“Come on. We’d better get inside.” He hopped out of the car and raced around to my side. “Let’s go make a future for us.”
I liked his words. It gave me hope that he still wanted to make things work between us. We entered the home full of people dressed in conservative attire, so I tightened my coat around me. The butler held out a hand, and Edward yanked the coat off my shoulders and handed it to the man.
“There’s Dr. Westbound now.” Edward rushed over and held out his arm to me. “Hello, gentlemen. This is Zoey Dixon. She’s about to graduate with her undergrad and start her master’s degree in English Literature.”
Dr. Westbound’s gaze traveled to my plunging neckline. His lips curled up in a strange lopsided grin. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person, Ms. Dixon.”
“Miss Dixon. She’s not married.” Edward scanned the room. “Would you mind keeping my friend company? I need to go speak with someone.” He darted off, leaving me with Dr. Westbound and his roaming eyes.
For over twenty minutes, I evaded the man’s hands that kept finding their way onto my exposed skin.
Finally, Edward swooped in and whispered in my ear. “I’ll be back in a little bit. I need to pick something up.”
I slid away from Dr. Westbound toward Edward. “I’ll go with you.”
He didn’t listen to my plea and disappeared out of the room. I waited for him to return for what seemed like forever. When Dr. Westbound’s hand made it to the middle of my back, I knew I needed to escape. I didn’t want to make a scene, ending both Edward’s and my careers, but I wouldn’t tolerate being subjugated to this man’s advances. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to find the little girl’s room.”
“I’ll escort you, my dear.”
I thrust my drink at him. “No, please, guard my drink instead. You know how parties can be. I wouldn’t want to worry about anyone tainting my drink.” With no intention of returning to partake in any more beverages, I didn’t waste any time bolting out of the room toward the front door before I realized I didn’t have my car or my purse or my phone. Dr. Westbound entered the hall, so I slid into the dining room. I found a group of ladies speaking, so I approached. “Excuse me, I’m so sorry to trouble you, but do any of you have a cell I might be able to use? I’m afraid I left mine in the car, and my date had an emergency.”
“Yes, of course.”
A woman handed me her cell, and I dialed Edward, but it went straight to voice mail. I took two deep breaths. There was no way I was staying here any longer to wait on Edward, but if I called my sisters, I’d never hear the end of it. At this point, I didn’t care, so I dialed Sadie. It rang several times and then went to voice mail. That’s when I remembered it was a dinner with the Dumont's at the club night.
I tried Avery, but there was no answer. I spotted Dr. Westbound entering the kitchen. Who else could I call to rescue me? I quickly looked up a cab company on the phone and dialed. It rang and rang and rang and rang. When Dr. Westbound spotted me. I gave up on the taxi and looked for another way out.
If only I had my phone app, I could order an Uber or Lyft.
Dr Westbound strutted up to me. His hand abandoned stroking his beard and found the small of my back. “Dear, I noticed that Dr. Talbot hasn’t returned. If you need to leave, I’d be happy to take you somewhere.”
“No, but thank you. I’m fine. My boyfriend will come get me. He’s just finished up with football practice. He’s a linebacker at Auburn.” It wasn’t a complete lie, just a fabrication of the truth. A necessity considering the circumstances. I struggled to remember Kevin’s number. I punched in the digits. I held my breath and prayed that the number was correct and that Kevin would answer. He would be able to order a car for me, and I’d be out of here in minutes.
The phone rang, and Kevin picked it up. “Hello?”
“Hi, hon. I’m done at the party. I’m afraid I left my purse in Dr. Edward Talbot’s car.” I held up one finger to Dr. Westbound and walked to the other side of the kitchen. “If we really are friends, can you please order an Uber or some kind of car for me? I don’t have a ride, and I can’t reach my sisters. I promise I’ll pay you back.”
He didn’t even ask why I needed a ride. He only said, “Give me the address.”
Chapter Nine
Not thirty minutes later, someone knocked on the bathroom door I’d been hiding in for way too long. “I’ll be right out.”
“It’s me, Kevin.”
I froze, relieved it wasn’t Dr. Westbound but shocked to hear Kevin’s deep voice through the door.
“You okay in there?”
My mouth went dry, so dry it was hard to speak. “Yes. Just a second.” I checked my face in the mirror. My eyes were red from trying not to cry, and my skin was pale. With no makeup to touch up my face, it was a lost cause, so I opened the door a crack.
“Hey, beautiful.” He titled his head and offered the friendliest smile.
“You’re not supposed to call me that anymore, remember?”
“Right.” Kevin’s gaze softened with a brow furrowing look of concern.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“You called. I’m here,” Kevin stated in a matter-of-fact tone, like it was his only option.
“You were supposed to send an Uber.”
“To bring you all the way back to Magnolia Corners? No way. Besides, I was downtown for a meeting anyway. It didn’t take long to get here.” He placed his palm on the door, nudging it a little wider. “You okay? I didn’t like how you sounded on the phone.”
My legs and hands and emotions still shook, but I couldn’t admit that. “I only needed to get back to Decatur to my car.”
“The one that your key for is probably in your purse. The purse you don’t have?”
I studied my black stilettos. “Um, right.” With that I opened the door the rest of the way, but Kevin didn’t step back. His mouth fell open and his eyes ran the length of me.
“Now I know why you’re hiding in the bathroom. Every man in this place must be after you.” Kevin took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. “And you’re shivering.”
I’d never been so happy to put something around my body than I was at that moment. I suppressed a laugh. “Only one, and he’s not taking no for an answer.”
His jaw tightened, but after a moment he relaxed and placed a protective arm around me. “Then let’s get you out of here.”
We walked in silence down the hall. Kevin stood out in his jeans and flannel shirt, work boots. Yet he looked more dashing than any other man at the party.
The butler retrieved my coat, so I reached to remove Kevin’s, but he placed a hand over it. “No, mine will keep you warmer.” He took my coat from the butler and draped it over his arm then escorted me out the door.
Dr. Westbound stepped into the entryway with two glasses in his hand, but then he spotted Kevin.
I slid my arm around Kevin’s waist so that we walked snuggled into each other. “I hope you don’t mind. There were a few little white lies I might have said tonight. One of them being that my linebacker boyfriend was on his way to pick me up.”
Kevin followed my gaze to the older gentleman with a sour look on his face. “I’m not sure he believes you. We should probably play the part.”
Kevin turned me into his arms, pulling me close against him. He pressed his lips to mine. It was only a second, but my entire life flashed. My skin heated and tingled. My vision went fuzzy. My heart pounded against my chest.
My skin still seared when he released me. It still burned when we reached Kevin’s big 4X4 truck parked among the Mercedes and BMWs. It still simmered when he took my hand and helped me up into his truck.
He held out the seat belt to me. “Buckle up. I don’t think you want to face any more dangerous situations this evening. I’m guessing you’ve been through enough.”
Kevin started the engine, which rumbled through the uppity neighborhood like a lion in a pig pen. For several miles we
drove in silence. He didn’t ask any questions or accuse my real boyfriend of anything. He only drove.
“Kevin?”
He glanced over at me.
“Things just went a little off this evening.”
“No problem. And you don’t owe me an explanation. I trust you. You’re a smart, independent, and trustworthy woman, despite your pathological lying.”
“Pathological? I don’t think so. It was a few little tall tales.”
“That’s how it starts. Next thing you know you’ll be in jail for falsifying documents or something.” Kevin patted my hand. When he placed his hand back on the steering wheel, I was disappointed.
We both laughed.
“Boy, my sisters are going to be ruthless when they find out about this.”
“It’s your life. No one else can make decisions for you.” Kevin merged onto the highway. “I do have one problem with this, though.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t ever want to meet this Edward character. If I did, I’m not sure I wouldn’t put him through a wall for abandoning you,” Kevin said in a deep, commanding, and serious tone.
I wanted to argue that I hadn’t been abandoned, that he was called away and I was sure he’d come back for me, but deep down I wasn’t sure myself.
“Kevin?”
“Yes?”
“You’re a real gentleman. Thank you.”
When we arrived home, I reached for the door, but Kevin touched my forearm. “I’ll help you. You’ve had enough excitement this evening. You don’t want a broken ankle trying to get down out of my truck in those heels.”
He opened the door for me and slid his arms under my knees and behind my back, lifting me into the air and then setting me on my feet. His strength, protection, and the short trip from truck to standing jolted me with more excitement than a ride on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia.
“Here, take my hand. There might be some icy patches on the way to your door.” Kevin wrapped his arm around me and held me tight to him. He led me up the front steps and stopped at the front door. “If it makes you feel any better, you are beyond breathtaking in that dress. I think that man must be insane to have not been so mesmerized that he didn’t see anything else but you.”
I realized I didn’t have a key to get inside, so I knocked on the front door. “Edward is just more about an intrinsic connection than about external beauty.”
Kevin knocked louder on the front door. “I’m not a violent person and he can be about what ever he wants, but if he ever leaves you like that again, I’ll play linebacker and he’ll be part of the front line of the opposing team.”
Footsteps sounded inside toward the front door.
Kevin headed down the front steps. “Good night, beautiful.”
The front door opened to both Sadie and Avery with open arms, and I fell into them. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Sadie tugged me inside, and my sisters surrounded me. After many hugs, I changed into comfy jammies and met them in the living room, where they waited with Chunk Chocolate Extreme ice cream and three big spoons. I sat between them and dug into the sugary goodness.
“Spill it,” Avery said.
I sighed, not sure I wanted to share that much about my relationship. “It’s complicated.”
Sadie patted my hand. “You’re safe here. Avery will keep her comments to herself, but you need to talk. I can see it’s weighing on you heavily.”
“Fine.” I took a large scoop of ice cream for courage. “I met Edward at our normal restaurant in Decatur, the one that I met you both at that one time for lunch?”
Avery and Sadie nodded in unison.
“Well, he picked me up from there and swept me away to a party. Unfortunately, he was called away. I’d left my purse in his car, so I had no phone or keys.”
Avery’s phone rang. She picked it up and then looked at me with a strange, raised brow look. “Um, how can you be calling me?”
I waved my hands in front of me. “If it’s him, I don’t want to talk to him right now.”
Avery grinned with satisfaction. “I’ll handle it.” She stood and headed for the kitchen. “This is Zoey’s sister. Is this the scumbag who abandoned my sister?”
I watched Avery pace back and forth, my stomach rolling with a sugary wave of queasiness.
She disappeared around the corner, and all I could hear was mumbling. When she came out, she said, “Fine, but in the infamous words of our Aunt Cathy, it’s time for you to piss or get off the pot. And if you need a translation, look at the small-town dictionary under stupid.” She hung up and looked at me.
“Well, that should end things,” I mumbled.
Avery slumped. “You’d think so, but he begged me to have you call him. He did promise to overnight your purse to you tomorrow, though. As for your car, I’ll take you tomorrow after my shift at the bakery.”
“Thanks.” I abandoned my spoon in the ice cream carton.
Sadie snuggled into my side. “We are here to support you. All we want is for you to be happy.”
I settled back into the couch and closed my eyes. “I know. The problem is, what will make me happy?”
Chapter Ten
The next day after the morning rush at the bakery ended, I enjoyed some scones and coffee with my sisters. “I was thinking about putting together a Christmas Eve party for the staff and patients at the rehab center. They’ve been so busy, and everyone has worked so hard. I guess I just want to give back for all they’ve given me. I mean, I’ve really enjoyed working there. What do you think?”
Sadie beamed one of her approving smiles at me. “I think that’s an awesome idea. I’ll provide the sweets.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Tap. Tap.
We all turned to see Kevin at the bakery door. I unlocked it and shooed him inside. The bell rang, announcing his entrance. “Come in, come in. It’s freezing out there.”
“Here you go.” He placed my spare key in my hand.
“How did you get this?”
Kevin glanced at my sisters. “I stopped by this morning, and Avery gave me the key. A friend of mine had some business in town, so I hitched a ride and then drove your car back for you.”
“But how did you know where… Oh, Avery, right.” I smiled, knowing she was playing matchmaker again.
Sadie pulled out a chair. “Come. Sit and eat with us.”
“I’d love to, but I need to get back to the center. There’s a leak they need looked at.”
I eyed my car outside. “You need a ride?”
“That would be great. My truck is at the center. It won’t take long.” He looked to my sisters. “I’ll have her back before the lunch rush.”
“Don’t worry. She isn’t much help anyway.” Avery shoved my coat to my chest and waved us out the door.
Kevin held tight to my arm through the slush. We settled into my car, and I cranked the heat up to high. “I hope this didn’t put you out too much. I know how busy you are.”
“No, it was my pleasure. You need to get that rear tire replaced, though. Your tread is worn.”
I backed out and headed for the center. “I will.”
There was no traffic this time of day, so it was a quick ride to the center. “What do you think about us throwing a Christmas Eve party at the center? Sadie said she’d supply food, and I was going to ask the therapists if we could have patients help make decorations. The ones working on their gross and fine motor control. I’d even run the groups for them.”
Kevin smiled. “I think that’s a great idea. You sure you want to continue studying literature? You’d make an excellent therapist.”
I bit my lip and looked out the window of my car at his truck parked nearby. “I’m not sure of anything right now.”
Kevin stroked my hair. “Hey, you’re home with family, and none of us are going anywhere. You’ve got time to figure your life out. How about we talk about your options tonight, over dinner.”
>
“As friends?” I asked with a wink.
“Whatever you need to call it, beautiful.”
I thought about it for a minute. Everything was so confusing right now.
“I’ll cook for you in exchange for you helping me with choosing wallpaper and paint. You’d be doing me a favor. My house? Six o’clock?”
“I guess I owe you that much after rescuing me last night and then getting my car for me today.”
Kevin brushed his thumb over my cheek, and I had to admit I liked his attention. “See you then.” He looked at me another second, and I thought he might kiss me, a real kiss this time, but he didn’t. Instead, he opened his door and ran inside the center.
The day went fast through the lunch shift, but after cleaning the bakery and setting up for the next day, the evening went slow. I’d managed to wash my hair, blow it dry, put on makeup, try on over a dozen outfits, and it was still only five o’clock.
Avery peered into the room. “I think you should wear the dress from the other night.”
“No way. I think I’m going to burn it.” I slid on a scarlet sweater and decided to go with black jeans and boots. Simple, sophisticated, but flattering.
“Here. This came for you.” Avery handed me a postal box addressed to Zoey Dixon in Edward’s perfect script. Inside I found my purse and a note with a poem I recognized. I slid it into my backpack with the others and put it out of my mind.
“You still going to Kevin’s?”
“Yep. I have to help him pick out paper and paint for his house. Did you know he was restoring that historic plantation home off the square?”
“I heard that. The man is here to stay, I’d say.” Avery flounced out of the room, and I fussed with my makeup some more. Deep down, I knew she was right about Edward. I understood why we couldn’t tell anyone at the university about our relationship, but something told me he was never going to fully commit to me, and I was tired of the secrets. He made me feel like I was the only person that existed when we were alone together, but when others were around, I was lost and forgotten. Not that I disagreed with how we handled it, but knowing why and living with it were two different things. All I knew for sure was that Kevin was always there.
The Sweet Bride Page 5