by Stacy Borel
“Hey there, handsome. What’s a guy like you doing all alone?”
He looked at her as if she was a nuisance he would shoo away. “Actually, I wasn’t alone.”
She smiled up him with wonder in her eyes. Turner was apparently the answer to her loneliness for the night. Did she even hear what he just said? By the way she was inching closer, I’d say no. It didn’t take long before another blonde approached but didn’t say anything. I didn’t understand how these women couldn’t read his expressions. His face was puckered, like he’d just bit into a sour lemon.
Lifting her glass, the presumptuous one said, “I’m running a little low. Mind buying both of us a drink?”
My mouth dropped open. Turner gave her a slight head shake. “Nah, I’m good thanks.”
Well, at least he was being polite.
“Awe, c’mon. Maybe it’ll loosen you up enough to dance.”
“I don’t dance.”
The one who’d remained quiet up until this point piped in, “Everybody dances with enough liquid courage.” Her smile looked like it came straight from a temptress in hell.
He wasn’t backing down. “Not happening.”
Poking my head around the mess of curls from the first woman, their temporary distraction gave me enough time to absorb the sheer beauty of Turner. Standing this close, he had the most perfect shadowing of facial hair I’d ever seen. It was a darker color which complimented the sandy blonde hair he’d styled. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I swear I could smell him. It was something I’d never smelled before. Definitely some sort of aftershave, which was weird because he clearly hadn’t shaved, but not a cologne my nose was recognizing.
Interesting.
“Run along girls, he’s not interested,” I stated in an overly bold manner, getting them to realize I was there.
One with wild curls turned and sneered at me. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I was never one to cause a scene, but my annoyance had reached its peak.
The other blonde had the nerve to laugh. “Wow, since when did Warehouse let uptight bitches in?”
I could sense the tension flowing off of Turner and he was about to step in. No sir, this chick was making it personal now. “Probably about the same time they let easy bitches, with bad roots in. Now run along, I’m sure there are a dozen other men who are desperate enough take you ladies home tonight.” I leaned forward, just to push my point. “Make sure they have their beer goggles on. Between you and me, you’re both prettier from far away.”
I was certain that last comment was going to earn me a slap or hair pull. Fortunately for me, Turner chose that moment to step in front of me, momentarily blocking my view.
“I think y’all are done here,” he stated firmly.
If looks could kill, I’m sure both he and I would be a melted puddle on the ground the way their laser eyes were shooting beams at us. Of course, that could have just been the strobe lights that suddenly shifted to all red. Or maybe the alcohol really was getting to me.
When they walked away with their dignity tucked between their legs, Turner had a very amused expression plastered on his face. “A little possessive don’t you think?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
A deep chuckle bubbled up his throat. “You might as well have hiked up your leg and marked me.”
Okay, that pissed me off. Even through my nice little buzz I had going on, he wasn’t going to throw around those kind of assumptions. “No, not even. I just don’t like presumptuous women that think they can march around flashing their assets and can get whatever they want.” I then added for good measure, “And I hate men that fall for it, even more.”
I was glaring at him, but it wasn’t even phasing him. His amused appearance remained. Before he could come back with something that I knew would cause me to give him a tongue lashing, Keegan came bouncing up to my side.
“There you are! I was wondering where you went.” She sounded out of breath, but she looked at Turner out of the corner of her eye.
I faked a smile. “Here I am.”
“What are you doing out here by yourself?” she asked.
I gestured to her brother in law. “I’m not by myself.”
Her smirk indicated she knew exactly why I was out here with Turner.
“I liked the song that came on, so I came out to do a little dancing.”
Her head tilted to the side. “Mhmm. And you dance?”
“Of course.” I twisted my hands together. “It just takes a bit for me to get comfortable.”
“Or a fruity cocktail.” Turner piped in.
Clever man. I bit my lip to hide my smile. I may find him slightly annoying, but his sassy comebacks were entertaining me.
Keegan’s eyes darted between Turner and me. “Uh, am I missing something?”
I shrugged. Turner put his arm around Keegan. “How about I buy you a drink, Beautiful.” He changed the subject.
“I could certainly use another one,” she said emphatically. Although I could tell she was three sheets to the wind and probably teetering on waking up with a killer hang over in the morning.
Turner flagged down a waitress. He handed her his credit card and said, “She’s closing out her tab, put all their drinks on this.”
I could have sworn she said she wanted another one. What was he doing?
Keegan placed a hand on his shoulder and got up on her tippy toes to kiss his cheek. “You’re sweet, Turner, but you didn’t have to do that.” Turner saw she’d reached her limit as well, and she was too drunk to even notice he didn’t buy her another.
Peering down at her endearingly he said, “If my brother just saw you do that, he’d have my ass, you know that right?”
She laughed. “Yep. But he’s not here, so it’s fine.”
He shook his head. “Alright, so enough sweet talk. I think it’s time to get your girls home.”
“Oh it’s okay, Annabelle is the designated driver tonight.”
At least I had the sense to look guilty. Turner cocked his head to the side watching me. “Hmmm, well, that might be a problem.”
Keegan’s glassy eyes were trying to focus on me. “Why’s that?”
“I may have pushed her over her limit,” he admitted.
“Hey, I’m a big girl, I could have refused the drink.”
He raised his brow. “You wouldn’t have.”
“Awfully sure of yourself.”
“Maybe, but I know women, Annabelle.”
His arrogant remark washed over me, reminding me just who he was, and what his last name was. The fun little charade was over, and I needed to remember that I wasn’t interested. Based on how he sank down into his shoes, I think he realized his comment may have come across more crass than he’d intended.
Too late.
“I think it’s time for that ride home now.” The coldness of my voice was heard loud and clear. He effectively categorized me with every other woman in here that had approached him throughout the night. I was ready for my pajamas and my bed.
I walked away from Turner and Keegan and went to the other girls who were now doing body shots off a girl that was lying across the bar. I told them we were wrapping up our night. The bride was done and needed to get some sleep. They bitched and moaned about it, but I refused to leave them here, and wasn’t going to stick around this place any longer than I had too. I’d taken one for the team, and then some. I’d fulfilled my bridesmaid duties and partied hard, but I was done.
When I stepped outside for some fresh air, Turner was following behind with a very inebriated Keegan. He leaned her up against a brick wall and told me he was going to get his truck. Glancing around at my surroundings, we were the only ones on this side of the building. The air was thick with humidity, and after being in an overcrowded room, the temperature felt about the same. I should have asked the bartender for a bottle of water before I left. Leaning against the warm stone, I reached over and brushed Keegan’s hair out of
her face.
“You doing okay?”
“Yep.” She hiccupped.
I laughed at my friend. Despite how my night was closing, I was glad I had her, and that she asked me to come. I didn’t question though, that Camden would have had all of our asses if he saw her like this. The door that we’d just came out of flew open and a loud Macie, Erin, and Jordan all filed out with a couple of male tagalongs trailing. Oh if they thought they were all coming to my house, they would be sadly mistaken. Macie was about to dive into a heavy make out session with Surfer Boy, while the other man was sizing up which one of the other two girls would be a for sure deal for him. He was leaning toward Jordan when a black Escalade pulled up to the curb. Turner got out, and rounded the front of his vehicle.
“Ladies,” Turner stated, but was looking right at the one about to devour Macie.
She stopped what she was about to do and childishly stuck her tongue out at him. “Party pooper.” Clearly she heard the warning.
Rolling his eyes, Turner scolded, “Get in the car, Macie. I have a feeling my brother would rearrange that kid’s face if he saw what you were about to do. So don’t make me do it for him.”
“No fun.” She slapped his butt as she passed Turner, opening the back door, and falling inside.
The other two girls piled in, while Turner went straight for Keegan. He took her by her elbow and kept her balanced as he gently assisted her into the backseat. Looking around, I realized there was only room left for me up front with him. I really should have drank more. The two guys threw out a couple not so friendly words toward Turner before they disappeared back into the building. I stared straight ahead as he got into the driver’s side and we began moving forward.
“I’m going to need you to direct me. I don’t know where I’m going.”
I nodded, knowing he saw. I should have thought ahead and just called a cab. I didn’t like that Turner would know where I lived. I’m sure he wouldn’t just show up uninvited, but it still was an uncomfortable feeling.
“Go past the hospital and take your first right.”
The girls in the back were all giggling and talking about their night. I was glad they all had a good time, but I knew come morning, I’d be passing out aspirin like it was candy and bottles of water. One of the many reasons I didn’t care to go out and party. Clearly my buzz was gone.
I’d given Turner a couple more instructions before he pulled up in front of my house. He parked the SUV, and got out. I went ahead of him and unlocked the door, turning on all the lights and doing a quick check to make sure that everything was picked up. I was a fairly tidy person, but you never knew if I’d dropped a pair of underwear walking from the laundry room to the bedroom. As the girls all filed in, Turner came in last, escorting Keegan and sitting her down on the couch.
“You might want to make sure they drink plenty of fluids tonight so they feel halfway decent in the morning.”
“They’ll be taken care of.” I followed him back toward the door. The sooner he got out of my house, the sooner I could put my pajamas on and get out of this ridiculous dress I should have never worn. Plus he was making me nervous. Turner stopped just shy of the door and turned around, scanning my home.
“Nice place. How many acres is it?”
I tugged the hem of my dress, not hiding my unease. “Ummm, 4 acres.”
The corner of his mouth raised in a beautiful smirk. “Damn, the hospital must be paying the nurses well.”
“Oh.” I shifted. “This was actually my parents place. I inherited it after they passed. I wanted to live more in the city a couple years ago, but the house was paid off so I figured I’d stay.”
Way more information than he was asking for. When I saw the inquisition on his face, I knew the correct response should have been, “mhmm” and shoved him out the door. Clearly, I was a dumbass.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you’d lost both your parents.” He look genuinely sorry. But now wasn’t the time or the place.
“Thanks.” I was more snippy than I should have been but I was hoping he’d get the hint.
He did. “Bye, ladies. Have a good night,” Turner called over my shoulder.
I walked him the rest of the way out the door. I expected him to keep going ‘til he got to his Escalade, but for whatever reason he paused.
“Annabelle?”
I stood there waiting for him to say more.
“I apologize for my rude comment tonight. Call it foot in mouth disease.” He tried to laugh it off. “But you’re nothing like those girls back at that bar. I said the words before even realizing how they may have come across and that’s not what I meant at all.”
I crossed my arms over my chest protectively. “Then what did you mean?”
He looked down at his feet. Was I making him nervous? I bet he wasn’t grilled by many women. “It was just me being overconfident is all. Truly, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
I squinted my eyes at him, not sure how to respond. He was being sincere, but I didn’t really want to let him off that easy. I was having a good time. I’d allowed myself to relax a little, I’d let my guard down and accepted a drink from a man I hardly knew. That was so out of character. How quickly I let him have that little bit, and he had to blow it by saying something stupid. But I wasn’t going to make him suffer any longer. I understood what he was saying, and I just wanted him to go.
“Apology accepted.”
For what seemed like the millionth time tonight, Turner did something unexpected. He came towards me, pulled one of my hands away from my body, and lifted it to his lips. It was as soft as a brush of air, but I felt the warmth of the kiss all the way to my toes. No doubt my cheeks were red.
When he release my hand, he seared me with his blue eyes. “Goodnight, Annabelle.”
I swallowed, hard. “Night.”
I stood there unmoving as he hopped off the porch, and got into his vehicle. Even after his tail lights were out of sight, I still wasn’t heading into the house. Turner Brooks was shocking me left and right. The top of my hand was still tingling from his touch, and my mind was in a state of distress. When the motion sensor light that acted as my porch light shut off, I was blanketed in darkness. Letting it wrap around me, I closed my eyes and exhaled.
Indifference, Annabelle, indifference.
There was nothing special about that man besides his looks. He was not God’s gift to women, like every woman in a hundred mile radius made these Brooks boys believe. At least they weren’t anything that I found worth more of my time. Giving myself a couple more minutes, I shook off the edginess that was building inside me, and went back in the house. I sought the comfort of my friends, my surroundings, and of course my cat. Time to forget about my crazy night and be the babysitter I promised I’d be.
“Who needs Tylenol?” I said, stepping inside and wondering who was going to be up first to take me to get my car.
“WHERE THE FUCK DID he put the ring?” I grumbled as I patted down Camden’s tuxedo jacket. I swear that kid would have lost his brain had it not been encased in his skull.
“What are you doing, man?” Camden stepped up beside me. “I said it was in my pant’s pocket. They’re over there.” He pointed at a pair of jeans strung haphazardly over the side of a chair. I walked over to them and plucked out the dainty, diamond wedding band that I was supposed to hold until the preacher asked me for it.
“Really, Cam? This could have fallen out. Ever heard of a ring box?”
“Relax, I’ve got this.” My little brother tipped his head back and took a shot of straight Jack from a flask. I could see the nerves settling in.
Instead of giving him a hard time on his day, I gripped his shoulder and asked, “You good?”
Despite the whiskey on his breath, the smile he gave me let me know he was good. “Yeah. I get to marry my girl today. I don’t think life gets much better than this.”
I gave him a slight squeeze and let go. I wouldn’t know. Truthfully, I’d never fe
lt the way that he was feeling right now. Unless being in love felt the same as driving a race car, sky diving, or resetting a bone that has popped out of place, I had no clue what it felt like. Not sure I ever cared to feel that way either. But I did care that Cam seemed ridiculously happy, and for today, that’s all that mattered.
“Hey, asshole, you sure you want to do this?” Wrigley asked as he tried to snatch the flask out of Camden’s hand.
I slapped the back of his head, causing his perfectly combed hair to shift out of place. “Knock it off. He doesn’t need all the guys in here yanking his chain when he’s about to get hitched. And quit trying to drink, you’re not old enough.”
Camden shook his head and grinned. He definitely had a little buzz going, but I was certain he’d sober up the moment he laid eyes on Keegan. “Couldn’t be more sure about anything in my life.”
“You’re such a sap. At least my soon to be sister in law is nice to look at.” Wrigley wagged his eyebrows.
Camden scowled. I stepped in front of him and patted his cheek. “Ignore the baby of the family. He was the last born and got the shit end of the stick with looks and brains.” I heard grumbling but ignored it.
“Oh, hey, man, could you do me a favor?” Camden asked.
“Anything.”
Reaching forward he grabbed a small gift bag that had been perched on the end of the bar. He held it out to me and I took it from him. “Would you mind giving this to Keegan? The girl’s room is just down the hall. I had a little something made for her.”
My brother, the sap. “Sure, no problem. Want me to tell her anything?”
“Nah. There’s a note in there.”
Stepping out of the room, I made my way down a long hallway. Passing several doors that were marked Men, Women, and the pastoral office, my nose tickled from all the floral scents in the air. We were a few miles outside of Athens, in the country, in a chapel that apparently had been named one of the top venues to get married in Georgia in 2015. My mother and Keegan worked like a well oiled machine ensuring that every single detail of this wedding was covered. My mother had impatiently been waiting for one of her boys to get hitched. Granted, none of us ever suspected Camden would have been the first, but Keegan was a good match for him. She was nothing like the other girls he used to chase after, thank God, and she fit in our family as if she’d always been a part of it.