Annelise and I exclaim in unison.
“Okay.” Lishelle is really beaming. I haven’t seen her this happy since—
“I’m seeing Glenn again.”
My stomach sinks. “Glenn? As in Baxter?” The guy who only knows how to hurt you?
“Yes,” Lishelle gushes. “And I know what you might think, but this is it, ladies. Finally it.”
Annelise squeals with excitement. I reach for my mimosa and take a huge sip.
“How did this happen?” Annelise asks.
“He called me Friday night at the station. I didn’t want to, but I went to see him. And we clicked, like we always do. Then, the next morning, I was upset that I’d fallen into bed with him. We got to talking and he said he’s always loved me, that he wants us to be together.”
“And you believe him?” I can’t help asking.
“I do.”
I finish the last of my mimosa. While I want to be thrilled for Lishelle, I can’t help remembering how Glenn has hurt her in the past.
“I’m so happy for you,” Annelise says. “I know how much you’ve always cared for him.”
“That’s the hell of it. I still love him. Isn’t it insane? That’s the real reason I can’t resist him. It’s not just the sex.”
“You sure about that?” I ask.
She turns to me and nods. “The sex Friday night was off the hook. But Saturday morning, I couldn’t detach my emotions from what had happened. I told Glenn we couldn’t see each other like this whenever he got the itch. That’s when he told me he’s in love with me and wants our relationship to work. He was supposed to leave yesterday afternoon, but there was a last-minute change in his schedule. We hung out like friends the whole day. It wasn’t about the sex at all. Until later, of course,” she finishes with a sheepish grin.
“When it’s time, it’s time,” Annelise comments.
“That’s what I think.”
“Look, it takes some guys a long time. Look at Big in Sex and the City.”
“Exactly,” Lishelle gushes. “I always wanted Carrie to end up with Big.”
“Oh, me, too.”
Maybe Lishelle notices that I’m not saying anything, because she suddenly turns to me. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“Me? I’m not…I’m not thinking anything. Just enjoying…” I look at my empty glass. “I need another mimosa. Aren’t they great?”
“Don’t change the subject. You’re thinking that I’m making a mistake. And I hear you. I know why you think that. But this time, it’s different. This time, it’s real.”
I squirm in my seat, sip water and do my best to stay silent. I fail. “You know I love you, Lishelle, and I want what’s best for you, but how can you forget how Glenn has hurt you in the past? I mean, you were dating the guy for two years in college, then you found out he’d been screwing other women. Not just one. Plural. How can you ever trust him?”
“For one thing, college was ten years ago. We were both young. Far too young to be involved in such a serious relationship. You have to admit that.”
“But—” I interject.
“But…enough time has passed for us to mature and know what we really want. We’re in our thirties now, for God’s sake.”
“Once a cheater, always a cheater,” I mumble.
“Claudia,” Annelise says in a tone that indicates I should chill. “Can’t you try to be happy for Lishelle?”
“Yes, please.” Surprisingly, Lishelle isn’t annoyed as she looks at me. She’s still beaming, like a girl in love for the first time. “Just trust me. I know this is right.”
A ragged sigh escapes me. “Okay. I will.” It’s not like I can tell her what to do. “And if you’re happy, that’s what matters to me most. I just want you happy.”
“I know that.” Lishelle gives me a soft smile as she reaches for her drink.
“I guess we’ll be seeing him again,” I say, “if this is serious.”
“Next weekend. I’ve invited him to the charity ball for the Wishes Come True Foundation.”
“Ah.” I wag a finger at Lishelle. “Now I get it. Getting back together with Glenn was all about having a date for the charity ball. Smart.”
“I think she’s onto something,” Annelise agrees, laughing.
“Whatever!” Lishelle shakes her head. “Am I the only one who’s starving here? We haven’t even hit the buffet yet.”
“Sure, change the subject,” I tell her.
We all chuckle as we get up and head toward the buffet.
Chapter Eight
Annelise
As I sit at the desk in my office, I stare at the wall clock, watching the second hand tick by. It’s five minutes after four, and I’m starting to feel like my next appointment isn’t coming. I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s been that kind of day. Two other appointments were no-shows. Potential wedding gigs. The most lucrative of the work I do.
“I can’t make a living like this,” I mutter.
Maybe I need to be doing more advertising. This year, my income has been taking a steady nosedive. The one saving grace is that I’m doing Claudia’s wedding, and her father is paying for a package that’s over ten thousand dollars.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
The door chimes sing, startling me out of my boredom. Pushing my chair backward, I jump to my feet and force a smile on my face.
In walk a young man and woman, both dark-haired, holding hands and smiling from ear to ear. They can’t be older than twenty-one, twenty-two.
“You must be…” My voice trails off as another man, a Greek God, really, enters behind them. His eyes meet mine, and I feel a zap of raw, sexual desire. It overwhelms me. Leaves me momentarily speechless.
“Sebastian and Helen,” the first man says, moving toward me with his hand outstretched.
I step out from behind my desk. “Right.” I pump the man’s hand, then the woman’s. “So good to meet you both.”
My eyes wander to the man who suddenly has me remembering just how much of a woman I am. A woman with sexual needs not being met.
Earlier, Charles didn’t even notice me in the tight leather pants I bought on Samera’s advice. But this sexy stranger is noticing. And I tell you, it feels amazing.
I offer him a small smile as I say, “If you don’t mind giving me a second to deal with this happy couple—”
“Actually, I’m with the happy couple.”
“Oh.” A nervous laugh escapes me. “I see.”
“My older brother, Dominic,” Sebastian informs me. “He wanted to tag along.”
“No problem.” I glance quickly at Dominic again, and a slow breath oozes out of me when I see that he’s staring at me.
He looks sort of familiar, but from where?
I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing when I slip my left hand behind my back. No, that’s not true. I definitely know what I’m doing. I’m hiding my wedding ring. What I’m not sure of is why.
I