“I called to ask if you were riding with me this afternoon.”
“Actually no, I'm riding with your aunt. She's coming to pick me up in a couple of hours. I promised to help with setting things up.”
“Oh.”
“Please do your best to make sure Lisa and Tessa are on time. You know how your aunt is about punctuality.”
“Yes ma'am, I will. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
Jasmine and her mother had a great relationship, but she was always nagging her about moving on and dating again. Specifically with men she'd chosen for her. Jasmine hoped she wouldn't have to listen to her speech the entire evening.
The reception was set to start at three o'clock. By one-thirty, Jasmine was dressed and getting ready to apply her make-up. She decided it was a good time to check on Tessa and Lisa.
“Come on Tessa, pick up.”
On the fourth ring Tessa's voicemail came on.
“Hey Tessa, it's Jaz. I was calling to see if you were almost ready. I'm heading over to the venue, in a little. Call me when you get this message.”
Dialing Lisa's number, she waited impatiently for her to answer.
“Hello.”
“Hey, how's getting ready going?”
“Fine, but doesn't the reception start at three o'clock?”
“It does, I just wanted to check on you and Tessa. I'm about to leave my house in ten minutes.”
“Don't worry, I promise I'll be on time today.”
“Alright, I'm trusting you.” Jasmine hung up the phone and hoped for once Lisa was telling the truth.
Jasmine admired the beautiful exterior, while pulling in to the hotel. Fairly new, the colonial style design sat on a lake front property. It was unquestionably something Laurel had chosen. As she walked towards the entrance, her phone rung.
“Please tell me you're on your way.”
“Yes, I over slept because of Sean. He wouldn't let me leave last night,” Tessa said.
“Uh huh. I'll see you when you get here.”
Around two-thirty, both Tessa and Lisa, managed to arrive. And as the rest of the guest poured in, the reception began. Jasmine smiled while watching Laurel and her husband together. Excitement and happiness filled her heart. She believed everyone deserved real love. In fact seeing them together, made her think of the life she once wanted.
Jasmine wasn't a bitter woman. She had just endured too many bad choices in men. Calvin happen to be the last one. When she met him at a pharmaceutical convention, he sparked up a conversation with her. After four years of dating, he proposed. Jasmine said yes, thinking finally the right man had come along. She had been wrong, and unfortunately it was her worst mistake.
“I have to give Laurel props, she put us at the cute table,” Tessa said, nudging Jasmine's arm. “ Girl look at his lips. I'm willing to bet, he gives good head.”
Tessa and the guy sitting on the other side of her had exchanged numbers. For once, Jasmine was happy to hear all about it. She could sense herself going to a dark place in her mind. After Tessa turned her attention back to Mr. Good head, Jasmine looked to the other side of her. Like Tessa, she had been seated next to an attractive guy as well.
Throughout the evening, they talked to one another. Unfortunately, his features seemed to be the only thing going for him. The entire time he bragged about himself and his so called assets. Jasmine suspected, he spent more time in the mirror than her.
Glancing over at Tessa, she watched her bat her eyes and laugh at a joke that wasn't funny.
“I'm glad you're enjoying yourself,” Jasmine said dryly in Tessa's ear. “I need more cake.”
Before she stood, Mr. full of himself placed his hand on her thigh and winked. With much effort Jasmine had tolerated his dull conversation, however, she wasn't going to let him touch her.
“Excuse you!” She removed his hand, and left him sitting with a foiled look on his face.
On the way to the cake, she stopped by Lisa and Avery's table. They complemented each other well. Jasmine felt honored to be responsible for their union.
“What is this? The pretty people's table?”
Lisa and Avery stood to give her a hug.
“Hey Jaz?” Avery said... “Where's Tessa?”
Jasmine nodded in the direction she came from. “Over there, picking up some guy. Or maybe he's picking up her, I'm not quite sure.”
The three of them glanced over in Tessa's direction and laughed.
“Did your aunt do all this?” Lisa asked.
“Yeah, with my mom's help.”
Jasmine's aunt was a well-known event planner and decorator. Due to her high demand, she stayed over-booked.
“Everything is beautiful. It makes me want to get married again.” Lisa leaned over and kissed Avery.
“While you two think about jumping the broom again, I'm getting another piece of cake. Care to join me Lisa?”
“Sure.” Lisa gave Avery another kiss. “I'll be right back. Do you want some cake?”
Avery held on to Lisa's hand. “As long as you come with it.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes playfully. “Don't worry I'll send her back to you.” Arm and arm, she and Lisa walked over towards the cake table.
At ten o'clock, Jasmine decided to call it an evening. Tessa and Lisa had left, long before that.
“I'm leaving.” Jasmine gave Laurel a hug, and congratulated her once more.
“Thank you. You're going to be next.”
Jasmine laughed at the idea. “Please, don't you start too!”
Throughout the evening, her mother and aunt casually mentioned her relationship status and tried to set her up. So when she saw they were preoccupied, she made a break for it. Once outside Jasmine felt free. She was beginning to feel suffocated by the pressure to get married.
With her keys in hand, she walked towards her car. Suddenly, the eerie sensation of someone watching her rushed in, and she felt uncertain of her surroundings. With a little more pep in her step, she got inside her car and drove home. By the time she made it there, her mother had called twice.
Jasmine decided to answer the third time. “Hi mom.”
“I know you didn't leave here, without telling me or your aunt Teresa goodbye.”
“Sorry, I have a bad headache.”
“You should have told me, I keep a bottle of aspirin in my purse.”
“Next time I'll remember. I'm home now.”
“Okay, I'll check on you later.”
Jasmine didn't want to be rude or hurt her mother's feelings. At thirty-four, she still found it hard telling her to butt out.
∞
It was eleven o'clock and Drew was wide awake. He had successfully survived the evening with his parents and brothers. Ethan, his older brother wasn't difficult to be around. With his easy going personality, he'd inherited more of their mother's traits. Drew smiled when he thought of his nephews.
It was actually nice seeing them. Unlike their father, Ethan didn't have the rule with an iron fist mentality, nor was he raising his two sons that way. His younger brother William, had been a different story. He was a carbon copy of their father. Sometimes it became difficult to tell which thoughts were his own, or if he had any.
To take his mind off the events from earlier that day, Drew thought about Jasmine. At his request, Jake followed her that afternoon. When he reported she was attending a wedding, Drew became bothered. A sense of ease washed over him, the moment Jake confirmed she wasn't the bride.
He couldn't understand why, but Drew didn't like the idea of her getting married. Obviously she wasn't Nina, she couldn't be. The only woman he ever loved and the one person he could count on had been taken from him. Drew reminded himself of that, as Jasmine's image popped into his head. Mentally tired, he turned out the light and prayed when he closed his eyes, he wouldn't relive the night he lost everything.
∞
After staying up and watching re-run episodes of one of her favorite shows, Jasmin
e managed to fall asleep on the sofa. On Sunday, the sound of her phone ringing awakened her from a weird dream. She was running down a dark street, trying to escape a man in a white wedding tuxedo. Every time she got to the end of the street, he would be there waiting. Unable to process what it meant, she searched for her phone.
“What.”
“My, aren't we pleasant.” Tessa's voice echoed through the phone.
Adjusting her eyes, Jasmine glanced at the clock on the DVD-player, it read five-thirty.
“What are you doing up so early?” She sat up, and looked outside. The sun was shining through the window. Taking the phone from her ear, she checked the time.
“It's nine-thirty!” Tessa said.
“Yes, I know that now.”
“Anyway, I wanted to tell you about the guy I met yesterday.”
“The one from the wedding?”
“Yep! That's the one!”
Jasmine covered her eyes with her hand. For some reason she was exhausted, and now she had to listen to Tessa talk about some dude.
Once Tessa finished telling Jasmine all the details, she got dressed and headed over to the bookstore. Her book club meeting was Thursday, and she had yet to read the latest novel. Pulling up in a parking space, Jasmine recognized Rafael's motorcycle. A young Latino, who worked at the bakery inside. When she walked in, he noticed her right away.
“Hola chica!”
“Good morning.” Jasmine walked over towards the nearest vacant table, and pulled a chair out.
“So what will it be, your usual?”
“Yes, please.”
“No problem, you know I got you. Have a seat and I'll bring it out.”
“Thanks.”
Rafael was a nice guy. After a month of coming to the bookstore, he asked her out. Despite his attraction towards Jasmine, she didn't see him that way. He seemed hurt when she told him, but said he respected her decision.
Over the last six months she'd gotten to know him, and became fond of him in a sisterly manner.
“Thanks Rafael, it looks delicious. What's this one called?” Although she never ordered a pastry, he would always surprise her with his newest creation.
That was her usual, a surprise pastry with a cup of coffee.
“Butter pecan swirl,” he said with a proud smile.
As Jasmine took a bite, Rafael awaited her approval.
“So?”
“This is incredible!”
“You really think so?”
“Yes, you have real talent. You should open your own bakery.”
He chuckled with sarcasm. “Yeah, I wish. I can't afford that yet.”
“Trust me, I understand.” Starting her own business had taken a lot of money. Even with a partner helping with the cost, it took almost everything she had saved to get it off the ground. Jasmine took another bite of the danish. “Are you trying to make me fat?”
Rafael winked. “Nah, just finer.”
Jasmine smiled. She might not have been attracted to Rafael, but she couldn't deny his charm.
“I'll leave you to your book,” he said before walking off.
Within an hour, Jasmine had read four chapters. Just as she turned the page to chapter five, she decided to take a break. When she stood, an attractive man walked through the door. There was a certain swag about him. The kind that demanded everyone's attention. He was dressed casual, in a faded blue t-shirt and a pair of jeans. With fair skin and short black hair, his features were strong and masculine. Jasmine couldn't tell his eye color, he was too far away.
He seemed out of place and lost. She noticed he was looking around the store, as though searching for someone. When his gaze fell on her, he stopped. Jasmine's cheeks flushed and she quickly turned away. Walking towards the counter, she went to refill her coffee.
With her back turned slightly, she could see him approaching. In a rush, she grabbed some creamer and turned around. Their eyes met, and she saw the color clearly now. They were a sparkling blue, like the ocean. His scent was expensive and manly. She made the mistake of looking at his mouth. When he licked his lips, her heart fluttered.
“Hi.” she said.
Drew smiled. “Hello.”
He had only seen her from a distance the other night. Face to face, it was almost enchanting. She was beautiful. Her luscious lips, chestnut colored eyes, and tiny nose, all belong to Nina. Drew continued to stare at her, long enough that Rafael noticed.
“Excuse me,” Jasmine said attempting to pass.
“Oh, sorry.” He stepped to the side allowing her through.
Taking her seat, she picked up her book and continued to read. She could still feel the stranger's eyes on her. Jasmine began to lose interest in the book, and wondered more about him.
Was he searching for his girlfriend? Or maybe his wife? Jasmine had been there for an hour, and she hadn't seen anyone come in. On Sundays, there was always less traffic. Perhaps he had come in to buy a book? Whatever the reason, she determined it was none of her business.
“Pardon me, is anyone sitting here?”
Chapter Three
Formal Introductions.
J asmine looked up to see the intense blue eyes, staring at her again. She scanned the bookstore, and all the tables were empty except for hers. She stared back at him. He continued to glare at her, waiting for her to reply. Somehow she managed to find her voice.
“No.”
She watched as he sat down in front of her, and for a moment all they did was look at one another. Finally, she broke eye contact and glanced over in Rafael's direction. He was watching them.
Drew held out his hand. “Hello again. My name is Drew. What's yours?”
“Jasmine, but most people call me Jaz.”
“Nice to meet you Jaz. What's the name of the book you're reading?”
“Waters Edge... I'm sorry, but have we met before?”
Drew shrugged. “I don't know, anything is possible.”
His response seemed weird. Nevertheless, Jasmine figured they hadn't. Surely she would have remembered a man like him.
“Actually I was wondering if you could help me.”
She raised her eyebrows. “How so?”
“I need help finding a book for my aunt.”
“Oh, I don't work here.”
“I didn't think you did.”
Jasmine suppressed a smile. “Right.”
“Do you know of any good books?”
“Yes I do. What genre is she into?”
“I didn't ask. I was trying to surprise her. Can you pick something out for me?”
“Yeah, sure.” She pushed her chair from the table and stood. “Follow me.”
From behind, Drew stared pleasantly at her ass. “What kind of books do you read?” he asked, rubbing his thumb over his bottom lip.
“All kinds, I'm in a book club.”
A chuckled escaped his mouth.
Jasmine turned around and squinted at him. “What's so funny?” It was one thing to be made fun of by her friends, but now a complete stranger mocked her.
“My apologies.” Drew removed the grin from his face. “I didn't expect you to say that.”
With a slight smirk, she continued to walk down the aisle.
“Over here on this shelf, are the mysteries and suspense. Next to those are sci-fi/paranormal. Then across, on this shelf are the romances and chick-lit... Just to name a few.” Jasmine could tell he was overwhelmed, she decided to make a selection for him. “I recently read this one.” She pulled the mystery novel down off the shelf, and handed the book to Drew. “I think this would be a great gift for your aunt. The book is short, and the action doesn't take long to start.”
Drew took a brief glance over the book cover, as if he really cared. His aunt didn't do much reading, and he was only there for Jasmine.
“How often do you come here?” he asked turning his attention back to her.
“Mostly on Sundays.”
She made the mistake of staring into his eye
s again. He was looking at her so intensely. Almost as if, he was searching for something inside her.
Snapping out of the trance, she extended her hand.
“It was a pleasure meeting you Drew. I hope your aunt enjoys the book.”
After shaking his hand, Jasmine walked backed towards her table.
Drew watched her sit and began to read again. She wasn't going to make this easy for him. He would have to put in work, something he hadn't done in a long time. That was fine with him, Drew looked forward to the challenge. With a smirk on his face and his hands behind his back, he prowled in her direction.
“How is the book you're reading coming along?”
Jasmine gazed up at him. She wasn't annoyed like she usually got, when someone interrupted her reading. Instead, she was curious. Why was he still talking to her?
“Good so far. I just started reading it today.”
Drew stood by the side of the table. He hadn't expected her to end their conversation, back by the bookcase. “Am I keeping you from your book?”
“Yes you are, but I could use a break. Please, have a seat.”
“Is he a friend of yours?”
“Who?”
Drew nodded towards the bakery area.
“Rafael?”
“Is that his name?”
“Yeah, he's a sweet kid. I know him from coming in here.”
“Well, I think he likes you.”
Jasmine took a glimpse over in Rafael's direction again. He was watching her and Drew talk.
“He's too young.”
“Is that your only reason?”
“No, there are others.” Leaning back in her chair, she folded her arms across her chest. “Are you always so nosy?”
Drew threw up his hands. “Sorry, I didn't mean to be intrusive.”
Jasmine laughed.
“When do you meet with your book club?”
“Thursday's. Why, are you interested in coming?”
“Sure, I'd love to.”
Jasmine had said it as a joke. She didn't think he would take her serious. Somehow she believed he knew that.
“So, Jasmine.”
“Jaz,” she said, correcting him.
New Hearts Old Flame Page 3