5
JUSTIN STOOD in the dressing room of the tuxedo rental shop and stared at his vaguely old-fashioned reflection.
Posing for that last set of pictures had been unsettling. Hayley, all warm, soft and pressed against him in bed, was not something he was going to forget anytime soon. For his peace of mind, he should forget, but his body wasn’t clear on the concept of pretend.
Frankly, he wasn’t sure Hayley was, either.
What had begun as an impulsive gesture to help Ross had become a serious threat to his own master plan. Specifically, Hayley was the threat.
The more Justin was around her, the more he realized how difficult it would be to walk away from her tomorrow. And if he didn’t walk away tomorrow, he might not be able to walk away at all.
Bad. Very bad.
But he was going to walk away tomorrow, so what was the problem?
Not wanting to walk away might be the problem. All this wedding stuff clouded his brain. Weddings meant commitment and responsibility, so naturally he thought in those terms when Hayley was around.
Tonight, what he ought to do was get her away from her mother, the rest of the wedding people—particularly that one barracuda sister of hers—and go somewhere where they could be themselves. Then he’d see if Hayley was flirting for real, or for fake.
HAYLEY HATED HOOPS. She hated her wedding dress. She hated her hat and the stupid parasol. And she hated pink.
It was February, and though the weather was mild, they were outdoors on the grounds of the Mallory-Neely house, a Victorian mansion, and a chill was in the air.
The photographer had wanted the late-aftemoon light. Betty’s Bridal Barn had wanted to showcase their “Tara” collection, and Hayley’s mother was thrilled with the full-skirted antebellum dresses. Hayley’s sisters didn’t mind, since they weren’t paying for the dresses, and would get gorgeous new costumes for those occasions when they were called upon to be old-fashioned Southern belles. Besides, the pink velvet really was their color.
Hayley looked like the top of a vanilla ice cream cone and felt about as cold.
At least Justin got to wear a jacket. With the off-the-shoulder dress, she was wearing mostly goose bumps.
He looked like Rhett Butler. Rhett Butler types had never appealed to Hayley before, but she had to admit that the outfit lent Justin a certain raffish charm.
Ahh! She was even beginning to think like her mother.
Hayley billowed over to Justin. “The South shall rise again, huh?”
He smiled. “You look very nice.”
“Nice? I look nice?” She groaned. “The kiss of death.”
He waved in an up-and-down gesture. “It doesn’t seem to be your usual style.”
How did he know? She remembered how he’d picked the ring she would have picked for herself. “Well, Mama liked it. I know, I know. Don’t say it.”
“Then I won’t.” Justin pushed the flaps of his coat aside and shoved his hands into his pockets, looking very nineteenth century as he did so. “Did you see a dress you liked?”
Hayley nodded. “It was long and simple with a band of pearls at the neck and waist.”
“So why didn’t you get it?”
“Mama said it didn’t have enough presence for a big wedding.”
They both looked over to the porch where Lola fussed with the bows on the backs of Gloria’s and Laura Jane’s dresses. Hayley herself had been adamant about not wearing a bow. She’d won that point at least.
“Sloane, Hayley!” The tireless brochure lady beckoned to them. “Over here!”
They started walking to the tree where the cameraman was setting up. “I can’t help comparing this outfit to the last one you wore,” Justin said.
Hayley was trying to watch the hem of her dress and keep it from snagging on the dried grass. The problem was that she couldn’t see the hem of her dress. She was probably shedding crystal beads right and left, too. “The black dress?”
“No, the pajama top.”
She looked up at him. No one was around to hear them, so he wasn’t being Sloane at the moment. And that meant the look he was giving her wasn’t Sloane’s, either.
“Men’s pajama tops are a good look for you,” he said.
Only if you’re wearing the bottoms. “You did wonders for the bottoms yourself. The women of Memphis will be so grateful.”
He grinned, and Hayley’s heart beat a little faster—the silly thing. It shouldn’t beat for him—that was a good way to get broken.
They got to the tree in time to hear the tail end of a disagreement between the brochure lady and Betty, of Betty’s Bridal Barn.
“The picture should be full-length,” stated Betty.
“Otherwise, the whole dress won’t show.”
“But the camera would be so far away that the details would be lost,” the brochure lady told her.
“But this will be the cover. Shouldn’t you get a better camera?”
“This is the fourth year we’ve produced the bridal fair brochure and there have never been any complaints.”
“Ladies,” Ms. Pederson interrupted. “We’re losing the light. Hayley?” She pulled her to the tree. “Now lean against the trunk—”
“She’ll get her dress dirty!” Lola said. “She’s getting married in it tomorrow.”
Ms. Pederson brushed at the tree trunk. The brochure lady positioned Hayley’s hands and arms.
“And now, Sloane, can you kneel on one knee?”
“He’ll get grass stains on his knee,” Lola pointed out. She got a white handkerchief out of her purse and gave it to Justin.
He folded it into a square and knelt. When he gazed up at Hayley, his eyes were particularly blue in the late-afternoon light
He looked like he was proposing, and Hayley’s wayward heart thudded again. She even felt tiny and feminine in the dress.
The camera whirred.
Dozens more shots were taken, featuring Hayley and her sisters, Hayley and Sloane, and everyone together.
And then...
“Okay, you two, last one!” Even Ms. Pederson seemed wilted after the hectic day. “Kiss for the camera!”
No. Not when she was frazzled and tired and vulnerable. Not in front of her mother and her sisters and the cameraman.
Hayley could barely hold herself together as it was. She’d deflected nudgings, arch looks and pointed remarks all day from her mother, sisters, Ms. Pederson and the brochure lady. She’d changed clothes in tiny rest rooms and she’d drunk beer at ten o’clock this morning.
She wanted to fill up the bathtub and soak.
She did not want to kiss Justin pretending to be Sloane. She wanted to kiss Justin. Better yet, she wanted to lean on him and feel his arms around her.
He stepped toward her and took both her hands in his. “Long day?” he murmured and brought her hands to his lips.
The romantics in the group, Hayley’s mother among them, aahed.
Hayley nodded and Justin kissed her forehead. It looked like a tender gesture between lovers.
The camera went crazy.
Hayley wanted to melt into his arms, have him sweep her off her feet and carry her up the staircase. Any staircase. Even an escalator.
Then he cradled her head with his hands and kissed her gently on the mouth.
And Hayley’s heart went crazy.
This was nothing like their other two kisses. This was a gentle, nurturing kiss.
This was a kiss from Justin.
HAYLEY NEEDED TIME to give herself a major reality check. Pleading fatigue, she shooed her mother and sisters away, even though she knew they wanted to stay in the suite and talk.
“But, Hayley, won’t you need help getting out of your dress?”
“If you’ll just unbutton me, Mama, I’ll be okay.” She gave her mother a tired smile that was entirely genuine, turned around and lifted her hair.
“It’s so strange. The last of my babies is getting married.” Lola worked at the tiny pearl buttons that ran to the waist of Hayley’s dress. “And after all these years of mothering, I’m going back to daughtering.”
Hayley couldn’t see her mother’s expression. “Are you happy or sad, Mama?”
“I’m both. After all, this is a big change for me, too,” Lola confided, “but I’m mostly happy. Oh, and I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but the real-estate agent called, and I’ve had an offer on the house. I can’t believe it happened this weekend of all weekends, but I’ve made a counteroffer and if it’s taken, then I’ll start looking at properties in Sun City as soon as things settle down after the wedding.”
Her mother sounded eager. And happy. Hayley exhaled.
“Was the corset tied too tight at the waist? We don’t want you fainting tomorrow.”
Hayley mustered a smile as she turned around. “I’m fine.” She kissed her mother on the cheek. “I just need some sleep.”
After closing the door behind Lola, Hayley kicked off her dirt-stained pumps and collapsed on the bed. Her hoops and skirt popped up, blocking her view of the room.
She was alone and no longer had to pretend. The relief hit her all at once and she closed her eyes. One more day. One more day until everyone was happy. And Hayley would be happy, too, though her happiness would stem more from relief than joy.
It’s worth it, she told herself. It’s all worth it. And every time she doubted it, she had only to remember how her mother had enjoyed today—had enjoyed planning the wedding of her dreams. The fact that it was Lola’s dream didn’t bother Hayley. She preferred it, knowing that she’d have more bargaining power when she planned her real wedding. As a second-time bride, she’d have earned the right to simplicity.
She was tired but she wasn’t sleepy. Maybe she could take that hot bath and veg out in front of the TV.
Standing, Hayley carefully pulled the heavy dress over her head, laying the bodice on the bed and backing out of the rest of the dress. Without the hoops to hold it out, the length extended to the floor and beyond.
Other than a few dark smudges on the lining, the dress appeared to have survived the outdoor picture-taking. Hayley hung it on a padded hanger and pulled on the ribbons tying her hoops in place.
The bow loops had worked their way out, leaving a small, hard ribbon knot in back. No matter how Hayley picked at it, she couldn’t work it loose. She tried turning the hoops around, but the ties were threaded through casing in the corset.
Great. Swell. Fabulous.
Her arms ached, so she shook them and tried again, this time standing in front of the full-length mirror and using the point of an ink pen. The knot turned blue, but didn’t budge. What was she going to do? Cut herself out?
Muted voices sounded through the connecting door to Justin’s suite. He’d turned on the twenty-four-hour news channel.
Maybe he could help her. She grabbed for the terry-cloth robe, then stopped. It would get in the way and she was more than adequately covered. The corset was made to match the wedding gown and was nearly as elaborate, with beading and lace at the top.
The entire thing was completely opaque and no more immodest than a strapless dress. The only reason Hayley hesitated at all was because of the way the clever boning in the garment enhanced her cleavage.
Normally Hayley didn’t have cleavage and had never worn miracle, incredible or wonderful bust-enhancing bras because she thought there wasn’t enough to enhance.
An expensive garment, custom fitted by an expert, made all the difference. She looked feminine and womanly, just short of voluptuous.
She hitched the bodice higher. Well, how about that? There was voluptuous. Who’d have thought it? Hayley shook herself back to womanly. She couldn’t ask for Justin’s help looking voluptuous. It would be tacky.
She opened her door just wide enough to knock on his. “Justin?”
“Hang on.” He turned down the TV and opened his side.
He’d obviously just pulled a T-shirt over his head and was still tugging the bottom into place. A few quick swipes with his fingers, and his hair was more or less back in place. Hayley liked the fluffiness of it.
“What’s up?”
“I need help taking off my hoops.”
He froze.
“This is not a come-on. There’s a knot I can’t get out.”
“Oh. Sure. Let me take a look.”
Trying to act nonchalant, Hayley opened the door all the way.
Justin didn’t move, other than to blink his eyes twice. “The knot’s back here.” She turned around.
“I’ll need more light.”
Hayley led the way to the desk lamp. Justin tilted the shade.
“Yes, you’ve definitely got a knot.”
“I know.”
“Have you got a paper clip, or something sharp?”
“What about the pins in the sewing kit?”
“perfect I’ll get it.” Justin walked past her to the bathroom. He was straightening a safety pin as he walked back out “What do you call that thing you’re wearing?”
“The hoops?”
“No, the top part.”
Hayley looked down at herself. “It’s a kind of corset It was made to go under the dress. Why?”
“It’s...ah—” he swallowed “—nice.”
“Nice?” So much for her womanly charms.
“I like nice.”
“Do you?”
“I like nice a lot” He walked behind her. “More and more, now that I think about it.”
“That’s because you’re a nice guy.”
He sighed, his breath tickling her neck. She felt his fingers at her back and tingles raced up her spine.
“I guess I’m going to have to get a tattoo, or something, to rough up my image.”
Hayley laughed. “Your image is just fine. You won’t have any trouble on your trophy-dating hunt.”
“Trophy dating?”
“A woman to look good on your arm, so other men will be impressed.”
“Yeah. Sounds great.”
Hayley made a disgusted sound and Justin laughed.
“Speaking of, we missed dinner. Do you want to grab a bite?” he asked.
Now that she thought about it, she was hungry. “Yes, but not for anything complicated.”
“Burgers?”
“Exactly.” She tried to look at him over her shoulder.
“Hold still...there.” He pulled gently. “The ribbon is frayed. You’ll have to be careful tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” She felt the waist of the hoops open and cool air on her lower back. Holding the edges together, she turned around in time to catch an arrested expression on Justin’s face.
“Okay...well...” He backed toward the door. “I’ll, uh, just...” Instead of finishing the sentence, he jabbed his thumb toward the connecting door.
“I’ll knock when I’m changed,” she told him.
NODDING, JUSTIN BACKED through the doorway.
And he should be grateful for the escape. Sweat beaded across his upper lip. A vision of Hayley in that underwear thing would forever be burned in his mind—that and the glimpse of her back where it dipped in above her bikini panties.
He’d almost touched her, and still wanted to—wanted to press his lips against her skin.
He had to get the image out of his mind. They were sneaking out for hamburgers, nothing special. Obviously he needed a break from this wedding stuff more than he’d thought if seeing a woman in old-fashioned underwear caused this kind of reaction.
He wondered if cold showers actually worked. Now might be a good time to find out.
THEY SNUCK OUT of the Peabody without encountering any of Hayley’s relatives or wedding guests who’d started to arrive, and headed to the Blues City Café on Beale Street.
Justin wished he had a hot new car to drive Hayley in. Maybe after he bought one this summer, he’d give her a call. No, he wasn’t supposed to think that way about Hayley.
He remembered her standing in the light of the desk lamp, holding the back of the hoops together.
It was hard not to think that way about Hayley.
By unspoken agreement, they didn’t talk about the wedding, but they talked about everything else.
Justin was more liberal than Hayley expected, and she was more conservative than he’d expected.
He told her funny stories about teaching high school math. She tried to respond with funny stories about being a technical writer, but there weren’t any, except the time someone had sat on the copier and included the resulting photocopy as the last page of a huge technical manual. The department supervisor had failed to remove the page and it became part of five hundred manuals that were distributed to vendors throughout the Southeast.
“Did they ever find out who did it?” Justin asked.
“No, but they found out that the supervisor wasn’t proofreading the manuals all the way through before signing off on them.”
“Ouch.” Justin smiled.
“And you should have seen the memo that went out.” Hayley pushed her French fries toward him. “Have some.”
He took a couple and she asked, “What made you go to work for the IRS?”
“To get experience from the inside. Corporations love to hire ex-IRS attorneys.”
“When did you decide you wanted to be a lawyer?”
“That was always the plan.” He ate another French fry. “I just had to do it in steps.”
He found himself telling her about his goals and Ross’s part in them. She listened, and Justin uneasily felt as though he was giving her more information than he’d intended.
“How is Ross doing today?” Hayley asked.
“They apparently woke him up hourly to check on him, so when I called and woke him up, he wasn’t too happy.”
“I guess not.”
They both laughed.
“He must be getting better,” Justin said. “He’s complaining about the food. Too bad we can’t smuggle him in some real stuff.”
They stared at each other, and Justin knew the same thought occurred to them at the same time. He saw the recognition in her eyes.
“It’s late. We’ll have to sneak in,” Hayley said as he flagged down the waiter.
“Shift change at eleven,” Justin told her.
Hayley looked at her watch. “Tell the waiter to make the burger rare.”
Everything seemed brighter and funnier with Hayley along. They laughed, they hushed each other, they considered possible excuses to make to the nurses, but in the end, they simply walked into the room. A curtain was drawn around the other bed. The night-light was on and Ross’s eyes were shut.
“We’d better go,” Hayley whispered.
Justin held a finger to his lips, then held the bag with the hamburger under Ross’s nose.
Moments later, Ross’s forehead creased. “I’m hallucinating fatty, fried meat and onions.”
“Bingo,” Justin said.
Ross’s eyes flew open. “Thank God,” he said, raising the bed to a sitting position. “They told me that smelling peculiar odors was a sign of brain damage.” He clutched the bag. “Come to Papa.”
“Are you sure he should be eating that?” Hayley asked.
“Mmm,” Ross mumbled around a mouthful of hamburger.
“He had solid food at dinner,” Justin said.
“‘Food’ is a generous description for the gelatinous mess that appeared on my plate. Hayley, dear, I’m touched that you should visit me. Justin, this is Hayley Parrish, from the wedding project. You remember me mentioning it?”
Justin and Hayley exchanged glances.
“We’ve met,” Justin told him.
“Of course you have. I’ve just introduced you.” Ross beamed at them, then took another bite of hamburger.
Justin shook his head at Hayley. She responded with a withering I’m-not-stupid look. “So, when are they springing you out of here?” he asked Ross.
“I’ve not been able to ascertain that information. How long have I been here?”
“Since yesterday.”
“And where was I before that?”
“Doing laundry,” Justin answered carefully, beginning to regret the impromptu burger run.
“How plebeian.” Ross polished off the last of the hamburger. “Hayley, would you pour some water for me?”
“Sure, Ross.” She watched him cautiously as she did so.
“Do you...do you remember the accident?” Justin asked.
“What accident?”
“The accident where you fell and hit your head,” Justin elaborated.
His expression puzzled, Ross touched the bandage. “You mean I’m not in rehab?”
Justin shook his head.
“That explains why there haven’t been any arts and crafts.” Ross pushed out his lower lip. “Bummer.”
By now, Justin realized that Ross was not going to be released anytime soon. In fact, Justin shouldn’t have broken hospital rules by visiting him. He glanced at Hayley.
She looked questioningly toward the door.
Relieved that she understood, Justin nodded imperceptibly. “Ross, we’ve got to get going. You need your sleep.”
“Do I?”
“Yes,” they told him in unison.
“Then scoot, children. Oh... Justin, walk Hayley to her car. Or better yet, take her for coffee. You know, I was thinking of introducing you two after the wedding anyway. I think you’d be good for each other.”
Justin and Hayley glanced at each other, then away.
“Hayley has an intriguingly devious mind that should appeal to you, Justin.”
Beside him, he heard a muffled protest.
“You follow the rules too much,” Ross continued. “Even the ones you make yourself. Hayley, get him to tell you about his cockamamie plan.”
“Now, wait—”
“Cockamamie,” Ross continued. “Isn’t that a great word? I heard one of the doctors use it. I think it’s a character-defining word. And it’s exactly the right word to describe Justin’s plan. It’s a cockamamie plan. We’ve all fallen on swearing too much.” Ross settled back, gearing up for a soliloquy. “There’s no character in swearing anymore. Used to be a well-placed ‘damn’ would have some impact. Not anymore. Besides, damn wouldn’t work here. Justin’s plan isn’t a damn plan. It’s a crappy plan, it’s full of—”
“Okay, Ross.” Justin didn’t have to look at Hayley to know that she was trying not to laugh. “You’ve made your point”
“And cockamamie makes it even better. I like that word.”
“We can tell.”
Ross looked at Hayley. “Do you think Sloane would use ‘cockamamie’? If so, I can work it into a conversation.”
“Sloane probably just swears a lot.”
“Damn,” Ross said, looking disappointed.
“Okay. Well.” Justin looked at Hayley. “How about some coffee, Hayley?”
“I would love coffee, Justin.”
“You see?” Ross beamed. “I knew you two would hit it off. I know a great many truths now. In fact, I even find that many things previously puzzling to me are now clear.” Ross wrinkled his forehead. “Are you sure I’m not in rehab?”
“Not yet,” Justin muttered. “So, Hayley, how about that coffee?”
“Sounds great”
They started for the door, but Ross grabbed at Justin’s jacket “She’s your type of cute, isn’t she?”
Justin knew Hayley had heard. “Settle down, Ross.”
“Life is short. Eat dessert first.”
Ross’s grin was so self-satisfied, that Justin briefly— very briefly—wanted to add another bump to his head. He lifted his hand in farewell and hoped their. visit hadn’t interfered with his recovery.
Hayley was leaning against the wall outside the door. “Don’t look so nervous. I know Ross’s grasp of reality is a little...” She wobbled her hand back and forth.
Justin stared at her. She’s your type of cute, isn’t she? Maybe Ross’s grasp of reality was just fine.
“Yoo-hoo.” Hayley waved her hand in front of his face. “Relax. I’m not taking anything he said seriously.”
But maybe they should.