A Destined Death (2 page)

After an hour, the caterers served the food, and everyone settled into groups as small children ran around shooting each other with toy laser guns. Finally out of the spotlight, I slid to a more comfortable spot near the bathroom and scanned the large room. I noted the only eyes on me at all belonged to a hunk of a man sitting by himself in the far corner near the bar.

He wasn’t a relative, I was sure.

He sat in a masculine pose, suave and confident, but casual like a businessman on a coffee break. His dark hair was longer on top, falling just above his eyes. A trace of stubble shadowed his jawline, and he wore no tie with his black dress shirt and jeans. He appeared motionless but the people moving around him were a blur to me. I’d never thought of myself as having a type before but I knew on sight, he’d meet my strictest standards.   

The party was looking up.

He smiled when our eyes met but I suddenly forgot how to breathe or think or do any other normal thing. My manners slipped away from me. I shook myself out of the daze but before I could return the smile, movement out of the corner of my eye distracted me.

The blue form advanced on me at a steadfast pace. I blinked and turned my head, focusing in time to see a glass pressed into my hands.

“You look like you could use a drink, Dear Cousin.”

“Hi, Tina. How are you?”

“Oh, the same. Beautiful as ever,” she raved, combing back her long, blonde hair with her hands. Tall and thin, Tina made the form-fitting blue dress and pearls look elegant.

Too bad she could speak.
“So I see.”

“Sorry I wasn’t in line. Nasty formality if you ask me. I felt sorry for you just having to watch it.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

Tina and I were as different as night and day, but we did have an understanding: When we hung out together at family functions, everyone else left us alone.

“So…congratulations and all that,” she said dryly, taking a dainty sip of her own drink.

“Thanks.” I glanced over at the man still looking my direction. “So who brought Mr. Gorgeous?”

Tina turned toward the bar, one eyebrow rising. “I’m not sure, but I think it’s worth finding out.”

When she strode off to question a group of guests, I took a drink and groaned. Anyone over eighteen could drink alcohol at our family’s functions. Today was the first for me but I didn’t enjoy the experience as much as I thought I would.
Maybe it’s an acquired taste.

The man clearly smirked at me as if he’d just read my mind.

The thought made me uncomfortable enough to uproot my feet and move. I slid into a chair at the closest empty table. Another glance convinced me that he wasn’t staring at the bathrooms earlier, he was definitely watching me. My body tingled all the way down to my toes, and my mind took over imposing a multitude of hopeful scenarios that all ended with his beautiful lips on mine. I blushed at the thought and looked away.

I distracted myself by watching Tina weave from table to table, pointing out the man near the bar. Heads shook but no one appeared to be saying much. Finally, she walked up to his table, shaking her soft mane in front of him, pretending to be hot. It was her famous flirting move. Everyone at the party knew it but the poor guys she used it on found it hypnotic, as if her long legs and large breasts weren’t enough. Shamelessly, she sat down across from him and leaned in close to his face.

Rolling my eyes, I tried to ignore the sudden flurry that rushed into my abdomen. He’d never escape Tina’s beauty. Not many men did until she tired of them and dumped them harshly. It was probably for the best, I decided, looking away and leaning back in my seat. After all, I had college and a full time job to keep me busy––not a lot of time to date with my schedule. I choked down the rest of my drink along with my dissatisfaction.

Minutes later, Tina plopped down across from me and let out an exaggerated whine, “I’ve lost it!”

I laughed openly without even a twinge of guilt. “What? Is he married?”

“No, but he didn’t even look at me!”

“He didn’t?” The surprise had me peeking over to find him still watching me. I managed a smile while my heart did flips inside my chest.

“No!” Tina’s angry eyes looked reminiscent of a three-year-old who hadn’t gotten her way.

I tried not to smirk at her expression. “Well, who did he come with?”

“He didn’t say.”

“He didn’t say anything?”

“Yes, he did. Actually, he said he just came to wish
you
a happy birthday.” Her words were heavy with disdain that any male specimen would pick me over her. Inconceivable! Tina was not used to being dismissed. “I mean, look at me! I’m blonde, gorgeous. And look at you. I mean, you look like Xena…in pink!” Her nostrils flared angrily but she stopped her ranting long enough to look at me calmly. “No offense, of course, Dear Cousin.”

“Oh, of course not,” I returned with an amused smile. Watching my cousin squirm was actually priceless.

“Don’t you screw this up or I’ll never forgive you,” she spat before stomping off to join a group of relatives.

Once alone, I contemplated talking to him. Curiosity had me on the edge of my seat but a strong skepticism kept me from moving. Attention from relatives was one thing but from a complete stranger it was downright odd, especially with someone as beautiful as Tina around. Uncertain of what to do, I closed my eyes and made a wish.

I wish I had another drink, I wish I had another drink.

The sound of ice hitting the side of a glass startled my frenzied senses, and I opened my eyes. To my surprise I found the drink I wished for, held out to me by the man from the bar. I smiled at him and nervously took the drink. “Thank you. How did you know?”

“It’s a gift of mine,” he said in a strong, eloquent voice. Tall with a sturdy, muscular build, every chiseled feature on his face seemed perfectly proportioned. He was handsome––not baby face handsome, but manly handsome. Even up close, he was undoubtedly the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.

“May I sit down?” he asked poetically.

When I nodded, he sat and stared into my eyes. I returned the gaze only to have an unexpected feeling of peace fall over me. My nervousness dissipated, and I felt a strange longing to touch him. His eyes were chocolate brown, darker than I’d ever seen.

“So where’s your date?” I asked, fighting a blush. “I mean, who did you come here with?”

“There’s no date,” he assured me, his confident expression leaving a hint of an agenda in the air.

Understanding hit me much too slowly. “Oh! You’re crashing. That’s cool, although, I’d rather be sneaking out right now.”

“You don’t want to be here?”

I shrugged and scanned the room. People stared as they had when I first stepped out of the bathroom, but one by one, they looked away, trying to hide the astonishment on their faces. Tina’s bitter eyes were the only ones that stayed locked on me.

“You deserve a celebration,” he offered. “You are of age now.”

“Of age for what?” I asked sarcastically. “Nothing in my life is going to change for the next two years except for the name of the school I’m attending.”

His eyes narrowed with what looked like annoyance. Or was it resentment? “That is…unfortunate.” 

“What do you mean?”

He shook his head a little as if to break free of a thought and then responded with a smile and a long, deep gaze that made my body tingle and my mind fog over. I wanted to repeat the question but at that moment, I’d forgotten what it was.

“So, do I know you?”

The smile disappeared from his face, and he turned away, looking irritated or frustrated, I couldn’t tell.
“Don’t you screw this up or I’ll never forgive you.”
My cousin’s warning rang in my head quickly enough for me to try a different approach.

“I’m sorry, let me try that again. I’m Elizabeth, and you are?”

His attention and his smile returned when I reached my hand across the table, but he didn’t take it.
He seemed content to continue looking at me without talking at all. “Interested,” he finally said.

The impact of his single word closed in on me, and my hand retreated to my lap. When I realized my mouth was agape, I closed it and looked away, catching sight of Tina’s curious expression.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he offered. “I brought you something.”

Consciously, I snapped my attention back to him, trying not to sound as frantic as I suddenly felt. “What do you mean, you brought me something?”

“A gift, Elizabeth. It is your birthday.” He said it like it was the appropriate thing to do, and then he pulled out a square black jewelry box from below the table and set it in front of me. It was a full six by four inches, and for a moment I tried to imagine how he’d concealed it.

Shaking my head, I stared at him in disbelief. “No-no-no, no, no, no. That looks expensive, and if you
had
gotten an invitation, you would have seen that it said no gifts. My rule.”

He glanced at the stack of cards on the center table, and the corner of his mouth twisted up. “Won’t you make an exception?”

“No,” I stated bluntly as I twisted my hands in my lap.

Frustration ran over his features again before he shot me the most charming smile I’d ever seen, cocking his head to the right as he leaned closer to me. “Please.”

My heart plugged up in mid-beat. I couldn’t help but smile at that. I shook my head again, this time because I felt disorientated and confused. “I don’t even know you.”

Not that I don’t want to!

“This…” he said, tapping the box with his finger, “belonged to a woman who knew how to love very deeply. It belongs to you now.”

I became so engrossed in his words that I didn’t see the helicopter headed toward me at lightning speed. With a quick jerk, the man put his hand up and stopped the flying object from hitting me directly in the head. Unfortunately, the collision sent the toy plummeting to the ground where it broke into pieces.

“Jeffery!” my Aunt Cathy yelled. “I told you not to aim for anyone. Are you trying to knock the birthday girl unconscious? Come here and sit down!”

The boy started crying immediately and crumbled to the floor to collect the broken mess.

I had to smirk just a little. “Thanks. You saved me.”

When the child wailed louder, Mr. Interested cringed. “I’m sorry if I spoiled anything. I will leave you to your guests.”

“No, you didn’t. You don’t have to…” My heart beat faster when he rose.

He tipped his head. “Happy Birthday, Elizabeth.”

I nodded dumbly, my mind unable to process his departure. Watching him walk away mesmerized me. He moved so gracefully I couldn’t take my eyes off him, even when I heard someone sit down in the chair he’d just left empty.

“Why did he leave? What did you say to him?” Tina accused on the verge of anger.

When he disappeared out the door, I turned a chastising smile on her. “He said he didn’t like the way you were staring at him.”

Tina shot me a “yeah, right” look, tilting her head and squinting her eyes. “What’s in the box?”

My breath caught in my throat when I realized the gift remained in front of me. “Damn it! I told him I couldn’t accept this.”

“So what is it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I can catch him and return it before––”

I stood but Tina seized my hand and pulled me back down to the table.

“At least open it,” she pressed.

I bit my bottom lip, considering the suggestion. After a moment, I decided I was being silly. How expensive could it be if he gave it to a complete stranger? Comforted by the thought, I let my finger trace the gold lettering on the cover that read:
Alicia Silviana
. I lifted the top, but what I saw made me gasp loud enough to gain the attention of everyone in the hall. At the sudden silence, I quickly closed the lid.

“Geez, she broke a nail! Relax everyone, I’ll fix it.” Tina’s hands pulled me out of my chair and pushed me into the bathroom. “Let me see!” she cried, snatching the box from my shaking hands. Her eyes widened before she shrieked, “Oh my God!”

I knew exactly what she saw: a dazzling antique necklace with diamond teardrops running around the neckline; one small ruby heart in the center.

“Spill it!” Tina commanded, slapping a hand to her hip. “Who is he and how many times have you slept with him? I can’t believe
my mother still thinks you’re a virgin!” 

My clouded head started to clear at the accusation. “I…I…What?”

“Yeah, you’re a good actress, little missy. Way better than me. I had no idea that our family possessed so much talent. Put it on!” She removed the necklace from its case and let it dangle in front of me.  

I shook my head adamantly. “No, I can’t.”

“Put it on or I will,” Tina threatened, holding up the jewels to her neck.

“Fine.” I pulled my hair up and turned around but when the cold metal touched my skin, I felt the ground move below my feet. I steadied myself against the sink and looked at Tina through the mirror. “Did you feel that?”

“Feel what?” She leaned closer, her face turning serious. “Ah, Elizabeth…I think this is real.”