That First Kiss

by J.C. Valentine

  If she didn’t find someone soon, she was screwed.

  A subtle buzzing sound had everyone checking their cell phones. “It’s me.” Patti consulted her caller ID before answering in her characteristically delightful way. “Hey! I’m so glad you got back to me.” Her tone and vitality captured everyone’s attention, and the women sat back to watch. It was difficult to decipher what was going on, but the muffled, deep voice had certainly piqued their interest and they each leaned in to try to capture any detail they could.

  Patti was grinning and nodding, the excitement in her eyes so infectious, Piper felt some of it transferring to her. The energy in the room was palpable and somehow, she knew, this was something good, something that pertained to her. Could it be that Patti had come through for her?

  “That’s so great. Thank you so much, Tom. You are a lifesaver,” Patti gushed. She nodded a few more times, muttering a few ‘uh huhs’ along the way, and all the while, she kept her eyes glued to Piper. Oh, please, Lord, let this be for me, Piper prayed desperately.

  “Did you want to speak to her now? Yep, she is.” Patti held out the phone and Piper’s heart raced.

  “Who is it?” she mouthed, pinching the phone between two fingers as if it were a bomb poised to detonate.

  “His name is Tom,” Patti whispered. “Just answer it!”

  Piper pressed the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

  “Hi, is this Piper Donovan?” The deep, masculine voice moved through Piper in a way that was both familiar and foreign. Piper flipped through her memory banks. Where had she heard that voice before? Smoky, smooth, like rich, expensive scotch.

  “Yes, this is she.”

  “Hello, Ms. Donovan. I’m Tom. Patti said you could use my services?”

  “That depends. Are you in the business of saving damsels in distress,” she asked coyly. Where the hell had that come from? Piper wasn’t normally so openly flirtatious. At least, not before she had a chance to get a couple of drinks in her.

  Tom’s husky laugh traveled down the line and through her body, settling in her stomach with aching warmth. “Only on the weekends. What can I do for you?”

  Piper began with the most obvious question. “What do you do? I have to admit,” she said, staring a hole through Patti, “I have no clue who you are.” Patti shrugged, the picture of innocence. Piper could just strangle her. She held her hands out, curving her fingers into claws and miming the action. Patti only laughed, calling her bluff. The brat.

  “Ah, I see. Well, I own Revado Events. You may have heard of us. We just celebrated our third anniversary. We specialize in party and event planning, anything from birthdays to business functions.”

  Piper’s heart was fluttering with elation. “Do you cater?”

  “We do that too.”

  “How about travel? I don’t know if Patti told you, but I need someone willing and able to pack up and travel to Vegas in two days. Before you say no,” she said quickly, “I am literally hanging on to my sanity by a thread. I have no one else to turn to. No one is willing to handle events this size on such short notice. But if you agree, know that all expenses are covered in full plus a sizable bonus. I’m desperate.” Taking a deep breath, Piper waited for the verdict.

  “Patricia has filled me in. If I understand correctly, you’ve rented a hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. How many do you expect to attend?”

  “Minimum? A hundred. The numbers are impossible to determine since it will be open to the public.”

  Tom made a noise in the back of his throat as he considered this. “Are you looking for something professional, casual, or a mix?”

  “Mix. I don’t want this to be stuffy. I want people to feel comfortable but know to still be on their best behavior.”

  They went over a few more details: times, hotel reservations, how many staff he expected to bring along. “I’m thinking open buffet with meat and cheese spreads, club sandwiches, punch, soda and an open bar for those who would like something a little stronger. How does that sound so far?”

  “Perfect. That sounds perfect.” Piper breathed a sigh of relief. Tom really sounded like he knew what he was talking about, and better yet, he didn’t come off the least bit pretentious. After hours of dealing with possibly the rudest and snobbiest people she had ever had the misfortune to speak with, she appreciated it more than he could ever know. Maybe she could pull this off yet.

  “Excellent. I’ll get started on that right way. Now, I know we’re working on a tight schedule here, but I always ask that my clients come down to the office to go over the menu with me, make sure everything is the way they envision it. Would you be up for that?”

  Piper nodded eagerly, and then realized that he couldn’t see her. “Yes, I can definitely come down.”

  “Good. How does tomorrow morning sound? Nine o’clock?”

  Piper ran through her mental checklist. “Actually, noon would be better.”

  She heard rapid clicking in the background and assumed that he was typing. “That can be arranged. I assume you’ll be on lunch, so that will be perfect. More room for the samples we’ll be setting up.”

  “Saving me money already. I like the way you think.” Piper glanced up to find her friends watching her, teasing smiles on their annoying and far too perceptive faces. “What,” she mouthed, then shooed them away. They didn’t budge, so Piper unfolded her legs, which had long gone numb from sitting on the hardwood floors for too long, and carried herself into the kitchen to get some privacy.

  “I aim to please,” Tom was saying as she leaned her back against the counter. A grin spread across her face for no good reason and Piper realized that she had been doing that since the moment she heard his voice. Weird. She worked to smooth her face. “So, tomorrow at noon for business and lunch.”

  “Yep. Mixing business with pleasure,” Piper quipped, and then mentally kicked herself in the ass for sounding like such an idiot.

  “Hmm, I like the way you think, Ms. Donovan,” Tom purred, throwing her words back at her.

  Piper swallowed around the lump in her throat. Was it her, or was this guy flirting? “Please, call me Piper.”

  “See you tomorrow…Piper.”

  Her name rolled off his tongue like honey, and Piper’s knees threatened to buckle. “Okay,” she said weakly. Hanging up the phone, Piper held it to her chest, soaking in Tom’s smooth, cultured voice. If the man looked as good as he sounded…she was in trouble.

  Motion from the corner of her eye caught her attention and Piper lifted her head to find all four women crowding the doorway, staring at her with wide, excitement-filled. Shelia was the first to step forward. “Okay, time for a makeover.”

  Bewildered, Piper stepped back as she and Jules reached out to each grab an arm and began dragging her toward the bedroom. “What are you doing? Unhand me, you brutes!” she squealed as they pushed and pulled at her.

  “You’re about to meet a guy who, judging by that sexy rumbling voice, is hotter than Hades. If you’re going to be runway ready by morning, we need to get started right now. This could take all night,” Shelia sighed dramatically.

  Should she be offended? It felt like she should be offended. Piper frowned.

  Once in the bedroom, Shelia pushed her down on the bed. Jules and Patti began rummaging through her closet. Lynn broke off and headed for the bathroom. “This is ridiculous. I do not need a makeover.”

  “Have you looked in a mirror lately?” Grabbing her face in her hands and tilting her head back, Shelia inspected her. “Your pores are the size of quarters and these bushes you call eyebrows look like they could house a forest of caterpillars. Lucky for you, you have a team of professionals here to help.”

  Jesus, it was a wonder Piper hadn’t formed a complex hanging around this lot. She’d never been insecure—much—about her looks, but if they kept this up that was bound to change. “Do caterpillars live in forests?”

  Shelia smacked her cheek. “Don’t be cute.”

  “It
can’t be helped,” Piper quipped, rubbing the sting away.

  Lynn reappeared, looking mischievous and slightly dangerous wielding a wooden stick and what appeared to be a roll of duct tape. “All set in here.”

  As one, the women closed in on her. “Are you ready to be beautified?”

  She couldn’t say she was, but it didn’t look like she had much say in the matter. Feeling like she was being led to the gas chamber, Piper lifted her chin resolutely. “Let’s do this.”

  *****

  Piper walked through the doors of Revado Events feeling like a new woman. After several hours of tweezing, waxing, facial masks and hair treatments, she felt like she’d been buffed to within an inch of her life. Piper hardly recognized herself in the mirror. Her hair glistened like she was starring in her own Herbal Essences commercial and her skin positively glowed. She felt more feminine than she had ever felt before in her life.

  A short woman with a severe bob looked up at her as she approached the counter. “Hi.” Piper turned on her professionally friendly smile. She was inordinately nervous about this meeting. Maybe it had something to do with all the primping she’d done last night. “I’m here to see Mr. Revado.”

  “Ms. Donovan?” The way the woman said her name indicated she was expected.

  “That’s me.”

  “Tom’s in the kitchen. Have a seat while I go tell him you’re here.” She pointed to a quaint little seating area set off to one side.

  Piper made herself comfortable on the rattan couch and picked a magazine from the pile, settling on one of a dozen featuring some kind of delicious looking food on the cover. By the time Tom appeared, her stomach was growling.

  “Piper,” he greeted, smiling hugely.

  Piper’s breath caught as she looked up into a set of familiar chocolate brown eyes. “Thomas?” Finally, after hours of racking her brain, she was able to put voice to face. “I knew you sounded familiar.” Tossing the magazine to the side, she jumped to her feet, trying not to look too excited. Epic. Fail.

  “I wondered if you’d recognize me.” Tom flashed that bright, flawless smile at her and her insides melted a little.

  “Oh come on,” she said, playfully swatting his arm. “As if I could ever forget a face like that.” She’d been mortified when he took back his card at Night Life, essentially ending any possibility they might get together in the future. Well, it looked like fate was giving them a second chance.

  Tom stepped forward and embraced her in a friendly hug. When they drew back, he kept one hand on the small of her back. “Come, let’s go to the back. I have everything set up.” To the girl who manned the counter he said, “Liv, hold my calls.”

  Liv nodded and returned to her station. “Have a nice lunch, Tom.” She looked at Piper and despite the small smile; Piper felt a chill run down her spine. She shook it off as Tom guided her through a curved archway.

  “Excuse Liv,” he said close to her ear. “She’s a friend of mine’s little cousin. She has a little crush on me and tends to get a tad territorial.”

  Piper turned on him, surprised and a little relieved to know that she hadn’t just been imagining the little exchange. “Are you suggesting she’s threatened by me?”

  Tom lifted an eyebrow in way of answer. Apparently he thought she should be. Interesting.

  Piper was led through a kitchen of gleaming stainless steel, out a heavy industrial grade door, and back outside to what she assumed to be the rear of the building. A concrete slab decorated with potted ferns and two plastic tables surrounded by chairs welcomed them.

  “This looks cozy,” Piper commented, taking a seat at the second table. It skirted the edge of the patio and was bathed in afternoon sunlight. A plate of yummy looking treats covered in plastic wrap sat in the middle waiting for them.

  “Thank you.” Like a gentleman, Tom helped scoot her chair in before drawing up a seat beside her. “I thought we could start with sandwiches and work our way toward dessert.”

  Piper nodded. She was starving, so anything sounded good to her. Tom peeled back the plastic revealing tiny triangle wedges layered with color. Her stomach rumbled at the sight.

  “I like a girl who comes prepared,” Tom laughed. Picking up a wedge, he passed it to her.

  Trying to contain her enthusiasm when all she wanted to do was devour it, Piper sunk her teeth into the sandwich and moaned at the explosion of flavor. Cool tomatoes, crisp bacon, and smoky meat.

  “Good?”

  “Perfect,” Piper said around the mouthful.

  Tom popped an entire wedge into his mouth and Piper watched, fascinated as he chewed. He had a gorgeous mouth.

  Piper lost track of time. Tom was a very good host. He plied her with all kinds of mouthwatering morsels and tasty confections, including mini strawberry tarts that practically melted on her tongue.

  “I don’t think I can eat another bite,” she said a while later. Piper sat back in her chair, patting her belly and sighing contentedly. She didn’t think she had ever eaten so well before in her life. If Tom could impress her with these tiny bits of food, she was more than confident that he was up for the task of catering the event in Vegas.

  “Not yet you’re not. You haven’t tried my specialty yet.” The back door opened and out stepped one of the employees that had been charged with delivering each dish—a young man with disheveled dishwater blond hair and kind eyes. He removed the empty platter and filled the space with another.

  “This is your specialty?” Piper stifled a giggle.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” Piper said quickly, trying to hide her amusement. “I just didn’t expect…this.” Several fat strawberries dipped in chocolate sat before her; each one drizzled artfully with contrasting white chocolate. They looked positively delicious.

  “Strawberries? They’re a delicacy. They can be simple and sweet, or they can be rich and seductive.” Tom scooped one up and, turning his chair toward her, leaned forward, his rich chocolate brown eyes smoldering. He held the fruit up. “Everybody loves strawberries.”

  “Unless they’re allergic,” Piper pointed out wisely, feeling a little nervous being under the full weight of his stare.

  Tom appeared to hesitate, pulling back slightly. “Are you allergic?”

  “No.”

  “Well then.” Holding the berry aloft, Tom brought it up to her lips, teasing them with the smooth chocolate covered tip. The look he gave her was nothing short of heart pounding.

  Piper licked her lips, her tongue catching a drop of sweet juice and held his gaze as she prepared to sink her teeth in. She was just parting her lips when she was startled by the sound of a male voice.

  “Ah, there you are.” Tate breezed onto the patio and pulled out a chair, seating it as close to hers as possible. Piper had to jerk her hand off one of the arms, narrowly avoiding getting her fingers pinched by the plastic.

  Tom pulled back almost instantly, his face a mask of confusion and aggravation. Piper stared, dumbfounded. What was he doing here?

  Tate smiled widely, showing off his straight white teeth. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he looked down at her. “Sorry I’m late. What did I miss?”

  20

  “I still can’t believe he did that.” Piper nodded as she worked to unpack her suitcase. More than twenty-four hours had passed and she was still fuming at Tate over the stunt he had pulled at Tom’s. Her only consolation was that Shelia was angry for her.

  “Me either, but should we really be surprised?” How had he found out about the meeting in the first place? It was a question that she had asked herself a dozen times. As far as she knew, the only people who knew where she would be were the girls. She had called to tell Tate that she wouldn’t be by until sometime after lunch since she had intended to use the extra time to get properly ready for their date. Of course it wasn’t a date, she amended as she stuffed several pairs of underwear into the top drawer of the complimentary dresser, but he didn’t know that.

  The only
explanation she could come up with, and promptly brushed off, was that Tate had followed her, but then, wouldn’t he have made his presence known sooner if that was the case? Maybe she was over thinking it. She really just needed to let it go. There was so much she needed to worry about still and dwelling on what might have been was only going to drive her even more out of her mind than she already was.

  “Nothing about that man surprises me,” Shelia responded. “So, tell me about the flight. Did everything go alright?”

  “Well, we didn’t crash and burn, so that’s something.” Piper hated flying. Being forced into a tin can and hurtling through the air at over five hundred miles per hour was not her idea of a relaxing time. She was so tired from staying up all night worrying about it that she was practically dead on her feet. But there would be no rest for her today, because her job had only just begun.

  “Listen to you,” Shelia reprimanded. “Anyone would love to be in your position. A free flight to Vegas, posh hotel on the house. I swear to God, if you tell me that the meals are included, I will slit my wrists.”

  “Meals are included,” Piper smiled devilishly.

  “Cow,” Shelia sneered down the line, but Piper knew she meant it in the best possible way.

  Emptying the last of her belongings, she tossed her suitcase on the floor sunk down on the edge of the bed. “I’m so tired,” she moaned, flopping onto her back and covering her face with her arm. “The last thing I want to do is worry about how many quiche we have or if there are enough brochures. Mr. Bradshaw will have my head if everything isn’t perfect for this event.” Of course, she was just guessing. She still had yet to meet the mysterious man responsible for cutting her paychecks.

  “Then maybe he should have thought about that before he dumped this thing on you at the last-minute.” Shelia’s indignation on her behalf was truly heartwarming. It made Piper long for home.