Romancing the Fashionista (5 page)

“Let’s hear it for the 90s babies! I need you all to get your asses on the dance floor. You’re not dead yet! This is supposed to be a parrrr-tay! All my independent women, put your hands up! All my independent women, put your hands up! If you got your own money and you really don’t care, let me see you wave your hands in the air!”

Nolan was reaching out to put Mel’s drink on the table when yet another, this time female, voice came over the microphone. “All the single ladies! Excuse me, single ladies? I guess he’s not talking about me. Ramona Spencer-Patterson over here!” She held up her ringed left hand. “Seven years married. Thank you, Jimmy! But Melinda, Alexia, better known as Eenie and Meenie, I think he’s calling for you two! By special request the DJ is playing your song.”

Mel and Lexi’s heads shot towards the DJ table in unison before turning back towards each other. Yeah, it was high school all over again as they said in unison, “Fucking Ramona Spencer-Patterson,” and hit the floor grabbing hold of Ian and Nolan along the way.

“Oh shit now!” Ian yelled playfully. “Don’t hurt me, woman!”

“You should be so lucky,” Lexi yelled to him over her shoulder.

Seemingly as one, the two women started a dance that was so in sync it looked choreographed, but in the best of ways. They spun on their heels and shook their booties around Nolan and Ian, bending low and dropping like it was hot before coming back up, shimmying and switching partners before Nolan and Ian could tell what was happening to them. The more they moved, the bigger the crowd around them got. And though she hated to admit it, since it was so out of her comfort zone, Mel was having a fantastic time. It was like they were kids again, dancing up in Lexi’s bedroom, but this time their imaginary partners were real. Live and right in front of her.

She gave a glance at Nolan, and though he was clearly stunned by her moves, he was putting up some pretty good moves of his own. When the song switched to an old R&B boy band hit, he and Ian took over high-fiving and flipping the script, turning the tables on the women. They danced around Mel and Lexi, throwing up their hands and freak-dancing like they didn’t have a care in the world.

The other classmates were now trying to join in, and Mel spotted Ramona and her crew attempting to pull their significant others into the fray before the fun was over. But they were hopelessly tragic. It was official. They were now the coolest no-longer kids at this party. And in a fit of complete impulsiveness, Mel caught Ramona’s eye on her ring-less left hand, then turned back to Nolan and pulled him in for a kiss.

Chapter Six

Holy shit, I’m kissing Nolan Parker!

Yes, Mel was kissing Nolan Parker in front of her entire graduating class. Wait a minute, she was kissing Nolan Parker in front of her entire graduating class, and he was kissing her back.

This moment just keeps getting better and better.

Mel took a second to really assess what was indeed happening. Her lips were no longer just hers and no longer the aggressor’s. No, there was an opposite but equal force coming right back at her, applying the right amount of delicious pressure to let her know she wasn’t in this alone.
Go physics!
At the same time, she noticed the music changing once again. It was still upbeat but had now slowed a bit and had taken on a cool guitar with a low bass and a crooner singing about making love.

All righty then.

Nolan seemed to be taking it to heart too as he eased his arm around Mel’s waist and smoothly pulled her in towards his, holy moly, hard-as-hell body. They now swayed and the heat of him warmed her as they were thigh-to-thigh and chest-to-chest. Heartbeats became one and breaths mingled as Nolan turned his head slightly and eased his tongue along the crease of her lips, asking for entry. In her mind Mel opened her mouth to say no, but as her tongue reached out for his it was clearly a yes. When they came together for the first time to the beat of the slow jam, her heart raced to a tempo no song could keep up with. This was magic.

“Now wasn’t that invigorating?” Ramona’s strained voice came over the speaker, breaking the mood and the spell way too fast by reminding Mel where she was in the real world. She and Nolan came apart slowly, both wide-eyed and a little off-kilter.

Mel looked over her shoulder, and there was Lexi grinning that “cat that not only ate the canary but the whole fucking pet store” grin as she gave her friend a pinky wave before easing away from Ian, who looked terribly forlorn at the dismissal. Lexi went towards Sexy Mr. Stuart, who stood over by the door with two Timber-tinis ready to make a quick exit.
Geeze, who knew both Lexi and I had an odd Mr. Robinson thing to work out?

“And don’t forget we have a big day tomorrow with the parade and the pep rally and then the big dance. I can’t thank you enough for showing your school spirit in such a wonderful way!” Ramona was now finishing up her speech. “Oh, and there is a box with ballots to be cast for our king and queen redeux. So cast those votes. Members of the homecoming court, please meet here for the parade at 9:30 sharp, but first, can we all meet for a moment in the far left corner?” She cast a very pointed look at Nolan with that comment.

Mel snorted. “I think that means you, Mr. Parker. Or shall I say, King Parker. Your court awaits.” Mel made her way towards their little table where her purse was and pulled out her phone. Her mind now actively pushing past their kiss and on its way to work and how she’d spend the rest of her evening.

Mel shook her head as her phone buzzed, knowing already it would be Lexi texting her.

Lex:
Don’t wait up for me. I’m grabbing some things and will meet up with you tomorrow after I see my parents.

Mel:
Watch yourself. Be safe.

Lex:
Maybe you should text him that.

Mel:
SMH

Lex:
Don’t worry I’ll be fine. You have fun. Real fun. You know what I mean.

Mel:
I’m sleeping alone tonight. Your plan will not work.

Lex:
My plans always work.

Mel:
Go live out your teacher fantasy so we can quickly get out of this town.

Lex:
Night Girlie!

Mel:
Goodnight :-)

Despite all her protests, while signing off, Mel’s lips still tingled and that damn kiss popped back into her thoughts. As she licked her lips, Mel swore she could still taste and feel Nolan—the touch of cinnamon mixed with beer and masculinity. Mel sucked in a breath and tucked her phone back into her bag and prepared to walk away. This day and night had been exciting enough. Time to pack it in. But Nolan caught her by the arm as she was leaving the room.

“What are you doing?” She challenged him on a turn. “Your court awaits you.”

“Let them wait. I’d rather dance with you some more. Why don’t you stay, then I’ll walk you up? Since we’re neighbors and all.”

Mel smiled, though not at all happy with the words about to come out of her mouth. Especially with the way Nolan was looking at her. Eyes smoldering, traveling from her eyes to her lips and back. She should say yes. Why not just say yes? Lord knows she fantasized about an offer from Nolan Parker for way too many years, and this was her chance. Besides, judging by his dance moves and the quite-generous bulge that greeted her when they danced, she was pretty sure he would definitely live up to the fantasy.

Mel shook her head. “No thanks. It’s been fun, but I’m ready to pack it in. If I go now, I still have a few hours to get some work in tonight. Thanks for the dance,” she paused. “And the extra. This was way more than I’m used to. I’ll see you around tomorrow, I’m sure.”

Mel eased her arm from his grasp, slower than was probably necessary, but savoring what she could, as she made her way out of the Tahoe room and away from Nolan Parker for the night.

Nolan continued to watch Mel go for about five seconds after she was gone. Damn it! He should have gone after her. Kissed her. Something. Anything other than standing there. Still, he knew that some part of him worried that she may just be out of his league. Hell, even back then, when they were kids, he felt that way. Something about her cool attitude and that smart, know-it-all way of hers, did it to him. And truth be told, he still felt it today.

Yet here he was once again, watching her go and following the rules, doing what was expected.

Nolan stood over with the rest of the crew, which consisted of the old homecoming court and Ramona droning on about where they had to meet in the morning to be propped up on the homecoming float and dragged through the town square like old-timey bread thieves.
What the hell?
The reason he was even here doing this had left the room and was probably, at that moment, slipping out of her sexy slip of a dress not twenty feet from his own bed for the night.

“Nolan, are you paying attention?”

He blinked and looked at Ramona. “To what?”

She gave him an exasperated look and rolled her eyes. “I was saying as king and queen, it would be nice if we opened the dance.”

“Really, Ramona? Don’t you think we should leave that to the kids?”

Silence.

Jeeze. For a moment he thought the DJ even stopped the music, as if anyone questioning Ramona was that serious. She blinked. “Well, this is a special occasion, and we do have a reputation to uphold.”

Nolan yawned. He was tired, well if not tired, then tired of this conversation, and ready for it to be over. “Trust me, I’m sure for all of us our reputations are bigger in our own minds than they are in anyone else’s. How about you take your turn around the dance floor with the current king in your life, and we’ll just leave it at that.”

Ramona blinked as if she could wash away his dissention with her glued-on lashes. Finally she spoke up. “Well, I see somebody came back home with his cranky pants on.” She reached out and ran a hand across his chest. It was so blatantly sexual he was nothing but embarrassed for her, and worse, her husband who was by the bar visibly on his way to shitfaced throwing back a Jack.

Nolan stilled her hand and gently put it aside, not liking that her hand was in the same spot Mel’s had been not long before. But still he smiled. He was good at it. “I’m cool. Not cranky at all.” He looked at the small gathering of his so-called friends. “Listen, I’m going to turn in. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

There were nods and murmurs of goodnight as Nolan left the party, nodding to Ian who was now chatting up one of the waitresses. Nolan knew he screwed up by letting Mel go without him, and because of that he had a long night ahead of him of staring longingly at an adjoining door while he wished away a massive hard-on.

Chapter Seven

Mel pulled her shades down over her eyes and headed out of the coffee shop clutching her cup tightly. She and Lexi were supposed to be breakfasting at her parent’s house this morning, but with Lexi falling back into the room somewhere around 4 a.m. and only budging long enough to text her mom to tell them she’d see them later, Mel knew she was on her own for the morning.

She’d thought about taking the day and working on next month’s Anguilla layout. Shelby had overnighted her all she needed so she probably should skip the planned festivities today. But despite the pull of going over the tropical photo spread, Mel still found herself out on Main Street cautiously blending in with the small crowd of town folks standing around waiting for the annual Timber Day parade to start.

As Mel stood in between a group of stroller moms and some old men who looked as if they had their lawn chairs out since daybreak, the parade started with the marching of the color guard. The military represented were greeted with cheers and some salutes from the crowd, followed by the cub and boy scouts, and then volunteers from the ambulance corps and the fire department. When the Girl Scouts came by with their bright faces full of hope, Mel was once again transported back to the days of growing up in the town and those old feelings of isolation came surging back on the rush of a wave. She remembered how her mother took her to a scout meeting at the suggestion of a friend she worked with at the bakery. But the girls took one look at Mel and couldn’t wait to point out the differences in her hair and skin tone. With the comment of an upcoming overnight at the lake, Mel went home and told her mother she would not be going back to the troop. Looking at the girls now, marching happily, Mel was thrilled to see the town and the Scouts had become more inclusive with, not many but at least some, children from varying ethnic backgrounds. They all seemed to be thriving and happy marching behind their Timber banners with pride.

Up next was the Timber marching band followed by the current Timberettes. Mel lowered her shades a fraction of an inch and pulled out her cell, snapping a pic. Lexi had to see this. The Timberettes had indeed changed from their time there and, like the Scouts that preceded them, they were no longer a sea of blonde but now a lovely array of girls in all colors and even shapes that looked fantastic in the traditional Timber blue and gold. Mel was suddenly pulled up short. What had happened to the old backwater town while she was away? She looked down at her coffee cup and wondered if this was what a Starbucks could do to a place?

Mel pushed her glasses back up and reluctantly bobbed her head to the sound of the horns as she watched the processional. Her bobbing stopped when she had the feeling of being watched rather than the one doing the watching. Mel looked up at the oncoming float and connected eyes with Nolan. He looked good this morning, and she was thankful she had her shades on to hide her reaction and the fact that she got so little sleep last night. At first she told herself she was up listening for Lexi. But of course when Lexi was in and snoring and she was still tossing and turning, she told herself it was because she had so much work-related stuff to take care of, and it wasn’t because she was thinking of that delicious lip lock with Nolan and where she would have liked it to have gone.

But today, in the blaring sun, with the cool Timber breeze on her face, Mel could admit to herself that, yeah, it was all about him and how she should have taken the opportunity last night to get him out of her system once and for all.

Nolan looked good. Still sexy as hell, though uncomfortable, up on the float, which as she shifted her focus she noticed held the former homecoming court in the front with the current homecoming court in the back. The “queens” were each highlighted on raised daises. Ramona, for her part, beamed and waved from her seat as if she was indeed royalty. Mel couldn’t help shaking her head and feeling for the current queen having to share her moment with that piece of work.

Still, Mel picked up her cell and snapped a pic for Lexi. It would make for good conversation on the way home. What could Ramona have on the principal or the PTA to get them to okay such a horrible idea?

She took her phone and zoomed in a bit on Nolan as Ramona said something in his ear, pulling his attention away from where he was looking in her direction. Mel caught his frown, the drawing in of his eyebrows and the slight tightening of his lips, and once again remembered how those lips felt against her own. His stubble was a little more shadowed today, and it made the tops of her fingers itch with need to run her hands through it. She wanted to snap the close-up picture of him, but it would be wrong and it would also feel like an admission of some sort. One she wasn’t ready to admit to, so instead she hit a button sending her phone back to its home screen. Just as she did, Mel looked up to see Nolan stand and hop down from the float, coming toward her with a determined smile.

Mel looked back at the float and there was Ramona rolling her eyes and shaking her head before turning back forward with a forced smile and a queenly wave.

Nolan stood in front of Mel and had his first genuine smile of the day.

“What the hell was that about? Are you trying to make us the talk of the town?”

He glanced back towards a stiff-backed Ramona as the float continued on without him. “Hey, you were the one who kissed me last night and started it. I thought I’d keep the fun going. Besides, she was working my last nerve. You should have heard—no better you didn’t hear—the propositions I was getting this morning. Just then, I had to ask her if she kissed her husband with that mouth.”

Mel raised a brow. “Let me guess, her answer was yes.”

Nolan laughed. “How did you know?”

Mel shrugged. “He seemed the type to let a lot slide and go with the flow.”

Nolan nodded in the affirmative, feeling pity for Ramona’s husband. He remembered when he was the type to go with the flow too. Ramona’s family was long standing in the town, owning lots of land and the leases on most of the buildings along Main Street, including the plant where his own father was manager for many years.

Nolan shrugged off the old feeling of suffocation. “Since I’m no longer tethered to the float, you want to walk a bit? Catch up before hitting the pep rally and the game? Or we can skip it all together.”

Mel looked at him from behind the shades a second longer than made him comfortable.

“We can walk,” she finally said.

Nolan gestured for her to lead, wanting to place his hand once again on her back but somehow hesitant to do so today. He let her lead as she headed south on Main, following along with the parade route but at a slower pace. She looked hot in a pair of well-fitting slim dark jeans tucked into what looked like riding boots that were expensive enough to take care of a moderate mortgage. She topped the ensemble with a body-skimming, thin black turtleneck that looked luxurious enough to be cashmere. Though it was October, the sun was bright and the day was surprisingly warm. She had no jacket, just a large light-grey scarf she’d looped around her neck. Her dark hair, which now blew in the wind, had lovely highlights of reddish brown that caught the sun just so and did the most intriguing things around her face.

“Are you going to stare at me, or did you plan to talk on this walk?” Mel asked, getting right to the point.

“Sorry. I was enjoying the view, Ms. Business Woman, but we can talk if you want. Tell me, what have you been up to these past fifteen years?”

She smiled. A wry smile, and he knew she was probably rolling her eyes behind her dark glasses as she brought her coffee cup to her lips, took a sip, then gave her upper lip a lick. He felt an immediate pull in his groin and thought maybe hopping off the float was not the best idea if he was going to behave like an overeager teenager.

“What, was that question not savvy enough for you? I know you hang with the big dogs now and I’m just a local townie but, come on, spill. I’m curious. Tell me how a girl from Nowhere, New York becomes the “it” woman of the fashion scene. You are hot. One word from you can make or break a person.”

Mel pulled up short and this time he really knew she was frowning behind her glasses. He stopped walking and turned to her. “Wait, did I say something wrong?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s just, I’m kind of surprised you know about me. Most people who do are in the industry and want to work with me in some way. And I’m sorry I was so short. I, um, tend to do that. I’m not used to having free time to just talk or even take a leisurely walk for that matter.” She took another sip of her coffee, shook the cup, and found it came up empty. She tossed it in a nearby trashcan before continuing their walk. This time her pace was brisker and he rushed to keep up.

“Well, I can tell. You definitely have that New York, fast-paced thing down. A guy’s gotta be in shape to keep up with you.” The corner of her lip quirked a bit at that and he got an instant pull of desire, wondering if her mind went where his did. He forced himself to keep it light though. At least for now. “Come on, of course I know about you. This town is only so big, and you had to have noticed the murmurs as you walked into the mixer last night. You’re all the talk. Not to mention even here. Don’t you see how some of these housewives are checking you out? Wondering who you are? You can’t go partying with Bey and J on yachts and still keep your anonymity.”

Mel looked around and he could tell she now caught the furtive glances from some of the residents who indeed had questions in their eyes before she turned back to him. “Okay, I hear you. I just didn’t expect it from here or from you. I get a little of it in Manhattan, very little. When you’re not a celeb you only get it from those you can give a handout to. But here, I’m a nobody. Here, folks like you and Ramona are the stars.”

Nolan took a deep breath. “One, you were never a nobody. And two, trust me, those days are long past despite what glory days people like Ramona are hoping to live again.”

Mel touched his arm, and it sent a gentle crackle up to his spine that made him feel alive. “I’m sorry. Now I feel like I made you go to places you may not have wanted to go.”

For some reason it seemed like his hands were working without the benefit of his brain as they reached out and took the dark shades off her eyes. Thankfully she didn’t pull back; instead she blinked and looked at him. Those beautiful dark eyes, so very like the ones he remembered looking up at him all those years ago. The ones that held all the promise, all the hope for a future the way he dreamt it could be. Mel winced a bit as the sun shifted. Nolan slipped the glasses back on her. “No, you’ve brought me right where I need to be, and for the first time in a long time, I’m exactly where I want to be.”

Mel tilted her head as if she were about to say something but reconsidered. She was about to step off once again, the parade looking like it was coming to an end as they were now nearing the high school fields, when suddenly Nolan knew he didn’t want to be with her along with the rest of the crowd. He looked up and saw they were in front of The Clover Diner. “Are you hungry, or can you do with another cup of coffee? Because I’m starved, and I really don’t want whatever they are peddling over at the field.”

Mel smiled and Nolan realized that during his question he had reached for her hand. She pulled him towards the diner. “Sure. I can eat. I thought I’d be meeting up with Lex, but she’s proving to be useless this trip. Still sleeping in after last night.”

They made their way into the diner and Nolan was bereft when Mel let go of his hand. Like a child, he instantly wanted to reach out and grab hers again but knew he couldn’t. The diner was crowded due to so many townspeople being out on the parade route, but the hostess thankfully had one available booth where she seated them. After the waitress served them both two cups of coffee and took their orders, they stared at each other for a moment.

Nolan reached out once again with a question. “Do you mind?”

“What?” Her voice was soft, low and hesitant. It was a tone he’d not yet heard her use, and he liked it. It made him wonder what her voice would be like close to his ear when they were making love.

“Your glasses. You still have them on though it’s plenty dark in here.” He gently pulled them off, folded them and placed them by her side as she tucked her hair behind her ears.

Mel looked at him now hesitantly, a sweet shyness coming to her features. “I’m sorry. It’s a habit, me wearing them. They’re prescription. So, necessary.” She shrugged. “Also, a sort of shield. Lets me observe people unaware. Helps in the city.” She reached into her bag and pulled out an eyeglass case and switched the shades for a pair of dramatic horn-rimmed clear lenses. “But since I don’t have contacts on, I have to wear these.”

“I think those look great on you. Mad sexy if you ask me.”

She frowned, her brows drawing tightly together. “Really, Nolan. You can save the player act for when you’re out with Ian. It’s wasted on me.” She then took out her phone and flipped through a few screens, frowning.

He shook his head and folded his arms. “You really take me back, woman. You wouldn’t give me the time of day then, and you won’t now. For all your glasses you don’t see much. You have to know how crazy I’ve always been about you.”

His words had the desired effect as her head popped up and her pretty mouth flew open. Too bad it was just in time for the waitress to bring their breakfast specials, breaking the moment.

Mel set her phone beside her and looked at her plate of egg whites, turkey sausage and rye toast. It was a sharp contrast to his ham and cheese omelet with a side of pancakes and bacon, but he wanted to live a little after being away from American breakfasts for so long.

She looked over at his breakfast as he did a generous pour of the syrup.

“You want a bite?” he asked, waving the fork her way as she shook her head before taking the fluffy pancake into his own mouth.

He knew she wanted some of his breakfast and maybe more, but she was being stubborn, which was so Mellie. He shrugged. “Fine. More for me.”