It All Started With a Lima Bean (13 page)

“Sure, here you go.” She passed him her cell phone so he could call his and in turn have her number on the caller ID.

“I can’t believe you just did that to me. How embarrassing.”

“What? I got you a hot date with a guy that is drooling over you as much as you are over him, and now you have his cell number.” Her best friend gloated.

“He is going to think I’m totally lame. I couldn’t even put a couple of words together to form a complete sentence when he was around.” Placing her hands on her face, Abby still couldn’t believe Leah asked Caleb to be her date.

“No, my favorite part was watching you giggle. That was so cute. I’ve never heard you giggle so much.”

“Oh be quiet.” She gave Leah a light push. “Now I’m going to see your family with this handsome guy as my date. They are never going to let it go.”

Holding her stomach, Leah cackled. “I’m sorry amiga; I didn’t even think about that. Well it will be better for them to focus on your date then on all of the flaws they can find in me.”

“I don’t know how you put up with that Leah.” Several of Leah’s aunts were just brutal with their comments. It would start out with them asking the girls about boyfriends, and then move on to the fact that they were not the thinnest girls around, and if they would take better care of themselves, they might find men. It was absolutely ridiculous.

Leah mentioned her sisters and the reception they would get from the older women too. “Luckily for Elena, she’s married. Even if she happens to have an ass as a husband, at least the old ladies leave her alone. Poor Dani gets the brunt of the insults. They attack her right away so let’s stick with her, especially if she doesn’t bring a date.”

“Deal.”

“For the millionth time, you look incredible, Abby. Stop fussing.”

Abby loved her new green and black lace cocktail dress with matching green rhinestone-adorned strappy heels that Leah helped her pick out a couple of weeks prior. “How do I smell? I can’t stop sweating; I’m so nervous.” Lifting her arms, she started to flap her hands, fanning her damp underarms.

“You smell fine, but I think you should go put some of my deodorant on. That eco stuff you wear doesn’t last very long.” Her best and most honest friend scrunched her nose as though something did, in fact, stink.

Although Abby normally appreciated Leah’s honesty, paranoia began to set in, and she shot Leah a dirty look. “Do I normally smell, and you don’t tell me?”

“No ding-a-ling, you are always complaining about it running out too soon and having to reapply. It isn’t sexy when you keep your nose in your pit, asking if you stink all of the time.” Leah laughed at her own sarcastic joke.

Smelly pits were no laughing matter, especially when a super-hot guy was about to pick her up and she most certainly wasn’t confident in her choice of deodorant.

“I know, but I try to stay away from all of those chemicals. The natural stuff needs to be put on over and over, but you’re right; I will use yours today.”

“I don’t see any panty lines, so I assume you took my advice, and wore the cute, lacy chonies.”

“What is it with you and underwear? That and shoes. I bet you walk around in only undies and heels when you are alone.”

“Well matching undies, bra, and heels.” She snorted at Abby’s scowling face just as the knock came.

“Oh my gosh Leah, he’s here. Are you sure I look okay? My hair is okay up like this?” Panicking, she quickly waved both hands in front of her as if swatting something away from her face.

“Yes, now go put some decent deodorant on before you sweat all over that beautiful dress. I’ll let Prince Charming in.” She strolled toward the door while pointing in the direction of the bathroom.

Abby’s heels click-clacked on the tile floor as she ran into the restroom. Finding the deodorant, she applied as much as she could without it clumping. Scared of what she might find, Abby looked at herself in the mirror then blotted her face with toilet paper. She was a sweaty disaster. Rummaging through the cabinet, she found a hair dryer. She plugged it in, put it to the cool setting, and then ran it all over her face, hair, and body, including under her dress. There was no way she wanted that area to be a sweaty mess. Once she was dry, she spritzed on a little of Leah’s perfume.
There
. She was finally ready.

Taking a deep breath, she went back into the living room. Spotting him, her feet instantly turned to walk back into the bathroom. “Are you ready? We need to get on the road.” Leah gave her friend a pointed look, but Abby couldn’t pay attention to her. She’d twisted back to them and was too busy staring at the dazzling man in a suit
and
green tie standing in the living room. His eyes, in turn, were glued on her.

“Abby, you are breathtaking.” He exhaled heavily as though she literally did take his breath away.

Her mind went blank. She couldn’t tear her eyes off him or think of a response. “Caleb cleans up pretty good too, doesn’t he Abby?” Abby knew Leah was just trying to save her, but she turned bright red
again
.

“Yes Caleb, you look very handsome.” There she got it out, but she sounded like a robot. It didn’t come out naturally at all.

“Your tie matches Abby’s dress. How did you know?” Leah pointed out.

“Lucky guess. You wear a lot of green, brown, and pink, so I took a shot and wore the green tie.” He’d noticed the colors she wore.
Swoon!

“Those colors bring out the green rings around her blue irises,” Leah proudly said, because she was the one that pointed out so many years ago that those colors were the best for Abby.

“I agree.” His grin widened.

Yes, she was going to pass out if they didn’t get going soon. “Are we ready?”

“Yep, the van is loaded. We’re all dolled and dressed up; let’s hit the road.” Leah headed for the door when Abby caught Caleb gawking again. Damn she was glad she’d put on the extra strength deodorant after all because she was perspiring like crazy again. Feeling as if blotches covered her skin, Abby hoped her face wasn’t full of red spots. Maybe that’s why he was staring at her. She chanced a look down at her chest, and the skin looked fine there.

Caleb placed his palm on the middle of her back, leading her out of the door. She was going to have a difficult time concentrating with him around, and if he continued to touch her, she would be a goner for sure.

The drive to the wedding was full of funny conversation thanks to Leah. Abby was so grateful for her hilarious friend. She was also thankful she’d prepared herself ahead of time with a panty liner because she peed a little when Leah shared a story about them in college that included the time they showed up to their first frat party in footie pajamas. The flier had said the party had Jammie Jam, and Abby misunderstood when she told Leah about it. It turned out, that was the name of the DJ. They were nicknamed the footsie twins the rest of that year. Caleb tried hard not to laugh out loud from the backseat, but he couldn’t hold it in for long.

They pulled up to the church with plenty of time to spare. Cousin Manuel came out of the double doors of the Catholic Cathedral before they even opened the van doors.

“Mi Amor. You are taking my breath away. You look beautiful mi vida.” Abby rotated quickly to find Manuel had already opened her door. Extending his hand, he offered to help her out of the passenger seat. She spun to find the backseat empty. Completely ignoring his outstretched hand, she pushed herself up without any assistance. As soon as she stood, Manuel was in her personal space, wrapping his arms around her. She hadn’t had a chance to react. His arms stayed firmly around her waist as she tried to lift her face from his chest to grasp for air.

Caleb stood behind Manuel with a look she’d not seen on his face before. That was weird. She felt his quick, firm taps on Manuel’s shoulder, and then he lowered his voice a few octaves, the way guys did when they met other guys. “Nice to meet you. I’m Caleb, Abby’s date.”

Manuel turned abruptly, practically knocking Abby over in the process. Caleb reached behind Manuel and pulled Abby protectively to his side. “Sorry. My bad. Abby has never brought a date before. I didn’t realize.” Manuel’s shocked look was not what Abby had hoped for.
Great. Now Caleb knew I was so unsavory that I couldn’t even get a date without Leah’s help.
Turning to look at him, she was surprised to find him smiling at this little piece of information.

“Well she has one for this event.” Caleb declared.

“I’ll let this one slide Abby, but you will be mine someday.” Manuel pointed at her and teased then went to the back of the van to grab an arrangement from his cousin before he walked into the church with her.

“Sorry.” Abby looked at Caleb’s face then down to her painted toenails.

“What are you sorry about?” Lifting her chin, he slowly ran the pad of his index finger around her delicate lips. Swiping along the top, brushing the sides, and then underneath, his focus never leaving her mouth. While his handsome face captivated her wide eyes, the pounding of her heart beat throughout her body. Almost as though it pained him to move his eyes off her mouth, Caleb shifted his gaze to meet hers. “You had lip gloss smeared all over. The daddy in me had to clean it up for you.”

Yes
. She was a goner just as she’d suspected. This beautiful man made her feel things she had never thought were possible to feel. He had no idea, and she did not intend to tell him either.

Abby was reeling all week after the wedding. Although she and Caleb were not actually an item, she cherished the attention he’d paid her. He was such a gentleman, even when asked all those nosy questions by Leah’s mom, Maria and Maria’s boyfriend, Sal. Abby was an unofficial part of their family, and Caleb seemed to welcome the protective stance Maria and Sal took on her behalf. What they didn’t know was that Caleb was only there because Leah asked him to be. He hadn’t asked Abby to spend the day with him. The realization of that bummed her out but not enough to take away the memory of their slow dance. She could relive that memory the rest of her life and be a happy woman.

While seated next to her during the wedding reception, he’d whispered in a sensual tone beside her ear. “May I have this dance?” She’d been slightly swaying to her favorite Spanish ballad, ‘Besame Mucho’, that filled the large coral and teal decorated wedding hall.

“I’d love to.” That song was a favorite of Leah’s family’s and played at each wedding and quinceañera that Abby had attended. The only person that had ever danced with her to this melody was Manuel. Each and every time, he would attempt to kiss her afterward. Yuck.

They reached the dance floor, and she hadn’t known how close she was supposed to get to him until he pulled her flush against his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist. It felt so wonderful to be in his strong arms, and to place hers under his biceps, around his midsection and muscular back. She could’ve stayed there forever, never to leave his strong embrace. She’d closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, taking him in when he quietly sang the ballad directly above her ear. Lost in him, they’d slowly moved from side to side. He sang of kisses, feeling close and seeing a lover in his eyes. She’d almost melted into a huge pile of goo right on the dance floor. He later told her that he’d learned that song during his high school Spanish class and for some reason it had stuck with him.