March Heat

by Chase Jackson

  She straightened her dress, gave me a quick kiss on the lips and ran back inside.

  I zipped up Johnson and adjusted my bow tie. I shrugged my jacket into place and started for the door. My foot crossed the threshold when a hand closed around my arm like a vise. I spun around and came face to face with Charlie.

  He kept his voice to a low rumble, and he hissed through his teeth “You think you can come in here and fuck my little sister? You son of a bitch! I’ll kill you for this.”

  “Charlie!” I stammered. “I never....”

  “Shut up, you prick! You back-stabber!” His face quivered all over in blind rage. “I just saw you outside. I just saw you bone my sister through that window over there. I never should have invited you to this wedding. I never should have trusted you. I should have known you would do something like this.”

  I thought fast. “Listen, Charlie, it’s not what you think.”

  “Stay away from my sister!” he snapped. “Stay away from her, or I’ll have you arrested. Do you hear me?”

  He turned on his heel and stormed off, back to the hall.

  18

  Victoria

  How I got through the whole wedding ceremony without jumping Brady in front of everybody, I’ll never know. It’s a good thing I couldn’t see him, or I probably would have. That quickie behind the flower hedge at the rehearsal dinner was the hottest thing I’d ever experienced—just enough of a tease to whet my whistle but not enough to really satisfy.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off him walking down the aisle. Was he thinking about getting his hands on me? His eyes swept up and down my dress, but he gave nothing away. He kept his expression straight and composed. He looked so big and impressive in his tux. He dwarfed everyone in the line-up of groomsmen.

  I lost sight of him during the ceremony. The celebrant talked all about a lifetime commitment and giving of yourself to your partner to get the most out of marriage. Would Brady and I ever have that? Could he make that commitment?

  I would love to spend my life with him. I would love to give myself to make his burden lighter. I would love to be a soft place for him to fall in the storms of life. The celebrant made that sound so noble and grand. She made it sound like the greatest thing anybody could ever do.

  After the ceremony and all the toasts and the cake and dancing and everything, the crowd of relatives and friends started to cut loose. The band switched to lively dance music, and people started tying one on. They let their inhibitions go, and I had a hankering to let mine go the way we did yesterday.

  I prowled around the bar and the punch bowl and the cluster of groomsmen. No Brady anywhere. Where could he disappear to? I searched the whole venue more than once. I scanned every face, but couldn’t find him.

  I caught sight of him talking to Charlie, but by the time I got over there to intercept him, Brady vanished into the crowd. I swear I saw him glance my way, and when he noticed me approaching, he broke off his conversation and made some excuse to drift off.

  Did I really see that, or did I just imagine it? What reason could he have to avoid me like that? Did I do something to offend him? If I did, I would hope he would tell me instead of just walking away.

  After that, I found it even harder to pin him down. I didn’t see him anywhere, and when I did, he always managed to give me the slip. I looked so long I started to see him in other people. I would get so excited that I finally found him. Then the person would turn around, and my heart would fall into my shoes.

  I almost gave up in despair when I spotted a pair of square shoulders near the buffet. That had to be him. No one dominated the crowd like he did, and I couldn’t mistake that thatch of curly hair if I were blind.

  I strode up to him and laid my hand on his shoulder. Just touching him excited me. Where would we go? What would we do? What position would he use this time? How many different ways would he do me before he slipped away into the crowd? Would he take me back to his place? Would he find somewhere close, someplace to sneak off for a quick one?

  He turned around, and when I saw the expression on his face, my blood ran cold. He didn’t fix me with that smoldering glare of ravenous desire. He looked right through me. I might as well not exist. “Hello, Victoria. Have you tried this antipasto? You should. It’s excellent.”

  Then, in front of my eyes, he strolled out to the dance floor. He walked up to Helena and started talking to her. He laughed and joked and chatted with her like I wasn’t even there. I blinked, but I couldn’t make my mind comprehend what just happened. He did NOT just ask me if I tried the antipasto. He did NOT walk away from me to go hit on Helena.

  Is this what I dreamed about all these weeks? Is this what he had in mind when he promised me the moon in Vegas? He made up a big story about us being together, about raising this baby and loving each other, and now he turned his back on me again.

  I couldn’t face him snubbing me like that again. I spun away on my heel and stomped off toward the coat room. I had to get out of there. I couldn’t bear the humiliation of being dumped at my own brother’s wedding. I almost got to the coat room when Sam rushed up to me. “Come on, Victoria! Charlie and Mandy are leaving. We’re all going outside to send them off.”

  I got swept up in a rush to send off the bride and groom. The limo purred up to the entrance. The photographers snapped more pictures of the big moment. Charlie and Mandy hugged everybody and waved. They even hugged me. I plastered a big smile on my face so they wouldn’t see me dying inside. In a few seconds, this would be over, and I could disappear into the blackest depression of my life.

  Mandy hugged me so many times she dampened my dress with her tears. I shoved her toward the limo. “Go on. Get out of here.”

  She laughed and cried and waved. Finally, after way too long, she got in, and the limo drove away. All the guests hung around the entrance to watch the limo out of sight. The instant it vanished around the first corner, I stormed back inside on a beeline for the coat room. I wouldn’t stick around to watch everybody fall all over each other in an orgy of drunken ecstasy.

  I strode down the hall and grabbed my coat. I didn’t have my own car here, but I could walk a few blocks away and either catch a bus or hail a cab. No need to stand on ceremony. When I noticed a bunch of people still hanging around the entrance, I headed for the back door. I got my hand on the handle when a rough voice called out, “Victoria, wait!”

  I didn’t have to turn around to recognize who it was. Brady rushed up to me all out of breath. “There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”

  I whirled around to face him. I hated him right then. I could slap him for hurting me like that. “Well, you found me.”

  He cast a glance down at my coat. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going home, Brady. That’s where I’m going. Charlie and Mandy are gone. There’s no reason to stay.”

  “Wait a minute, and I’ll drive you. We’ll take my car.”

  “I’m never going anywhere with you in your car again,” I shot back.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You run too hot and cold for me. You don’t want anything serious with me. I was a fool ever to think we could be a real couple. You want to come and go as you please. You want to tell me what I want to hear and then turn your back on me. I understand that now, so don’t pretend it’s anything other than what it is.”

  He gasped. “What are you talking about? When did I ever turn my back on you?”

  “Just now,” I shot back. “You avoided me when you were talking to Charlie, and you gave me the cold shoulder when I came up to you at the buffet. You made some stupid comment about the antipasto and went off to give Helena the eye. Don’t deny it. I’m not putting up with your crap anymore. You broke my heart once, Brady Townsend, and I won’t let you do it again.”

  “I can explain everything if you just give me a chance. Charlie….”

  “I don’t want you to explain anything,” I interrupted, “and don’t start talking abou
t Charlie. You gave me your big sob story about your grandmother dying to explain why you did it before. I don’t think you can come out with anything as grandiose as that this time, can you?”

  His face hardened. “At least let me explain to you why I did it. If you still want to cut me off after that, I won’t try to stop you.”

  “You won’t try to stop me this time, either,” I snarled. “What are you going to do? Are you going to tie me up so I can’t leave?”

  “Of course not, Victoria,” he snapped. “I don’t know why you’re….”

  “I’ve had it with mooning around waiting for you to decide you’re ready to have anything to do with me. You kicked me in the teeth one too many times. I’m done with you.”

  19

  Brady

  I stabbed my finger at my phone for the fiftieth time today. I couldn’t get through to Victoria no matter what I did. She wouldn’t answer her phone. Every time I called, it switched straight to her answering message.

  What was she doing? Why did she get so mad at the wedding? She never let me explain about Charlie. She just walked out on what could be the greatest relationship in both our lives.

  I paced around my office. I was useless ever since I met her. I had to find a way to make it up to her. I had to explain and show her I really do care. I had to do it, if for no other reason than to get on with my normal life. Two weeks without her, and I started to go crazy.

  The longer this situation went on, the more I had to admit the terrible truth. I couldn’t live without this woman. I didn’t want to before. Now I understood I couldn’t. I needed her. I needed her and this baby in my life. They were the only thing keeping me going anymore, and now she wouldn’t even talk to me.

  I gazed out the windows at the far skyline. Where could she be? Where was she hiding from me? What horrible thoughts did she think about me?

  Every time I got frustrated, that awful moment would flash before my eyes. I saw the look on her face when I asked her if she tried the antipasto. I knew then what I was doing to her. It killed me to do it, but I had to. I had to keep up appearances until Charlie left.

  If only she let me explain. If only she understood about Charlie threatening me, I could make it all right again.

  I had to explain it. Even if she decided to cut me off, I had to find a way to let her know I didn’t turn my back on her. That’s all there was to it. She had to understand it wasn’t her.

  I got the ring out of my office safe. I cracked open the box and studied the stone. Was it good enough? Was it big enough? Would anything ever been enough to show her how I felt about her?

  I stuffed the box into my pocket and tried to get back to work. Half a dozen contractors rang my phone off the hook, but I couldn’t concentrate. I almost delegated the whole construction project to my team manager, but that wouldn’t work, either.

  I got the ring out again. Was I really going to give it to her, or was I going to stand here staring at it for the next twenty years of my life? I couldn’t do that. I shoved the ring in my pocket and stormed out of the office.

  I cast back and forth on the sidewalk outside. All roads led to her. I had to see her again. I had to find a way to make her listen to me, just once. Even if she turned me down, I had to try.

  I didn’t take the car. I had to do this on my own legs. I barreled down the street to a florist shop I knew. I bought two dozen long-stemmed roses. If that and the ring didn’t convince her, I didn’t know what would.

  The clerk gave me a knowing smile. “On your way to see someone special?”

  I blushed into my shoes. “On my way to becoming the happiest man in the world—I hope.”

  She wrapped up the roses in tissue paper and handed them across the counter to me. “Good luck, but it looks like you’ve got this one all stitched up.”

  I turned away. “I sure hope you’re right. I really hope you’re right.”

  If only I could be as certain as she was. That was the problem. I couldn’t be sure. If only I knew what Victoria was thinking, I would know how to gauge my approach. I could only throw myself off the deep end and hope I landed in the pool.

  I headed down the street. It was a long walk to her house, and I needed to calm down. The walk didn’t do what I wanted it to. It only racked my nerves more than ever. I had to see her, and fast. I had to get her answer, so I knew where I stood. I couldn’t stand this anymore.

  I didn’t get anywhere near her house until long after dark. When I did, I slowed down instead of hurrying to get there sooner. I stood out on the sidewalk over an hour and stared up at the lighted windows. What was she doing in there? Was she shopping for baby clothes online? Was she soaking in a tub of sudsy water?

  I hesitated outside. For some reason, I got scared at the last minute. What if she said no? What would I do with myself then? I would be lost. I couldn’t run the risk. I paced up and down. I fingered the ring box in my pocket. I shifted the roses back and forth from one hand to the other. I did everything except what I came here to do,

  When did I become such a dithering fool? Is this how I got to the top of the heap in seven years? Hell, no, and I wouldn’t win her second-guessing myself now. I took a deep breath. Get a grip, Townsend, and seize the day.

  I squared my shoulders at the house. She wasn’t in there laughing at me. She didn’t even know I was there, and she wouldn’t know until I made my move.

  I wiped my sweating palms on my pants and strode up the walk. I couldn’t breathe. My whole life hinged on this moment. I raised my hand and let it fall before I summoned the courage to knock.

  How long does it take a person to answer the door? Didn’t she know what agony I was in standing there?

  She opened the door, and we stared at each other in astonishment. Could this be real? Was I really gonna do this? I gulped down the lump in my throat. She reduced me to a blithering wreck.

  “Hey, Vic.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  I started babbling like an idiot. “I…uh…. I just came by to see how you’re doing. I mean…. how are you doing? I haven’t seen you since the wedding. I was just wondering…I mean…” I forgot all about the roses until she glanced down at them. I shoved them at her, I was such a graceless chump. “These are for you.”

  She took them off my hands. “Thanks. They’re beautiful.”

  I snapped out of my trance. “Listen, Vic. I really just want to talk to you for a second. I won’t try to convince you to get back with me. I just want to explain why I did what I did at the wedding. Do you think you can just listen for a minute so I can get this off my chest?”

  She pursed her lips. “All right. You better come in.”

  She strode inside, and I followed her with my nerves in tatters.

  She put the roses in a vase in the kitchen and came back to stand in front of me. “Okay. You’re here. Spill it.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She stood in front of me in her sweatpants and an old floppy T-shirt. She wore no make-up, and she tied her hair behind her head in a casual ponytail, but she couldn’t have been more beautiful to me. Her whole being glowed from the inside. Pregnancy suited her.

  I put my hand in my pocket. Here goes.

  20

  Victoria

  I never thought seeing Brady again would confuse me so much. I never cared about him more than right then, and here he comes with a bunch of beautiful roses to soften the blow. I never wanted to see him again, but now that he was standing in my living room, I understood why I fell for him in the first place. I didn’t know if I could stay mad at hm.

  He took another deep breath and blew it out. His shoulders stiffened. “Okay. Here’s the deal. Do you remember that time we snuck out to the garden at the rehearsal dinner?”

  “Of course, I do, Brady,” I told him. “Do you think I’ve forgotten any of our time together? You know you were the most important person in the world to me. That’s what makes you turning away from me so cruel.”

  He clos
ed his eyes and held up his hand. “Just listen to me for a minute, okay? Charlie saw us in the garden. He saw us through the window.”

  My eyes flew open. “He what?”

  Brady nodded. “You went inside first. When I came through the door, he ambushed me. He told me to stay away from you. He said I wasn’t his friend anymore, and he said if I ever came near you again, he would call the police.”

  “He didn’t.”

  “Now do you see why I couldn’t talk to you at the wedding? I had to wait until he left with Mandy. I wanted him to cool down before I talked to him about it again. Then I tried to find you and explain, but you were too mad. I never wanted to hurt you. I swear it killed me to do it, but I had to keep away from you.”

  I shook my head. “This is impossible.”

  He rushed forward. He grabbed my hand. “I never stopped loving you, Victoria. I never wanted anything but to be with you, but I couldn’t blow the lid off Charlie’s wedding.”

  He stuck his hand in his pocket for the tenth time, and this time, he pulled out a grey velvet box. He pried open the lid and held it out to me. “I picked this out after we came back from Vegas. I wanted to give it to you at the rehearsal, but I never got a chance before Charlie threatened me. I only regret I didn’t show you this a long time ago. Now I’ve blown my chance with you forever, and that’s just something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. I just want you to have this. I’ll leave you alone now. I just want you to keep this. Even if you never wear it or even look at it, just keep it. I don’t want anybody else to have this. It’s yours.”

  I stared down at the shining stone in the box. He didn’t buy this. He didn’t spend the money on this heavenly diamond thinking about me. That was impossible. I couldn’t believe it.

  He didn’t leave, though. He didn’t move or let go of my hand. I blinked. Everything in the world disappeared but that ring. He didn’t show up on my doorstep with that ring and a bunch of roses. He couldn’t. That made no sense. I couldn’t hold that side by side with the hateful names I called him over the last two weeks.