Love Unforgettable: Love in San Soloman - Book Three

by Wells, Denise

  “If all else fails,” Kat says. “Just take your clothes off. That man is head over heels for you, so ten to one he’s gonna splooge the first time he sees you naked anyway.”

  Tears well in my eyes. These girls, my friends, are my world. I honestly don’t know what I would do without them.

  “Don’t you fucking dare ruin your makeup with tears,” Remi says. She hands me a tissue and I dab at the corners of my eyes to soak up the liquid. “Wake up that inner hellion, woman. We are going out there, we’re going to kick some wine industry ass. After which you are coming back upstairs, and you are going to rock Cole Mason’s world. Got it?”

  “Fuck, yes, she’s got it,” Kat says.

  “Fuck, yes, I’ve got it,” I agree.

  Chapter 38

  Cole

  My parents arrive about thirty minutes before I’m due to pick-up Lexie from her hotel room for the pre-dinner/ceremony reception. So, I walk over to their room to meet them. My dad immediately pours us both a whiskey neat and steers me over to the side of the room.

  “Your momma is a little off her rocker about this evening. Just warnin’ you. Babs has got her convinced you plan to propose tonight.”

  I clear my throat and take a sip of my drink before saying anything.

  “No, sir, that is not my intention. That gonna throw a wrench in Momma’s world?”

  “Well, you know your momma, she’s going full steam ahead no matter what.”

  I look across the room to where my momma is sitting with Babs and Mavis, the three of them sippin’ martinis and cacklin’ like hens. No doubt namin’ all the kids that they won’t let me conceive for another year.

  “I know Momma’s got in her head about this, but I don’t want to scare this girl. She’s gun shy as it is and I come on Texas strong by myself without the lot of you taggin’ along.”

  “You mean to have her as yours, she’s got to get used to us sometime.”

  “I know. She’s kinda fragile. Just a little thing. No real family to speak of, just Mavis and some friends. Thing is, I don’t know if she gets overwhelmed easily, and we are suprisin’ her tonight with you and Momma and Babs. Her friends already surprised her—”

  “Son, she’s like a new foal you gotta break in a bit. Get ‘em used to bein’ around the herd. They’ll be shy and timid at first, but if it’s meant to be, they’ll blend in and become one of many. You mean to make her a Mason, she’s got to blend at some time.”

  “I know. Okay. You’re right.”

  “You better go on now,” he motions across the room with his head, “Take that martini shaker outta Babs’ hand before she pours them all another one and we got three ladies who’re three sheets to the wind.”

  I head across the floor and do just that. I’m about Babs’ favorite out of the whole family, so there’s not much I can do wrong in her eyes. Including monitoring her alcohol intake.

  “Ladies, it may be a long night. Just for your own sakes in the morning, maybe y’all want to have water between each cocktail?” I hand them each a water bottle. Momma and Babs both thank me, Mavis gives me a dirty look. “Miss Mavis, you look positively fetching by the way, I just want to ensure you don’t wake up with a headache, is all.”

  “No hang overs,” she says waving her hand.

  “Well, that’s what I’m trying to prevent, yes.” I smile big at her. She doesn’t return it. I tell you, that lady can put them away for sure. I wouldn’t be surprised if her insides were pickled all the way through at this point. “I’m going to go soon,” I continue, “to escort Lexie to the reception before the ceremony. Will I see you at the table around seven o’clock?”

  “Yes, you will,” Momma says. “And, Cole? Try not to slouch, sweetheart. You’re such a good-looking boy and when you slouch it just makes you look sloppy.”

  “I will certainly try, Momma,” I answer.

  “Cole? C’mere,” Babs says. She licks her thumb then runs it across my left eyebrow. “You got some stragglers stickin’ straight out. My goodness, don’t you trim those things?”

  “No, ma’am, I don’t.”

  “Well, you should start. Along with your nose and ear hair. Can’t be too careful. Those things’ll sneak up on you and pretty soon folks’ll be askin’ if you’re seventy or something.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I lean in to give them each a kiss on the cheek.

  “You have nice smell,” Mavis says to me.

  “Thank you, Miss Mavis. I appreciate it,” I smile at her.

  “But is very heavy,” she continues, “Stand outside. Let it thin.” She waves her hand and forth in front of her nose and face, indicating a bad smell.

  Wonderful.

  If ever a man starts to think too much of himself or his power in the world, just have him visit his southern Momma or Grandma for a few minutes. Humble pie is served, and everything is put back to its natural order of things.

  Chapter 39

  Lexie

  The girls and I decide to head down to the hotel bar until the reception begins. And while none of us are in the market for a man, we know we look good, and it never hurts to prove it to yourself every once in a while.

  I send Cole a text to let him know where we will be, then slip my phone back in my purse. I feel dangerously sexy in this dress. That man is not going to know what hit him when I get through with him. We strut down the hallway toward the elevator bay. And when I say strut, that’s exactly what I mean. This is our runway and we are Heidi Klum. All of us, at the same time.

  “Is anyone else singing the theme from Staying Alive in their head right now?” Kat asks.

  I laugh at that. “Ohmigod, no, but I was just thinking we are all Heidi Klum and this is our catwalk.”

  “’Cause I’m a model, you know what I mean. And I do my little turn on the catwalk,” Remi sings and does a little spin in the hall.

  We ride the elevator down to the second floor, it lets us out in a hall with the bar to the left, and the conference and ball rooms to the right. We head left into the dimly lit room and take seats at the bar. I see a lot of people in here already from the various panels that I’ve attended over the last two days. But no Cole. I check my phone, he hasn’t texted me back yet either.

  I switch to drinking wine at the bar, even though I really want a Jack and Coke. I don’t want to mix alcohols and I want to keep my wits about me. Wine I can sip slower and take longer with. We take a selfie and then have the bartender take one of us as well. When I look at myself in the picture, I don’t even recognize me.

  Remi is right. I’m kind of a badass.

  “We’ll be right back,” Remi says and she and Kat leave.

  “We just got here,” I say to myself. But then I see Cole at the entrance to the bar. His head just taller than everyone else’s, his broad shoulders parting the crowd as he moves through the room. I hold my hand up and wave it to get his attention. His eyes soften when they see me from afar, then heat when he gets closer. I hop down from the bar stool and walk toward him, giving a little twirl as I go.

  “My God, woman. It should be illegal to look that good.” Cole’s deep baritone voice rumbles toward me, sending shivers down my spine.

  I blush slightly. “It’s the dress.”

  “No.” He shakes his head. “No, sweetness, the dress has little . . . nothing . . . to do with it. You take my breath away.” He takes my hand and steps back, looking me up and down once again. His perusal is a turn-on. He pulls me in close. “I really want to kiss you right now.”

  “What’s stopping you?” I walk my fingers up his chest to play with the bowtie at his neck and look up into his eyes. Raw hunger shines back at me. It makes me wet. I squeeze my thighs together.

  “Sweetness, if I start to kiss you right now, the way that I want to, things are gonna get real indecent, real quick.”

  “How about a quick kiss?” I ask, leaning up toward him. He meets me halfway, his lips ghost across mine, a soft, light touchthat has my mind spinning and my heart
racing. He leans his forehead against mine and I open my eyes.

  “Hi,” I say softly.

  “Hi.” He rasps, then clears his throat.

  “Hot,” Kat says.

  “Super hot,” Remi adds.

  “Where’d you guys go?” I laugh.

  “Right over there,” Kat says, pointing in the opposite direction. “So, you could have a hello moment. That was a good one, too. Nicely done, cowboy.”

  Cole tips his imaginary hat at her. I like it when he does that. I think it’s cute.

  He orders himself a Jack and Coke, then gets situated behind my stool so that if I lean back, it’s against his chest.

  “Is he here?” Kat asks, looking around in all directions. “Which one is he? I need to plan my attack.”

  “Why might we be planning an attack, and on whom?” Cole asks.

  “Ietquay aboutway ethay Awyersay ingthay, easeplay.” I run my fingers across my lips in a zipping motion.

  “Huh?” Kat asks.

  “You don’t know Pig Latin?” I ask Kat since I thought for certain she did.

  “No. Do you?”

  “Obviously,” I say, exasperated.

  “What did you say?” she asks.

  “She said, quiet about the Sawyer thing please,” Cole says. “Is there something I need to know?”

  “No,” I say at the same time Kat says, “She didn’t tell you?” at the same time that Remi says, “So, how about them Giants?”

  Remi backhands Kat in the stomach. “I assumed she told him,” Kat says.

  So, I tell Cole about what Sawyer said. I can see the vein in his neck becoming more and more pronounced and his fingers are curling into fists.

  “Where is this guy?” Cole asks.

  “He’s not in here. And it’s not a big deal.”

  “Oh, but it is,” Cole says.

  “Okay, well then I don’t want to make it a big deal,” I say.

  “Hey, where did the badass go?” Remi asks.

  “Fine. I don’t want to make it a big deal that he’s a chauvinistic douche-bag who can’t handle a little competition. Better?” I look to Remi.

  “Much,” she says.

  “I don’t want to see you accepting these things like they are the norm when it’s just plain sexist ignorance. You worked your ass off to get where you are. No one gets to tear that down.” He puts his hand under my chin and tilts it up until I meet his eyes. “Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m all verklempt,” Kat says. “Y’all are so fucking sweet.”

  Chapter 40

  Cole

  They blink the lights to let us know that it’s time to head into the dinner. I help Lexie down from her bar stool and walk beside her toward the ballroom with my hand resting on her lower back. The dress makes her luscious ass look even more amazing. My groin tightens, my fingers wind around to the side of her waist and squeeze lightly. She reaches her hand back and runs it along the front of my thigh. Another inch and she’d be palming me.

  A small groan escapes my lips before I can stop myself. She glances up at me and smiles, her face mischievous. I raise an eyebrow at her. She blows me a kiss.

  Oh, this is going to be fun.

  My phone buzzes as we enter the ballroom. It’s my dad letting me know they are headed down now. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit worried about how this is all going to go down. Until I remember that I’m supposed to have Mavis with me anyway. I decide the best plan of action is to meet them and bring them with me to the table.

  “Hey, sweetness, I’m gonna go get Miss Mavis and escort her down, I will meet you at the table, that okay?”

  “Of course,” she says.

  “We’ll take care of her,” Remi says with a wink. The girls head into the ballroom, and I turn back toward the elevator bays to wait for my parents and the grandmothers.

  Deep breaths.

  It’s going to be fine.

  Chapter 41

  Lexie

  We wind through the room bypassing table after table to get to table one, which is where I have to sit as the award winner.

  I’m number one!

  I giggle to myself.

  Oh shit. I’m drunk.

  “Hey. Wow. Babs, I didn’t know you were here too. Huh. I wish Cole would have told me. And you were able to get a seat at our table. That’s great.” I wish I sounded more enthusiastic, I’m just caught off guard. I mean he told me about bubbe, but not Babs. Which is weird, why not just tell me about both at the same time.

  Rude, Lexie. You’re being rude.

  “Bubbe, I’m so happy you could make it.”

  “Lies,” she says.

  Uh-oh.

  I sit down in the chair next to her. “Look, I’m sorry that I didn’t invite you directly. I didn’t want this to be a big production. I barely invited Cole.”

  “So, cold you are. Not your bubbe, not your betrothed. Just with the freints.” She looks at Kat and Remi. “Betn mekhile. My ander bubalas, beg pardon.”

  Kat holds her hands up, and takes a step back, as if to say it’s okay. Remi nods in agreement.

  “Bubbe, I didn’t want to make a big production of this, okay? I know you think it’s a big accomplishment. And . . . wait a minute. He’s not my betrothed. That’s a little crazy, don’t you think? I barely know him. I mean, I like him. A lot. And he seriously turns me on. But marriage, let’s slow this train down,” I laugh. “I’m not even certain he’s not a rebound. Sorry, Babs.”

  “He’s not,” Kat and Remi both say at the same time.

  “You guys always have my back. I love that so much about you. Thank you.” I look at them and tears well in my eyes.

  I would die without them. Literally.

  Remi gives me a look that I interpret as something close to, you’re a badass, time to act like it.

  “Actually, screw that. Well, not about the train. The train is still slowing down. I’m talking about the big production part. Because it is a big accomplishment. A huge fucking one.” I look to Remi who gives me the thumbs up in return. I turn back toward Bubbe and take her hand in mine. “I’m sorry, Bubbe. I am. I know you love me. And I love you, so much. I’m happy that you are here. I promise. Babs, I’m happy that you are here, as well. I just wish Cole would have told me. I mean, there was no reason to keep it a secret.”

  I stand up and move between both of their seats but try to keep my voice down for the sake of the other couple. “I know that you two want this thing to work between Cole and me. So, you should know that I really like him. Your grandson is one hell of a sexy man, Babs.”

  “Amen to that, sweetheart.” Babs raises her glass.

  “L'chaim,” Bubbe raises her own glass to cheers with Babs.

  “And, Bubbe, you’ll be happy to know that Cole and I will be shtupping tonight. A lot if I have anything to say about it. So, you cannot call me an old maid any longer. He got us a room and I’m gonna shtup that man’s brains out.”

  “Mazel Tov.” Bubbe raises her glass once again.

  “Matsel Toff.” Babs raises hers as well.

  As do the couple across the table.

  I turn to Kat and Remi. “How is it that we don’t have any drinks?” Remi points to the middle of the table where a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine sits, with glasses.

  “Duh. If it were a snake, and all that.” I pour us all some wine, then move to sit next to the couple.

  “I’m sorry that you had to hear all this. I’m just . . . I’m winning a big award tonight, so my best friends are here, and my grandma and her bestie.” I gesture across the table to Mavis and Babs. “And, my boyfriend. At least I think he’s my boyfriend. He went to go escort Mavis, my bubbe, downstairs. Oh shit, I should text him to tell him she’s already here.” I scramble for my purse.

  “I’ll text him,” Kat says. “You just keep talking.” She has a slight smile on her face that I can’t quite identify. Not that it matters.

  I turn back to the couple.
“I’m just not sure yet if he’s my boyfriend. He bought me this dress, and these shoes, which are just so extraordinary. Ohmigod. And so expensive.” I lower my voice slightly. “We are fairly certain, we being my besties and me, that he’s loaded. He’s got a Black Amex, which is usually a good indicator.” I see Remi motioning in the background. Drawing her finger across her throat. I think she wants me to stop talking.

  I wave my hand at her. “It’s fine Remi. They have to be with us all night, so they’re going to figure all this out sooner or later. And, I’m not oversharing, at least not a ton.” I turn back toward the couple. “I have a tendency to overshare. Especially when I’m nervous. But this isn’t me being nervous. Not yet at least. I mean, I’ll be nervous later because my boyfriend and I are spending the night together for the first time. He got us a suite. And the man can kiss. Holy moly. And if past performance is any indication, he’s packing in the meat department. Wow, that was cheesy, even for me. And . . .” I slap my hand over my mouth. “Definitely an overshare.” I look to Remi. “I’m oversharing.”

  “Can we get some coffee over here, please?” Remi says to a passing server as Cole walks up to the table.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” I tell him at the same time he says, “Sweetness, I see you met my parents. I was wondering where you guys were.”

  Oh. My. God. Kill me now.

  Chapter 42

  Cole

  “Oh God,” Lexie cries. “I need to go far, far away. Like to the bathroom. Right now.”

  “Let’s go,” Remi says, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the exit.

  “She okay?” I ask Kat.

  “She’s coming down with a case of the overshares,” Kat says gravely.