Chapter 11 #2
And just as I expected, my gaze shot over to where Vicky stood and I saw Nathan gingerly grab the daisy that had fallen from her hair and gently push it back behind her ear.
Where were my fire-breathing powers when I needed them?
I took a deep breath and looked away, walking off in no particular direction.
Anywhere that didn’t involve watching Vicky’s smile, the one I’d seen close up, as it was given to another man.
It was irrational how much anger I felt.
I wasn’t a jealous man, not even with Katy.
She was a beautiful woman and sometimes attracted other men’s attention, but this? This all-consuming rage was new to me.
The music drifted through the backyard, soft and low beneath the hum of voices and laughter.
When I reached the patio door, Leyla was walking toward me.
She was Luke’s best friend, both of them a few years younger than me, but she’d been like a sister to me for years.
When Luke stepped back from his CEO duties at Earth Organix, Leyla easily took his place. She was smart, witty, and beautiful.
Luke and Sofia joined me when they saw her, all of us hugging in greeting.
“Thanks for coming, CEO lady,” I teased, making her smack my arm.
“Sorry I’m late. Had an issue with a vendor in New York. The house is perfect, Miles. I’m so happy for you and MJ. She’s kicking butt in there,” she answered, pointing to where MJ was surrounded by my tech team playing video games.
“They won’t know what hit them.”
“You doing okay, girl?” Sofia asked, squeezing her hand. Luke had told me she and her longtime boyfriend, Ethan, had broken up.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry about me. It’s a party,” Leyla answered, but I knew her well enough to know that her smile wasn’t authentic. “Just need to keep working. It’s all I have time for right now.”
“Still glad you took my job, boss lady?” Luke teased.
“Ask me again on Monday morning,” she answered, making us all laugh.
“Sure you’re okay? I can go beat him up for you,” I joked, trying to make her smile.
“Nah, not worth it. I’m just tired. Maybe I need a vacation.”
“He just wasn’t the right one for you. You’ll find that special someone when the time is right. And yeah, I think some time off is just what you need,” Sofia said.
Leyla’s eyes flitted between Sofia and Luke. I knew that look. It was the one where you’re happy for the people you care about finding love, but can’t help the way it made your own loneliness even deeper.
“In the meantime, there’s always work, caffeine and Netflix, right?” she said.
“We need a girls’ night real soon. You, me, and Jaz. Oh and Vicky, if she’s free,” Sofia said.
“Come on, let’s get out of this funky mood. It’s a party. Yes, introduce me to her. She’s all MJ talked about when Angelica brought her by the office last week.”
“Oh, she’s fantastic. I think she’s found a love connection tonight. Let’s go find you one,” my soon to be ostracized sister-in-law said. I growled as they walked away, Leyla giving her a confused look.
“She’s going to tell everyone,” I grumbled to Luke.
“She’s just teasing you. If she promised she wouldn’t tell, she won’t. But you might want rein in the caveman act. You’re the only one giving away how you feel about Vicky tonight,” he said, trailing after the pair.
Almost tripping over my feet at his remark, I finally found MJ in a tense game of Mario Kart on our living room TV with Lauren from marketing. My tension eased a bit as I watched MJ skillfully maneuver Princess Peach around the racetrack, her tongue pressed between her teeth.
“Who’s winning?” I asked as I watched them sway from side to side, grunting.
“Awww, are you serious? Again?” Lauren yelled, feigning irritation. “I think you have this game rigged.”
MJ laughed as they high-fived. Lauren had been with me since MJ was about three, so this wasn't their first time hanging out.
“MJ, it’s getting late. I’ll let you stay up a little longer, but you’ll have to go to bed soon.”
“Come on, Daddy. It’s summer vacation. Mr. Bill and Ms. Amy are waiting their turn to play with the master.” She wiggled her fingers before blowing on them.
Her confident words made me laugh as I shook my head. It wouldn’t surprise me if she beat them all. Heading to the kitchen, I grabbed another slider from the warming tray as I leaned on the counter. Mom did a great job with the food choices, and I was suddenly needing something to distract me.
“Any of those left?”
I turned to see Vicky walking toward me with a warm smile on her face, her voice stirring something inside me that, again, I thought was long dormant. I nodded and handed her one, my pulse accelerating when my fingers brushed over hers as the napkin-wrapped burger was transferred.
“Thanks. Having a good time?” she asked before taking a dainty bite, while mine was already gone.
She took a bottle of kombucha from the large aluminum bin that housed iced-down drinks, handing it to me. I snickered at our inside joke.
“Funny. Joke’s on you. I like this flavor,” I answered, twisting off the top as the satisfying hiss rang out. “And yeah, I’m having a good time. About ready to fall asleep though.”
“Old man,” she teased, taking another bite.
“You wound me, Little Fairy.”
Oh shoot. Why’d I say that?
Her smile grew slowly, and she tilted her head to the side, asking, “Little Fairy?”
“Ah, MJ called you that when you first got here,” I said quickly. Pointing to her hair, I added, “Must’ve been the flowers.”
She touched the one that Nathan had straightened, a blush coloring her perfect cheeks.
“Seems she’s not the only one who noticed them,” I blurted out.
It was official. I’d lost my mind and my ability to shut my mouth.
Vicky furrowed her brows and looked at me with confusion.
Clearing my throat, I said, “Nathan. He, um, he noticed the daisies. He touched one of them.”
There was no way to hide the way the word “touched” was almost spit out of my mouth, like something disgusting had offended me.
“Oh, wow. Aw, yes. I don’t know why he did that,” she said quickly, looking away.
“You don’t? It’s pretty obvious. He’s attracted to you. Was flirting with you,” I said, looking away from her doe eyes when they turned back to me.
Shaking her head quickly, she scoffed. “That’s not true.” Her words made me turn back to fully look into those amber eyes.
“I know you haven’t had much experience,” I said, leaning toward her so only she could hear me. “But that was definitely what flirting looks like.” It wasn’t lost on me that she shivered when my breath moved her hair.
Yeah, my Little Fairy. This is what flirting looks like, too.
As I backed away, her eyes followed me like she was looking at something she couldn’t puzzle out.
She shifted her feet, clearly nervous. Then she bit her full bottom lip, and it was my turn to look away. It felt like we were engaged in a dance only we knew the steps to.
“I think I might need lessons. It’s obvious I don’t know what I’m doing,” she whispered, leaning toward me, our eyes locking again. That electrical storm that built when we were this close, eyes locked, was about to spark and fry the grid in my neighborhood. Maybe the whole city.
“You need lessons in what?” Sofia asked, her words making Vicky and me spring away from each other like teenagers caught kissing at prom.
Vicky coughed, grabbing a bottle of water from the ice and took a big gulp.
“Games. She was saying she needs help learning games. Not used to them,” I blurted out like a moron. Vicky mouthed a “thank you” after she swallowed.
“Oh, I can teach you. Well, when I get back from Positano, that is. We can have a game night. You’re going to love Ticket to Ride. Miles stinks at it,” she said with a cackle as I narrowed my eyes at her.
Several of my guests headed inside then, including Leyla, saying they had to leave and thanked me for the party. When a few more decided to go to a local bar, the crowd kept getting smaller.
“Hey, boss, thanks again for the invite. Had a great time,” Nathan said as he strode up to us in the kitchen. He was talking to me but it was evident his attention was on the beautiful woman in white next to me.
“Glad you could make it,” I answered, with as much enthusiasm as I could.
Reaching for her hand, he said, “Vicky, it was a pleasure to meet you.”
When she slid her soft hand, a hand that I’d been lucky enough to hold, into his, I wanted to set his khakis, chambray button-down and stylish navy-blue Vans on fire.
I really needed to explore this new tendency toward pyromania.
“Fix your face,” Sofia whispered, leaning close to me. Apparently, I was snarling.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Vicky answered with a polite smile, side-eyeing me.
He nodded and looked at her for a moment longer before heading for the front door.
Yeah, get out, buddy. And don’t come back.
Soon, everyone was filtering out, laughter filling the house as they hugged and said their goodbyes to me and each other.
“Well, we’re headed out too, son. Great party.
I know you’ve had your fill of socializing.
The catering staff will clean up before they leave.
Get MJ to bed; she’s trying so hard to stay awake," Mom said, her head pointing to my daughter, who was curled up on the sofa, trying hard not to close her eyes.
“She put up a valiant fight. Once the adrenaline of competition was over, she was done for. Thanks for everything. You did a great job. Love you both.”
“We’re out too. I’m overdue for my nightly foot rub,” Sofia said, holding up her foot to me with a cocky grin while I shivered and stepped back.
“No one touches your feet but me, babe,” Luke crooned, while I gave them both a look of disgust. “Love ya, bro. Let me know if you need help with anything the caterers miss in the morning.”
We hugged, and he pounded my back a bit too hard just to annoy me before whispering, “Don’t miss out on something wonderful.”
I slapped the top of his head, causing Mom to call out from the door, “I heard that.”