Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
MAYA
The day flies by until we head up to our rooms to get ready for the rehearsal.
I'm exhausted now. After the flight and my nerves over the last few weeks, I need to get some sleep and a good workout in before tomorrow so I'm not a complete bitch.
I also need to find the time to talk to James about my new position before Greg spills the beans.
I can’t believe I reacted like that to those flowers, but I know what the Carolina rose means, I’ve had them delivered to me in the past. They mean love is dangerous. I decide not to ask Ana about them, thinking she just picked them because she thought they were pretty.
As Duncan stated earlier, I did receive a delivery. It was sent to my room while we were all running around. I don't understand his anger, but I don't care. I need to talk to Ana.
"Knock, knock. Are you in here?" I walk to the adjoining door we left open while we changed.
"Right here," she says from the bathroom. She steps out in a long coral maxi-dress with elbow length sleeves.
"Hey, did you pick the purple hyacinth flowers for my room?" I’m hoping the delivery can be explained.
"What are you talking about?" She follows me back to my room.
I point to the nightstand.
"Why did you pick those?"
"I didn't get you flowers for your room. They are beautiful though." She returns to her bathroom to finish putting on a heavy amount of makeup—another thing my Ana didn't do.
My gut turns as I realize my flower stalker has followed me again.
This is the same arrangement that was on my mom's bedside after her funeral. The same flowers I have sent to the hospital every time they’re delivered.
The same flowers that mean an apology. I don't know what apology or even who sends them, but I get them and I hate them. Jones thinks it has something to do with my parents’ deaths as there is also a delivery of dark crimson roses to their gravesite in Tel Aviv every year for the whole month of June.
I need to get off this crazy train. I follow Ana back into her room.
"How do I look? Do you approve?" I turn around in my deep purple printed scarf dress with open toe high heels that buckle at my ankle.
I have the dress wrapped so the ties cross around my back and waist and end at the small of my back.
My dress is daring as the front is open to almost my navel.
I have strategically lifted the back so my tattoo doesn't show but my cleavage does. I’ve got them, so I'm going to flaunt them.
My high heels are almost five inches in height, I'm going to be looking down on a few men.
Perfect! Well, not Duncan. Woah! Down, girl, no thoughts of that.
"I love it, Maya, it’s so you, and those shoes are hot."
"I got this while I was in Tel Aviv last year. I bought a couple other dresses in different Mediterranean styles too. I love them because they pack easily."
"I like it."
"Good, because I bought you one too in turquoise. Here." I toss her the package I'm carrying.
"Oh, I can't accept this, Jonathon wouldn’t approve. It's not the style he wants me to wear."
"Excuse me. The hell you say. Pick out your own clothes, woman. This is so you."
I want my best friend back, the one who didn't care what a guy thought, or anyone else for that matter.
"He's my soon-to-be husband, and he wouldn't like that much cleavage showing." She points to my chest.
"Fine, I'll keep it for when you pull your head out of your ass and tell him that you wear anything you want. Besides, I bought you a tube top to match, it hides the cleavage," I grumble at her.
"Please, Maya, don't be angry. He’s trying for a big promotion and I have to look my best," she begs.
"Okay, this is your dress and I'll have it whenever you want it."
A knock at her door concludes our conversation.
"Coming," she yells as I return to my room to put her dress away for safekeeping. "Daddy, you look handsome, and so do you, Duncan."
I walk into the room and see both men waiting for us.
"Maya, sweetheart, look at you. I can't believe it's been over a year since I saw you last. How is work?
" He pulls me into his arms and kisses my cheek.
This man has been so special to me since I lost my parents.
He filled in when I didn't know I needed them.
He used to come visit me monthly and was at both my graduation from college and the police academy. He and Greg are my rocks.
"James, I'm good. You know how work can be.
" I catch Duncan over his shoulder looking at me.
He is wearing an all-black suit. He still needs to shave, but it turns me on, and I want him to rub that scruff over my body.
Oh crap! No more of those thoughts. I smile at him and he smirks at me, it's like he can read my mind.
"Daddy, ask Maya about her new job." Ana interrupts my mini-orgasm.
"What new job?" He pulls back and his eyebrows drop. "Greg hasn't mentioned a new job."
"We need to get downstairs before Jonathon thinks Ana is pulling a runaway bride."
"We will be talking about this, darling." He walks to Ana and offers his arm. Duncan walks to me and offers his.
As soon as my hand touches his arm, I feel the tingles from earlier.
He covers my hand with his and there’s a slight tremble to his fingers.
Maybe I'm not the only one affected here.
He flexes his muscular forearm under my hand and I tighten my grip.
We all head down to the rehearsal and I wonder if the best man is going to annoy me as much as it sounds like Jonathon will.
Jonathon is as stuffy and pretentious as this hotel.
I knew the instant he decided he was better than me and didn't like me.
What can I say, I don't like him either.
He brushed me off and started flaunting Ana in front of his business associates that he invited to what is supposed to be a family night.
Duncan left me, and James started mingling too.
I hate mingling and feel out of place. This is only the drink service, we haven't even started the actual rehearsal, and I already want to leave.
"Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" a male voice says from behind me.
"Excuse me?" I turn and look at the blond man holding two glasses.
He is about six-one with blue eyes and a trim body. He is probably a runner, as in he runs from a fight. There was a time when this type of man would appeal to me for a one-night stand, but now his type just annoys me. I turn to walk away.
"Wait, I'm Stephan Landers, Jonathon's best man. I hear you're the lovely maid of honor. I have a drink for you." He pushes the glass of champagne at me.
I raise my eyebrow at him. "I'm Maya Aaron, nice to meet you." I nod and walk away, looking for something stronger to drink. No way am I taking a drink from a man who uses cheesy lines like that.
I make it across the room to the bar and find it’s only serving wine and champagne. Great.
For Ana, I'll put up with anything.
As the drink service ends, the wedding coordinator takes the wedding party aside to go over how tomorrow will play out.
Jonathon acts as if he's above all this, his nose in the air and chest puffed out.
Stephan is definitely going to need me to use the Jaws of Life on him.
He pulls me to his side and locks his arm around me.
I twist away from him. He leans into me again and looks down the front of my dress. I step back again.
I need another drink, or maybe six.
Ana's style isn't present anywhere in this wedding, it's all about Jonathon. He tried to make sure this wedding was the event of the year, even attempting to get James to push the royalty card and have one of the princes make an appearance. Thank God they both declined.
We walk into the banquet room where the dinner service will be. Everyone is already seated at the tables, leaving me to sit next to Stephan. I notice that Jonathon has seated me far away from Ana. I hate assigned seating.
As the waiter walks by, I stop him.
"Can I please have two fingers of scotch neat?"
"Ma'am, we are only serving wine during dinner."
"Beer? Ale?" I ask hopefully, crossing my fingers under the table.
"No, ma'am." He walks away and I'm more frustrated than earlier.
You've got to be shitting me. Wine. I'm not a wine drinker. I need something stronger if I'm going to have to deal with Mr. Grabass. And just like that, he slips his hand under the table and slides it across my leg.
I reach down and clasp his fingers in mine and bend his wrist back. Leaning toward him, I smile sweetly.
"Touch me again and I'll break your fucking hand." I bat my eyelashes at him.
I feel the tingles of awareness, like someone is watching me. I turn to see Duncan with a scowl on his face. I smile and tip my wine glass at him.
After dinner, I rise to make a run for it, walking away as fast as I can. As usual, luck isn't on my side.
"Maya, why don't we let bygones be bygones and you come to my room later?" Stephan reaches out to push his key card into my cleavage.
That is it!
I grab his hand with my right, pull him toward me as I turn, stomping my heel into the top of his foot. He groans and bends forward. I jump out of his reach. This time, I don't play all sweet and nice.
"I said touch me again and I would break your hand. You should be happy I'm being nice. I could not only break your hand but drop your ass right in front of everyone." I storm off.
We're now doing an after-dinner mingling session, according to the wedding coordinator. I need to get out of here. Ana and Jonathon are walking around, and I can't find anyone else I know to talk to. I'm still not very comfortable in crowds. I can feel the tension building in my shoulders.
I finally find a door leading out to the gardens.
I can see the lights of Hyde Park across the hedges and hear the sounds coming from there.
I want to escape into the smells of the garden.
The fresh cut grass scent tickles my nose.
I start to relax as I walk off the balcony into the lower garden.
Now, this would be a place Ana would actually like.
It’s beautiful with lights wrapped around the bases of some of the trees, but mostly everything is natural.
All the champagne, wine, and jet lag are catching up to me. I need to relax before tomorrow so I can be on my best behavior for Ana. I really need a heavy bag or a good workout. Although, some sex with Duncan would be good too.
Damn, bad, Maya. I have got to stop thinking like that.
I'm in a darker part of the garden. The sounds of the party float down to me as it’s still in full swing. I hope that fucktard doesn't find me out here. I'm just about to call Derek about the delivery when I hear something behind me.