Not a Chance (Sweet Nothings)

chapter SEVEN



"The colors are coral, ivory and mocha. The reception hall is just going to be draped in ivory chiffon with just enough of the other colors in the centerpieces and chair covers to liven it up a bit. We're going to dance to At Last. The cake is just this amazing monstrosity. Not over-the-top on decorations, just white with occasional bouquets of sugar flowers in my colors. Six tiers. You can't even imagine it. Nothing like it anywhere in Splitlog."

Travis sat with his chin resting on his knees watching Arden as animated as he'd ever seen her, narrating her dream wedding to him. He counted the number of times she mentioned Nick's name. Zero. And counting. It was little things like this that made him think it might not be so bad to try to steal her away from the bastard. Little things like the fact that she was more excited about the wedding than being married to him--made Travis think perhaps she wasn't as in love as she claimed.

"Oh, and we're bringing in caterers. It's going to be this extravagant brunch. Like, all the normal things, but fancied up a bit. Like, instead of just plain french toast, there will be amaretto french toast. And instead of pancakes, like, carmel apple crepes. Stuff like that. Shannon has this friend in St. Louis who is this award-winning culinary genius. It's this huge favor that he's coming down here for this."

Travis's lips quirked up at the corners. He wondered what it would take to keep her this vibrant and excited. She seemed to work so hard to suppress emotions most of the time. Now she was on her knees gesturing with her hands and occasionally reaching out to touch him.

"And my dress." She paused and reached for her iPhone. "Oh crap. Battery's dead. I've got pictures. I look absolutely amazing in this dress. It's halter and the back dips really low. The only thing that would just make it, though, is that I'd really like to get a small, sexy tattoo on my shoulder blade. Nick just laughed at me."

One, Travis counted.

"But I'm not terribly concerned with his opinion. I just need to decide what to get. Then I'm going to do it."

She looked off to the side and settled back onto her ankles, pondering.

"Where are you going to get it done?"

"I'm not sure. I guess the mall over in Bixy."

"There's a real good place in Bixy down in the old part of town. Close to the river. It's real clean and the artwork is amazing."

She smiled. "Is that where you got yours done?"

"Yeah." He pulled up his left sleeve and showed her Tonya's name. And then the cross on his other shoulder. There were a few other abstract designs. Arden crawled over next to him and looked at each of them.

"There are some Chinese characters on your shoulder blade," Arden said. "What do they mean?"

Travis laughed. "Uh, I don't actually remember getting that one. I'm kind of afraid to find out what they mean. Could have been an angry girlfriend or something. I didn't have too many blackout moments, but that was one of them."

"You got a whole tattoo that you don't remember?"

"I don't even know when it happened. How often do you look back at your shoulder? Could have been months before I discovered it."

Arden laughed and shook her head.

"You know," Travis said. "If the back on that dress goes really low, maybe you should get ink on your lower back so it kind of peeks out of the edge of the dress. That would be very sexy."

Her eyes widened. "Maybe I'll do both."

"Why not?" He smiled at her and touched her cheek with his fingertip. She immediately withdrew to the pallet where she'd been sitting, a little pinker in the cheeks, but otherwise unaffected. "What about the honeymoon?"

She went back to excited again. "Hawaii. I know, not very original. But I've never been. I want to do all the touristy stuff. See some volcanoes. Try surfing. But the second half of the honeymoon I want to stay in a less touristy spot. One of the less popular ones. Maybe on Molokai. Everyone I know goes to Oahu or Honolulu. I'd like to have some different experiences. And some time to just relax and enjoy the beach."

No mention of Nick made it possible for Travis to imagine himself in such exotic climes with this gorgeous woman. He sighed. It'll never happen, he told himself. "You planning on bringing your husband on this trip?" he asked.

She looked at him funny. "Of course."

Travis shrugged. "You don't mention him much. What's his name again?"

"Nick. You know it's Nick."

"Yeah, well...you don't mention him so I forget."

Her excitement was gone replaced by annoyance and distrust. Travis regretted it, but he also hated the fact that he was going to lose this girl to that undeserving prick, Nick Wheeler.

"I was going to add you to the guest list, Travis, but if you don't stop being a jerk, I'm going to uninvite you."

"I'm not being a jerk. It just seems like if you love this guy so much, you'd be talking about him a little more."

"You asked about my wedding. You didn't ask about my fiancé. If you want me to tell you about Nick, then I will."

"No thanks," Travis said. He scooted back to lean against the couch and stretch his legs out in front of him. "I already know him better than I ever wanted to."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means he's a scumbag investor who preys on little old ladies to fund his schemes. He's a bad guy. You shouldn't marry him."

Arden narrowed her eyes. A venomous chill permeated the room, emanating directly from her stare. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You've got some stupid little crush on me and you think slandering my fiancé is going to endear you to me?"

"I don't get crushes. I like you and I think you deserve better than him."

"Like you?"

Travis laughed. "Don't worry. I'm way out of your league."

Arden continued glaring at him. He tried to stare her down, but she won. After a few moments he relaxed.

"Look," he said. "I was at Mrs. Ferguson's one day working on her car for her when he showed up. I didn't know what he was after until she asked me inside. Poor thing had her checkbook out and everything. You know Mrs. Ferguson, right?"

Arden nodded.

"She's the sweetest thing and makes the best blackberry cobbler in the county. Anyway, he was hitting her up to invest in some environmental...fuel efficiency...project of some sort. She asked my help to read the contract just because I was the only other person there. I asked her didn't she think it might be better to look something like that over with a lawyer. And she sort of wavered back and forth a minute before deciding to send Prince Charming on his way. And I gladly walked him out the door and told him to f*ck off. Next time I catch him trying to scam little old ladies out of their life savings, I'll wring his scrawny neck."

Arden's expression was full of doubt, covered by a thin, very weak mask of false confidence. "I'm sure you misinterpreted the situation."

Travis shrugged. "Is there any motivation that would make it okay for him to be asking her to invest her meager retirement?"

Arden drew herself up, almost imperceptibly. She clearly didn't like playing defense. "Maybe it's a sure thing. Maybe he's certain he'll be able to give her a good return on her investment."

"Or maybe nobody reputable will give him any money, so he's going collecting from people who are vulnerable to his charms."

"Naturally you're inclined to think the worst of him."

"Naturally."

Arden pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. "I think you're an a*shole," she said softly.

"I'm an honest a*shole," he said, with no humor in his tone.

She abruptly stood and left the room.