That Wedding (32 page)

Authors: Jillian Dodd

Tags: #Contemporary Romance, #Fiction

BOOK: That Wedding

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"How does she flirt with him?"

"She's always touching him, and I'm afraid he likes it because he doesn't stop her. If a girl was doing that to you, and you wanted to be polite because you have to work with her, would you let her touch you? Is Phillip oblivious to it, does he like it, or does he want her back? Or worse, could he already be?"

"Have you talked to Phillip about this?"

"No, I can't talk to him about it! He'll think I'm being jealous, or if he's doing something, he'll just deny it. I have to find out on my own."

"I see now why they wanted you to go to couple's counseling."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Jay, talk to him. You have to talk stuff out in your relationship."

"Never mind, Danny. I'll figure it out."

"You looking hot today?"

"Actually, yes. I have on a really cute new dress and adorable high heels. Phillip likes when I wear heels."

"Your legs are like a mile long. Every man alive likes you in heels. Veryyyy sexxxy."

"Thanks, Danny, your pity flirting is helpful."

"You're hot, Jay. Phillip loves you, and from what I've heard, it's not like he's been ignoring you sexually."

"Oh," I giggle, "well, uh, no. Definitely not. I know what I'm gonna do. He's taking his team out for drinks tonight, so I'll just go and check it out. I mean, I work here now, I'm officially part of the team, right?"

"Right," Danny says.

I touch up my makeup, add a little smokey eyeshadow, three more coats of mascara, and some perfume Phillip loves.

When I get there, as expected, the girl is sitting next to Phillip acting like he's the most amazing and interesting man on earth. Phillip's even drinking a bottle of Dos Equis.

Ha! That kinda makes me laugh.

I'm pretty good at entertaining myself.

I take out my phone and pretend to do something important. The girl laughs and touches Phillip's arm, but he doesn't seem to be interested. He's kind of leaning away from her.

I bravely glide into the bar with my head held high. And not to sound conceited or anything, but I'm over six foot tall in heels, am skinnyish, have what Danny terms as
decent
boobs, and long blonde hair.

My point being, in a bar, I can usually turn a few heads, and I'm hoping to turn Phillip's.

He notices me as soon as I step into the room. His eyes roll down my legs, and then he gives me an adorable grin. It makes me feel confident, so I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his neck. I also position my body so that it's slightly between him and the girl.

"How's my sexy fiancee?" I coo.

"Mmmm, good now." He swivels in his bar stool and plants a big kiss on me.

Ha! Score one for my team!! I thought I was gonna have to kiss him. It's way better that he kissed me.

One of the sweet girls from work, who must hide out in her office because I never see her during the day, says, "I need to see this ring everyone has been talking about."

Phillip keeps his arms wrapped around me, and I'm still strategically between him and the girl. I hold my left hand out across the table and show off my amazing ring.

"Wow, that's beautiful. Phillip, your dad said you had it designed for her?"

"I had it made," he replies, "but she actually drew the design."

"But you weren't dating at the time, right?"

"No, we were engagement ring shopping with our friend this past spring. We asked her what her dream ring was, and this is what she sketched."

I gush, "And he kept the sketch. That's the amazing part."

"I'm confused," she says. "If you got engaged on your first date after being together for only a week, how did you get a ring custom designed that fast?"

"Oh," Phillip says with a blush.

Is he embarrassed about this? Is it because of the girl? Is he embarrassed to be engaged to me?

He says, "You know, you're the first person that's asked me about the timeline. But you're right. You can't get a ring custom designed in a week."

"You can't?" I say. "Wait, then how did you?"

Phillip blinks slowly and looks at me with sparkling eyes. "I've had it since May."

"Like Cancun, May?"

"It was for when we got back," he says, but what he's saying with his eyes is way more powerful than what he's saying with his words.

Oh. my. gosh.

May.

He thought Cancun was a slam dunk.

He says to the table, "I had it for about three months before our first date."

"You two have the most romantic story," she gushes.

The girl hasn't said a word. She's glowering into her drink.

Phillip pulls me onto his lap. "You look surprised."

"I am surprised. May, huh?"

"I told you. I've known for a while. I just had to wait until you were on the same page."

"I think we're on the same page now."

"I don't know. I think we have some, uhhh, syncing up to do. Plus, it's been a long day. I think you need to take me home and put me to bed."

"Are you tired?" I sorta whisper, but loud enough for the girl to hear.

"Not at all." He grins, kisses up by my ear, and whispers, "God, you smell good. I can't wait to get you home." He throws some money down on the table and says to everyone, "See ya tomorrow." Then he takes my hand and leads me out of the bar.

And I just hit the game winning shot at the buzzer!!

My team wins!!!

After syncing up in bed, I ask him about the girl.

"Phillip, that girl, what's her deal? She's always like,
Oh Phillip, you're so funny
. When she touches your arm, I just wanna rip it off."

"She's kind of a flirt, but I'm not the least bit interested."

"Then you need to make her stop touching you. It's not work appropriate, not professional. If you're gonna be the boss, you can't allow it. And if you wanna be my husband......"

"Are you actually jealous?!"

"Ummm, well not really jealous, more like concerned. Phillip, I love you. I don't want some secretary to ruin our relationship, and it concerns me that you let her touch your arm. It makes me think you like it."

"Actually, it bothers me, but I haven't been sure how to handle it."

"Maybe you shouldn't be going out for drinks when she's there."

"That would mean I'd never get to go because she's always there. She's on my team."

"I think you should let her know that it makes you uncomfortable. Maybe say something to her, or move your arm away. If you don't move, you're almost encouraging her."

"Well next time she does it, that's what I'll do."

"Good, because I really don't wanna have to say,
Phillip, hold my earrings while I beat her ass
. That may not be very professional either."

Phillip laughs at me, and then he smiles that smile that makes me melt.

Every. single. time.

I run the back of my hands down the sides of his handsome face. The way he looks at me makes me know that I was stupid, that I have nothing to worry about.

I kiss him. "So, did you really have the ring for three whole months BEFORE we hooked up?"

"Yeah, Danny and Lori were the only people that knew. They sorta thought I was nuts. And after Cancun blew up, I sorta thought so too. I was really disappointed."

"I was really disappointed too. Cancun didn't go at all the way I planned."

"You had a plan for Cancun?"

"Yeah."

"Really? What was it?"

"I was gonna get you a little tipsy, dance with you, then take you back to my room. I never imagined you'd leave me alone with those guys. That was like dangerous, you know, leaving me on the beach, drunk and crying."

"I never left you by yourself. I wanted you to think I was gone because I was pissed, but I kept an eye on you. I had to make sure you'd be okay."

"That was sweet."

"I'm a sucker is more like it."

"No, you're sweet and adorable, and I'm so lucky you didn't give up on me, on us."

"I couldn't. I just had to believe it would work out, but then you started dating that drummer."

"Guitar player."

"Whatever."

"Hey, don't get smart with me, mister."

"Hey, don't tell me what to do, missy."

"I'm gonna be your wife. I can say whatever I want."

"Oohhh, say that again."

"I can say whatever I want? I like that part."