The Impostor, A Love Story (4 page)

“Yes, the asshole beat her regularly.”

“I don’t get that. How could a man hit
someone so tiny?” Bradley interjected.

“I didn’t take him back. I was just thinking
about it.”

“Why would you do that? I already want to
kill him.” His eyes opened wide, concerned.

“I left Maryland, didn’t I?” I defended
myself.

“You left, but have you given anyone else a
chance?” Emily blurted out. “It has been years. Guys ask you out
all the time, and you always have some lame excuse why you can’t go
out with them. You’ve got to move on. No matter what he says, don’t
get back with him.”

I needed to change the subject fast. I
surveyed the hot tub. Marissa was all over Dylan. Dylan seemed a
little annoyed by it, but she didn’t mind.

“So Bradley, we need to find you a nice girl.
But you’re not going to meet a quality lady at a bar. You need to
go to a library or something.” We all started laughing
. As if
that was ever going to happen.

Brad was in his twenties, not muscular or
anything—I don’t think so anyway. He hid his body under baggie
shirts and jeans. Even though he didn’t try to impress anyone, he
had such a great personality girls flocked to him. He was that
attractive boy-next-door you could confide in. I couldn’t imagine
Alaska without him.

I hopped up on his kitchen counter as we
solved the world’s problems and laughed with each other. There was
a quick knock at the front door, and the door opened before Brad
even budged to answer it. A really sharp-looking gentleman walked
in. He was a young, clean-cut business man, also in his twenties.
Not stuffy at all. I didn’t know much about suits, but I could tell
it was expensive by the way it fell on his slender body. Emily did
a double take, but quickly camouflaged her attraction by becoming
engrossed in our conversation—although the slight curl on her lips
she tried to hide didn’t disappear.

“Hey, Brad. I can only stay for a beer or
two, but I thought I’d come by and say hi.” He shook Brad’s hand
and then his gaze quickly came over to us. “And who are these
gorgeous young ladies?”

“Chris, this is Nicole.”

As I went to shake his hand, he brought my
hand to his lips. Bending over and looking into my eyes, he gently
held my hand,
touching my knuckles with a kiss. I
couldn’t help but smile.

“Nicole, this is Chris.”

“Hi.” We both nodded.

Chris turned to Emily. “And this lovely
lady?” His eyes met hers, and she immediately turned a subtle shade
of pink. As he took her hand, she tried to hold back the grin that
was about to explode on her face but her dimples appeared.

“This is Emily,” Brad responded.

“Nice to meet you.” He stared into her eyes,
obviously pleased at the effect he had on her.

“I am charmed.” He nodded at both of us, but
then focused his eyes back on Emily.

There was a little awkward silence that Brad
broke up with, “Hey Chris, we are going out on the boat next
weekend in Seward. You should join us.”

“If I’m in town, that’d be great.” Just then,
Chris’s phone vibrated. He glanced at it and quickly excused
himself to answer it.

“You gotta be kidding. Another one?” He
seemed concerned. “Hold on. Hold on a minute. Let me go outside.”
He lowered his phone and turned to us.

“It was nice meeting the two of you. I hope
to see you again soon, maybe on the water. I’m sorry, I have to
run.” He turned to Brad. “Tell the guys I said hi. And Brad, you
make sure these girls get home safe.”

“Of course, Chris.”

“Seriously, Brad, you take them home. Ladies
be careful. Brad’s a great guy, but be careful who else you trust.”
He walked out the door. I assumed he was talking about not trusting
the band members.

Before long, the crowd came back in the
house, and the smell of chlorine and sound of chattering permeated
everything. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Dylan was like a
magnet pulling me in, or should I say a cobra luring in his prey. I
knew he was terrible, and I knew I could never go out with him, but
every so often, I’d peek in his direction just to catch a
glimpse.

When he caught me looking at him, I realized
I should leave. Just the few seconds of eye contact gave me
butterflies. To my horror, I noticed I had to approach the sofa he
was sitting on to get my jacket. For a moment, I considered leaving
without it. But opening the door and being bit by the night autumn
air, I knew I had to go back and claim it.

I was so intimidated by him. I knew he was
bad for me. I had been with a cocky womanizer before. I didn’t want
to be the catch of the day.

Don’t look at him
, I convinced myself.
Whatever you do, don’t look at him
. I tried to be coy and
glance anywhere but his direction. I was doing okay until my feet
hit something big, and I totally lost my balance. Tripping, I began
my decent. Screaming like an idiot, I fell ungracefully onto
someone’s lap. I peeked up and froze.

“Shit,” I accidently let out.
Dylan
? I
was in his arms. My heart started racing, and I lost my breath,
shivering from the tingle that danced up my spine. When he gazed
into my eyes, time stood still for a moment and I had no clue what
to do. I felt like an
imbecile
. My mouth
went dry, and it took me a moment before I was able to escape his
hypnotizing glance. Gently touching my lips with his fingers, he
slowly leaned into me, his lips coming closer. He was going to kiss
me. I froze.

“Such language,” he whispered, brushing the
hair off my face. His smile…oh so sexy. “You okay?”

“I’m so sorry. I am so, so sorry.” I couldn’t
believe I fell on him. Just as I started to stand up, he stood,
lifting me in his arms like I weighed nothing. Then slowly, he let
my body slide down his until my feet hit the floor.

“You be careful now.”

My heartbeat was so annoying.
Shit
! I
hoped he couldn’t hear it. I staggered away.

When we got back to the motel, I kept playing
over and over in my head everything that he said to me. Closing my
eyes, I could smell the
sweet blend of
Mediterranean scents in his aftershave
. I was being stupid.
He is trouble
, I reminded myself.

I called Jess. Talking to Jessica on the
phone that evening helped cure me a little and regain my focus.

“Miss you more!” the little voice of my sweet
princess rang out.

“No sweetie, Mommy misses you more!”

We walked into the club. Against the outside
wall, a huge stone fireplace climbed up the cathedral A-frame to
the ceiling. The fire was lit tonight, creating a warm glow on the
side of the bar away from the stage. Emily grabbed her apron and
headed upstairs. The Lodge had two floors. The top one wrapped
around like a balcony overlooking the main floor. The intimate
lantern lighting invited couples eager to get away from the crowds,
but still provided a great view of the stage.

I always worked on the main floor, downstairs
by the stage where the action was. On the main floor, the bar
itself resembled a hut and ran along the back wall. Along the
ceiling of the bar, the glasses hung, reflecting the lights from
the stage when bands entertained the customers.

Tonight they moved the tables in front of the
stage to create a sawdust dance floor.
I guess there is a good
band tonight
! The day shift was chill, but in the
evening—especially on weekends—the restaurant became a club. With
live bands playing and wall-to-wall people, it became a
madhouse.

Carl, a sweet elderly man, sold the best
selection of stuffed animals and flowers at the club. His face lit
up every time he saw us. Like a surrogate grandfather at work, he
always seemed concerned with how Emily and I were adjusting. He
walked over to me and pulled out the newest picture of his
grandkids. I loved to talk to Carl about the drawing Jessica had
sent me or how she sang me a song over the phone. He totally got
it.

I was carrying out a tray of drinks, when
Carl came up to me.

“I saved this one for your daughter.” He
pulled out a fluffy bunny with big blue eyes just like my angel’s.
Carl tucked the really cute stuffed animals away for me so no one
else would buy them.

“Thank you so much. She will love it!”

My first tips of the night went to buying
something for Jessica. Carl joked he could retire on all the money
I spent, but I hoped when my little girl received the gifts, she
would know how often I thought about her. I sent her a care package
every few days.

“When are you bringing Jessica to Alaska? I
know you miss her.”

“I hope soon. I have to find a place for us
to live first. And I have to find a nanny I trust. It’s really
hard. If you know of anyone, let me know. Right now, we’re just
renting a motel room, so it’s not suitable to bring Jess here yet.”
Emily and I were saving for an apartment. For now, however, the
motel room with the two double beds and a microwave was our
home.

“Carl, let me give them their drinks, and
I’ll pick up the stuffed animal in a bit. Thanks again.”

I turned to the customers behind me. “Here
you go. Your total is $12.50.”

“Can I open a tab with this?” A man with
dirty-blond hair handed me his credit card. His friend’s boisterous
laugh stood out even more than his red hair.

“You sure can,” I inspected the name on the
card, “Steve.” I took his card and brought it to the bar.

What a busy night
. It had rushed by.
The band was great, so I didn’t have a minute to sit down. I had
waited on Steve and his friend several times before he called me
over to pay his tab.

“Excuse me, miss?”

“I’m Nicole. You’re Steve right?” Steve kind
of blended in the crowd—an average looking guy in his forties. I
recognized him mostly because of the man with the red hair sitting
with him.

“Good memory. Yes, I’m Steve. Can I close out
my tab please?”

I came back through the crowd with the credit
card receipt. “Here you go, Steve. Have a wonderful evening and
drive safe.” He signed the receipt and handed it back. I quickly
glanced at it and gave him his card. Fifty dollars, I saw out of
the corner of my eye.

“Wait, Steve, I think you made a mistake.
Your bill was only twenty dollars. Did you mean to give me a
five-dollar tip? You accidently wrote a fifty-dollar tip. That is
too much.”

“I made a lot of money today and thought I’d
pass on some of the profit.”

“Thank you. That is so sweet of you.” I stood
in shock. “Are you sure? I really think that it’s way too
much.”

“You can buy a stuffed animal for your
daughter. I have two kids of my own. You keep it. I gotta get home
to my boys, but you have a good evening.”

“You too.” I beamed as he walked out the
door.
Fifty dollars
!
Yes
! I could have kissed it. I
stuck it in my bra so it wouldn’t get mixed in with the ones and
fives in my pocket and tried to hold back my smile but found it
impossible.

“This will be the last time I ask you

to put more clothes on. Trust me.”

~Dylan Richardson

That Sunday, Brad convinced us to join him
for whale watching in Seward. The truth is I was really excited
about it. I had never seen a whale before and loved the water.

Emily and I arrived in the parking lot early
that morning only to find we weren’t the only invitees. It seemed
Bradley invited all the guys from the band and a handful of
attractive girls as well. By the time we got there, Brad’s SUV was
full. We stood in the parking lot scrutinizing the two remaining
SUV’s.

“I claim the two lovely ladies,” a voice
shouted from an expensive car. Emily and I made our way to the
voice behind the wheel. We were the only girls left outside of a
car, and the other car was filled.

As we got to the SUV, Chris leaned over to
open the passenger door.

“Hello, good-looking. Why don’t you sit up
here with me?” He revealed the slight dimple in his cheek as he
convinced Emily to sit up front. “You can control the radio.”

She jumped up front, quickly ditching me for
the hot, green-eyed guy and control of the music. Chris was an
average height. Today, jeans and a jacket took the place of the
Armani suits he normally wore. He came from money. His posture and
mannerisms hinted he was someone really important, but no one
really talked about what he did. His skin, gently kissed by the
sun, looked really sexy against the white of his jacket and his
light brown hair.

As I opened the rear door of the SUV, a few
people changed seats. I peeked in the back. There was one seat
left. I wanted to kill Emily. I hardly knew anyone, and the seat
that was open was next to Dylan.

I sat reluctantly, knowing Dylan was a dog, a
womanizer, and extremely cocky. Despite all my attempts to hate
him, my heart began to race as I took the seat next to his. He
grinned as if he was giving me permission, and a stupid tingle went
up my spine.
What was wrong with me
?
There is no way I
can survive two-and-a-half hours sitting next to him
. His
cologne was intoxicating. And his shoulders were so broad that his
biceps brushed against my arms. Each time they did, I had to catch
my breath.

“I’m Dylan,” he told me. Little did he know,
I doodled his name on random pieces of paper when I was bored. I
didn’t want to have to try and speak. I could feel myself begin to
perspire and was scared I’d choke on my tongue if I tried to make a
sound.

“My . . .” I took a deep breath, “my name is
Nicole.”

“I’ve seen you at Brad’s place right?” As if
he didn’t remember my humiliating fall onto his lap the week
before.