Only You (9 page)

K
evin arrived at the restaurant at seven p.m. sharp and was surprised when he didn't see either of his parents' cars in the parking lot. His mother had texted the time and location that afternoon and had made him promise to be on time. Maybe they'd parked around back.

“I'm meeting my parents,” he told the hostess after he'd gone inside. “The reservation is probably under Nicole Vandemeer.”

The hostess's eyes lit up and she gave him a knowing grin. “Right this way, Mr. Vandemeer.”

“Are my parents seated already?” he asked, following her.

“You're the first to arrive.” She motioned to a white-cloth-covered table in a dark corner. A rose in small vase and a lit candle were in the middle of the table.

He looked around, then back at her. “None of the other tables have flowers and candles.”

She covered her mouth with her hand, doing a poor job of trying to hide her smile. “This was specially ordered.”

“Okay…” He rolled his eyes as he sat down. Leave it to his mother to make a production out of meeting for dinner.

“Can I get you something to drink to start you off, Mr. Vandemeer?”

If his mother went to this much trouble, it was a safe bet she wouldn't approve of him getting a beer. And he was mostly here to appease her. “Water for now.”

“We'll have it right out.”

He looked around the room, wondering if he was too dressed up. He hadn't been to this restaurant before, but his mother had told him to wear a dress shirt and tie. He'd obeyed but paired it with jeans. He couldn't conform too much or she'd get suspicious.

He really wanted to be back at his monstrosity of a house. He was about to tear out the kitchen. Matt had given him step-by-step instructions, and Kevin had almost psyched himself up to do it. He'd try to make this quick and then head back home.

After five minutes, a waiter had brought him his water but his parents still hadn't arrived. He had pulled out his phone, ready to call his mother, when the hostess returned with a woman who looked vaguely familiar.

The tall blonde was dressed in a clingy teal dress and heels. She stopped next to his table, her eyes lighting up as she waited for him to react. Finally, she laughed. “Kevin Vandemeer, you look
amazing
.”

“Uh…” He stood. She obviously knew him. “So do you.”

She tilted her head and gave him a coy smile. “You don't remember me, do you?”

“I'm sorry…” Who the hell was she?

“Bethany, silly. Bethany Davis. From high school.”

Oh, crap. He knew her, all right. “Wow. You haven't changed.” Outwardly anyway, but he already suspected she hadn't changed much on the inside, either. She'd always been empty-headed, but he had to admit that she
did
look amazing.

Based on the pleased smile that lit up her face, he'd said the right thing. She rested her hand on his arm and squeezed, like she was picking out a melon at the grocery store. “You've definitely filled out.”

He took a step back and looked around. Where were his parents? “Are you meeting someone here?”

She giggled. “I'm meeting
you
, silly.” Then she sat in the seat across from him.

He frowned. “My mom and dad—”

“Aren't coming.” She set her shiny leather purse on the seat next to her. “Your mother set this up.”

He took a breath and pushed it out before he sat across from her. “I'm sure she did.”

“Wasn't that sweet of her?”

“Ah…
sweet
wasn't the word I was thinking,” he said, his voice tight.

She laughed, a high-pitched noise that sounded like a cross between Tinker Bell and scratching metal. “She said you were shy so we'd surprise you. Funny, I don't remember you being very shy.”

“I guess some things have changed after all.” Damn his interfering mother.

She held up her hands, flashing her shiny, long red nails. “Now I have to tell you that I'm on a very restricted diet. Very holistic.”

“Okay…”

“And you have to eat it, too. I can't be around unholy food. But your mother said it wouldn't be a problem.”

Unholy? Did she mean food that hadn't been blessed? “Of course she did.” He remembered that Bethany had always been quick to try the latest fad or craze. If the past thirty seconds were any indication, it was going to be a long dinner.

The waiter started to walk by and Kevin grabbed his arm. “I'll take a scotch on the rocks.” He needed alcohol to get through this and he needed it fast. “Bethany?”

She put her hands on the table and gave the waiter a patient look. “Now this is very important. I want a glass of Pinot Gris, but it has to be from New Zealand.”

“Miss, we don't have a Pinot Gris from New Zealand, but we have several fine vintages from France and California.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “The California, then.” She turned her gaze to Kevin. “I only drink wines from English-speaking countries. It's part of my holistic approach. I believe the grapes can hear the language spoken around them.” She spread her arms wide, then brought her hands together, tapping her fingertips. “And that language is absorbed into the grape and then into the wine. If you drink a wine from a country you don't understand the language of, it will upset your system because it's
literally
bringing foreign elements into your temple.” She pressed her palms together and smiled softly.

The waiter stared at her, his mouth parted, then looked down at Kevin with fear in his eyes.

Kevin knew exactly how he felt. At least the waiter could run away. “I need you to make mine a double.” Then he added, “And bring the menus.
Right away.
”

The waiter walked away and Bethany gave him a curious look.

“I'm starving. I'm working for Matt Osborn now, with his construction company. Remember him?”

She nodded. “Your mother mentioned it. That's so sweet of you.”

“Excuse me?” Oh, God. What had his mother told her? He picked up his water, wishing he already had his drink. He might have to call a cab when this was all said and done.

“Putting your life on hold and helping him out in a bind like that.” She shook her head and stared at him in awe. “You're like a living saint.”

“I'm definitely
not
a saint.”

“Aww…and so humble, too.” She took a breath, her eyebrows rising as her eyes danced. “You know how sometimes you just
know
things? Like it's just fate? That's us. We're going to make beautiful babies, Kevin Vandemeer.”

What the hell?
He spit his water across the table, putting the candle out.

Bethany was up in an instant. “You poor dear! Are you choking?” She stood behind him, leaning forward and draping her arms down his chest, and began stroking his abs. “I know the Heimlich.”

He pushed her arms off his shoulders. “That's not the Heimlich.”

“Are you sure? I've given it to several men and none of them said it wasn't.”

He stood. “Excuse me. I have to go to the restroom to dry my shirt.”

“If you like, we can go back to your place and you can take it off there.”

“Yeah, that's okay.” He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “I think I'll just go to the men's room.”

“Don't be so silly.” She pushed him back down and grabbed the napkin off the table and dabbed at the wet spot, letting her hand linger on his left pec. “You must lift weights.”

He grabbed the napkin from her hand. “You know, it's really not that wet. It'll dry. Have a seat and tell me what you've been up to.”

She looked torn, as though trying to decide if she should be upset or pleased, but pleased won out as she sat down. “
Well
…I'm a licensed masseuse.”

“You don't say.”

“I have magical crystals that exude an electromagnetic energy that fills my touch with healing powers. I'm sure you felt them when I touched you a moment ago. Sometimes it can be a bit jarring.”

Where the hell was his drink? “I totally feel jarred.”

She smiled. “I have my own holistic center. I have so many customers I might have to expand.”

“Wow. Really?” People actually believed in this crap? “How many?”

“Well…maybe ten? My mother is always complaining about the amount of people tromping up and down her stairs to the basement.”

“You still live with your mother.”

“I'm still waiting for my center to take off.”

“I see.”

The waiter brought their drinks and Kevin held up his hand and took a big gulp, then said, “Bring me another.”

“Another double?” He leaned close to Kevin's ear. “You won't be able to drive, sir.”

“Yeah, I know,” he whispered. “I'll get a ride.”

“All right, then.”

Bethany gave him a questioning glance.

“He was filling me in on the specials.”

“But I didn't hear them.”

“It was mercury-filled sea bass. I told him to find something else.”

Her gaze followed the waiter and her lips pressed into a pout. “But that sounds interesting.”

Kevin drained his glass, his chest already warming. He looked into her startled face. “I was thirsty. It's hot working outside all day.”

She nodded. “It's important to hydrate.”

He was going to kill his mother.

The waiter came to take their order, bringing Kevin's drink with him. Bethany leaned forward. “I would love to hear more about your mercurial sea bass special.” She tilted her head, her eyes narrowed as she focused. “Exactly how temperamental were the fish? I'm worried they were too stressed.”

Kevin choked on his drink again and Bethany gave him a look of concern.

“I really think you should let me do a crystal cleansing on you.”

He finished the drink, then set the glass down with a bang. “I want a moody fish dinner.”

The waiter looked startled. “The best I can do is salmon grilled on a cedar plank.”

Bethany shook her head. “No, Kevin. I think you have too much strife in your life to get the mercurial fish. You need something calm and soothing. Like smashed potatoes.”

Kevin paused, trying to keep a straight face. “But I would think the potatoes would be stressed from the smashing.”

“Oh, dear. I hadn't considered that.” She turned to the waiter. “What is your mellowest meal?”

“I…uh…” he looked back at Kevin, giving him a look that said
traitor
. “I would say it's the spaghetti and meatballs. It makes me think of
Lady and the Tramp
. Something that cute is soothing.”

Bethany nodded. “Yes, I agree. We'll take two of those.”

Kevin ordered another drink, then listened to Bethany talk about crystals and how they harnessed the earth's energy and how she insisted on giving him a private reading.

When their food and his third drink arrived, he hoped she'd focus on her meal, but she then went on to describe her holistic diet, the purest foods being Swiss cheese and angel food cake. For obvious reasons.

“Where did my mother dig you up?” Kevin blurted out. The alcohol had loosened his inner censor.

“Oh, she planned my engagement party.”

“
To me?
” He nearly dropped his fork in his instinct to run and never look back.

She laughed. “No, silly. To my ex-fiancé.”

“What happened to him?”

She pursed her lips. “He moved to Hong Kong.”

Kevin had to wonder if that was far enough to escape her clutches. “Did my mother meet yours at the country club?”

“Yes!” She squealed. “How did you know?”

His mother, if nothing else, was predictable. He stood. “If you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to go to the restroom.”

“Of course.”

He disappeared down the hall and pulled out his cell phone, calling his sister. “Megan. I need your help.”

“Kevin?” She sounded worried. “Are you okay? What's going on?”

“I'm stuck on the blind date from hell and now I'm drunk as shit and can't drive home. Come get me.”

She chuckled. “I can't believe you agreed to a blind date.”

“I didn't. It was thrust on me. Thrust—I bet Bethany likes that word.”

“Where are you?”

His mind fixated on the word
thrust
and for some reason the thought of his neighbor came to mind—lying on his bed, as he—

“
Kevin.
Focus.
Where are you?
”

He blinked. God, he was such a lightweight. He used to drink his friends under the table. Now, he was drunk as shit on three drinks. Okay, they were all doubles, and he hadn't had more than a few beers at a time in months, but still.

“Kevin!”

“Café Rustica. On Seven Highway.”

“Oh, nice place. Totally date worthy. You really wanted to impress.” He heard the grin in her voice.

“
Mom
wanted to impress. She set this whole thing up.”

She laughed. “No kidding. This has her stamp all over it.”

“So will you come get me?”

“I owe you, remember? Sit tight and I'll be there in about ten minutes.”

Bethany was watching for him when he got back, concern in her eyes. “Are you okay? You were gone so long.”

“I think maybe that spaghetti was just as cantankerous as the fish, if you know what I mean.”

She gave him a blank look, then her eyes widened. “Oh…your bowels.”

He shifted in his seat. “Funny thing. My sister, Megan, called while I was in the restroom and said she needs my help. It's an emergency.”

Worry filled her eyes. “Oh, my. Is she okay? What's the emergency?”

Crap. What was it? “She needs my help picking out a name for her baby.”