Chapter Twenty-Five

The parking lot of the Admiral Hotel downtown was packed, and Shane circled the aisles looking for a space to park his truck. Kit was quiet in the seat beside him, balancing a wrapped gift box on her lap. Although he hadn’t actually seen what was inside, she had told him it contained a place setting of the bride and groom’s dinnerware of choice. He’d offered to go in on the cost of the gift, but she wasn’t having it. Oddly, the dismissal caught him off guard. He kept forgetting that their solid-twosome status was a made-up story for Kit’s family. It reminded him what they shared was new, precarious, and maybe even nothing more than a suspended moment in time. What did he know?

He found an empty spot in the back of the parking lot and turned his steering wheel to maneuver into the tight space. Putting the lever in park, he slid his gaze over to Kit. She bit down on her perfect lip. Her fingers, the nail polish a shade of lavender, drummed on the top of the gift she held in her lap.

“Ready?”

Kit blew out a long breath. “As I’ll ever be.”

He reached over and stilled her hand. “We’ve got this, Kit. Piece of cake, right?”

She lifted her gaze to meet his. Her eyes shone with trepidation. Was that look all about the shower awaiting them, or was it something else, too? Was he the only one wondering what this was between them? Was she hoping, as he was, they had begun something with lasting possibilities, or was she admonishing herself for what had transpired?

He carried the box up the steps of the hotel and found the room location on the bulletin board set up in the lobby.

Their shoes clicked on the tile floor as they walked to the Acorn Lounge where double doors were open and tables upon tables were occupied with attendees. At the front of the room sat the bride and groom at a little table for two befitting a king and queen of the prom. Oh brother.

Kit’s mother spied them first. “Over here, kids.” She waved and pointed to two chairs next to hers that were tilted forward, claimed. “I saved you seats. Shane, put that gift over there.” She motioned toward a mountain, a serious heap of wrapped boxes.

He whistled under his breath. How long would it take to go through all that loot?

Kit introduced him to people at the table, and he managed to participate in polite chitchat while the courses of the luncheon were being served in sequence. Between the salad and the entrée, he leaned over to Kit and whispered in her ear. She smelled of that citrusy perfume she used, and he breathed her in.

“How are you doing? Okay?”

She smiled in response. “You’re a trooper, Fireman.”

“When do they start opening up that mass of gifts?”

“Any minute now.”

He shook his head. “I’m going to grab a beer at the bar. Can I get you a glass of wine?”

“Just one?”

He laughed and instinctively squeezed her knee under the table. Those spontaneous gestures of intimacy confused him. He tended to forget they really weren’t this solid, committed couple all of these people around them thought they were.

“Mrs. Baxter, can I get you something from the bar? A glass of wine, maybe?”

“Oh, that would be lovely, Shane.” She flashed an approving look to her daughter. “Such manners.”

He left the table and made his way through the crowd.

****

Kit watched as Shane retreated from the room and felt a tug inside her chest. He was a good guy, and she liked him more than she should. He was just off a relationship, and that was dangerous territory. She would not, could not, go through another disappointment. She reached for her water glass and took a gulp. She’d managed to avoid her dinner roll so far, but at the moment it was calling her from the little plate at her place. Was that a Portuguese roll? Were those pats of butter shaped like butterflies made with herbs? She liked herbs. Carbs will not fix you.

Co-Co appeared at their table and slipped an easy hand on the back of Kit’s mom’s chair. “How are you, ladies?”

They exchanged some small talk that Kit managed to zone out until she heard mention of the wedding dress.

“You should see it, Auntie. Kitty-Cat has outdone herself.” A gratuitous grin broke out on her face. “You’re a marvel, cousin.”

“Thank you.” It was all Kit could think to say. A lump had formed in her throat. It was just a dress, her mind chanted. A flush climbed up her neck and flooded her cheeks. Just an old dress. A garment did not hold sentiment. Hearts did. And her heart belonged to her, and no one was going to take it from her.

“If you’ll excuse me.” She stood and placed her napkin on her chair. “Need to find the restroom.”

Thankfully, the corridor outside the dining room blasted her with cold air-conditioning. She could feel the heat dissipating from her cheeks. In the ladies’ room she wet a towel and dabbed it on the back of her neck and on her forehead.

Leaving the room, she headed back toward the dining room and ran smack dab into Brian.

“Hey, you,” he greeted. He wore a pale-blue collared shirt with white pindots. She liked the fabric, but it didn’t fit him well and made his shoulders look scrawny. He appeared thinner. Had his bride-to-be put him on one of her famous diets? She bet he hadn’t eaten his dinner roll.

“Hi.”

“You look nice.” He cast his eyes down her form, and heat rushed to her face. She looked down at the dress she wore as though she’d forgotten what she had on.

“Thanks.” An awkward pause hung between them. She needed to fill the space. “Boy, um, you two have a lot of gifts out there, huh?”

“People are generous, that’s for sure.”

“Well, then…” She took a small step away, and Brian reached out to touch her arm.

“Hey, Kit, can I talk with you a second?”

Her insides stopped. “About what?”

“This guy you’re with. Shane. Look, it’s none of my business…”

“You’re right. It isn’t.”

“But.” He flashed a smile. He’d had his teeth whitened. They were neon like Co-Co’s. “I just hope you’re not rushing things. I mean, I feel kind of responsible if this is a rebound kind of thing. I know I brought this up before, but it’s been on my mind.”

“Brian…”

“I’m sure it’s not easy dealing with all this, and I hope you’re thinking clearly, that’s all. I mean, what do you know about this guy? What’s he even know about you, Kit?”

“If you have a question about me, why don’t you ask me?”

Kit turned to the voice, knowing it was Shane. He closed the space between them and put an arm around her shoulders.

“Hey.” Brian shuffled his feet. “I was just asking Kit if she thinks you two are rushing things, that’s all. I just wondered how much you two know about each other.”

“Brian, I know more about this lady than you ever did.”

Brian’s mouth quirked. “I doubt that.”

“I do.”

“You didn’t know about her cat, Blue.”

“I know what makes her laugh, what makes her cry. I know what makes her jump for joy. Do you know why she likes the color teal? I personally think it’s a stupid color—no offense, babe—but it’s not green, and it’s not blue. It’s kind of both. But that’s why she likes it. She likes it because it’s the result of two things coming together.”

“Um…”

“And what’s she scared of more than anything?”

Brian looked from Kit to Shane.

“Spiders. She’s terrified of spiders. Does she drink coffee or tea? Coffee. She likes it dark and sweet. What’s her weakness? Anything with flour in it. Her favorite movie? She’s got two—Gone with the Wind and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The old one made in 1956. She takes vitamins, the chewable kind because she hates swallowing pills. She wears a size seven shoe, and she hates heels. She’s allergic to penicillin. Gives her a rash. She loves guitar and wishes she knew how to play.”

“Wow.” Brian put his hands up in surrender. “Okay. Point taken.”

“Ready, babe?” He tightened his arm around her shoulder.

On the way back to the Acorn Lounge, Kit and Shane did not speak. They didn’t need to. He gave her hand a squeeze, and she returned the gesture.