. She wouldn't. We'd played this her way and I still won.
I know about London. I push send. My heart pounds, and not just because Rex was hovering on the other side of the door while I undressed.
We still need to talk, she writes back. I put down my phone, ignoring her. Things were about to change drastically for me. I wasn't going to let Holly mess with my head or make me feel guilty anymore. I'd done it. I'd finally done it! I'd met a guy that hit all the check points and now we were on our way to announcing our engagement. A little voice in my head makes me wince. And when Rex finds out about you and Holly? That wouldn't happen for a while. I'd make sure of that.
Chapter Eleven
I was on cloud nine, walking into Jenna's bridal shower in my new Burberry dress and matching heels. A designer Marc Jacobs bag hanging over my shoulder and new Gucci shades to hide my eyes from paps. Leah's eyes go wide as I sit on the couch in the hotel lobby and cross my legs.
"Kat," she says stunned. "You . . ."
"I know," I reply. "I look a million times better."
"Actually." Leah shakes her head. "I was going to say . . ." I stare at her. "Nevermind. You're right. You look great." I smile as Jenna and her other bridesmaids join us. A waiter hands everyone a champagne glass.
"To Jenna," Leah toasts. She drinks and stands up as the server escorts us to our party room. "See," Leah whispers. "Told you she would get over it." Jenna smiles and practically bounces down the hall. They were back on good speaking terms.
"Impressive," I mutter. Leah nods, pleased with herself. We follow the girls to a room decorated with bundled roses and a rectangular table full of beautifully wrapped presents. All from Keith's side of the family.
"Oh my gosh!" Jenna can barely pull herself away. She immediately picks up a box labeled Tiffany & Co. "You guys!"
"Thank your fiancé," Leah mumbles, sitting at a table. The place settings are labeled and I move around the room looking for my name.
"Right here," a familiar voice calls. I see Holly's slim face and curled blond locks. She's wearing a red dress and has a worried look on her face. The sight of her makes my stomach feel sour. I still couldn't swallow her betrayal. I smile trying not to seem too smug but the tables had turned. Now she was playing victim? After all the things she'd said to me at The Four Seasons. How she'd embarrassed me in front of my future mother in law.
"Hmmm."
"Listen Kat," she mutters. She looks even skinnier than usual. "I need to talk to you." I ignore her as Jenna stands to thank everyone. "Kat."
"Now isn't the time," I say through my teeth. I tug at the diamond around my neck. It wasn't an engagement ring but it was enough to get the message across.
"Who wants more bubbly?" Jenna practically jumps up and down. "Holly?"
"No," she says, looking annoyed. "Kat, we need to talk right now." Jenna stops talking as the entire room looks at us, including Keith's mom and grandma. I try to look poised as Holly's raises her voice. I blush.
"Holly-"
"I'm sick of this, Kat!" she yells, jumping up. Jenna steps aside looking bewildered. I feel my fiery cheeks. Attention. That's all Holly cared about was freakin' attention.
"Fine," I respond. "You want to do this now? Let's do this now. I know what you did, Holly! I know you went to London!"
"I had to."
"No you didn't!" I ignore Leah's light tug on my arm. "That's just it! I played your stupid game Holly and guess what? You lost! Lost, okay! Why can't you just be happy for me?"
"That outfit," she laughs. "The necklace. You think that proves anything?"
"We're getting engaged," I blurt out. Holly looks startled by the news. The hurt in her eyes is immediately gratifying and then it stings. Her eyes go watery as she studies me up and down.
"You're lying," she says quietly and on the verge of tears. The room is silent.
"I don't lie," I smugly respond. I giv
e her the look. The one she'd taught me in high school. It was the look that said I'm better than you. I'm smarter than you. I'm the one on top. It was cruel but it was my first reaction after what had happened between us. She'd lied about everything. The moment Rex came up, our relationship had changed. Or maybe it was the truth finally coming to light.
"He loves me," she continues. The words pierce me like an arrow through the skin. The look on her face pours salt in my open wound. She was telling the truth. I could see it on her face.
"But he's marrying me," I retaliate.
"What is going on?" I hear Jenna whisper.
"It's over between you Kat." Holly grabs her purse and stumbles halfway to the door.
"Really?" I can't let it go. Her jealousy is eating away at me. What does she want me to say? Okay, you win? "You came all the way here to threaten me?"
"Kat!" The tears finally break through and the pain on her face is unbearable to watch. "I'm pregnant." My jaw drops. I gulp, feeling sick to my stomach. After everything Rex and I had talked about - the night we'd spent together. She couldn't be pregnant.
"Don't lie to me-"
"I'm not lying!" She storms out, clutching her stomach. The room starts to spin and my mind dwells on Rex. His face. His words. His promises. I feel like I might faint.
"Sis," Leah steadies me. "You okay?" I nod, feeling the urge to rip off my diamond necklace and stomp on it.
"Well," Jenna stands up again. She looks at the dismayed faces around the room. "Those are the Artino girls for you." She laughs uncomfortably. "Who wants tea and cake?"
* * *
"She's chalk full of it, girl." I sat with Sadie in the cafeteria. I had to talk to someone. My engagement dinner was approaching fast and I still hadn't told my parents. I could barely face Rex and Holly hadn't contacted me since the bridal shower. It was classic Kat. Just when things started going my way, it all started to fall apart. Was my fiancé cheating? Was my best friend lying?
