Chapter Ten
Roxanne dropped her face in her palm, squeezing her eyes shut while balancing the phone at her ear.
Melody Rollins, the bride from hell, was making Roxanne earn every penny.
This marked the fourth call of the day and the most aggravating.
She was in the parking lot of her office, leaving for the day when the call came in.
Obviously, she and Melody had different definitions of “urgent”.
Nonetheless, it forced her back into her office, where she currently sat.
It was the worst timing. She grabbed her secondary phone and sent a quick message. If this woman screwed up her date with Jonah, she might be sending Melody Rollins overboard on her wedding day.
Roxanne: Hey, Jonah! I’m running a little late. Why don’t I just meet you at the burger place in thirty minutes?
She tossed the phone on the desk and swiveled in her seat, trying to keep her nerves in check.
Listening to this woman rant about her outlandish requests was grating on her last nerve.
Roxanne and Cassie made it their mission to make sure every couple got exactly what they wanted for their wedding day.
However, they were bound by the same laws as everyone else.
It was something Melody was having a hard time understanding.
When there was a small pause, Roxanne took the opportunity to finally speak.
“I understand you’re upset, but having the reception on a yacht comes with certain restrictions.” She sighed. “As we’ve previously discussed.”
Roxanne had been completely transparent with Melody and all her clients who chose unusual venues. There were certain protocols and limitations that were unavoidable.
“She was my childhood best friend!” Melody said.
If she’s so damn important, why the hell wasn’t she on the original guest list? Roxanne drew in a breath, gathering herself. She needed to stay professional.
“Melody, I’m sorry, but we’ve been over this. The boat allows for 120 guests. That is the absolute maximum.”
“I don’t see why you can’t just add another table. Is it really that hard?”
Roxanne ground her teeth, grabbing the stress ball from the corner of her desk. Her grip was so tight, it was a miracle it didn’t disintegrate in her hand.
“The space is only meant for 120, which would make for very close quarters for your guests, and—”
“I don’t care.”
Of course, you don’t.
“There’s also the matter of safety. The owner of the yacht, along with maritime law, has precautions and rules. There’s no way of getting around them.”
Melody grunted on the other line, and Roxanne resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Had this woman never been told no in her life? The answer was blatantly obvious from her childish and immature response.
“But it’s my day!”
“And it will be beautiful,” she inhaled a breath, “for you, your husband-to-be and one hundred and twenty guests.”
Her phone pinged on the desk, and she glanced down.
Jonah: Are you messaging me from a burner phone?
Roxanne covered her mouth, battening down her chuckle. Laughing within earshot of Melody would probably send the bride over the edge. She grabbed the other phone and tapped the screen.
Roxanne: It’s my backup. Consider yourself lucky. Only a select few know this number.
He responded immediately.
Jonah: You sound important. What time should I pick you up?
Roxanne: I can just meet you there.
Jonah: Is this a date?
Her blood warmed, and her belly flipped.
She hadn’t gotten butterflies in years. She brushed her fingers against her lips, remembering their kiss.
Heat spread throughout her body. A week had been way too long to wait.
They’d messaged each other, but she was counting down the minutes until tonight.
Her premonition from last Saturday had been on point. It was a long week.
Roxanne: Yes.
Jonah: I’ll ask again. When should I pick you up?
Roxanne: In forty-five minutes. My address is 32 Fairlawn Ave.
Jonah: I’ll see you then.
Roxanne stared at the message, zoning out for a brief second. All her thoughts were on Jonah, their kiss and all the possibilities for the evening.
“Hello! Roxanne? Are you still there?” The nasal voice on the other line had her straightening in her chair, bracing for the next ten minutes of complaints.
At least I have something to look forward to.
“Yes, I’m still here.”
Unfortunately.
*
What she’d hoped would’ve only been ten minutes, turned into twenty, and she had to race to her apartment. Thankfully, she lived five minutes away. Unfortunately, it only left her enough time to quickly change her outfit and touch up her makeup.
Parking was an absolute nightmare on her street, so she wanted to be waiting downstairs when Jonah arrived. She sent him a message but hadn’t gotten a response. She stood near the curb, glancing at each end of the road.
When she saw his truck pull down the street, she waved.
He pulled up to the curb, and she rushed toward the passenger door but stopped midway when Jonah got out of the truck.
It was still running, and he was parked in a loading zone.
It wasn’t a good sign. A wave of dread washed over her.
Had something come up? Was he canceling their date face to face?
Do people do that? Jonah rounded the front of the truck and scanned her face, furrowing his brows.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You look upset?”
I do? She was concerned about all the thoughts racing through her head. He read that from just one look?
He reached in front of her, grabbing the handle and opening the door. Was this why he’d gotten out of the truck? To open her door? She glanced up at Jonah, whose lips twitched.
“Having second thoughts?”
Not even one.
Roxanne moved closer, draping her hand over his stomach. “You’re setting the bar real high and making all my previous dates look bad right now. Aside from my father, I think this is the first time a man has held a car door open for me.”
He lowered his head, closing the gap. “Dating the wrong kind of guys.”
She rose on her toes, brushed his lips in a soft kiss and whispered. “Not tonight.”
His green eyes heated. This was not the place to showcase their sexual chemistry. Illegally parked in front of her apartment for all her neighbors to see? She could think of a better place. Jonah’s bed.
“Get in.” His tone was gravelly, as if she were testing his control.
She dropped her hand to her side and climbed into the front seat. He closed the door and walked in front of the truck. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his phone, reading the screen. There was an immediate change in his facial expression. His scowl deepened as he got into the truck.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sorry about this. I gotta make a call.” He tapped the screen and brought the phone to his ear. Roxanne had no intention of eavesdropping. But considering the volume of the voice on the other end, it was impossible to ignore.
“Jay, thank frickin’ God, man. I need your help. It’s an emergency!”
Roxanne turned to Jonah when she heard Holden's desperate plea for help. Even Roxanne straightened in her seat and went on high alert. Jonah put the truck in drive and rolled out of the spot, coming to the end of the street.
“What’s wrong?” His tone was laced with concern.
“It’s so messed up, Jay.”
Oh my God, what is happening? Roxanne shifted in her seat facing Jonah. Her heart rate spiked, thinking of millions of scenarios. Was there an accident? Was he hurt? Jonah was a lot calmer.
“Take a breath, Hold. Tell me what’s going on. Where are you? You okay?”
“I’m at the fairgrounds and no, I’m not frickin’ okay!” Holden shouted. “They don’t take cash.”
What?
Jonah knitted his brows. “I’m not following.”
“The fairgrounds. It’s card only, and I only brought cash. I need your credit card.” Holden’s heavy sigh was dramatic and entertaining on her end. Roxanne relaxed and settled in her seat but kept her attention on the conversation.
“What kind of world do we live in that cash isn’t accepted?”
Roxanne clamped her lips, keeping her amusement at bay.
Jonah dragged his hand down his face, cupping his jaw. “You can’t have one of your buddies front you the money? Put it on their card and you pay them back?”
“I’m on a frickin’ date, Jay!” Holden practically shouted over the line, but she heard the panic in his tone. “You encouraged me not to be like Cord with girls, and now you want me to ask her to pay?”
Roxanne chuckled and immediately covered her mouth with her hand when Jonah side-eyed her, shaking his head. Holden was unintentionally shedding a little light on Jonah’s advice. I totally back it. Don’t be like Cord.
“Can you bring me your credit card?”
Jonah sighed, and she expected him to seek some type of permission from her. He didn’t.
“Yeah, give me about ten minutes. Meet me at the south gate, marker ten.”
“Alright. Perfect. Thanks. I owe you.”
“Yeah, you do.” Jonah ended the call and glanced over at her. Roxanne was smiling, and she brushed her hand over his arm.
“I don’t mind if that’s what you’re about to ask.”
“Sorry about this.”
Roxanne shook her head. “Don’t be. I wouldn’t leave Holden hanging either, and he’s not even my brother.” She smirked. “I mean, if it were Bogs, I totally wouldn’t bail him out.”
Jonah laughed and took the exit for the fairgrounds.
It’d been a long time since she’d attended the annual event.
When she was a kid, the Fair was something she looked forward to every year.
Her parents made a point of taking all of them.
Long after her brothers had outgrown it, her mom and dad still took her.
It was a highlight and one of her core memories.