Friday Night Brides (13 page)

“Oh shit!” Becca cried as she spun and reached for her cover-up and quickly slipped it on. When she straightened, she couldn’t make herself look directly at Max.

Hailey—thankfully—jumped in. “Max! So glad you could make it!”

Becca’s head snapped to the side. “Make it?”

Nodding, Hailey smiled. “I called him this morning and invited him to join us. He’s the reason we’re here today and I thought it would be great if he could be here.”

Judith looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

Angie and Ella climbed out of the pool and grabbed their towels after greeting Max.

“Well,” Hailey began, “Max put together a little surprise for you and the girls and I got a preview of it last weekend and that’s why we’re here today, Mom. To share it with you!”

With a gasp, Judith looked from Hailey to Max. “What in the world?” she asked, tearing up. “I don’t even know what it is but I know I’m going to love it!”

“I have it inside,” Hailey said. “So if you’re okay with it, we can all go inside and see it.”

Judith held up a hand to stop her. “Actually, I need about fifteen minutes. I’m about to go in on a conference call with the Nashville people. They’re wanting to do an entire weekend event and we’re trying to coordinate schedules.”

“Don’t they have bridal shops in Nashville?” Angie asked.

Judith smiled and winked. “Not as good as ours.” Then she turned and walked away.

Becca wished she could do the same thing. When she got Hailey alone later, she was going to strangle her. It was bad enough she was feeling ten kinds of inferior thanks to last night’s run-in with Danny. Did she really need to have Max see her and her chubby body in a bikini?

“Excuse me,” she mumbled as she turned and walked quickly toward the small pool house at the far end of the yard.

Hailey inwardly groaned as she watched Becca’s retreat. She turned to Max and pasted an overly bright smile on her face. “So…yeah. So glad you could come over for this. I think my mom is going to freak out—in a good way—when she sees the video.”

Max wasn’t really paying attention. He was staring hard at the pool house.

“Um…yeah…,” Ella added awkwardly. “And Dylan and I can’t wait for you to help us with our wedding video. I know we’re downsizing everything, but we decided we still want a video.”

When Max still didn’t say anything, Hailey looked at Angie and silently begged her to do something.

“So…Max,” Angie said, picking her margarita back up, “do you find Becca even remotely attractive?”

“
Angie
!” Hailey and Ella cried in unison.

“What?” Max asked incredulously, finally tearing his gaze from the pool house.

With a shrug and a small glare at the girls, she faced Max. “Look, Becca…well…she kind of thinks you’re not interested in her.”

Ella groaned and slowly sat down on her chaise and put her face in her hands.

“Why would she think that?” he asked. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together, we talk on the phone all the time…I…I don’t understand why she would think I wasn’t into her.”

Reaching out, Hailey put a hand on his arm. “Okay, I know it’s not our place to say anything but being that
somebody
…” she paused, glancing angrily at Angie, “put it out there, it’s only fair that we explain.”

Max sighed heavily. “O-kay…”

“Look, she’s been hurt,” Angie said. “Her ex did a real number on her and she’s always had a self-esteem problem so really, you were going to have an uphill battle no matter what.”

“I know all about her ex and what he did.”

“She told you?” Hailey asked.

“No,” he said quietly, swiping a weary hand over his face. “I was there that night when it happened. He pretty much broke up with her right in front of me. She was devastated.”

“Oh…no…” Hailey groaned. “She didn’t tell us.”

“Yeah…well…” he began, “I didn’t say anything to anyone either. It wasn’t my place.” He paused. “I talked to her after he left and told her he was crazy, that she was beautiful. But I guess she didn’t believe me.”

“Wow,” Angie said. “You said that to her and you didn’t even know her?”

He nodded.

“Quality guy,” Hailey whispered.

“I’m still confused,” he said. “I don’t get why she just took off like that.”

Ella stood up and said, “For starters, she was feeling insecure because…you know…you haven’t tried to kiss her or anything.”

“Yeah but…”

“And, knowing her like we do, she was embarrassed that you saw her in a bikini,” Ella finished.

Max’s eyes went wide. “Seriously? Why would she be embarrassed? She’s got an amazing body! Why would she think otherwise?”

Angie started to talk but Hailey stopped her. “I think we’ve said enough. You should probably go to the pool house and talk to her.”

“I’m not sure she wants to talk to me,” he said. “I mean she essentially ran away as soon as I got here. I don’t want to upset her any more than I obviously already have.”

“Yeah well, if you don’t go and talk to her, she’s probably going to still be upset,” Angie said. “You should just go and at least try to talk to her.”

Max looked longingly at the pool house. “I don’t know…”

Hailey gave him a gentle nudge in that direction. “Go. And take your time. We’ll wait to watch the video until you’re both there.”

“But what about…”

“Trust me. This is more important,” Ella said.

With a fortifying breath, Max stepped around the three of them and walked toward the pool house.

“Do you think she’s going to listen to him?” Ella asked quietly when Max was out of earshot.

“I don’t know. She can be stubborn,” Angie said.

“Yeah but this is going to be a good test of what kind of man Max is.” She smiled. “I think this is going to be a game changer.”

****

Becca paced back and forth and cursed herself for the hundredth time.

Running away like that? Yeah, not her finest hour.

At the time, it had been imperative for her to get away. The backyard was like a safe haven—no one else came in and she was free to just be herself—and that included wearing a skimpy bikini she had no business wearing.

And now she was going to have to deal with the fact that not only did Max already find her unattractive, but seeing her in a bikini had probably been the final nail in that coffin. Once he got a look at her practically naked, she was fairly certain he was high-fiving himself for not getting involved with her. She glanced out the back window and wondered if she could climb out and go through the bushes and escape.

Then she remembered she didn’t have her purse or her car keys so essentially she was stuck.

“Dammit.” Turning around, she walked over to the full-length mirror that hung on the wall outside the large changing room. The pool house was a great space—a living area with a small kitchenette, a full bathroom and a changing room. Growing up, she and the girls would come in here and pretend it was their house where they all lived together. The memory made her smile.

Then she checked out her reflection.

Her breasts were bigger than she wanted, as were her hips. The only thing saving her from being completely horrified by her body was the fact that she had a fairly small waist—she pulled off the hourglass figure all right. Unfortunately, she longed to be thin and willowy like Ella and Hailey. Angie was curvy like her, but Angie also was about five inches taller so she looked way more proportioned.

Pulling her cover-up tightly around her, Becca groaned. Was Max still out there? Had they all gone back into the house to watch the video? She could only hope so.

Walking over to the refrigerator, she pulled out a bottle of water. Behind her, she heard the sliding glass door open and figured it was probably one of the girls coming to check on her or tell her that she acted like an idiot. So fine. She did and eventually she’d get over it. With a sigh of resignation, she said, “Look, I know I…” But when she turned around, she gasped at the sight of Max standing in the doorway. “Max! What…what are you…?”

He slowly walked toward her and didn’t stop until they were toe-to-toe. Reaching up, he cupped her face in his hands, lowered his head and claimed her lips with his. It wasn’t a sweet, getting-to-know-you kind of kiss, it was deep and wet and all-consuming.

Becca clutched the front of his shirt and immediately melted into him. His tongue traced her lower lip until she opened for him. It was so unexpected, so wild that her head began to spin.
This was Max
? This was polite, mild-mannered, only-kissed-on-the-cheek Max? His hands caressed her cheeks and then raked into her hair where he gently tugged it free of the ponytail she had it in.

Oh. My.

Just as quickly as it had started, it ended. Max lifted his head and gently gripped Becca’s shoulders and spun her around so she was facing the mirror. They were both breathless and Becca’s eyes were slightly glazed. She reached up with a trembling hand to touch her lips as she met his intense gaze in their reflection.

Without a word, Max’s hands came up from behind and he gently stroked her cheeks. Becca sighed and leaned back so they were touching.

“You are so damn beautiful to me,” he said gruffly. “From the first time I saw you, I thought that.”

She went to shake her head no, but his words stopped her.

“Yes. I saw you standing in the parking lot and thought to myself that you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. It killed me to hear what that jackass was saying to you, but at the same time I was thankful because it meant you were no longer involved with him.”

“Max…”

Slowly, his hands skimmed down from her face to her throat and shoulders. With his eyes firmly on hers in their reflection, he began to move her cover-up aside, opening it so he could see what she was wearing underneath. His hiss of breath at the sight of her in the midnight blue bikini had Becca’s mind reeling. What was he really seeing? Was his reaction one of arousal or disappointment?

Boldly, one hand came up and cupped her breast. “I was trying so hard to be a gentleman with you. I knew you had been hurt and I didn’t want to rush you. Every time we’ve been together, I’ve had to fight the urge to touch you.”

Becca wanted to tell him how much she wanted him to touch her, but his fingers were slowly teasing her nipple and she couldn’t make herself form a word.

“I’ve lain in bed at night and thought about you,” he murmured, turning his head so his hot breath was on her throat. His tongue gently licked where her pulse was beating madly. Then he let his other hand drift down to her waist, then her hip and then over until he was cupping her mound.

She sighed his name at the contact, could feel his arousal pressing up against her back.

His fingers began to move slowly—one caressing her nipple while the other traced lazy circles over the fabric covering her sex. A low moan came out and it seemed to encourage Max to be a little bolder.

His touch became a little more certain, confident. His lips never left her skin as his hands had her squirming and writhing against him. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered again. “So sexy.”

No one had ever called her beautiful before and as much as she loved hearing those words from him, she couldn’t stay focused on them, not when his skillful hands had her climbing toward a release. His name came out on a gasp as he placed a little more pressure between her legs at the same time he gently bit the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met.

And that was all it took for her to soar.

Max held her against him as she rode the wave of her release, gently kissing her the entire time.

Slowly, Max shifted and moved his hands so they rested on her waist as he turned her toward him. He swallowed hard as he looked down at her. “Becca, this isn’t what I came in here for. But one look at you and…” He gave her a lopsided grin. “This isn’t the time or the place for this and as much as I want you, I can wait. But I needed you to know how I feel.”

Becca rested one hand on his chest. “Tell me again,” she said, so softly, so quietly she wasn’t sure he could even hear her.

He tucked a finger under her chin. “I think you’re beautiful and I want you very much.”

“I want you too.”

A slow smile crossed his face. “Let’s go inside and watch the video.” He paused. “And then…come home with me.”

It was exciting and terrifying for her all at the same time. This was what she wanted—what she had been waiting for—and now that it was here, old doubts began to creep back in.

“You’re thinking too hard about this,” he said quietly, interrupting her thoughts. “I won’t rush you, Becca. Ever. We can go into the house and later on, I can go home and you can go back to your place and we’ll go out tomorrow like we had planned. It’s completely up to you.” He took a step back and took one of her hands in his. “You ready to go and join the others?”

Actually, what she was ready for was locking the door and letting Max finish having his way with her. No doubt the girls had encouraged him to come after her and if they stayed in here long enough, they’d figure out what was going on. But so would Mrs. J and that was definitely not a conversation she wanted to have.

Nodding silently, she smiled when Max squeezed her hand.

As they walked across the yard, Becca mentally crossed her fingers and hoped they’d be able to leave as soon as the video was over.

Six

“I don’t understand why you didn’t just drive here with Max,” Angie said. “You guys are sharing a room, Becs, it wouldn’t have been a big deal if we all didn’t ride together.”

Becca shrugged. “It was more about logistics. His office is in downtown Durham and he knew he had to stay at work until three. He knew how we normally make a day of it—play hooky from work and get on the road at noon. It’s fine. He’ll be there in time for us to grab a quick…dinner, and then we’ll go and get ready for the expo.”

Angie laughed. “Nice! That was smooth. A quick…
dinner.
Right.”

“Oh, stop,” Ella said. “Leave her alone. We all remember what it feels like in the beginning of a relationship.”

“I’m surprised you do,” Angie teased. “You and Dylan were…what…twelve?”

Rather than answer, Ella just waved her off. “And what about you, Hails? You ready to make your move tonight?”

Hailey was sitting in the back seat beside Ella. “I think so,” she said nervously. “I have to admit, every time I think about it, I feel like I’m going to throw up.” She looked at her friends. “That’s normal, right?”

“Uh…”

“Well…”

“Hmmm…”

“Oh come on, you guys!” Hailey cried. “You know I’ve never done this before!”

“Maybe after the show you’ll feel better,” Becca suggested, smiling in the rearview mirror.

“And after a couple of shots,” Angie added.

“We are not sending her to make her move on Logan while she’s drunk,” Ella said defensively. “Although, you probably should have a glass of wine.” She shrugged. “Just saying.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Hailey asked.

Becca and Angie looked at one another. Becca spoke up before Angie could. “You’re just a little…wound up sometimes.”

“Wound up?”

“Yeah, you know…you always like to be in control and have things done a certain way,” Becca said, trying to sound diplomatic—like what she was saying was helpful and not hurtful. “It’s not a bad thing, Hails. But in this particular scenario, you are going to need to relax a little bit. You can’t go and approach Logan in your usual way. And considering how uptight you’ve been about the whole thing, we’re all just saying that a small drink may help you loosen up a bit.”

“But not drunk,” Ella added. “You don’t want to go in there drunk.”

“There’s something to be said for drunken sex,” Angie said with a devilish grin.

“Why would anyone even
want
to have drunken sex?” Hailey asked, completely perplexed. “That would just be…sloppy and…and…a waste of time!”

Angie laughed. “And that’s why you can’t go in there drunk. Because that’s what you think is going to happen.”

“Well…isn’t it?”

Angie shook her head. “Sometimes it helps you loosen your inhibitions and makes the experience really good. You’re relaxed and…sometimes…it even heightens the experience.”

Hailey frowned. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

Rolling her eyes, Angie said, “Fine. Don’t believe me. Your loss.”

“Becca,” Hailey said earnestly, leaning forward between the two front seats, “have you ever had drunken sex? Is she lying to me?”

“Um…I’m right here,” Angie said flatly.

“Shh!” Hailey hissed. “Becca?”

“I’m not gonna lie to you…I’m not saying you have to get completely shit-faced, but I’ve had some really good sex after a couple of drinks.”

Hailey huffed and leaned back in her seat. “Damn.”

“Told you,” Angie said with a grin.

“Last New Year’s, Dylan and I shared a bottle of champagne after we got home from the party,” Ella began. “That was a great night.” She giggled. “Seriously, the sex that night was amazing.”

Hailey glared at her. “Seriously? You too?”

Ella continued to giggle. “What can I say?”

“Okay, so one glass of wine,” Hailey sighed. “I still can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“It’s about time,” Angie said. “If it were me, I would have pounced months ago.”

“Yeah well…I’ve never had to…pounce. I kept hoping Logan would.”

“Clearly you were wrong,” Angie countered. “So what are you going to wear? What are you going to say?”

Hailey squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and then let out a weary sigh. “I brought my pink sundress. You know, the one I wore when we went to see
Wicked
.”

“Good choice,” Ella said, reaching out and squeezing Hailey’s hand.

“And what about underwear? What did you go with?” Angie asked. “Lace? Thong? Commando?”

“Ugh…really?” Hailey whined, but when Angie continued to stare and she notice Ella and Becca doing the same, she shook her head. “White lace.”

“Ah…virginal,” Becca said. “That could work.”

Hailey looked worriedly at them. “What? Do you think I should have gone for more casual?”

“No, no, no. That’s not what I’m saying,” Becca quickly amended. “You should wear something you’re comfortable with. And that definitely sounds like an outfit you’re good with.”

“But it’s lame,” Hailey said. “Right? It’s totally lame.”

“Nobody said that,” Ella said. “I think it sounds perfect for you and Logan.”

“What does that even mean?” Angie asked, turning in her seat.

“Logan looks like he just walked off the pages of a J. Crew catalog,” Ella said. “He is always dressed impeccably. So the dress Hailey chose will work perfectly. They’ll be very balanced.”

Angie groaned. “They’re having sex, not posing for a yuppie photoshoot.”

“What would you suggest she wear?” Ella snapped, losing some of her composure. “A leather skirt, crotchless panties and hooker heels? Sheesh!”

“A thong could work,” Angie said calmly. “That would be…”

“Enough!” Hailey yelled. “I am already freaking out about tonight and I don’t need all of this yammering about my choice of panties!”

Everyone grew quiet. When they pulled off the interstate at the exit for their hotel, Becca spoke up. “Okay, we’re almost there so everyone needs to play nice and get along.”

No one answered.

By the time she parked the car and they all got out, it was as if nothing had happened earlier—they were all chatting about the show, the hotel and what they were having for dinner. The absurdity of it all made Becca chuckle.

****

“This is going to be so much fun!” Ella said, bouncing on the bed. “You and I never have a room to ourselves!”

Angie rolled her eyes. “Easy there, Tinker Bell. Don’t go getting all excited. We’re simply sleeping in here tonight. No pillow fights, no telling ghost stories.”

Ella frowned. “Do you have to put me down all the time? Geez. Can’t you—just for once—be pleasant about something?”

Now it was Angie’s turn to frown. “Okay, fine,” she sighed, sitting down on her own bed. “Look, I don’t mean to say things like that all the time, but it just comes out naturally.”

“Yeah well, you should work on that.”

“Sean says the same thing.”

Ella instantly perked up. “Really? Like recently? What did he say? Are you going to see him soon?”

“This is the kind of thing I’m talking about!” Angie cried, pointing a finger at her. “Do you have to be so…perky? Can’t we just have a normal, non-excitable conversation?”

Crossing her arms, Ella muttered, “Fine.”

Angie sighed. “Okay, so we talk every day. And that’s not an exaggeration. He calls me every night when he knows I’m just sitting alone, just me and Trampus, and doing nothing. It’s…” She stopped and shrugged. “It’s kind of nice. We didn’t do that before.”

“So it seems like he’s really trying. I’m sorry he couldn’t make it this weekend.”

“Me too,” she replied, sighing again. “And he is—he’s really trying. And…I don’t know…he’s doing all the right things and saying all the right things and yet…”

“You still don’t trust him.”

“Exactly.”

“There’s going to come a time when you’re going to have to get over your fear and decide if you really want to move forward with him or not. He’s not going to wait forever.”

Angie’s eyes went wide. “Ella Gilmore, did you just give me a reality check? Like a for real reality check?”

Ella grinned. “I am capable of that every once in a while.”

“Yeah but you’re usually more of the rainbows-and-unicorns type where everyone is always happy and everything works out.”

She shrugged. “Sometimes they don’t. And sometimes you have to have the guts to make that decision.”

Angie got more comfortable on her bed and smiled. “Oh there’s a story there,” she said. “Come on. Out with it.”

Ella didn’t even pretend not to understand. “Dylan and I moved up the wedding date.”

“No!”

Ella nodded. “And we broke the news to our parents last night.”

“How did it go?”

“How do you think? My mother cried. Dylan’s mom told us how disappointed she was…it was like a giant soap opera. You would have thought we said that we’d broken up. It was crazy. But we stood our ground and took control of our wedding back.”

“And how do you feel now that you’ve done it?”

“Honestly?”

Angie nodded.

“It…it didn’t offer the relief I thought it would.”

“Uh-oh…”

Ella nodded. “I know.”

“So there’s something else bothering you.”

Ella nodded again.

“Well…? What is it?”

Tears began to well in her eyes. “I thought it was the pressure of the wedding that was making me stressed. Then Dylan and I talked and agreed that we would downsize and change the date.”

“But…?”

“But now he’s talking about us starting a family right away.”

Angie’s eyes widened. “Like…right away, right away? As in…now?”

Ella nodded.

“Shit. That’s a little out of the blue.”

“I know. And part of me is completely on board and then I look at you and Becca and Hailey and…I feel very alone.”

“Seriously? We’re together all the time.”

“Not alone like that,” Ella huffed. “It’s more like I’m alone in all of this—just me and Dylan. We’re getting married and having kids and all of my friends aren’t.”

“I hate to break it to you, El, but we’re all not ready to run out and get married. And that’s not a bad thing.”

“I don’t know…I always pictured this happening for all of us at the same time. Then our kids would all be friends and we’d all be going through the craziness of figuring out how to be grown-ups together.”

“We are. But we’re all growing into different adults. And again, it’s not a bad thing.”

Ella’s shoulders slumped. “I know. Sometimes I just feel like maybe I’m missing too much.”

“We’ve been over this before,” Angie reminded her. “The stuff you’re missing? It’s not that great. I wish I were in a relationship that was stable and secure with someone I knew I could trust. Do you have any idea how lucky you are that you get to go home to Dylan every night and know he loves you?”

“I do. I know I’m sounding ungrateful…”

Angie shook her head. “It’s not ungrateful. You’re getting ready to take a huge step, El. It’s okay to be scared.”

“You’re the only one who thinks so. Everyone teases us about how nothing is going to change because we’ve been together for so long. And maybe they’re right. Maybe I’m freaking out over nothing.”

“Don’t ever let anyone belittle your feelings. I know I do that sometimes—and most of the time I’m joking—but…you have a right to feel the way you do. And yeah, maybe a lot of things won’t change for you and Dylan once you’re married. But there are going to be changes. You’re going to have kids and you’re going to buy a house and neither of those are small things. But know this, El, it doesn’t matter how long the two of you have been together. Your journey is really just beginning.”

Tears freely flowed down Ella’s cheeks. “Dammit, Ange,” she said, standing and walking to grab some tissues from the bathroom. “That was…that was exactly what I needed to hear.” She came out of the bathroom and walked over and hugged Angie. “Thank you.”

“Yeah well…don’t tell anyone about it. I kind of enjoy being the hardass of the group. If you let it out that I have a sensitive side, I’ll have to kick your tiny, pixie ass.”

Ella pulled back and chuckled. “Duly noted.”

“Okay, let’s go downstairs and grab an early dinner. Then we can come up here and do our hair and makeup in the room rather than downstairs in all of the chaos. What do you think?”

“Sounds like a plan. Let me just go and fix my makeup.” She turned to walk back into the bathroom. “Should we call the girls to join us?”

Angie shook her head. “Becca’s meeting up with Max and I’m thinking Hailey needs the time alone to get her head in the game for tonight.”

“Do you think she’s really going to go through with it?”

“I don’t know. I think she
wants
to go through with it, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t take much for her to chicken out.”

“Oh, don’t say that. I want to believe she’s going to do this and that she and Logan will work out.”

Angie was checking her own reflection in the mirror. “You don’t think there’s a chance that Logan’s not going to be interested?” she asked casually.

Ella froze and met Angie’s gaze in their reflection. “Why wouldn’t he be? Hailey’s beautiful and they seem to get along great. Why would you even think that?”

“Honestly, I don’t think he’s the one for her.”

“Oh really? Why?”

She shrugged and then turned and leaned against the vanity. “First of all, he’s not a motivated guy like we know Hailey wants. Logan’s a nice guy and all, but if he’s a slacker now at his age, it isn’t going to change when he’s older.”

“True.”

“Then there’s the fact that he’s pretty.”

Ella chuckled. “And what’s wrong with that?”

“He’s the kind of pretty that requires maintenance. That will eventually grate on Hailey’s nerves.”

“I don’t think so. She’s known him long enough to figure that out and it hasn’t stopped her yet.” She applied some lip gloss and turned to Angie. “What else have you got?”

“You know what…it’s nothing. Don’t mind me. I’m sure it’s going to go great,” Angie said swiftly and walked out of the bathroom to grab her purse.

“Come on,” Ella said, hot on her heels. “There’s more! And you badgered me to tell you all my stuff so…out with it!”