by Lisa Sommers
Why are his fingers laced with mine? I pull my arm back so that the crook of his elbow is lodged in mine. “This is how it’s done.” I send him a glare that makes him chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“You.”
“I’m glad I amuse you.” I flash him a snarky look in his direction.
“Besides, I just wanted to see what it felt like.” What? What is he talking about? “Your hand . . . in mine.” He calmly states. Nothing in me is calm right now. I’m not sure if that was Cal making a sweet gesture or if he is making fun of this situation. All I know is, it made my heart skip a beat.
I have no idea what to say back to him so he just watches me as my jaw drops open. Luckily, we are interrupted by the lady in charge. “It’s your turn.” She whispers as she points in the direction of the small altar.
With a tug on my arm, Cal pulls me until we are walking the short distance to meet the rest of our friends. He gives my elbow a light squeeze just before releasing me. Why is he being so flirtatious? Why do I even care?
I take my place at the altar and stand here with my head in a fog and wonder what has gotten into me today. All of a sudden the wedding march begins to play and the lady in charge slowly opens the double doors and there stands the most beautiful bride ever.
Once again tears form in my eyes as I realize my brother is about to get married. Life cannot be more perfect for them and I am so honored to be a part of today. I look over at Derek and watch as he chokes up at just the sight of his wife-to-be.
All eyes are moving back and forth between the bride and groom except for one person. Cal’s gaze is directly on me. Why is he staring at me? He is so annoying.
Chelsea is about five steps away from my brother when he closes the distance and grabs her face with both his hands. I see him whisper the words, I love you, as he gives her a sweet kiss on the lips. She leans into him and allows him to change up the traditional way-of-order for getting married.
The clearing of throats is heard throughout the room but it does nothing to break the trance between the happy couple.
The Justice of the Peace takes a few steps forward, leans in and whispers, “Pst, I hear the wedding night gets much better so if you want to make that happen I suggest you two get yourselves up here and get yourselves married.”
Of course my brother agrees and quickly pulls Chelsea to the front of the room. “Let’s do it!”
The ceremony is sweet and simple and already over.
We are now in Drai’s After Hour room for the small reception. The club is decorated in dark reds and black. It’s a sleek, sexy and stylish club and it sets the perfect mood for the evening.
My brother rented out half of the room dedicated to only our party so that we don’t get any crazed fans. Being professional baseball players draws in so many people and they all seem to want a piece of the fame. Especially, the women.
“Would you like a drink?” Cal stands in front of me with two glasses of champagne that is being distributed from a gorgeous waitress. I look at him skeptically. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t purchase it. Derek made sure that all drinks are to flow through until the party is over.”
“Fine, then I’ll accept it.” I reluctantly reach out and take it.
“I’d like to make a toast.” Derek stands up on a chair to get our attention. “I’d first like to thank everyone for coming out to celebrate this day with us.” He looks down at his beautiful wife before continuing, “I am the luckiest guy alive to have the most stunning woman I have ever met agree to be my wife.” Chelsea reaches her hand up and grabs a hold of Derek’s. She kisses the back of his hand and mouths the words, I love you. “The rest of the evening is ours to enjoy so please have some drinks on me and have fun.”
He finishes his speech and we all clink glasses to cheer them on. Once Derek jumps off the chair, he pulls Chelsea into his arms and they easily float off to the dance floor.
I am about to walk over to Sonny until I see Rob drag her off to do some dancing. I look around for Alli so that we can discuss her own wedding plans but she and Shane are already snuggled up in a booth making out.
“Want to dance?” Kelly grabs a hold of my arm and pulls me onto the dance floor. Well, better her than Cal, who seems nowhere to be found.
“Sure, why not.”
Kelly and I dance goofily on the dance floor and I am about to pee my pants from all the laughter. We are having the time of our lives when a slow song comes on and Cal decides to cut in.
“May I?” With his hand waiting to accept mine Kelly practically puts me in his arms. She trails off giggling as she makes her way off the dance floor.
“I seriously need new friends.”
“I’d say she’s a pretty good one to have.”
Instead of making a scene I put my hand in his and let him lead the way. It isn’t long before we are both pressed up against one another to the point where I can feel every hard ripple of his chest against mine. Neither of us say a word to each other as we sway back and forth to the rhythm of the music. Cal releases his firm grip on my hand and trails his fingers down the inside of my forearm. It sends goosebumps throughout my whole body. It’s an amazing feeling that I really don’t want to end. If it weren’t for my over-protective brother dancing only four feet away from us.
I pull back slightly to end our closeness. Looking up into Cal’s eyes, I see nothing but fire. Fire burning so deep that it makes my toes curl. Fire burning so bright that it ignites something within me. Again.
Cal puts one hand on my lower back and pulls me close so that the lower half of our body is flush up against one another. My heart is racing like no other as he begins to move us both further away from anyone else on the dance floor. He leans his head down to where his lips are mere inches from my ear. “I want to kiss you so bad.” He growls.
I close my eyes because in this exact moment there is nothing else that I want more.
“There is so much more than that that I want to do to you.” His scent of his breath is mixed with mint and the slightest touch of sweet champagne.
It’s taking everything in me not to reach up and grab him by the neck and pull him down to me. Thank God we have friends and family all around us that is keeping me from making another mistake.
“I can almost taste your lips just thinking about it,” he whispers. “the feel of your legs wrapped around me . . .”
I stop him right there because he knows exactly what he is doing to me and it pisses me off. It makes me so mad that I have no control over my own body when it comes to him. Putting my hands on his chest, I push us apart so that neither one of us are touching each other. “You need to stop.” I tell him.
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why do we need to stop?”
“Don’t you get it?” Why is he urging this topic between us?
“No. No, I don’t get it.” As calm and seductive as he just was only moments ago, frustration is beginning to set in in the tone of his voice.
“You. Me. It can’t happen again.” I say in a hushed tone. I look around the room to make sure no one else can hear us. Luckily, everyone seems to be in their own little world.
Cal reaches out and tucks the crook of his finger under the cuff in the short sleeve of my dress. “I don’t see why it has to stop.” His gaze looks down at my parted lips just as I lick them from being dry. “What changed since the first time we were together?” Now that’s a loaded question that I don’t seem to have an answer for.
“It just did.” Wow, that was brilliant, Summer.
“I thought we were just having fun.”
“We are. I mean we did. But . . .” I honestly don’t know how to finish this sentence.
“Buuuuut . . .” He looks at me and shakes his head.
“I need to leave.” This conversation has gotten way too deep for me.
“You can’t leave. This is your brother’s and Chelsea’s day. It woul
d look bad if you left.” He puts a finger under my chin and says, “will it make you feel any better if I ask someone else to dance with me?”
Umm, no. It wouldn’t but I can’t say that. “Yes,” I lie. He removes his finger and walks away. I have no idea what just happened but everything in me hurts. What changed between us? Why have I been acting so damn emotional all day? Why does my heart hurt?
I go to take a seat at an empty booth. I need to be by myself. The waitress stops in front of my table asks if I would like something to drink. “A martini, two olives, please.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be back shortly with your drink.”
I am left alone with my thoughts and as I watch Kelly stroll up to Cal, tucking her finger in the belt loop of his black dress slacks, she goes and pulls him to the dance floor.
Cal briefly looks in my direction and all I can do is offer him a slight smile. I feel nauseous just thinking about the two of them together and sadly enough, I don’t feel any better when the waitress brings me my martini and I take a sip.
I better not be falling for this guy. That would cause more problems than even I can deal with. Let alone my brother. Not to mention my parents.
I watch as Cal pulls Kelly in for an embrace that would suggest that they are more than just friends.
I can’t watch anymore. I think I am going to vomit. I urgently get up and make a mad dash for the restroom. I barely make it to the toilet when everything in me starts to come up. I haven’t really had much to drink today and I ate a big lunch so I don’t know why I would feel this sick.
I lean up against the granite countertop and splash some cold water on my face. I suddenly feel so queasy and weak.
I internally laugh at a thought that just crossed my mind. What if I’m pregnant? I look at myself in the mirror and allow my eyes to trail down to my stomach.
I can’t be.
Chapter 11
Cal
I’d rather be dancing with Summer right now but for some reason she wants nothing to do with me. I’m better off anyway. She seems to be getting too attached to me.
Kelly has some strong dance moves and it’s clear that she’d be more than willing to take this somewhere more private. “What do you say about you and I,” well, she just confirmed my thoughts. “maybe, uh, head back to your room after this party is over.”
My usual instinct would be to high-tail it out of here immediately, girl-in-tow, and not wait for the party to end, but something in me just doesn’t feel right. “Let’s finish this night and just see where it leads.” I tell her. Who knows, maybe I’ll come to my senses.
Kelly puts the moves on me even more now that I didn’t react the way she probably expected me to.
“Hey Jenny,” Sonny yells from behind me. “Fish out of water!”
I have no idea what the heck that is supposed to mean, but Kelly starts giggling at her comment. Damn women and their code talk.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m just having fun.” Kelly, or is it Jenny now, pulls me close and spins us both around. She is clearly in her element and it baffles me as to why I am not dragging her off to the coat room right now.
“What do you say we take a quick break?” I suggest but I don’t move from the dance floor just yet because even I know this is not like me.
Kelly loops her hand in the crook of my arm and pulls me to an empty booth. She flags down the waitress and orders us both a refill on drinks. Maybe that’s what I need. Something to loosen me up.
“Good idea,” I just need to relax. This whole Summer thing and hiding our relationship from Derek has just been too much too handle. I pause for a moment and stare at the floor. Relationship? What the fuck am I talking about? We are in no way shape or form in a relationship. I don’t do those.
“What’s wrong?” Kelly puts a hand on my back as I slump forward in my seat. With my elbows on my knees, I shake my head in disbelief over what I just said to myself.
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.” I look to the table to see if our drinks have arrived and I am in luck. The waitress hands me a beer and I quickly take it from her. Lifting the cold beer to my mouth I down it all in one gulp. There is zero chance I have feelings for Summer.
Zero.
“Wow, thirsty?” Kelly laughs at my now empty glass.
“A little bit, yes.” She flags down the waitress and orders me another one. I look up at Kelly as her glazed over eyes catch mine. I’ll prove that Summer means nothing to me. “After this next drink lets head back to my room.” Rob won’t be back for a while, I’m sure. He and Sonny have been inseparable this whole trip. I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up in bed tonight together.
Kelly begins fidgeting with her glass and looking around the room. She mumbles something under her breath about a lake or something. I can’t quite make it out. I reach for her hand and pull her down to me until she is nestled right on my lap.
“Hold on, big guy. We have an audience,” she whispers right before she licks the inner shell of my ear. For some reason it does nothing for me. What the fuck is wrong with me? I have a beautiful woman sitting on my lap and is more than happy to make me her number one priority and all I can think of is where in the hell Summer ran off to.
The waitress returns with my beer and, once again, I drink every last ounce of it within the first minute of getting it. I just need to get out of here.
“Come on,” I demand while I grip a hold of Kelly’s hips and lift her so that we can get the hell out of here. “Let me talk to Derek real quick and I’ll meet you by the elevator.” I walk away from Kelly and stand at the bar waiting for Derek to look my way. He’s still dancing with Chelsea so it takes him a minute to catch my eye.
“Hey buddy, sorry to pull you away from your new wife, but I just wanted to tell you congrats before I head back to the hotel.” I look him directly in the eyes to see if he sees what I’m feeling inside.
He looks around the room and says, “Where’s my sister?” Even though he has two sisters here I know exactly which one he is talking about.
“Not sure man.” I honestly don’t. Just then, she comes walking from the direction of the restrooms. “There she is.” I pat him on the back and make my way to the elevator. Now that Summer is in eyeshot of her brother it completely puts him at ease.
“Alright man,” he says. “You alright?”
“Yeah, just not feeling well is all. I’ll catch you guys in the morning. Maybe we can do a brunch or something.”
“Sounds good. Go rest. I’ll call you when we figure out a plan.”
I walk around the far end of the room so that my path does not pass Summer’s. As much as I want to be near her, it scares me more than anything that she is the reason for not being in my right frame of mind right now. I take one last glance at her just before turning a corner and I see her at the bar talking to some dude. I have no idea who he is but since the bar area is not exclusive to our party anyone can go to it. It just irks me though that she seems to have no problem talking to some guy she doesn’t even know versus talking to me.
I continue to walk further and further away until she is no longer in my sight and the closer I get to the elevator the more that unfamiliar feeling in the pit of my stomach begins to grow and grow.
Damn it! Maybe I am coming down with something.
“There you are,” Kelly comes bouncing her way over to me and roughly pushes me into the elevator. “I thought you’d never get here.”
I think this is the point where she has clearly become her alter-ego, Jenny. “Woah, slow down. We have all night.” The words fly out of my mouth as if I were someone else entirely. I have never said those words to a woman before. Clearly I am sick.
“All night, huh?” She questions my absurd comment.
The elevator door opens and as we step out I ask, “Why don’t we play a few tables before we head back to the hotel?” I grab a hold of Jenny’s hand and pull her with me as I make my way to the Roulette table. “I’m feeling lucky tonight, baby.” Once
we reach the table I ask, “What’s your favorite number?” Jenny doesn’t answer right away so I ask again. “Come on, what’s your favorite number?”
“Fine. It’s sixty-nine.” I just about lose my shit when she grabs a couple of my chips, leans over the table and puts them on her number.
I place a few more chips on the table so that we meet the minimum bet.
The table dealer waves his hand over the table and we all watch as the silver marble goes round and round until it finally falls on Jenny’s favorite number. “Holy shit!”
The dealer slides two hundred and sixty dollars’ worth of chips and Kelly goes wild. Well, that seemed to have sobered her up some. “Let’s do it again!” She chants.
“Have at it, babe.” I move over so that Kelly can get closer to the table. I should be excited that she just tripled the amount of money I started with but all I can think about is Summer and the feel of her skin.
“Oh no,” Kelly breaks my train of thought. “I just lost like a hundred bucks.” She whines.
“It’s ok, try again.”
“No, no I better stop while I’m ahead. Besides, It’s not my money anyways.”
“Are you sure?” I couldn’t care less about the money.
Kelly stands in between my legs as I sit on a stool and whispers, “I’m sure,” She reaches out with her hands and runs her palms over my shoulders. “Let’s get back to the hotel now.” She’s got that look in her eyes that tells me everything I need to know.
“Let’s go.”
We make our way back to the hotel room and it took literally everything in me to keep her hands at bay.
Kelly is relentless.
We are standing in front of my hotel room my subtle hints to end this night does not seem to be sinking into her head. Maybe I’ll just invite her in for a drink. Once again, she shoves me up against the door and makes it obvious that I am who she wants tonight.
Far be it from me to let her down. I slide my card key in the door and let us in.