Once a Bridesmaid

by Courtney Hunt

  Kyle smiled down at her and then stepped aside to call for the dog. Lauren sighed and shook her head. She was just being romantic in the moonlight.

  “I’d better get home and see if there’s a sock on the door.”

  Kyle laughed. “I’ll walk with you. Casey, too.”

  “No need. Thanks for the pizza and beer.” Lauren turned and walked away before she did something stupid, like grab the front of his battered leather jacket and lay one on that tempting mouth. “See you around, Kyle.

  Chapter Six

  On Saturday morning, Lauren headed out to finish her final painting commission before Christmas. At the local vet’s office, she painted a mural along the hallways. Lauren poured weeks of work into designing the mural, researching flora and fauna to brighten the office. Today, she just needed to add some finishing details to complete the mural since she wanted it to be done in time for Christmas.

  She arrived at the vet’s office just as they opened. After chatting with the staff for a bit and petting the office cat, Lauren covered her long hair with a cap and tossed on her smock before opening her painting kit. Absently, she mixed paint, as she worried her bottom lip, thinking about her friend. Erin hadn’t even known Matthew two weeks and intended to spend Christmas in Savannah with him. Lauren didn’t mind being alone on Christmas, but…

  She dabbed her paintbrush into her mix and noted that she’d made a green nearly the exact color of Kyle’s amazing eyes. She grabbed her blue paint. The cheetah could have ultramarine eyes instead. Lauren pushed away thoughts of Kyle, losing herself in the flow of the work. When she painted, Lauren lost track of time. The world narrowed to her brushes, her palette, and the acrid scent of oil paint, awash in a sea of color.

  She was just adding detail to the baby elephant’s tail when a canine head pushed into the back of her knees, knocking her forward. Instinctively, she leaned back to avoid toppling into the still wet paint. She overbalanced and slid toward the floor before strong hands grabbed her elbows to keep her upright. Her shoulders pressed against a wide, masculine chest and the scent of a pine forest flowed over her.

  “Casey, sit!” Kyle’s deep voice scolded the dog. “I’m so sorry, ma’am.” He righted her and stepped back. “Lauren?”

  “Hi, Kyle.”

  “Did you paint this?” His eyes widened as he took in the mural, turning to stare at the different animals. “You are a woman of many talents.”

  Lauren watched his expression as he took in the details. Other than her clients and Erin, no one knew about her paintings, not ready to expose her dreams to the world. She kept her artistic talents a secret and now felt naked, exposed, vulnerable. “Lauren, this is amazing. I love your use of color. Look at the little lizard on this tree. So clever. Wow. ”

  “Thanks,” Lauren finally managed. “What are you doing here?”

  “Casey needs a bath,” Kyle said. “Just dropping him off since it’s too cold to bathe him outside. Want to grab a coffee with me?”

  Lauren’s stomach growled and her fingers ached pleasantly. She’d been working on the mural for a while now. She could use a break. “Sure.”She secured her palette, closing a few empty paint tubes, and dropped her cap and smock over her tools.

  “So, tell me more about the painting?” Kyle walked along the hallway, still staring at her work. Could he see how she’d screwed up the cheetah’s spots? Or the wonky monkey’s tail? Or the crooked tree trunk? “Did you go to art school?”

  “No. I wanted to but…” She followed him outside and to the local coffee shop next door. They joined the back of the line, inhaling the rich scent of the coffee. “Painting’s not the most lucrative career. I felt like I needed something to fall back on. I started law school but dropped out by the end of my first semester. After that, I didn’t have the money to go to art school, so I became a bridesmaid.”

  “Law school just not for you?”

  “I couldn’t see myself joining them for years of all that constant pressure and stress, when I really wanted to just paint. I was studying for exams and realized I hadn’t seen the sun or picked up my paints in months. So, instead of studying contracts, I sold my textbooks and bought art supplies.”

  “And how’d that go?”

  “I have an online shop and all.” She shrugged. “It’s feast or famine so the bridesmaid thing fills in. My parents are still dreadfully disappointed that I dropped out of the rat race.”

  They placed their coffee orders and stepped aside to wait. Kyle smiled at her, “Who wants to be a rat, right?”

  “The other rats are all lawyers now. Once, when I was painting on the Charles one day last spring, a guy I slept with first year came up to me. He’d just made junior associate and wanted artwork for his office. He browsed my paintings of Faneuil Hall and the swan boats. And he sneers to this girl that’s with him, wearing a diamond ring the size of a chickpea, that he wished he had time to paint beside the river, but some people have jobs.”

  “I hope you didn’t sell it to him.”

  “Oh, I sold him two paintings.” Lauren smiled. “Charged him double, though.”

  “That’s my girl.” Kyle smiled and Lauren tensed, her shoulders tightening. She never, ever wanted to be anyone’s girl. Kyle didn’t seem to mean anything by the figure of speech though so she didn’t comment. He handed her a steaming paper cup of coffee and she took a grateful sip. “There aren’t any tables. Want to walk?”

  Though it was chilly, the day was bright and clear. They stayed comfortably warm as long as they were in motion. They strolled along the crowded waterfront, filled with last minute Christmas shoppers, idly window shopping and chatting as they sipped their drinks. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a peppermint mocha kinda guy.”

  “It’s festive. Christmas in a cup.” Kyle held the cup toward her. “Want a sip?”

  Lauren smiled and gazed up into his eyes. They stood facing each other for a few heartbeats, pedestrian traffic streaming around them. Kyle bit the edge of his lip and then smiled at her, a slow, true smile. Lauren swallowed hard and tried to draw in a deep breath to calm her fluttering heart. That smile made Kyle Rawlings movie star gorgeous.

  But the problem with Kyle, he wasn’t only gorgeous. He was sweet, kind, and smart. Thoughtful and funny. She wasn’t just attracted to him. That she could handle easily. She had handled that easily. But she liked him, too. And Lauren wasn’t at all sure what to do about that.

  “Lauren? Kyle?” Erin and Matthew, bundled up against the cold, joined them, Matthew’s arm around Erin’s shoulders. Erin glanced between Lauren and Kyle and raised her eyebrow at Lauren. She ignored her friend and instead introduced the two men.

  “We’re heading to the diner to grab lunch,” Matthew said, “You guys want to come?”

  “Oh, I don’t want to intrude—” Lauren said.

  “You’re always welcome, Lauren,” Erin said. Was this how it would be from now on? For so long, it’d just been her and Erin together, against the world. And now things were changing. Just how much would change depended on how long this thing with Erin and Matthew lasted. She’d be a third wheel, at least until their fling petered out. Even as she thought it, Matthew pulled Erin tighter against his side, thoughtfully shifting to block her from the chilly breeze off the ocean.

  “Kyle, are you hungry? I’m starved.” Matthew guided Erin toward the Blueberry Hill Diner. Kyle glanced at her and shrugged. He tossed their empty coffee cups into a nearby trash can and followed Erin and Matthew. Unable to come up with a reasonable excuse in time, Lauren trailed along behind.

  They found a booth in the back of the crowded diner, near the blaring jukebox and dangling 45 records mobile. Matthew took Erin’s jacket and hung it up while she scooted into the turquoise and pink booth. They sat close together in the booth, their hands tightly clasped. Lauren slipped into the booth on the opposite side and Kyle sat next to her, bumping her hip as he sat down. Though they kept a careful space between them, awareness blossomed over Lauren’s ski
n. How had she never noticed how tiny these booths were?

  “So, Lauren told me that you all met at a wedding?” Kyle said, shifting on the vinyl bench seat next to her.

  Lauren studied the menu as though it were holy writ to avoid looking at her friend. Erin kicked her under the table and she looked up. Erin glanced at Kyle and then back at Lauren, raising her eyebrows. What gives? Lauren shrugged and shook her head.

  “We met on the way to a wedding. Just last week.” Matthew smiled at Erin. “How long have y’all been dating?”

  “We’re just friends,” Lauren said, quickly. “Kyle’s a wedding photographer. We ran into each other at the vet’s office and then we got coffee while we waited for Casey. That’s his dog.”

  “Oh, I see.” Matthew glanced between them but refrained from saying more while Erin raised her eyebrows at her again. Lauren ignored her, pretending to debate between the cheeseburgers.

  “So, how long are you in town for, Matthew?” Kyle asked.

  “Just the weekend. Gotta head back to Chicago tomorrow.”

  “Chicago’s a great town.” The two men carried the conversation for a while, with Erin jumping in to fill any silences. They told stories, laughing together and quickly becoming friends. Lauren stayed quiet, observing. She wondered if this was what it was like to double date, to be one half of a couple. Not that she dated. But if she did, Kyle would be a great boyfriend. No doubt he would make a great boyfriend for some other lucky girl. She pushed away her burger, not interested in the food any longer.

  When the guys stood up to go to the register to pay, Maybelline swooped down on her and Erin, piling into the booth next to Erin.

  “Make yourself at home, Maybelline.” Lauren said and Maybelline grinned.

  “Goodness, Santa brought you two your presents early. My stars, I don’t know which one is better looking. Erin, your handsome Matthew is head over heels for you.” Erin blushed prettily and nodded. “And that Kyle! What a cutie pie, Lauren. I can see why you’d snatch him up.”

  “We’re not dating,” Lauren said, flatly. “We’re just friends.”

  “You hung out for pizza the other night and you just had coffee,” Erin said. “That’s two dates by my count.”

  “You’ve been in here for two friendly meals with him this week,” Maybelline put in. “So that’s four.

  “Five if you count the bachelorette party,” Erin added, laughing.

  “We’re not counting any of those because none of those were dates.” Lauren ticked off on her fingers as she retorted, “I was working the bachelorette. You deserted me for Skype sex and left me here with him. I was trying to give you privacy when I ate a pizza with him. I just ran into him at the vet’s office and took a coffee break. Then you dragged me here for lunch. No dates.”

  “Call it whatever you like, sweetie. He’s adorable.” Maybelline winked. “If I were 40 years younger, I’d give you a run for your money.”

  “You’re welcome to him, Maybelline, but wouldn’t Ralph be upset?” Lauren climbed out of the booth and donned her peacoat and hat.

  Maybelline eyed both Kyle and Matthew appraisingly before saying, “It might be worth making Ralph mad with a rear view like that.”

  Lauren glanced over at Kyle and Matthew. Maybelline had a point. The view from behind was nearly as good as their front sides. Matthew and Kyle were both gorgeous men.

  “I’m going to show Matthew around town,” Erin said. When the boys returned to the table, Matthew helped her with her coat. “You all want to walk with us?”

  Lauren declined, having no desire to play third wheel all afternoon.

  “I’ve gotta pick up my dog and Lauren’s got a mural to finish so thanks,” Kyle said. “Maybe another time.”

  Matthew and Erin headed out, waving cheerily. Kyle and Lauren walked out into the sunshine together, turning back toward the vet’s office. “They seem really nice. Smitten.”

  “Yes, I suppose so.” Lauren sighed, tugging her gloves on. “He took her out on a date last night and now, a lunch date. Just to be clear, our lunch wasn’t a date.”

  “A mid-day meal among friends,” Kyle said. “It was most definitely not a date.”

  Lauren nodded as they walked along the street toward the vet’s office, the brisk sea breeze tossing her hair. “Just lunch.”

  “Right. Because if it was a date, I’d have picked up at your door and brought you flowers because I’m old fashioned that way. I’d take you wherever you wanted to go—a Red Sox game, a movie, dinner, a play, an art show, whatever. I’d be happy just spending time with you.”

  “Kyle...” Lauren put up a hand, turning toward him.

  “I’d hold your hand.” Kyle picked up her hand and even through her gloves, his warmth washed over her fingers. He stepped closer. “I’d stand close to you. Put my hand on your back to guide you. Sneak little touches whenever I could.”

  He crowded her against the wall near the vet’s office, the brick cold along her back. Even through her heavy jacket, his warmth seeped all along her front, though he didn’t touch her.

  “At the end of the evening, I’d walk you to your door and I’d cup your cheek.” He ran his thumb along her cheekbone, cradling her cheek, his fingers cool. Desire bloomed, hot and bright and wicked through her, as memories from after the bachelorette party spilled through her mind. He tilted her face up to his, leaning closer, his lips just inches from hers. “And I’d kiss you.”

  Lauren’s mouth parted, as she leaned forward, her heart thrumming in her chest. Instead of closing the distance between them, he moved his mouth to her ear, his sweet cinnamon-scented breath warm on her cheek as he whispered, “And then, I’d take you to bed and do unspeakable things to you all night long.”

  Lauren gripped his shoulders, pulling him toward her, as she turned her head, intent on capturing that delicious, sinful mouth. He grinned at her, one side of his mouth crooking up. He stepped back, out of her embrace, with a pleased smile at the reaction he’d wrung out of her and winked. “But, since this wasn’t a date, I won’t be doing any of that today. I’ll just go pick up my dog, instead.”

  Desire still cartwheeling through her, making her achy and needy, she followed him in the office, fighting to get her breathing under control. Without looking back at her, he walked to the front desk to settle his bill. On watery knees, she headed toward the mural and picked up her palette, her fingers shaking.

  She hadn’t wanted him to kiss her, anyway. That way just laid complications and misery. She shut her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, letting the familiar, comforting scent of the paint wash over her and steady her. Resolutely, she got to work again and didn’t turn around when he called, “See you around, Lauren.”

  Chapter Seven

  The morning of Christmas Eve, Lauren stood in their messy living room, scraps of wrapping paper and ribbon in all directions. Normally, Erin kept everything neat as a pin, but the two friends had been up late the night before in a frantic wrapping frenzy. Erin was heading back to Savannah to spend her first Christmas with Matthew’s family. Her brother would join them to make it a big family gathering. Lauren couldn’t think of a worse way to spend Christmas, unless it was with her own family.

  Carefully, Lauren prepped Erin’s gift for Matthew and added an extra layer of bubble wrap. Lauren spent the last several sleepless nights in her studio to finish the small painting for Erin in time for Christmas. She’d based it on a photograph of Matthew and Erin together, in front of the Waving Girl statue on the Savannah waterfront. Erin dashed out of her bedroom to toss on her coat. Lauren helped her cushion the painting inside her carry-on and she was finally ready to go.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Erin said, for at least the forty-seventh time that morning. “I’m so nervous.”

  “You’re going to have a great time.” Lauren reassured her. The two old friends looked at each other for a moment before Erin flung her arms around Lauren to hug her tight. Lauren returned the embrace, patting her
friend’s back. Though she had two sisters of her own by birth, Erin was the sister of her heart. She’d miss being with her for the holidays.

  “I’m sorry to leave you alone on Christmas” Erin said. “You can still come join us.”

  “Gonna go to the store, come home, and put on my PJs. I’ve got plenty of stuff to stream and catch up on,” Lauren lied. “I’m not getting dressed until the 26th. “It’ll be great.”

  “Maybe you could call up Kyle?”

  “Between you and Maybelline...”

  Erin’s cab honked outside.

  “Shoo. Get to the airport and go see your man.” Lauren swallowed past the lump in her throat. She and Erin spent the last five Christmases together, with Erin’s younger brother, Dylan, for company, creating the best holiday memories of Lauren’s life. It was the end of an era because Lauren was pretty sure Erin would be spending all her Christmases with Matthew from now on.

  Of course, Lauren could drive down to her parent’s house in Jersey, to listen to the bickering interspersed with cold silences over a dry turkey. But she didn’t want another miserable holiday. She’d endured enough of those growing up. Instead, she’d celebrate in her own way this time. Time to start making her own traditions. “Go. Have fun. Be merry.”

  Erin hugged her again and dashed out the door. A few minutes later, Lauren bundled up and walked through the festive streets of Apple Harbor admiring the Christmas decorations in every window and all the colorful lights. She circled the lobster trap tree in the center of town, searching for her own painted buoy among them. She’d done one to promote Always a Bridesmaid but couldn’t find it on the tree.

  She popped into the coffee shop and treated herself to a peppermint mocha, forcing herself not to think of Kyle. No doubt he’d be celebrating with the Mitchell family. She remembered peeking in the window as they played their board game the other night. He’d have fun with them.