by Hazel Kelly
“Don’t bullshit me. Did I make Claire crazy? Did she tell you I made her crazy?”
“No,” I lied. “You did a great job.”
“Does that mean I can plan your wedding to?”
“It means you can book my flights to Vegas if you want.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” she said, smacking my chest.
I shrugged.
“I know you wouldn’t deny your Mother another fabulous party.”
“I bet Dad would be delighted to save the money,” I said.
“He would not,” she said. “I know he puts on a big stink, but it’s just an act. He loves to entertain and flash his wealth around. If he didn’t, he would leave his job and become a fisherman.”
“What?!” I laughed. “No he wouldn’t.”
“Yes he would. He talks about it all the time.”
I shook my head. “Dad would be the shittiest fisherman ever. He has the patience of a Swiss watch.”
“I know he’d never actually do it, but I think he’s comforted by the dream of it, you know? Of having a plan B.”
“I could see that.”
“And what about you?” she asked. “What’s your plan B?”
“I only have a plan A,” I said. “Which is to open my own practice in the next two months.”
“That soon?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t even think you had a location yet?”
“Two actually. I just need to pick one and not look back.”
Her face looked inappropriately hurt. “Why haven’t you asked me to look at them?”
“Cause I knew you were busy with the wedding,” I said. “And that Claire needed your help.”
She smacked her lips. “You are such a good boy.”
“I try, Mom.”
“Well, I’ll have plenty of time from now on if you need me.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“Have you shown the locations to Lucy?”
“No,” I said.
“Oh.”
“Why do look so surprised?”
“I just thought you guys were- I don’t know-”
“What?”
“Nothing,” she said. “I just assumed you guys were getting serious.”
“You know we’ve always been friends.”
“I know,” she said. “And I thought that’s why you asked her as your date but then-”
“Then what?”
She shrugged. “I must’ve misread the signs.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Things just seemed different between you two today. I know I haven’t seen her in a while, but it felt like you two had a chemistry or something that wasn’t there before.”
“I don’t know what you thought you saw but-”
“For example,” she said. “When you were giving your toast-”
“Yeah?”
“The way she was looking at you was, well, it wasn’t the way you look at a friend.”
“What way was it?”
“Maybe I was imagining things, but I swear she looked so proud of you I was half wondering if she wrote the thing herself.”
I smiled.
“And then when I realized she hadn’t, the only explanation for her expression was that she’s totally enamored by you.”
“You think so?”
“It’s just women’s intuition,” she said. “Lord knows I’ve been wrong before.”
I gasped. “When? I can’t believe it!”
“Shut up,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And don’t tell your Father I said that.”
“It’ll be our little secret.”
“Anyway, if you don’t feel the same, I would advise you to tread softly.”
“With Lucy?”
“Yes,” she said. “Something tells me she wants more from your friendship.”
“Can you blame her?”
She shook her head. “Of course not. You’re adorable.”
I grimaced.
“The point is, you shouldn’t lead her on if you don’t feel the same way.”
“I know.”
“And that goes for taking advantage of her feelings for you, too.”
“Jeez, Mom. Give me some credit.”
“I’m just saying. I know how you men are.”
“You men.” I shook my head. “Unbelievable.”
“No,” she said. “You know what’s unbelievable?”
“What?”
“The way she looks in that yellow dress.”
I turned to look over my shoulder and saw her standing at the top of the room. And once again, my Mom was right.
She was a total knockout.
Chapter 17: Lucy
At first I was worried when I didn’t see Aiden at our table. Not because I expected him to wait for me there but because I was feeling a bit dizzy after my run in with the police and knew nothing would comfort me like his attention.
But then I felt eyes on me and looked across the room towards the dance floor where Aiden and his Mom were standing still and looking in my direction.
A wave of relief passed over me as he excused himself from her company and headed my way. I had a strange feeling as I watched him coming towards me, like I was about to be rescued. Like I was a princess in a castle and he was moving in slow motion on horseback or something.
I guess it just struck me because he must’ve walked towards me a million times over the years, but something was different in the way he moved this time. I don’t know if it was his stance or his pace or the seriousness in his face, but it felt weirdly exciting to be the thing he was striding towards, even if it was only for a brief moment.
“Are you alright?” he asked when his final step landed in front of me.
I nodded. “I’m fine, yeah.”
“Did the cops leave?”
“Yeah, sorry about that again.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said. “Do you want to sit down and tell me what’s going on?”
I was in no hurry to sit down for another interrogation, but I wasn’t sure if I had any other options.
Until I noticed Dave twirling Claire around the dance floor behind Aiden.
“Actually, would you dance with me?” I asked.
A smile lifted his face. “It would be my pleasure.” He stuck out his elbow so I could take his arm.
Being the girl on his arm was fun, but when he turned towards me and slipped his hands over my hips, I felt transported away from the stress of being questioned by the police.
I slung my arms over Aiden’s shoulders and exhaled, feeling my tension melt into the wooden floor.
“So?” he asked.
“So.”
“Are you going to tell me what the hell that was about?”
I shook my head. “I’m not even sure where to start.”
“The beginning is fine.”
I sighed. “Okay. You know my boss?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Well, he fired Fiona a few weeks ago.”
“What?!”
“That’s why she was drunk and running her mouth when you stopped by that day.”
“I see,” he said. “What did she get fired for?”
I cringed. “For kneeing him in the balls.”
He stopped rocking on his feet. “What?!”
“He grabbed her- groped her- whatever. Basically, she freaked out.”
“Jesus.”
“Anyway, as far as I was concerned, it was the last straw. So I decided to get some legal advice.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Cause it’s not your problem.”
“But my family tree is crawling with lawyers.”
“I know but-”
“Plus, lawyers are expensive. Can you even afford a lawyer right now?”
“More than I can afford your charity.”
He rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t offering you charity, okay? I know you’re as capable as you are stubborn but-”
“The other reason I didn’t tell you was because I didn’t want you to freak out about Chuck and add more stress to the situation.”
He clenched his jaw.
“Please don’t be offended.”
“I suppose legal justice is more than I think he deserves.”
“I know, and you’ve already threatened him, and I just didn’t think telling you right away was necessary… though I probably would’ve told you by now if you hadn’t been blowing me off.”
His mouth formed a straight line. “So Nathan is your lawyer?”
“Yeah, he’s a volunteer so he’s been helping me for free.”
“That’s nice of him.”
“He’s a nice guy. In fact, I feel pretty bad that he was dragged out here on a Saturday because of my case- or not my case, but some other case that-”
“Slow down.”
I took a deep breath. “To make a long story short, I’ve been gathering evidence from all the girls at the salon over the past few weeks, and when Nathan submitted our reports to the police, they were really interested because Chuck was already on their radar.”
“For what?”
“Well, I guess Pedenko isn’t really his last name for starters.”
Aiden shook his head.
“And they didn’t say much, but it sounds like he has at least one other business where he may or may not be employing illegal immigrants, some of which may or may not be underage.”
He exhaled through his nose.
“So I guess when our evidence of his sexual harassment arrived, it got flagged because they think he might be breaking more laws than they realized and that underage women could be in danger.”
“Holy shit, Luce.”
“I know.”
“So what did they ask you?”
“Nothing much really. They just wanted to confirm how I got the evidence Nathan submitted, how long I’ve been working for him, and whether I know anything about what he does when he’s not at the salon.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Which I don’t.”
Aiden’s hands slid up my back and he hugged me against his chest.
I felt cocooned in his embrace and would’ve happily snuggled there forever with his cheek resting on my head… if it weren’t for it being slightly awkward considering all the people dancing around us.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, taking a step back.
“I am.”
“He hasn’t touched you since I threatened him, right?” he asked, searching my eyes.
“No,” I said. “Not a hair on my head.”
He exhaled and rolled his shoulders back. “Good. You would tell me if he did, right?”
My lips fell apart.
“Seriously, Lucy. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
“I fucking hate you working there with that creep.”
“I don’t think it will be much longer,” I said. “As soon as Fiona finds somewhere else, I’ll probably try and follow her.”
“She hasn’t found anything yet?”
I shook my head. “She’s had a few close calls, but nothing’s panned out yet.”
“If you need help with your rent or anything-”
“Thanks for the offer, Aiden, but I need your support, not your money.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
“Anyway,” I said, “as much as I like talking about my creepy boss, maybe we could change the subject?”
“Sure,” he said. “Thanks for filling me in.”
“Thanks for being such a good sport about… earlier,” I said, rolling my eyes towards the ceiling.
“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “If it had been anyone besides cops at the door I would’ve told them where to go.”
I laughed. “Well, thank you for your self-control.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, his eyes darkening. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid I don’t have any left.”
“Is that a warning?” I asked.
He smiled. “It’s a line.”
“You’re full of ‘em, aren’t you?”
He pulled me close and his voice dropped to a whisper. “Lucy, let me make something clear.”
I turned my head so I could feel his warm breath on my ear.
“There is absolutely nothing I wouldn’t say to get you into bed.”
I smiled. “You mean back into bed.”
He shrugged. “To be honest, the bed isn’t even a requirement.”
“Seems a shame not to have a bed in a place with this many though.”
“So true. And actually, seeing as how we have a room each, we’re spoiled for choice.”
“Are the rooms the same?”
“I think so, except mine probably still has a bottle of champagne in it.”
“It would be terrible to let that go to waste.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Plus, knowing my Dad it’s probably crap stuff anyway.”
“So it won’t keep?”
“Exactly.”
I pretended to consider the information carefully.
“Actually, I was going to put us down for one room in the first place, but I didn’t want to be presumptuous.”
“Oh?”
“I was trying to be a gentleman.”
I smiled and felt my stomach drop. “That won’t be necessary.”
“I’m so relieved you feel that way.”
“Why’s that?”
“Cause as far as the rest of our evening is concerned, I have nothing polite planned.”
Chapter 18: Aiden
I saw a flash in her eyes that made my blood boil.
“Oh really?” she asked, her cheeks turning pink.
I nodded, struggling to keep from getting hard in the middle of the dance floor.
“I didn’t know you had any plans at all,” she said.
“Sure you did.”
Her eyes went wide. “Nope. I thought you only invited me as a gesture of good will so I could do your sister’s hair.”
“You’ve got me all wrong then.”
“Do I?”
I nodded. “I’m much more selfish than that.”
“Huh.” She stuck out her bottom lip. “I’m surprised.”
“Why’s that?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Well if anything, I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised by your generosity.”
I smiled. “I’m glad,” I said, leaning in to her ear. “And I’ve been surprised by how sweet you taste.”
She swallowed, her eyes flitting around to make sure no one overheard.
I let the words sink in, willing her to start getting wet and ready for me.
“What exactly did you have in mind,” she asked in a low voice.
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t subject a lady like yourself to such language.”
Her chest sank as she let out her breath.
“Besides, I’d rather show you.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Then let’s not,” I said, grabbing her hand and leading her off the dance floor. As we weaved through the other revelers, the MC’s voice came over the loud speaker.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if we could have your attention up here, we’re about to cut the cake!”
Lucy stopped in her tracks and looked towards the cake. It was seven tiers and decorated with delicate white chocolate lace, flowers made of icing and pearls, and all kinds of other excesses that guaranteed it must’ve set my Dad back a few grand.
My sister and Dave stood to the side of it as the crowd began closing in around them.
Lucy looked at me and back at the cake and then at me again and then longingly at the cake. It was almost as tall as she was, and she admired it the way I would the Rugby World Cup.
Without letting go of her hand, I stepped back towards her. “Do you want to stick around for a piece of cake?”
I could see the conflict in her face.
“I don’t mind,” I said. “Really.”
She
watched as Claire and Dave each put a hand on the knife and pushed through the bottom layer. The cameras at the front of the room flashed like a thousand fireflies.
“No, it’s fine,” she said. “Let’s go.”
“But you love cake.”
“I do love cake.” She looked towards it one last time and then back at me. “But I don’t need cake.”
I smiled and cocked my head towards the door. I was ecstatic. I never would’ve held it against her if she’d wanted to stick around, but the fact that she chose me over the fanciest cake she’d never had meant a lot, especially considering cake was her ultimate weakness.
Or at least, it used to be.
“My place or yours?” she asked, pressing the elevator call button.
“Well, my place has champagne.”
“True.” She looked anxiously at the number lighting up above the door. “But I was going to have something else anyway.”
“Oh?” I asked, feeling a stir in my groin.
“Something I’ve been craving for too long.”
When the elevator arrived, I followed her on and pressed the button for the fourth floor. As soon as the doors closed, I pulled her towards me.
“Have I told you how stunning you look today?” I asked, pushing her hair out of her face.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m already up for it,” she said. “You don’t have to try so hard.”
“I mean it,” I said. “I’m so used to you in black and white and today-”
“I’m in color?”
“Yeah,” I said. “But it suits you. Like you were born to stand out and you’ve been fighting it.”
She shrugged. “I’d rather fit in.”
“You’re too special,” I said. “You’ll never fit in.”
She cast her eyes down for a second and then up at me. “That’s what I thought about you, but you fit just fine.”
I dropped my head back. “Jesus, woman, you’re filthier than I am!”
“I think you bring it out in me or something.”
I slid my flat hand up her cheek and lifted her face to mine, kissing her in a way that was as full of passion as it was frustration until her body leaned into mine like we were magnetized. When the elevator door dinged, I didn’t even stop for breath.
“So that’s why you were in such a hurry earlier?”
I turned towards the squeaky voice and noticed the frail woman I’d almost bulldozed earlier. “You got me,” I said, stepping to the side so Lucy could get off. Then I held the door again for the old lady who gave me a knowing glance of approval as the doors closed.
