Stop That Wedding!
Chapter 7
Zenith’s cheeks were still flaming two hours later. Humiliation pounded in her
head; her jaw clamped tightly as she steered the jostling golf cart through the
hilly golf course. A hard hat rattled on the seat next to her; in the back were
nets, buckets and a rake.
Zenith closed her eyes as another wave of shame swept over her. The
scene just kept playing through her head. The fact that Riley had stood there
shooting daggers at her with his eyes wasn’t the worst part. When her
grandfather practically did a handstand all she’d wanted was to crawl in a hole
and hide.
Its wheel catching the edge of the sand trap, the golf cart tipped crazily; she
shrieked as the wheel tore from her grip. She clung to the seat to keep from
being tossed out as the cart lurched to a halt. With a sinking feeling she knew
the stupid thing wouldn’t be set right easily, or without help. She thumped the
steering wheel in frustration.
Sighing, she laid her head against the steering wheel and wondered why the
world had gone so chaotic around her. Just a few days ago it was so serene;
now she sat in a stalled golf cart next to a sand trap she needed to rake!
Anger shot through her over this morning: anger at Brad, and furious with
herself. How could she have she let something like that happen? She wasn’t
someone who believed in public displays of affection. Things like that didn’t
belong in public but behind closed doors. And there she was, caught like a
randy teenager, necking in the elevator!
Oh, she could scream! And she had, at Brad, who seemed very happy at
being ‘found out’. She then railed at her grandfather, who thought that her ’slip’
with Brad meant something more serious. She left them both with big foolish
grins on their smug faces. She’d gone to Brad’s office, found her assignment on
his desk, and came to work without a word to anyone.
And now here she was, with the golf cart entrusted to her high centered.
Sighing again, she got out of the cart. She might as well do what she’d come to
do, then call for some help.
Retrieving the rake, she began the tedious job of smoothing out the white
sand. She’d been golfing many times, and on several occasions she’d seen
people doing just this, but she’d never thought about it too much.
Well, not anymore, she told herself grimly. She’d always treated all the
working people who populated her world as if they’d always been there and
always would be. She knew now that they worked incredibly hard with highly
developed skill. She was humbled when she thought about all the times she’d
taken people for granted. No more, she vowed. She’d show thankfulness and
patience from now on.
The sand was soon neat and pristine. She could hear chatter in the distance
and the sound of golf balls being whacked. She retrieved the net and a bucket
to fish some of the wayward balls out of the water trap. Although it was only late
morning, the sun felt hot on her hair as she scooped out several balls.
It didn’t take long for the bucket to fill up. Straightening up and stretching her
aching back, she picked up the bucket to empty it in the large basket mounted
on the back of the cart.
“Zenith!” Whirling at the sound of her name, she saw a golf cart crest the
hill. Her heart thudded. Brad. Even from twenty yards away she could tell he
was angry. “Woman, you don’t just take off on me like that! And where the devil
is your hard hat?”
Her chin lifted; did he just call her ‘woman’? She’d never in her life been
called that. What an arrogant jerk! She wasn’t his property to be ordered
about. True, right now he might be her boss, but that wasn’t permanent,
and he’d better not take advantage of it.
“Don’t you dare yell at me, Brad Pearce! After what you did to me today -!”
He barked his disbelief as he drew closer. “Me? You’re the one who batted
her eyes at me and suckered me into kissing you.”
Her shriek of outrage split the air. “You are the most arrogant –“
A white object traveling swiftly whizzed past Brad’s cart. It caught his
attention immediately.
“Zenith, watch out!” At the urgency of his voice, her eyes searched the air.
But it was too late. The swiftly moving golf ball found its chosen target, thumping
Zenith solidly in the center of her forehead.
Skittering to a halt, Brad watched everything unfold as if in slow motion.
Zenith was knocked backwards by the ball’s impact; she staggered, trying to
regain her balance even as she lifted her hands to her head. The bucket of
balls slipped from her fingers, scattering on the ground about her. As her foot
traveled backwards, her heel landed on a pile of the discarded balls. Although
the bottom ones sank into the sand, the top layer acted as ball bearings. Her
foot slipped out from under her as hers arms wind milled wildly in the air. She
fell backwards, straight into the water trap.
“Zenith!” Brad pulled up next to her stranded cart. His heart froze as she
sank under the surface. Leaping out, he rushed towards the shallow pond,
where he could see her slender form just inches under the water.
Splashing into tepid water that quickly turned muddy, he grasped her under
the shoulders and pulled her swiftly up onto the beach. Rolling her on to her
side, he called her name over and over while he prayed for her to respond.
Nothing. Her now blue hair cast a hideous pall over her white skin. Pushing
the strands out of her face, he checked for a pulse. With relief he felt one, but
she wasn’t breathing. With hands numbed by fear, he rolled her on her back
and tilted her chin up, then swept his fingers through her mouth to make sure it
was clear. She was too pale; her dark lashes lay listlessly against her colorless
cheeks.
“Damn it, Zenith, breathe!” He plugged her nose and pulled her jaw open;
pressing his mouth onto hers, he forced his breath into her. He pulled away and
watched for a few moments. Her chest didn’t move. He took a deep breath,
then pressed his mouth against hers once more.
The air whooshed out of his lungs in shock as slender arms wrapped around
his neck and cool lips moved sensuously against his. His nerves shattered; her
embrace was so unexpected that it threw him off balance. Falling against her, he
gave himself into the hot ecstasy that became Zenith.
Although it had been only a few hours since he’d last tasted her lips, he
couldn’t get enough of her. He’d thought he’d lost her. He’d watched his entire
world collapse when he’d realized she wasn’t breathing. Now that she seemed
fine he could worship her with his hands and his body.
Water soaked his chest as their shirts clung together. Beneath him he
could feel her delectable breasts crush against him. Her nipples were hard from
the cold water; they enticed him. Tentatively he slipped a hand between them
and caressed one tempting nub. The resultant groan was almost his undoing as
his groin tightened.
He moved his hand away from her breast; he was too close to the point of
no return, and he vaguely remembered that they were lying on the green near
the eighth hole. Definitely out of the line of sight for most golfers, but still very
public.
The soft tip of one finger traced the edge of his ear. Reaction sizzled
through him; he’d never thought of an ear as an erogenous zone, but he quickly
discovered that with Zenith every inch of his body could be deemed as such.
The sound of a throat being nervously cleared brought him out of the spell
she’d captured him with. Looking up, he saw Bob, the head groundskeeper,
staring pointedly away from him. Bob’s eyes studied the clouds intently; his lips
formed a tuneless whistle as he stood waiting for Brad to pull himself together.
Reacting more violently to Bob’s presence, Zenith pushed Brad away from
her and scrambled to her feet. Her head swam; she staggered slightly but this
time managed to miss the treacherous golf balls scattered by her feet. The sight
of a lank blue lock of hair winging past her eyes was too much for her, however,
and she sat down with a thump.
Her nerves shook with reaction as she watched Brad talking easily with the
groundskeeper. She didn’t understand how he could be so calm. For in the
moment when she’d awakened to discover Brad’s lips on hers, the world had
altered and shifted its course. She knew the truth now.
She was in love with Brad Pearce!
As reality sank in, Zenith Priscilla Rose Somersbee, the darling of San
Francisco society, who’d never worked a day in her life, who was currently
soaked to the bone in dirty water, covered in sand, with a huge bruise growing
on her forehead and cobalt hair hanging in her face, began to laugh. It started
from deep within her and burst out full-force, to the shock of poor Bob, who
stared at her as if she bordered on insanity.
Brad, however, remembered that laugh from long ago. With a shout of
delight, he dropped to his knees behind her. Ignoring the wet sand and golf
balls, he wrapped his arms about her and joined in her laughter.
^^^^^^
A new Zenith who emerged from the water that day. She became the
Zenith who loved Brad Pearce. She no longer felt tied to an image of the perfect
Zenith. She chuckled at that thought; after the last couple of days she knew her
reputation as a cool customer had been shattered. But it no longer seemed
important. This emotion swimming in her somehow gave her the freedom to be
herself, blue hair and all. She didn’t know what she’d do with her newfound joy
of life. Right now, she carefully considered her next move.
Her discovery didn’t change her obligation to her grandfather, or remove
her desire to punish Luna and to find out who her accomplice was. For she felt
fairly certain the girl couldn’t have worked alone. When the hair debacle had
occurred, her devilish sibling had been safely ensconced in school. No, Luna
couldn’t be working alone, and she had a strong suspicion who aided her.
So she didn’t tell Brad her secret. Instead she’d sat there by the water trap
and soaked in his warmth, reveling in his touch. But her newfound feelings for
him threatened to swamp her common sense, so she’d stood up, thanking him
for rescuing her. Both Brad and Bob insisted that she take the rest of the day
off, which she had done gladly. She needed some time to think and to scheme.
And scheme she did. It was an evil, ingenious plan, designed to drive her
tormentors crazy. That Brad would also be misled niggled her a little, but only
momentarily. He’d yelled at her about not wearing her hard hat and about
‘running away’ from him. No, he deserved a little bit of discomfort. Besides, she
was only a ‘forbidden fruit’ to him: an engaged, committed woman who should be
off-limits to him. She simply represented a safe prospect for him to ‘play’ with.
After all, how many serious relationships had he indulged in since she’d known
him? The harsh answer was none.
So she started her plan, with the full cooperation of her co-conspirator.
When Luna showed up at her condo early the next morning in what seemed to
be a habit with her, she found Zenith sitting at the small table on the balcony
enjoying a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. Opposite her, wrapped
in a thick blue robe, his hair still ruffled from sleep, sat Chadwick, grumpily
poking his breakfast with a fork.
Luna’s inane chatter and bright smile disappeared at the sight of him. A
small bag from a local bakery fell from her fingers with a plop. Buffy, dancing
around her for attention, stopped, sniffing the sack with unabashed interest.
“Luna, you dropped something,” Chadwick stated dryly. He definitely wasn’
t a morning person. But since he was being a good sport about everything,
Zenith ignored his sour attitude.
”What are you doing here?” Luna’s words were sharp, and Zenith allowed
her bristles to show.
“Luna! Please remember your manners!” Reaching down, she retrieved
the sack and set it on the table. Buffy sighed in disappointment, then demanded
to be picked up. Zenith did so without thought, settling the dog in her lap.
“Then tell me why he’s here!” Luna glowered at her sister. Zenith sighed,
controlling her desire to smirk. Instead, she reached for her ‘fiancé’s’ hand.
“If you must know, Chadwick and I have decided to live together until the
wedding. With everything that’s been happening to me I need the moral
support. Besides,” she added with a saucy grin, “it wouldn’t do for us to discover
we’re not compatible on our wedding night, would it? And he’s been sending me
these... interesting gifts, like the condom you found the other night. We decided
to try them out.” She gazed lovingly at her ‘fiancé’, knowing the gesture wouldn’t
be lost on her naughty sibling.
Chadwick lifted Zenith’s hand to his lips, kissing her fingers grandly. “I have
to admit it was an interesting evening.” The two shared a smile of satisfaction.
At sixteen, Luna didn’t have years of practicing control or restraint like her
sister. Her reaction of mixed horror and panic was readily displayed on her
face. She didn’t stop to wonder why Zenith would tell such things to her tender
young sister. She didn’t pause to question the small glimmer of triumph in Zenith’
s eyes. She just stared at both of them in dismay, then turned and fled the
condo.
When the door slammed shut, Zenith burst out in laughter. Luna’s reaction
was more delicious than she’d expected. It made getting up early to return the
guestroom, where Chadwick had spent the night, back to its original pristine
condition, worth all the effort.
Chadwick, however, didn’t match her mirth. He merely lifted a perfect brow
in Zenith’s direction.
“Am I really that bad?”
She gazed at him with affection. His willingness to help her tweak her sister
just proved to her what a dear friend he truly was. “No, darling, you’re not, but
you’ve never been her favorite person. You two have never connected, and she’
s probably afraid you’ll come between us.”
He stared sourly at the eggs that lay on his plate. “After having to get up at
this ungodly hour, she’s definitely not my favorite person. She’s been allowed to
run wild for far too long, Zenith. Your parents should be shot.”
She laughed. “I’ll keep that suggestion in mind. Now, since she’s shown up
and will undoubtedly spread the news to her partner in crime, you can go back
to bed if you like.”
He opened the sack Luna had abandoned and removed a few beignets.
“No, I think I’ll stay up and see if there really is life before noon. After all, I
supposedly deflowered you last night, so I might as well stay up to enjoy the
afterglow.”
The two conspirators shared a warm smile as they enjoyed the breakfast
addition her sister had so thoughtfully provided.
^^^^^^
Zenith arrived in Brad’s office early to find him already there. She left the
door open on purpose, so Riley and Ms. Jenkins could see that there would be
no repeat of yesterday’s passionate embrace. Or embraces, if they’d heard
about the golf course incident.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully. “What do you have planned for me
today?” His gaze caught hers; reaction sizzled through her. She clamped down
hard on her emotions; Brad wasn’t for her. She didn’t want a playboy. She
wanted so much more. She pasted a carefree smile on her face and hoped it
would hide the turmoil and longing inside.
Brad showed surprise at her happy attitude. “You seem very eager this
morning.”
“Oh, it’s a lovely day,” she replied. The sight of her sister’s horror at
breakfast was enough to fire her mirth for days to come. The fact it would
aggravate Luna’s suspected accomplice only added to her high spirits.
Brad eyed her with suspicion. The last he’d seen of her she had been
practically giddy, and now her usual cool demeanor had been replaced with a
quick smile and cheery disposition. He decided not to question it, as he enjoyed
this side of her far more than her ice-queen persona.
However, it might be better for him if she did revert back to her cool
facade. Just her smile was enough to boil his blood. After all the years of
avoiding his feelings for her, he now found it difficult to control his reactions to
her. After the kisses they’d shared, his self-control remained transparently thin.
He peered at her forehead; a faint raised bruise camouflaged by a light
layer of make-up was the only sign of her golf-induced ordeal. He’d been
worried that she had a concussion but she’d been adamant she felt fine and
wouldn’t see a doctor.
“I’ve found the perfect position for you,” he declared in triumph. “No
phones, no dogs, no golf balls, nothing to drive. You can’t mess this up. All you
need to do is smile and show people to their tables. I’m sure you can handle
that, right?”
She nodded. “I take it I’m going to be a hostess in a restaurant?” At his
affirming nod, she asked, “But doesn’t that involve answering the phone to take
reservations?” She wasn’t willing to face that prospect again.
“No, someone else will do that. All you need to do is confirm the
reservations and show them to the assigned table. With walk-ins, you take their
names and add them to a list. Ramon will decide where to seat them, or tell
them how long they’ll be waiting. Think you can do that?”
She nodded. “When do I start?” He didn’t need to tell her what restaurant;
she’d known Ramon since she was a child.
Zenith was dressed in slim tan slacks and a soft cream short-sleeved mock-
neck sweater. The sweater enhanced the curve of her breasts. Brad had to
force himself not to linger on them. It became increasingly difficult to ignore her
luscious body. He focused instead on the task at hand.
“You need to wear something elegant. There’s no uniform for the hostess,
but it’s necessary to coordinate it with the decor and the waitresses’ uniforms.
The usual color is burgundy or red, but since this is your first day, I think we can
cut you some slack until you can buy something suitable.
“After you change,” Brad continued, “you can report to the hotel. Ramon’s
expecting you. The usual hostess called in sick, so you’re actually doing him a
favor by helping out. It shouldn’t take you too long to figure it out. Check out
the layout, memorize the table numbers and locations so you’re
well-prepared when the noon crowd appears.”
She saluted him smartly. “Yes sir, oh General.’ With a sharp twist of her
heel, she marched military-style out of his office, closing the door behind her.
Brad stared at the door, torn between amusement and sexual frustration.
He wondered if body snatchers had stolen Zenith and replaced her with this
strange woman who’d just left his office. Not that he was complaining.
^^^^^
“Grandpapa! I’m so glad you called me back!” Luna’s voice rose to
hysterical levels, and Chauncy’s ears protested at the squawking. In an act of
self-preservation, he held the receiver a few inches away.
“Settle down, girl, and tell me what happened.” He wasn’t very patient with
such histrionics. At his ripe old age, he felt he didn’t need to be. It was one of
those ‘licenses of the elderly’ he’d earned. Like pretending not to hear someone
complaining, or speaking his mind when in his younger days he might have
bitten his tongue.
His gruff tones seemed to do the trick. He heard a hiccup, then she began
to talk. “Oh, it’s all my fault!” she wailed. “I was trying to shock Zenith into
realizing she didn’t – you know – want intimate relations with Chadwick. You
see, they never touch, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them share a real kiss.
So I sent her some.... gifts.”
“Gifts?” Chauncy barked, realizing he wasn’t liking this one bit. “What kind
of gifts?”
“Ummm.... Some condoms, made up in a floral bouquet, and a sex
manual. Oh, and a – “ Luna hiccuped again. “A vibrator.” He could hear the
embarrassment in her voice. “And I signed them Chadwick. I copied his
signature from a card he’d sent Zenith.”
Chauncy sputtered; the last thing he ever thought he’d be doing was
discussing sex toys with his under-aged granddaughter! “They don’t sell those
things to minors. How did you buy them?”
“I… I borrowed Taft’s credit card. He has an on-line account with a local
store, so I logged in, ordered some stuff, took a few of the gift cards he had
stashed and forged Chadwick’s signature. Then I delivered the cards to the
shop with a note asking them to deliver the gifts to Zenith.”
Chauncy groaned. Luna’d done it now. Stealing from Taft was one thing;
sending his rather straitlaced granddaughter gifts like that was over the top. He
could imagine her reaction: horror followed by anger, all directed at Chadwick. It
could make for a major blow-up or a major make up session. Taking in Luna’s
reaction, Chauncy feared the worst.
“And what happened?”
“Well, I went to her apartment this morning and I found Chadwick there.”
Hiccup. “Grandpapa, he was wearing a bathrobe! And when I demanded to
know why he was there, she told me they were now living together! And they’ve
used - they’ve used the presents I sent! I’ve ruined everything!” She began to
wail. “I‘m so sorry, I’ve messed it all up.”
Typically Chauncy held no patience for people who bungled this badly, but
he saw some sense in Luna’s plan. After the scene he’d witnessed in the
elevator yesterday, he would bet that she had some serious doubts. Then why
the sudden decision to live with Chadwick?
“I think she’s running scared,” he stated. Yes, that made sense to him. Her
tidy little world had shifted out of control, so she was clinging as tightly as she
could to it.
Luna responded with an audible gulp. “Do you really think so?” she asked,
her voice wavering.
“Yes, I do think so. I saw her kissing Brad yesterday on the elevator. That’
s not the thing someone who wants to marry someone else does. She’s
panicking, and this is her way of trying to settle everything down. We just need
to step it up a bit. We have more time now. Lydia told me that Zenith decided to
postpone the wedding while they find another dress for her.”
“Oh,” Luna’s voice brightened. “That’s wonderful! But how do we get
Chadwick out of her condo?”
Frowning, Chauncy pondered the question. He wanted Chalmers further
away than out of Zenith’s bedroom. The thought of them together churned his
stomach. He would have to burst the boy’s bubble, see what effect that had.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he stated. “I’m sure we’re succeeding. She’s just
panicked, that’s all.”
^^^^^^
Zenith looked far from panicked when she arrived at the restaurant an hour
before lunch. She’d given her appearance a lot of effort and was very pleased
with the outcome.
She’d carefully twisted her hair into a loose yet sophisticated knot on top of
her head, held into place with various rhinestone pins and clips. A few tendrils
hung about her face, softening the effect. Her short-sleeved dress, of sensuous
rich burgundy silk embroidered with gold leaves and flowers, was cut in a
mandarin style that fit snugly about her waist, ending mid-calf. A long slit
showcased her slender, curvy legs. It was both demure and erotic in the way it
covered her curves yet emphasized her femininity.
A pair of simple gold hoop earrings and a matching bracelet added a touch
of class. She finished off the look with delicate gold sandals with low heels.
Even Ramon, who normally showed little emotion, gave her a pleased nod at her
appearance. “You look perfect,” he informed her, giving her one of his rare
smiles.
She smiled happily at him. “I’m looking forward to this. I’m hoping it will be
a piece of cake.”
For the first couple of hours it was. The table locations were charted
behind the podium, and she also walked through the restaurant several times
until she could connect the actual tables with the numbers. She learned the
waiters and waitresses’ names and what areas they were assigned to. By the
time lunch hour ended and the traffic slowed down she felt like an experienced
employee. Even Ramon seemed pleased.
She liked the hotel’s elegant restaurant. Even the entry was impressive.
Double curved doors opened into a large waiting area. It felt light and elegant
with a marble tile floor, cream and gold painted walls and thick foliage. Two tall
pillars on either side of the foyer were topped with sitting lions, elegantly back-lit
with cleverly hidden lights. There was even a huge lobster tank, decorated to
simulate a natural setting, complete with seaweed and sand.
On one side of the foyer was the entrance to the lounge. Another set of
doors let outside to the cafe that the restaurant ran on fair weather days.
Opposite this was the entrance to the restaurant. Occasionally a waiter would
cross bearing several drinks for the restaurant. The wait staff wore strictly
monitored uniforms of burgundy and black tuxedoes or tuxedo-style dresses.
The overall effect felt classic and high style. Zenith loved the feeling that she fit
right in.
This was it, she thought. She’d finally found her groove. She knew that
she could fulfill Grandfather’s wishes and succeed in learning more about
Somersbee’s than he suspected she could.
But what about later? Her engagement had ended. Her future wasn’t tied
up in a tidy package. What did she want from the future?
The question stymied her. Brad popped into her mind instantly. His dark,
sexy eyes taunted her. She remembered the feel of his lips on hers and her
overwhelming response to his caresses. But she knew that he’d elude her in the
end. A man like Brad didn’t settle down; they simply tired of a woman and
moved on to someone new. That’s not what she wanted, so why did she find
herself so drawn to him?
One thing she did understand. She’d placed a huge burden on Chadwick
by expecting him to give her fulfillment. She needed to be more than just the
other half of a couple; she needed to bring something to that relationship,
something of value.
A sudden vision of her and Buffy happily curled up on the balcony while
she drew came to mind. When she drew, she felt truly content, truly happy.
Yes, her artwork could be the key to fulfillment. She recalled Brad’s reaction to
her murals and a glow of pleasure radiated through her. She’d actually
impressed him. It felt good to know she could dazzle him with her talent.
A couple arrived; after asking the proper questions she led them to their
table. Her absence of a few minutes from the foyer caused her to miss a very
interesting scene right outside the restaurant doors.
^^^^^^
“There you are!” Chauncy caught sight of Chadwick Chalmers on the
outside patio and bore down on him swiftly. Decked out in full uniform of bowler
hat and somber black suit, with a dark glower on his face, Chauncy Somersbee
was a formidable figure. Chadwick, however, didn’t appear to be daunted at the
sight of the older gentleman approaching him at a fast pace.
“I have something to tell you, boy, that I’m not very happy to report. But I
believe that family honor is at stake here, and my granddaughter isn’t treating
you right.”
Chadwick’s only answer was his raised eyebrows. Chauncy growled. When
Chadwick didn’t reply, Chauncy’s demeanor became fierce.
“Well, I’ll just get on with it. Your fiancée’s been cheating on you, boy. I
caught her yesterday, petting like a teenager in the headquarters’ elevator of all
places. No granddaughter of mine should behave that way!”
To his shock and consternation, Chadwick merely smiled and said, “I
thought it would be you.”
Chauncy’s eyes widened and his face reddened as he demanded, “What
do you mean by that?”
Chadwick shook his head, his smile never faltering. “Only that you’d be the
one to tell me. Zenith already informed me about that. She told me that kissing
Brad solidified her feelings for me. She and I have decided to move in together.
After all, since we’re getting married, why wait?”
The smile widened. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to meet Zenith at
the restaurant. She’s working, and I’m hoping to spend some time with her
during her break.”
With a wave of his hand Chadwick left him.
Neither noticed Brad seated at one of the cafe tables, but his stormy eyes
declared that not only had he seen the pair but overheard every word.
^^^^^
“Your grandfather took the bait,” Chadwick told Zenith jauntily as he stood
by her in the restaurant foyer. “He didn’t seem surprised when I told him we
were living together. He gave me a grand performance of outrage concerning
your horrid behavior with Brad. By the way, you could have warned me about
that. Luckily, I guessed the correct participant of your rendezvous. I wasn’t sure
if I should be outraged or amused. I chose amused. That really enraged your
grandfather.”
“Chadwick, I’m sorry. You’re right, I should have told you he kissed me.”
“That’s okay, doll. I must admit I like being your pretend fiancé more than
the genuine article. Takes the pressure off. After all, escorting a homely thing
like you around is very hard work.” She laughed at his words, and he grinned at
her. “Besides, it serves the old goat right. After all, it’s his fault my lips turn blue
and I can no longer eat in public.”
Zenith nodded in agreement. “I can’t believe Grandpapa could be so
underhanded. I think he needs to suffer a while longer, don’t you?”
The smile Chadwick gave her was downright evil. “Oh, yes, I definitely
agree.” Kissing her on the cheek, he left.
She returned to the schedule, a soft smile gracing her lips. When she
turned back her good humor vanished.
Brad stood before her, his brows furrowed harshly, his dark eyes
menacing. His lips were taut as he spoke. “I hear you made up your mind rather
quickly. I’m glad our little encounters helped you decide to shack up with him.
Should I congratulate Chadwick for winning the prize?”
“Brad.” His anger chilled her; her heart tightened, and an ache deep inside
started to spread. “It’s not like what you’re thinking. Chadwick and I – “ She
could see past his anger; the hurt she’d caused by her charade was well hidden,
but still there. She couldn’t let him live with a lie.
“I don’t want to hear your excuses,” he snarled. “I’m sure you practice them
on your lover. Was it good, Zenith? Did it live up to what we could have had
together?” She backed away a step, but he reached out and grasped her upper
arm, pulling her up against his hard chest. Some patrons stared openly from the
depths of the restaurant.
“Let me go,” she whispered fervently. “You’re attracting attention.”
“And you don’t want any attention, do you?” Each word was filled with
derision. “Wasn’t that what this – supposed attraction to me was all about?”
“No! If you’d shut up long enough I could explain -!”
His eyes narrowed at her flash of anger. He gave her a slight shake. “Don’
t you take that attitude with me. You’re not the wounded party here. I am.”
“You!” Eyes widened in shock, she tried to jerk away from him. “I wasn’t
the one who started that kiss in your office, or on my couch, or even in the
elevator. That was all you!” Her voice raised at each word; she forgot about the
people who were now openly gawking at them.
His fingers dug into her arms, and her rage exploded. “Let go of me!” She
twisted in his grip, throwing her entire weight into her efforts. At the same time
he let her go.
She lurched backwards, trying to regain her balance. Frantically she
swung her arms in a desperate effort to keep upright. Her momentum sent her
careening into a waiter carrying some drinks from the lounge. Her shoulder hit
the tray, knocking it into his chest and sending him falling backwards. Drinks
flew everywhere. Zenith skidded to the ground, landing on her bottom and
sliding through the spilled drinks and ice to a stop a few feet from the lobster
tank.
The waiter’s tray went crashing to the ground, and the hapless waiter
reached out in panic to steady himself. His hands grasped one of the lion-
topped pillars.
Unable to bear the force of his weight, the pillar canted towards the
opposite wall. It flew across the foyer, with the light still attached, and with a
sickening sound of breaking glass, landed in the lobster tank.
There was a huge crackle and flash as electricity reacted with water; the
lights cut out in the foyer. Some people shouted as one woman screamed in
fright.
“Everyone hold still!” Brad shouted, his voice firm and authoritative. “The
lights will be back on in a moment.”
Sure enough, in a few moments the emergency lights kicked in and lit the
scene with an eerie glow. The scene was bizarre as Brad looked around.
The once majestic lion statue now rested at an acute angle in the lobster
tank, still clinging by a wire to the large pillar that was its home. The tank’s
occupants had not fared well; the electricity hitting the water had sealed their
fate instantly. Several were strewn across the floor. Water still trickled out of
the damaged tank. Glass and water flooded the floor, along with scattered ice
cubes and several drink glasses. A pink umbrella lay forlornly in a puddle of
blue ice shavings.
In the midst of it all sat Zenith. Luckily, the electricity had cut out before the
water had hit her. Glass, ice cubes and deceased lobsters encircled her like a
shrine. She was soaked to the bone and strings of seaweed decorated her
hair....
Her electric blue hair.
Brad stared at her for several moments, waiting for her reaction. She did
nothing. Her eyes were closed; he could tell she was breathing, and he didn’t
see any blood or other sign of injury. Yet she sat there, as still as a statue, or
rather as still as a statue that wasn’t in her general vicinity, Brad thought ruefully.
Crossing to her, he kneeled down and peered into her face. “Zenith?”
She didn’t respond. If anything, her eyelids clamped down tighter.
“Your hair is blue again.”
Her lips twisted wryly. “I’m starting to get used to it.”
“It does bring out the green in your eyes. That is, if I could see them.”
She didn’t react. She didn’t move, didn’t open her eyes to let him glimpse
the emerald green color that was permanently imbedded in his mind. Her legs
were curled to one side, with the slit of the now ruined burgundy dress showing
more legs than he cared to witness right now. Just the sight of those shapely
curves sent his pulse racing. He pulled his eyes away from her tempting form
and focused on her pale face.
“Are you all right?”
Her eyes remained closed. “Did I kill anyone?” Her hands, clenched tightly
on her lap, began to shake; he wanted to grasp them to give her support but
was afraid she’d shatter. He decided to lighten the mood, to use humor to get
her to relax before she became hysterical.
“Only the lobsters,” he teased. Her answering groan wasn’t what he’d had
in mind.
“Zenith, it’s all right. It’s messy, but all of it is fixable. I’m sure that our
insurance even covers for Hurricane Zenith. And don’t feel sorry for the
lobsters. They would have been dinner tonight any way.” Her eyes flickered
open for a moment. He smiled at her; her eyelids clamped firmly shut.
“Brad, I’ve totally messed this up. I haven’t done a thing right since I
started. I’ve let my family down. Poor Grandpapa will be so disappointed.” Her
face twisted in humiliation. She swiped at a strand of blue hanging in her face
and only succeeded in knocking some seaweed out of her hair.
A wave of tenderness swept over him. She carried such a tremendous load
on those slender shoulders. He didn’t doubt that she could succeed on sheer
determination and loyalty. This sudden urge to protect her, however, was
unexpected.
It swept through him, a force he couldn’t deny. Lust he could understand;
he could handle mere desire, but this need to hold her, to comfort her, to show
her that everything would be all right, this was something he was unfamiliar with.
Where did this urge come from? He shuddered a deep sigh, giving in to this
new emotion. His fingers grazed the side of her face, drowning in the feel of her
delicate ivory skin.
“Honey, you’re being way too hard on yourself. You’re like a fish out of
water in the work place, and you expected to swim the first day.” Her lips twisted
at his unintended pun. He swept his hand gently over her cheek, pushing the
cobalt blue strands out of her face. Her skin felt so soft under his thumb pad. He
reminded himself that she belonged to Chadwick, but it was very difficult to
ignore her allure.
“It’s going to take some time and work. You actually did fine here today
before I showed up, didn’t you?”
One vivid green eye peeked at him. The corner of her mouth curved
upwards. “I did do well, didn’t I?”
He grinned softly. “Yes, you did. You actually made it three hours before
disaster struck. That’s a record for you.”
Zenith stuck her tongue out at him, softening the gesture with a laugh. It
was very un-Zenith-like, and he soaked it in.
He stood up and with a smile and a sweeping gesture held his hand out to
her.
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Placing her fingers on the palm of his hand, she stood. Her smile captured
his eyes, just as she’d captured his heart.
