In Love by Design (The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod) (46 page)

I
rolled my eyes. “Geesh, not those girls, Robert!”

Robert smile
d nervously. He ordered my drink from David, who winked at me and went to work pouring another super-duper Lemon Drop. The drinks were free for us tonight, otherwise I’d pay. I didn’t want to have to be too nice to Robert, if I didn’t feel like it. Believing Luke wanted to break things off hasn’t put me in a positive frame of mind about potential boyfriends.

I continue
d looking around and then felt my eyes popping out of my head.

Luke
was off to the far right, just outside the doors to the banquet hall, and Carter was glued to his side like a tick. I blinked to clear my vision because I think I actually saw Carter hesitantly touch Luke’s hand to get his attention. This innocent motion disturbed me at a gut level, but then again pretty much everything’s been raising havoc with my gut lately.

But that
wasn’t what caused my eyes to pop. My boyfriend’s in the center of a group of men and their wives. He was glad handing and charming the socks off people right and left. As people laughed and talked with Luke, they were spellbound by a charisma that was so potent I felt it all the way over here. Carter reminded me of the head staffer of a popular politician running for reelection. He was hovering and smiling over Luke, looking positively thrilled everybody else adored his candidate as much as he did. I wouldn’t be surprised if Carter whipped out a baby from the crowd for Luke to kiss for a photo op.

Pam sidle
d up to me, and followed my eyes to see what I was looking at across the bar. “Looks like Carter is really introducing Luke to everyone and their brother. Oh yes, and speaking of the moronic twins!”

Snickering, I squint
ed my eyes a little to focus on the two blonde men that have joined the big group around Luke. I haven’t seen Carter’s brothers since Pam’s wedding, but they haven’t changed and were surprisingly alike. In their mid-twenties, both brothers were well groomed and dressed expensively, but this didn’t quite do the job anymore to camouflage the paunches and reddened noses of the inveterate partier.

‘These are the men
that I suspect Luke chose to hang with late last night while he left me, and my protégé, waiting at home in his bed?’

Continuing to watch
in fascination the sight of Luke working that crowd, I absently accepted my second Lemon Drop from Robert and introduced him to Pam. Understandably; this caused some confusion, as he insisted his name was not Robert. Pam only confused the issue more when she insisted on calling him every version of the name Robert she could come up with, in different accents, while downing her second Chocotini like chocolate milk.

The moron brothers took turns vigorously shaking Luke’s hand while speaking animatedly to the group. Everyone laughed with gusto at their remarks. I had no idea those two were so witty, but maybe I didn’t bring that out in them when conversing. These men were the type of married asswipes that talk to women’s breasts and mine didn’t have much to say.

Robert s
tood directly behind me and leaned down to speak in my ear. This was another reason women should be careful about wearing strapless dresses because men were generally the taller of the species. Luke chose that moment to lift his head and search the room. A shiver washed over me seeing him do this because when his eyes zoned in directly on me after only a millisecond, I felt like the marked mate of a top predator. I swear to God my nipples got hard and there was a tingle that ran straight down between my legs, and I was instantly wet for him.

‘Holy Crap,
this is not the look of man wanting to dump me, but the look of a man wanting to jump me!’

All the voice
s cheered violently loud while my eyes clashed with Luke’s from across the room. Without taking my eyes off the man making me shiver, I took a slow sip of my lemony goodness, a slower lick of my lips, and then I murmured for Robert to go away. Practice time was over and I needed all my wits.

Luke’s eyes
glowed back at me, but luckily, it wasn’t the red sheen of the Devil because that would be scary. They were the blazing green of a possessive man, which when I considered it, might not be much better.

Wanting to connect with Luke in a friendly fashion,
I held up my hand in a little wave, and Sparky blazed impudent fire brighter than Luke’s eyes. At the sight of this brilliant laser light show on my hand, Luke’s eyes went extremely wide before they flipped back to meet mine. Luke had gone two shades paler, even as a huge smile broke open on his face. I gave a little shrug at the ring’s behavior, since I’ve had time to become accustomed to its backtalk, and a bigger shrug at Luke’s behavior because what’s one more weird reaction amongst so many?

Luke
was still staring when Carter glanced over at me. He frowned, and waved only slightly in response to my smile before pulling Luke away to meet an older man in a coat that looked to be leaving, not arriving.

I s
et my empty glass on the bar and decided no more booze for Bel. Things were already not making sense when I was sober, and I shuddered at the thought of dealing with Luke’s emotional ups and downs if I was cross eyed.

Pam
pointed with her glass over Luke’s way again. “Well, well, it looks like Father Ogelbachen approves of your oh so masculine boyfriend.”

“He probably senses Luke’s high sperm count,” I replied, and we both burst out laug
hing and snorting. When we stopped gasping, I said, “I wouldn’t have recognized Carter’s father. He’s aged ten years since I’ve seen him last. Man, he looks awful!”

Pam smile
d happily. Leaning close, she shouted to be heard, “I know, right? He is so freaked out over the money. Today he was yelling at the boys and saying something about foreclosure or maybe it was bankruptcy?” She took a big drink and gave a little, ladylike belch while rubbing her concave tummy and grinning. “Whichever! It couldn’t happen to a more rotten family!”

I stare
d at my friend, a little surprised by the venom, but I guess I understood. If I had a father-in-law that treated me like a failed experiment in fertility, I’d be bitter, too.

“Look!” Pam said, narrowing her eyes at the group. “He’s leaving. This has got to be a first in
the history of the Ogelbachen Empire.” She sneered, “I thought he’d have to be dead before not staying to bask in the reflected glory of one of his progeny receiving an award. He has four brag walls in his office, not one.” She gave a little shudder. “See that man with him? The one in the black hat?”

I nodded, looking over
at the beefy, big man in his late fifties that Pam indicated. “That’s my dear father-in-law’s “driver”. One time I saw this “driver” beat up a Mexican farm worker for some infraction.” At my intake of breath, she glanced at me and her blue eyes were hard with remembered anger. “He didn’t know I was out riding my horse and I saw it all. What a bastard.”

“Come on, let’s go to the bathroom,” I suggested, holding onto Pam’s arm, as she continued to glare over at Carter’s dad and his driver. I d
idn’t really think Pam would go over there and start something, but this night was really getting bizarre and I wasn’t taking any chances.

Pam
started laughing, but came along willingly. “Good God, I never thought I’d see the day when Anabel Axelrod asked another girl to go to the bathroom. Who are you and where is my friend?”

I giggle
d and looked over at Luke in time to see him disappearing into the banquet room. My eyes widened to see he was followed by an entourage large enough to soothe the ego of a minor celebrity or a local newscaster.

‘What. The. Fuck.’

Pam had observed this, as well. “You know, Luke has a very dynamic personality, Bel.” Entering the dim hallway leading to the ladies room, it was a lot quieter away from the crowds and we could talk in normal tones. She seemed to be searching for the right words and settled with, “I never pictured you falling for the politician type that would want to go to parties like this and work the room. Is he in sales?”

“I
don’t know what he’s selling tonight, but everyone sure is buying it! I didn’t know Luke had aspersions to be President, either, until seeing him in action here.” Laughing, I said, “I didn’t think he’d settle for anything less than Ruler of the Universe.” Pushing open the heavy door, I checked that we’re alone in the luxuriously appointed bathroom and then went to stand at the sink. I didn’t have to go to the bathroom, so I fluffed my hair in the mirror and leaned in to check over make-up.

Pam
was giggling and heading right for a stall, staggering a little. Considering her tiny frame and the three big drinks consisting of all booze, I’d be walking into walls, too.

“Seriously, Pam, this is not what Luke normally does at parties. Sure, he talks and mingles, but mainly he watches and smiles a little, and gives me dirty looks.”
Staring at my image in the mirror, I went on speaking, but more to myself than to Pam who was singing a little ditty. “I don’t understand why Luke is acting this way tonight, but something is going down.” I spoke louder, “Pam, why do you think Carter is dragging Luke around to meet every person in this whole place?”

“Hmm,” Pam said while thinking it over. “It is really bizarre. Carter looks at Luke like he’s an old friend he’s told everybody about for years, but that nobody has ever met. Now he’s finally come to visit and Carter gets to show him off.”

I exclaimed, “Pam, that’s it exactly! Do they know each other? Does Carter act this way with all his friends?”

“Carter never said he’s met Luk
e before, only that his brothers have and they think he’s great.” Pam’s giggles were distorted and echoed in the stall. “Sorry, Bel, no offense, but that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for your new boyfriend.”

“Geez, really? I was so depending on their opinion, too.” I laughed.

Pam’s answering laughter peeled out loudly over the flush of the toilet.

Washing her hands at the sink bowl next to mine, she said, “You know,
Ogelbachen’s are big into name dropping.” She suddenly said, “I know! Was Luke in the service? Carter is obsessed with anything to do with the Army, but his fathead father would never let him join.”

“Luke served for over ten years
,” I answered, thinking this had to be the connection to the budding bromance going on out there. “Plus he owns his own company, has several degrees, and is a martial arts expert.”

“
Good God, there you go!” Pam cried triumphantly, her eyes looking a little heavy-lidded and glazed.

“Yes, that could explain why Carter is in love, but why is Luke?” I added, dryly, “No offense back at ya, Pammie
, my friend, but Carter isn’t exactly somebody Luke would have a reason to hero worship.”

“
Good God, you’re right!” Pam agreed, resting her back against the side of the stall and slumping down a bit. She blew air out loudly and her bangs fluttered. “Guess we should go out there and see what’s going on, huh?”

“Yes,
I guess we have to, don’t we?” I sighed. “Maybe Luke’s friend John Smith has arrived by now and you can meet this little charmer, too. Talk about a salesman!” I said with a mocking laugh. “Just promise me that you won’t go to bed with him, okay?”

Leaving the bathroom,
Pam was leaning on my arm a little more than when we entered. “I don’t know, Bel, you’re making him sound pretty hard to resist. Now that I’ve discovered what my va-jay-jay is for…”

Laughing, I repl
ied, “Need I remind you that you’re in love with Tarzan, you little slut puppy?”

She whisper
ed excitedly, “No, and I can’t wait until you can meet my little charmer!” Her giggles sounded dirty. “He does look like Tarzan. All that hair!” Holding onto my arm, she jumped a few steps ahead and then swung back, unable to contain herself. “He told me he thinks we really have something special going on. I got my nerve up to ask him why he hit on me knowing I was married. He said rings don’t necessarily mean the person was married.”

Still trying to picture Pam with a man that has long hair
, I glanced down at Sparky and smiled. “This is true.”

She nod
ded happily, but said with practicality, “Yes, but I asked him why did he then continue putting the moves on me when he found out I was married?” She hugged herself and whispered dreamily, “He said it was because he could see the loneliness in my eyes and it struck a place in his heart that he didn’t know he had.”

I stop
ped and held my flighty friend’s arm, halting her, too. “Pam, my sincerest hopes are that this relationship works out the way you want, but please always remember that you have friends, too, okay?”

Pam
was not the type to hug all day long. Anna would have me in a bear hug now and be bawling. Pam met my eyes while nodding and squeezing my hand.

“Thanks, Bel. That mean
s a lot and I promise to remember, but I really believe Joe cares about me.”

I grin
ned. “How could he not, for crying out loud?”

She grin
ned back. “Yeah, it’s not like women willing to destroy hotel rooms grow on trees!”

“Holy Hannah, you little fuck monsters! Another room?” I
asked, chuckling, as we entered the noisy entry and my eyes started scanning the thinning crowd for a sign of Luke’s black hair and white shirt.

She said in my ear, “The bed must have been on its last legs, but I was surprised when the dresser fell apart.”

I gave her an odd look at that, but she was busy darting her head around and smiling at different people, and I decided I didn’t want to know.

“Come on,” she said, walking towards the open doors to the reception hall. “It looks like people are getting seated, so we better go in, too.” She laughed and jabbed me playfully with an elbow, “See, this hasn’t been such a bad time tonight, now has it?”

“I did not have enough drinks for this,” I responded with a sigh, as I followed her into the big room buzzing with the voices of over one hundred and fifty people.

“Demons” by Imagine Dragons

Saturday 12/08/12

7:53P
M

There
were sixteen large round tables that sat ten or more people arranged around a raised podium with a microphone, and I sighed again. Listening to a bunch of strangers give speeches for sporting awards was not my idea of a fun Saturday night date.

The ratio of men
over women in the room was roughly two to one, so there were a lot of eyes turned mine and Pam’s way when we entered the room. It didn’t take me longer than a second to spot Luke in this throng up at one of the tables near the podium. He was sitting with Carter and his brothers and their wives, and surrounded by several more people standing and chatting by their table. I noticed Father Ogelbachen must have left, or he was somewhere else, but he’s not with his family at the table. Pam hasn’t mentioned her mother-in-law.

Luke’s shoulders stiffen
ed and then he turned slightly to watch Pam and me tripping down the aisle to join them. Pam stopped every now and then to speak to someone she knew, but I went on ahead. Luke stood up before I reached the table and came to meet me.

P
utting a hand lightly on my back, he asked in low voice, “Anabel, have you seen John?”

Disappointed th
is was what he wanted to say to me, I shrugged and told him no.

Luke’s hand squeeze
d my waist and then released me. I sat in the unoccupied chair on the other side of Luke from Carter and the standing men.

I smile
d a polite greeting across the wide table at Carter’s brother’s and their wives, thankful the expanse prevents the need for conversation. The women looked me over and smiled equally politely before returning to their private chit chat. The morons greeted my breasts and stared until I snapped my fingers loudly, bringing them to heel like a couple of Jazy’s crotch-sniffing ranch dogs.

Luke g
ave them a hard stare. Soon they were both squirming and reddening before he turned back to Carter and three other men that were having a conversation about hunting.

Moron
One tried to start a conversation in a pathetic attempt to regain Luke’s favor. “It must be intense with a delta force.”

Confused, I wonder
ed if he was really daring to talk dirty to me now about mine and Luke’s sex life. I frowned that he could be such a dumbass moron, although I begrudgingly admitted that delta was a rather clever name for a vagina. It actually didn’t sound, well, vagina-ish. Or was deltaforce one word and his name for a penis? Like beaverbreecher?

I g
ave Moron One the finger because, either way, the subject was not cool. I ignored his offended gasp, and deciding I needed something to drink, started looking around for a server.

Moron Two call
ed out softly, “Hey, Blondie, what do you have against the service?”

I flash
ed him a bored glare. “Nothing yet, but I soon will, if it takes them much longer to come take my drink order. Why, what’s it to you?”

Moron One look
ed at Moron Two and then they both give me a look that clearly stated they thought I was a moron, which was pretty funny coming from this pair.

Moron One s
aid, “My brother meant the army.”

I
was still looking to get service, and I huffed impatiently at these two for continuing to bug me, since they were drunk and talking crap. “What the hell? What army?”

“Our Army!” Moron Two answered, somewhat belligerently.

“Whoa! So you’re little “evil empire” has an army, does it? Well, aren’t you the tough guys!” I mocked, and realized my supply of unbecoming sarcasm appeared to be a bottomless well.

Suddenly, I
was aware of Luke’s presence beside me and knew that he’d been listening to these two dudes try to talk to me. I think it was his shoulders shaking that gave it away. Or maybe it was the warm hand I felt caressing lightly over my stocking on my thigh. I looked down to make sure it was Luke’s hand because I wouldn’t put it past those two creeps across from me to have extender arms like Inspector Gadget.

Moron One’s laugh
was definitely belligerent, and glancing over at Luke who was saying something to Carter, he felt safe enough to sneer, “So you’re one of
those
women!”

I roll
ed my eyes, always loving it when a man accused me of being a lesbian just because I’m not interested in him.

I leaned
forward, the better to threaten them both. I repeated, “
Those
women? Make up your minuscule minds, you couple of asswipes. Do I love deltaforce or do I love pussy? Not that it matters. Either way, I could still kick both of your weak asses at once with both hands tied behind my back.”

‘Hmm, maybe that second super
-duper Lemon Drop wasn’t such a good idea…’
whispered the accountant voice worriedly
.

‘Leave her alone, this is great!’
exclaimed
the detective voice
.

‘Take them to the parking lot!’
screamed the mean mommy voice.

‘Can kicking be done in that tight dress?’
meowed the sex kitten with interest.

B
oth Morons shared a bewildered look. Then Moron One tried sneering again, since it worked so well for him last time. “So you think we’re some evil empire out there doing wrong all over the world and you don’t support our troops?”

I shook my head. Pam was right. This fam
ily was delusional.

“All over the world?” I repeated with derision. “Listen,
morons, in case you haven’t noticed, there’s a real world out there beyond Rice County, with real troops, and they’re fighting real bad guys. I don’t care if you are doing right or wrong, but the day I support “your troops” of your pathetic little evil empire is the day you’ll find me slopping the pigs at your stinking factory farm!”

An all too familiar voice at my shoulder said in a silken murmur, “Ah, I see you’re continuing on with the adult education lessons, Ms.
Ethical.”

The lights in the room dimmed, as I
retorted back to John Smith on a laugh, “So many men, so little time.”

Carter was getting up to move to the podium
. Luke murmured something quietly to John that I couldn’t hear, but I could hear Luke’s voice was quivering with suppressed laughter.

John disappeared into the shadows
and Luke leaned into me. He gave my stocking a final, lingering stroke. All traces of laughter gone, Luke stared deeply into my eyes for a long moment and I see the sadness again, and that deeper flame of emotion that scared me now like it did in the jeep.

Genghis
softly commanded, “Do not forget what you told me this morning when I was inside you.”

Assuming
he was referring to the part about what he meant to me and not the Veronica part, I nodded and said, “I’ll try.”

He ke
pt staring and I sighed. “Okay, I will.”

“Swear to God?”

He was serious and now I was really nervous, but I always mean what I say to Luke, so it was easy to nod again. “I swear to God.”

“Good.” Luke d
idn’t smile, but his tension eased up a notch. He said near my ear, “Oh, and by the way, Carter’s brothers were trying to tell you that I was Delta Force in the Army.”

As I sat speechless in my chair, my mind furiously repeating the conversation I just had with the Moronic Brothers, Luke
was getting up to stand by Carter at the podium.

Pam s
at down in his vacated seat and said breathlessly, “What’s going on? Why are the lights dimming before we’ve been served dinner? Who was that bald dude just talking to you? Is Carter giving his boring speech now, for God’s sake?”

Moaning into my hands, as tears of laughter f
ell from my eyes; I took a peek at Carter’s brothers. I convulsed all over again at their twin glares of fury.

Getting control of myself, I
enjoyed a final moan and then answered, “Oh, who the hell knows what’s going on! How would I know why this place is dimming their lights? That was the snake man, John Smith that I was telling you about and when I see him again, I will definitely NOT introduce you two—he’s way beyond your league. Why IS Carter giving his boring speech now and why is Luke up there, too?” I added on a disgusted mutter, “Are they joined at the hip now?”

Carter flick
ed the microphone and bent down to speak, as Pam and I shared bewildered shrugs.

“
Good evening, everyone.” Several people shouted back hellos and Carter smiled briefly. “I apologize for the last minute change in our agenda tonight, but I have a special friend here that has asked to make a short speech before dinner was served, since he can’t stay for long.”

There were even more calls from the audience shouting Luke’s name
, and Pam and I traded surprised glances this time.

Carter bowed his head in a bashful manner, but the arrogance in his tone put that gesture to lie when he said, “Luke insist
ed he wanted to share his story because, apparently, I have inspired this talented, very impressive man.” Carter raised his voice, “So everybody listen very closely to what this man has to say about me because I guarantee that every single word is true!”

The audience laugh
ed while Pam observed in a low voice, “Carter sure is happy here with all these hunting men. He’s an excellent shot and king of the hill. Even his father can’t find fault with Carter’s performance, and that’s a miracle.”

I nod
ded, but my attention was all on the podium. My brain was trying, and failing, to work out the puzzle of why Luke was requesting to give an inspirational speech about Carter. This from the man who talked so little about his private life that I didn’t even know he was a Delta Force, and only recently have learned about his company. The only thing I was happy about right now was Carter saying Luke wasn’t able to stay long.

“
I’ve introduced most of you to Luke Drake tonight, but for those of you who don’t know,” Carter beamed a smile at Luke who only does his curt nod thing in return. Luke was outwardly standing at ease with a slight smile on his face, but I could tell he was on high alert and not smiling inside. “We are honored to have the best of the best here with us tonight. Luke served our country proudly for over ten years!” Carter enthusiastically was leading the clapping before bending forward to add, “Not only did he serve, but Luke Drake is a Delta Force. This is arguably the elitist of the elite Special Forces group in the entire Armed Services. Many men aspire to be Delta Force, but only the bravest, smartest, toughest, and most honorable few can attain this highest goal.” Carter paused dramatically for effect, and then shouted, “Ladies and gentleman, I give to you tonight, Luke Drake, one of baddest motherfuckers that ever walked the earth!”

Now the whole audience
was laughing, whooping, and clapping wildly. They stood up, as Luke shook Carter’s hand in passing and then climbed onto the podium. Most of these men here tonight are keen outdoorsmen. They know guns, they hunt, and a lot of them have served their country, too. Luke was an easy man for them to regard as a real American hero.