Whirlwind (10 page)

The image Linda and I had laughed over reappeared—only I was the one in the bloody bridesmaid’s dress and Ron was the one wielding the knife. No longer finding it funny, I trembled harder.

“Yes, he did. Can you sit with me for a few minutes?” I looked at Jason.

He moved my chair to face the one next to it and invited me to sit down. I steadied myself against the table as I took my seat. Chase pulled up the chair Ron had been in and sat behind me; Jason took the seat facing mine, frowning.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, carefully lifting my left hand. Finger-shaped red lines marked where Ron had grabbed me. Jason gently traced the back of my quivering hand, watching my face for any reaction.

Mesmerized by the gentleness of his touch, I had to repeat his question in my head before I could answer.

“It’s a little sore, but I’ll be okay,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. A bag of frozen peas sounded really good right about now.

I inhaled slowly, but the trembling didn’t wane. The sting of fear, mixed with the same pleasing sparks I’d felt when Jason touched me earlier, made a very shaky cocktail of my insides. The adrenaline coursing through me scrambled all my responses; I wanted to laugh
and
cry
and
scream, all at the same time. I blinked back the tears welling in my eyes and swallowed hard, trying to regain some kind of control over myself.

“May I see your other hand?” Jason asked. Too frazzled to question why, I held out my right hand. He turned it over and massaged my palm, his thumbs repeatedly traveling from my wrist to my fingers with slow, soothing pressure. “Just relax. It’s all right now. You’re safe,” he chanted, his voice as comforting as his touch. After just a few strokes the shaking ceased, and I managed to take a deep breath. His simple motions and calming words infused me with peacefulness.

My breathing slowed, and along with it, my heart rate. “How are you doing that?” I asked, amazed.

He smiled at my hand, stroking it for the last time. “Acupressure. My mom tends to get a little stressed with me living so far from home, so I took a class and taught a few techniques to my dad. Do you feel better now?”

“Much.” This time my body responded appropriately, and a fiery tingle raced up my arm when he followed the lines of my palm with the tip of his finger. Jason’s chest expanded, and he leaned back, releasing a quiet sigh. The massage seemed to have relaxed him too.

Something brushed my arm, and I was startled to see Chase holding out my purse. I’d forgotten he was here.

“I was serious about you joining us, Mel. We’ve ditched Ann’s pedestal of a bridal table and commandeered one by the bar.
How about I get you a drink?”
he asked. “You, too,
Jase
,” he added.

“That sounds great,” I replied, pleased that “us” would include my masseuse.

Chase led us on a winding path through the tables to the other side of the room. Jason followed me, his reassuring hand finding the small of my back whenever we came near anyone.

He’s just being polite.

Linda jumped up when we circled the last table.

“Are you okay, Melissa? You don’t look so good,” she said, looping her arm in mine and guiding me to the seat next to hers. “Who was that
slimeball
?”

“I have no idea. But if Chase hadn’t shown up when he did, I think the reception would be suffering from eau de pepper spray.” I managed an empty laugh, pretending I was joking.

I reached for the chair, but my hand landed on Jason’s; he’d already started to pull it out for me. My fingers lingered on his silky skin as I took my time sitting down.

“As soon as I saw that guy with you, I knew something was up,” she said, glancing back at the corner. “Chase agreed he was
not
your type.”

“Thanks. I owe you both,” I said, trying to erase Ron’s repulsive smile from my memory.

“What’ll you have, Melissa?” Chase asked, changing the topic.

Something strong.
“A kamikaze, please.”

Linda just winked; Chase already knew what she wanted.

“Allow me,” Jason said. “I’ll get some ice for your hand too.”

I grabbed his arm, finally comprehending what he’d done for me, a stranger. “Thank you,” I said. It took every ounce of strength to make my head turn to find Chase standing behind him. “To both of you,” I added.

“No problem, Mel,” Chase said.

Jason ran his hand along my arm, catching my fingers in his. “I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner,” he said. He brought my sore hand to his lips, tenderly kissing the fading red marks.

I gulped.

“I’ll be right back,” he promised, slowly lowering my hand.

He and Chase trooped off, sharing a handshake as they went. Chase clapped Jason on the shoulder and got a tired nod in response. My drama must’ve taken more of a toll than he’d let on. Perhaps he’d take this opportunity to escape. I wouldn’t blame him—
bodyguard
hadn’t been part of the best man’s job description for centuries.

“He’s really something,” Linda said, watching the guys walk away.

“Yes, he is.”

Linda spun around. The crease between her eyes meant I had to take evasive action fast or get razzed about Jason.

“When are we going to do this for you?” I said, waving at the elaborate decorations around us.

The diversion worked; she bit her lip and her cheeks pinked. “Soon, I think. I have a feeling Chase may be asking me a very important question tonight.”

The excitement bubbling in her voice brought a smile to my lips. Should I tell her what Chase had said earlier?

“I don’t know, Linda. I think he already has a new roommate picked out.”

Her face fell. “He does? Did he say who? God, I hope it’s not that idiot Mike. The guy’s dumber than a stump.”

Glad I could pay Chase back in this tiny way, I kept her guessing. “Could be. He told me not to tell you, and you know what that means.”

“Yeah, he thinks I’ll get mad. Darn, I was so sure.” She crossed her arms. “We’ll be having a chat about that later.”

“What made you think he was going to ask you something else?” I didn’t want her angry with her boyfriend. A proposal would definitely explain his cryptic comments.

“Watch.” She nodded toward the line at the bar. “In a second he’ll reach inside his jacket. He’s been doing it every five minutes.”

Thirty seconds later Chase patted his coat. His hand darted inside, and he got the silliest expression on his face.

“Now he’ll look around until he sees me. Three, two, one…”

At that moment he spotted us and yanked his hand out of his jacket. With a sheepish grin, he jerked when the bartender passed him two glasses.

Linda sighed. “I guess I just figured it was a ring.”

“Maybe it’s more pictures for Mitch’s phone. He looks a little guilty to me.” Scared to death was more like it. Linda’s first guess had to be right.

She grinned. “That’s probably it. He did say something about making arrangements with the limo driver. They’re probably booby trapping the video player or something.”

“Booby trapping?” I repeated slowly. “Nice!”

Linda’s blank look lasted only a second before dissolving into her trademark snorting laughter. “
Shhh
,” she hissed, seeing the guys on their way back.

“Here you go, sweetie,” Chase said, setting Linda’s drink on the table with a flourish before taking a seat next to her.

Jason was right behind him. He passed me one glass before setting another and a napkin full of ice on the table.

“Now, may I have another look at your hand, please?” Jason’s voice took on a clinical seriousness but wasn’t cold or unfeeling. I could easily imagine him wearing a crisp white lab coat with a long stethoscope dangling from his neck. The picture was sexy enough I had to look away or start drooling.

“It’s fine, really,” I said, but I offered him my injured hand. His skin was so smooth and surprisingly warm—nothing like Mitch’s rough calluses.

Jason manipulated my fingers, testing each one before having me make a fist. His movements were confident and graceful—were his fingers really that long?

“You don’t feel any pain?” he asked.

“Not much. I’ll probably just have a little bruising tomorrow, that’s all.”

He picked up the napkin. “That’s what this is for.” He set the makeshift ice bag on the back of my hand.

I inhaled sharply when the coldness hit my skin.

“It’ll feel great in just a minute, promise.” He looked up and smiled, then leaned forward. My heart skipped a beat when his cheek brushed my hair. “I guess I get to play doctor with you after all,” he whispered.

With those words, the discomfort in my hand disappeared, erased by an embarrassed hot flash. Was my face burning because he’d remembered my tasteless emails or at the thought of
really
playing with Dr. Jason?

“Yeah, about that.” I cleared my throat. He was still hovering at my ear, so I tried not to shout in his. “I was just kidding, you know. I never thought—”

“You never thought we’d meet in person,” he finished. With those words he extinguished my fire faster than ice ever could. He was already two steps ahead; he’d recognized that the real me didn’t live up to my online persona. I bit my lip. I wouldn’t wait for him to fabricate a reason to go find “Tee.”

“Yes, I guess so. You know, my hand is fine now. You don’t have to—”

Before I could finish, he pressed his lips closer to my ear.

“This wasn’t the kind of doctor I was suggesting, you know.” His seductive lilt and hot breath catapulted me back into my fantasy. In my vision, his lips started at my ear, traveled down my neck…across my collarbone…down to my…

Jason pulled away and stared at my frozen face, analyzing the idiotic expression that surely filled it. At first he scowled, then broke into a wide grin as my heart raced out of control.

Having been caught indulging my erotic imagination, I ducked my head and stared down at the drippy napkin between us. That’s when I saw his fingers under my wrist.

He’s reading my pulse! Cheater!

“Melissa, we’re going to dance. Have fun with the good doctor, okay?” Linda said as she and Chase rose.

I looked up to find Jason shaking with laughter. “Okay,” I said, giggling too.