Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
MAYA
It's been two weeks of slashed tires, red paint on my door, and more pictures. I've changed my alarm codes and so far have kept Derek from moving in and my work from finding out. Jones has brought in a couple of his team members to help.
I need this break to London so bad. I need to get away from all the craziness.
It’s been four years since I’ve been back.
I returned every summer after my parents died for a couple of years, then life happened.
My hell followed me here and I couldn’t do that to the ones I love.
I will never put another person in danger if I can prevent it.
Now I’m here for my best friend’s wedding.
I can't wait to see Ana and her dad, my other father figure. We’ve been best friends since we were both seventeen, turns out our parents grew up together.
Ana and I met in Tel Aviv at a party at the museum.
My mom had been shocked when she saw who I was talking to.
Ana’s father, James, and my mom had drifted apart during the years.
Ana was with me when my parents died. Lately, I’ve been worried about her.
We barely talk on the phone or Skype anymore.
Clearing international security, I hear someone shout my name.
"Maya!" Ana yells again as she launches herself at me; she seems thinner than I remember.
"I can't believe you’re getting married, woman! Ana, I've missed you so much." I hug her and her shoulders shake as she starts to cry. What the hell?
She rarely cries. Out of the two of us, Ana is the emotional one, but still, this is crazy. Must be the stress of the wedding.
I hold her a little tighter and her shorter five-foot frame clings to me.
"Calm down, sis," I tell her.
I look over her shoulder and my body tightens. I grab her arm and pull her behind my back fast. The stranger from a couple of weeks ago grins at me. What the hell is he doing here?
"Are you following me?" I say as I prepare to hand him his nuts through his throat.
"You two know each other?" Ana claps and starts bouncing on her toes.
I flick my head back to look at her but keep my focus on him. He reaches out and takes my hand. Flipping it over, he bends to kiss it, keeping his eyes on me the whole time. I'm in shock and can't hit him. Ana knows him. His chuckle pulls me from my thoughts.
"Duncan Preston, and you must be Maya Aaron," he says as his lips skim the back of my hand, sending tingles up my arm.
"You're Duncan?" My jaw drops and I now realize why he looked so familiar. In the years that I visited London we never met, the timing was always off. His father still has never explained why our parents stopped visiting each other.
"When did you meet Duncan? How?" Ana asks in a piercing girly shriek. Yep, she is a girly girl.
"We actually didn't meet. She was on the team that helped at the convention center a couple of weeks ago. I asked her for drinks, but her boyfriend declined," Duncan explains as he drops my hand and goes to grab my messenger bag. I shake my head and turn to Ana.
"You have a boyfriend? Since when? I thought you wouldn't have another after that Carl arsehole?"
"No. I don't have a boyfriend. It was Derek."
She nods in understanding and we begin to walk toward the parking garage.
I take the time to really look at Duncan.
He has starred in many of my fantasies since I saw him last, all six-foot-eight of him.
I forgot how big he was. His large muscles strain against his black jacket and slacks.
I turn my head and try to pay attention to Ana going on and on about catering and flowers, but not before he turns and catches me checking out his ass.
He just smirks at me. After a few minutes I turn to look at him again.
His close-cropped dark hair and five o'clock shadow make him off the charts hot.
He has a chiseled jaw and prominent cheekbones.
His hands are so large. The old saying about hands makes me smile.
Oh God, did I just think that about my best friend's brother?
We make our way out to the parking garage, and the heat has me pulling off my lightweight leather jacket.
I'm still wearing a black blazer beneath with a white T-shirt and jeans.
My necklace can be seen and I know that Ana won't say anything about it. I only wear a few bits of jewelry—this locket with my parents’ wedding rings, a ring that was my grandmother's on my middle finger, and my father's watch.
Today I'm also wearing a necklace Greg got me for Christmas last year, it’s long and hangs to my belly, but I know I look decent enough for Ana.
Ana is wearing a pale pink skirt suit with a white blouse.
The jacket is long enough to cover her hips. She looks sophisticated and demure.
"I can't believe you couldn't get here sooner. You're supposed to be my maid of honor. You know…relieve my stress? The rehearsal is this evening." Ana is talking away, but I'm not paying attention again.
I shake myself and look at her. Time to pretend her brother doesn't affect me. A slow grin slides across his features. He knows I was checking him out again. Damn!
"I'll make it up to you. Let’s go to our pub tonight and get trashed like old times."
"I can't do that. Jonathon won't allow it. Besides, we've got the rehearsal and dinner tonight."
"What the hell, who cares! You aren't married to him yet."
This is why I don't care for her fiancé. He treats her like a child and doesn't let her do things. Worst of all, I know this is his style she is wearing, not hers.
"I agree with Maya. You need to let your hair down and go out," Duncan pipes in.
"No, I can't. Thank you, anyway, but no. Besides, Maya, I don't go to that pub anymore."
"What pub?"
"One in Surrey we liked to go to. The bartender knew our favorite drinks and even kept a bottle of mine set aside for me. He was a hoot." I laugh.
"Surrey? My friend Joshua is from there. We can all go together. Come on, Sis. Think of this as your hen party."
"Her what?" I ask confused.
"Hen party, I believe you call it a bachelorette party in America." Duncan smiles at me.
His smile causes me to take a deep breath, and I feel like I'm his complete focus. I shake it off and turn back to Ana.
"No, I'll not say it again. I can't...won't go. Jonathon will be upset if I do." Ana's breathing increases and she starts to hyperventilate.
I know the signs of a panic attack, and I'm wondering what else is going on to cause this. Wedding planning is stressful, but not like this. Well, at least I don't think it is. Ana starts to shake and I don't know what to do to stop this for her. What the hell is going on with my best friend?
"Okay, Ana, don't worry. We don't have to go."
She calms instantly, her shoulders relaxing. I pat her on the back and try to figure out a way to distract her.
"So tell me about the best man. Am I going to need to use the Jaws of Life to keep him off me?" I smile at her. I know all about panic attacks and how to avoid them or deter them.
"Stephan is okay. I really don't know a whole lot about him. We've only met a few times. He works with Jonathon. The few functions I've seen him at he has been with different girls."
"So you're saying I get to hang out with a player?" I joke.
She grimaces. "No, I'd never say that. I just don't know him well," she defends.
"I was just kidding, Ana girl."
Duncan watches his sister with a critical eye during the whole exchange. His head is cocked to the side and he raises an eyebrow. I can see he’s concerned too.
We stop next to a black Range Rover when Ana turns to me. "Duncan borrowed a friend’s automobile because his little car wouldn't hold all of us. Hope you don't mind?"
"No, it's okay."
I reach for the back door and Duncan whips his head around to give me a fierce look. I step back and wait for him to open my door as he helps Ana into her seat.
Once I'm settled into the car, I lean forward to talk to Ana some more.
"So, Ana, are we heading to the dress shop now?" I had to trust her with picking my dress.
"Yes, you'll love the dress Jonathon picked for you." She turns to me, bouncing in her seat.
She almost seems too happy; I hate that my job makes me second-guess people.
"He picked my dress?" My eyebrows fly up.
"Yes, he's very hands-on in planning this wedding. What're you wearing tonight for the rehearsal?"
I know a topic change when I hear one.
"I have a dress, don't worry." I pat my messenger bag.
"Okay. Is it appropriate? Do we need to have the hotel press it?" Her skeptical look at my bag has me gritting my teeth.
"Ha-ha, you're so hilarious. No, it doesn't need to be pressed. It's appropriate, you'll approve. I rolled it."
When we were teenagers, she was appalled that I just stuffed my clothes in my suitcase. She promptly taught me to roll my clothes to save room and less wrinkles.
London hasn't changed at all. It’s still bustling with life and one of my favorite cities. I love the mix of cultures that reside here with the historical styles. If things had been different, I'd have settled here.
My mind wanders back to the last time I was in London. Even though it's been four years, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the first time my flower stalker sent me a different bouquet than he normally did. It was also the day I realized it wasn't just flowers, it was a relationship.