Kissing the Maid of Honor

by Robin Bielman

  Vanessa had made twenty bucks with Sela’s Suck-For-a-Buck game. For one dollar, willing males got to remove the candy from her bracelet—with their teeth. Hayden had been a trooper, enduring the attention to Vanessa’s wrist.

  He kissed his way up her arm and then planted one on her mouth. Sela moved away but kept dancing. Across the room she caught sight of Luke and Shane talking with Kagan and another pretty girl Sela didn’t know.

  “Want a partner?” a man asked.

  She turned. It was the quieter of the two guys who had bought them the pitcher of beer. His eyes were friendly, his dance moves nice. “Sure.”

  “I’m Troy.”

  “Sela.”

  He stepped a little closer. “It’s nice to meet you, Sela.”

  They danced and made small talk. She tried to keep her eyes on him, but every few seconds her gaze darted to Luke. The same girl still had him engrossed in conversation.

  “You thirsty?” Troy asked after a couple of minutes.

  “I am.” She followed him off the dance floor and to the bar. Milt gave his crooked, grouchy half smile before he turned a sharp eye on Troy.

  “What can I get you?” Milt asked.

  “I’ll have a tequila sunrise,” Sela said, winking at Milt. He knew exactly what she drank and she appreciated that he played along.

  Troy put a twenty on the counter. “I’ll have whatever you’ve got on tap.”

  Milt nodded and Sela spun around so she could lean against the bar and watch the busy pub. Vanessa and Hayden were still dancing. Erin and Troy’s friend were dancing. The other bridesmaids had found dance partners, too.

  “You know,” Troy said, “we went to high school together.”

  Her stomach sank. “We did?”

  “I was a year behind you, so we didn’t know each other, but I knew who you were.” He grabbed their drinks and handed Sela hers.

  Corpse Lips came flooding back. Her knees almost buckled. The reason people knew her in high school was because of the reputation Luke had given her. She downed her drink and asked Milt for another.

  “Okay.” She didn’t know what else to say. She hated that something that happened so long ago could still pierce her heart and make her hands shake.

  “We were in anatomy together.”

  She tapped her foot. “Really? I loved that class. What are you doing now?” Desperate to veer the conversation away from high school, she hoped he liked to talk about his occupation.

  “I just moved back from Boulder. I’m a paramedic.”

  Her shoulders relaxed. “Wow. I’m in the medical field, too. I work as an RN.” She looked a little closer at him. He was cute. Friendly. She wished she felt even a hint of attraction to him.

  “I know; Erin told me. You’re at Cascade General?”

  She nodded. Milt put down her drink refill, and she took a sip through the tiny straw.

  Troy’s arm brushed hers. “I’ll keep an eye out for you if I’m there.”

  “I’d like that. In fact, if you give me your cell phone I’ll program my number in.” It was time she took the initiative in her nonexistent love life. “I hope you’ll call me sometime.”

  “Babe, there you are.”

  Sela sputtered in her drink as Luke wormed his way between her and Troy right as Troy was about to hand her his phone. “The wedding party needs you,” Luke added.

  She opened her mouth to tell him where to shove it but nothing came out. Babe? Was he drunk? She pushed him aside and looked at Troy. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I guess I’m needed.”

  “No problem,” Troy said, glancing at Luke, and Sela could see he thought Luke was more than just a meddlesome pain. “I’ll catch you later.”

  “What are you doing?” she rasped once Troy had walked away.

  “Didn’t Shane ever tell you never to give your phone number to a guy in a bar?”

  “How did you…?” She let out a breath. “Shane taught me a lot of things.” She turned fully and faced him. “Like how to knee a guy who’s bothering me.”

  Luke moved closer. Her breath hitched, but she stood her ground.

  “Come on. Dance with me?” he said, his voice soft and apologetic. He put out his hand.

  She hesitated for a split second, then took it. “I thought you barged in on my conversation because of something wedding-related.”

  The crowd parted for them as if Luke were some kind of god. She maybe ogled his very nice backside.

  They reached the center of the dance floor in time for a slow song. Luke put one hand on the small of her back and gently clasped her hand with the other, arms up, in a traditional dance pose.

  “I did,” he said.

  She hated that the way he moved aroused every nerve ending and quickened every beat of her heart. No matter how much her mind yelled he was still a jock-ass, when he held her like this, when their bodies were only a hairbreadth away, every ugly thought inside her melted away. His gentle yet firm hold and ardent gaze spoke of devotion and safekeeping, and she wondered if he realized what he might be capable of.

  “What is it?” She looked around for Vanessa and saw her back at the table with Erin and the other girls. She immediately tried to break free of Luke, but he pressed her closer. Their breaths mingled.

  “My sister is fine.” He spun her so she’d have to crane her neck to see Vanessa.

  “This had better be good.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Or what?”

  “Or I may never talk to you again.”

  “I can think of several things we could do besides talk.”

  “Luke. Stop. You cannot say things like that to me.” She pulled away, but her feet only took one slow step back at a time.

  He ran a hand across his forehead. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He inched closer. “But my interruption was wedding-related. I wanted to dance with the beautiful maid of honor.”

  Her legs shook. If she were hearing his tone right and reading his expression right, that was an honest I’m interested in you compliment. She turned in search of Vanessa. Or Shane. Was anyone watching them? If she and Luke kept up this careless tap dance, she feared she’d do something to irrevocably hurt her friendship with Vanessa.

  “Moves Like Jagger” came over the speakers and before she or Luke could say anything more, the wedding party piled onto the dance floor. Thank you, Maroon 5.

  For several beats she danced with Vanessa and Erin and let the music take over her body. The tension in her neck relaxed. The crowd swallowed her, and she wasn’t the maid of honor or Shane’s little sister, she was just a girl on the dance floor. Until she turned and found herself right up beside Luke again. Dammit.

  Their bodies weren’t touching, but she’d swear his vibrations flowed through her. No matter how much she didn’t want it to be true, no matter how much he’d hurt her feelings, no matter how much she might hurt Vanessa, she lost herself to him while they danced.

  Luke didn’t miss a beat, and she matched him move for move. A slow smile played along his lips.

  She stopped thinking and sang the words in her head, enjoyed the rhythm and the melody. With each step, Luke countered like they’d danced together to this song a hundred times. It really wasn’t fair that he was gorgeous and a good dancer.

  Someone bumped his shoulder and the happiness on his face disappeared. To anyone else it might mean irritation at the body contact, but she had a feeling it was more than that. The jolt had sent another sharp pain through him. She reached out to put her hand on his chest.

  Vanessa grabbed her arm before she made contact and swung her around. Sela peeked over her shoulder, but Luke had disappeared into the sea of bodies.

  She fought the urge to follow him.

  …

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Luke scowled at his best friend. “Having a drink of water.”

  Shane leaned against the bar and looked at him like he was a dumbass. Which he no doubt was. Thank
God Vanessa had grabbed Sela when she did. The stab of pain stung, but Sela’s sympathy hurt more. What an idiot he’d been to tell her about his accident. He didn’t want her fawning over him because he was hurt.

  “You know that’s not what I meant. What the hell are you doing with my sister?”

  “Relax. We were just dancing.”

  “That was not just dancing. You were undressing her with your eyes.”

  Lying to Shane never worked, so he went with the truth. “It was either me or that Joe Schmo over there.” Luke nodded toward the guy who’d almost gotten Sela’s phone number. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “I figured with me you know she’s safe.”

  “Safe my ass. What’s going on with you two?”

  “You think something’s going on?” Then could he please explain it to Luke? The woman disarmed him with such ease he didn’t know what to make of their relationship. Her position with his family should have him running into the Pacific, not into her personal space every time he had the chance.

  “She’s my sister, Luke. If you do anything to hurt her, you know I’ll take her side.” Shane knocked him with his shoulder. “After I mess up that pretty-boy face of yours.”

  “I’m not planning on doing anything. We’re friends.”

  “Doubtful. She can’t stand you.”

  “That was a long time ago.” Luke downed some more cold water. The pain in his chest had subsided, but talk of Sela brewed a different sort of ache.

  “Are you dense?” Shane asked. “She’s only putting up with you because of the wedding. Girls remember all the shit guys did to them when they were young, and you, my friend, embarrassed her in front of a lot of people. I heard her crying that night, but when I tried to comfort her she begged me to just forget about it. That’s the only reason I didn’t say anything to you the next day.”

  The apology Luke still hadn’t given Sela sprung to mind. Would it even matter if he said he was sorry? Better yet, if he kept it to himself, he could stew in his regret and be reminded that he had no place in her life.

  “You’re right. We’re not friends. I just wanted to be nice for Vanessa’s sake.”

  “Well, keep it to a minimum. If you’re too nice to her she might start to like you. And we both know that’s a bad idea. Vanessa will survive if the two of you don’t get along.”

  Yeah, but would he?

  “Hey,” Kagan said, bumping Shane’s hip. “I’m off in ten. Your offer still stand?”

  Shane rose to his full height and puffed out his chest. “Absolutely.”

  Kagan glanced at the floor then back at Shane. “Great. I’ll see you in a few.”

  Luke cracked up. “Careful. You’re about to burn a hole through her back with your stare.”

  “Could you do me a favor?” Shane spared him a glance. “I was supposed to give Sela a ride home. Think you can do it for me? I’ll owe you one.”

  “What happened to us staying away from each other?” The laser-sharp focus Shane had just put on Kagan? Nothing compared to the attention he’d kept on Sela. Which meant he really needed to keep his distance.

  Right now, she was dancing like she was the only one in the room but smiling at those around her like she wouldn’t be standing there without them. He wondered if she had any clue how engaging she was.

  Her gaze captured his, like it seemed to do whenever too much time had passed without acknowledgment. He looked away. If he had any hope of forgetting the influence she had over him, he had to keep his eyes off her. He’d crossed the line earlier, unable to help himself, and he couldn’t do it again.

  “Now that we’ve had our little talk, I can trust you,” Shane said.

  “I won’t let her walk. How’s that? But maybe someone else can give her a ride.”

  “Dude. You’re giving her the ride. You’ll be in the car with her for, like, five minutes. I think you can survive that.”

  Luke inwardly sighed. Shane thought Sela was safe with him when the complete opposite was true.

  “Fine. I’ll make sure she gets home okay.”

  Ten minutes later, he regretted those words.

  In the confines of his rented Audi, the floral fragrance on her skin teased him each time she squirmed. Her every shift made his zipper tighter. If she would just sit still, he could concentrate on the road and not the way her cardigan gaped open in her effort to get more comfortable.

  “Do you think you could stop fidgeting?” he said.

  “Could you drive faster? I think I’m going to…” She rolled down the passenger window, leaned her head out, and threw up.

  Luke veered to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes. “Are you—”

  She slowly turned back around. “I’m really sorry. It just hit me so fast, I didn’t know what to do.”

  “Are you okay? People normally wait until the car has stopped so they can open the door.”

  Her head lolled to the side and her glassy eyes and trembling lips hit him upside the head with shame. She wiped the sleeve of her sweater across her mouth. “I’m not normal,” she whispered.

  Tie his heart to a pole and shoot arrows at it. That’s what her soft voice and wounded expression did to him. He reached into the glove box and handed her a tissue.

  “You’re right. You’re not. You’re…”

  She flung the door open and vomited again, saving him from saying something he had no business voicing. When finished, she bent forward and covered her face with her hands. “This sucks.”

  “I didn’t think you were so drunk.”

  “I didn’t think so, either,” she said, straightening up. “But I did drink way more than usual.” She closed the car door. “I hate to tell you this but there’s Moroccan food that smells like beer on the side of your car.”

  He laughed. He enjoyed that she could make fun of the situation. “Think it’s safe to put the car in drive?”

  “Sure. What’s the worst that can happen? Now that I know protocol, I’ll shout a warning to stop.”

  “I didn’t mean to sound like a jackass there. Sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I’m used to it.” She gave him a little smile that said for the right person, she’d make everything right in his world even when hers was a little off-kilter.

  “Dealt with a lot of jackasses, have you?”

  She rolled her eyes. “One in particular stands out.”

  “Good to know.”

  She looked out the passenger window and silence filled the space between them. Luke watched her absently play with the rings on her middle finger. Three tiny silver bands, each with small, different-colored stones that covered the circumference.

  “Those have special meaning?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She didn’t budge, save for the fingers moving the jeweled bands back and forth.

  “Were they a gift?” He stopped for a red light. “I turn on West Way, right?” She’d given him her address and quick directions when they’d gotten in the car, but he couldn’t remember which main road to take.

  “No to your first question and yes.”

  “That’s all I get?” he teased.

  She sighed. A loud, surrender kind of sigh that cinched the growing knot in his stomach. “Each ring is to remember a patient who passed away. The stones are birthstones. The ruby one is for Johnny. He was eight. The sapphire one is for Celia. She was five. And the diamond one is for Brendan. He was eleven.”

  He could say he was sorry, but Sela had probably heard enough of those. “That’s a nice way to remember them. Thanks for telling me.”

  “You tell me something,” she said.

  At that moment, he’d tell her… “Anything.”

  “I don’t care what it is. Just talk.” Her eyes shut, she brought one knee up to her chest.

  Luke wasn’t sure if her request was to get her mind off the kids or because she felt like she might throw up again, but it didn’t matter. He’d dive back into the water if it helped make her feel better.

  He sucked
in a breath at the thought. Sela had somehow wormed her way into his head and eased the fear lingering there. Could he jump in the ocean just like that?

  If she were waiting for him, he could.

  Shit. He needed to stop thinking of her as a cure. She was temporary, a distraction he had no plans to make permanent. Just because she knew his secret, and just because she’d seen him at his weakest and seemed to think no less of him, did not mean he should pursue anything further with her.

  “A meat-eating sponge was recently discovered deep in the ocean off Monterey Bay. It’s called a harp sponge because it looks like a harp turned on its side,” he said. “It’s got Velcro-like barbed hooks at the end of its limbs that snare crustaceans as the current carries them by. Once caught, the sponge envelops its food in a thin membrane and then digests it slowly.”

  Sela stayed quiet. Motionless. He wondered if she’d fallen asleep.

  “I understand they like bacon best,” he added.

  She chuckled. “They must be male. Keep talking.”

  “They actually have both male and female characteristics. And they don’t discriminate when it comes to their love life. They have tiny swollen balls at the tips of their branches that hold sperm packets. The balls release the packets into the surrounding seawater and other nearby sponges catch the packets on their branches. The sperm works its way from the packets into the other sponge to fertilize its eggs.”

  “Wow, sex without touching. Imagine that.”

  Luke gulped. He’d rather imagine lots of touching. Starting with Sela’s mouth and working his way down.

  Her eyelids lifted. “You turned right on West Way when you should have turned left. I wondered what was taking so long.”

  He wondered when she’d sabotaged his peace of mind.

  “Guess it’s true what they say,” she added. “Men suck at directions.”

  “I don’t think you’re in any position to criticize my driving.” He made an illegal U-turn. The digital clock on the dashboard said twelve twenty-one. The entire town of Cascade had fallen fast asleep.

  “Only stating the facts.” She put her leg down and yawned, then pulled on her seat belt and stretched her back by leaning forward and rolling her shoulders.

  The innocent stretch catapulted his thoughts back to touching.