by T. K. Leigh
“Come back to me, Mack.”
Hearing Brayden’s voice, I snapped out of my thoughts, maintaining my dreamy composure. A smirk was drawn on my friend’s mouth.
“Who is he?”
“No one.”
“Bullshit.”
I shook my head, letting out a slow breath, about to go into detail about what happened last night, then spied the time.
“Sorry, boo. I have to go.”
“You always do this,” he whined, his performance Oscar-worthy. “You’re worse than all those romance novels you make me read. Just when I get to a good part, the damn thing ends in a cliffhanger and I have to wait months or years until the next book in the series is released. Mackenzie, your new nickname is Cliff. Let it be known.”
Laughing at Brayden’s flair for the dramatic, I couldn’t help but wish he was here with me instead of thousands of miles away.
“I love you, Brayden,” I said, blowing him a kiss.
“I love you, too, Mack. Go. Have fun. Be glamorous. Be fabulous. Be…” He stopped short, smiling at me fondly with all the devotion I had grown used to over the years. “Be you. You worked hard for this. Enjoy tonight. Oh, by the way, that black dress is smokin’, you saucy minx! If you make it through tonight without a marriage proposal, or at least some sort of indecent proposal, I will have officially lost all faith in straight men.”
“Who needs a straight man when I have you? Later, Brayden.” I blew him one last kiss and closed out our video chat session.
Sliding on a pair of red slingback pumps, I examined my reflection in the full-length mirror, adjusting the skin-tight thigh-length black leather dress that accented my chest and hips. With my hair tamed, aside from a few curls on the ends, I couldn’t help but see a strong resemblance to my mother. Glancing at a portrait of her that now adorned the wall of my bedroom, my eyes fell on the jeweled cross she wore in the painting. I reached into my dress, pulling out the ornate necklace that was given to me after she was taken from me, and held it in my hands.
“I hope you’re proud of me, Mama, wherever you may be. Te quiero. Siempre.”
~~~~~~~~~~
PULLING UP TO THE two-story brick restaurant on the south end of the island, seeing dozens of cars already lined up in front of the valet stand, I felt a surge of nervous excitement begin to course through my veins at what the evening had in store for Jenna and me. This had been our dream since a sorority mixer freshman year. Multiple drinks had been consumed as we brainstormed a trendy, upscale lounge specializing in after-dinner drinks and fusion desserts. Wine and chocolate. Beer and cheese. Liquor and éclairs. The possibilities and pairings were endless. When the fog of the alcohol cleared, we couldn’t stop thinking about our idea, and Guilty Pleasures was born. To see the idea we had envisioned nearly ten years ago come to life had been my greatest achievement. Graduating at the top of my class at Texas A&M paled in comparison to this. I only wished my mother were still alive to see this momentous occasion. I had no one to share it with, and I couldn’t help but feel slightly downtrodden by the thought.
Continuing past the front entrance, I pulled my car into the rear parking lot and headed toward the back door.
“Mack!” Jenna’s spritely voice broke through as I walked into the kitchen. I braced myself for the attack that was sure to come. The air was knocked out of me as Jenna hugged me enthusiastically, practically squeezing the life out of me.
“Can you believe today’s actually happening?! It’s finally here!” She tightened her grip, and I had a feeling she had already gotten into some of the champagne.
“Honestly, I can’t believe it,” I responded, my eyes scanning the bustling kitchen to see the staff preparing for the evening’s festivities. “Is there anything you need me to do?”
“Nah,” Jenna said. “Everything here is running smoothly. But first…” She clutched my hand in hers and pulled me toward the plating area. “Try this.” She held up a square dish, the white contrasting with the deep red of whatever concoction she had prepared.
I sliced into it with a fork and slid the heavenly dessert into my mouth. I moaned, the velvety taste of chocolate, rum, and sugar dancing on my tongue.
“What is this?”
“Red velvet bread pudding. Sinful, isn’t it?”
“I can feel my hips growing larger just looking at it. That’s definitely going to be a hit. What are you pairing with it?”
“This.” Jenna handed me a champagne flute containing a light pink substance. “Pomegranate champagne.”
I sipped the sparkling liquid. “Mmmm…,” I moaned once more. “I’m in heaven.”
“Me, too,” Jenna said, giggling as we shared a look. “We’re really doing it, aren’t we?” she asked, her voice soft.
I gazed around the kitchen, taking in the fruits of our labor, the result of hundreds of sleepless nights.
“We are.”
“I owe it all to you, Mack.” She picked a second champagne flute off the serving station and we clinked glasses.
“I didn’t really do anything,” I said, drinking more of the cocktail. “I just kept you organized and on track. Without your fantastic desserts, there’s no way this would have come together. Hell, I didn’t even know how to bake a pie until I met you!”
“And aren’t you glad you did?”
I nudged her. “You better believe it. Now, let’s celebrate!”
Hand-in-hand, we proceeded through the swinging doors and into the posh dining area. The floor was hardwood, the walls painted a simple cream color. Unique pieces of art adorned the area, many art-deco style paintings of famous cities across the globe. The lighting was dim, allowing a romantic and chic setting.
“What do you think?” Jenna nervously asked.
I surveyed the room, taking several steps to one corner, then another. We modified the setup for our opening night, the space cleared to allow for a live band and dancing, instead of the bistro tables that would normally fill the room. Covered high-top tables were scattered throughout, and the waitstaff was armed with trays of dessert samples, as well as drinks. After scanning the bar area to ensure everything looked as it should, I turned on my heels and gave Jenna a satisfied smile.
“It’s better than I could have imagined.”
She visibly relaxed. “Phew. That’s a relief. You just have this crazy attention to detail, so I was worried something would go wrong and you wouldn’t like it.”
“What could possibly go wrong?”
“It’s just… I’ve worked in the restaurant business for as long as I can remember. Things don’t always go as planned. You can’t always anticipate everything. You have to be flexible and go with the flow.”
“Are you saying I’m not flexible?”
“Not at all,” she responded quickly. “You just hate when things don’t go according to plan.”
Placing my now empty champagne glass on the bar and grabbing another flute off one of the server’s trays, I simply shrugged. “When you’ve double- and triple-checked everything, nothing will deviate from the plan. I’m certain of that. Now, let’s throw a party no one will soon forget.”
~~~~~~~~~~
HOURS PASSED AS I worked the room, schmoozing with the who’s who of the restaurant and tourism industry. Needing to take a minute to catch my breath and relieve the dryness of my mouth, I leaned against the bar and gulped down a glass of ice water, grateful for the short reprieve from playing host.
“Some party, isn’t it?” a voice said, startling me.
Spinning around, I smiled fondly when I saw Richard, Jenna’s husband, sitting on a stool, looking rather distinguished in his dark suit, dark shirt, and gray tie.
“Hey!” I flung my arms around him. “I didn’t see you sneak in!” I exclaimed, immediately growing concerned that I had missed other important people as they had arrived. I nervously scanned the room, taking a mental inventory that I had, in fact, at least acknowledged everyone in attendance.
“Relax. I came in
through the kitchen.” He raised a tumbler of a dark liquid to his lips. “Here. Have a seat.”
“I can’t,” I replied quickly. “I have to−”
“No. You don’t,” he interrupted. “Everything is under control, Kenzie. You and Jenna ensured that you hired the best of the best, including your waitstaff and managers. Let them do their jobs. Plus, the chair of the Chamber of Commerce wants to have a drink with the owner of one of the newest and hottest spots on South Padre. It would look bad if you turned him down.”
Shaking my head, I knew I would never win an argument with him. I grabbed an extra barstool and sat down, signaling the bartender to pour me what Richard was drinking. Taking a sip, I licked my lips. “Mmmm… Old Fashioned. How very Mad Men of you,” I joked.
Richard nodded in response, a twinkle in his eye as he noticed Jenna interacting with guests in the distance. The old adage that opposites attract was certainly true of Jenna and Richard. Jenna was bubbly with blonde hair and blue eyes, petite, and slender. Richard was twenty-five years her senior with dark, graying hair, gray eyes, and an impeccable figure for someone over fifty. He had the appearance every woman hoped her husband would have when he began to age. And he loved Jenna with every fiber of his being, having won her heart in a whirlwind romance that was only supposed to last for one spring when, after being served with divorce papers, he had rented a vacation home on the island. One spring soon led to almost one year of happy marriage and counting.
“I’m sorry to hear about Elizabeth,” I offered. “Do they know anything yet?”
He shook his head. “No. Nothing. They’ve looked into her background and family, trying to find anyone who had a motive, and they’re completely dumbfounded.”
I nodded, contemplating how cruel the world could be at times.
“But let’s not talk about that. Not tonight. It’s your night that you worked so hard for. Don’t ruin it by thinking about something you can’t control.”
“Right,” I said in agreement. “So, how are things at the hotel?”
“Good. This island never seems to have an off-season, does it? Just when you think you’ll be able to catch a breath after the Spring Break crowd has come and gone, those summer vacationers start to flood in. I guess that’s not a bad thing…”
“But…?” I raised my eyebrows, noticing a trouble look about him. “What is it, Richard?”
He hesitated, studying me. An affectionate smile crossed his solemn face just as the band began playing Someone to Watch Over Me.
“Care to make an old man happy with a dance?” He held his hand out to me, getting up from his chair.
“Of course,” I agreed. “And you’re not old.” I pinched his side playfully and allowed him to lead me to the makeshift dance floor. I caught Jenna’s eye, as if asking if she was okay that I had stolen her husband, and she beamed a brilliant smile at us.
Placing one hand respectfully on my waist and grabbing my free hand in his, Richard said, “You know what I’ve always liked about you?”
“No. What?” I responded as he led me with ease across the dance floor. His eyes were small and weathered, but striking. He was graceful and had a commanding presence that caused many women to gawk at him.
“You’re a straight shooter. You don’t beat around the bush. Even if you know you’re going to hurt someone’s feelings, you tell them exactly what you think, but do so with compassion and sincerity. Jenna needs someone like you in her life.”
As I listened to him speak, I grew nervous about what his words could imply. “Where is all of this coming from?” I lowered my voice, but still had to talk at a moderate level to cut through the music and chatter echoing around us. “Are you and Jenna having problems?”
“No!” he answered quickly. “Not like that. I mean…” He trailed off. “I shouldn’t say anything, but I have no one else to talk to about any of this.”
“What is it, Richard? You can trust me.”
“I know I can. I’ve always been able to.” He took a deep breath before his expression turned serious. “Did Jenna tell you she was pregnant?”
“She is?”
He slowly shook his head. “No… Was.”
I gasped, my heart breaking. I couldn’t imagine how Richard and Jenna were feeling. “I’m so sorry.” I stared into his eyes and could see his own devastation. “I kind of had a feeling when she stopped drinking during our girls’ nights for a while, but I didn’t want to press it. I figured she would tell me when she was ready. Then she started to drink again, but I didn’t really think anything of it.”
Richard nodded. “She was so excited about it, and all I could think was that I’m over fifty and having a kid. I’d be seventy when he graduated high school. I just…”
“Jenna doesn’t care about any of that. Don’t look at it that way. She loves you and wants to share her life with you, regardless of whether she’s changing one set of diapers or two.”
Richard’s eyes grew wide before he chuckled heartily. “Thanks, Kenzie. I needed that.”
I winked. “You bet. That’s what I’m here for. A comedic break from life.”
“No,” he said. “You’re the most grounded person I know. You just put things in perspective.” He leaned down from his six-foot height and placed a kiss on my forehead.
“So, are you two going to keep trying?”
“We are. I know I’m an old guy, but I’d hate to deprive her of something she really wants just because she was crazy enough to marry me. And I really do want to have a baby with her. I just worry a lot.”
“I know that feeling,” I mumbled.
“So, tell me. Will a baby fit into your calendar?”
“You all need to lay off me and my calendar. This place would never have opened if it wasn’t for all my organizational skills and that damned calendar. And yes, your baby will always have a place in my life. As long as it’s not mine, I have time for anyone’s child.”
“When are you going to make room for a family of your own?” Richard asked, not even missing a beat.
“I have to meet someone first, or did no one explain the birds and bees to you?” I retorted sarcastically, avoiding his question.
“No. I know how it all works. Don’t worry about me. But I worry about you sometimes, Kenzie. You know that, right?”
I groaned. “What is this? Gain up on Mackenzie weekend? This is all I’ve been hearing since yesterday. First from Jenna. Then Brayden. And now you? I’m just waiting for−”
“Your turtledove. I know. But you need to at least leave your heart open for the possibility of finding him. You don’t even do that.”
I stared ahead, avoiding his eyes. “What if I don’t know how?” I asked softly, feeling exposed.
He pulled my body into his as the song came to an end. “When you find the right person, you won’t know how to not let them into your heart. Believe me. I’ve dated more women than I care to admit. But Jenna, well… She carved out a piece of my heart the moment I saw her. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, even though I didn’t know her name yet. When we met, the last thing I was looking for was someone new to fall in love with. I wasn’t expecting to run into her. And I certainly wasn’t expecting to be consumed by her nearly every moment since our chance encounter. At some point, you have to forget about what you think should happen and live in the moment of what is happening. If you don’t, you’ll miss what could be right in front of you.”
A lump formed in my throat, and all I could do was think of my chance encounter the previous night. I was frightened and confused about how someone whose name I didn’t even know could have inundated himself so easily into all my thoughts in such a short time. I couldn’t identify half of the men I had turned down over the years. But this guy… I could paint his eyes from memory, the green so vibrant yet so full of sorrow.
A gentle tapping on my shoulder woke me from my thoughts and I turned to see Jenna’s warmhearted smile.
“Mind if I cut in and dance with my man?�
�
“Never,” I said, grabbing Jenna’s hand and placing it in Richard’s. “Have fun, kids.”
Just as I was about to walk off the dance floor, I felt a strong hand grasp onto my arm and pull me into his very tall, muscular body.
Following the line of his chest, which looked exquisite in a three-piece charcoal suit, I grew breathless when my vision settled on the same green eyes I had first seen the previous night.
“Dance with me, Mackenzie,” he said, holding my hand in his, sensually placing the other just below my hip bone.
“What are you−”
“Shhh…,” he admonished, expertly leading me in our dance, the band playing Cole Porter’s Every Time We Say Goodbye. “Just enjoy it and don’t think.”
I simply nodded, turning my head to scan the restaurant.
“Mackenzie, eyes on me. I need to know you’re with me.”
I snapped my eyes back to his, my mouth slightly agape as my heart pounded in my chest. He was warm and spellbinding. The way he held me in his arms comforted me and made me feel as if they were made to hold me.
“Are you with me?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Yes,” I said, my voice soft.
He leaned toward me and the bit of stubble on his chin brushed my skin. “Yes what?” he whispered.