The Impostor, A Love Story (23 page)

“Just for the record,”
Trevor admitted, “it’s his loss.”

“Good luck with your music,
Trevor.”

Trevor handed me a card
with his name on it. “You can call if you need anything, like a
private dance,” he winked, “or anything. I know you’re here alone
in Seattle. You can stay at my place.”

“I’ll be fine, Trevor.
You’re really sweet inside that tough exterior.”

“Well, just in case you
need it, you can call. Seattle’s a fun town, trust me. I’d be happy
to leave.”

“Thank you.” I took the
card with his number on it, putting it in my purse. I walked to the
coat check and handed them my ticket. The man handed back my
jacket. I sighed, glad that I could finally escape.

As I proceeded to grab my
coat, someone took it out of my arms and handed it back to the man
behind the counter. Gently, I felt Dylan move the hair that
cascaded out of my bun away from my neckline. His lips savored my
bare neck as if he was Dracula. I almost surrendered to his deadly,
hypnotizing bite. I closed my eyes, but then I jolted my body
around.

“Stop, Dylan. Stop. I can’t
do this anymore.” Realizing I had to be strong, I turned back to
the attendant, “I do need my coat. Can you call me a cab?” As he
handed me back the jacket, Dylan pried it from my arms, turning
back to the man behind the counter. “Don’t call her a cab. I’ll
give her a ride.”

“No, Dylan. I’m really
done. I went through hell to get here tonight, and you ignored me.
Obviously, I do not fit into your world. Go back to the harem of
girls who followed you around all night or that perfect blonde you
spent an hour with.”

“Are you jealous? Is that
what this is about? Is my Nikki jealous?” He smiled at me as if it
were somehow amusing.

“I am not
your
Nikki. I
promised myself when I left Ronald that I’d never let a man make me
feel like this. I deserve better. I thought you were different.
Don’t touch me.” I brushed his hand off me and again turned to the
man. “Please call me a cab.” I grabbed my coat again.

“Don’t!” Dylan commanded
the coat attendant not to pick up the phone.

“Fine, then I’ll just ask
Trevor. He said I could stay with him.”

You could see the anger
building in Dylan. His face turned red and the veins on his neck
seemed strained for even suggesting it. Unconsciously, I flinched
turning my head and bracing myself. A horrified expression appeared
on his face and he stood there in disbelief.

“Nicole, did you think I’d
hit you?” He took my hands. “I would never lay a hand on you, baby.
Never.”

I didn’t know how to
respond. I examined his composure. When I didn’t feel threatened
anymore, I took my hands out of his and changed the subject.
Peeking up at him, I sassily questioned, “Are
you
jealous?”

“When I saw you catch the
bouquet, I knew I had to catch the garter, but Trevor did. The jerk
said that you were free game. I almost killed him. When his hand
went up your leg, I just about lost it.”

“It was all for show. He
was just playing around,” I explained.

“You can’t go home with
Trevor; you don’t know him like I do. I’ll give you a ride.” He
took the coat out of my hands and placed it back on the counter.
“When you didn’t show up for the wedding, I worried something might
have happened to you. I thought that guy did something. I kept
looking at the door during the whole service. You never showed. I
was so worried, I couldn’t focus on the fact my baby sister was
getting married. I tried not to care, but I was so mad that you
went to see that place without me. Of all days, why today? Today it
was so important to me that you were here. When the service ended
and you didn’t show, I was devastated. I couldn’t believe how much
it hurt me. I swore to myself it was over. Then you walked through
the door with the moonlight kissing your hair, and you looked like
an angel. My angel.” He looked at me with such intensity, as if I
was the only person in the world, as if he was all mine.

“I need you, Nicole. I
know now, I need you.”

“This is your world Dylan.
I really don’t belong here.”

“You do belong. I’m sorry
I didn’t run to you when I first saw you.”

“Well, you didn’t. Instead
of coming to me, you spent it with every other single woman in
here. I need a man who doesn’t let me second-guess myself. You
really hurt me tonight. I know I was late, and I know you were
worried, but I’d rather be alone than feel like this
again.”

“I’m sorry, Nicole. I truly
am sorry.”
He pleaded with his eyes, and I
turned my head to avoid his hypnotizing glance.

“No, I’m sorry, Dylan. It’s
over.” I started to leave, forgetting my jacket. As I walked away,
I heard the violins beckoning in the distance. Dylan rushed around
me to stop me from leaving. He gently he lifted my chin so I got
captivated by his eyes. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled my
body close to him. I started to push him away, but he held me so I
couldn’t escape.

“It’s not over. It’s just
beginning.” His eyes lit up as
he
proceeded to serenade me in front of the entire
room.

“
It
was fascination, I know,”
he
sang.

I started to
blush.

“
Seeing you alone with
the moonlight above.”

He stroked my
cheek.

“
Then I touch your
hand.”

He took my hand and
brought it to his lips

“
And next moment I kiss
you,”

And gently kissed my
hand.

“
Fascination turned to
love.”

Taking my hand, he led me
out to the dance floor,
inviting my body
into the waltz. “Will the future Mrs. Richardson have this
dance?
Nicole
Richardson
, it has a beautiful ring to
it.”

I realized I caught the
bouquet, and he was just playing around. I couldn’t stay mad at
him. I realized I wanted to savor every moment with him.

Our bodies became one as he
swept
me across the dance
floor
.
I vanished into the
magical place where he again became my Prince Charming. As the
music ended, he dipped me.

“You look so beautiful
tonight.” He leaned in closer and his lips met mine. There we were
in the middle of the dance floor, yet we were lost in our own
little world.

“I hope you don’t get me
kicked out of here because of that illegal kiss of yours.” Dylan
kissed me one last time and took my hand, leading me off the dance
floor. “I sang your song last night. They really loved
it.”

“You did?” I looked up at
him. I wish I had been there.

“I dedicated it to the
only woman who won’t let me take my pants off.”

“You did not.”

“Ask the guys. They think
I’m whipped or something.” He stopped walking. His chocolate-brown
eyes sparked. “Maybe I am.” He smiled, kissing me. “Let’s get out
of here before you get me in trouble.”

He took my hand and led me
over to his parents. I did not want to talk to his mother again; it
was obvious she felt I wasn’t good enough for their family. I
fidgeted.

I didn’t have the heart to
tell him what she said to me. He took me over to them, despite my
silent protests.

“Mom and Dad, I’m going to
be heading out soon, but I wanted to say goodbye and introduce you
to my future bride, Nicole.”

There was an element of
surprise in their eyes. Before there was another bash-Nicole
session, I wanted to put their minds at ease. “I caught the
bouquet. He’s just playing around.” You could see a sigh of relief,
especially from his mom.

“It’s nice to meet you,
darling.” His father leaned in and gave me a hug.

“We met earlier,” his
mother mentioned—her voice sterile, almost dismissive. She nodded.
Extending her arm, she shook my hand to avoid a hug.

“It was nice to meet the
two of you.” I wouldn’t let her intimidate me. Dylan whisked me
away. The bride and groom began making their exit. He rushed me
over to his sister Brenda and her new husband.

“We met earlier, Dylan.
She’s as sweet as you said she would be.” Brenda turned to me, “You
don’t break his heart now.”

Me, break his
heart
?

“It was wonderful meeting
the two of you again
.
Congratulations
.”

“It was nice meeting you
too, Nicole. I hope we will see you again soon.”

Dylan displayed me around
the room as he said his goodbyes. We got to the blonde on the other
side of the room, who he had spent an eternity with earlier. I
couldn’t show that I was incredibly jealous of this woman. She
glared at my hand in Dylan’s as if it disgusted her.
Who was she, an ex-lover
? It was obvious she considered him more than a
friend.

“Sarah, this is Nicole.
Nicole, this is Sarah.”

“Nice to meet you,” we
both said and shook hands.

“We’re going to get outta
here; it was great seeing you, though.” He gave her a hug
goodbye.

“You’re leaving so soon?”
her syrup-sweet voice questioned.

“Nicole has never seen
Seattle before. I guess I’ll see you around. Tell your folks bye
for me.”

Who the hell was this
chick, and why was I so threatened by her
? I didn’t dare ask.

He took my hand, we said a
few more goodbyes, and he walked me out into the
moonlight.

“Finally, you are all
mine.”

“
Nicole, I have never seen anyone

who looks at the world the way you do.

I bet if you tried, you could capture
things

most of us have forgotten to see.”

~Dylan Richardson

When we got outside, his
car was waiting for us.

“I called ahead and they
are going to hold the revolving restaurant open for us. You can’t
come to Seattle and not go up in the Space Needle.”

We arrived hours after the
restaurant had closed, but we were escorted into dine privately.
Dylan intertwined his fingers with mine as we entered. Windows
circled the restaurant. It was dark, but the candles and the bright
lights of the city seemed to sparkle for just the two of
us.

I wondered if he had a
friend that allowed this special treat or if he had paid for it. I
didn’t want to ask, so I just enjoyed the night.

The waiter led us to our
table. The view was breathtaking.
Overtaken by the beauty, I
walked to the window, staring out into the miles of glistening
lights.

“It’s almost magical!” I sighed. Dylan walked
up behind me, wrapping his body behind mine as we took in the
view.

“You should paint it.”

Paint it? How did he know
? I never
told him I used to love art.

“Nicole, I have never seen anyone who looks
at the world the way you do. I bet if you tried, you could capture
things most of us have forgotten to see.”

I stood silent. I had lost that side of me a
long time ago. He gently kissed my cheek and walked away, coming
back with a package that had been waiting at the table.

“When I was in town earlier today, I saw this
little art store. I love the way your eyes light up when you look
at the world. I’d love to see what you see. I didn’t know if you
would like it, but for some reason, I got this overwhelming desire
to buy this for you. I don’t know anything about paints. The lady
helped me. Maybe I’m crazy, but it seemed to have your name on it.
I wish you would at least try.”

He handed me a large professionally-wrapped
package. I gently unfolded the corners so as not to destroy the
paper.

“You can rip it.” Dylan smiled. I took the
invitation and ripped the paper in my hands. A tear slowly invaded
the corner of my eye. I ran my hands across the white canvas.
How did he know
? I stood silently, studying the blank canvas
staring back at me. It was beautiful. A few more tears caressed my
check. I couldn’t talk. My fingers traced the surface as if there
was a secret message in Braille inscribed only for me.

“You okay?” His finger gently wiped away the
tears staining my cheeks. I continued to stare at the blank
whiteness and nodded.

“I got you these too. I didn’t know if you
would like oils or acrylics or watercolors, so I bought them
all.”

I opened the boxes and let my fingers run
over the tubes of paint. I picked up a brush and dusted it against
my hand. Soon tears began to pour down my cheeks.

“Nicole, you okay?” He wrapped himself behind
me so he didn’t distract me from my fascination, “You okay, baby?”
He swept the hair off my neck and gently kissed it. I still could
not speak. I finally rested the boxes on the table and turned into
his arms. There is no way he could know what this meant to me. I
flashed back for a moment to my broken paintings littering the
apartment. This virgin canvas became a sign of a new beginning, a
chance to start again. I focused on the man standing before me
still in silence. A chance to love again.
I
passionately enjoyed his lips. My stomach interrupted the moment
with a growl. I touched it as if to quiet it, but it didn’t
work.