Cold Feet novel Chapter 27

RICK

I can’t believe it. I never thought I’d see Viola again. She looks as stunning as ever. She’s wearing a white cotton mini dress. It’s not too short nor too tight but the material clings to her every curve as she moves. The lights catch her dress making it see through. Her hair is still long and she’s got it got it tied back in a pony tail revealing the soft skin of her face. Her white mini dress contrasts against her light brown skin.

I watch her as she heads over to her friends. Her dress shifts over her firm ass as she moves. I wonder how I ever let her go not that she was ever mine in the first place.

She chats with her friends and motions to me. They nod and wave. Then she returns to me.

“Let’s go,” she says grabbing my shirt and pulling me along behind her. I manage to keep my balance and fall into step beside her. We leave the club and the cool, fresh evening air hits us. She flags a cab and it stops.

She opens the back door and gets in.

She bends as she gets in and stretches her dress over her back and her ass. I can see her thong outlined as the dress is stretched and then she’s in the cab. I get in and close the door.

‘Afterparty, please,” she tells the driver. She’s so in control I can’t believe it. I never thought she could be like this. The cab driver pulls away and heads to our destination.

She leans back against the door on her side of the cab and looks at me.

“I don’t believe it,” she says.

“Neither do I. I’d given up on ever seeing or hearing from you again.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why?” I ask incredulously. “You never returned my calls. You stopped answering my messages. Where have you been?”

“I left town,” she answers. Her eyes are drinking me in and drinking me up. I’m doing the same. I’m guessing she decided to skip wearing a bra this evening. I can see her nipples pressing against the thin fabric of her dress. The way she’s dressed is a far cry from the way she was dressed the night of the wedding. But then she’s not working tonight. She must notice me looking and smiles but pulls her jeans jacket closer around her covering up.

“So, are you visiting your friends?”

“I’m having a night out with them,” she says avoiding my question. I meet her gaze. Her eyes are hungry with passion but there’s something more. A caution. A barrier.

The cab stops and I pay the driver. I get out. She slides over to my side of the cab and her dress rides up revealing her golden, brown legs all the way to her thighs. I glimpse her black thong as she takes my hand and steps out. If she notices she doesn’t show it. She grabs my shirt and pulls me into AfterParty. It’s a well lit café serving snacks and coffee. The flashing sign outside promises twenty-four service. It’s not very full at this hour but then I’m guessing it serves clubbers when they finish clubbing and need to sober up. It probably only gets busy after midnight.

Viola leads me to a table in the back corner by the window and slides into the booth. I move to slide in beside her and she stops me.

“Over there,” she says pointing to the other side of the table.

“Are you normally this bossy?” I ask as I slide in opposite her.

“No. I just don’t know what to do with you,” she says.

“Do with me? You mean like chop me up and store me in your freezer until you need some meat for dinner?”

She laughs that husky laugh that I have forgotten from the one time when we met. “Funny,” she says.

A waitress stops at our table and Viola orders two coffees for us. The waitress leaves and Viola meets my gaze again.

“So what’s happening in your life?”

“Nothing much. Still doing law.”

“Sue any more wedding planners?”

“No. You think I have something against wedding planners?”

“Just asking,” she smiles and I realize she’s teasing me.

“What are you doing now?”

“I’m starting a new business.”

“Really? What is it?”

“It’s back in the wedding industry. I’m doing weddings for people who want to elope.”

“Do you think there’s a market for that?” I ask frowning. “I thought people who want to elope don’t plan it. They just do it.”

“Mostly yes. But just because they decide to elope it doesn’t mean it has to be a cheap affair. It can still be classy. That’s where I come in. I offer great destinations and add a touch of class even if it’s last minute. It’s for the high end of the market.”

“I had no idea. I wish you success with it,” I say. Her hazel eyes are gleaming with excitement as she tells me about it and I can tell she’s happy doing what she’s doing. “So, are you based here in LA?”

“My boss lets me work from anywhere,” she replies. She’s avoiding answering me and I don’t know why. I decide to let it go for the moment. The waitress delivers our coffee and we thank her.

We sip our coffee and an awkward silence settles over us. I can’t stop looking at her. I feel guilty though and keep glancing around afraid that Christine or one of her friends are going to see us. But I’ve never been here with Christine and we’ve never been clubbing. I don’t think it’s her thing. I try to relax but the guilt won’t let go. I know what I did with Viola last time. I feel like our business is unfinished.

I eventually break the silence. “Listen, I’m really sorry for everything. I never meant to upset you. I never forgot that moment in the garden at the reception. I feel like we never finished it.”

“Oh, believe me, it was finished,” Viola says. “After you told me how you felt about love, marriage, and relationships? It was finished. Dead in fact.”

I fall silent. If that’s her opinion I wonder why she was so happy to see me tonight and practically pulled me off my feet behind her out of the club.