Accidentally Yours (7 page)

“
Yes.”

“
Well, then.”

Vivian had to admit that Glenda had a point. All she would accomplish by staying home was missing out. It was better to go out and have a good time than sit home alone.

*****

The other skiers were a raucous bunch during the ride back to New York, but Zack didn
’t have much to contribute. His mind was elsewhere. He’d seen Vivian St. James again, and, once again, he didn’t give the slightest indication that he was interested. Instead, he’d put his foot in his mouth with his comment about her male friends having accidents, which had been innocent in nature, but with the wisdom of hindsight he realized could easily be taken the wrong way. Vivian was about as mad as a theater patron would be if Erykah Badu sat in front of them wearing one of her mile-high head wraps.

After that fiasco, he thought it best to try to patch things up so they could part on pleasant terms when it was time. It shouldn
’t be too long before he saw her again. His bet was that she would show up at next month’s dance at a Westchester country club. If she didn’t, he’d find her, even if he had to resort to using one of those ‘We Find Anyone’ services on the Internet. Seeing her again had convinced him that their meeting was not meant to be a one-time, brief, impersonal encounter in a hospital emergency room. He wanted everything to be perfect, and he didn’t want to rush and botch it. He’d antagonized her once, but from now on he was going to take it slow and easy.

Vivian St. James was special.

Chapter 5

Scoundrel in a Red Jacket

“V
ivian, it’s Desireé.”

“
Hi, Desireé!” Vivian was genuinely happy to hear from her former neighbor. “Are you in town?”

“
No, I’m home in Colorado. I wanted to call and let you know…Austin and I are getting married.”

Vivian covered the receiver and shrieked.

Desireé laughed. “He proposed on Valentine’s Day, and I said yes.”

“
Of course you did! Des, I’m so happy for you!”

“
I know you are. You were there for me during the tough times in the beginning.”

“
Did you get a ring already, or are you going shopping for one?”

“
He gave it to me when he proposed. Pretty sure of himself, that Ozzie.” Desireé giggled.

“
So, it looks like I’m going to a wedding. Hey, where’s it going to be, there or here?”

“
We’re still talking, but I’m leaning toward having it here. It’s hard when the families are in two cities so far from each other.”

“
Maybe you can compromise and hold it somewhere in between, like Chicago.”

“
No, I don’t think that’ll work either. Then everyone will have to travel, and I’d prefer to be in the same city so I can meet with caterers and florists face-to-face.”

“
Have you set a date?”

“
We’re still deciding. I like September, but so do most prospective brides. Besides, I can’t help thinking it would be just my luck for us to get hit with a surprise early snowstorm, which none of the out-of-towners will be prepared for. My mother thinks July would be better, but finding a place that’s not booked up will probably be a challenge. If not, we’ll have to wait until next spring at the earliest. I don’t really want a year-plus engagement, but I might not have a choice.”

“
But, Desireé, you might have a hard time getting everything planned so quickly. July is less than six months away.”

“
Are you kidding? My mother has a collection of business cards from bands and caterers from every affair she’s been to. She’s already gotten on the phone to find out what they can do for us.”

Vivian
nodded knowingly. “Yes, I’ve forgotten about how mothers can be. Mine probably has amassed a similar collection she’s not telling me about until the far-off day I announce my engagement, at which point she’ll break them out, all yellowed and curling with age.” She giggled. “But you will tell me the date as soon as you decide?”

“
I promise. I want to give people who have to travel as much time as possible to plan.”

“
Thanks. In the meantime all my plans for that general timeframe will be considered tentative.” Vivian drew in her breath, suddenly remembering something she wanted to tell her friend. “You’ll never believe this, Desireé. I ran into Zack.”

“
You did? Was he visiting Ozzie’s parents or something?”

“
No. The first time was for professional services.”

“
The first time? How many times have you seen him?”

“
Twice, but the second was more social, although his medical know-how was needed then, also.” Vivian recounted the mishaps involving Gary and Gordon. “I don’t mind telling you I was very disappointed that he didn’t seem interested in seeing me again. I thought we’d hit it off pretty well.”

“
Did you tell him you were my friend, the one I had wanted to introduce him to?”

“
No. I thought about it but decided to let things progress on their own, which, of course, I know now was a mistake.”

“
I’m so sorry it didn’t work out. One thing I can say about Zack, he does tend to enjoy female attention…and he gets plenty of it. I’m afraid it’s swelled his ego just a little. He’s a bit of a scoundrel, but he’s so charming about it he manages to be loveable.”

Something else had occurred to Vivian as she considered the reasons for Zack
’s lack of interest in her, and she knew Desireé would understand. “Do you suppose…Well, is he one of those men who go for the Halle Berry type?”

Desireé
chuckled. “I haven’t met a man yet who wouldn’t go for someone who looks like Halle Berry. The girl is gorgeous.”

“
You know what I mean, Desireé.”

“
I do, and the answer is no. Zack likes all women, all shades.” Desireé did not add that she had asked Zack this herself before suggesting he meet her new friend. She and Vivian were both of a darker hue, and just like some white men preferred blondes, some black men wouldn’t look twice at a brown-skinned sister. “Maybe he thought he would see you when the buses arrived back in New York.”

“
If he did that wasn’t too bright an idea. It was dark by the time we got back to the parking lot we left from, and everyone was exhausted and anxious to get in their cars and go home. It was a Sunday, and most of us had to work the next day. But the club is holding a Valentine’s dance tomorrow night. I hope he’ll be there. He mentioned that his shift rotates.”

“
But Valentine’s Day is over, Vivian.”

“
I guess scheduling is hard when it falls during the week, even though I would have thought they would hold it the week before rather than the week after. Maybe the price to rent the country club went down.”

“
Well, please call and let me know what happens. Hopefully you’ll see him again…without anyone getting hurt.” Desireé chuckled.

“
I will. And congratulations to both you and Austin, Des. I know you’ll be happy together for the rest of your lives.”

*****

Vivian was pleased with the way she looked. Since she had a number of dressy outfits in her closet, most of which she had only worn once, she decided against buying a new one for the occasion. Besides, she wanted to reserve her cash for the travel and activity expenses she would have in her quest for a mate.

She had left work an ho
ur early and gone to a local salon, where her short hair had been washed and styled, then brushed back from her face with a few waves, courtesy of skillfully applied gel. She’d also had her naturally thick eyebrows shaped. Her eyebrows had a way of growing unruly when she wasn’t looking, but when they were shaped they opened up her entire face. She wore minimal eye makeup; her brows said it all.

Instead of a dress, she wore a black tunic with shirred shoulders, sleeveless, with a gen
tle drape and cinched waist over matching loosely draped slacks. The tunic had no sleeves, but she wore long black gloves that would warm her arms and be compatible with the required semiformal dress, as well as hide the fact that she hadn’t had time to do anything to her nails. Her jewelry was her best small ruby drop earrings with a matching necklace and bracelet worn on the outside of her gloves. She figured most of the women would be wearing dresses, and red ones at that, given the Valentine’s Day holiday.

The phone began to ring, and, as it had become her habit over the last few weeks, she checked the caller ID first. When she saw Gordon Wilson
’s name, she didn’t answer. The creep had made a dinner date with her and then stood her up. He’d been calling ever since, but as far as she was concerned, he was too late. Unfortunately, she had written her home number on the back of her business card, and he had been calling her at work, also, where she couldn’t screen him. “We have nothing to say to each other,” she had told him in an even, unemotional tone when he caught her at her desk.

“
I’m really sorry about what happened. I had an emergency.”

“
You could have called me, Gordon. You didn’t want to talk to me then. Let’s say I’m just following your lead, because I don’t want to talk to you now.” She had hung up, but he continued to call her every few days, usually at home. He was probably calling to find out if she was going to the dance. Well, he could eat his heart out. When he saw how good she looked he’d truly regret being so careless. Even if someone had died, he could have called…and she wouldn’t have felt so humiliated, getting dressed and made up to wait for a knock that never came.

Vivian was pleased to see that the parking lot held a respectable number of cars. The event had begun at seven-thirty, but it was now nearly ten o
’clock. She didn’t believe in getting to this type of function too early. She supposed someone had to be the first to arrive, but on the other hand she didn’t believe in going in unless she knew it would be worth her while.

Once she was parked, she reached under the armrest and pulled out her cell phone. She had the number to Glenda
’s phone installed in memory and held down the assigned digit. Within seconds the line was ringing.

“
What took you so long?” she asked when Glenda picked up on the fourth ring.

“
I had to feel for the phone. I couldn’t take my eyes off the road; this exit ramp is curvy.”

“
Oh, so you’re just getting off the highway. That means you’ll be here in ten minutes.”

“
How’s the crowd?”

“
It’s good, from the looks of the parking lot I just hope they’re not all females. Listen, it’s too cold for me to wait for you out here. I’m going in to check my coat. I’ll meet you in the powder room.”

“
You bet.”

It only took a minute or two for Vivian to ensure
that she looked her best. The chilly temperature of the February night kept her makeup fresh, and the hair stylist had applied so much spray to her short tresses that it would take an eighty-mile-per-hour wind to budge them.

After her time at the mirror she sat at one end of the flowered sofa in the powder room, drumming her fingers impa
tiently on its rolled arms. Ten minutes could be a long time to wait with nothing to do, and she became bored. Every woman who entered the lounge was with a friend, giving credence to the belief held by so many that grown women rarely went to the restroom alone, and she felt like an oddball. Besides, sitting in here where no one could see her was a waste of her efforts. Doggone it, she looked too good to be hidden away.

She suppressed a smile, thinking of a catchy ditty used by an auto manufacturer in which the car
’s alter ego sang that it was too sexy for mundane things like the groceries, the drive-through, and the dry cleaning. She was humming the jingle as she left the lounge. It wouldn’t hurt to check out what was going on in the ballroom and get herself a drink. She’d still be able to spot Glenda when she arrived.

“
Vivian! I was hoping I’d see you.”

She frowned. She had had a feeling she might see Gordon tonight, but her hunch didn
’t make the reality any more pleasant. His sprain had had plenty of time to heal, and by now he was probably ready to dance till dawn. He’d have to find somebody else to play Ginger to his Fred; she wasn’t interested.

“
Hello, Gordon.” She lowered her voice. “I don’t want to make a scene, so let’s just leave it at that. It was nice seeing you. Good-bye.”

“
Vivian, I wish you’d listen to me.”

“
I already made myself clear,” she hissed. “No one stands me up and gets another chance. Now, please excuse me.” She walked over to the bar, which had been set up against the wall about halfway down the length of the room. “Vodka and grapefruit juice, please,” she ordered when she had the bartender’s attention. Usually she drank wine, but Gordon’s persistence was wearing on her nerves, and she preferred something a little stronger.

“
Sounds like someone’s driving you to drink. Is there trouble in paradise?”

The words were spoken softly, so close to her right ear that she felt them reverberate. She knew it was Zack even before she turned around. The man had a way of knowing just what to say to get the muscles of her jaw to tighten up. Maybe she should have ordered a double and nursed it all night. All she knew was that she was getting more and more tense, and she
’d only been here five minutes.

She turned to give him what she hoped was a withering look, but it wilted like day-old salad greens when he filled her line of vision. Most of the men present wore dark suits. A smaller number wore tuxedos, but Zack looked striking in a red blazer, navy shirt and slacks, and a tie and matching handkerchief printed with red curvy lines and polka dots on a navy background. Vivian always appreciated a well-dressed man, and Zack could be on a cover for
GQ.
One look and her resolve went the way of most New Year’s resolutions.

He reached for her gloved hand.
“What’s the matter, Vivling?” he asked in a gentle tone.

She willed her hand not to tremble in his and
was grateful for the gloves. “My name is Vivian,” she managed to say. It came out just a little louder than a whisper.

The bartender set a drink down on a napkin in front of her. She opened her purse. Her hand was barely on a bill inside when a red-sleeved arm reached out and handed the bartender currency. Then the same arm linked itself in hers and led her away, barely giving her time to grab her drink.