The Parking Space (17 page)

My skin prickled all over my body as he continued to tickle my skin with his nose.

Oh yeah, so getting lucky.

“Excuse me, everyone.” Ben’s voice bellowed over the chatting crowd, quieting the many voices and interrupting my moment of bliss. “My wife and I would like to invite you back to our villa for a small reception. We will have food, music, cake, dancing if you’re so inclined, and of course, tons of champagne. So please, the more the merrier.”

Rick laced his fingers in mine. “I know we have to go, but I have to admit that I wish we didn’t.”

“I know, but she’s my best friend. I’ve got to be there . . . at least for a little while.”

THE INSIDE OF Lisa and Ben’s villa mirrored mine with the same rooms, similar in size, and the same décor. The only difference between the two was the view from the back deck. While mine looked on the mountain range towering over the lagoon, they looked at a stretch of beach.

Afternoon soon gave way to early evening as I leaned against the deck railing. The sun had begun to dip down in the sky. Its rays warmed my skin as the sunset lit like a fire whispering through the few fluffy white clouds that billowed high above us.

“Can you believe what the resort did to this place?” Lisa sauntered up next to me with a champagne flute clasped between her fingers.

“They did this?” As I spun around, I pointed to not only the candles lit in every available space on the deck, but motioned toward the candlelight flickering off the walls, the floor, and the ceiling inside the villa.

“I thought they planned to just decorate the food and cake tables. I didn’t know they were going to do all this.”

“Well, it’s beautiful. It certainly makes the villa even more amazing.”

“Just another touch for my day.” She smiled and glanced all around. “Where is Rick?”

“He’s getting us a couple of glasses of champagne and a plate of hors d’oeuvres.”

“Oh no.” A giggle left her lips as she motioned over my shoulder. “My mom found him. I’m afraid you’re going to be waiting a long time for your food.”

“I wonder what they’re talking about.”

“Eh, knowing my mom she’s probably gushing about weddings and marriage, you know, saying everything she can say to a man to scare him so bad he tucks tail and runs in the opposite direction.”

“You think so?”

“She did it to Ben and it freaked him out a little. Needless to say, we didn’t hang out with my parents until we’d been dating a good six months.”

“Super.”

“I must say, Rick looks good tonight.” She turned back around, once again, leaning against the railing of the deck. She looked out on the sunset view for a moment then gave me a sideways glance. “Are you two planning on returning to your villa after you leave here?”

“I believe that is the plan, yes.”

“Maybe then I’m not the only one who is gonna get lucky tonight.”

“You shush.” I turned and bumped my shoulder into hers.

“I saw him kissing you on the beach, and holy wow. I would have jumped him right then and there.”

“I know, right?” I paused, recollecting some of the imagined thoughts that had run though my head—his hands ripping off my clothes and his tongue exploring my skin. “It’s actually driving me quite insane.”

“Oh, I bet it is. Would you like me to send you home with some of the candles?”

“No, I think we’re okay without them.”

As I focused on the waves below, I pondered our conversation. Through all the romantic notions whispered doubt and eclipsed the wonder of him and me and us. My shoulders deflated.

“Helen, what’s wrong?”

“It just seems all too perfect, doesn’t it? I mean, I’ve known him just a few days. How can we possibly have such intense feelings so quickly? It’s not supposed to be like this.”

“Says who?”

“I was with Tom for two years—”

“Don’t even bring up that jerk or compare him to Rick. You’re just wasting your time.” She leaned in close to me. “I’ve never seen you this happy.”

“That’s not true. I’ve been happy before.”

“No, you haven’t.” She sipped her champagne. “And what’s normal anyway? I don’t think relationships have time limits. I knew I wanted to marry Ben days after we met. So it’s been a few days, so what?”

“And what if he decides to move away? Sleeping with him will only make me more attached.”

“Do you think he’ll leave? I mean, from the sound of things, I thought he was set on staying in San Francisco.”

“I don’t know.”

Footsteps thumped behind us, and within seconds, a warm body pressed against the back of mine. “You don’t know what?” Rick’s voice whispered in ear.

Lisa cocked her head to the side with one eyebrow raised.

I inhaled a deep breath, glancing over my shoulder at him to buy myself some time to think of a lie. “We were just wondering about how we were going to ever leave this place.”

“I can definitely understand that.” He kissed the side of my head and handed me a champagne flute. “Here you are, madam.”

“I think I’ll go find my husband. See what he’s up to.” With a knowing smile, Lisa winked and vanished before either Rick or I could say another word.

Rick moved around me, leaning against the part of the railing that Lisa just vacated. “I didn’t know what you wanted, so I brought some of everything.” He set down a glass plate loaded with food.

“Oh my, you really did bring some of everything.”

“These,” he pointed to a grilled shrimp stuck on a stick with a creamy red sauce glaze, “are amazing.”

“Is that why you filled half the plate with them?”

“Of course.” He picked one up by the stick and held it in front of my lips—a perfectly playful form of seduction that radiated heat through my veins. The smile on his face intoxicated me more than any amount of champagne ever could.

Please don’t let me screw this up and drop it. Please, please, please.

Delicately, I bit the shrimp, trying to mirror his attempt at foreplay. Unfortunately, it slipped from my lips and plummeted into the ocean below.

Well that was graceful.

I slapped my hand over my forehead as Rick laughed.

“Oh, Helen, you are amazing.” He wrapped his arms around me, drawing me into a tight embrace, hugging my whole body. “Truly, truly, incredible. Your ex-fiancé was an idiot.”

Between his words, his strength around me, and the view, the embarrassment faded. I grabbed another shrimp and slipped the spiral chunk of meat off the stick with my teeth. It snapped in my mouth with a delicious flavor.

“Oh, wow. Those are amazing.”

One by one, we picked the plate clean as we watched the sun set in the distance. Colors danced around in the sky until they faded in a sea of velvety black speckled with bright white stars. The night drew calm to the air and the gentle breeze brushing across my skin died.

Music blared from several speakers behind us, while everyone drank, ate, and laughed. It was not like the reception I thought Lisa would plan all those months ago when Ben slipped the ring upon her finger, and yet, watching her tonight, I couldn’t think of a more perfect day for her.

“Come dance with me.” She grabbed my arm, yanking me away from the railing. She led me into the living room, swinging her hips to the beat of the song.

Transported back to the clubs in our youth, we danced, we laughed, and we sang the words loudly while we acted out videos as though we knew every move, even if we didn’t—a world of skimpy outfits and lots of tequila.

“I haven’t danced in years,” I said, finally flopping down on the couch out of breath.

“Neither have I.”

“Honey?” Ben outstretched his hand. “It’s time for the toast.”

She flashed me a smile. “Duty calls.”

Watching the satin and lace train glide along the floor I thought of my own wedding that never happened. A day when my dream turned into a nightmare, and yet, a nightmare that was perhaps the best thing to ever happen to me.

Blinded by what I thought was love; I would have walked down that aisle, beaming with happiness, beaming with pride, and thinking that we would live in our love forever.

“A penny for your thoughts?” Rick parked himself next to me on the couch and handed me another glass of champagne.

“I’m just enjoying the evening.”

He gave me a sideway glance and his eye twitched as though a hint of doubt trickled through his thoughts, a look that he repeated a few times while Ben gave a toast to his new wife and thanked everyone for coming.

“Time for cake,” Lisa squealed as she set down her champagne. “And then I’m tossing this bouquet, so Helen and Tracy . . . you two better be ready.”

Seriously? Please tell me she’s not going to do this.

I cocked my head to the side and glared at her from across the room in an effort to prove my disgust in the matter. It failed to work, however, as she merely brushed off my aversion with a wink while she blew me a kiss.

Tracy, on the other hand, beamed and clapped while Jeff glared at us all.

“So did you have a small wedding planned or a big one with your ex?” Rick crossed one leg, resting his right ankle on his left knee. His question sent my heart thumping.

“Um, it was fairly large, I suppose. We invited about a hundred people, but I don’t know who actually showed up and who didn’t. I didn’t exactly stick around to talk to anyone. I left before Ben told everyone what happened.”

“Oh.” His brow furrowed. “I’m sorry to bring it up. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No, no, it’s fine. It happened a long time ago. I’m over it.”

“Are you sure about that?” His finger traced the rim of his glass, circling it faster and faster as the seconds ticked by after asking his question.

“Yes, I’m sure. Why do you ask?”

“You’ve seemed a little distracted at times tonight, that’s all.”

Crap.

“I’m just tired. I came to the islands for a vacation with rest and relaxation, and I’m afraid I’ve gotten less sleep than when I’m at home.” I nudged my shoulder into his with my mocking tone.

He gave a half smile, but kept his gaze on his glass. “I can take a hint. I’ll head back to my own room tonight after when we leave.”

Crap. Crap.

“No, you don’t have to do that. I want you to come over to my place again.”

“Good.”

“So, now that you’ve asked about mine, what about yours? Had you and Sandra begun wedding plans?”

“Nah. She always changed the subject when I brought them up.”

“I wish I had known beforehand. I wouldn’t have spent the fortune I did.”

“You paid for it?”

“Well, my mom couldn’t help. She struggles to pay rent sometimes and I haven’t spoken to my father in . . . years, actually, now that I think about it.”

“What about your fiancé?”

I laughed. “Tom never spent a dime. He always told me that he wanted to pay for the house, so I should pay for the wedding. Biggest scam I’ve ever lived through. He still bought his house, it just wasn’t with me.”

“Does he live in San Francisco?”

“No. He moved to Sacramento.” As soon as the words left my lips, I remembered the phone conversation I had with him last week. “I heard that he might move back for his job, though.”

My gaze drifted across the room as I watched Lisa and Ben, hand in hand, cutting the small, but beautiful cake. Their beaming smiles turned to giggles as they navigated slicing and serving the piece that they would feed each other.

Lisa’s plans for smashing it in his face gleamed in her eyes. The question, however, was whether Ben would be so bold as to do the same to her, risking messing up her makeup, or worse, getting it on her dress.

“I’ll go get you a slice of cake.” As Rick rose to his feet, both Lisa and Ben smeared cake and icing over each other’s face. Laughter erupted around them, joining in their own mirth as they both grabbed at crumbs and threw the handfuls at each other. Rick glanced over his shoulder with wide eyes. “If I can stay out of the line of fire.”

Several slices later, one of which lay on a plate in my lap, everyone stood around the villa, happily scooping bites of cake in their mouths. The Devils Food chocolate with a mocha swirl and cream cheese frosting sent my taste buds into a wild frenzy and almost made me forget what was coming up next.

“Okay, everyone!” Lisa’s voice hinted at her amusement as she pointed at me and winked. “It’s bouquet tossing time.”

Rooted on the couch cushion, I folded my arms across my chest. Unless Tracy planned to tackle me and take the flowers for her own, I knew my best friend planned a line drive directed at my head.

“Come on, Helen. It’s tradition.”

I groaned as I rose to my feet, dragging them across the floor until I stood next to Tracy in the middle of the room. All smiles, Tracy danced around like a boxer in a boxing match. Her eyes so focused on the stems, I half expected her to thumb her nose a few times.

I glanced at Lisa, raising one eyebrow.

Oh, yeah, she’s going to tackle me.

As sure as I said the words aloud, when Lisa spun around, Tracy’s elbow knocked into my side, hitting my rib cage with a force that stole my breath.

The moment played in slow motion as I lost my balance, stumbling several steps in order to keep my butt from slamming into the hardwood floor. The sprays of flowers flew through the air, their soft petals whipping from the movement until they landed in Tracy’s hands. She squeezed them so tight; several ripped off the buds and landed on the floor.

While Nancy and Jean gasped, all the men in the room just stared at us with wide eyes.

“Tracy?” Lisa shouted. “What is wrong with you?”