Why Are You Giving Me Attitude ... ?
I
t was hump day, and Victoria was glad that she had made it halfway through the week. She had yet to breathe a word to Ted about her encounter with Parker, and despite her best efforts, the dashing doctor remained front and center in her thoughts. She was still sleep deprived from her worries but had managed to doze off for a few hours last night. She was thankful for the rest that had come shortly after midnight, because she knew she had a busy day ahead.
After dropping off Alexandria at summer camp, Victoria headed to Peachtree Country Day School, which was only a few miles away. She was there to register her daughter for kindergarten. She couldn't believe that her little girl was out of pre-K and, as Alexandria herself had declared, would be in big kids' school in the fall.
Victoria and Ted had looked at several schools before settling on Peachtree Country Day. It was one of the top private schools in the city and boasted a stellar reputation for high academic standards and a commitment to diversity, or, as the headmaster of the lower school had stated on the school's Web site,
inclusion
.That had been a major factor in Victoria and Ted's decision.
Victoria arrived at the school and was once again impressed by the art-covered walls and sparkling clean floors throughout the building. She tried to center her focus on her task at hand as she walked down the long hallway toward the admissions office. Her sleepless nights were beginning to make her feel like a walking zombie.
Shake it off,
she told herself
.
When she finally reached the main office and opened the door, she froze in her tracks. She wanted to believe that she was imagining things or that she was witnessing a mirage, the result of sleep deprivation. But as much as she wanted to dismiss it, she knew what she saw in front of her was real. Even though his back was turned to her, she knew it was
him.
The broad, muscular shoulders and alluring scent of citrus and spice could only belong to one man. It was Parker Brightwood, and he was shaking hands with Katie Palmer, the director of admissions.
What the hell is he doing here?
“We're so happy to have PJ with us this year,” Katie said with a sincere smile. “I assure you he'll have a great experience here at Peachtree.”
“I have every confidence that he will,” Parker replied.
Victoria was about to duck into the empty conference room to her right when Katie called out her name. “Hello, Mrs. Thornton. You're right on time. I was just finishing up here,” she said, nodding toward Parker.
At that, Parker turned around and looked Victoria dead in her eyes. She stood stock-still, unable to utter a greeting in response to Katie's cheerful one. The room felt small and stuffy. Parker's presence made her heart beat fast, just as it had at Hilda's last weekend. His sun-kissed skin looked soft to the touch, and his tan-colored jacket, sky blue shirt, and tailored trousers made him look casually sexy. It was a look he wore well, and judging from Katie's wide smile and eager eyes, she thought so, too.
Parker extended his hand to Victoria. “Victoria, it's nice to see you again.”
Slowly, Victoria slid her hand into his for a delicate, yet firm handshake. His palm was warm and electric to the touch. “Hello, Dr. Brightwood,” she said, sounding much more formal in her greeting than he had. She felt her forehead turn hot as Parker held on to her hand.
Finally, after a few seconds,Victoria broke his intense grip when Katie interrupted them. “Oh, I see you two know each other.” She smiled, looking back and forth between them.
Parker spoke up, not taking his eyes off Victoria. “Yes, we do.”
Victoria's only response was a simple nod as Katie quietly observed the subtle attraction-filled tension that bounced between them.
Parker could see that Victoria was having a hard time, so he decided to give her a reprieveâat least for the moment. “I should be going,” he said, turning his attention back to Katie. “Thank you for your time. I'll e-mail you those contact numbers by the end of the day.” Then he nodded to Victoria. “It was really good seeing you again ... Victoria.” And with that, he walked out the door.
Katie led Victoria back to her slightly cluttered office while they made small talk. The bubbly admissions officer was very cordial, making pleasant conversation that breezed by Victoria's ears. Over the course of the next twenty minutes, Victoria managed to complete Alexandria's paperwork by rote, filling out forms and answering questions until her daughter's registration was finished.
After a quick exchange of smiles and promises to become active in the PTA,Victoria shook Katie's hand, bid her good-bye, and hurried out of the admissions office and back down the hallway. She couldn't wait to get the hell out of dodge. But when she turned the corner to go out the door that led to the parking lot, she saw Parker leaning against the wall, arms folded, looking at her like she owed him something.
They both stared at each other, standing in silence.
“So ... are you going to just stand there, staring at me, or do you have something to say?” Victoria asked, hoping she didn't appear as nervous as she felt.
Parker took his time appraising her, taking in her entire look, from her stylish peep-toe heels that highlighted her manicured toes to her fitted white skirt that clung seductively to her curvaceous hips, to her coral-colored silk blouse that made her chocolate skin shine with radiance. He thought her beautiful face was full of regal defiance, one of the many qualities that had initially attracted him to her. She was the woman he'd loved so deeply that he hadn't been able to eat for days after their breakup. He shook his head with a slight smile. “Why are you giving me attitude,Victoria?”
“Why are you standing here, obviously waiting for me? What do you want?”
“I want to know why you avoided me last weekend.”
Victoria shifted her weight to her right foot, feeling transparent under his gaze. Parker knew her almost as well as her own husband did, and even though it had been six years since they'd last spoken, he could still discern her mood. And right now, she knew that he knew she was nervous as hell.
It was strange to her, but having that knowledge gave her a jolt of excitement. She wanted to smile, but she dared not give him the pleasure.
Parker uncrossed his arms. “I was just as shocked to see you at Hilda's as you were at seeing me. I wanted to say something to you, but I could see by the way you practically bolted out of there that you didn't want to talk ... at least not to me,” he said, motioning his head toward the long hallway that led to the main office. “You acted like I was a stranger back there. Are you still angry with me?”
Victoria looked at him, shifting her weight back to her left foot. He was still as straight to the point and free with his emotions as she remembered. His ability to express his feelings and thoughtsânot afraid if it made him seem vulnerableâwas a trait that contradicted his tough exterior. It was also a quality that had quickly won her heart when they dated.
Victoria bit down on her lower lip and tried to come up with a response. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but she knew she couldn't, for fear of where it might lead. She knew those dangerous thoughts were better left stored in the safe place where she'd kept them buried over the years.
Parker reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out his card. “Call me. Maybe we can talk.”
Victoria surprised them both when she extended her hand and took the card without hesitation. She tucked it down into her handbag, stopping short of offering up one of her own in return.
“Are you going to call me?” Parker asked.
Victoria looked at him, shrugging her shoulders. “I don't know.”
It was the only thing she'd been completely sure of since last Saturday.
Caught in Your Own Web ...
Victoria practically made skid marks on the pavement, trying to get out of the school's parking lot. Parker's black Navigator was close behind her. She knew he was watching her every move, because when she glanced into her rearview mirror, his piercing brown eyes were staring right back at her.
Is he following me?
She made a sharp left, only to see him do the same. Her nerves were on red alert. Finally, when she turned at the next intersection, his truck kept going straight, until he was eventually out of sight.
When she walked into her office, Denise was there, waiting to greet her. Victoria had almost forgotten that it was her friend's first day back from a much-needed vacation. She prayed that Denise wouldn't notice how frazzled she was.
“Good morning.” Denise smiled, lively as always. She popped up from behind her desk and gave Victoria a quick hug before jumping back into her work. “The phone's been ringing off the hook since I walked through the door. Denise Smith, at the Hilton Garden Inn Winston-Salem, called a few minutes ago about the Winston-Salem State University Founders Day Luncheon this fall. I told her that we've already contacted the event chairs on the board and that you'll get back to her later today with a headcount and the exact date that you plan to arrive in town prior to the event,” she said, handing Victoria a pink message slip. “That lady's a sharp cookie, and with a name like that, you know she's got to be good.” She grinned at the mention of the woman who bore her same name.
Victoria tried to give her a small smile. “Yeah, Denise is great.”
“And the director of Dress for Success wants to set up a meeting for next month to go over plans for their annual gala. She also wants to know if you can do a Professional Women's Group workshop for them this fall. If you need me to drop off those business suits you're going to donate, just let me know.”
Victoria nodded her head again, not wanting to think about anything except how to ease the headache growing between her temples.
“Well, did you miss me while I was gone?” Denise smirked. “A âHi, Denise. Welcome back' would be nice.”
“Uh ... yeah.” Victoria smiled. “Welcome back.”
Denise cocked her head to the side, staring at Victoria long and hard. “Girlfriend, what's wrong?”
Victoria tried to put on a good face. “Oh, nothing. I'm fine. Just really busy.” She avoided Denise's eyes as she hurried down the narrow hall, heading straight to her office. After getting situated behind her desk, she drank the last of her bottled water, swallowing hard as she washed down three extra-strength Tylenols. She kicked off her heels and leaned back in her chair, trying to block the image of Parker's face from her mind.
She turned on her computer and hoped for a few moments of uninterrupted silence. Unfortunately, her wish wasn't granted, and she cursed herself for not asking Denise to hold her calls until noon. Frustrated, she pushed the speakerphone button and tried to sound as cheery as she could. “Yes?”
“Bridezilla's on the line for you.” Denise's voice echoed through the room.
Victoria put her hand to her head. It was her old college friend, Gigi Howard ...
again!
Gigi had already called her cell phone three times, and it wasn't even noon yet. She was getting married this Saturday, and she'd hired Victoria to plan the event.
“This is going to be the wedding of the year!” Gigi had said six months ago, after becoming engaged to Gary Hicks, star point guard for the Atlanta Hawks, who happened to be several years her junior. Before the announcement hit the papers, she had called Victoria in the middle of the night, begging her to coordinate the wedding. It was something that Victoria had agreed to do against her better judgment. Aside from Tyler and his organization's annual Christmas fund-raiser, it was her strict practice to never take on friends as business clients. Helping them plan a birthday or holiday party was one thing, but major events, particularly if money was involved, were where she drew the line.
But Gigi had been worrisome and persistent, insisting that, had Juliet been alive, she would have wanted Victoria to coordinate her special day. Victoria hated to admit that Gigi was right, and she knew deep down that Juliet would have been 100 percent on board with the idea. Gigi and Juliet had been best friends, and Victoria felt she owed it to Juliet's memory, if for no other reason, to make Gigi's day as elegant and special as possible ... if one could imagine elegance and Gigi in the same breath.
“Denise, can you please take a message?” Victoria asked.
Denise rolled her eyes on the other end. “Girlfriend, you know I don't like dealing with this heifer. Besides, she's
your
friend.”
“You don't have to carry on a conversation with her. Just take a message,” she snapped. “I can't deal with Gigi right now.” Victoria hadn't meant to sound so irritable and instantly felt worse than she had a moment ago.
Denise could hear the stress in Victoria's voice. “All right. I'll take a message,” she said in a dry tone before disconnecting the line.
Victoria hung her head, disappointed in herself for the way she was behaving. Not only had she brushed off Denise when she came in, but she'd just been curt with her for no good reason.
She and Denise had been friends for more than a decade. They'd met back in the day, when they both worked at ViaTech. Denise had been Victoria's administrative assistant, and at the very beginning their professional relationship instantly blossomed into a sisterhood that each woman cherished. Two years after Victoria resigned from ViaTech and was running Divine Occasions full-time, she'd hired Denise as her office manager. She couldn't think of anyone more competent, qualified, or trusted to run the daily office operations of her growing business.
Denise was smart as a whip, loyal as a soldier, honest to a fault, and could see through bullshit, all attributes that Victoria valued, especially in a profession full of inflated egos and exhaustive personalities. They'd been there for each other through good times and bad. It was Denise who had kept clients on track and had brought home-cooked meals to the house for Victoria's parents the week Alexandria was born. And it was Victoria's shoulder that soaked up Denise's tears for a month after her mother passed away last year.
Victoria knew she shouldn't have taken her frustrations out on Denise. She was about to walk out and apologize when Denise came through her door, holding two coffee mugs. She handed Victoria the one with the Celestial Seasonings tea-bag string dangling from the side. “I figured you might need this.”
“Thanks,” Victoria said as she took the warm mug into her hands. “Denise, I'm sorry for snapping at you. I didn't mean toâ”
Denise cut her off. “I want to know what's goin' on,” she said, taking a seat in the upholstered chair in front of Victoria's desk. “I know Ms. Thang can test Job's patience, but I don't think it's Gigi that has your panties twisted in a knot this morning. You walked in here looking all distracted and stressed ... and that's not like the confident businesswoman I know. Talk to me.”
Denise quietly sipped her breakfast blend while Victoria strained with anguish as she unfolded the details of her two encounters with Parker.
“Humph. I can't believe Parker has a child. Is it a little warlock or a little witch?”
Victoria gasped. “Denise, you should be ashamed of yourself!”
“I know, I know. I'm sorry,” she said but didn't really appear to be.
“He has a son, and he looks just like Parker spit him out. He's so adorable.” Victoria smiled, even though she hadn't meant to. She couldn't deny that PJ was a handsome child, with a face and smile that made you want to pinch his rosy little cheeks. “And before you ask, Parker is still single, and I think that Pamela is his baby mama.”
“The heifer he used to date who showed up all big and bold at his parents' house for Christmas dinner?”
“The very one.”
Denise threw up her hands. “Poor thing. That child doesn't stand a chance in hell, being spawned from the likes of those two.”
“Denise, will you stop?” Victoria said. “PJ's just a child. He can't help who his parents are.”
“I guess you're right. Maybe being around those other kids in Jack and Jill will be a good influence on him. If you've got Alexandria in it, it can't be all that bad,” Denise said.
A line of worry sprang to Victoria's forehead. “We'll be seeing Parker and his son on a regular basis.” She sat in momentary silence, taking in the thought. “Damn, what am I gonna do?”
“Girlfriend, you knew you were bound to run into him sooner or later, and frankly, I'm surprised it didn't happen before now. It's a small world, especially in the circles you travel. It was just a matter of time.”
Victoria looked at Denise with questioning eyes. She knew that her friend had never liked Parker, and once he showed his ass by getting caught cheating in the act, Denise had been through. “I know you have an opinion, so give it to me,” she said.
Denise crossed her plump thighs and leaned back in her chair. “Well, you avoided him like the plague when you saw him last Saturday, and you could barely look him in the eye when you saw him again today. I think that says it all.”
“Yeah, that I can't stand to be in the same room with him.”
Denise rolled her eyes. “Please don't front.You know who you're talkin' to, don't you?”
Victoria looked away. Her hidden desires were finally bubbling to the surface. She let out a slow sigh. “Denise, this isn't good. I don't know what I'm going to do.”
“Girlfriend, you act like you screwed the man.”
Victoria flinched, because in her mind she already had.
“I agree with the advice that you said Tyler gave you,” Denise continued. “You need to let Ted know about Parker. It already looks suspicious that you haven't told him before now.”
“Yes, I know. I just have to find the right time.”
“Girlfriend, the time ain't gonna get no righter than the present.”
Victoria knew that just like Tyler, Denise was on the money. She knew that she couldn't continue to avoid the issue, because the longer she waited, the more difficult it would be to explain to Ted why she hadn't mentioned running into Parker right away. Plus, she was drowning in the thoughts that had been dancing through her mind about the man she'd once loved. She hoped she would be able to keep those emotions in check while she delivered the news to Ted. “I feel so out of sorts,” she finally said.
“About what? Nothing has happened ... at least not yet,” Denise responded, taking a small sip of her coffee as she eyed Victoria.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what it means.”
“
No, no, no.
I have a wonderful husband.”
“Who's arguing that? Me, you, and everybody else knows that Ted's a rare gem. He's a genuinely good man. And that's hard to find, just like my Vernon,” Denise said about her husband of over twenty years. “What I'm talking about is the reality of your situation. People slip all the time.”
Victoria shook her head. “I would never cheat on Ted.”
Denise was quiet for a second, carefully measuring her next words. “Just make sure you're being honest with yourself. Don't try to pretend that things are one way when you know they really aren't ... 'cause that's when you can get caught in your own web.”
The two sat in silence for a moment. Victoria hated that Denise had made that statement, but more important, she hated that it was true.