Breaking All The Rules (Book 1 - Second Chances Series) (4 page)

“I wasn’t crying because of that,” I said raising my voice a bit.

He was unconvinced. The expression on his face said so before his words confirmed it. “Oh, really?”

“I wasn’t crying because of the wedding. Have you ever thought that the reason I was crying might be private? That I don’t want to talk about it. That I don’t want to share.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I thought you women liked to talk out stuff.”

“And I’m sure you’re an expert on us women.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head. “Now who’s making assumptions?”

“I’m not assuming. You’ve already proven yourself to be slick with your singing and piano playing.”

He chuckled and dropped his arms. Well-chiseled biceps tightened and distracted me for a moment. “You asked me about the piano.”

I raised my eyebrows a fraction. “I didn’t ask you to play and I certainly didn’t ask you to sing.”

He shook his head again. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to take your mind off your troubles. You seemed to need some help with that.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s what the kiss was for too.”

“No.” He rubbed his head and smiled. “The kiss was purely selfish.”

Our eyes locked and words escaped us. I was the first to break the stare. “I’m going.” I turned and headed toward the door.

“Wait up. I’ll follow you.”

I turned the knob and pulled the door open. “There’s no need. I know the way home.”

He closed the space between us and pulled on the sneakers he’d taken off when we entered the house. “No way are you going out of here this late alone. I’m following you to make sure you get in the house.”

I couldn’t talk him out if it. He did just that, followed me to the house, waited for me to get out and inside and then he pulled off. 

I closed the door and leaned against it. I felt like a fool yet again. Not only were Janette and Terrance making a fool out of me, but now I’d made a fool out of myself running away from a kiss like I was a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl. I raised my hands to my lips, remembered the feel of his lips against mine.

“Open your mouth.”
O.M.G. I closed my eyes against the memory. That Ethan Wright was sexy. God help me. I loved a man that knew how to take control. I let out a long sigh. “Get it together girl. You’re vulnerable and you did not come to town to be some man with wanderlust in his blood’s booty call.”

I flopped down on the sofa. Gayle was still up, although likely in bed with her new husband, so instead of calling like I wanted to I sent a text.

Me:
Today was interesting. Hated seeing Terrance. Couldn’t help but love seeing my sister. She’s cute pregnant. Met up with Terrance’s cousin, Ethan.

Gayle:
Ethan Wright, that fine soccer player?

Me:
Ex-soccer player. Fine is an understatement. I just left his house.

Gayle didn’t send her message back as quickly as she usually did. I wondered if she’d drifted off the sleep or decided to do what married people did in bed and then a message came through.

Gayle:
His house huh? Watch it, Diva. You’re vulnerable right now. Be careful not to do the wrong thing with another Mr. Wright.

I sighed and tossed my phone across the sofa.

My sister had selected a white wedding dress. She was getting married in a church to the pastor’s son so it was not the color I would choose for her. I couldn’t talk her out of it. I put my wedding planner sensibilities in the back of my mind and remembered the line I always fed my clients when they were unsure about a choice they were making for their wedding: “Etiquette may dictate certain rules, but this is your day. Make it what you want it to be.” My sister deserved the same pass on her white dress.

“You look amazing.” I took her hand.

She seemed uncertain and so tiny, even with the bulge in front of her. “I’m so glad you’re here. I couldn’t do this without you. Are you sure I don’t look too fat? Too pregnant?”

The only way she was hiding that belly was under a garbage can, but the dress she’d chosen, an empire cut with the large voile and lace sash below the breast line with a free flowing skirt, was a good start. “You look beautiful and since we’re only a little over a week out, you don’t have to worry about out growing it.”

Janette grunted a bit. “I guess not. I just want everything to be perfect. It’s bad enough daddy isn’t here to walk me down the aisle. I don’t want anything else making me sad.”

I nodded. I understood exactly what she meant. I’d thought about it myself on many occasions as I instructed a father to cup the elbow of his daughter and take that long walk to hand her off to her future husband. I’d wondered who would do that for me. 

“Now that we’re on that subject who is it that has the honor of giving you away?”

Janette walked across the room and reached into a tissue box to remove one. “Uncle Murray.” She dabbed at the moisture that had pooled around her eyes. “Who else?”

I nodded. Randolph Murray or Uncle Murray, as we called him, wasn’t our actual uncle. We didn’t have any uncles. Both our parents had been only children; hence our tiny circle of family. He was Janette’s godfather and had been our father’s best friend. He’d adored her since she was a little girl.

“I’d better get out of this dress. I don’t want the other girls to see it.”

She entered the dressing room just as the bell over the door to the small shop rang and in came the group of other bridesmaids. We’d already discussed the fact that we had to take something that the shop owner had on the rack. The only dress that had been picked out prior to my arrival was Janette’s and she and I had done the shopping using FaceTime on our iPhones. As for the wedding party, she insisted the girls wait for me to come to town so whatever they selected wouldn’t clash with my vision. Thankfully none of the girls were particularly small or large, so the store’s stock should be sufficient.

Evie, the shop owner, had agreed to get started on alternations immediately so we could come back in a few days for the fittings and still have time for one more if necessary. 

Janette wanted everyone to wear hot pink, so we selected fuchsia dresses that were on consignment from a wedding that had been cancelled this summer. Lucky for us, not so lucky for the couple I supposed. In any event, fuchsia was my sister’s favorite color and she was tickled pink that everyone was able to fit in one of the dresses. There was even a dress for the flower girl available. Terrance’s cousin would be coming in after school to try it on, but based on the size and save for a little hemming, we were certain it would fit the child.

Janette, complaining of back pain, hugged everyone and made her exit to the car to wait for me. I stayed behind to pay for mine and the other dresses that weren’t in the last minute budgets for two of Janette’s friends. They both thanked me profusely and insisted they would pay me back, but I told them I was Janette’s family. I was standing in my dad’s place therefore I’d take care of it. As they would say in Garrison, I made a heap more money than she did.  I didn’t want her trying to take a mortgage on the house to pay for a wedding, which was what she had a mind to do. The expenses were my wedding gift to her, regardless of how I felt about whom she was marrying.

Renea, Janette’s best friend, and I were the last in the shop. We’d agreed to a secret lunch meeting to discuss the bridal shower, which Renea had already told me she had huge ideas for. I would have loved handing off the shower in its entirety. But I sensed budget was an issue, so rather than dump it all on her, I agreed to be part of the planning. I honestly understood budgetary issues. A wedding in thirty days could be a burden on anyone. It did my heart good to see that my sister had done such a great job holding on to her high school friends, because I hadn’t. I’d been so busy working that I didn’t even really talk to anyone from college forget high school.

The next stop on our list was the local bakery. It was a delicious little shop owned by Ward Simpson, a member of Reverend Wright’s church and had been in the owner’s family for nearly seventy years. We tasted samples of his lemon, raspberry and coconut cream fillings and settled on a plain white velvet cake with a seedless raspberry filling. I had my own plans for how to decorate it, so that made the short delivery window a non-issue. I told Mr. Simpson Terrance would be popping in later today to select a groom’s cake and I had no idea what he had in mind.

“Knowing Terrance it won’t be anything too crazy,” Mr. Simpson replied. He handed me the receipt for the cake and a bag that included two complimentary cupcakes for Janette and me. My sister took the bag and started waddling out the door to the car, pleading the need to sit down again.

“I’ll be back in later to order the bridal shower cake,” I whispered. Mr. Simpson winked like we were keeping a huge secret and I followed Janette to the car.

I no longer needed my sister, so I dropped her off at work. The tuxedo shop was next on my list. I was meeting with Terrance and his groomsmen. I was pleased to see that the shop had a nice selection of tuxedos that could be ordered quickly. The men had to pay a twenty-dollar rush fee for the short window, but that didn’t seem to be an issue for any of them and if it were, that would be Terrance’s bill. The bell over the door rang and I turned expecting to see Terrance enter, but was surprised that it was Ethan.

He spotted me right away, removed the mirrored sunglasses he’d been wearing and made a slow, sexy approach. The sexiness wasn’t on purpose. Ethan just had natural swagger.

“I didn’t know you were in the wedding. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Good morning to you too,” he replied.

I rolled my eyes. “Sorry, is it just morning? I’ve already had a full day. How are you?”

“I’m great. I had a good nights sleep. Dreamt of you the entire time.”

The smile I’d had on my face dropped. I could see  the flirting wasn’t going to end with this guy. “So, back to my question, why didn’t you tell me you were in the wedding?”

“I’m his first cousin,” Ethan said, moving a few tuxedos around on the rack. He removed a really hideous one that looked more like a clown suit, frowned and returned it to the rack. “Why wouldn’t I be in his wedding?”

Realizing I shouldn’t have been surprised, I shrugged.

Ethan continued. “Not only am I in the wedding, but I’ve been upgraded. Terrance called me this morning and promoted me up the ranks. You remember Craig Bond, his best friend?”

I nodded that I did.

“His unit has new orders. He’s being deployed on Tuesday.”

I was sorry for Craig for a moment, but then realized if Craig was out… “Does that mean you’re going to be his best man?”

“Yeah, ironic right? We could barely stand each other growing up.”

The bell over the shop rang again. Terrance and his friends entered with Uncle Murray on their heels.

“Childhood rivalries are often put aside for weddings,” I said. “Let’s join them.”

A devilish look crossed Ethan’s face. “Let’s drop down to the floor, hide between the racks and pretend we’re not here.”

I leaned into him. “You are really silly.”

“Ethan. Nec… Deniece,” Terrance corrected himself. “I see you’ve become reacquainted.”

“No reacquainting needed.” Ethan put his arm around my shoulder. “Who could forget a gal like Deniece or a dude like me?”

The smile Terrance had on his face was replaced with a look of annoyance. I didn’t miss the fact that he’d seemed particularly perturbed that Ethan had an arm around my shoulder.

I stepped out of Ethan’s grasp and pinned him with a look that said, “Stop misbehaving”, and slid into Uncle Murray’s waiting arms for a hug.

“You’re a good girl, Deniece. Your father would be proud of you.” Uncle Murray gave my shoulder a comforting pat and winked. Like most folks in town, he knew that Terrance and I had been a couple. I appreciated the fact that he understood my showing up and helping my sister was about my father. If it hadn’t been for the promise I made to him, I might be in my condo eating a quart of ice cream and feeling sorry for myself.

“Is everyone here?” I asked Terrance.

Still a bit salty, he gave his head a curt nod.

“Great.” There was no need to corral the men like I’d had to do with the women. They weren’t the least bit distracted by the trappings in the store, so I was able to get right to it. “Good morning, gentleman. I think I know everyone from high school. If you don’t remember me, I’m Deniece Malcolm. I’m the wedding planner and I’ll be helping you with the tuxedo selection today.”

They nodded and we started shopping. Getting the men fitted was as easy as finding pork at the Piggly Wiggly. Groomsmen were usually easy to please. They accepted my recommendation as fashion gospel and we matched the colors for their accessories with ease.

Evie, doing double duty in this store, which adjoined her dress shop, measured them, took payments and had them on their way in less than two hours. That left Ethan, Terrance and me at the counter.

Terrance stepped to the register to pay for his tuxedo and Ethan turned to me. “Would you like to have lunch? I promise. They’ll be no piano music or singing.”