Page 39 of Sipping Seduction
Pete the Dog knew Charice from school, so he didn’t go absolutely nuts when she arrived. He followed her into the hallway bathroom, probably hoping she had one of the dog treats she usually carried around in one of her pockets.
“Need anything before we get started?” I called out.
“Just your gorgeous face,” she yelled back.
I picked up the diary and carried it into the bathroom with me. “Be gentle, okay? This isn’t girls’ night out, it’s a classy wedding.”
“Exactly.” She nodded at my reflection in the mirror. “That’s why we’re doing iridescent glitter instead of something flashy like purple or teal.”
I leaned to the left and twisted my torso to look up at her. “No glitter.”
“I’m just joking with you.” She put her hands on either side of my face and positioned my head to face forward. “Now, let me take a look at the canvas I’ve got to work with.”
“A little blush, a tiny bit of eyeshadow. That’s all I need,” I said.
“You think someone told Michelangelo how to go about painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?” she asked.
I laughed. “Please tell me you’re not trying to compare your makeup skills to one of the greatest artists of all time.”
“Well, he wasn’t as big then as he is now. Everyone knows that it’s not until an artist kicks the bucket that their work skyrockets in value.”
“Charice…” I used my scary principal tone, the one I pulled out when I absolutely had to have the kids pay attention to me.
“Don’t even try that growly voice with me.” She reached into a huge tackle box that held a huge assortment of containers and brushes. “Now don’t move or you might end up looking like Frankenstein’s bride instead of Evan Bishop’s date.”
“He’s not my date. We’re just going as friends.” I knew about the women he’d dated in the past and could say with one-hundred percent confidence that I wasn’t his type. He’d always gone for the popular girls, the ones who thought they were better than everyone else. And he always broke up with them before they could end things. Actually, he was more of a serial dater than someone who got involved in actual relationships… the exact opposite of what I was looking for in a man, even if I’d started to look at him a little differently since I’d moved in.
An hour later,I adjusted my grip on the small beaded bag I was using as a purse and stood at the entrance of the little white chapel. The building was the first church in town, but now all the churches used it for weddings and special events. Based on the number of people milling around outside, we weren’t all going to fit. Either the Bishops had underestimated the number of townspeople who wanted to attend, or there were several dozen wedding crashers.
I didn’t expect to see Evan until after the ceremony, but I recognized the feel of his hand on my shoulder when someone came up behind me.
“Can you believe this turnout?” He leaned close and whispered into my ear. “My dad’s talking about moving the ceremony over to their house so the people who were actually invited can see it happen.”
The warmth of his breath on my skin sent shivers racing straight down my spine. I turned around, putting myself face-to-face with a version of Evan Bishop I’d never even imagined.
His face was freshly shaven, and it looked like he might have splurged on a haircut earlier in the day. The black tux fit him like it had been professionally tailored as a second skin. Whatever cologne he’d dabbed on smelled like money and sex. I guess that meant rich sex? Whatever it was, it must have been full of pheromones, because it made me wonder what it would feel like to press my lips against his.
Wedding guests flowed around us on either side, pushing us closer together—an island of two in a sea of people decked out in their Sunday best.
“This is…wow…an unexpected turnout, I guess?” Even though I was already pressed up against him, I took a step closer, sliding my foot in between his dress shoes so I didn’t get stepped on.
“Yeah. This is nuts. Dad’s probably going to make the call any minute. Come with me.” Evan put his arm around me and led me back outside.
The forecast called for rain, but not until much later in the day. I didn’t expect to see gray clouds gathering overhead, blocking out the sun’s rays.
“Are you sure moving everyone over to their place is a good idea? What if it rains?” I squinted and tilted my head back. A fat raindrop landed in the middle of my forehead. Charice would literally kill me if all her work had been for nothing. “I think I’m going to head to the car before I get soaked. Let me know what you decide to do?”
“I’ll come with you.” Evan threaded his fingers with mine and let me lead him toward where I’d parked my car. We’d just jumped into the front seat when rain pelted the windshield.
Wedding guests scattered like ants. The windows fogged immediately, and Evan and I sat there, not sure if there would even be a wedding.
When his phone rang, he answered on speaker. “Hey, Dad. What’s going on? Do we have a plan B?”
“Cole and Danica are going to say their vows now. She’s got her maid of honor and Vaughn is there as a witness and best man. The county’s been put under a thunderstorm warning. They’re calling for high winds. I suggest you head home and take shelter. We’ll have to celebrate some other day.”
“Tell them congratulations and give them my, I mean our, love.” Evan reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze.
“I will, son. Tell Frannie how sorry we are about what happened at the house the other night. No matter what our personal feelings are toward the Stewart family, she’ll always be considered family and is always welcome. You make sure you tell her that, okay?”
