Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Natalie
“Is it too much?” I said. I only asked so we could banter back and forth about my dress, knowing full well she’d give me shit, if obligatory shit.
We had different styles, Cat and I. She wore a stunning version of a little black dress that she carried off with her tall slim frame and her sleek curtain of hair.
“Are those pearls, for cripes sake?” I knew full well they were the pearls her mother had given her to wear. “Where is your mother?”
“With my father. Taking care of business. For the moment.” She rolled her eyes and turned to give me the once-over. With a comical bug-eyed look she feigned shock and awe.
“Attention grabbing, isn’t it?” I said.
“What there is of it.” She circled around me. “There’s no back and not much of a front or skirt. Does it come with matching panties for when everyone gets the view? No, really—are you wearing that to the party or were you on your way to deliver a strip-o-gram?”
I laughed at that. “Perfect. Exactly the look I was going for. Is my hair okay?”
“Your hair is the best thing about you next to your eyes, Natty.” She ran a hand over the tousled waves as if to smooth them.
“Don’t mess it up—or I should say don’t straighten it out. I’m going for artfully messy. You know—the I just got out of bed look.”
“Don’t you mean the I just got laid look?”
“Exactly.”
She opened the door and I stepped through in my silver spike heels and my shimmering turquoise slip dress, sans bra.
“Did you realize your nipples are showing through the fabric? Maybe you should throw on a sweater—”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll find a nice gentleman to keep me warm.”
“About that—I want to introduce you to the perfect young gentleman.”
“I’ve already met him.”
“Not Max. Leave the guy alone. I think Brandon Chase would be perfect for you. Or maybe Sean Patrick. He’s a little more devilish. They’re both age appropriate, never been married and have no children.”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to dance around before I settle into Max’s arms for the night. Whet his appetite. Give him something to watch and wish for.”
She slapped my arm playfully as we walked to the elevator.
“You’re incorrigible. But I think I’m going to enjoy watching the show.”
“As long as you don’t cramp my style, sister.”
“When have I ever?”
“Never. But we haven’t been out in a while together.” I hooked my arm into hers as we got into the elevator and I realized this was it. Final. I’d be losing her for good to Hunter Quintanna in two short days. My best wing-woman. I sighed. All the more reason to find a man, a keeper of my own.
When we arrived at the patio dance the cool ocean air hit me, but it was the warmth of the scattered outdoor heaters, the enchanting lights of the lanterns around the perimeter, and the gauzy white tent that covered the space that made me shiver.
We were early-ish and the band was still setting up.
Cat tugged my hand to go with her to the small knot of people at the far corner near the stage.
Coach Marini, Penny, Cat’s mother, who I only knew as Mrs. Marini, turned to greet her with hugs and gushing affection.
I let go of her hand and dropped back. I always felt like the oddity that I was in contrast to her family, but hey, they were far from snobs and they liked me, accepted me for who I was because I was Cat’s friend.
Or at least in the beginning that had been the reason.
When she’d started inviting me to postgame dinners during college, I got to know the crowd and they got to know me.
We now had an understanding. Cat and I were foils, opposites and good influences on each other.
“Hey, Coach.” He took me in a bear hug when he was finished with Cat. Mrs. Marini was the next to give me a hug, not as big as her ex-husband’s embrace, but heartfelt if reserved. Then Penny shook her head in disapproval at my dress before breaking into a grin.
“You didn’t hold back, did you?” She put out her arms and planted a real kiss on my cheek.
She was the most honest adult I knew, never pulling any punches.
I cherished her disapproval almost as much as her approval.
Cat always said Penny had been like a big sister, and that hadn’t changed even after she and her dad got married in a quickie JP wedding the week after the Super Bowl.
Penny had always been Coach’s personal assistant, had always lived at his house since she could remember, even before the divorce, so the change was nonexistent from Cat’s perspective.
I envied that ease she had with her new stepmother, but our circumstances were far different.
My mother had died and hers was still alive and present.
My dad hadn’t waited over ten years to remarry.
My mom had died at the beginning of seventh grade and my dad had remarried the step-doll by spring break the next year. We were one big unhappy family by Easter. Seventh grade had been the worst year of my life, but things didn’t get much better after Lisa moved in.
Banishing the morose thoughts, I kissed Penny back and then spun around for all to admire.
Penny whistled and Coach laughed and shook his head.
Mrs. Marini kept the same warm, if distant, smile on her face, as unreadable as ever, yet nonjudgmental.
She had her arm through Cat’s and they held onto each other with a tightness that spiked a shot of envy through me, causing the kind of acute pain for my mother’s loss that I hadn’t felt in years.
“Where’s the groom?” Coach asked.
“With the guys where he’s supposed to be tonight,” Cat said. “But he’ll be here. They’ll all be here.”
Coach nodded. “Let’s have something to eat before the party starts.
” He extended an arm toward a buffet table behind him and we gravitated that way.
Other guests started arriving and servers came to us asking for drink orders.
Penny, along with Cat’s mom, who finally let her daughter go, went to talk to the band.
I said to Cat, “I wish the band would start playing soon so I can dance. It’ll keep me warm.” A cool breeze flew past us from the direction of the dark crashing ocean beyond the sand.
“Serves you right for wearing that dress. Without a sweater.”
Her black dress had long sleeves, silky and tight emphasizing her long arms and the plunging neckline. It wasn’t much more cover than mine, but it did have a back. I stuck my tongue out at her and went for more food.
I picked up a third plump scallop wrapped in bacon from a tray and popped it in my mouth because I hadn’t eaten all day in the midst of rushing around to get here.
Not caring how obvious I was, because let’s face it, I owned obvious, I watched the door for Max.
Instead, Hunter and Gabe walked in. Gabriel Wyatt, the superstar of the team, the golden QB with the killer smile, was with Mia, who was the most classically gorgeous cover-model type I’d ever seen.
I’d met her once and felt funny because it was the night Cat had tried to fix me up with Gabe.
It didn’t work out. He’d barely noticed me and I’m the noticeable type.
He only had eyes for Mia. I wanted someone to look and feel that way about me some day. I wanted to feel that way about a man.
I wasn’t sure why Cat tried fixing me up with Gabe, but she’d been doing someone—named Hunter—a favor.
Whatever, it hadn’t worked out and now I felt funny. I looked like a cheap tart next to the two classic beauties, Cat and Mia. But hey, it was who I was and I had to own it. The trio headed our way and I was surrounded by two extraordinary couples.
“Aren’t you cold?” Hunter said to me with a tease in his voice.
“You know better than to ask that question. I can’t be cold because I’m hot as sin.”
Gabe whistled and Mia laughed. I chanced a surreptitious glance in the direction of the doorway. Men, all larger than life, streamed in, some with impressive women on their arms and others alone. None of them Max. Not yet.
“Don’t encourage her,” Cat said.
“You might need armed guards in that dress,” Gabe said.
“It’s perfect for catching a man’s attention,” Mia said.
“You’re right,” I said. “In fact, you’re all on notice. I’m in the market for a keeper.”
Hunter blew out a whistle this time. “Don’t tell me you’re getting serious? I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Gabe shook his head. “We’d warn the guys to run the other way, but one look at you and they won’t hear a thing.”
“That’s the idea, big boy.” I liked Gabe.
He was hot, but also a nice guy. Mia was a lucky woman, but then she was no slouch as an emergency room nurse who could moonlight as a supermodel, so maybe it was Gabe who was the lucky man.
I eyed her, but she only had an amused twinkle for me.
Not one single long fluttering eyelash out of place.
As I watched Gabe’s arm snake around her waist in an easy, unconscious move, I understood why.
They had something and it went way beyond physical attraction.
God, how I wanted that. But a girl had to start somewhere, didn’t she?
“You have your eye on someone yet?” Hunter asked, but I bet he knew the answer and was instigating me into a debate.
“Why, yes, I do.” He’d have to tease the intel from me. Cat rolled her eyes.
“She’s set on Max Devon,” Cat announced.
Gabe’s brows shot up, Mia nodded and Hunter pretended to scowl.
“You’re interested in an old man. Someone with experience?”
“Someone mature enough to appreciate a heart of gold underneath the dazzling display,” I said, revealing all. As usual.
“Wise choice,” Mia said.
“Hopefully for him he’ll be wise in the way he treats you,” Hunter said, injecting a note of danger in his voice.
I laughed. “You’re playing the big brother?”
“Someone’s got to do it.”
“Let him, Nattie.” Cat said. “He misses his sisters—or misses bossing them around and intimidating their dates out of their shoes.”
“Fine, but I’m counting on you to keep him under control. I have a certain style of . . .”
“Attracting a man?” Cat said.
“Let’s call it that.” I winked. They all laughed. Penny came over to our little group.
“What’s so funny?” She looked at me. “Never mind. The band is going to start up now. We need some people to start dancing to break the ice.”
“I’m on it,” I said. I wasn’t exaggerating.
The first song was “Let’s Dance,” perfect for my sultry style.
I started dancing while the others were content to continue eating and drinking, watching me as if I were part of the entertainment.
It wasn’t long before other guests arrived—one and a half songs later.
It took another two songs and me getting out of breath before people finally joined me on the dance floor, mostly couples.
Luckily for me Hunter didn’t dance much so Cat partnered with me and Hunter brought us drinks.
It was almost nine and Cat said, “How about if we take a break.”
“Not me. I’m going to dance my ass off until my man walks through the door and sees me.”
Hands on hips, she gave me a resigned look. After taking a healthy swig of her drink she put it down on a high-top near the dance floor next to my half-filled glass, and joined me.
“Fine. I know you. And you look like you have your mind made up. I don’t know how your brothers ever got away with anything with you and your stubborn streak.”
Wiggling my hips in time to the music, I said, “They didn’t.”
“Only because they never saw you dance. They’d own you, blackmail you forever if they saw this.”
“They never would. You know how discreet I am.”
She nodded and spun around. She always marveled at what a good mother I was to my brothers.
And I was—or had been—and would be an awesome mother to my own children some day.
The sooner the better now that I’d made up my mind to get serious about finding someone special.
I watched Cat dance and would have missed Max’s entrance if I didn’t follow her spin.
Boom. And my heart went boom when I crossed that room and I saw him standing there, like the song says.
Almost exactly like the song. Oh. My. God.
Maybe it was the buildup of my anticipation that stole my breath.
Or maybe it was Max. He was more than handsome, suave and cool, it was how in control he looked, how sophisticated, how the others followed him like little ducklings.
It was how natural he was, sure and yet not in your face.
He had a self-possessed, been-around but not cynical, patient-with-the-less-wise-people air about him.
I leaned into Cat and shouted in her ear, “He looks like a cross between James Bond and Mr. Rogers. I’m going to need to burn my panties before the night’s over.”
She pushed me away with a laugh of fake disgust. Turning back to him, I swayed, let my hair curtain my face so I could study him from behind the veil.
He stood at the bar with Hunter and spoke to his young teammates, Brandon Chase and Sean Patrick, though I had no idea which was which at this point.
And there it was. I saw it in his demeanor.
He wore it like a neon lettered T-shirt.
Wisdom and patience. And a connection—it was the same wisdom and patience like I had with my kindergarteners.
Except he had it with grown men. He was light years ahead of them, like I was with my kindergarten students.
Ignoring the small red flag that he might be light years ahead of me, I let the hard beating of my heart reverberate, sending pleasure all through me.
But even as my heart raced, and I drifted toward him to the beat of the music, I felt a blip of uncertainty for the first time.
What if I was not . . . what if I was too . . .
“I see what got your attention.” Cat twirled around me, blocking my view, and I let the doubt go, shook it off and smiled at her.
“Then you know the game is on. Time for me to get my man.” I was in full-tilt, fake it till you make it mode now because I wanted to go wherever and as far as that man would take me.
“I’ll be your wing girl one last time,” she said.
We exchanged a sad smile. She danced with me like we always did, in show-stopping fashion and, by the end of the song, I saw him see me.
Our eyes finally locked. I smiled as if I’d noticed him only in passing, as if my chest wasn’t pounding, as if my heart was not beating against my ribs begging to be let out.