Come Together (8 page)

“All right, but it’s not necessary. And I’m not saying that over a text message.”

I blanched, trying to think of a response. “You need to . . . to . . . Why do I even have to tell you this? Is this a joke?” I asked, turning back to the counter.

“I’m sorry,” he said, coming up behind me and encircling my waist. “We’ve been friends for years, so I’d rather say something like that in person. But I’ll call her tonight. She won’t care, it’s not like she was my girlfriend.”

“Tonight? Promise?”

“Promise.” He inhaled and with a moan, said, “Goddamn, you smell amazing.”

I studied his eyes in the reflection. They’d always told me the truth, and they conveyed nothing but sincerity now. I relaxed in his grip.

“Why do you women wear this shit anyway?” He picked up my eye shadow palette and examined it. “You look perfect right now. Just go like this.”

“In my robe and no makeup? I think I might get a few looks.”

“Jealous looks. This robe was the best purchase of the day.” He slid his hand over the front of it, but I shook my head at him. “All right,” he said, releasing me. “You can put your dress on, only so I can take it off later.”

He stepped aside and pulled aftershave from a hidden cabinet. I was instantly transported to Lucy’s office, to the first time we’d kissed, as the familiar, irresistible smell wafted over to me.

When he’d left the bathroom, I finished applying my makeup and slipped into my dress. I stepped back to study my reflection.

I hadn’t realized how long my golden brown hair had become. It now sat a few inches below my shoulders. I’d parted it off to the side and curled it into a soft wave. The Versace column dress I’d picked was almost the color of my skin; tight, long-sleeved and shimmery, it had a high back and a deep ‘V’ that plunged down the front. I opted for dark pink lipstick and rosy cheeks since I was otherwise colorless. Mascara in
Noir
was carefully applied to my lashes, darkening my green eyes. Despite my four-inch heels, the dress still grazed the floor.

David entered the bathroom, one hand fumbling with his cufflink until he looked up and paused in the doorway. In the mirror, I watched his eyes skim over me, his hands drop to his sides. “You’re beautiful,” he said. “Turn around.”

I smiled and turned against the counter. He whistled low and came to me, pinning my hips against the counter and taking my face in his hands.

“A nude dress?” he whispered. “Do you want me walking around with a hard-on all night?”

“That’s the idea,” I said between breaths.

He brushed some hair from my face, and a ‘V’ creased his forehead. “There will be photographers there tonight.”

I sighed. “I figured. I don’t think I’m ready for that. It would be tasteless considering everything that’s happening.”

He frowned and rubbed his thumb along the hollow of my cheek. “I was looking forward to showing you off.”

“Showing
me
off? Maria’s a hard act to follow.”

He released me, stepping back suddenly. “What?”

“I’m teasing,” I said. “But, come on, David. Maria is like Gisele 2.0 . . . . She’s stunning.”

“Are you – what? Are you kidding?”

“Um.”

“Olivia, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. You must know that.”

“You’re sweet,” I said with a shy smile.

He took my shoulders and turned me to the mirror. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he kissed the top of my head. His fingers trailed my neck as he pulled my hair into a loose ponytail. “Nobody even compares. I’m not blind. I know Maria is beautiful, but she’s nowhere near you, honeybee.” His hands complemented his words as he slid them down and over my backside, inspiring a burning need within me. “I had to know you the moment I saw you. Anybody would be lucky to have you.”

I stared at his reflection. “I only care that you want me.”

“I want you, all of you, any way I can have you. And anywhere,” he murmured, kissing my neck.

I was speechless. David was in another league with sharp, defined features, jet-black hair and heavy eyebrows. His razorblade jaw was softened by the cleft in his chin, the fullness of his bottom lip. He could’ve been a movie star, and he was telling me I was beautiful? I searched his chestnut-brown eyes, finding only honesty.

“Now, tie me up, would you?” he asked, tilting his chin in the air to expose his undone bowtie.

I turned, fashioned the tie into a bow and patted his chest.

He grabbed my wrists and kissed one of my palms. “One of the best and worst nights of my life,” he murmured, resting his forehead against mine.

“Tonight?” I asked, alarmed.

“The night of the bowtie. You don’t know how badly I wanted you but was scared to death of driving you away.”

I melted into him as I remembered how I’d done up his bowtie right before our first kiss; an electric, amazing and terrifying first kiss, after which I’d gone home to my husband.

“I love knowing that my bowtie is the only one you’ll be tying from now on.”

I loved knowing that too, and I showed him with a kiss to rival our very first one.

~

David and I fought again in the car. He insisted on sneaking out with me, but I ordered him to walk the red carpet and receive the praise he deserved for his work. He was grumbling irritably when I’d slipped out of the car right before we approached the photographers.

Since Gretchen hadn’t arrived and I didn’t know anybody at the party, I headed straight for the lobby bar to order our drinks. I promptly canceled David’s whiskey, deciding that he’d probably have mingling to do and that I might not see him for a while. I pulled out my new phone while I waited and checked my e-mail.

From:
Bill Wilson

Sent:
Sat, November 10, 2012 05:48 PM CST

To:
Olivia Germaine

Subject:
Hey

Tomorrow will be hard. I guess I feel like Sunday is our day. Was. This has been a lot to process. I still feel a little like I’m in a nightmare. Andrew caught me up on some details. I’m worried about you & don’t trust this guy AT ALL. He has no relationship history. I worry that he thinks this is some sort of game?

I get that we have things to work on. I feel like I’ve been a good husband, but I’m willing to listen to whatever it is you think went wrong. You’ve always been hard to get through to though, so I hope you realize it takes two.

You know how I feel about therapy, but I’ll do it for us. Forget this guy, Liv, he’s a player. Come home, let’s work this out. It’ll take time, but I know I can forgive everything one day.

Bill

I thanked the bartender and took a long sip from my wine. After a beat, I finished it off and ordered another.

“Thirsty much?” asked a familiar voice.

I turned and smiled. “Mr. Brian Ayers.” My new friend always looked handsome – even during our first meeting on Lakefront Trail when he was mid-run. He was a long way from athletic clothes tonight. Now he wore a trim, deep purple velour tuxedo, a silver button-down shirt and a matching striped bowtie. I couldn’t help but smile at his quirky style. As if it wasn’t Brian enough, he’d topped his outfit off with stark white tennis shoes. He leaned in to kiss me on the cheek.

“No date tonight?” I asked.

“Nah.”

I raised my eyebrows at him, and he shrugged. “Not feeling anyone lately,” he explained. Brian’s blue eyes and long blond hair were even brighter against his tan. I knew not just by his looks or the muscular arms hiding under his blazer that he’d be a catch for most girls.

Brian and David were longtime friends, and I wondered if Brian knew about us yet. If he did, he didn’t give anything away. I was considering mentioning it when I noticed Gretchen and Greg walk in. They were heading to the bar before they even spotted us.

“Hel-lo,” Gretchen called, practically running over to me. “Greg, get me a drink, honey?”

“Nice to have someone to order around, eh?” Brian asked as Greg walked away.

She glanced at Brian, and her face soured. “Oh. Didn’t see you there. Can you excuse us?”

“Certainly,” he said, rolling his eyes behind her back. I was aware the two weren’t particularly friendly – something to do with Brian turning down Gretchen’s advances – but it surprised me that they still weren’t over it.

“How’s it going?” Gretchen whispered once she had me alone.

Bill’s e-mail was fresh in my thoughts, but it was easy to refocus my attention on my day with David. “Sort of amazing,” I gushed with a big smile.

“You
look
fucking amazing. You’re, like, glowing in this dress. Tell me everything.”

“You might flip out,” I said.

“Tell me.”

“He took me shopping and pretty much bought out the whole store.”

“Shut up. Who?”

“The dress is Versace,” I said, waving a hand over myself. “But there was Prada, Chloé, McQueen – just come over, and I’ll show you everything.”

She made a noise from the back of her throat and closed one eye as if to brace herself. “Shoes, too?”

“Yep.”

“Please tell me the sex is bad.”

“We haven’t done it yet as a couple. He wants to wait until we get back tonight so it’s special or something.”

“Oh, God,” Gretchen said as her eyes rolled up into her head. “He’s perfect.”

“What’s that?” Greg asked, handing her a drink.

“You. You’re perfect, sweetie,” Gretchen said, pecking him on the lips.

“Where’s David?” Greg asked.

“We came in separately because of the photographers. I’m sure he’s circulating.”

“I’m going to check in with work,” Gretchen said, leaving us at the bar.

“How are you?” Greg asked, rubbing my back. “Gretchen told me everything.”

“All things considered, I could be a lot worse. How about you? Work it all out with Gretchen?”

“Hope so, Livvy. I told her that once we’re more settled, I want us to move in together.”

“How does that make you feel?”

“Great,” he said, exhaling audibly.

“It’s okay to be nervous about that, Greg.”

“I’m not.”

“All right, just don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I warned.

“Greg.” I heard David’s deep voice just as his arm rested across my shoulders. He stuck out his other hand to shake Greg’s hand.

“Hey, man,” Greg said, grinning. “Welcome to the family.”

David was also grinning, but it was directed down at me. “Right,” he said. His hand slid under my hair, lifted it and let it fall onto my back. “I missed you out there. Next time I want you by my side.”

He repeated the motion, and his touch felt so nice, so reassuring, that I closed my eyes and nodded. “Next time, yes.”

I felt his next words near my ear. “You have any idea how incredible you look in that dress? Every man in here is drooling over you.”

I opened my eyes and smiled slyly. “They are not.”

“They are.”

“If they were, would it bother you?” I asked.

“Not so long as they keep their distance.”

I gave him a teasing smile, but he didn’t seem to think it was funny. He continued playing with my hair until we were interrupted by a client of his from the New York project. David kept me close with an arm around my shoulders as they chatted.

I looked around for Gretchen or Greg, who had disappeared at some point. When I didn’t see either of them, I turned my attention back and joined the conversation David was now having with multiple people. The wives in the group couldn’t tear their eyes from him, but neither could I. As he relayed details about the development of the hotel, most of which was over my head, I admired his easy confidence. It took a great deal of effort not to stop him for an impromptu make out session, or at least place a kiss on his square jaw.

While we made our way around the party, I was no longer walking by his side; I was floating. He never lost contact with me, either holding my hand, my shoulders or touching my hair. When women inevitably flirted with him, I linked my arm around his waist, and he answered by squeezing me closer.

He was listening to one woman gush about the hotel when I decided I couldn’t take any more flirting without a stronger drink. I tried to tug my hand out of his, and he looked down at me immediately. “What, baby?”

I glanced at the woman apologetically, because she’d had to pause mid-sentence. “I’m just going to refresh our drinks,” I told him. “Excuse me.”

“Wait,” David said, dragging me back by my hand.

“What?”

He wrapped his arm around my waist and drew me close for a kiss. When, embarrassed, I tried to pull away, he tightened his grip. “Don’t be long,” he murmured before releasing me.

I was completely flushed as I walked across the lobby. Since there was a mass of people at the bar, I kept going until I found a smaller, temporary bar in the corner with no line. I’d just put in my drink order when I turned and saw a disheveled-looking Bill marching in my direction.