First Love - [Bridesmaid's Chronicles 04]

by Julie Kenner

  Julia perked up, delighted to have an excuse to get out and hit the stores. If nothing else, she'd consider it therapy.

  "You look like you're beginning to calm down," Alex said to Roman. He had a cold beer in his hand, and was leaning back in his chair. The table in front of them was littered with the remains of a traditional Fredericksburg feast: a variety of wursts and piles of sauerkraut. Except for the fact that his best friend was in a funk, Alex would have almost considered the situation perfect.

  "It's mostly an illusion," Roman said. He held up a glass mug that still had a bit of foam in it, the remnants of his third beer. "I'm drinking my way to a better disposition."

  Alex grinned. Despite the circumstances, he was enjoying himself. He and Roman used to do the beer-and-bullshit thing a lot. Lately, they'd both had too much going on to just kick back and shoot the shit.

  Roman noticed the grin and managed one of his own, albeit weaker than his friend's. "You look far too happy."

  Alex shrugged. "Why shouldn't I be? Compared to you, I should be the happiest man on earth. I don't have any deep dark secrets that my girlfriend is likely to discover, and by the time I'm in a position for her father to have issues with me, you'll have already paved that road."

  Now Roman's smile was genuine. "You're an ass, you know that, right?"

  "Been told that over and over. Still not sure I believe it." He stabbed his fork into the last piece of bratwurst as the waitress replaced their empty mugs with full ones. "Anyway, I think coming here was good for you. You needed to kick back. You looked far too worked up about Burt What's-His-Name's arrival."

  "Bart," Roman corrected. "And I was."

  "But?"

  Roman shrugged. "But I'm fine now. Julia didn't invite him. I overreacted. This time tomorrow, he'll be gone, and Julia and I can get back to our lives."

  "With the added bonus of having her father in the picture."

  "I thought you were trying to lift my spirits."

  "Sorry," Alex said, not sounding particularly penitent.

  Roman waved it away. "It's okay," he said. "Marv doesn't like me or my family, and I guess I understand why. But we're going to work through all of that, I'm going to win her father over, and we're all going to be one big happy family."

  "Or else?"

  "Or else I'll end up strangling her father and I'm going to have to figure a way to make Julia okay with that."

  "Good luck. From what Syd tells me, Marv drives them both nuts. But they still love him."

  "Well, they should. He's their father, after all."

  "I'm not convinced he has their best interests at heart."

  Roman grinned. "I'm absolutely sure that he doesn't. If he did, he wouldn't disapprove of me."

  Alex laughed. "Cocky?"

  "Just honest."

  Feeling a bit better, Roman sat back and took another sip of beer, letting his attention drift over the other patrons. He and Alex were at their favorite table, right next to the sidewalk that ran the length of Main Street. And right then, Thelma Lynn and her husband were walking toward them, all dressed up for dinner.

  Roman waved, expecting nothing more than a polite tip of Thelma's head in return. Instead, she stopped cold and held out her arms, as if she wanted to suck him into her embrace despite the five yards and squatty wooden fence that separated them. "Roman," she said. "Oh, you poor, poor dear!"

  He had no idea what she was talking about, and considering the way the tables around him started to buzz, he figured that neither did the other diners.

  Apparently he was about to find out, though, because Thelma was marching toward the little gate in the fence, leaving her husband on the sidewalk looking slightly baffled.

  Despite the short distance, it took almost two minutes for her to make it to his table, because she stopped to make small talk with at least four people along the way.

  "Maybe we should make a run for it," Alex said.

  "From Thelma Lynn? Trust me. There's no escape. Run, and suddenly everyone in town hears rumors that you have scabies. Or worse."

  Alex made a face, then scratched his arms. "Ew. We'll stay. It's your ass she's after, anyway."

  "Thanks," Roman said. "Your support is most appreciated."

  Alex took the last swig of beer from his mug, then signaled to the waitress for a refill. "Just calling them as I see them."

  "Roman!!!" Thelma grabbed a chair from the next table and parked it next to him, taking his hand as she perched on the hard white plastic. "You poor, poor dear. I feel just terrible for you." Her stage whisper carried across at least a dozen tables, and despite having faced more brutal opponents on the business battlefield, Roman couldn't help but cringe.

  She was busily patting his hand, and now he tugged it away. "Thelma, I appreciate the support. But I don't actually know what it's for. You want to give me a clue?"

  Her eyes widened, and the hand that had been holding his went to her heart, clutching at the material there. Her face scrunched up, and she looked so flabbergasted that for a moment he feared she was having a stroke.

  "Thelma?"

  "I just can't imagine can't imagine what you must be going through."

  "I'll admit to a little indigestion after too much wurst, but other than that, I'm not going through much at the moment."

  "Such a brave, brave boy" She patted him on the cheek, and Roman turned to Alex, hoping his eyes were screaming Rescue me ! even if the rest of him wasn't.

  "Uh, Thelma?" Alex asked. "What's he being brave about?"

  "You haven't told him?" she asked, peering deep into Roman's eyes. "I just assumed. He's your best friend, and I well, this is awkward."

  Considering that every eye at every table within a five-block radius was aimed their direction, Roman had to wonder just how Thelma defined "awkward."

  Feeling daring, he took the plunge. Might as well clear up whatever nonsense was on Thelma's mind while half the town was listening. "I don't have any secrets from Alex," he said. "If you're concerned about something you want to discuss with me, you can discuss it in front of Alex, too."

  "You were always such a good boy, Roman. It pains me to see you engagedeven brieflyto a woman who would so casually throw you over. She seemed so sweet, too. But I guess blood will tell. Is it because of your financial troubles?" she asked, and he cringed, suddenly regretting not dragging her away to someplace more private.

  "My finances are just fine, Thelma."

  She patted his hand and made sympathetic noises, while Roman tried to tamp down his temper. Around them, he was certain the gossip was starting to fly. "I remember when that girl's father blustered into town fifteen years ago and started throwing his money around. Well, I thought Julia was different, especially after she didn't make a fuss about that fake ring. Thought she wouldn't care if you were flat broke. But maybe she decided that she just can't many a man without a fortune."

  "Thelma," Alex said, warning in his voice.

  "Now, I'm not spilling secrets here. I know your family's been trying to keep a lid on how tight things are, but once word was out about the engagement ring well, we're family , Roman. This whole town. We understand when times get tight. But if she's not willing to stand by you, then maybe it's best she found out your troubles and found herself another man."

  Roman just sat there in shocked disbelief. Another man? What was the woman blathering on about?

  "Alicia Hidalgo," Thelma said, and Roman realized she'd pulled an address book out of her purse and now had it opened on her lap. "She's a lovely girl, and I know she's always had a bit of a thing for you."

  "Alicia Hidalgo?" he repeated numbly.

  "Right. Now, I wouldn't ask her out right away. That would seem too sudden. You wait a week or two and"

  "Thelma Lynn!"

  "Oh!" Her eyes went wide and she clamped her mouth shut, her expression that of a woman who'd just met a deranged psychopath in a dark alley. Well, maybe she had.

  With superhuman effort, Roman managed to stay in
his seat and not throttle the woman. His hands clenched, though, and Alex must have noticed, because his friend tensed, leaning forward as if to intervene should Roman launch himself at the busybody.

  "I'm not sure where you're getting your information, Thelma," Roman said, his voice tight with the effort of controlling his temper. "But I'm hardly on the market. In case you've forgotten, I'm getting married on Saturday. And I assure you that all is well in paradise. Julia and I are doing just fine."

  "Oh. I see. Well, that's just" She trailed off, her brow furrowing. "But there was the young man who came into town. He stopped at the bakery. He was looking for Julia. Said he was her boyfriend. And of course Emily told Janet, and she told Betty and then when it got to me"

  "You just assumed it was true."

  "Well yes." Now it was Thelma's turn to look a bit flummoxed.

  "Just a misunderstanding," Roman said, smiling his most civil smile. "Bart Winston is just an old friend of Julia's who happened to be passing through town on business."

  "I'm so glad to hear that," she said. She leaned forward, taking his arm once again. "Especially with everything going on, you know."

  He knew he shouldn't, but he just couldn't help himself. "Everything?" he asked.

  "Well, yes. The way he called himself her boyfriend. And then when I saw them holding hands under the oak tree outside the police station, and then just now. You know, the way they're laughing and carrying on inside that store well, one does jump to conclusions, you know."

  "Yes," he said. "I'm sure one does." He kept his voice measured and cool, but he felt beads of sweat break out on his forehead. Not too unusual in the late summer heat, but the heat wasn't the cause. Not this time.

  Julia had said she was getting rid of the intrepid Mr. Bart. But if what Thelma said was true

  Mentally, he shook his head. He'd never been the jealous type before, and he didn't intend to start now. Surely, Julia had an explanation. After all, there had to be at least a dozen reasons why she'd sit under a tree with her old boyfriend just days before her wedding, holding hands for every wagging tongue in Fredericksburg to see.

  Trouble was, at the moment, he couldn't think of one such reason, much less a dozen. And he sure as hell couldn't think of a reason why she'd be shopping with the man, especially since she'd specifically told Roman that she was going to tell Bart Winston to take a hike.

  He squirmed a bit, not really wanting to ask. But in the end curiosity and jealousy won out. Careful to avoid Alex's gaze, he met Thelma's eyes dead on. "What store?" he asked. "Tell me where exactly you saw them."

  * * *

  "Here you go," Bart said, holding up a pair of men's boxers emblazoned with oversized lipstick kisses. "Just the thing for the discriminating groom."

  Julia laughed, then forced herself to put on a stern face. "I'm on a deadline here, and you're not helping."

  "Really?" His brow furrowed as he held the boxers up high. "You don't think Roman will like these?"

  "Bart!" she hissed, then snatched them out of his hand.

  "You always were cute when you blushed."

  She smacked him with the boxers. "I'm going to fire you if you don't get serious."

  "Fire me? A man with my exquisite taste in gifts? I mean, even if you don't think they're right for Roman, surely you wouldn't deny your father. I mean, are these Marv or what?"

  "You are so bad!"

  "Admit it. Your dad probably wears boxers with cartoon characters. Maybe Jimmy Neutron."

  "I think Pop's more of a Daffy Duck sort of guy."

  "The episode where Daffy and Bugs found the gold? You're right. That is so your father."

  She laughed. "Scary, isn't it? I'm not sure what that makes me and Syd"

  "Animated," Bart said with a chuckle. "If nothing else, your life is animated."

  "You're right about that," Julia said. "Especially this week. And speaking of"

  "Hey, I suggested the boxers."

  "Bart" She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

  "What? You don't like the kisses? It is kind of Valentine's Day. Well, then how about these?" He picked up another pair of novelty underwear, this time gray with little pink elephants.

  Julia clapped a hand over her mouth and tried not to laugh, but she couldn't quite do it. Instead, she managed a very loud, unladylike snortwhich, of course, just egged Bart on.

  "I mean, it's the perfect wedding night gift, don't you think? Pink elephants. Champagne. I don't know, Julia. I think you're destined to buy these boxers."

  "I think you're destined for a mental institution." She pointed a finger across the store. "Now go. Scope me out the perfect present."

  But he didn't go. Instead he just stared over her shoulder, his expression entirely unreadable. "What?" Julia asked, but she didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she just whirled around, expecting to see Thelma Lynn. This time she'd tell the woman to mind her own business.

  Instead, she saw Roman.

  "Oh!" She shoved the kiss-covered boxers behind her back. "Sweetheart! What are you doing here?"

  "I came looking for you. To prove Thelma Lynn wrong, actually." He aimed a scathing look over the clothes racks to Bart, who'd shoved the elephant boxer shorts back onto a shelf. "However, it's beginning to look as though I owe her an apology."

  * * *

  Chapter Thirteen

  OK, girls, it's time to talk money. Yes, I know you're in love, and yes, I know you're going to be married forever, but you need to work these things out. What's the major cause of divorce in this country? I'll give you a hint, and it's not something going on between the sheets. You got it: money .

  Even if you don't want a prenup, you at least have to have an open communication system about all that bling bling. You hearing me, girls? Sit your man down and talk to him. Separate checking accounts? Joint? Who pays the bills? Where's the money coming from? You need to work that out now. Before the wedding. Or believe me, baby, you are going to be in for a not-so-sweet surprise.

  from The Wedding Guru Tells It Like It Is

  "We were just shopping ," Julia said. They were back at Roman's apartment at the winery, having ridden there in his car in relative silence. "I really don't understand why that's so hard for you to understand." Roman tensed. The truth was, he didn't know why it was so hard, either. But it was. Apparently, he was discovering a whole new facet of his personality. He didn't particularly like it, but he really couldn't help it.

  "But why now? And why with him?"

  "Because it's traditional to get the groom a wedding night gift before the actual wedding. If I waited until next week, it would be too late." She crossed her arms over her chest, her posture alone daring him to defy her. "As for him, why not? We're friends. I wanted company. And I figured he'd know what a man would like."

  "Novelty boxer shorts? His taste leaves something to be desired."

  She glared at him, then dropped onto the couch. "We were joking around, Roman. It wasn't any big deal."

  "It was a big deal to me." He was pushing. But he couldn't stop himself. Their laughter had gotten into his bones, into his head. Especially the fact that they'd been laughing about Marv. And with affection, no less. Bart and Julia had a history. Bart and Marv got along. And Julia desperately wanted peace in her family.

  To Roman's mind, that left him the odd man out. "I just don't like it."

  "You know what / don't like? I don't like that you don't trust me."

  "Of course I trust you. I"

  "You what? You jump to conclusions about me and Bart. Ridiculous conclusions. Honestly, Roman, I should be a lot more furious than I am. You hardly ever tell me your winery business, and now you're upset about another man. Maybe you do trust me, but you're not doing a very good job showing it!"

  "The winery business?"

  "The meeting? The one you were supposed to have in Austin earlier today?"

  "My meeting? I hardly think that has anything to do with"

  Julia held up a hand. "You know wh
at? Never mind." She drew in a long breath as she pushed herself up off the couch. She moved to him and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek as he pulled her close. "He's just a friend, Roman. You're the man I love."

  "I know," he said. "I'm sorry." He drew in a breath, trying to shake off the green mood that had settled over him. "At least he'll be gone soon."

  "Ah." She took a step backward and studied the floor.

  Roman's chest constricted. "Sweetheart?"

  "I asked him to stay."

  The floor didn't actually fall out from beneath Roman's feet, but it might as well have. "Here? You invited him to stay here?"

  "Well, not here ," Julia said. "At the Inn."

  "Oh, right, of course. Because the practical way to handle the arrival of an ex-boyfriend is to invite him to sleep under your roof."

  Julia stared him down, the force of her temper spiking again to match the level of his sarcasm. "For God's sake, Roman. I could hardly send him packing after he'd come all this way."

  "Why not?"

  She clenched her fists, willing herself to calm down. It made sense that he'd be upset. After all, Bart was an ex-boyfriend. And considering the story that Thelma Lynnthe snake!had spewed, she certainly understood why he'd be a little jealous. Mostly, though, she was annoyed.

  "I'm sorry," Roman said. "I'm just"

  "Look," she said sharply, "I didn't invite the guy, but he is a friend and he is here, and I'm not going to ignore him. It's not his fault that my father is a manipulator." She was talking too fast, she knew it, but she was irritated. "I have a million things to do before the wedding, and I really don't need this hassle."

  "Which hassle? Him showing up, or me being insanely jealous?"

  The slight curve of his lips let her know she'd made her point. "Both," she said curtly. "But he's here, and staying. Thelma Lynn can go jump in a big vat of slime for all I care. I'm sure she'd feel right at home."

  She huffed a little, calming down only when Roman grinned and pulled her close.