Rider's Kiss

Victoria attempted to ignore the heat creeping into her face at the praise, and began to mentally rearrange her schedule instead. “Thanks for your faith in me. And I think you’re going to like what I have in mind.”

“And just in case you’re wondering, money is no object. We want our wedding to be perfect.”

“Of course,” she replied, while her mind began working out the details. Her business had just taken a turn for the better. She could just kiss Rita for insisting on Victoria’s Catering. “So, what made you change your mind about getting married?” she inquired, thinking of Rita’s significant other. “Last we talked, he was giving you fits and you were at your wit’s end.”

Rita rolled her pretty hazel eyes and groaned. “Love is fickle, sweetie. He drives me crazy, but I’m hooked.” She looked down at her lap and shrugged. “When I called off the wedding, I got a taste of life without him, and I didn’t care for it one bit.”

“Well, I’m happy for you.” Victoria wondered what that sort of all-consuming love would be like. Would she ever know?

Rita pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and smiled. “Thank you. Now, enough about me. Let’s talk about you.” She winked. “Love the new look. Is a man the reason for the change?”

And just like that, Victoria’s face burned. She would always be the shy wallflower. “Sort of. He doesn’t really know I’m a woman, to be honest.”

“Well, he will when he gets a good look at you in that pretty red blouse and that shiny, tousled hair of yours.”

They talked for a bit, then got down to the particulars. She mentally stored a few important facts to pull out later. Brenda would need to put a few things on hold, and they’d have to do some fancy footwork to make it all work. But Victoria was determined to wow Rita. And with her referral, Victoria’s client list would expand. Definitely a win-win.

On the way home, she called Brenda, explaining that the Williamses’ wedding was back on and they were back in business. Once she reached her house, she turned the engine off on her red Accord coupe and was about to leave the car when her cell phone chimed, signaling a call. She looked at the number on the screen. Rider.

Her voice shook when she said, “Hello?”

“Hey, Vic.”

Oh God, she loved that he called her that. He was the only person who’d ever called her Vic instead of Victoria. And the smooth tone of his voice did things to her. It seemed so incredibly intimate. She cleared her throat and asked, “What’s up?”

“How would you like to go on a picnic with me?”

That surprised her. Victoria could picture Rider in all sorts of scenarios. A dark movie theater or a loud nightclub, for instance. But a picnic? That wasn’t at all what she would have expected from him. And no way in hell was she turning him down. Not a second time. “I’d like that,” she breathed out before she lost her nerve and changed her mind. Victoria imagined the two of them alone on a blanket, a slow, intimate smile coming over Rider’s face an instant before he leaned in to kiss her senseless. Was that what he wanted? He certainly acted the part of a playful flirt all of a sudden. She cleared her throat and got her mind back on track. “What time should I be ready?”

“I can pick you up at three. Does that work for you?”

Her heart beat faster when she looked at the time. She had an hour. “Is this a d-date?” she stuttered out.

His chuckle sent her temperature into the red zone. “Yes, it’s definitely a date,” he murmured. There was silence for a moment, then he said, “My other line is ringing. I need to go. But I’ll pick you up at your place. See you soon.”

Before she could speak, the line went dead. She blinked several times, wondering what had suddenly come over him. There was only one thing to do. Victoria dialed Reena’s number. Panic began to set in as she hit Send on her cell phone. A picnic? What was Rider up to? A horrible thought struck. Could it be a pity date because he felt bad for the things he’d said about her the day she overheard him and Reena talking? She couldn’t stop the runaway train in her head as the possibilities began to pile up. None of them seemed to weigh in her favor either. Victoria shook her head. “Hell with it. I don’t want to know what prompted Rider’s sudden change of heart.”

“Hello?”

When Reena’s voice came over the line, the soft sound instantly calmed Victoria. “Your brother just asked me on a date,” Victoria blurted out. “A picnic. Just the two of us.”

Reena sighed. “And let me guess, you’re freaking out?”

“A little,” she lied. “One minute he’s seriously not into me, and now we have a date. I’m so confused.”

“He’s hardheaded and he has a big mouth, but he isn’t stupid,” Reena stated, as if that should clear up everything.

“That’s zero help, damn it.”

“I’m saying he might’ve taken a while to see just what an amazing catch you are, but now that he has, he’s not wasting any time.”

“It’s those pictures you took with your phone,” Victoria bit out. “He told me about them. You are such a little sneak.”

Reena’s completely unapologetic laugh was so not what Victoria wanted to hear. “He liked what he saw, yes, but that’s not the only reason he’s attracted to you, Victoria.”

She threw her hands up, more uncertain than ever. “Then why? Please, help me understand, because I’m about to call him back and bail on the picnic.”

“Why is it so difficult for you to believe that a man might see you as an amazing, gorgeous, intelligent and successful woman? You’re the whole package, sweetie. The makeover just made it easier for the male gender to acknowledge that.”