TWO
K ehlani looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress. I caught a glimpse of her mesmerising attire when I last checked on her in the bridal suite.
As an event coordinator and it being my best friend's special day, I had to split my priorities in two different categories.
The first being the coordinator to ensure everything ran smoothly and efficiently at the venue, the second being me showing up as a best friend to provide moral support for the bride.
The final hour before the ceremony began, I did the relevant checks. Once everything was in place, I headed to my hotel suite to freshen up and change.
A chic, rose gold coloured, draped, backless, body-con dress was the outfit of choice.
Kehlani was the type of woman who'd encourage her guests to wear something extravagant to any of her events, especially her wedding. If you wanted your name jotted down on her list of public enemies, all you needed to do was wear something lacklustre.
The dress hugged my figure perfectly. I turned my back towards the mirror and my eyes widened. I never liked showing skin, but I suppose this was the perfect occasion.
I'm almost certain the main reason my best friend chose Cabo as her destination was due to the weather. Aside from the breathtaking views, the weather never disappointed.
My make up was minimal and, for the first time in months, I straightened my hair, letting it cascade down my bare back. Gold jewellery adorned my tan skin and nude, strappy heels matched the champagne colour of my outfit perfectly.
I grabbed my purse, placing my essentials inside of it, and then made my way down to the venue. Luckily, everything was in walking distance. When I reached the venue, half of the guests were already seated.
I stood behind the last row of seats where people were already seated, keeping my eye on the area in front of me. Everything seemed to be going as planned and there was nothing out of the ordinary or of any concern. I flicked my wrist, gaging that Kehlani and Kayden should be making their appearance in the next twenty minutes. Give or take.
The wind blew slightly, caressing my skin. The breeze was warm and the smell of fresh flowers surrounded me.
I planned to head to the bridal suite, but decided against it, knowing that anything could happen down here and that Kehlani was most likely already overwhelmed. Most of her family members were with her, so one more person added to the equation would definitely make her head explode.
A smooth, familiar voice pulled me out of my reverie and had me freezing on the spot. I looked straight ahead, too afraid to turn around. "I knew you looked familiar."
I knew exactly who that voice belonged to. How could I ever forget it? I could feel his presence a few feet away from me and I slowly turned around, making eye contact with none other than Nicolas.
Clad in all black, my lips parted slightly at the sight. The man looked absolutely ravishing. A dress shirt that was definitely tailored because it fit him perfectly, wrapping around his muscular frame.
The sleeves were rolled up twice, revealing his inked forearms. Two buttons undone, displaying his smooth, tan chest. A silver chain hung around his neck, quite the contrast to his skin tone. The veins in his arm were prominent, disappearing underneath the silver watch adorning his left wrist.
His attire screamed excellence, every garment was meticulous. The shirt was tucked into his slacks with a black belt wrapped around his trimmed waist. The only ounce of colour besides his chain was provided by the silver buckle.
At this point, the man could've been the angel of death, appearing when you least expected him. His hair was sleeked back, making his sharp jawline and grey irises the centre of attraction. He flashed me a smile, but something about it seemed so…dark.
"Please don't tell me you're Nicolas Calisto." I remembered the name from the guest list, but never thought the person behind the name would be him of all people.
"Should I lie to you, then?" His eyes roamed over my body, excruciatingly slow. The action was shameless, the look on his face portraying the fact that he didn't care if I saw him ogling me or not.
"Small world." I didn't want to indulge in unnecessary conversation by asking him how he knew the bride and groom. That wasn't any of my business.
"Indeed it is." His voice was cool and calm, sending a shiver down my spine. It felt like ice water trickled down the length of my back. "You look absolutely stunning."
"Thank you, so do you." Courteousness. That's what my mother instilled in me. No matter the situation, I always had to maintain a level of respect—though I might've lost my composure when we initially met.
The circumstances were rather strange.
He stepped closer, towering over me. The man was extremely tall, forcing me to crane my neck slightly to look at him. With both hands in his pockets, he looked down at me leisurely.
"You're the event planner?"
"Coordinator," I rectified him and he hummed.
"What's the difference?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"I'm sure you can research the difference between the two." My tone was neutral, but the hint of sarcasm was detectable.
"I'd rather have you explain it to me." Another step closer. "I don't trust the internet."
"I don't have time for trivial conversations, I'm a busy woman."
"Oh?" He chuckled darkly, the sound made heat course through my veins. "Are you always this hostile?" There was an entire ocean of tension between us.
"No, I'm selective when it comes to my display of hostility." I smiled sweetly, moving my arms behind my back and clutching my purse.
"I'm honoured," he replied nonchalantly, stepping closer until we stood side by side. A repeat of what took place a few days ago. He lowered his head slightly, his breath fanning the side of my face.
I looked straight ahead, not wanting to look at him or anywhere else for that matter. "However…" He paused, his voice dropping dangerously low. "I'd watch that mouth if I were you."
"Is that a threat, Nicolas?" I blinked slowly, sweeping my gaze in his direction. Our eyes locked and I'd be lying if I said my heart wasn't beating faster, abnormally fast. The way he looked at me with such intensity made me squirm in my spot.
"Nah," he responded coolly. "A fair warning." He didn't wait for me to say anything else and brushed past me, the slight touch of our bodies sent me into overdrive.
Only once I was alone again did I finally release a breath I didn't know I was holding. My heart pounded violently against my chest, ready to leap out at any moment.
I smoothed my dress with my palm and straightened my posture before walking away. My mind was made up: I'd rather be amidst the chaos in the bridal suite than stand here under the scrutiny of a certain individuals’s gaze.
Needless to say, the wedding turned out to be absolutely phenomenal. I wasn't the type of person who easily showcased my emotions, but I got slightly teary eyed during the exchange of vows between my close friends.
Kehlani's long, dark cherry coloured hair stood out against her white wedding dress. She looked exactly like a princess; or at least how I'd envision them. Elegant. Ethereal. Breathtaking.
Everything went according to plan. Nobody was tardy and, most importantly, there weren't wedding crashers or objections. If there were, I don't think Kayden would've taken it lightly—and neither would I.
Once the ceremony concluded, we immediately went to the next venue where the wedding reception was being held. Kehlani and I referred to it as the after party because we were without a doubt going to celebrate.
During the ceremony, I only drank one glass of champagne because I wanted to ensure I was level headed throughout, but now that the most important part of the day was complete, I could finally indulge in more alcohol.
I walked over to where Kayden and Kehlani sat and they immediately stood up when they saw me approaching. I hugged my best friend first, wrapping my arms around her tightly. "Congratulations once again, babe. I'm so happy for you."
"You promised you weren't going to make me cry," she murmured, hugging me back with equal force.
"I didn't do anything, I'm only congratulating you." I chuckled, making her laugh, too.
We pulled away and I hugged the groom next. "I'm so happy for you and I'm proud of you, my guy." He laughed softly and then scoffed. "You're a grown man now."
"Was I not grown before?" he questioned. Kehlani and I glanced at each other and shook our heads, answering simultaneously. He laughed and waved us off.
"Now, back to what I was saying," Kehlani started. "You know I've been more emotional than usual lately, so even that simple congratulatory comment made the tears well up in my eyes."
"The last thing I want right now is for you to ruin your make up, please don't cry. Not on my accord, at least."
She laughed again, the sound airy and floating around us. It made me smile to see her genuinely happy. "Don't be silly, we've had many moments together where we bawled our eyes out."
"We?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, me . We've been friends for about ten years, but I think I've only seen you cry once and that's because you broke your leg."
I laughed at the memory and shook my head. "Please don't remind me. The pain was excruciating."
At that moment, Nicolas strode over to Kayden and sat down next to him, leaning back and spreading his thighs slightly. I rolled my eyes at the sight and Kehlani curiously watched me.
"What was that?" she asked with a hint of amusement in her tone. "Do you know him?"
"I don't know him, but we've met." My tone came across as dismissive, but that's how I felt about the smug man. "Which brings me to my next question—who is he and why was he invited to your wedding?"
"His name is Nicolas. He's one of Kayden's really close friends. One could say they're like brothers at this point."
I scoffed at the revelation. "How unfortunate."
She smirked at me and wiggled her eyebrows. "Last time I heard, he's single."
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her along with me, leading her to the bar area. "What's your point?" She released a heavy sigh as if the words she was about to say next was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You're single. He's single. Plus, he seems like your type."
When we reached the bar, I immediately asked for two shots of vodka. Nothing better than starting off the reception on the right note.
"He's not my type." When I completed that sentence, I realised I could've said it with more conviction.
"Right," she said in a bored tone. The bartender pushed the shot glasses in our direction and we grabbed it simultaneously. "Here's to a long, happy, blessed marriage."
"Amen." Saying that specific word while downing clean vodka was absolutely blasphemous. We brought the glasses to our lips and tossed them back. I swallowed the liquid in one gulp .
The burning sensation spread down my oesophagus, pooling in the depths of my stomach. I grimaced and blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears forming in my eyes.
"Jesus," Kehlani muttered. "Why do I keep doing this with you?" She placed the empty glass onto the counter and tossed her head back slightly, making me chuckle.
"It's funny, you prefer whiskey over vodka. Did Kayden force you to make that decision?" She laughed and shook her head.
"No, it just tastes better."
"I beg to differ, but let's agree to disagree." The music in the background blended into a low sound, almost turning into nothingness when I felt a pair of eyes on me.
I could feel someone watching, ogling. When I turned my head in the direction of where Nicolas sat, his eyes were locked on me. He didn't waver, didn't look away. If anything, he continued staring, making me feel naked under his watchful eye.
He sat in the same position, legs spread, one hand on his thigh and the other draped over the back of the chair. Looking extremely sexy. I almost couldn't bring myself to look away, but I did.
I forced my focus back to my best friend. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look?" I gushed. I couldn't shake the feeling building in the pit of my stomach, knowing that he was watching me.
"Yes." She giggled. "Just in that moment, I was so nervous I couldn't even think straight, so I didn't get to tell you how beautiful you look. Your dress is gorgeous, Gabriella."
"Well, you threatened to ban me if I wore anything underwhelming."
Our conversation was cut short when Kayden and Nicolas appeared out of nowhere. "I hope we're not interrupting." He placed his hand on the small of Kehlani's back, kissing her on the cheek. "May I borrow my wife, if that's okay with you, Gabs? "
I laughed and rolled my eyes. "Go right ahead, young man, but please have her back here by 9:00 p.m. sharp." They laughed at my response and then gracefully walked towards the dance floor, leaving me alone with a certain someone.
"Can I get a whiskey, neat?" He signalled for the bartender and I took it as my cue to leave. Unfortunately, the universe liked toying with me because he wrapped his hand around my wrist, preventing me from going anywhere. "How distasteful."
He was taunting me and clearly trying to see if he could rile me up. The skin of his hand burned due to his touch and I released a soft, slow breath.
"Is that the word you'd use to describe yourself?" I tried tugging my wrist free, but the attempt was as useless as letter D in Wednesday.
He pulled me closer, making my breath hitch. Our bodies were extremely close, but not touching. His grip didn't falter, not even in the slightest.
"Have a drink with me."
"I don't drink whiskey."
"Then I'll get your drink of choice," he said sternly. "What will it be?"
I looked down between us and frowned. "Let go of my wrist and I'll tell you."
"Are you going to try to run off again?"
"No."
He bent his head down slightly, his face inches away from mine. "You sure?" he mocked.
"I'm sure." I clenched my teeth and tried to remain as neutral as possible. Slowly, he unwrapped his hand and gestured towards the bar stool.
"Sit, Gabriella." The command was rough, but the way my name rolled off his tongue was the complete opposite of that. The sound was almost dizzying.
Reluctantly, I sat down, keeping my eyes on his. "I'll have champagne."
"No vodka?" So he had been watching us the entire time. I shook my head, making his lips curve into a small smile. "One glass of champagne for the lady, please," he said to the bartender and the man nodded.
Nicolas wrapped his large hand around the glass and took a slow sip of his alcohol. "Is there a reason why I'm joining you for a drink?" I asked.
"What?" He feigned innocence. "Can't a man have a drink with a beautiful woman?"
"Flattery will get you nowhere." I crossed one leg over the other and his gaze dropped towards my thighs, albeit for a split second.
"That doesn't mean I can't try." Another sip of whiskey. "I wanted to get to know you."
"Why's that? Dating apps not working for you anymore?" It was a low blow, but I didn't understand the man's sudden fixation on me.
"I don't require dating apps." He pushed the champagne towards me. "I prefer the traditional way of doing things."
When I grabbed a hold of the flute, my fingertips lightly brushed against his hand. I could feel the blood rushing straight to my cheeks. I've never reacted to a man in this manner, so I didn't understand what was happening.
There was a glint in his eyes, but it vanished as soon as it appeared. "Interesting." I took one long swig, allowing the sweet liquid to trickle down my throat. "I had a drink with you, are we done with this little chat now?"
"What's the rush?" He moved his body in my direction, his knee brushing against mine. "We've got all night."
"I'm not in the mood for small talk."
"A woman after my own heart."
"What do you want, Nicolas?" His name sounded bitter as it left my mouth.
"Do you want an honest answer or the sugar-coated version?"
"Honest answer." Normally, I wasn't this curt with anyone, but for some reason he just rubbed me up the wrong way. His fresh scented cologne lingered in the air and I just knew the scent would haunt me for the rest of the week.
"I think you know the answer, but I'll tell you anyway."
He leaned in and my breathing quickened. We were too close for comfort and the proximity affected me immensely. "I want you," he whispered, his eyes flicking to my lips. "In every way possible."
I gasped at his confession and gulped, digging my nails into my thighs. "What?" I asked breathlessly.
"Looks like you have some emotion after all." He leaned back, swiping his thumb across his bottom lip. "Even if it's unorthodox methods that bring it out of you."
I was flustered and the flimsy material on my body felt like thick clothing, slowly suffocating me to death. For the first time since our first interaction, I was rendered speechless.
Heat pooled in my lower belly and I shifted in my seat. His suggestive tone of voice and subtle hints really did a number on me.
"Shutting you up has definitely been the highlight of my evening," he teased, getting off from the stool and shrugging on his suit jacket that I hadn't even noticed was on the empty chair next to him. "Dance with me."
He held his hand out and I looked at it as if he was handing me poison to drink. When I looked up, his focus was solely on me, his gaze burning a hole right through me .
"Do you even know how to dance?" A sensual song played in the background, though it sounded extremely distant. It felt like I was in another section of the reception and all of the sounds were muffled.
"I suppose there's only one way to find out." How did he manage to remain so indifferent when I was practically melting due to our close proximity?
I placed my hand in his and inhaled deeply. He pulled me towards the dance floor and I released a soft breath. Nicolas placed his left hand on the small of my back, ensuring there was absolutely no space between us.
"You seem a little stiff for somebody who just asked me if I knew how to dance." I glared at him, making him chuckle. His body felt warm and hard against mine. "Don't give me that look."
We swayed to the rhythm of the beat. I'm certain that the cologne would penetrate my clothing and I'd end up smelling like him for the rest of the night.
"Why not?"
"I'm sure you know what I'm going to say next."
"Last time I checked, I wasn't a mind reader, so no, I have no clue what you're about to say next," I lied. My intuition told me the conversation was about to take a filthy turn.
"I'm a gentleman."
I laughed softly, making Nicolas tighten his grip around my hand. He lowered his head next to my ear, pressing his body firmly against mine. "What's so funny?"
"You're funny. Hilarious, actually."
I shivered when he breathed directly into my neck, arching my back slightly. "Seems like I'm hilarious and charming because I'm making you shiver and I haven't even done anything."
"Perhaps it's a little chilly here. "
"Chilly in Cabo?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing my white lie.
"Yes, self-proclaimed gentleman."
"You're a bad liar, Gabriella. You shouldn't make a habit of being untruthful."
"I'm the most honest person you'll ever meet."
"Yeah?" he asked to which I nodded. "Your dancing is impeccable, by the way," he complimented with a slight tease in his tone. He controlled my movements, releasing his hand from my back and spun me around before pulling me closer and holding the back of my head.
I've never been speechless, but at this moment, I couldn't form a coherent sentence. I looked up at him and thought that perhaps I've had too much alcohol.
Suddenly, I felt flustered and couldn't breathe properly. "I'm afraid if I compliment your moves, that head of yours might just explode," I quipped.
Nicolas chuckled, the sound was like music to my ears. "What kind of perfume are you wearing?"
"Two things a woman never reveals to men is her age and the perfume brand she's wearing." The song stopped and everybody started clapping. It broke me out of the Nicolas-induced daze.
I took a step back as if the man scorched my skin. "Thank you for the dance," I said, tossing my hair behind my back.
He tucked both hands in his pocket. "Why the sudden distance between us?" he asked sarcastically. "Is my closeness making you uncomfortable?"
"Not uncomfortable, just—hot." He stepped forward, closing the distance once more.
"That's how I felt when I first bumped into you," he said in a low tone. "I thought about you for days on end, so imagine my surprise when I saw you here today."
"You thought about me?" If only he knew the truth. I couldn't stop thinking about him, either. A moment where I encountered a handsome man who lingered on my mind for days on end.
"Yes." He leaned in. "I've got so many inappropriate thoughts, but I'll keep to myself for now."
"Because you're a gentleman?" I laughed, making him nod.
"Precisely, will—" His phone rang and he took the device out of his jacket pocket, glancing at the screen. "Excuse me for one moment. I'll be right back." He looked at me apologetically and answered the call.
The moment he turned his back to me, I took the opportunity to walk away. It was absurdly hot in the vicinity and I needed fresh air. Or perhaps it was an excuse to escape before I did something on this trip that I wasn't supposed to.
Needless to say, I avoided Nicolas like the plague all night long, but watched him from afar. Luckily, the champagne made the entire ordeal easier. I stayed out of his view, but I could tell by the look on his face that he searched for me.