Chapter 4 #2
I was at James and Ana's home when the delivery came.
James never allowed me to stay anywhere but their home.
He said his wife and my parents would be rolling in their graves if I stayed somewhere else, I was family.
I'd already been getting my June deliveries, but I thought they were innocent. This delivery was the first time I had to explain them, and I was scared. James kept asking me why someone would send me a dozen black roses with a single red rose. This was the first time I’d received black roses; my other deliveries had been a different arrangement.
I explained that I was arguing with my then boyfriend, Carl.
I of course found out later he didn't send them.
However, it was the note that arrived at my apartment after my London trip that made me decide not to come back. It was a plain typewritten note, simply saying if I was smart I wouldn't include James and Ana in our affair. I had no clue who would do that. That's when Greg got involved.
I'd known Derek for a year by then, and we had become fast friends. With Greg’s job at the Secret Service, he knew the right people to call, and he contacted a friend at the FBI.
My life has never been the same. My life went to hell when my parents died, but it got fucked up when my stalker decided I was his.
Derek and Greg didn't want me to come on this trip, but I wasn't going to let this asshole interfere with my life…again. I couldn't miss Ana's day. My phone pinging in my pocket from an incoming message interrupts my thoughts.
I pull it out to see a text message from an unknown number.
You can never get away from me. I know where you are.
I forward the text to Greg and Derek.
Greg
I told you this was a bad idea.
Me
I'll be fine, Mom, now stop.
Derek
Want me to jump on the next flight?
Me
No, I'm fine. We are heading to the dress shop now. Love you.
"Everything okay?" Duncan asks as he watches me through the rearview mirror.
I smile sweetly, hoping to distract him.
"Just my partner making sure I made it safely."
"How is Derek doing?" Ana asks, oblivious to the tension.
"He’s good. By the way, we made ERT." Hopefully, if I act nonchalant, she won't panic.
"What is that?"
"It’s similar to a SWAT team. I've already been upgraded to primary."
Her head whips around and her eyes are big.
"You're what? Have you told Daddy?"
"No, but I will later."
Thank goodness Duncan pulling up to the dress shop interrupts our conversation.
"Uh, Ana, you know I'm not a girly girl. This is not the kind of place I shop," I say as I look at the posh boutique. I only own a few dresses, mostly for work or the infrequent date.
"It's okay, Maya. We will hop in quick, try on your dress, and see if any final alterations need to be made. Then we can head to the hotel. Don't worry, you won't catch anything." She chuckles.
"Okay, let’s get this over with before I break out in hives."
Duncan laughs from the driver’s seat. His laugh is full and makes my pulse race.
"Are you coming in?" Ana asks him when he calms.
"Do I look like a lass to you, Sis? Besides, I need to call Joshua. He just texted me about an upcoming job."
He gets out and walks around to open both our doors and help us out.
As we walk into the boutique, I instantly feel underdressed. Guess skinny jeans, no matter how you dress them up, aren’t stylish enough for this shop. I hate when people judge without knowing. I could buy this shop and close it down without putting a dent in my bank account.
The clerk's eyebrows and lips pucker up. Nope, she isn't blowing kisses, she finds me unacceptable.
"Hello, Ms. Preston, how are you today?" Her sugary sweet tone doesn't hide her disdain of me.
"I'm doing well. This is my maid of honor, she finally made it here. I need to have her try on the dress and see if we need any alterations done before tomorrow."
"Yes, ma'am." The clerk turns back to me and does another head-to-toe inspection. "We have everything for you, Ms. Aaron, please follow me. Ms. Preston, have a seat. It will only take a moment."
The clerk leads me to the dressing room where she unzips a bag already hanging from the hook. She turns to me and stands there staring at me.
"Excuse me!"
"Take off your jacket so I can help you dress," she replies in a snotty tone.
"Get out. I can do this myself." Yep, I'm pissed off.
"The foundation for your dress is there on the chair, and your shoes are in the box. Just stick your head out if you need help."
She walks out and leaves me there.
What the hell is a foundation? I see the bustier sitting on the chair.
Oh, foundation. I get dressed but am unable to zip it up, so I step out with the back undone.
The clerk huffs and slips behind me to zip me in before I step up onto the pedestal.
The dress is a floor-length straight style with lace and tulle in blush.
I hate it and know Ana didn't have anything to do with picking this out for me.
"Oh, the A-line style looks pretty on you, Maya.
I was hoping the back was high enough to cover your tattoo because Jonathon didn't want it to show.
" Ana starts gushing as the clerk comes out of the dressing room with the box of shoes.
The shoes are a satin, matching the dress with a bow on the toe. Ugly.
"What is an A-line?"
"It’s that style. Don't you love it? Jonathon picked a beauty."
"Sure." I want to gag and claw at all the lace on the bodice and sleeves. "Okay, I will go take it off now."
I turn to head back into the dressing room.
"No, ma'am, our seamstress needs to confirm if any alterations are needed. I don't see that we need to hem it with as tall as you are in those shoes."
The heels aren't even as high as the ones I'm wearing tonight.
"I can wear flats if you want, Ana."
"No, Jonathon has a vision, and your shoes are fine. I will look tiny next to you."
"It's your wedding, too. I will wear whatever you want me to."
"Ma'am, I agree with Ms. Preston, you look stunning in the heels."
Damn clerk, go away.
As the clerk walks off to get the seamstress, I look at the dress and watch my best friend in the mirrors.
How did she change so much in a few years?
How did her style get so controlled? I miss the miniskirts and leggings, the slacks with five-inch heels, the baby doll dresses and the boots. Where is my Ana? I miss her.
"Ana, did you really let Jonathon pick out my dress?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"I want what Jonathon wants." She doesn't raise her head to look at me, instead she is looking at her phone. She huffs and pushes her phone back into her designer handbag.
"What’s up, Ana?" I ask as she drops her head again and her shoulders curve in.
"Jonathon's meeting is going to run right up to the rehearsal, and we still have so much to do. Now I have to complete the things on his list too."
"What do you need to do? I can do it." I'll do anything to get out of my head and away from all this lace.
"Well, I need to check with the florist, confirm our salon appointments for tomorrow, and double check the banquet room for tonight.
He was supposed to confirm with the bar and barmen to make sure that all the alcohol is there, double check the menu for tonight and tomorrow, and verify his seating arrangements for tonight. "
"Okay, text me the list and let’s get started."
Hopefully, she will do the florist.
"Really!" Her head pops up and she smiles at me.
"Of course, that’s what a maid of honor is supposed to do."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I might make sure the bar is only stocked with JD." I smile at her and her face lights up with mischief. There's a glimpse of my best friend.
The seamstress confirms my dress will do, and I change back into my clothes. We head out to the curb where Duncan is pacing as he talks on the phone. His gaze lifts to look at me and I turn to make sure he isn't looking at someone behind me with that much intent.
"Gotta go. Make the arrangements," he gruffly replies as he stalks toward Ana and me.
He helps her into the vehicle and turns to me, then wraps his hand firmly around my forearm.
"There was a delivery to the hotel for you," he growls into my ear.
His tone has me whipping my head to look at him. "I don't know what you mean."
"It will be in your room."
I'm confused but worried I know what it is.
The wedding is being held at the Mandarin Orient Hyde Park; it happens to be one of the nicest hotels in London. Again, I know this isn't Ana's style. She'd have picked a castle, a small church, or even a garden. Not a hotel with a view of Buckingham Palace.
We pull up to the front of the hotel and my jaw drops.
There’s a valet in a uniform similar to the palace guards.
He opens Ana's and my doors as another takes the keys from Duncan.
Another guy walks up and tries to take my bag; I shake my head at him.
Duncan leads us up the stairs and into the large lobby decorated in maroons and golds.
I feel like my jaw just hit the floor. I stop and Duncan's hand lands on my lower back, trying to push me in more.
Tingles instantly radiate from his hand and I jump away.
What the hell?
"Uh, is this where the wedding will be, and where we are staying?" I stutter.
"Yes. Isn’t it lovely?" Ana replies breathlessly.
"I guess you can say that. I was thinking more like stuffy and pretentious." Oops! Darn my verbal vomit. I watch her smile fall. "Sorry, Ana, I didn’t mean it. It’s stunning.” I feel like a schmuck, I can't believe I said that to her.
"I agree with Maya, this is pretentious. Did Father want you to get married here?"
"No, Jonathon wanted to get married here. He said he has always wanted to come here."
We check in and head up to our rooms. On the ride over, I dreaded seeing what delivery Duncan was talking about, but nothing is in my room.
Ana and I are in adjoining rooms, with Duncan staying across the hall.
James is in a suite a floor up. And Jonathon and his friend are staying a floor below us.
Duncan offered to help me get the last-minute details taken care of for Ana. As I hoped, she’s going to see to the florist, leaving Jonathon's list to Duncan and me.
Duncan
I can’t believe my luck. I’ve dreamed about this woman for weeks now.
I help her verify that all the liquor has been delivered and enough barmen have been hired. We then confirm the menus my sister wants. Neither of us knows anything about the seating, so we left that, along with the flowers, to Ana.
I watch Maya move, her jeans hugging her curves, her T-shirt molding to her knockers. Again, I think of them in my palms. I adjust myself behind my zipper, trying to hide my erection. I need to think of something, anything, other than this woman right now.
Work! I’m going to be on a detail in France for an aid to the French Prime Minister.
After the fiasco in DC, I thought I wouldn’t be allowed to cover another foreign diplomat, but we impressed people by getting our high value out before the situation got out of control.
I still wonder about that shot she took.
“Maya, can I ask about your job?”
“What about it?” I can see the weariness in her eyes.
“That shot you took, have you ever shot that far before?”
“Only in training. Can you go check with the kitchen to make sure they have all the napkins pre-folded?” She changes the subject. Why she won’t talk about it makes me even more curious.
I walk over to the banquet head and confirm the bloody napkins are folded just as my sister and her fiancé want.
I’ve only met Jonathon on a few occasions and have never liked him, but my sister wants him, so I guess I’ll support her. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I look at the text.
Joshua
I’ll come get my Rover tomorrow afternoon.
Me
Don’t put a scratch on my auto, arsehole.
Joshua
Wouldn’t dream of it. How does Ian and Raul sound as a team?
Me
Good.
I close the text and look over to see Maya with a curious look on her face. She’s looking at the flowers that are being arranged for tonight’s banquet with disgust.
“Don’t like the arrangement?” I look at the pale pink and cream colored flowers.
“Not really.”
“What’s the matter with them?”
“I’m just not a flower kind of girl. Plus, these flowers have a meaning that doesn’t fit with a wedding.”
I stare at her in shock. The meaning of the flowers? What the hell is she talking about?
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing. I just know a bit about flowers, it was something I studied. I’m going to go get ready.”
She awkwardly turns away, practically running from the room. I take a picture of the arrangement and decide I want to research what she meant.