Until she had met Levi.
Until she had looked into his blue eyes and saw a future she knew deep, deep down that she desired with her whole heart.
Since then, in her quiet moments and every time they locked eyes, all she wanted was him. Still, she meant business for the Gala, and his being an internationally known, Bachelor Celebrity of the Year three years running, super stud that all of her friends had a crush on … well, those were all pretty good deterrents.
So here they were, at his sister’s incredibly romantic, backyard, sparkling-snow wedding, as friends and colleagues, nothing more.
Yeah, right, she thought.
The morning of Ashley’s wedding, Virginia woke up blinded by her drape-less window. Kate had apologized profusely, but the drapes and rod she had ordered were backlogged and would not be in until after Christmas. The room faced the backyard, so privacy wasn’t an issue—just light. Blinding light that could only come from a world blanketed in snow. Virginia knew this from years and years of experience.
Pulling on her favorite pink Rochester sweatshirt and making her way, sleepily, to the window, she saw exactly what she had anticipated. Everything—the mid-tone cedar deck, the grill in the corner, the trees making a ring around the property, and the entire seating area and aisle—covered in thick, sparkling, dream-like snow. It looked like the biggest cloud that had ever formed and, from the window, seemed to be the fluffiest landing for a cloud cannon ball, which wasn’t really a thing, but when Virginia was five years old, it was a thing.
Suddenly the door to her room burst open. “Virginia! Snow! Isn’t it magical?” Ashley, clearly pleased with the Mother Nature’s overnight work. “Just what I’ve always dreamed! Hope you brought your boots for the ceremony!”
Virginia’s laughter filled the room. “What can I do to help you get ready?”
Ashley beamed from head to toe and from ear to ear. “Just enjoy the day with our family! Hair and make-up at four, pictures at five, ceremony at six.”
“Can I serve you sparkling water or anything while you’re getting your hair and make-up done?”
“That’ll be pretty hard to do since you’ll be getting yours done, too, silly!” She giddy-giggled.
“Me?” She pointed to her chest. “I’m a background guest, Ashley. I don’t need my hair and make-up done.”
Ashley waved her hand, dismissing Virginia’s comment. “Nonsense. Nine of us ladies are getting hair and make-up. Toni’s is sending their entire team. We have the basement all set up. Just be showered with your hair dried by the time they get here. And since there are so many of us doing that, I think Mom actually came up with a schedule. We’ll check with her downstairs. C’mon,” she said, grabbing Virginia’s hand and tugging her out the door. “I smell cinnamon rolls for breakfast.”
Every minute Virginia spent with Levi’s family was a notch in the “Give in” column, under the heading of “To Give In or Push Away From Levi”.
Since their meeting on the plane in the spring, Virginia knew they were connected. She saw it whenever she saw him, she felt it whenever she thought of or messaged him. It seemed their hearts had met long ago and now Levi and Virginia were just along for the ride. Being with his family seemed to only further seal the deal.
And who knew. Maybe tonight, in the magical snow that sparkled like diamonds, and under the stars that sent pinholes of light from heaven, maybe tonight Virginia could let herself in to that side of her that so badly wanted to give in.
Maybe she could hold his hand, and let him spin her on the dance floor his cousin Tanya and her boyfriend Michael had created in the formal dining room, and maybe tonight she could find out what yes feels like, since she had been saying no for so long.
What better setting than a wedding for that kind of thing, right?
First, the bride, who, under the stars and guided by the warmly lit six-foot faux street lamps lining the aisle, was stunning. She wore knee-high winter boots, white and silver and pearly, under a simple fit-and-flair strapless gown that Virginia had happily helped to button up. How Ashley got through the ceremony with little more than a shiver was beyond Virginia, considering the temperature matched her age. Little George and Joey—two of Levi’s thirteen second cousins—held the small train to keep it safe from “snow dirt”, as the five-year-old twins called it. They took their job quite seriously and thus held the dress until the very last second at the top of the aisle when Ashley pinned it like brides normally do for the reception.
Virginia sat on the right-hand side, second row, completely unaware of the cold. All she could see was Ashley’s brother, who was sitting in the front row with his parents and beaming with pride and adoration. He had ushered his mom down the aisle, perfectly in time with the music and right on cue from what Virginia remembered from the talked-through rehearsal at dinner the night before.
Once a wedding planner, always a wedding planner.
Guests—including Seth, who had made it into town with two hours to spare—sat through the fifteen-minute ceremony without a complaint, a testament to how immune they were to the two-foot bed of snow surrounding the perimeter of where they sat, minus the walkway to the deck and house. Growing up in Rochester, Virginia had seen her fair share of high snow accumulation, so she felt right at home.
When the pastor had said kiss the bride and the music started up from the speakers planted in front of the guests, men, women, and children seemed to run out of patience. Virginia watched the mass exodus from the freshly shoveled floor. Forty kids, grown-ups, even grandparents, raced inside like their piece of cake depended on the pecking order of who got inside first.
Not used to competing for spots, it was over before Virginia even knew what was happening. All of a sudden, it was just she and Levi standing amongst the snow and the warm lighting that lent a serene orange glow to the still space. That was the thing about winter in the Northeast; it seemed the stillest, most peaceful season when one simply listened.
Levi had traded his jeans for a pair of real trousers, but the shirt-and-tie remained. Virginia had come prepared with black fleece-lined tights under a long, warm orange and yellow tunic dress. A matching knit scarf draped around her neck, and despite the thirty-degree temps, she remained comfortable.
Levi looked at her from his spot in the front row. His dark pants and shirt-and-tie were flecked with white from the flurries that started—miraculously—the moment Ashley and Brad followed their kiss the bride directions. Here and now, Levi seemed confused about something as he kept his eyes on her. A million questions with just the one glance. A million questions that she may or may not have answers to, but she wanted to try. Oh, she wanted to. But could she?
“Sweet ceremony,” she said, breaking the ice.
Levi nodded slowly. He smoothed his tie down, though Virginia had never seen so much as a crease in any of his ties. He walked around the short row of chairs until no obstacles remained between them. In his eyes, Virginia saw the intensity of a determined man who held a Pandora’s Box of feelings ready to explode.
“Levi, I…” Her words faltered as he took her hands in his. She knew there was nothing either of them wanted more than to love and be loved by the one-in-a-million heart to which they had each connected. She leaned in as he leaned in and she began to close her eyes. She could feel her eyelashes fluttering as they anticipated a repeat of that sweet, perfect kiss.
Her hand reached up to touch his chest, but as she did, something in her woke up, and she came to an abrupt halt.
“I can’t do this, Levi.” She cleared her throat and straightened her dress that didn’t need straightening. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head quickly, then crossed her arms in defense of … the cold?
The disappointment on his face pained Virginia. Yet, she knew it was for the best. Virginia’s mom and Sophie would have other ideas as to what it was, but she couldn’t worry about that right now. Right now, the flutters in her stomach and her heart were giving her a big red flag, and she had
gotten where she was in life because of paying attention to such things.
“I really am, Levi. Just … it’s not … I’m not … I …”
Levi rubbed his hands together and pursed his lips a few times before speaking. “Don’t worry about it,” he finally said, putting his hands gently on her shoulders. He was quiet for a moment, remorse filling his eyes.
Virginia smiled apologetically. “I agreed to come as friends. That’s just how it has to be.”
Levi took a deep breath before blowing into a pocket he made with his hands. “I can fly you home or back to New York if you want to spend the rest of the weekend with Sophie or your mom. I know this hasn’t felt like Thanksgiving.” He gestured toward the house as they both began walking.
“And miss that cake? I’ve been to more weddings than you could ever count in your lifetime, and that three-tiered cake looks beyond amazing. I want to toss off those fake white branches and just have at it.”
Levi’s laughter echoed off the densely covered trees. It was music to Virginia’s ears. The two started walking toward the house. Not hand in hand, but at least side by side, over the light layer of snow that had blanketed the ceremony space in the hour since they had shoveled it.
“How would you characterize ‘beyond amazing’?” Levi asked, tongue-in-cheek. He poked her elbow with his to emphasize his jest.
Virginia laughed this time, the sound chasing Levi’s laughter from just a moment ago. “I guess we’ll have to find out.” Suddenly she stopped and turned to face Levi head-on.
“What is it?” he asked, serious and shivering.
Virginia hesitated for a split hair of a second. She planted her right foot toward the door and before Levi could catch her, she yelled, “Race you!” and ran through the rest of the ceremony area, down the narrowly shoveled walkway, up the six stairs to the deck, and to the sliding glass door that would lead into the breakfast nook of the dining room.
Levi’s breath was quick and visible when he arrived at the door. “Not fair,” he panted. “You got a head start.”
Virginia raised her arms in victory. “You know what I learned from your sister yesterday in a rowdy game of Uno?”
“What’s that?” Levi’s laughing eyes shone even in the still darkness of a winter night.
“That you’ve got to be quick, because things could change at any moment. At any moment, Levi.” Virginia offered a flippant smile. “Don’t you agree?”
Levi’s laughter and panting turned into a tenderness that she couldn’t articulate if she tried. “Couldn’t agree more.”
Chapter 22
“So, explain this to us again,” Kelsey said, disbelief and delight coloring her words. Seth laughed as she continued. “You kissed her, she said you could just be friends, so you invited her to meet your family and be your date at your sister’s wedding.”
“Correct,” Levi said. The trio had ordered take-out sushi and was enjoying it up in Levi’s apartment, far away from listening ears and lingering stares.
Kelsey dipped the piece of her Alaskan roll sitting between her chopsticks into her small soy sauce dish. “Okay.” Her piece hung in the balance as she finished her questioning. “Then you tried to kiss her again, she pushed you away, but stayed the rest of the weekend?”
“Correct,” Levi said, dipping and eating his last piece from his Pacific roll.
“And when you two left each other, which was at her hotel’s front door because you used a car service to bring her home, she gave you a kiss on the cheek?”
“Again, correct,” Levi answered.
“But you two are still not dating?”
“It would seem that way,” he said, wiping his hands on his napkin before taking a sip of his green tea. Then he repeated, “It would seem that way.”
Kelsey’s salmon, avocado, and cucumber remained in mid-air. She was staring at Levi and seemed unable to comprehend his words.
“Kels, you’re about to lose your roll there.” Seth stuck a small plate under her piece, just as it fell from her chopsticks. “Get a hold of yourself, you almost lost a piece of sushi.”
“I just want to understand.”
“Understand what?” Levi asked, sitting back in his rocking chair.
“Why the two of you aren’t together.”
Levi shook his head. “You and me both. But right now, she’s saying friends, and I’m not going to plow through it. Again. I guess I kind of already have twice,” he said with a smile. “But those eyes! They invited me, I swear.”
Seth and Kelsey both grinned, undoubtedly enjoying the romantic torture their friend was walking through. Levi had been so career-focused for more than ten years. Both friends had recently commented—more than once—on how wonderful it was to see him chomping at the bit to wrap his heart up in someone.
“I’m calling it right now: Virginia May Sharpe and Levi Fuller Adams are together forever, starting at the Jackson Gala in just eleven days.”
Levi shook his head. “Yeah, right. If anything she’ll stay further away from me on the night she’s running the show.” He glanced toward his Christmas tree, sitting snugly in the corner of the sunroom. Just three feet tall, it was lit enough to rival the decorations on the street below. Levi Adams never skimped on Christmas tree lights. Never.
“I don’t know, man. I’m going with Kelsey on this one.”
“Of course you are,” Levi said, making a friendly teasing face, even though he was the one being teased. “Who knows.” Levi got up to throw out his take-out containers. He swiped Seth’s trash and added it to his pile. “All I know is the Gala is in eleven days, and we are ready. Thanks for putting VP on hold for a few days to help with it, Kels.”
She exuded joy. “Of course. Anything for you guys.”
For a while, the three friends sat in contentment, watching the busyness twenty stories down. The lights and sights and sounds were all up and going—had been for weeks now—and the people came in droves, every day of the week. Levi was used to it, having lived in this apartment for seven years and the city for more than ten. Still, the full sidewalks mirrored cattle drives this time of the year and the first glance each season always gave Levi a startle.
At the end of the night, they confirmed their plan to meet at Levi’s office bright and early the next morning to go over the purchase order for every last ingredient they would need for the Gala. The last thing Levi needed or wanted was for his part in the Gala to be askew.
As the week went on, the weather turned even colder. Between Thanksgiving and the middle of December, the air has been cold and fresh, rejuvenating after a hot summer. The past four days, nose hairs had tingled in the first few steps outside. The cold started from the toes, making it hard to get warm even after being inside. And it had hurt to suck in a fresh breath.
What didn’t hurt? How much Levi and Virginia were texting. Was it mostly about the Gala? Sure. Was it once an invitation—by her—to join her on a run? Yes. Did he take that opportunity despite the frigid cold? Like the Roadrunner chasing after the coyote.
It had been the same route as a few months ago. They took the subway down to Battery Park, then ran around and up through central Manhattan. The city looked completely different this time. Before it had been rainy but warm; this time it had been all sun but zero warmth. Trees had still been in bloom back then; this time, winter had stripped bare any semblance of green anywhere in Manhattan.
For all Levi loved about winter, this season in the city could be so totally gray.
Except for when he was running next to Virginia. Or talking to Virginia. Or working with Virginia.
In those cases, the city, Levi’s existence, and Levi’s heart, were filled to overflowing with color and life.
The Gala was on a Thursday. The Monday before, the administrators—Marie Rhodes, et. al.—had called an All Staff meeting in the ballroom. The group seemed so much smaller than it had back in June when they were all stuffed into the meet-and-greet room. Ms. Rhodes’ sharp voic
e had pinged off the walls as she spoke in the small room. In the grand ballroom, her voice carried over everything and everyone.
“You all have been exceptional planners. I and the rest of the administration have been thoroughly impressed with your precision, your timeliness, your collaboration, and your exquisite taste.
This year, the Jackson Gala will see things it has never seen—such as those floating pictures—and it will taste some delightful goodies that will have guests talking for months.
Before we got into the last couple days, I wanted to thank you for your hard work. You haven’t pulled it off yet, but I am confident you will do so with excellence come Thursday night.”
She paused, inviting applause, which the group seemed in tune with and so offered it quickly. Levi noticed Ms. Rhodes’ lips twitching just slightly. He laughed inwardly, thinking of how uptight she has been since the beginning, but how she’s done a great job at relinquishing control to the planners.
“I also wanted to invite Virginia and Sophie of New Horizons, your planners at the helm, up here to say a few things before we all scamper off. Ladies, please.”
Again with the applause, though Levi’s was slower. He watched in adoration as Virginia made her way to the podium. She wore a thick, black knit dress that gathered at one side of her waist. Her high fashion boots added to the classic look, and Levi couldn’t wait to hear her speak.
“Thank you, Ms. Rhodes,” Sophie said. “We’ve been so honored to have this role of planning the Jackson Gala with you all. Every team has been wonderful to work with. I know I’ve made some life-long friends,” she paused, looking out into the audience. Her gaze landed on the floral team, whom Levi remembered as Amber and Louis. “We have enjoyed almost every moment with you all.”
A few light chuckles.
“Yes, the fiasco with the drapes didn’t go as planned. How we got purple and yellow and blue is beyond me,” Virginia joked. “That was not the linens team’s fault. We discovered—well, Sophie discovered when she went to the distributor—they had just changed over their systems and the numbers identifying the colors got all messed up.” Heads nodded as though they had each dealt with something similar. “Which just further proves the point that 1935 was a great theme choice, where they didn’t have technology to mess things up,” Virginia said, smiling and acting playfully exasperated.
Behind the Scenes Page 19