Now that sounds fun, but I’m not really dressed for an overnight stay. “Clothes,” he holds his hand up to shush me.
“It’s already taken care of beautiful. All you have to do is get in the car.”
I take the keys out, which he takes from me. He walks me around to the other side. I’m hesitant. I have not let anybody else drive this car. I have had it about a week and I am not too thrilled about taking it out. My last car killed over, so I have no choice but to drive this baby.
Alex laughs and more than helps me into the passenger seat before walking around to the other side and easing in behind the wheel.
“Ready?”
“Yeah sure,” I am feeling a little more confident in letting him drive. It is just a car after all. “Just be careful when you shift, and don’t take off too fast and…”
“Yeah, yeah. Trust me baby I know how to drive a stick.” His voice is seeping with innuendo.
Once he puts the car in motion I realize he really does know how to drive a stick.
I quickly realize that when Alex says relaxing he means relaxing. He took me back to his place. I was expecting upscale resort from the way he was talking, but this is much better. We spend the night talking while he gives me a massage. He obviously picked up a thing or two while running his own resort. After a while it becomes evident that he has something on his mind, and I really wish he would come out with it because I want to drift off to sleep. I’m trying to stay awake for him.
I realize I have heard about a quarter of the conversation. I am sure I have drifted off to sleep, and that I only awake when I hear my name. I decide that being in his arms while he’s stroking my shoulder so gently is really just lulling me to sleep, so I sit up. He looks at me wide eyed.
“I didn’t want to fall asleep on you.” I smile.
“You’re exhausted I should let you sleep. We can talk in the morning.”
“No. I can tell there’s something on your mind so fess up mister.” He laughs. It’s a nervous laugh though, and it makes me wonder what he has to say. I know if he doesn’t get to the point soon I am going to be asleep in seconds and miss whatever it is that he has to say.
“Would it be too soon if I asked you to marry me?” He keeps his eyes straight ahead. He’s fisting the sheet in his hand. He’s so cute.
“Would it be too soon if I said yes?” Finally he looks at me as if he is relaxed a little. “We love each other. We’re more than intimately familiar with each other; I don’t see where that would be too soon.” If he’s referencing the Brendon drama, I can’t control that. I could move to China and Brendon would still find a way to haunt me.
“True,” he says. “Anise, will you do me the honor of sharing your life with me? As my wife,” he says. Before I know it he has a little treasure chest in his hand. It’s no bigger than the palm of my hand. I know the ring is in there.
“Yes Alex I would love to be your wife.” I must be beaming. I think I have almost forgotten how tired I am until a huge yawn escapes my lips.
“Well,” he laughs. “Great, but I guess as tired as you are I should wait until morning to give you this.” He starts to put the treasure chest away. I stop him. He laughs and gives it to me so I open it, and there is no ring inside. There’s a note. “Come find me,” it reads. I give him a look that says I am not in the mood to hunt for a ring, and if he makes me do it he is going to regret it later. I can think of some ways to make him pay for the fun he is having at my expense.
“So where do you think it is?”
“Hmmm…” I tuck my hand beneath the sheets. I quickly find the waistband of his boxer-briefs, and I slip my hand inside. I can feel him jerk beneath my grasp. I fondle and play a little before I smile and say, “it’s not in there.” I withdraw my hand listening to him moan in discontent.
“Would you care to give me a hint?”
“While you were drifting off to sleep after the massage I made a few changes to the living room.”
I did not fall asleep. At least I didn’t think I had.
“Fine,” I crawl out of bed. I’m still naked, but I want my ring. He has hidden my clothes too, so I go off to the living room without covering myself.
I see a single gladiolus in a clear glass vase. I quickly head over to it. I’m pleasantly rewarded with another note. “You’re getting closer.” I look back at Alex. I think I’m going to seriously hurt him if I have to keep walking around naked. He doesn’t seem to mind. In fact he’s admiring the view.
I see a book on the table. I’m almost certain it was not there before. I lift the book to find another note, “not even close”. He has an imagination I would like to put a lock on for the evening. I turn and see him smiling.
“Follow the petals.”
For the first time I notice there are petals down the hall floor. I take off at a half walking half skipping pace. I’m sure everything that can shake and jiggle is now shaking and jiggling. He’s still behind me as I round the corner and walk back into the bedroom. The petals lead right back to the bed. I realize the treasure chest is now on my pillow. It wasn’t there before. Since the petals lead right back to the bed I decide to pull the treasure chest open once more.
My eyes light up when I see the three karat, marquis cut stone. “Alex it’s beautiful.” He had placed the ring back in the box and followed me out while dropping the petals on the floor. I was intent on getting to the living room, and I missed that detail.
He takes the silver chest from me and pulls the ring from the center before kneeling in front of me. I hold out my hand instinctually. I’m shaking as he slides the ring on my finger.
“At least I got a chance to have fun watching you move through my house naked.” I slap his shoulder.
“Seriously you were a woman on a mission. I’ve only seen people move that fast at the after Thanksgiving sales.”
I would say something to let him know I disapprove of this analogy, but he is right. I had been moving rapidly trying to get to my ring.
I hold my hand out and smile. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“Thank you.” He looks in my eyes, “for saying yes.” As if I would have said anything else.
I want to call Tay, but I need to call my mom. Actually I need to do a thousand things, like think about the date and where we’ll marry. Suddenly, I realize I have my energy back. I am ready to take off with planning this event. Alex must know this because he places his hands on my hips and anchors me to the bed.
“We’ll get married sooner rather than later.” I feel the faint wisps of air brush across my belly. “Maybe after the bulk of your wedding season is over we can make this official. October?”
“Eww! No way. That’s the month for Halloween. Too creepy.”
He laughs. “November?” Heat pulsates through my body as his tongue teases my navel.
“No, too many holidays.”
He frowns before saying, “December.”
“My birthday.” I shake my head no again. I see the look of frustration on his face. I’m sure he wants to get married this year. “How about the end of September?” That left us with about two and a half months or so to plan, but I could do that. His lips stretch from corner to corner.
“I want North Point.”
He lowers his head as if I have just asked for the moon. “You’re going to make a liar out of me huh?” I laugh at this because he seems so serious.
“You know I can’t say no to you. God, I swore there would never be a wedding at North Point.”
“You said no before.”
“That was different. It wasn’t for you it was for somebody else.”
“You would really let me marry you at North Point?”
“Yeah I would.”
I know he really doesn’t want North Point to fall into the same wedding laden status as many of the other local resorts. “Good to know, but I really don’t want to get married there. I’m thinking cruise ship.”
“Thank God.”
“It�
�s really sweet of you to compromise so much,” I press my lips to his for one long, passionate taste before pulling him up to the bed. Phone calls can wait for right now. I just want to be in his arms.
“Actually it’s you who’s doing the compromising,” he says.
“How do you figure?” I know he would never ask me to quit my job for the housewife routine. It’s not that I would mind being a stay at home wife. I have done that before. It’s just that I really like Tiffany’s.
“You’re marrying a man who can’t get enough of you. There will be mornings when it won’t be your alarm clock waking you up.” He says this in his husky voice. “I want to give you everything Anise. I know you’re not the type of woman to take it for granted. In fact I have a feeling I’ll have to force this on you.” He pulls out another box that is much bigger than the treasure chest.
“Alex,” he places his finger over my lips and traces them softly.
“Open it.”
I take the black velvet box from him and I open it. It’s a diamond necklace.
“Alex I can’t…”
“You can and you will. I’ve been waiting to give that to you for weeks. I wasn’t sure how to get you to take it.”
“Oh, and you think telling me that I’ll take it will get me to take it?” I laugh.
“No, I think telling you to wear it with your wedding dress might get you to take it.”
“We have to get one thing straight.” I really want him to focus. I slip my finger beneath his chin and lift so our eyes will meet.
“I carry my own weight. Just because you have money doesn’t mean that I don’t want to contribute. I want to buy you gifts, vacations or tickets to the game.”
He takes my hand in his, rubbing it softly with his thumb. “I am not trying to change you Anise. I just want us to share our lives with each other. Good times, bad times, richer or poorer—preferably richer.” He winks, and I laugh.
“I don’t want children.” I remember it’s not a topic we’ve discussed.
“Me either,” he says. “I’m a bit selfish. I just want it to be us.” He hugs me tight, and I hug him back.
“Well then my future husband, how should we celebrate this occasion?”
His lips curve into a devious grin, and I know what he has in mind. He starts to kiss me tenderly as he always does. He pulls back and stares at me. I can tell his mind is working on something, but I don’t know what.
“Are you thinking cruise ship because you don’t want Brendon to crash the wedding?”
“You bet ya.” I press my lips to his chest. Smooth, warm flesh greets me. “It has also been a dream of mine. I just want a small wedding with friends, family and a built in honeymoon.” I nibble at his skin. I slowly kiss my way back to his lips. “And, there will be no where for you to run in case you change your mind.”
He laughs before lifting my chin for our eyes to meet. “No chance of me changing my mind.” His lips connect with mine, passionately exploring, drinking his fill.
There’s an obvious chain of command when spreading engagement news. Generally it starts with the parents, then siblings, then friends and then anybody else who might need to know. I need to keep from blabbing before my mom makes it back from her extended vacation. If my timing is accurate, she is somewhere in the South of France. I received the mandatory post cards, but my mom was less about talking on the phone and more about seeing all the sites. I tried my dad, but I didn’t want to leave a message on the machine. I decide I won’t torture myself by trying to wait.
Taylor moves to number one on my list. Alex has already called his parents. Even though they have never met me they were thrilled. They too are world class travelers, and they spend most of their time in Italy.
I’m excited. It’s no surprise that when Tay finally answers the phone I’m already bursting with delight.
“What’s going on?” She says in a dry tone.
“Are you okay?”
“Dan and I were about to go for round two if you know what I mean.”
“Oh, well I’ll let you get back to it then. I just wanted to tell you that Alex and I are getting married.” She must have shot straight up because I hear Dan yelp “ouch,” and moan something about his head. She says sorry, and then returns her attention to me.
“Married?”
“He asked last night.” I’m sitting on the edge of the bed—naked. Alex assures me he has clothes for me, but I have yet to see any of them.
“And you’re just calling me now!”
I can sense that she wants to hit me rather than hug me. I am glad that I am on the phone with her instead of delivering this news in person. “One thing led to another, and then I fell asleep.”
“I want to know everything.” I laugh at this, and then casually make arrangements to meet her for lunch on Monday. She and Dan were in the middle of something, and I really don’t think I can dish the skinny in thirty seconds or less.
I suddenly remember that this is one Sunday that I’m supposed to be working. Allison is going in for one last dress fitting. She told me it was mandatory for me to be there. I check my watch and realize I have an hour to find some clothes and get up to Phoenix. Make that find clothes, fix my bed worn hair and then get up to Phoenix.
“Going somewhere?”
“I forgot I have to work today.” I search for my clothes. “Alex,” I look up and smile.
“I don’t know. I’m supposed to keep you relaxed this weekend. That was the plan anyway.”
I smile again because I know he can’t resist me naked and smiling at him.
“All right,” he goes into the bathroom and comes back with a nice pair of black slacks and a cute button down coral top.
“Thank you honey.” I quickly start to dress. “I wish I had time to eat, handle makeup,” I run off the list of things I’d like to do before leaving. I’m glad I was the first to shower this morning or else I wouldn’t have time for that either. “Allison swore to me it was vital I make the last dress fitting.”
“When you come home I’ll help you relax all over again.”
“Now that sounds like a plan.” I kiss him quickly. He’s not satisfied with that. He pulls me back in and rewards me with light, sweeping kisses that barely allow our lips to connect. I could get stuck here. I would love to explore this more, but I do have to go. “I have…to…go,” I manage to say this between kisses. He finally releases me and out the door I go.
Tailor Made…
“No dear.” I look up to try to figure out what I’m doing wrong. “Black,” Mrs. Kruvich points just past my shoulder, and then she returns to her phone conversation. She too has had just about enough of Allison. I hold up the pin cushion trying not to speak. “Yes dear,” she says as if she’s perfectly okay with carrying on two conversations at once.
“The wedding is next weekend.” I see her face scrunch up into what appears to be the makings of a pout. I am hoping there isn’t a problem with the tailor. Allison insisted on having the professional tailor down the block alter her dress. The problem is that he won’t alter it unless the fitting is already done. He assured me that he was far too busy for last minute alterations, but because it’s for Tiffany Weddings he will help us out of our predicament.
Javier has been said to be the best. Allison just can’t pass up the best, no matter how much of an inconvenience “the best” will be.
“You can’t get this done? There’s not that much to do. Just make the changes and get the damn thing off your list.” I realize Allison has driven Mrs. Kruvich past her breaking point. This is the first time I have heard her curse.
“Will you pick up before the wedding, or do you want it delivered?” Mrs. Kruvich speaks over her shoulder, and just barely out of the mouthpiece of the phone.
“Delivered!” Allison yells from the fitting podium. I know that she would like nothing more than to show off her choice of tailors to her friends.
“Great.” She hangs up the phone.
“Th
ey’ll deliver to the wedding site.”
“Great. Thank you so much for your help Mrs. Kruvich.” She smiles, and I realize just how powerful those words are.
I watch as she pushes pins into the bottom portion of the dress. “I want the split to stay.”
“A few seconds ago you wanted it to go.” She says through gritted teeth.
“Well now I want it to stay.”
I’m sure she is now trying hard not to stick Allison with all the pins on the cushion. “Then what would you like done to the dress?”
“Just adjust the bust a bit.”
As if it could get any tighter. I watched as Mrs. Kruvich tucked, squeezed and pinned before Allison finally decided she was satisfied.
“So we’re all done here?” I want to get back to my weekend of relaxation.
“Maybe.”
She glances at my finger again, and I realize I still have on my ring. I casually change the subject to discuss anything related to Allison. I know she would rather talk about herself than anything else, and so I use it to my advantage. I might be able to justify telling Tay before my mom, but I wouldn’t be able to justify telling Allison first. Beyond that, I really feel no obligation to tell Allison at all.
When I first took this job I wondered how any consultant could possibly plan so many weddings this close together. I thought it was impossible, but what I found out was that with a little planning and a lot of confidence I could make it work.
The Bride Wore Black Page 11