Cold Feet

He pulls me to him and kisses me again quickly. “Don’t let me keep you. Maybe we can continue this after the wedding?”

“Maybe,” I say as I pull away and make my way back to the path. I feel the coolness of the night air and freedom now that I am commando. I have to admit that it feels good. You little slut, my inner voice says. I answer it and it falls silent, Yeah, you’re loving it as much as I am. You’re in the same body remember? I realize I’ll have to remember to be careful when I bend over and sit down. I can do that I tell myself.

I key the walkie-talkie as I walk briskly back to the reception. “What’s needed?” I ask. I never ask ‘what’s the problem?’ It has negative connotations and I am superstitious that it will bring bad luck and so I avoid referring to anything as a problem.

“Bar limit checkpoint,” my assistant replies.

Wow! I think to myself. This party is pumping. The bar limit checkpoint comes when eighty percent of the allocated budget had been reached. It is one of my standard operating procedures. When this point is reached, I seek approval to exceed the limit and confirm a new limit with whoever is footing the bill booze bill. I estimate the party still has at least two hours to go and there is no way the budget will last. There are a variety of options available to limit the cost and it’s time to speak to Trish’s father who is paying in this instance.

“Okay. I’ll get back to you,” I tell Jessica.

VIOLA

I get back to the table and sit down beside Ashley after the new bar limit has been confirmed. She looks at me and smiles.

“You were gone a while,” she smiles knowingly waiting for me to spill the beans.

“I had to sort out the bar limit,” I reply blushing. “I wasn’t with him all the time.”

“Could have fooled me,” Ashley says. Bursting with curiosity, she asks, “What did he want?”

“To get together after the wedding,” I smile.

“Really?” Ashley asks surprised. “He doesn’t take it slow does he?”

I blush again as I think of just how slow we didn’t take it. I shake my head not trusting my voice to answer as I avoid Ashley’s gaze.

“You tart!” she whispers. “You didn’t!”

“Didn’t what?” I ask feigning ignorance but still not looking at her.

“I know you,” Ashley whispers again. “You dirty little girl!” she teases.

I look at her and feign offense. “Get your mind out of the gutter,” I smile.

“C’mon. Tell me, tell me!” she whispers, begging like a little child.

I have worked with Ashley for a long time and we are good friends. She knows me well and I know her well too. I’m enjoying stringing her along.

“We didn’t…” I say and let the thought hang in the air.

“…but?” she prompts.

“I had to come back here for the bar limit but you can call me commando,” I say as I sip my drink.

“Commando?” Ashley asks confused and then it hits her. Her hand flies to her mouth as she realizes what I mean. “Oh my…”

I smile at her and wink. Then her eyes flick to a point above and behind my head and a moment later I hear his voice again.

“Is this seat taken?” he asks.

Of course not, and if it was, it would have become vacant right now just for you, I think before I reply. “No, but I’m guessing it’s about to be.”

“That all depends on whether you’ll permit me to be seated,” he smiles as he waits for permission.

What a gentleman, I think wondering what he’s done with my panties.

“Please be seated,” I say and then add, “You don’t need my permission.”

He pulls the chair out and sits as I look at Ashley. She gives me a quick wink and then excuses herself from the table. I want to ask her to stay but it’s too late.

“Can I steal you from your busy schedule for a few more moments?”

“You may,” I reply.

“I have to say that you’ve truly outdone yourself with the immaculate planning and execution of this wedding. It’s fabulous.” Rick says lightly. His voice is confident. It has an authoritative but kind tone. One that says, I’m in charge and I know what I want. I get what I want too.

I catch the scent of his cologne again. It carries a hint of wood and it’s strong. Not in the sense that he has used too much, the scent is simply strong, powerful, masculine.

“Thank you for the compliment,” I say blushing again. I’m blushing between my thighs and I’m pretty sure he knows it. I squeeze my thighs together and feel how soaked I am. My blush deepens.

“A little birdie told me that you’re one of the top wedding planners in Los Angeles,” he says as he studies me.

“Well, I don’t concern myself with classifications. I simply do the best I can for my clients. They are important and it’s a very special day so they deserve the best.”

“That’s a very noble way of thinking. Very humble too.”

“Thank you,” I blush again. “Do you normally compliment women this much? You do know it works wonders, don’t you? I will add though that you had me under the tree. You don’t need to flatter me more.”

He smiles. “I’m not flattering you. I simply believe in giving credit where credit is due,” he smiles.

“Thank you again,” I incline my head towards him.

He leans closer and lowers his voice. “Can we put our earlier moment aside? There’s something else I want to talk to you about,” he says.

“What about?” I ask surprised.

“Well, you are one of the best at what you do whether you want to admit it or not. I believe I’m also one of the best at what I do and I was thinking that perhaps we could agree to collaborate.”

What? I ask myself. Did he just start to talk business? I start to feel deflated, disappointed. Cloud number nine is suddenly descending fast.

“I’m sure we can talk about collaborating. I have a big network of people already though,” I reply.

“I understand that but I provide a niche service,” he replies. “I doubt you have someone like me on your team. Very few wedding planners do.”

“Okay,” I respond. “What exactly is it that you do?”

Rick smiles and reaches into his jacket. He removes his wallet and takes out a business card. He returns his wallet to his jacket pocket and hands the card to me.

I take it but don’t look at it immediately. I am mesmerized by his moves. They seem so fluid, lithe is the word that comes to mind.

“I’m a lawyer,” Rick says.

His words hit me hard. A lawyer? What on earth…?

My brow furrows in confusion. “Why would I want to collaborate with a lawyer?” I don’t like lawyers for personal reasons and I can’t help the hint of irritation that creeps into my voice when I answer.

“Why?” he smiles and looks at me before continuing, “Well, many couples prefer to have prenups drawn up before they get married. Some even want a last will and testament. I do it all.”

I nod slowly. “Okay, that makes sense.”

“Of course,” he smiles. He sits forward and continues, “That’s just the beginning though.”

“What do you mean by ‘just the beginning’?”

“Well, there’s the divorce later.”

I am sipping my drink when he says it and it goes down the wrong hole. I cough and splutter as I put down the glass. When my coughing fit is done, I take another few sips so my voice can return to normal. “Divorce?” I say a little too loudly and the guests at the next table glance our way. I am disgusted and shocked.

“Yes, divorce,” he repeats.

In an instant, everything that happened between us earlier is wiped out. I feel like I have crossed into an alternate world.

“You do realize that this is one of the most beautiful days a couple will ever have in their lives?”

Rick nods. “Yes. One of the most beautiful days. It doesn’t last forever though. Life happens.”

“So, you assume every marriage is going to end in divorce sooner or later?” I ask incredulously. This time I keep my voice low enough so that the other guests don’t hear.

“Not all of them,” Rick replies. “But let me give you an idea of what I’m talking about. In California alone, divorce rates are estimated to be ten percent higher than the national average.”

“There is a national average for something as bad as divorce?” I ask in disgust.

“Yes. Would you like to guess what the national average is? It’ll make you wonder why ‘till death do us part’ is still being included in couples’ vows.”

“I don’t care to guess,” I reply.

“Well let me enlighten you then. The national average is fifty percent. That means in California it’s…”

“… sixty percent,” I finish in disgust. I feel my anger rising. “You are aware that this is a wedding reception?”

“Of course,” Rick replies. “What is your point?’

I ignore his question. “Are you for real? What have you done with the man who was in the garden a short while ago?”

Rick chuckles. “Cute. He’s right here.”

“What happened to the man who said, when our eyes met, I was drawn to you like a moth to a flame? How can you whisper such romantic things to me while you have such a skewed perception of marriage?”“It’s not skewed,” he replies. “Aren’t we all entitled to our opinions?”

“Sure, but why don’t you tell me where you see anything between us going if that’s your view of marriage?”

“Aren’t you taking things a bit fast? We haven’t even had our first date and you’re asking about ‘things between us’.

“I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression then,” I say as I struggle to suppress my anger. “You had an effect on me like no man I have ever known. Despite that my heart was telling me to cautious and I was telling it to shut up. I was throwing caution to the wind because I thought I felt something special with you. I guess I was wrong.”

“I beg to differ. You did feel something special. I felt it too.”

“No. I wasn’t thinking with my heart. I was thinking with the puddle between my legs. Dammit, you drove me wild with desire but that’s where it would end. Lust, desire, passion, sex. That’s all. Isn’t it? A one-night stand.”

Rick shook his head looking disappointed.

I’m on a roll now and I push on. “Do they even know that you’re peddling your services here?”

He studies me for a moment. “Look, perhaps we’re starting off on the wrong foot. All I am saying is that clients need lawyers when they get married and divorced. Just take my perspective of divorce out of it if you don’t like it and think about offering your clients a service they need. I do offer a commission for business introductions.”

“We have started on the wrong foot. Why would I work with someone who has such as skewed attitude towards one of the greatest days in a couple’s life?”

“We are all entitled to our own opinions, aren’t we?” Rick asks calmly. He doesn’t look so confident anymore but he’s not backing down.

“We are. I agree,” I say, sitting forward and looking into Rick’s eyes. I wonder why God makes assholes so attractive. Maybe it’s the only way they stand a chance in life. I want to ask him to give my panties back but I don’t. He’ll probably embarrass me and put them on the table for all to see. “I happen to believe in the beauty and magic of love and the blessedness of every wedding day that I help create for every client. I don’t think of what might happen in the future but you’re positively wishing divorce on couples before they’re even married and my opinion about that, is it’s abhorrent. I prefer to work with like-minded people, something that we, evidently are not.”

Rick sighs. “I’m sorry to hear that. My door’s always open to collaborating if you decide differently. It’s been a pleasure meeting you.” He smiles and winks as he gets up and leaves the table. I watch him go. His ass is perfect and his form is perfect. It’s a pity he’s such an asshole.

Ashley returns with a huge smile on her face. “Wow! He’s such a hunk! Did he ask you out?”

“No. He asked me to collaborate with him.” The disappointment in my voice is clear.

“Collaborate? In what way?”

I push his card over to Ashley. She picks it up and reads it. “Oh,” she says then asks, “Seriously?”

I nod as I try to continue eating my dinner. I’ve lost my appetite. I try not to look his way but find that as luck would have it, every time I look up, my eyes seem to find his.

I push my plate away and get up. “I’m going to check on the team,” I say. I want to be anywhere except where I’m going to meet his eyes again.

RICK

I sit down at my table again. My chat with Viola didn’t go the way I had hoped. I know I’ve blown what we started outside in the garden. I am disappointed. She has had an effect on me like no other woman and I still can’t stop looking at her.

She’s one of the best at what she does. I’m one of the best at what I do too.

I know if we collaborated it would be great. With her reputation in her industry, Viola attracts top-tier clients because of her reputation. My kind of clients. The wealthier they are, the bigger the divorce settlements are. Makes sense doesn’t it?

That aside, they can also pay for the best legal advice before they get married if we collaborate. This is what Viola failed to recognize. My commissions are good and she stands to make good money simply from a referral. Why should she even care what happens later down the road? If anything, she’s likely to get at least one repeat client if the couple divorces and they remarry later. They’ll probably call her for their next wedding. Hell, there’s even their children a generation from now who’ll be getting married. She can easily get the children’s weddings too depending on how close she stays to her clients after they get married. I’ll cut her in on all the business I get from a client she refers to me and I’ll even refer business her way too.

I keep looking at her. I can’t help it. I’m wondering what’s got her so upset about what I said. Maybe it was just the wrong time and I should have arranged to speak with her after the wedding or on a day when she wasn’t running a wedding reception.

There is another reason why I can’t stop looking at her. She is unbelievably beautiful. I don’t believe in love but she is my type. By my type, I mean confident, sassy, proud, sexy, independent. The kind that doesn’t have time for relationships but takes what she needs from men when she needs it. Just as I take from women what I need when I need it. I don’t have time for relationships. I also don’t believe in them.

She catches me looking at her again and she shifts uncomfortably in her chair then sits forward, putting up her hand to cut me from her view. She says something to Ashley and then pushes her plate away. She hasn’t finished her food. Then she gets up and leaves the room.

My gaze follows her as she heads for the door. The sway of her hips is accentuated perfectly by the figure-hugging outfit she is wearing. The high heels she is wearing add height to her form and her long, silken black hair bounces softly with every step she takes.

I touch her panties in my pocket and remember how good she smells. I’m instantly hard again as I think of our encounter earlier tonight in the garden.

She doesn’t know she’s a goddess. Perfect. I’ve seen her type many times before. I hunt for her type. I have the most fun with them. First, I show them how beautiful they are and make them realize the effect they have on men. I like to make them self-aware. When a woman like Viola becomes self-aware of her beauty and sexuality, it increases her beauty and sexuality. Stripping away her innocence and teaching her the ways of the world, my world actually, is what I enjoy most.

My interest in Viola is more than just business. Hell, if she gives me no business and just lets me tame her, I guess I can live with it. It would be a pity though.

I realize everyone else is standing and so I stand as a waiter passes with a tray of champagne glasses. I lighten his tray by taking a glass and look at the main table where the toasts are beginning. The happy couple is whispering and smiling as the MC talks and jokes. They seem happy and I wish them all the best. I really do. Not everyone divorces. I just want to plant the seed that I’m here if ever either of them should need me. It’s not asking much.

The toasts continue for a while and I glance over to where Viola was sitting but she hasn’t returned. Ashley is there and she’s not looking at me. The toasts finish and the band begins to play. People cross to the happy couple at the table and offer their congratulations. I join in and congratulate the happy couple. A short while later the couple steps out onto the dance floor for their first dance. I watch them move around the dance floor gracefully. They don’t say much as they dance. The groom is almost a head taller than the bride and while she presses her head against his chest he is looking around as if he is looking for someone.

They are joined on the dance floor by some of the guests and soon the floor is crowded with happy couples. When the wedding couple finishes their dance, they return to the table and the groom excuses himself. I assume he’s going to relieve himself. The bride watches him go before she is distracted by a guest.

With the festivities almost in full swing, I decide it’s almost time for me to leave. Weddings are not my favorite events, even less so when I am without a partner.

I decide to go and look for Viola and try to speak to her again before I leave. I grab myself another drink from a passing waiter and begin to make my way through the guests to the main garden.

I find Viola halfway between the reception area the main building. Her back is turned to me and she is speaking into her walkie-talkie. She finishes and turns around. She jumps back in surprise.

“Oh my God!” she exclaims. “You gave me such a fright!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” I reply. I give her a moment to recover and then continue. “Look, I’m sorry for earlier. I think everything just came out wrong. Normally I can express myself quite clearly and I just don’t know what happened earlier…”

Viola is studying me coldly, “… I think you expressed yourself quite clearly back there Rick. You see the institution of marriage as an opportunity for future business, preying on the sorrow and anguish of others to make a living when that time comes, if ever. I have never met a lawyer like you. I’ve heard of, even seen ambulance chasers in action but this, you must have a hundred percent market share of your chosen niche…”

Viola breaks off as someone passes by. It’s the bride. She seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere.

“Trish, is everything okay?” Viola asks.

Trish barely stops and turns. “Yes. I just need the bathroom. I’ve waited too long already.”

“Okay. Don’t let me keep you,” Viola smiles.

Trish turns and continues her walk up to the main building.

Something in Trish’s manner tells me something is wrong. It’s not my wedding though and I am leaving anyway. Nevertheless, I decide to say something to Viola.

“I think somethings wrong with the bride…”

“So now you’re a doctor too?” Viola asks angrily in a low tone afraid that Trish might still be in earshot.

“No… I just want to help…”

“I don’t need your help, marriage killer. This is my wedding and I think everything’s going just fine…”

A woman’s shouts suddenly become audible from the main building. I can’t say for sure who it is but I have a pretty good idea.

Viola turns and runs for the main building. It takes me a moment before I follow her.

“Trish!” Viola calls as she runs to the building.

As we near the building the words of the woman’s shouts become clear.

“You… son… of… a… two… timing… bitch! And you! You… goddamn… damn… whore!”

Viola has entered the building with me in tow. She pushes her way through the crowd that has gathered already around the open bathroom door.

I follow Viola’s wake through the crowd and arrive at the front of the people just behind Viola. Trish is standing in front of the open bathroom door screaming at the groom whose pants are pooled around his ankles. He is still buried cock deep in the woman with him in the bathroom. I recognize the girl. Cherise. She is the bridesmaid. She looks away and exclaims to the groom, “Close the goddamn door, you idiot!”

He reaches to close it but can’t without slipping out of the bridesmaid and revealing himself to everyone watching.

Trish steps forward. She brandishes the cake knife threateningly, “You dare close this fucking door and I’ll cut your cock off you cheating son of a bitch!”

The groom, Eric, goes a deeper shade of red and tries to placate Trish, “Babe, I’m sorry. I am, I didn’t mean to…”

“Shut up!” Trish screams. “Shut up! Don’t try to sell me your lies!”

Viola takes Trish’s arm but she shrugs it off. Camera flashes are going off intermittently and the situation is becoming increasingly embarrassing for everyone. I step forward around Trish and I close the door. When I turn, Trish screams at me.

“Who the hell are you! Why are you defending him?”

“I’m not defending him,” I reply calmly but firmly as I step up to Trish. She does not resist as she lets me gently relieve her of the cake knife. I lower my voice, “It is embarrassing you and everyone.”

She looks up at me and bursts into tears as she collapses against me. I put my arms around her and support her as she is wracked by huge sobs. She tries to talk as she sobs and I cannot understand a word she is saying. Over her head, I meet Viola’s eyes which are looking at me with a mixture of fading anger and newfound respect. I hold Trish close as she continues to sob. Finally, a couple presses through the crowd and approaches us.

I recognize them as Trish’s parents.

“Thanks,” her father says. He gently takes her arm. “Honey, daddy’s here. It’s okay,” he says softly. Her father gently pries her loose from me and she turns to her father, hugs him, and continues sobbing.

“I’m sorry for what’s happened, sir. Truly sorry,” I say.

Her father nods, “Thank you,” he says again.

I remove a business card and hand it to Trish’s mother since her father’s hands are full holding Trish. Her mother takes the card, looks at it, and then at me. I don’t need to say anything. The message is clear.

“Thank you, Rick,” Trish’s mother says. I simply nod and then turn to leave.

When I turn, Viola is there. She is looking at me again with narrowed eyes. I can tell she’s angry.

I sidestep her and push my way through the crowd that has already started thinning.

I can feel Viola’s eyes on my back as I leave. I almost expect her to chase me down but I think she knows that wouldn’t be a good idea on so many fronts. In a way I want her to chase me down. I want to see her, talk to her, even argue with her as long as I get to speak to her again. She has no idea of the effect she has had on me.

I reach the lobby and give the valet my ticket. My car arrives soon enough and I leave.

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