Bailey

Two Weeks Later

“Here is the dress,” Zoe called, flying out from the storage room in a huff, carrying the dress bag over to me. “Why don’t you go into this change room, slip into it, and I will have one of the girls come in here and help you.”

Zoe, the owner of Sunset Cove Bridal, gave me an annoyed look as she hung the dress on the hook. I’d had to change my appointment from this afternoon to this morning because I had to work. I could hear the irritation in her voice when I called. She complained the entire time as she shuffled around her schedule to accommodate me.

“So, everything is going to be done in this small change room?” I asked, staring at the tight space. I couldn’t imagine two people being in this room.

“Unfortunately, yes. I know there isn’t much room, but as I told you on the phone, we have a full morning because the men of the same party are coming in to be fitted for their tuxes. Plus, I’ve had strict instructions from the bride that they are not to see anything in relation to any of the dresses,” she said, letting out a loud huff.

“It’s only a bridesmaid’s dress. It’s not like it’s the wedding dress.” I snipped back. I was tired of her attitude.

“I’m simply doing what I’ve been asked. I made special concessions for you to come in, otherwise I’d have told you that you’d need to find the work around. If only you’d have been able to keep your appointment, we wouldn’t be having these issues.”

I rolled my eyes when she turned her back away from me and unzipped the garment bag. This woman was a pill. I watched as she removed the dress from inside its garment bag when the bell above the door jingled. I looked toward the door in time to see Jackson come walking in and take a seat in the chair just inside the door.

“Be right with you,” Zoe sang. “God, I hope it’s not one of the men already.” She said, more to herself than to me.

Jackson glanced over at me, gave me the same sexy smile he’d given me the entire time I’d known him, then grabbed his phone from his pocket and began texting someone.

“There you go, Bailey. Just slip into that, and then one of my girls will be in to pin,” she said, stepping out of the small room, pulling the curtains closed. “Whatever you do, don’t…”

“Open the curtain.” I know.

I locked eyes with Zoe, letting her know I was done with her attitude. She quickly averted her and walked out of the room. Irritated, I set my purse on the chair and took a minute to gather myself. Why hadn’t Cara told me that Jackson would be here this morning as well? If I had known he’d be here, I’d of switched my shift at work instead. It was bad enough I was getting the attitude from Zoe.

“Jackson, you’re early,” I heard Zoe say in a much nicer tone than the one she’d greeted me with.

Instead of getting changed, I parted the curtain a little. I wanted to see what was going on.

“Yep, I was on my way home from work. Figured I would stop in now instead of just getting to bed, then having to get a little while later. Plus, I have to work tonight, so I’d like whatever sleep I get to be worth it.”

I kept my eyes glued to Zoe, especially when I noticed how she looked at Jackson. As I watched them speaking to one another, I noticed she looked for every single opportunity she could to lay a hand on him.

“You know, it’s great to see you.”

When she wasn’t looking Jackson glanced over his shoulder toward my dressing room, but didn’t say anything to her.

“I’ve given it some thought about what you said the other night. I don’t want us to be over. I’ve really been missing you the last few nights. Think you might have a free night soon so that we can get together and talk about things?” she asked, resting her hands on his chest.

I could see the tension in Jackson’s jaw as he looked down at her hands. He shook his head. “Zoe,” he said, taking hold of her wrists, and removing them from his chest, “This isn’t the place nor the time to discuss this. Besides, I meant what I said.”

“I don’t think you did. I certainly wasn’t expecting you to end things with us. That wasn’t the vibe I got from you the other night when you asked me to come to your place.” she said, meeting his eyes and placing her hands back on his chest.

“Zoe, it’s enough,” Jackson said, raising his voice loud enough for me to know he was uncomfortable with her advances. “I told you, it’s over between us.”

I watched as her cheeks turned red and she fought to maintain her composure as she nodded. “Well, now that you’ve embarrassed me, I am sorry you feel that way.” She mumbled as she stepped back away from him.

“Zoe, it wasn’t meant to be said to embarrass you.”

She nodded her head and turned away from him. “I know, Jackson. It’s okay. I’ll be right back. I just want to see if one of the girls can help you out back there.”

As soon as she was gone, Jackson glanced back over to the curtain I was behind. For only a moment, I was certain he’d seen me watching them, and I hoped I’d stepped back quickly enough. I prayed he hadn’t seen me watching them through the crack, even though I was pretty sure he had.

I was just undoing my jeans when I heard Zoe’s voice, and again I peeked between the curtains, this time to see that Jackson had now hung his jacket up. He turned back toward Zoe, giving me a glimpse of his perfect ass in a pair of tight-fitting jeans. The white T-shirt he wore hugged every muscle he had.

“All right, Jackson, we have the room set up on the other side.” Zoe walked over and laced her arm through his, resting her free hand on his bicep.

An undeniable surge of jealousy fired through me. I wanted to shout out and tell her to take her hands off him, but bit my bottom lip instead, stopping myself. I had zero right to be jealous. After all, I had given him up.

“You are going to look amazing in this. Makes me wish I were going to be your date,” she continued. I rolled my eyes at her comment. Could she lay it on any thicker after being told they were over? Then panic set in. Was he going to bring a date?

“Is that right?” he questioned.

“Yes. This suit will also bring out the color of your eyes.”

I rolled my eyes again. Of course it would bring out his eyes, you nitwit. Sky-blue eyes against a black suit were obvious. I clenched my fists at my side and had just kicked my foot out of my jeans when the curtain was pulled open by the girl who was coming in to pin my dress. She stood there shocked that I was standing there in only my t-shirt and panties instead of the dress. Then my eyes moved to see Jackson and Zoe standing behind her.

“I was expecting you to be in your dress.” She barked. “We don’t have all day.”

I looked at her with a scowl, and then Zoe stepped forward.

“Bailey, is everything okay? Did the dress not fit or did you need help to get into it?” Zoe questioned.

Jackson glanced over and gave me a small but very sexy smile. “Not at all,” I bit out as I pulled the curtain back across without saying another word and quickly slipped into the dress.

It had been half an hour, and I stood with my jaw tight as the girl put the last few pins in the back of my dress. “All right, I think that’s it,” she said, running her hand over my torso. “I’ll help you get out of the dress so you don’t stab yourself.”

A few minutes later, I pulled the curtain open in time to see Jackson come walking around the corner. The look on his face told me he had just been put through torture, and I couldn’t help but giggle to myself. I looked behind him, wondering why Zoe wasn’t attached to his hip, and then I heard her. She was on the phone but watched us both from the counter as he stopped in his tracks and held his hand out in front of him, signaling for me to go first. I smiled and turned toward the counter, almost jumping as I felt his hand across my lower back.

“Hey, everything go okay?” He questioned. He was close enough to me I could feel the heat from his body, his cologne invading my senses.

I looked down at the floor, biting my bottom lip before meeting his gaze. “Hey, as well as one could expect.”

“How’ve you been?” he asked quietly.

I shrugged, not sure what I should tell him. “I’m doing the best I can be. You?”

“Well, now that is over with, I’m much better,” he said, nodding in Zoe’s direction, who was now watching us intently.

I gave a tiny laugh as she shook his head in disbelief and then took a defensive tone at whatever the person on the other end of the phone was saying to her. I couldn’t help but still feel a touch of jealousy, knowing that there had been something between them.

When Zoe turned around, Jackson’s hand fell from my lower back. She looked at Jackson with a longing gaze and then at me, with one of jealousy and irritation.

“So, Bailey, everything go okay?” she questioned, pulling a book out from under the counter.

I nodded. “Yes, it went fine.”

“I’m glad. We will get that dress ready for you and have one last fitting before the wedding,” she said, searching through her pile of invoices. “That will be one hundred and fifty for the alterations.” Zoe made a few notes on my invoice. “So tell me, are you married, Bailey?”

I looked at Jackson, who shrugged as he looked at me. I squirmed uncomfortably at Zoe’s question.

“No, I’m not married,” I murmured, handing over my credit card. “Why?”

“Oh, I get most of my business through referrals. I figured if you knew someone or…oh never mind, don’t worry, I’m sure the right one will come along soon.”

I frowned. It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut as I looked over my shoulder at Jackson, who stood there with a smirk on his face. I glanced back to Zoe, who gave me a curt smile as she handed me my credit card, which I shoved back into my purse.

“See you next time.” She said to me, clearly waiting for me to leave before she dealt with Jackson.

* * *

“Cara, what on earth were you thinking sending me there for a dress fitting today?”

“Hey, you were supposed to go with us. It wasn’t my fault you got called into work and had to change your appointment.” She looked back down at the menu in front of her and continued looking for something to order.

“You could have warned me that Jackson would be there today,” I bit out as I placed a glass of water down on the bar with purpose in front of her.

Cara laughed. “I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t think that through very well. Did it go okay though? I mean, was she okay to deal with?”

“Didn’t think it through? Are you kidding me? You didn’t think it through at all. Instead, I got to watch Zoe fall all over Jackson. You’re going to look stunning in this tux. It will most definitely bring out the color of your eyes,” I mimicked, grabbing Glenn and lacing my arm through his. “Wish I could be your date to the wedding,” I said as I flipped my hair off my shoulder.

Cara and Glenn burst into a fit of laughter at my theatrics.

“She also loved giving me a hard time, every single chance she got. Is she like that with you, too?” I questioned.

“Yes, the last time I was in there, I had to remind her how much money I was bringing into her shop. That woman is pathetic. She is all over every man who walks in there.”

“It’s true,” Glenn answered. “Last fall, my buddy got married. I swear that woman would have slept with all of us if given the chance.”

“I could see that. Oh, you’re not married, don’t worry, the right one will come along.” I once again mimicked while both Cara and Glenn laughed.

“I hate to end this enlightening conversation, but I’ve got to run to the bank. Can you handle it here?” Glenn questioned.

I looked around the empty bar and nodded. “I think I’ve got it under control.”

Glenn nodded. “Be back shortly,” he said as he walked out the front door.

I turned back to Cara. “It was probably my worst experience ever, being there with her. She was also quite demeaning.”

“So, aside from mauling your man, what else did she do?” Cara asked, trying not to laugh.

“He isn’t my man. However, she was downright cruel to me. I may joke about it, but I found her to be very insulting as she stood there in front of Jackson asking me about being married.”

“She was just being friendly, or maybe hoping for more business. She is new in town, and it’s tough being a business owner these days. Plus, I know she gets most of her business through referral. That’s how I found out about her.” Cara shrugged, a funny look coming over her face.

“You found her through a referral?” I questioned. Cara and I knew the same people. There wasn’t anyone in our circle who had gotten married in the past few years. “Who referred you?”

Cara looked at me and then pulled the menu back over in front of her, opening it up again.

“Are you not going to tell me?”

Again, she didn’t say anything.

I looked around the bar and then back at my friend. “It was Jackson, wasn’t it? They had some sort of thing together, didn’t they? That’s why you haven’t told her to go to hell and found someone new, because you didn’t want to turn your back on his referral.”

“Bailey, I can explain.”

“No need to don’t worry about it. Just next time I go with you guys, or I will make my own appointment, opposite of Jackson.”

“You know, I thought you said you were over him. The way you’re acting is proving just the opposite.”

“I am over him.” I yelled. You could feel the tension between Cara and me as we looked at one another. I was just about to say something to her when the door to the bar opened and Ryan stepped inside.

“There’s my girl,” Ryan called out as he walked in the front door, followed by Jackson and Asher, each one of them nodding in our direction. Ryan came over and wrapped his arms around Cara while the other two went over to a table and took a seat.

“Hey, Bailey. Can I get three menus, please?” Ryan asked.

“Sure.” I gathered the three menus and handed them to him, then watched as he headed back to the table where the others sat.

“Everything else went okay there today, though, right? The alterations, they will be done on time?” Cara asked, leaning forward. “…and please tell me he didn’t see the dress, did he?” she whispered.

“No, he didn’t see the dress. Honestly, other than all of that, everything went fine. I promise you, the dresses will be perfect, as will the seating arrangements and the ceremony, and I’ll do my best to put the past behind. No need to turn into Bridezilla.”

“I’m not. I just wanted to make sure. You do not know how much stress I am under,” she whispered.

“Hey, Bailey. Good to see you,” Asher said, interrupting our discussion.

I smiled. Asher and I had always gotten along. I took a minute to walk around the bar and give him a hug. As he pulled me against him, I glanced over his shoulder in time to see Jackson glance my way and then quickly avert his eyes. I caught a flash of annoyance, or jealousy in his eyes, his jaw tight. “Can we get three beers, please, Bailey,” he whispered into my ear as he let me go.

“Sure thing.” I quickly poured the three beers. “Ready for food yet?”

“We are still deciding. These guys can never make up their minds.”

“All right, you let me know.” I smiled as I placed the three beers down in front of him. He picked up the glasses and carried them over to the guys.

“So, I was wondering what you had planned for my bachelorette party?” Cara asked, grinning at me.

That was one thing I hadn’t started planning. I hadn’t even thought of it yet. I ran a few ideas through my mind, quickly deciding that we would have it right here.

“I just thought we could come here. You know, hang out, have some food and a couple of drinks, play some pool and dance.” I said, shrugging. “Maybe retire back to your place and watch some movies. Just keep it simple.”

“Well, it’s a start. You will have to talk with the other girls and figure it all out. One thing, though. I asked Ryan not to have strippers, and I want the same, okay?”

I glanced over to where the guys were sitting. Jackson sat there talking and laughing. “No strippers?” I exclaimed. “No problem." I giggled.

I began loading glasses onto the clean trays, every once in a while glancing up and looking at Jackson. God, he was so fucking attractive; I knew it would be easy to fall for him again. Too easy. I glanced at Cara and saw she was watching me with a grin on her face.

“What?”

“Why don’t you just go over there and talk to him?”

“I’m not interested,” I answered matter of fact.

Cara gave me a knowing look. “Bullshit, you haven’t taken your eyes off that table since they walked in here. You might be able to feed that line of crap to someone else, but not to me. I know you too well.”

I always had to leave it to Cara to call me out, which proved I was right. She knew me better than I knew myself.

“I wouldn’t even know what to say to him if I went to talk to him. It’s not like we have things to discuss.”

Cara shook her head in disbelief. “Whatever you say. All I know is that you better figure things out, and soon. I can’t have you two dripping with all this tension during the wedding.”

“There is no tension.” I bit back. Just as the words rolled off my tongue, Asher caught my attention and my eyes instantly landed on Jacksons. I could feel my face heat as Cara watched me. I grabbed my notepad and made my way around the bar. “There won’t be any tension, I promise.”

“Whatever you say.” She called after me as I walked away.