Letters of Love (Green Division Series Book #3) (14 page)

*****

Ben put his phone on his belt and pulled out of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife headquarters.  He believed his oral board for the position had gone well, but time would tell.  Fingers crossed.  He was more excited about his non date with Aubrey though.  Four more days and he’d see her again.  He missed her company almost as much as he missed Tiffy’s. Though he spoke to Tiffy nightly while she was gone, Aubrey left a void.  Back and forth he’d gone on inviting her.  After his oral board went so well he was on a temporary high that gave him a sense of boldness.  So, he invited Aubrey.  Once he hit the send button he immediately filled with trepidation.  She’d say no.  It was a wedding.  You don’t go to weddings as “friends”.  To his surprise she said yes.  Maybe there was hope.
 

CHAPTER NINETEEN
 

Kip’s bachelor party was wild.
 Most of Kip’s friends were Kip’s age, some still in college, others barely twenty one.  He felt like an old man and was the responsible one of the group, the one who somewhat kept them out of trouble.  When did he become old and boring?
Ben adjusted his suit and took a quick look in the mirror.  Good enough.  Kip’s wedding was a simple outdoor affair with only close family and friends.  The total guest list tally for the wedding was twenty.  The reception was closer to two hundred.  Kip and Hanna’s idea of the perfect wedding was a quick “I do” and then an all-night party.  It would be a good sized party.
“Hey, I’m on my way.  I have to pick up Aubrey and should be there in about an hour.  You having any second thoughts?”
“No...”  Kip denied, but Ben could hear the apprehension in his voice.
“It’s natural to have wedding jitters.”
“Yeah, I have those.”
“They’ll pass.  Hanna’s an amazing woman and you’re lucky she’ll take you.”
“I know.”  Kip exhaled deeply.  “Hurry up and get here.  And bring something to take the edge off...Jim, John, Jack, I don’t care, but I need a drink.”
“I’ll stop off on my way there.”  Ben laughed.  “Deep breaths man, it’s going to be fine.”
“Bring one of my favorite men.”
“I will.  I’ll be there in a few.”
“Hurry up.”
“Bye.”

*****

“I thought you weren’t doing anything with this man.”  Jill passed Aubrey the ballet flats she asked to borrow last minute.  Aubrey only had heels that would make her two inches taller than Ben.
“I’m not.  We’re friends.”
“Uh huh.  Friends.  Men and women generally don’t go to weddings as ‘friends’.”
“I guess I’m not most people.”  Aubrey slid on the flats.
“Sit down, I’ll do your hair.”
“I already did my hair.”
“Like I said, sit down, I’ll do your hair.”
Aubrey sat down and Jill went about putting her hair in an up do.  
“I love this dress on you.  You’ll take all the attention away from the bride in this though.”
“Oh yeah because I have men lining up to have me.  I need to lose twenty pounds.”
“Shut up, I’d die to have your curves.  And sounds like Ben is in that line.”
“It’s not like that.  How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“Honey, men don’t invite women to weddings as friends.”
“He didn’t want to go alone.  I know that feeling well.”
Jill finished her hair and gave it a quick spray of hair product.
“There.  Gorgeous.”
“Alright, thank you for the flats and...damn, my hair does look good.”
“Told you.”
“You need to go before he gets here.”  Aubrey ushered Jill out.
“Why?  Don’t want me trying to steal him.”
“Don’t want you saying this crap in front of him.”
“Alright, alright, I’m gone.  Have fun.  Be safe.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean, be safe.”  Jill winked at her.
“GO.”
Jill chuckled and left as ordered.

*****

There was a vehicle parked in Aubrey’s yard Ben didn’t recognize.  When he stepped out of his truck, a woman came bounding down Aubrey’s steps.
“Hi.”  She waved smiling brightly.
“Hi,” Ben said cautiously.
“I’m Jill, Aubrey’s friend.  She’s still getting ready.”
“Ben.”  He reached his hand out.
“I know who you are.  Aubrey’s told me all about you.”
Aubrey talks about me?
“I’m scared to know what she’s said.”  Likely it was about their speeding interactions.
“Nothing too bad.  So, what are your intentions with my best friend?”
“You’re to the point aren’t you.”
“It’s the only way to be.  So?”
“Jill.”  Aubrey walked down the front steps.
“I have to go,” Jill said quickly.  “Nice to meet you Ben.”
“You too...”  Ben was too distracted by Aubrey to say a proper goodbye to Jill.  Aubrey wore a black cocktail dress that could never look as good on another woman.  It had thick shoulder straps and was a V cut in the front exposing a peak of her cleavage. It fell just above her knees and hugged her body tightly.  Damn.  That dress was made just for her.  Where were they going again?
“This is the only dress I have that’s somewhat appropriate.  Is it okay?”  Aubrey asked self-conscious.
“Uhhh....”  Ben fought to get his composure.  “Yeah...yes, it’s okay.”
Aubrey tugged at the hem.  “I should have stopped off at the mall before work to get a new one.”
“Aubrey, you look beautiful,” Ben said breathless and ran his eyes from her head to her feet.
“Thanks...”  She fidgeted with her earring.
Ben couldn’t stop appreciating the sight of her in front of him.
“We should go, huh,” Aubrey said finally breaking the silence.
“Yeah, of course.”  Ben walked her to the truck.

*****

Aubrey sat by herself in the small arrangement of chairs.
 Everyone at the wedding obviously knew one another.  She knew no one.  Why did she agree to come to this affair?
“You look lost,” the woman sitting beside her said out of the blue.
“I feel it,” Aubrey said shyly.
“My name is Raleigh,” the blond bombshell said.  Aubrey looked at her in envy.  “And this is my fiancé Mike.”
Mike leaned over.  

“Hi.”  Mike was a middle aged man with a pleasant smile and looked like he could be formidable.
“Hi.  I’m Aubrey.”  Now she knew two people’s name.  She was making headway.
“Are you on the groom or bride’s side?”
“I guess I’m on the groom’s side.”
“You don’t sound very sure of that.  Are you a wedding crasher?” Raleigh whispered.  “I won’t tell anyone.”
This Raleigh girl looked very familiar to Aubrey.  Raleigh...Raleigh...why did that name sound familiar?
“I’m Ben’s non-date date, the best man.”
“His non-date date?” Raleigh repeated.
“I’m just his friend,” Aubrey tried to explain.
“Oh.”  Raleigh flipped her sun bleached hair.  “He’s a good guy.  Worth being more than friends with.”
“You’ll have to excuse my fiancé.”  Mike leaned over, took Raleigh’s hand and kissed it.  “She’s not shy.”
“It’s alright,” Aubrey said meekly.
“Oh stop it.”  Raleigh pulled her hand away from Mike.  “How do you know Ben?”
Aubrey didn’t know if the story was appropriate to tell.
“It’s a long story.”
Raleigh angled her body toward Aubrey and crossed her long tan legs.  “I have quite a story about how I met him too.  He wanted very much to arrest me.”  
“He still would if he heard you talking about him,” Mike chimed in.  “Stop interrogating the poor woman.”
“Listen you, keep it up.”
“I have no problem keeping it up,” Mike whispered lowly only for Raleigh’s ears, but Aubrey heard.  Raleigh swatted him.  Aubrey laughed at the two of them.
“He left her all alone here, I’m being friendly.”  Raleigh turned and gave Mike a daring stare.  Mike gave her one back.  “So, back to you and Ben.  How did you meet?”
Aubrey wasn’t going to tell them it was because he pulled her over.  Was it appropriate for them to hang out under those circumstances, she wondered.
“I gave his niece Tiffy horseback riding lessons.”
“Oh.”  Raleigh’s face saddened.  “I know Tiffy.  It’s so sad.  She’s so young.”
“Yeah, it is,” Aubrey returned.
Music began to play lowly and everyone quieted.  Raleigh gave Aubrey a pleasant smile and angled her body forward once again.  Mike took her hand and they looked at one another lovingly.  It was almost annoying how happy the two seemed.
Ben stood at the front beside Kip.  He looked handsome and dapper, more appealing than he did in his blue polyester uniform.  She stopped herself from having thoughts of him in that way.  Friend.  He was a friend.  That’s all he could be and all he would be.
The wedding lasted all of ten minutes and there was no fancy procession.  People stood around talking for a few obligatory moments and then were off to the reception.  The wedding party stayed behind for photos.
“I’m sorry to leave you alone like this,” Ben said.
“You’re welcome to join us at the reception until Ben’s done doing his wedding duties,” Raleigh offered.
“I think I’ll wait, thank you though.” Aubrey didn’t know anyone there and though Raleigh was nice, she’d rather enjoy the pleasant sun than go inside a stuffy building with people she didn’t know alone.
“Find us when you make your way over.”  Raleigh put her arm on Aubrey’s forearm.  “Nice meeting you.”
“You too.”  Raleigh and Mike walked toward the parking lot to make their way across town to the reception hall.
“Why does she seem familiar?”  Aubrey asked Ben.
“Ah, I’ll explain in a little bit.  I’ll be right back.”  Ben jogged over to the happy couple and the maid of honor.  There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen, just the two of them.  
The setting where they chose to have the wedding was scenic and pure.  It was a little park hidden away on a somewhat secluded lake’s shore.  The grass was lush green, the sky above a brilliant blue.

*****

The wedding photo session ended
and Ben walked up to where he left Aubrey.  She wasn’t there.  God it was hot in that suit.  He took of his tie and put it in his pocket then opened the top two buttons of his shirt.  He tossed his suit jacket over a bench for a moment to air out.
He spied her.  She was down on the lakeshore walking barefoot in water, her shoes in her hand.
“It is a bit warm,” Ben said when he reached her.
“Good day for a swim.”  She splashed the water with her feet.
“Go ahead,” Ben enticed her.
“I’d look some cute going into the reception soaking wet.”
“You’d still look beautiful.”  Ben needed to be careful with his comments.  She looked out at the water and put her head down.  “Are you ready to go to the reception?”
She walked out of the water and to his side.  Together they walked to his truck and went to town to join the party.
“Who were those people sitting next to me?  Raleigh and Mike?  She seemed very familiar.”  Aubrey reminded him of the question she asked earlier.
“Mike is Kip’s sergeant and friend.  Raleigh is his fiancé.”
“Why does she seem familiar though?”
“Do you follow motor racing?”
“No.”
“She’s a rally driver in the WRC circuit.  She’s sort of, a little, famous.”
“Oh,” Aubrey said surprised.  “That explains it.  I think I’ve seen her in television commercials.”
“She’s a spokeswoman for some energy drink, I can’t remember the name of it off the top of my head.”
“I feel like a fool now.”  Aubrey wiped her face.
“Why?  She prefer people don’t treat her like she’s famous.  So you’ve just made a new friend.”

*****

Aubrey slid her flats back on and stepped out of the truck.
 They walked into the very tasteful, but casual setting.  The large banquet room was filled with voices.
“I have to sit at the head table long enough to make a toast, then I’ll be back.”
Aubrey wasn’t so happy she’d tagged along to this event so far.  The majority of the time she’d spent by herself.
“Ben, Aubrey!”  Raleigh raised her hand from their table.
“You’re new friend,” Ben whispered.
“Hi again,” Aubrey said shyly now knowing who this woman was.
“I’ll be back in a few.  Keep her entertained.”  Ben walked away to the front.
Aubrey and Raleigh made casual conversation in Ben’s absence, getting along well.  When all of his duties were over, it was nearly an hour and half into the reception.
“Excuse me, I’m going to make my way over to the bar.”  Aubrey stood.
“Would you like anything?” she asked Raleigh and Mike.
“No thank you.”
Aubrey leaned against the countertop.
“Strawberry margarita please.”  The bartender went to work.
“Hi there,” a middle aged intoxicated woman straight out of the 80’s said.  “I’m Geneva.”
Geneva?  Like the coffee or the convention?
“Hi.”  Aubrey didn’t want to make friends with this woman.
“I’m Hanna’s aunt.  You must be on the groom’s side.”
“Yeah.”  Aubrey didn’t further entertain her.
“You here alone too?”
“No, my date is somewhere around here.”  Aubrey put a ten on the bar for the bartender.
“Are you married?”
What the hell is it with people lately?
“I’m happily single.”
“Me too.  Amen to that.  I’ve been married five times and yet to find a good one!”  She laughed scarily.
“At least you’re not a quitter.”  Aubrey laughed at her and tried to walk away.
“Let me tell you honey, you’re better off to give up on ‘em.  That’s what I’ve decided.  Time to switch teams.”
Aubrey coughed.
“Are you interested?”  Geneva raised her eyebrow and smiled.
“WOW,” Aubrey said shocked.  “I’m kinda of not gay, but thank you for the offer.”
“I’m not gay, I’m being experimental and you look like you’d be fun.”
It was like a train wreck, Aubrey couldn’t look away from this woman.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”  Ben stepped beside her.  “Let’s dance.”
Aubrey put her drink on the bar and let him take her to the dance floor.
“Did I catch the tail end of that conversation correctly?  Was that woman trying to pick you up?”
“Yes!” Aubrey said shocked.  “She said she was being experimental and I looked like fun!”
Ben laughed.  
“It’s not funny!”  But she laughed a little.  “You invited me here and then ditched me.  I’m getting hit on by old women.  What the hell?”
“Take it as a compliment.”  Ben put his hand on her waist and took her other hand in his.
“I don’t remember you asking me to dance,” Aubrey said slightly standoffish.  She was going to give him a hard time at every turn.
“Fine.”  Ben let go of her.  “I thought you’d prefer my company over granny’s over there, but I’ll send her over.”
“Don’t you dare!”  She wasn’t letting him abandon her again.  Ben took a few steps toward the old lady.  “Ben!”
Ben turned around, took her hand and pulled her into his center smoothly.
“Better?”  Ben held her tight against him, one hand on her lower back, the other clasping her hand.  He led her around the dance floor confidently.
“Better than the alternative I guess.”
The song changed to “The Way You Look Tonight” sung by Maroon 5.  Ben spun her around playfully.  
“You know how to dance,” Aubrey said surprised.
“I’ve had a few lessons.”  He moved with grace and ease.  
“I can’t keep up with you.”
“Let me lead.”  Ben leaned his head forward and challenged her.  Aubrey lightened up and tried to let go.
She became lost in the moment.  No one else in that room mattered.  She didn’t see them, only Ben.
“With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart,
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
It touches my foolish heart.”
Ben mouthed the words.  Aubrey couldn’t take her eyes off his.  It was a movie like moment.  She caught herself and got her bearings.  Ben slowed down their pace and Aubrey leaned into him, her head against his.  Looking into his eyes could prove too tempting for her to turn him down if he tried to make another advance.