If At First

Part 6 - Chapter 5

"We do now." He smiled, "I thought they were exaggerating, but you really are beautiful." He stared similarly to the way Doug had just been doing.

"thththank you." It sounded like a question. "Who said that? And why?" I asked, "I'm so sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but this is so strange..." I trailed off, noticing now that several other wedding guests were looking in my direction.

It felt like that dream where you realize you're standing naked in front of the class during a presentation. Was someone playing a joke on me? My breathing sped up and my hands became clammy. I tightened them into fists. It was becoming clear that I had embroiled myself in a situation I was unprepared to handle.

I caught a glimpse of Haven among a small cluster of women gathered near an open window. He was also watching us, and I could see, even at this distance, his broad shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Fitch, I'm so sorry, but would you please excuse me? I ...I have to see if the bride needs me before they take off for their honeymoon." I didn't wait for a response. I pulled away and left him as fast as I could without breaking into a full run.

Desperately scanning the crowd for Danni, I hurried toward the bar. "Pinot Grigio, please?" I told myself I was getting it for Danni and rested my elbows on the edge, continuing to look over my shoulder.

"Popular tonight?" An entertained voice came from the opposite direction. I swung around and Haven was next to me.

I let out a breath and returned my attention to the bartender. "It certainly seems that way."

"But you must be used to that by now."

"Must I?"

"Aren't you?"

I looked at him again. "Did you cause that?" I asked, disconcerted.

He chuckled. "This was all you." He flashed his radiant smile. "They can't stand that I was the only one allowed to dance with you. Maybe I'm a trendsetter."

I strained to look away. "Look. You, -you're very flattering, but you should know that I haven't the smallest intention of taking you seriously."

He puffed out a contemplative breath and cast me a gorgeous, twisted smirk. "Well, I hope that's true," His eyes brimmed with laughter. "I don't intend least amount of seriousness."

"How nice for you."

"I think so."

"So this is a hobby of yours? Tossing innocent people into the path of an unsought spotlight?"

"I don't know if I'd call it a hobby," He said thoughtfully, "I also don't know how innocent you are." He leaned carelessly against the bar, crossing his arms over his chest. "Really though, can you blame me?"

"Kind of." Going in circles with him was useless. I inhaled deeply, intentionally not noticing again how good he smelled, and took the glass handed me. "Goodbye, Haven Casey."

He nodded. "Tabitha,"

I took a sip, peering at him over the rim of my glass. I couldn't get this guy's measure and it was starting to irk me. I set the glass down again and, shrugging to myself, walked past him. Before I had quite taken the second step, he caught my wrist and spun me into his chest, pinning my hands between us. With a hand at my neck, he pressed surprisingly soft yet determined lips against mine. I didn't have time to resist, -not that I would have- but the immediate heat it created sent fire over every inch of my skin.

For just the briefest moment, he deepened the kiss before pulling back, and as quickly as it had happened, he let go again resuming his position against the bar. I stood there, stunned and out of breath. He smiled wolfishly, totally composed, and said, "There. That should set some tongues wagging."

"Why did you-" I suddenly felt a thousand eyes on me and decided I didn't want to know. Instead I turned on my heel and darted away to look for Danni.

I couldn't find her anywhere. She wouldn't leave before seeing me, would she? I checked the bathroom as a last resort. Really it should have been the first place I looked, but any possibly lucid thought in my head was scattered now thanks to Haven. I hadn't been kissed that way in far too long, and he could probably tell. What on earth would make him do that? Every imaginable instinct in me wanted to analyze the hell out of what just happened, but in some rational corner of my brain a voice was telling me not to. I had to brush over it, not see or think about him anymore, and just move on without reliving that few seconds again and again and again.

Upon opening the door to the ladies' room the first thing I saw was Meegan fixing her make-up in the mirror just inside the ante-room and a pit of disappointment burrowed in my gut. I tried to back out and close the door quietly before I was spotted.

"Tabitha?" she sniffled, squinting into the reflection through her tears.

There was no way I was going to let her corner and kill me without witnesses. "Um, no," I mumbled, turning my face away and attempting to slip out.

"Tab!" Danni's voice called from further inside. "Tabby, is that you? Come here!"

I thrust the door out of my way and ran through the lobby, tossing Meegan an apologetic look, and rushing around the corner toward Danni's voice. "Where are you?!" I whispered loudly, peeking under the stall doors for feet.

"On the end. In the big one. Hurry!"

I tugged on the door. "Well you have to unlock it,"

"I can't." Her voice was very small.

"Why?" Last I checked they generally put the latch on the inside.

"I'm stuck."

"Stuck?" I smothered a snort of laughter. "On what?"

She paused "Um, I'm not sure. I couldn't find anyone to help me change for the plane, so I came in here to try and do it myself, and...um... the dress is caught, and I'm tangled, and I can't reach the door." In a matter of seconds her voice went from distressed pleading to rippling laughter and I was no longer able to contain the giggle that bubbled out of me.

"Should I go find a maintenance person?" I asked, and we both exploded into a burst of laughter that resonated off the bare walls.

"No, don't go find a maintenance person! You're, you're going to-" She managed between gasps for breath, "-have to crawl under the door! But hurry - this kind of hurts."

I grabbed my stomach and cracked an even louder laugh, tears rolling down my cheeks. Meegan's head peered around the corner, a quizzical look on her face as I dropped to my hands and knees and peeked under the door, choking on spasms of laughter. From this angle, nothing was discernible through the blizzard of white batiste. I inhaled deeply and held my breath as I scooted under the thankfully wide space, wriggling until I was on the other side and my forehead bumped into what must have been Danni's leg.

When I stood up we were nose-to-nose and our temporarily suppressed mirth, burst again into shouts of laughter. She had one arm sticking straight up in the air, and the other pinned to her side by the partly unbuttoned dress; which was the culprit of her imprisonment, and her hair was tangled in every remaining button. The train that was once bustled was now thrown over her shoulder and caught on the purse hook on the back of the door, while the crinoline was being pulled in the opposite direction by a small tear that was looped on the handle of the toilet. She was half bent over, reaching in an attempt to unhook something, and still laughing hysterically. I doubled over at the sight of her, holding my side from the pain of soundless laughter and wished my camera wasn't still in my purse at the head table.

"Help" she whimpered and giggled.

"Okay, okay." I took a deep breath "Okay." I collected myself and we concentrated on unweaving Danni from the dress, and then freeing the dress from the stall.

When her face and arms were free she looked me straight in the eye and said very seriously, "Never speak of this." My restraint failed and a chuckle escaped, sending us both rollicking again.