The Wedding Party Page 5

  “Look,” Jordan said crustily. “You don’t have to make such a big frigging deal out of it. It’s not like I just told you I’m going straight or something.”

  “Okay, now that would make me haul you off to the nearest shrink.”

  The young hottie returned with their drinks, only this time Jordan barely glanced at her. There was a time when Jordan would have provocatively slipped a five-dollar bill into the woman’s cleavage, had a little flirtatious fun with her. Not today, and the contrast in her behavior was a little shocking.

  “So why the big epiphany?” Dani asked after the cocktail waitress moved on. “It’s not because you just turned forty, is it?” Perhaps Jordan’s version of a midlife crisis was exactly the opposite of buying a bright red sports car and discovering promiscuity. Maybe it meant finally growing up. “Or because of the ribbing you took from Claire yesterday?”

  Jordan shrugged. They were as close as sisters, but true heart-to-hearts were rare for them. Jordan had no one in her life with whom she really opened up. She kept the important things to herself, and Dani suspected something important was going on with her friend. She would talk about it when she wanted to talk about it. Or she wouldn’t, but Dani decided she wouldn’t force it out of her. Too much true confession time might mean she’d have to open up about her own situation, and she wasn’t ready for that.

  Jordan sighed. “I don’t know. It’s hard to explain. I guess I’m just not feelin’ it anymore. I need a break, I guess.”

  Dani decided to let it go. Clearly Jordan was a little lost at the moment, but Dani could tell it was as far as she wanted to go with the conversation. Still, a little teasing was too hard to resist. “Wow. I never thought I’d see the day. My little Jordan is finally growing up.”

  “Look, it’s not like I’m getting married or something. I’ll leave that part up to you.”

  “I’m telling you, Jordie, you don’t know what you’re missing.” Dani busted on her hand again and exploded with a curse. “I can’t believe how badly I’m losing. Jesus Christ, this sucks big time!”

  Jordan looked at her, her forehead wrinkled in concern. “It’s okay, Dani. I can spot you a few chips if you need them.”

  “I don’t need them, okay?” Dani snapped. Shit. She didn’t mean to be so grouchy about it. She took a long sip of her drink to calm down.

  “You okay?” Jordan’s eyes probed Dani’s.

  “Fine.” She exhaled slowly, settling herself. “Just the stress of the buildup to the wedding probably.”

  “The wedding’s going to be great, and you know you and Shannon are meant for each other. Come on. What’s to worry about?”

  “I know. You’re right.” This time Dani took a longer drink. She would be glad when this week was over. She would be glad when she didn’t have to pretend anymore.

  Chapter Seven

  Claire

  Claire sucked in her breath at the sight of Amanda striding onto the pool deck in a sleek one-piece bathing suit the color of emeralds. It matched perfectly the shade of her eyes, and the effect was stunning—so much so that Claire didn’t even recognize her own response. Amanda was by far the most graceful woman Claire had ever seen, and not just because of the way she moved. It was her quiet confidence and her natural beauty, which she seemed to wear comfortably yet modestly. So modestly, in fact, that she did not even seem to be aware of her own beauty. Claire recalled her own shock at seeing the tall, dark-haired, stunning young woman stroll through the airport doors. Amanda had been a gawky teenager the last time she’d seen her, and it was really only her eyes—eyes that were exactly like her aunt’s—and her height that Claire had recognized. Amanda was certainly no gawky teenager now. She was a lovely young woman full of poise and genuineness, maturity and intelligence. A real head turner.

  It had come as a surprise how well they’d gotten on, as though they were old friends. But the real surprise for Claire was her reaction to Amanda, so immediate and powerful. Magnetic, almost. She couldn’t seem to stop looking at Amanda, smiling at her, wanting to be around her, like a planet revolving around the sun. Jesus Mary and Joseph! What had come over her? Was she having some kind of delayed grieving reaction over Ann? It was ridiculous. She was being ridiculous. Claire had no intention of acting on this crazy thing happening to her, least of all with a twenty-six-year-old who was the niece of her best friend. Not a chance in hell. Claire—upstanding, conservative, always one to obey every rule or law, would never be interested in someone so much younger. Such a fool thing was far too unorthodox and absolutely out of the question. In fact, she was quite sure she would never date again. Period. Dating was something young people did, or desperate people did. Well, she was neither of those things. She’d had her kick at love, at long-term partnership, and fate had taken it away from her. She wasn’t about to try to steal it back.

  Claire sucked in a deep, agonizing breath. Where was all this nonsense coming from all of a sudden anyway? It was insane. Must be the change in altitude, or the dry air, or something.

  Shannon, lying on the chaise beside her, clutched Claire’s arm and said proudly, “Did you notice how everyone’s eyes are on Amanda right now, men and women?”

  Claire pulled her sunglasses back over her eyes. She didn’t know or care if everyone at the pool was watching Amanda. It was bad enough that her own eyes had followed her every step. She forced her gaze away, hoping Shannon hadn’t noticed she’d been among the gawkers. At least Shannon wouldn’t be able to read her mind. “I hadn’t really noticed.”

  “She sure is pretty, isn’t she?”

  Claire coughed around the lump in her throat. Pretty? Try breathtakingly beautiful, not to mention sexy as hell and six feet of pure—Oh, God! This sudden, agonizing attraction to Amanda was like a rogue wave in a calm sea, smashing against her suddenly, knocking her over, turning her upside down, sucking her deeply in. It was totally unexpected. And totally inappropriate in so many ways, she couldn’t even begin to list them. She didn’t want this.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Amanda said, towering over them. Her smile was relaxed and friendly, her dimples sending Claire into a new and unwanted stratosphere. “Mind if I take the chair beside you, Claire?”

  “Of course not.” Oh, Christ, Claire thought, helpless to give any other response. The thought of Amanda lying just inches away from her, the sun kissing her flawless skin and the slight breeze rustling her soft, shiny brown hair, was almost too much to bear. It was smothering her, a weight on her chest she couldn’t breathe around. She had to get a grip on herself, and fast, because now she was thinking about her own lips kissing that skin, her fingers touching Amanda’s hair. Goddammit, stop it, you old fool! What the hell was happening to her? Had Jordan rubbed off on her or something? Was she having some weird menopausal moment? Early senility?

  Amanda, thankfully, didn’t seem to have the faintest inkling of the crazy thoughts stampeding through Claire’s mind. She absently sat back against her chaise lounge, stretched out her long legs, and pulled a book from her bag. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky.

  Claire smiled at Amanda. It wasn’t like she had a choice; she couldn’t look at Amanda and not smile, no matter how hard she tried. “No light vacation reading for you, I see.”

  Amanda shook her head and flashed those adorable dimples. The effect was like a lightning bolt going straight to Claire’s crotch. “I like a book I can really get into. I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to books.”

  “Me too. Though at least I look the part. You certainly don’t.” Claire pointed to the book. “It’s good. I read it a couple of years ago.”

  “You do not look like a nerd,” Amanda replied kindly. She was always so polite. Such a nice kid.

  “Raised to be kind to your elders, hmm? Did your aunt teach you that?”

  “Hell, no,” Shannon interjected. “I only taught her to be nice to you, since you’re my best friend and maid of honor.”

  “Hmmm. I’m also the oldest one in our group. Coinci
dence? I think not!”

  Shannon’s and Amanda’s laughter was virtually identical. They really were two of the nicest women Claire could ever hope to have in her life, and alike in so many ways. Well, she didn’t know Amanda very well, but she could tell she was one of the good ones. Smart and funny, just like her aunt. Serious but with a sharp sense of humor too. She must have a veritable parade of hopeful young women in her life, trailing after her. Lucky them. She had absolutely no idea what Amanda’s love life was like, since Shannon had never mentioned anything beyond the fact that Amanda had come out to her when she was a student at Stanford. It would be surprising if Amanda didn’t have a steady girlfriend—another grad student perhaps—and that thought made Claire feel better. Safer, like things were shifting back into their normal place again.

  “You know something?” Claire said, emotion suddenly infusing her voice. “You two are so lucky to have each other. I envy that.” She missed having that one person in her life she was closer to than anyone else. The kind of person you could be your best with, or your worst, and still be loved and accepted.

  “Aw, Claire.” Shannon squeezed her wrist. “We’re all family—me, Dani, you, Amanda. You know that, right?”

  “I know.” She missed Ann suddenly, the pain of her death lancing through her, fresh like it was yesterday—an acute reminder of the dark storm clouds that had descended on her in those months after Ann’s death, debilitating her, leaving her practically a recluse. She’d emerged from the worst of it, not unscathed, but alive, and yet still sometimes those rain clouds fell upon her again as they did now, pulling her back into darkness. She was afraid sometimes she would be swallowed up, drowned in her grief. Her eyes misted over, and it took effort to pull herself together. She didn’t want her friends to see her like this.

  Amanda gazed worriedly at her, as though reading her mind, and all Claire could think was how nice it’d be for the four of them to go out for a quiet dinner some time. There was no reason they couldn’t; they all lived in the same city. But matching up schedules would be difficult. This week, before the wedding, they could all do lunch or dinner. Oh, hell! What was the use? It’s not like Amanda would want to spend time with someone twenty-one years her senior and whom she hardly knew. She surely had better ways to spend her time, and in fact, being around her only reminded Claire of how alone she was, of what she was missing, of what it was like to have your whole life still ahead of you. She envied Amanda.

  “Oh, I love this song,” Shannon declared. It was Lady Gaga and Beyonce, their song “Telephone” bursting from the oversized poolside speakers. “I can’t wait for us all to go dancing this week!”

  “You always did love to dance, and always to the latest music. You know more of this stuff than I do, Aunt Shannon.”

  Shannon frowned across Claire at her niece. “How can someone your age not know and love this music?”

  Amanda rolled her eyes. “Oh, God, you’re not going to start on me, are you?”

  “Start what?” Claire asked innocently.

  Amanda leaned close. Claire could smell the sun on her skin, and she inhaled deeply. It almost made her dizzy with pleasure. “She thinks I’m a fifty-year-old in a twenty-six-year-old body. In other words, a geek.”

  “Well, you are, my dear, but you’re an adorable one.” Shannon chuckled, turning her attention to Claire. “She loves old black-and-white movies and jazz music too. Can you believe it? I think she was born thirty years too late.”

  “Well, I happen to like that old era of music and movies too,” Claire countered, pretending to be insulted.

  “Yeah, but you’re old. Amanda’s not.”

  Claire huffed noisily. She raised her eyebrows at Amanda. “She’s outnumbered. What do you say we throw her in the pool for that?”

  Amanda’s eyes lit up as brightly as the neon lights of the Strip. “Oh, yeah.” Her conspiratorial grin thrilled Claire beyond measure.

  “Oh, no, you don’t!” Shannon’s eyes widened in panic. She was practically shaking. “That’s not even funny, Claire Cooper.”

  Claire laughed unforgivably and leapt from her chair. She was a head taller than Shannon and much stronger. With Amanda’s help, Shannon was a sure goner.

  Amanda didn’t need any more encouragement. Each woman positioned themselves alongside Shannon and clutched her under her arms, heaving her up in one swift move.

  “Oh my God, stop it you two!” Shannon’s protestations were comical and easily ignored. They carted her off toward the pool, and between the two of them, it took very little effort. “Amanda Jane Malden, put me down right now! And Claire, you’re a doctor, for God’s sake. You can’t—”

  On a count of three from Claire, they heaved the still protesting Shannon into the pool. Claire and Amanda laughed so hard they doubled over, clutching their stomachs. It wasn’t long before Shannon’s head popped up and she joined them in their laughter, spurting water from her mouth at them like a fountain. She splashed them vigorously.

  “All right, you two. Get your asses in here.”

  Chapter Eight

  Jordan

  “To Vegas, baby!” Jordan raised her margarita and boisterously clinked glasses with the others, sloshing some of the sour green liquid onto the table. She’d had a few drinks already, starting with mimosas when she and Dani were gambling. She was getting a little sloppy, but to hell with it, she was having a blast. She’d been working a lot of back-breaking hours lately, wrapping up some big land deals with some speculators in Chicago, and soon she’d be tackling a decrepit old motel in Vegas that, with the right buyer, could be transformed into something swanky and profitable. She so needed this break from work.

  They were all assembled for dinner at the popular Border Grill Mexican restaurant at the Mandalay Bay hotel. Claire was about to offer a toast. She hoisted her glass of wine, her hand steady of course, because the upright, uptight Dr. Claire Cooper never got inebriated. Never made a fool of herself. Probably never even stepped on the cracks in sidewalks.

  “To Dani and Shannon. To the start of the best week of your lives. May you always be surrounded by the love of your friends and the excitement and optimism enshrined by this glamorous city.”

  “Hear, hear!” everyone chanted, clinking glasses heartily.

  They tore through their tortilla soup and green corn tamales, the food temporarily sobering Jordan. Next up was a chicken enchilada bursting its seams, and she stuffed herself, not realizing until now how hungry she was.

  “Dani, isn’t your sister supposed to join us any day?” Jordan asked around a mouthful of enchilada. With five of them, someone was always the odd woman out. It would be nice to have an even number.

  “Heather’s been sick. She’s hoping to be better in a couple more days, and then she’ll join us.”

  “So I’m stuck with you party animals?” Jordan teased, making a face. Heather was straight, newly divorced, and a load of fun. She’d pretty much do or say anything for a laugh, and didn’t care a hoot what people thought of her. She might be exactly what was needed to inject a little fun into this altogether too serious group.

  “ ’Fraid so.” Shannon winked at her. “Surely by now you must have some wild and crazy friends in this town if we’re not lively enough for you.”

  “Oh, you’re lively enough. If I can just get these horses to water, I’m sure you all will take a drink. In fact, I’m counting on it for the bachelor party.” If they couldn’t get up for that, which Jordan had lined up for later in the week, then there was just no damned hope for them.

  Claire had to be crapping her drawers about the party, because the mere mention of it had her slinking into her chair like she might become part of the fabric. Amanda was almost as bad. She was lost in her own world, quietly counting the number of tiny lights strung across the ceiling that twinkled like little stars. What was with that kid anyway? She was young, hot and in Vegas. Couldn’t she try a little harder to have a good time? As in drinks and dance bars and pool parties?
Jordan noticed the way women drooled over her whenever she walked past. Men too, of course. There was a veritable smorgasbord of sex out there if only she would dive in. Yet Amanda took no notice whatsoever, or if she did notice, she could care less. She walked around like she’d rather be anyplace but here. Like maybe a library, perhaps. Or a museum. Jesus!

  “All right, let’s put it to the test,” Jordan challenged. “Who wants to come to the Rum Jungle with me tonight?”

  “Now?” Dani asked around a yawn. “Hell, I’m still on Chicago time.”

  “Yes, now. It’s almost ten. The city’s just coming alive.”

  “Well, if that’s true,” Shannon said in a sultry voice, “then I look forward to things coming alive in my room. Honey?” She raised an eyebrow at Dani. “You’re not getting sleepy on me, are you?”

  “Never, my love. You know I can handle anything you want to throw at me.”

  “Gak,” Jordan erupted, not really meaning it. “Can’t you two at least wait until the honeymoon before you get all horny on us?”

  Dani laughed. “Haven’t you always said yourself, why do tomorrow what you can do today?”

  “True, I do always say that, don’t I?” Jordan turned her attention to Amanda, who seemed to be in need of a little soul rescuing. “You, young lady. You look like you need some fun. Come with me and I’ll show you the way to depravity!”

  Amanda looked like a doe caught in Jordan’s crosshairs, terrified and in need of escape. Jordan let out an evil chuckle. She used to have young girls like Amanda for breakfast.

  Claire promptly stood and gallantly threw herself on the sword. “I’ll go with you Jordan. But just for a drink. And not at some insane dance bar called Rum whatever.”