Take My Dress Off (19 page)

“C’mon,” called Chaz. I followed him through to the bedroom. There was a massive four poster canopy bed that was so high it had steps to get onto it.

“Wow, look at that!” Chaz said as he rolled our suitcases to the side of the room. “I’m going to do all kinds of naughty things to you on that bad boy. I’m sorry. Did I say that out loud?” His eyes flashed wickedly.

“Down, boy,” I called and strolled into the bathroom. It didn’t fail to impress with a large Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower.

“Ooh, I’ve always wanted to try one of these! I squealed and sat on the edge of the tub.

“I can arrange that.” He turned on the faucet then pulled me up to face him.

“Chaz, this is too much. Let me pay for some of this.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He kissed my neck and reached around to unzip my dress. “Do you like bubbles?” he asked as I stepped out of my dress.

“In the Jacuzzi?”

“No, on your hands. You’re going to be washing a lot of dishes to pay for this, sweetheart.” I shook my head and adjusted the water temperature. Chaz was full of it tonight and I was finally starting to forget about Dillon. He pressed the button and the jets started. “Go on, get in.”

I unhooked my black strapless bra and slid out of my lacy panties. Chaz’s chest expanded as he drew a deep breath, responding to my proximity. I brushed my body against him and slipped off his sport coat.  “Aren’t you going to join me?” I asked coyly.

His gaze darkened, his voice lowering intimately. “I could, or would you like to enjoy this on your own, Birthday Girl?”

I stepped into the tub, looking over my shoulder as I lowered into the hot water. “Of course I want you to join me.”

He quickly shed himself of the rest of his clothing and climbed in behind me. I relaxed into him, resting my head against his chest as he tightened his legs around me. I was wrapped in pure Chaz bliss. We chatted about the party and Chaz confessed that though it was his idea, Danielle and Donny had planned out everything from the guest list to the decorations and the cake.

“Well, it was absolutely perfect. I couldn’t have imagined a better birthday.” I turned and kissed up his neck feeling my naked skin slide against his as I moved.

“You’re not mad about the surprise part?”

“No. I felt stupid for about ten seconds, then I realized how much trouble you all went for me. I
am
glad that I was dressed up though.”

“You looked stunning,” he said and nipped at my ear. “Happy birthday, Paige.”

I smiled thinking back to my dress and the beautiful necklace. I was still wearing it and I reached up to touch it, to make sure it was real. It was smooth and hard against my fingers. Just like Chaz was against my back right now. The flesh between my legs burned, a deep ache that only he could soothe. I turned and straddled him, water sloshing out of the tub from my sudden movement. He grabbed my face and held my cheeks tightly as he sealed his lips over mine. I rose up out of the water, gripping his hard length with my hand as I positioned him beneath me.

Chaz tore away from my mouth and pinched my hips. “Paige, stop.”

“What?”

“Not here.”

“Why not?”

His piercing green stare penetrated me. “I need to get a rubber.”

I shot him a hard glance. “Are you afraid I have VD or something?” I lowered back into the water and scooted to the opposite side of the tub.

Chaz threw his head back, roaring in laughter. I kicked and splashed him. I didn’t think it was funny at all. “C’mon, Paige. I’m not risking you getting pregnant.”

“I’m not going to get pregnant for God’s sake. I take my pill every day at the same time.” Then I had another thought. “Do
you
have VD?”

“You really know how to turn up the romance.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. “You’re avoiding the question.”

“No, I do not have VD. Miranda was the only girl I’d ever been with before you. You know how that turned out.”

Miranda.  Always Miranda. I didn’t even know her and I was jealous of her. I sat up, my frame rigid. “You make me feel like I’m diseased or something.”

Chaz’s eyes softened and he reached forward, pulling me to him. “Baby, how could you say that?” His hands sifted through my wet hair.

“I hate rubbers,” I huffed. “I want to feel you inside me, all of you.”

“I know. Me too.” He tightened his arms around me and sighed. “Paige, everything you’ve wanted I’ve given to you. But I need you to give me this.” I melted into his embrace as soft kisses fluttered down my neck. He was right. He never asked for anything and gave me everything. He brought me to this beautiful hotel, the party, the necklace. And I had sort of cheated with Dillon, his worst enemy, last week. I was picking a fight with him because he was being responsible? I was a selfish brat. I was horrible! I leaned onto his shoulder and cried.

“Oh God, what now?”

“I don’t know how you put up with me.”

He laughed, a deep rumble in his chest as he held me against him. “Baby, I think you’re exhausted. Are you hungry?”

I nodded and sniffed. I had been so busy visiting with everyone at the party I had forgotten to eat.

“Relax in here for a little while and I’ll go order up something for us.” Chaz hopped out of the tub and slipped on the hotel robe. I sank under the water. Once again Chaz was taking care of me. I was pathetic! Why was I so hard on him?

My eyes became heavy and I drifted off in the soothing comfort of the bubbly warm water. I was in that weird stage of sleep where you can hear everything but you’re kind of alert in some part of your psyche. I heard MTV echoing through the suite, banging on the door, then low voices. I rubbed my eyes, forced myself to wake up, and rose out of the tub. My skin was wrinkled and blotchy.
Pretty sexy, Paige
, I thought as I toweled off. I wrapped myself in a plush hotel robe and Chaz called to me that the food had arrived. My stomach rumbled in anticipation. I was famished! UB40’s
Red Red Wine
echoed down the hall as I slid my feet into the soft slippers and shuffled to the living room. When I turned the corner I froze.

Chaz was wearing my beautiful Rampage dress!

His size ten feet were crammed into my size seven red pumps!

“What do you think?” He spread his arms and grinned.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I cried. “Take my dress off!”

“How do I look?”

I reached for the TV remote and hit the mute button. “I think you look ridiculous! You’re stretching it out!”

“Not my color?”

“This isn’t funny, Chaz, take it off!”

He kicked off the shoes and tugged at the back of the dress. “I think it’s stuck.”

“I ought to make you stay in it, serves you right.” I walked behind him. Chaz’s chest was so broad the zipper had only made it halfway up his back. I tugged at the zipper. It wouldn’t budge. I tried to pull the zipper up and tug it down again but it was still stuck and now it was pulling the material into the metal teeth. “Shit! Bend forward. I’m going to have to pull it over your head.” But Chaz’s shoulders were too wide, the dress wouldn’t budge.

“Here let me try.” He spun the dress so the zipper was facing the front of his chest. “Pull the dress down really tight.” I held on to it and grabbed some of his chest hair too.

“OW!”

I loosened my grip and smirked. He tugged on the zipper again. That did the trick and the zipper slid down.

“Sorry,” he said and stepped out of the dress. I snatched it from him and draped it gently over the sofa.

He slipped the robe back on. “Let’s eat.” I continued to glare at him as I picked up the red shoes and tucked them under the coffee table. What on Earth had gotten into him? If I told Danielle about this, she would have a field day and compare him to Donny again.

Chaz lifted the silver lids from the plates on the coffee table to reveal club sandwiches and nachos. We sat across from each other on the sectional sofa and began to eat.

“You really didn’t think it was funny?” he said, bringing a napkin to his lips.

I shook my head no, my mouth full of tortilla chips.

“Hmm,” he said and lent his full attention to the sandwich.

***

“He had your dress on? Like… he was wearing it?” Danielle gasped as she tugged at her bag of Cheetos.
I couldn’t keep it from her.

“The dress, the shoes. He thought it was funny.” I stabbed a straw into my chocolate milk.

“That’s fucked up.” She continued to struggle with the bag.

“Tell me about it. I loved that dress, it was special to me.”

“Was?” She continued to fight with the bag.

“Give me that.” I grabbed the bag from Danielle and tugged at the top. It wouldn’t budge. “Jesus! The Cheetos Gods do not want you to have these today.”

“That’s probably for the best,” she laughed. From out of nowhere a hand reached down and plucked the bag from my grasp. I looked up to see Dillon tear open the bag. He popped a few into his mouth, tossed the bag onto the table, and walked off.

“Thanks…I guess,” Danielle called after him. He didn’t look back.

“So other than the whole transvestite incident you had a good time at the beach?”

I pursed my lips. “Chaz is not a transvestite. And yes, I had a nice time. We walked on the beach, went to those cute trinket shops that smell like Patchouli, ate too much…”

“…Chaz bought one of those broomstick skirts from a hippy chick,” Danielle interrupted with a snort.

“I wish I hadn’t told you.” I picked up my trash and shoved it into my brown bag. I collected my books and folder, my movements quick and deliberate.

“Paige, I’m just messing with you.”

I smirked and rose from the bench.

“Boyfriends always wear their girlfriend’s dresses. Nothing to be concerned about. Completely normal,” she called as I stormed off.

I turned down the main hall and collided with a hard body, my books and papers falling to the ground. I looked up and was greeted with Dillon’s dark piercing gaze.

“You need to look where you’re going,” he warned but knelt down to pick up the mess nonetheless.

“Thanks, I got it.” I bent over and helped. We both rose at the same time and he returned my book and folder. I shoved them into the crook of my arm and turned to leave.

“Paige, wait.”

I froze in place, my back to him. I waited for him and we began to walk instep together.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I should have been looking where I was going.”

He grabbed my elbow and stopped, turning me toward him. “No, not that. I’m sorry I cornered you at your party and…” He looked around at the students rushing by. Leaning in he whispered, “You know, in the kitchen.”

“Fine.”

“I’ll leave you alone, okay? I get it.”

I reached out and touched his arm. “Dillon, we can be friends but you have to respect my relationship with Chaz.”

“I can’t.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his letterman jacket.

“I’m tired of being caught in the middle of your war with him. What’s going on?”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “It’s complicated.”

The same answer Chaz had given me.

“Is this about a girl?”

“Isn’t it always?”

I turned away from him and marched down the hall. I didn’t need this. He continued the other way, putting greater distance between us.

I held my
hands up to the vents but the air didn’t feel very warm. I grabbed the dial and turned it all the way up.

“That’s not going to do anything.”

I pointed the middle vent toward my face but the air barely reached me. “I’m freezing, Chaz.”

“That’s as hot as it’s going to get.”

Reaching over the seat, I grabbed the dark wool blanket from the back. I was wearing a ballerina pink sweater dress and gray leggings with gray slouchy suede boots but hadn’t bothered to grab a jacket.

“It’s not that cold.”

“Maybe we should drive my car in the winter. I have heat,” I said and tightened the blanket around my shoulders.

“Did you hear that, Misty?” Chaz asked as he patted the dash affectionately. “Paige doesn’t like you anymore.”

“Misty?” I chuckled. “Your car’s name is Misty?”

“Sandy named her when she first got her. When the car was passed down to Kelly she kept the name. Then I got the car two years ago. I guess it stuck.”

“No offense, Misty, but you’re a little frigid.”

Chaz stared over the wheel, his smile slipping away as we pulled off the highway. His gaze became more focused, more intense as he guided the car down the long road that led to his family’s ranch. His mother had invited me for Thanksgiving. Since Dad always worked holidays I usually went with Maddie to her sister Allison’s house in Santa Barbara for the holiday. But she encouraged me to go to Chaz’s home this year. I knew it was going to be really difficult for Chaz being it was his first Thanksgiving without his father. Even though Chaz was the youngest of his three siblings, his mother was really leaning on him to take over as the family’s patriarch.

I tightened my grip on the bottle of wine that Maddie had chosen for me to contribute to the event. I looked over to Chaz. He slowed the car and we wound around the circular drive. Several cars lined the drive, Uncle Oscar’s huge lifted truck being the only one I recognized. Chaz continued through to the back of the garages and parked. He sat silently, his long fingers still curled around the steering wheel.

“This is going to be so weird,” he said, his chest expanding on a deep breath. “I don’t want to go in.” I rubbed his thigh. I didn’t know what to say. I rested my head on his shoulder and he caressed my cheek. “Thank you for coming.” His eyes shined like sea glass as he squeezed my hand. “Let’s get this over with.”

Chaz’s home was alive with the hustle and bustle that comes with having a large family. They were all in the family room sprawled over a comfortable looking sectional sofa. A fire was roaring in the large stone fireplace and I desperately wanted to sit in front of it and warm up. Everyone was watching football on the big screen TV but all eyes turned to me when Chaz and I entered. I was introduced to his older sister Sandy again, (I don’t think she remembered me from the funeral), her husband James, and their adorable twins Lauren and Taylor. Uncle Oscar was there, of course, with his wife Liz, another uncle, Victor, who I had met at the funeral, and Chaz’s sister, Kelly, and her boyfriend Tim.

“There will be a quiz later,” smiled Tim over his glasses. Chaz ushered me past the family room. We walked through a large formal dining room that was beautifully decorated with vases of fall foliage and the usual assortment of place settings for a formal gathering. Floor to ceiling windows were draped in shears streamed with sunlight, casting an ethereal glow over the room.

“Paige, it’s so nice of you to come,” greeted Chaz’s mother, Carlene, when we entered the kitchen. She wiped her hands on her apron, her smile reaching green eyes that reminded me of Chaz.

“Thank you for inviting me,” I said and hugged her. “It smells wonderful in here.” I presented Maddie’s bottle of wine and Carlene slid her glasses onto her nose.

“Pinot Noir, perfect,” she smiled and handed it to Yoli. I turned back to Chaz, his arms were crossed. He was watching our exchange with an amused and curious expression.

I stared in awe at the kitchen. It was the biggest kitchen I had ever seen! An older Hispanic woman was rolling out dough at the marble island and behind her were stainless steel appliances that looked like they belonged in a restaurant, not a home.

“Chaz, take this out to the living room please,” she said and handed him a platter of grapes, cheese, and crackers.

“Sure,” he said and motioned for me to follow him.

The living room was abuzz in laughter and chatter as people sat in groups, their voices competing with the football game on the TV and the conversations around them. The twins chased each other through the curtains until James noticed and scolded. Chaz and I took seats on the far end of the sofa, silent observers of the gathering. He leaned away from me onto the armrest and I watched him slowly retreat into himself as if he was observing the family and not a part of it. I didn’t know what to do but I couldn’t let him slip away like this. I took his hand into my lap and entwined my fingers with his. He looked down to me, offering a weak smile.

“Chaz, I’ve never had a tour of your house.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“You want a tour of my house?” he asked. “Now?”

I nodded.

We rose from the sofa and he led me out of the family room back to the entry hall. On the left I noticed a masculine looking office concealed behind glass French doors. We turned to the right and paused at the arched entrance to a formal living room. The powder blue velvet furniture and heavy cascading drapes looked stuffy and stiff. It didn’t have the relaxed feel of the family room.

“This is the room we never come in,” he said without elaborating. We continued down a hallway that was flanked with the same arched windows I had recognized from the pool patio outside. In the hallway were lighted alcoves showcasing statues of various catholic saints. I slowed to look but Chaz pulled me behind him. The hallway deposited us in an open, round, vestibule. The dome of the ceiling was painted with brightly colored flowers and an iron lighting fixture hung down from the tall ceiling. Several smaller hallways jetted off the alcove and Chaz gestured as he turned and pointed.

“Bedroom, bedroom, bedroom, gym.”

“Gym?”

“Gym.”

His house reminded me of a Spanish mission with its reddish-brown Saltillo tiled floors, rustic beamed ceilings, rough plastered walls, and iron accents.

“My father designed it,” Chaz said proudly. “When my parents were married they spent their honeymoon visiting the missions along the coast. He designed this home, inspired by their trip.”

“That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

Chaz nodded his head. “I guess it is, isn’t it?”

I turned to him, slipping my hands under his folded arms. He relaxed and wrapped his arms around me. I rested my head on his chest and stilled against the beating of his heart.

“Thanks for getting me out of there,” he said. “I can’t believe how they’re carrying on.”

“How do you mean?” I said and tightened my grip around his waist.

“It’s like nothing has changed. Everyone’s talking and laughing. Like Dad’s still with us.”

I looked up to him. “That’s how they’re dealing Chaz. They’re not forgetting him, they’re remembering him. Isn’t that what your father would want?” His green eyes met mine, his brow furrowed as he tried to reason with my statement. “I’m sure your dad wouldn’t want everyone moping around,” I added.

“True. Art Serna always made sure everyone had a good time at his home.”

“I wish I could have met him.”

“Me too. He would have loved you, Paige. He was such a flirt with pretty girls.”

“Hmm,” I grinned, my eyes searching his. “I know someone else like that.”

He leaned down and kissed me softly at first but then his kisses became more urgent, demanding, as his hands caressed my back and molded me against his hard body.

“Hey, you guys,” called a voice. We quickly disengaged. Chaz’s sister, Kelly, grinned back at us. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“What’s up?” barked Chaz.

“Momma wants you in the dining room, time to eat.” We stared back awkwardly and I could feel the heat rising up my neck, my pulse quickening.

“Thanks,” said Chaz with a voice that was almost too

calm.  Kelly continued to stare. “We’ll be right there,” he added. She nodded and turned back down the hall.

“We’ll have to continue the tour some other time.”

“So far it’s been great.” I took his hand into mine. “My tour guide is pretty cute too.”

***

When we entered the dining room everyone was already seated at the large table. The chair at the head of the table was vacant. Carlene sat to the left of the chair and the chair to the right was vacant also. Chaz stared at the vacancy left by his father as everyone else sat quietly, watching.

“Go on,
Mijo
, sit,” Chaz’s Uncle Oscar encouraged from the opposite end of the table.

Chaz paled. “No, I can’t sit there. I…I won’t.”

Uncle Oscar rose from his seat and walked over to us. He pulled out the heavy wooden chair for me, the legs echoing as it slid over the tile floor.
Señorita
, he smiled. I sat down obediently. He slid out the other chair.
Mijo
, he said squeezing Chaz’s shoulder. “It’s your place now.” He urged Chaz forward.
Por favor
.

Chaz looked over to his mother. She nodded. Chaz sat stiffly in the chair and took his mother’s hand. She squeezed his hand, her eyes glassy.
Gracias Señor
, said Uncle Oscar. He patted him on the back and returned to his place at the table. Everyone folded their hands and bowed their heads. I followed along.

Tio Victor, bendiga la comida por favor?
asked Chaz.

I was startled to hear Chaz speak Spanish. I don’t know why considering his father’s side of the family but it was like I was getting a glimpse of another side of Chaz, a more intimate side that I rarely saw.

Si Señor
, said Uncle Victor. He crossed himself and began speaking a prayer in Spanish. When he was finished, platters of food were passed from person to person. I looked over to Chaz and could tell he was reeling from his newly appointed position in the family. He took small scoops of every dish that went by, not paying attention to what was on the plate. I was surprised at how many Mexican dishes had been prepared. Along with the turkey were
chile rellenos
, rice, beans,
tamales
,
enchiladas
, as well as traditional dishes like stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce. This family liked to eat!

Somehow we had room for dessert. There were
empanadas
, pumpkin and pecan pies, and
biscochitos
for the younger children. I felt like I was going to explode but I didn’t want to appear disrespectful so I didn’t decline when Yoli plopped a huge piece of pie down in front of me. Chaz laughed as my eyes widened at the site of it. When we finished I began to collect the plates from the table.

“Thank you, Paige,” Carlene said taking the plates from me. “You are a guest in our home, please, Yoli can take care of this.”

Uncle Oscar and Uncle Victor asked Chaz if he would join them in his father’s office. The rest of the family made their way back to the family room while Yoli and the other woman started clearing the table under Carlene’s supervision.

“Paige?” called Chaz’s sister Sandy from the entryway to the dining room, her hips flanked by tow-headed twins. “Can the girls visit your horse?”

“Sure,” I said walking toward her. “Would they like to ride?”

“I don’t know if they’re ready for that.” Lauren and Taylor began to jump up and down pleading that they were ready to ride. “We’ll see,” she relented.

The rest of the family settled in front of the big screen TV and I followed Sandy and the girls through the kitchen and out a back door onto the patio. We made our way past the guest house and out to the barn, casually chatting about horses. I grabbed Dusty’s halter and two brushes from the small tack room while Sandy whistled to Dusty from the gate. Dusty trotted over, eager for attention. I tied her to the fence and gave each of the girls a brush.

“So you and Chaz seem pretty serious,” Sandy smiled, her brown eyes twinkling. “How long have you been going out?”

“Since summer, about four months I guess.”

“We are thrilled, Paige. He hasn’t seen anyone serious since Miranda. We’ve been worried about him,” she added. I guess she figured I was aware of the Miranda situation since she didn’t ask if I knew about her. “He keeps to himself most of the time. Living out in the guest house only adds to his seclusion.”

“Momma, can I sit on Dusty?” asked Lauren.

“Me too,” asked Taylor, jumping up and down on her tiny feet.

“If it’s okay with Paige,” said Sandy. “How is Dusty with kids?”

“She’s fine.” I stood at Dusty’s shoulder and held her still as Sandy loaded each girl onto her back. They squealed in excitement and Sandy reminded them to quiet down.