I feel his eyes on me but I resist the urge to look at him again. I wait until the couple is heading down the road in the wedding carriage and then I key my walkie-talkie and call the team together for a meeting.
We meet on the church grounds where we eat lunch. In my business, I have a lot of contacts. One of them is a caterer I use regularly for food for the team. Theyre not expensive and the food is always good. They also know what food is needed for every team member so I dont have to worry that someone might get the order wrong. It just makes everything so much easier. One more part of the well-oiled machine that my wedding planner business is.
Catering also lets us eat somewhere away from crowds in a restaurant with no distractions. We can focus on what needs to be done and adapt our plan any way we need to without interference.
The team all confirm they are ready for the role they will play in the reception. The photographer is the only one who is absent since he has a full day with the bride and groom.
The band confirms that they are ready with their equipment and will head to the reception location after lunch to begin setting up and testing their equipment.
I move through the checklist and mark off items one by one as the team members confirm that their part in the show is ready to go.
Catering. Check. Band. Check. Decorations. Check. Flowers. Check. MC. Check. The list goes on and each item is a check.
I finish the checklist and everyone continues eating.
Ashley approaches me. Shes the counselor I use when the bride or groom gets cold feet. I never expect her to stay around after the wedding. Her job is pretty much done after the couple has said I do.
Ashley, I smile and embrace her. We have worked together for a long time and are good friends now.
You did a great job as usual, I smile when we end our embrace and I look at her.
Ashley looks at the team quickly and then back at me. Can we speak somewhere privately?
I sense concern in her voice and nod my head. Sure. Lets go inside. We enter the church through a side door and take a pew beside each other.
What is it? I ask Ashley.
Ashley looks at me. This was the hardest session ever, she says. I dont know if Ive done the right thing.
I frown in confusion, What do you mean you dont know if youve done the right thing?
Ashley wipes away a stray wisp of black hair from her face and continues, I get that people have cold feet sometimes and I know its my job to get them through that so the wedding can go off well. But sometimes theres more to the reason for their cold feet than it just being cold feet. No-one has ever given me a reason before today but today the bride gave me a reason.
Im not sure Im following you, I say.
Ashley looks as if shes about to cry and she opens her mouth to continue but then closes it.
Is everything okay? a voice asks from behind me.
I turn around and see the minister who married the bride and groom.
Yes father, I say standing out of respect. Ashley is just emotional to see her sister is married. I wait for the lightning to turn me to a crisp for lying to the father but it doesnt come.
As long as its happy emotions, the father smiles.
I couldnt agree more, I smile. Ashley simply nods. I know she doesnt trust her voice as she looks as if she is about to break down altogether.
Very well then, the father says and pats Ashleys shoulder as he moves off.
Ashleys eyes close and she begins to sob silently. I sit beside her and put my arm around her. Its okay. Talk to me. What is the problem?
Ashley cries for a long time and then finally she calms enough to stop crying. I have given her all my tissues and she blows her nose again and dabs at her makeup which is ruined. At least she has time to fix it before the reception. She doesnt have to attend but normally she does.
She becomes silent for a moment and then finally, trusting her voice to be stable she tells me what has her so upset. The bride had cold feet because because she thinks the groom is cheating on her.
The words hit me like a Mack truck. What? Are you serious?
Ashley nods her head and, as she begins to cry again, she manages to say, I may have convinced the bride to marry a cheater!
VIOLA
Ive never had this situation before. Ashley tells me that the bride has no proof. Shes not even sure who the groom might be cheating with if he is cheating.
I calm Ashley enough that she stops crying and I try to make her feel better. I remind her of what a great job she has done for me every time I have needed her and that everything has been fine. I try to assure her that everything will be fine today too. I suggest that she rather goes home and does not attend the reception but she insists that she will.
I am tempted to pull the groom to one side before the reception and tell him what Ive been told and tell him to keep his dick in his pants at least for today figuratively speaking. But its no business of mine. If the bride is wrong and I bring this up, I could be sued, and so could Ashley. I would probably lose my whole reputation and my business, never mind the fact that I would have to refund the money I have been paid for this wedding. I could do it but thats beside the point. I would possibly never get another wedding in my life.
No, the show must go on. I think positively and try to assure Ashley again that everything will be fine. Theres no harm in positive thinking. Right?
Ashley goes home to rest and fix her makeup before returning for the reception. The team has finished their lunch and has left by the time I go outside again.
I leave and head home where I rest a bit and have a shower. I always build in the time to get home, get changed, and have a shower before the reception. The job of a wedding planner is not an easy one and the amount of sweating that I do at the church is unbelievable. There is no way I can go all day without a shower and a change of clothes.
Ready for round two as I refer to the reception, I get in my car and head to the location. Im early as always. The reception is being held at the Bel Air Bay Club.
I move through the building and out to the gardens making sure that everything is going according to plan. I search for the man I saw outside the church earlier but he doesnt appear to have arrived yet. Its still early though and not many guests have arrived yet.
There are no hiccups and aside from what Ashley told me, I think the reception will go off perfectly.
The wedding couple and their families arrive and are directed to the gardens. Its time for the photos to be done before the reception starts.
I watch the bride and groom together. The bride seems happy. I watch her and notice that her face gives away nothing other than the appearance of being happy. Im sure it was just nerves and paranoia I tell myself. Now the bride is married and she realizes there is nothing to be worried about at all.
The families gather, meet, greet and chat as they wait for their turn to pose in the photos with the happy couple. It always makes me happy to see the union of two families through one happy couple. The marriages dont always last but I dont think of that. What matters is today and the happiness that the couple shares. The bride seems to relax and even smiles and laughs.
There you go, I think. Sure, she was the toughest bride yet for Ashley but theres nothing to worry about.
The photos take a long time and by the time theyre finished the guests are waiting where they are seated in the garden area. Using my walkie-talkie, I check with everyone that we are green and get confirmation from all of them.
I make my way to the table furthest from the tables of honor. I sit down and run through things again. Everything is taken care of.
The reception begins and the MC has the guests in laughter as he tells tales about the newlyweds and jokes with them. From here on out the MC runs the show. I take orders from him if need be and make sure what he needs at any given moment is taken care of.
The reception couldnt be better. I think its one of the best ever. Ashley has arrived and is seated with me at the table. I assure her repeatedly that everything is okay and she seems to relax.
As we begin to eat, I see him. He doesnt see me and my eyes follow him as he mingles with the other guests, smiling and talking with nothing but god-given confidence. I watch him because I want to know if he is with someone but at no stage do I see a partner.
I wonder who he is. I did not see him at the photo session so I doubt he is family. He must be here with an invite and I wonder who has invited him. He sees me again and smiles. I blush and look away again quickly. I feel my face grow redder as I see him approaching with my peripheral vision.
I realize he is looking straight at me. I feel my panties soaking again as I blush. Control yourself! I scold myself mentally. The man hasnt even spoken to you yet and youre flooding your panties! He probably only needs salt or something anyway.
I look up at him as he stops beside me. He looks down at me and his lips part in a smile revealing sparkling white teeth. I give him the quick once over. He is wearing a grey suit and a white shirt that looks as if its been pressed by a steamroller. There is not a single crease on it. Its immaculate. He wears a tie which looks black in the light. Its the right length. His suit fits perfectly. Its neither too big nor too tight for his toned frame. His shoes finish his outfit and they simply gleam as if theyve been waxed and polished at a car wash.
My eyes meet his again. He is still smiling. I blush again like a little girl who has just been spoken to by her first high school crush.
Hi. Im Rick, he says offering his hand. His voice is so calm yet masculine and firm.
And I am so wet. No man has ever had this effect on me.
I stand so I wont be craning my neck to admire this gorgeous, heaven-sent gift of a man. I take his hand and shake it without realizing what I am doing. I feel as if I have no control over my body and its simply acting of its own volition. His skin is soft and warm and I picture his hands running over my naked skin as I blush again.
Im Viola, I say. Pleased to meet you.
Likewise, Rick smiles. He leans across the table and offers his hand to Ashley who takes it and blushes as well. They greet each other before Rick turns back to me.
Could we take a walk? he asks.
I I, I stutter. Im at a loss for words and look at Ashley desperately for help.
She is smiling and nods waving me away with her hand.
okay, I manage to say.
VIOLA
He offers his arm and I link my arm through his. We wander away from the party into the gardens. There is still some time before the reception begins. Im sure whatever he wishes to discuss will be over by then.
Its a lovely evening, he says, sounding as if he is observing something working exactly the way it should.
I think its perfect, I reply.
Nearly perfect. His remark tells me that he thinks something is missing.
And what would make it perfect if I may ask? I say looking up at him as we walk towards the beach.
Getting to know you better, he replies confidently.
I blush, thankful that it is night and there is little light for him to see how red my face is. My skin is a golden brown but despite its color, Im sure he could see me blushing if there was enough light. Despite the cool breeze, I feel warmer than expected and I know its Ricks remark and his closeness that is having this effect on me. What is wrong with you? No man has ever had this effect on me this quickly. I know Im feeling like a little girl who has just been spoken to by her first high school crush. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I havent had someone in my life for a long time.
Do you gatecrash weddings looking for women that you can charm and flirt with? Is that your strategy to find a girlfriend? I tease.
He chuckles. Not at all. I just happened to be invited to this wedding as a friend of a friend.
I had no idea that people were in the habit of inviting friends of friends to wedding receptions these days.
Rick laughs. Well, Im glad I was invited otherwise I would never have met you.
Oh really? I smile. Tell me, does the hard sell really work with women for you? Im guessing it does. Hes so damn gorgeous. And while hes straightforward and confident, he doesnt come across as being arrogant.
Is that what you call it?
Mm-hmm, I reply.
Well, then I must admit I dont usually do the hard sell but tonight when I saw you, I thought I probably dont have much time. Youre very busy with coordinating the wedding and, I might add, youre doing an absolutely stellar job of it but Im guessing that you walking with me right now is a luxury that you can scarcely afford unless you have someone who can hold the fort a while.
You seem to know me well, I say glancing at him.
He stops and turns to look at me taking my hand in his with ease. If anyone saw us, they would easily think we were a couple. I am amazed at how he does not seem to think it might be considered creepy or think it might be crossing a line considering that weve only just met.
The truth is I dont mind. As he holds my hand, I make no move to withdraw it from his. His hands are soft, and his touch gentle. His touch is setting my skin on fire and I dont think a fire extinguisher can put out the fire between my thighs. His eyes, his voice, his smile are all so perfect and are all having an effect on me that no man has ever had.
When I saw you tonight, I knew I had to get to know you better. I just felt something. When our eyes met, I was drawn to you like a moth to a flame.
Careful then. You might get burned, I tease.
I somehow dont think so, he smiles. Im grateful youre giving me this time and I dont know how long we have so Ill just come right out and say it.
Say what?
I want to see you again. I want to get to know you better. Will you give me your number? As he asks, he releases my hand and he places his hand on my cheek. I lean into his touch. Its warm. Comforting.
I say nothing but simply look into his eyes. He leans into me bringing his face to my level. Our noses touch. He is asking permission without saying a word. I dont reply and he takes my silence as permission.
Our lips brush softly, briefly. Its another request for permission. When he senses no resistance, his lips settle on mine and I hungrily clamp his lower lip between my teeth as I suck it. Our tongues clash and briefly battle for entry before we acknowledge we both want the same thing and they start to dance with our passion. Our breathing quickens as he pulls me close. He wraps his arms around me and I feel so safe and warm as if I am in a cocoon. I wrap my arms around him but my hands cant join behind him. I let them roam up and down his back and I can feel his toned body under his shirt.