Where the Light Glows

by Dena Blake

  When she had first started going to the restaurant, Izzy rarely came out of the kitchen, but one night she’d hand-delivered the crème brûlée Mel had ordered. At the time, she was trying to decide what color dress to wear for a wedding she and Jack were attending that weekend. When she’d asked him which color he thought she should wear, Jack didn’t answer. When she’d persisted, offering him red or blue, he’d said either one would do.

  It wasn’t the kind of answer she was looking for, so she’d been a little disappointed with his lack of interest. She remembered the sound of Izzy’s voice clearly as she said, “Wear the red. It brings out your eyes.” And then she simply smiled and headed back into the kitchen. Mel was flattered at the compliment and a little surprised she’d even noticed her eyes.

  She remembered thinking red was a little flashy for a wedding, but she wore it anyway, and somehow she felt sexy and more confident than she had in a long time. She should’ve known then why Izzy had noticed her eyes, but she’d been too self-involved to pick up on it.

  “Red it is.” She slipped the dress off the hanger and pulled it over her head. Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, she grinned. Her eyes weren’t all it was going to bring out tonight.

  *

  Reserved for private party. Mel smiled at the sign hanging on the door of the restaurant. She pushed it open and squealed at the sight of all the balloons and streamers scattered throughout the room. The tables were decorated with flowers, candles, glitter, and confetti. The room was beautiful.

  “What do you think?” Angie said.

  “I think it looks awesome. Izzy is going to be so surprised.”

  Angie smiled at the compliment, then eyeballed the tables across the room. “Dougie, can you move those tables against the wall for the cake?” She pointed from the tables to the wall and then turned back to Mel. “You know Izzy is going to complain about the cost. She thinks someone else is paying for this.”

  “Someone else is. Me.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I know, but this was the only way I could get away with it. Otherwise she’d be here working all night, and there’s no way I’m going to let her work on her birthday.”

  “Tony has most of the food prepared, and Izzy should be here soon.”

  “How’d he get rid of her?”

  “He sent her to get the cake.” She pinched her lips together. “She wasn’t happy about that.”

  Nancy came streaking out of the kitchen and across the room to pull Mel into a hug. “She’ll freak when she finds out the party’s for her.” Lauren followed right after her. “You’re going to be in so much trouble.”

  They all turned and admired their work.

  “I know, and I love it.” Mel wrapped her arm around Angie’s shoulder. “You know it’s not easy to pull something over on your sister.” She glanced around the restaurant. “Are your mom and dad here yet?”

  “They’ll be here soon. Aunt Julia and Uncle Rennie are bringing them.”

  “And the rest of the family?”

  “By the time she gets back, everyone should be here.”

  “Great. Let’s hope she hasn’t figured it out.”

  Nancy and Lauren helped Angie and Mel put the finishing touches on the tables.

  “What color tank did she wear today?”

  “Black.”

  “I figured, but that will go with anything.” She grabbed a shopping bag from the bar. “I don’t want her to have to wear that chef’s coat all night.” Although she does look awfully cute in it.

  “Did you bring a zippered hoodie?”

  “Nope. I bought her a nice black silk blouse to wear over her tank instead.” She pulled it out of the bag, held it up, and they all nodded in approval.

  “That will be a nice birthday present,” Angie commented.

  “This is just for the party. I got her something else for her birthday.” She reached into her bag, held the small velvet box in her hand, and smiled at Nancy and Lauren. They’d both helped her pick out just the right ring.

  *

  Izzy pulled her Jeep into the alley behind the restaurant and popped the back hatch. Then she turned the knob to the back door—locked. Thinking it was strange, she pounded on it and shouted to Tony, then went back to the SUV.

  The door swung open, and both Tony and Gio pushed through the screen door, letting it slap back into place.

  “Why’s the door locked?”

  “Some kids were messing around out here earlier.”

  “Did you tell them to get lost?”

  “Was gonna, but they were just riding their skateboards down the loading dock.”

  “You’re such a softie, Tony.”

  Gio chimed in. “I wish I’d had a place like this to ride my board when I was a kid.”

  “You think that would’ve kept you out of trouble?”

  “Maybe.” He shrugged.

  “Well, then, all right. That’s enough reason for me. Let them ride whenever they want.”

  Gio chuckled to Tony. “Iz is getting a little mellow in her old age.”

  She glared at him.

  “Oh. That’s right. I almost forgot. You’re adding another year today, aren’t you?”

  “You’d better have bought me something good.” She winked at him.

  “How about you take the day off tomorrow? Then you and Mel can do something fun,” Tony said.

  “That’s my plan.”

  “Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do?”

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  “If nothing else, you could always explore the beach.”

  “I guess.” Or just hang out in bed and explore Mel. The thought made her grin as she slid the oversized cake box across the tailgate and picked it up. Tony tried to help her, but she waved him off. “Can you get the roses out of the backseat for me? They go on top of the cake.”

  Gio rushed around her and held the door open.

  Tony retrieved the roses. “What do they call this color?”

  “Salmon. It’s my favorite. Apparently the customer likes it too.”

  “I didn’t even know you liked roses, sis,” Gio said.

  “Every woman likes roses.” She glanced over her shoulder at Gio and winked. “Don’t ever forget that.” She slid the cake onto the center island and opened the top of the box.

  Tony broke off the stems as he handed her the rosebuds, and she meticulously put them in place. Now that she looked at it, she had to admit it was a beautiful cake, but Izzy had been a little put out this afternoon at having to go get it. She could’ve made them a delicious Italian cream cake.

  “Is everything set up in the dining room?”

  “Yep. Just waiting on you.”

  “What time is the party?”

  “Reservation was for seven, but a few people came early to decorate.”

  She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost six thirty. “Well, I guess we’d better get this in there.”

  “Here, let me help you.” Tony slid the cake off the counter and into his arms. “Can you get the door, Angie?”

  “Already on my way.” She pushed the kitchen door open. “From the amount of food they ordered, it looks like it’s gonna be a hell of a party.”

  “Let’s hope so.” Izzy turned, facing Tony as she backed through the door.

  After they stepped through the doorway, Angie directed them to the table against the wall, where Izzy centered the cake and smoothed the tablecloth.

  “Surprise.”

  The sound nearly knocked Izzy off of her feet.

  “What the—” She spun around and was engulfed in the arms of her mother and father.

  “Here. Take that coat off.” Angie handed her the silk shirt and waited as she put it on.

  “Where is she?” Izzy searched the small crowd of familiar faces but couldn’t locate the one she was looking for.

  Angie pointed to the corner of the room. “At the bar.” Before Izzy could move, Angie touched her elbow. “D
on’t be mad. She worked really hard on this.”

  She spotted Mel sitting on the stool at the end of the bar, dressed in a red dress that hugged her every curve. She stared at Mel’s lips, tripped across her breasts, and landed on the long, lean legs she loved to be wrapped in before she swept back up to beautiful emerald-green eyes that locked with hers. The all-too-familiar feeling danced in her belly. She was stunning.

  “I’m not mad.” She smiled. How could I be mad at that vision of loveliness?

  After giving a few hugs and hellos, she headed her way, and Mel gave her a sultry smile.

  Izzy trailed her finger down Mel’s arm as she leaned near and whispered in her ear, “I love this shirt, but I feel a little underdressed.”

  “Oh, really? Well, just so you know, I’m hoping to feel that way later.” Mel gave her a steamy stare over her glass as she sipped her wine.

  A red-hot jolt of arousal shot through Izzy like a lightning bolt. “You’d better stop that, or we’re going to have to leave early.” Izzy took the glass from her hand and drank. “And don’t have too much of this.” She lifted the glass, looking at the legs of wine as they flowed slowly to the bottom of the glass.

  “You either.” Mel poured another glass of wine and clinked it against Izzy’s. “Happy birthday, baby.”

  “Thank you.” She pressed her lips gently to Mel’s. “Can’t we just sneak out now?”

  “And disappoint all these people?” Mel’s lip pulled up as she slid her finger from the base of Izzy’s neck to the neckline of her tank. “But save your energy. I don’t plan to get much sleep tonight.”

  “God, I love you.” Izzy’s mouth covered Mel’s in an urgent, demanding kiss that left her in a pool of anticipation.

  “Love you more,” Mel said breathlessly against her cheek. “I have one more gift I’d like you to open.” She set her wineglass on the bar before retrieving the small velvet box from her clutch and handing it to Izzy.

  Adrenaline raced through Izzy as she flipped her gaze from Mel’s eyes to the box and back again. “What’s this?”

  “I love you, Izzy, and I want you to be my wife,” Mel said, and everything else in the room disappeared for Izzy. She saw nothing except Mel’s sparkling green eyes as she fumbled to find a place to land her wineglass. She swept Mel off the barstool into her arms and kissed her completely. It was the most amazing kiss ever—soft, demanding, and sweet all wrapped up together. She didn’t want it to stop. Mel had beaten her to the punch, but she’d made her the happiest woman in her little part of the world.

  When they finally parted to take a breath, Mel quietly gazed at Izzy, her eyes glassy with emotion. It took her a minute to realize Mel was actually waiting for an answer. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Mel took the diamond-embedded band from the box and slid it onto Izzy’s finger. It was a perfect fit. Then Mel gave her one more heated kiss before whispering in her ear. “Now go mingle.”

  “Not sure I can after this.” All she wanted to do now was spend the whole evening alone, wrapped up with Mel.

  “You have to. Your mother’s waiting to see it on your finger. She’s already going to be mad because I didn’t ask you in front of everyone.” Mel ran her finger down the side of Izzy’s face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  Izzy kissed her again softly, then took in a deep breath and growled before she reluctantly turned and headed to where her parents were seated. Her mother’s smile was wide, and Izzy knew Bella would take credit for Izzy’s happiness. But that was okay, because she was, indeed, extremely happy.

  Epilogue

  Mel Thomas sat at the bar staring across the room at her other half. The grin she saw on Izzy’s face told her she’d been successful in her quest. The birthday party had been a total surprise.

  Adrenaline flooding her veins, Mel enjoyed the way her heart was pounding. Her body surged with desire when Izzy looked her way and she took in that dimple-pricked smile. God, she loved that smile. If anyone had told her six months ago she could be this happy, Mel would’ve flat-out called them a liar.

  During the last two years of her dwindling decade-long marriage, her life had been far from perfect. Happiness hadn’t often been in her thoughts. If she hadn’t had her work, getting through each day would’ve been an absolute chore. But then something wonderful had happened—no, someone wonderful had happened, and her reality had changed. She was jarred back into active living, leaving behind what had become, for her, a meager existence.

  It was almost six months ago to the day that Mel had begun falling in love again. She hadn’t known it at the time, but that day was a new beginning, the launch of a journey to self-discovery. It might have been a rocky voyage, but it was one she would never regret riding out.

  Some people might call it a mid-life crisis or even some sort of life epiphany. But, remembering Bella’s story, Mel simply called it finding where the light glows.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Dena Blake grew up in a small town just north of San Francisco where she learned to play softball, ride motorcycles, and grow vegetables. She eventually moved with her family to the southwest where she began creating vivid characters in her mind and bringing them to life on paper.

  Dena currently lives in the Southwest with her partner and is constantly amazed at what she learns from her two children. She’s a would-be chef, tech nerd, and occasional auto mechanic who has a weakness for dark chocolate and a good cup of coffee.

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