15 Shades Of Pink

by Scott, Lisa

  I turned from him and led him inside. “I canceled the order, remember?”

  “But I want you to have them. They’re on me. I don’t want you to give up on love. Just give it a chance.”

  I crossed my arms and blinked back the sadness creeping over me. “You were right. It was a silly idea. I’m just humoring Virginia because I like her.”

  “Beautiful and considerate. Quite the catch. That’s why I’m not willing to give up.”

  I ignored him. “Been busy this week?” I shouldn’t have sounded so jealous. It’s not like we were officially dating. But I could’ve sworn there had been real passion behind his kisses.

  “Yeah, I have been busy. It’s been a horrible week. Sherry’s shop got flooded. A water pipe burst and I’ve been helping her clean up. She’s close to losing everything.” He shook his head. “She was despondent. I tried my best to comfort her, but she just hung on to me and cried. I didn’t know what the hell to do.”

  “When was this?”

  “Tuesday.”

  “Oh.” The lump in my stomach was going away. Most Likely to Jump To Conclusions had blown it again. I felt bad for her loss, but I hated how much she must have loved being in his arms. She was probably going to strike while the sympathy iron was hot and try to leverage his kindness into something more.

  My heart clenched. I knew Sherry wanted Zach; and that’s when I realized I did, too. I really did. And I had more weapons to use in this fight than just my new feng shui adjustments. I pointed to the pillows he was holding. “Can you bring those into my bedroom for me?”

  “Oh, of course.” He followed me with the bag and set it down on my bed.

  Luckily, Virginia had lit candles in my room and showed me how to stage my bed with pillows on both sides, so it suggested two people shared it. I’m glad I hadn’t told her not to bother. “What do you think?” I asked him.

  He ran his hand down the back of his head. “It’s really nice. Very inviting. I think it’s going to definitely bring love to your life.”

  I sighed. I hoped I hadn’t blown it with him. I took his hand to make myself clear.

  He looked down at our hands, and then into my eyes. “I’m confused. I thought you weren’t interested. I guess my flirting radar really doesn’t work.”

  I took a deep breath and confessed. “I saw you with Sherry the other day, hugging her. I thought you two had hooked up, and I got jealous.”

  He smiled. “You’re right. She’s interested. But like I said, I’m not.”

  My heart lodged in my throat and I swallowed hard. I needed a drink. “Can I get you some wine?”

  He gazed at our hands intertwined and smiled for a long minute. “No,” he said. “I’ve already had wine with you. I want more of this.” He placed a finger under my chin and raised my lips to his. He kissed me in the softest, most passionate way I’d ever been kissed.

  I pushed the pillows off the bed and pulled him toward me.

  “We’re messing up all this feng shui stuff,” he whispered in my ear.

  I kissed him back. “No, we’re just proving it works.”

  “Confession time,” he said.

  “Uh oh. That’s never good, right?”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes it is. Here goes. I’ve got two pink candles sitting on my dresser.” His lips left a trail of kisses across my cheek and over to my ear.

  “What? You tried feng shui? At home?”

  “Once I saw what those purple things did in the shop I thought it was worth a shot. I figured maybe you weren’t getting together with the right guy—like me—because his love bagua was off.”

  “Handsome and open-minded. What more could I want?” I laughed.

  “What are you doing the rest of the night?” he asked.

  I looked over at the evening dress hanging on my closet door. “I was supposed to be going to a wedding, but something suddenly came up.”

  “And then what happened?” Mildred asked, her forkful of quiche quivering in the air.

  I crossed my arms. “Ladies, ladies. I don’t kiss and tell.” I laughed. “Well, at least not everything.”

  They started booing, and people at other tables turned to look at the ruckus seven old ladies were causing.

  “Fine, fine. We kissed some more.” I could still feel the softness of his lips on mine the next morning as I sat there at brunch.

  “I told you,” Virginia said. “I told you you’d find love. I just didn’t think it would work so quickly.”

  Ettie frowned. “I think she just met a cute guy cause she was at his store so often. How do you know it was feng shui?”

  I popped a grape in my mouth. “I don’t care what it was. I like him a lot. I’m keeping those crystals in my bedroom. And I won’t dare ever put a single candle in my apartment again. Only pairs for this girl.”

  Two weeks later, Virginia bustled up to me in the reception hall. “Thanks for your help. So, everything is set? Each guest has two rose quartz crystals as a favor?”

  I nodded. “I set them out just like you asked.” Along with the meaning of the stones printed on the back of her business card. She was quite the businesswoman. “I think Mildred will be thrilled.” I said. She and the silver-haired gentlemen she’d met at Carly’s wedding were getting hitched. I glanced around the ballroom. “It’s perfect.”

  Zach came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Everything’s been perfect since I met you.”

  I turned to look at him. “Was it the feng shui or fate?” I asked, brushing my lips against his.

  He shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe it does matter where you line up your bed and what you’ve got underneath it, but I think it mostly matters that you find the right place for your heart.” He smiled at me. “I know I did.”

  We kissed, forgetting Virginia and the girls still setting up the tables, and the staff members at the Parkside Bistro milling around, assembling the reception room.

  Finally, I had a date to bring to a wedding. I had a feeling we’d be throwing a reception of our own soon enough.

  I rested my head against his chest, and felt his heart thud against my cheek. “The perfect place for my heart is right next to yours.”

  * * *

  It’s a relationship with an expiration date…and it’s going to go bad.

  Never Been Dumped

  By Lisa Scott

  Her excuse was the same for each guy because it was true: “I’m waiting for a friend.” But that didn’t stop the parade of men from wandering over to the table in the corner and asking Rachel Miller to dance. Sitting alone listening to the band was an open invitation she didn’t realize she was sending. These guys possessed the same radar as an obnoxious dog that always sniffs out the one person in the room who doesn’t want to be licked.

  She looked down at the long, black, wrap-around skirt exposing her thigh and frowned. That certainly doesn’t help. She tried holding it closed with one hand. Her friends teased her for having zero instincts about men. She never knew when they were really interested, and when she did go out with someone, she always ended up with first-date remorse.

  The wedding she’d attended the weekend before was the perfect example. Her Great Aunt Mildred had tied the knot, and Rachel had been asked to dance a dozen times at the reception. Her best friend Lindsey brought her buddy, Luke, and he’d asked her three times. Her friend Brianna had been there, and she’d been sending a line of guys her way, too. Maybe I should bring an ankle brace and fake an injury next time.

  Great Aunt Mildred gave out shiny nuggets of rose quartz crystals as favors. The stones were supposed to bring the guests love; some crazy new age thing. Rachel left those puppies sitting on the table. She didn’t want to attract any more love in her life. Right now, she was trying to repel it.

  She looked up and spotted another guy smiling at her, under a thick red mustache. She snapped away her gaze. Not everyone comes to a bar looking to hook up, she grumbled to herself.

  The guys hadn’t taken
it well. Am I sitting in a must-dance zone? She’d been sworn at more than once. But she didn’t care. While she was single, she truly wasn’t interested. Not even in the George Clooney look-alike who had asked if she was certain she didn’t want to dance with him.

  Although she had pondered his offer for a moment, before gathering up her wits again.

  She settled her hand on her chin, watching the country-western group that Lindsey had wanted to see. It was Friday night, and she’d bet a bundle that Lindsey was still at work with her boss, because being alone in his office—sometimes on the couch, sometimes on his desk—made it all that more exciting.

  She was so killing Lindsey.

  Half-drunk couples with busy hands cluttered the dance floor, and she pulled out her cell to check the time. Nine forty-five. If Lindsey didn’t show by ten, she was leaving.

  Another man made his way over. She sighed and looked up at him standing by her table.

  His blue eyes locked on hers, and one corner of his mouth curled up. “I’d ask if I could buy you a drink, but you haven’t touched the one in front of you. And I’d invite you to dance, but I know you’ll say no. So let me ask, why is a woman sitting alone at a bar, not drinking and turning down every guy who comes her way?” He was tall, with dirty-blond hair curling around his ears and might have been her type a few years back.

  She swirled the liquid in her glass, but didn’t take a drink. “You’ve been watching.”

  “You’re hard to miss.” He gripped the back of the chair in front of him, his fingers tensing around the wooden slat.

  She closed her eyes and smiled. “I’m waiting for my friend to show up, but I suspect she’s ditching me for a guy. And turns out, I’m not in a drinking mood.” The band finished its song and cleared the stage for a break. They promised to be back in ten.

  He glanced over his shoulder. “A sea of men will be storming your table now. Why don’t I join you and keep them at bay while you wait?”

  Now her mouth curled up. “Will that count towards your community service?”

  He placed his hand on his heart and jerked back like he’d been punched. “Ouch, now I have to sit down, that hurt.”

  Biting her lip to stifle a laugh, she shrugged. “Sure, but I’m leaving in fifteen minutes if she doesn’t show.”

  He held out his hand. “Drake Johnson.”

  His hand was firm and warm when she shook it. Always a good quality in a man—if she’d been looking. “Rachel Miller.” She took a sip of her drink, now watered down from the melting ice cubes.

  He spun the chair around, straddled it, and sat across from her. “So, why not give some poor guy here a shot and kill time while you wait? Do you have a boyfriend?”

  She shook her head.

  He shook a finger at her. “Let me guess. Too busy with your career for men?”

  “Nope. I’ve got time, or I wouldn’t be sitting here waiting for a friend.” Her freelance graphic design business meant she could make her own hours. Just one of the reasons she loved it.

  He narrowed his eyes. “An arranged marriage looming?”

  She laughed. “That might be easier than the dating scene.”

  “Ahh. You’re coming off a nasty breakup and you’re not ready to have your heart broken again.” He crossed his arms and looked very satisfied.

  She blew out a breath. “Nasty breakup, yes. But a broken heart? No. I wish.”

  He cocked his head, looking confused. “You wish your heart was broken? What, you need an excuse for a weekend-long chocolate binge?” He planted his elbows on the table and leaned forward.

  “It’s too ridiculous to explain. Trust me.” She held up her hand like she might be able to keep this hot guy and his personal questions from getting any closer.

  “Now you have to explain. I love ridiculous.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip, wondering how to tell him this without sounding like a total bitch. Who cares? You’ll never see him again. “I’m sick of breaking hearts.” She looked at him, waiting for his reaction.

  He slapped his hand over his own heart. “Wow.”

  “No, seriously. It’s really hard to break up with someone who still likes you. I’m always the one who ends it, and I hate disappointing them. It sucks, and I’m no good at it.”

  “Sucks more than getting dumped?”

  One shoulder jerked up. “I don’t know. I’ve never been dumped.”

  He stared at her, like he was waiting her to fess up to the truth. “Oh, come on. Everyone’s been dumped. In high school, getting dumped was a sport for me.” He jerked his thumb against his chest. “I majored in getting dumped in college.”

  She leaned back in her chair. “Sounds like you have a lot to offer the ladies.”

  “Hilarious. So you’re telling me no man has ever broken up with you? Not once in your life?”

  She shook her head. “It’s true. And I’m sick of the phone calls afterward. Sad at first, then desperate, then angry.” She took another drink. “I once had to get a restraining order on a guy who just wouldn’t take no for an answer. That’s why I’m done with dating for a long time.” Her hand sliced the air. “So, why bother dancing with a guy when there’s no chance it will go anywhere? At least I’m not leading them on. You’d think I’d get credit for that.”

  “I’ll dump you,” he offered.

  She laughed. “Best offer I’ve had all night.”

  He moved to the chair next to her and they were elbow to elbow. “No, seriously. I’m in town for the summer. I’m leaving August 31st. Let’s go out until then, and I promise to dump you. I don’t do long-distance relationships.”

  “Why not?”

  “That’s a long story I’ll tell you a few weeks into our relationship on some warm, summer night when we’re getting cozy under the stars.”

  She giggled. “Again, ridiculous.”

  “Like I said, I’m all about ridiculous.”

  “What if you change your mind and stay? Then I’ll have to dump you. Defeats the whole purpose.”

  “Absolutely not. I start culinary school in the fall, and I’m not giving that up. And no way do I want to have a relationship distracting me while I’m in school.”

  She tipped her head and stared at him. His dimples seemed permanently carved in his cheeks, with that ever-present smile. His hair curled around his face in a boyish way that probably got him out of a lot of trouble. Irresistible was a word that came to mind. “What if I get so annoyed with you before that, that I have no choice but to dump you? Seems like a good possibility.”

  “Won’t happen. I’m a good kisser.”

  “And incredibly cocky.” She gave him a playful nudge and was pleased to find he had a muscular arm.

  “Play to your strengths.”

  Rachel was intrigued, but it was a stupid idea—the kind that could only be concocted at a bar. Crossing her arms, she gave him the bad news. “Sorry. I guess I’ll always have to wonder about your prowess.”

  He gave her a playful pout. “You sure? I’ve dumped plenty girls in my life. Made a few cry even. I’d be brilliant. You’d need gallons of ice cream to get over me.”

  She laughed. “I’m quite sure, but thanks for the offer.”

  He stood up. “It was worth a shot.”

  “Good luck with culinary school.”

  He looked back as he walked away. “Good luck finding a guy to dump you. Can’t imagine anyone would want to.”

  She pushed away her unfinished drink and reached for her car keys in her purse. She grabbed her cell to text Lindsey that she was leaving, but Lindsey had beaten her to it. Tyler and I are officially a couple! Call you tomorrow.

  Ugh. If Tyler and Lindsey were dating—and not just sleeping together—she’d certainly be stepping up the campaign to get Rachel to go out with Tyler’s best friend Luke, Mr. Persistent from the wedding. “He’s got the wonderful accent,” Lindsey had scolded, as if that were reason enough to give him a whirl. “And he’s rich!” Lindsey was full of id
eas for the two of them; and Luke was just full of himself. That added up to bad news.

  She rubbed her temples and looked up, and saw another man standing in front of her. “Wanna dance, sugar?”

  “No, thanks.” She gave him a feeble smile.

  He hitched up his jeans. “You think you’re too good for us here? You been turning down men all night.” He looked her up and down. “You some kind of city slicker?”

  Just because I’m not wearing cowboy boots? Why couldn’t she just lie and say she had a boyfriend? But Rachel didn’t like to lie, even if it made things easier. It was some residual Catholic schoolgirl thing. She twisted her lips. Having a boyfriend would make things a lot easier. She’d be able to fend off Luke, at least. And she certainly had some time on her hands now that Lindsey was going to be busy with Tyler. Plus, Drake was hot. And funny. If she were the one-night stand type, he’d fit the bill.

  But this is more like a two-month stand.

  She looked over at Drake with his back against the bar, watching her. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. She pointed at him. “That’s my boyfriend. He doesn’t really appreciate me dancing with other men.”

  The guy wandered away, and she crooked her finger at Drake to signal him to come over.

  He bumped into a chair as he dashed over to her. “A change of heart?”

  “Not if you’re going to be obnoxious about it.”

  He crossed his arms. “So we are going to go out. Hot damn.”

  “Let’s leave.”

  “Ready to try out my kissing already?” He patted his pockets. “Where did I put that Chapstick?”

  She stood up with a sigh and slung her purse over her shoulder. “No, I’m just ready to call it a night and I told that guy you’re my boyfriend. Plus, I’m not sure how you’d hold up in a bar fight, so we’d better leave.”

  “Not well. I’m a lover, not a fighter.”

  “Let’s just go.”

  He moved closer behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Whatever my honey-bunny wants.”

  She wiggled her shoulders away from him. “Absolutely not. No pet names.”