Page 2 of Intertwined Hearts

Jackie

The Grand Ballroom was exquisite. I would never have guessed the restaurant had such a fantastic room. It was a perfect place for a reception. The hostess showed us the gazebo out back, where Jeff and Nikki would have the actual ceremony and exchange their vows. One look at Nikki’s face as everything was being explained and I knew she was in heaven. Jeff had done a great job picking this place. And he made my friend so happy.

I kept stealing quick glimpses of Hunter. I was battling with my eyes throughout the entire rehearsal. They wanted to stare at him, and I tried with all my might not to look like a lovesick teenager. But that’s exactly how I felt. Each time I glanced in his direction, my insides quivered. He was breathtaking.

Our eyes met a couple of times. He smiled at me once, and I’m positive I returned some dopey-looking smile. The next time he caught me gawking at him, my mind full of a million explicit sexual thoughts, he winked at me. I was mortified that I’d been caught gaping and felt the heat rush to my face. I’d surely die of embarrassment if I passed out from having excessively lewd thoughts. I managed to keep my composure, though. There was no way I’d let him see me sweat. Instead, I managed to return another smile.

I chantedthank Godover and over in my mind when the rehearsal finally ended, then we all made our way into the restaurant where the staff had set up a beautiful, long table for us to dine together. I was starving.

There was a seat open next to Hunter, but I couldn’t be that bold and risk the possibility of self-combustion if our legs or arms touched. Instead, I sat next to Sandy, which put me directly across from Hunter. Our eyes met, and I felt mini-trembles coursing through my core. He smiled at me again. Erase that strike. I can’t hold Jeff against him. Hunter’s too perfect.

“Have you ever been here before?” I asked. One of us had to break the eyes meet, smile, smile, turn-away cycle.

“No. Have you?” His voice was deep and raspy.So sexy.

“No, this is my first time.” He smiled at me. He was clearly a smiler, not so much a talker. I glanced down the table at Nikki and Jeff. For all of Jeff’s faults – and I was positive he had a lot that I didn’t even know about – it was evident he adored Nikki. I could see it in the way he looked at her while he held her small hand in his.

“How long have you known Jeff?” I asked.

“Almost ten years now. How long have you known Nikki?”

“Since kindergarten. We grew up together, and we’ve always been best friends.” I’d just keep the debacle during our high school years tucked away and secret. That was a stupid time in my life, and there was no need to bring that up. I definitely didn’t want to talk about it.

An awkward silence began.

The waitress came around and took our orders. I selected the salmon, and the carnivorous God sitting across from me ordered the Filet Mignon.

“Connor,” I whispered to get the best man’s attention. He was sitting on the other side of Sandy. Once he looked at me, I mouthed champagne. When the waitress arrived to take his order, he told her we needed a glass of champagne for everyone except Abby. He had it put on a separate bill so we could split the cost.

“I hope you and Connor aren’t offended, but I don’t drink champagne,” Hunter said as he leaned in slightly.

“I won’t be offended. I’m not a champagne lover, either. If it were my big day, I’d prefer wine, but this isn’t my day.”

“Which do you like better? Red or white?” Hunter asked.

“White, definitely. White Zinfandel is my favorite.”

“You don’t like any reds?”

“No. All of the reds I’ve tried tasted bitter to me.”

“Maybe we need to do a wine tasting so you can see that not all reds are the same.”

“I’d like that, but don’t get your hopes up. I’m really not sold on red wines at all.” I felt like I was going to keel over. Did he just ask me on a date?

Hunter

A date. I’d just asked her out on a date. A wine tasting date of all things. She probably thinks I’m some freak who gets girls drunk and takes advantage of them. Ugh! How stupid am I?

Deep down, I knew it was probably too soon after my breakup to begin dating anyone, serious or not, but everything about Jackie seemed so right. So easy.

“Maybe we should start with a movie. Get to know each other a little,” I said.

“That sounds fine. What kind of movies do you like? I’m a comedy and chick flick kind of girl.”

My eyes were fixed on her perfect lips as she took a sip of her water. “Chick flicks, um, not so much. I do like comedies, though. I really like action movies too. Oh, and horror.”

The face Jackie made when I said horror was priceless. Her eye widened and her lips parted slightly, then she shook her head as her lips curled up as if she had tasted something putrid.

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