Chapter 1: As You Wish
Hello again, it's you and me…how's your life? It's been awhile. God it's good to see you smile.
He knew she was nearby when he caught the scent of vanilla and cherries in the air.
"I like the view," she said, strolling into his office like she did so every day when in fact it was the first time he'd seen her in years.
She wore a red summer dress. Her thick dark hair in a casual up-do, loose tendrils framing her face, sunglasses perched on her head, and violet eyes sparkling with amusement and familiarity. He almost smiled.
"The elusive Raye Kensington. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
She walked over to where he stood in front of the large windows overlooking the city of Rome and handed him an ivory colored envelope.
"Come to personally give me an invitation to your wedding? I'm touched," he said, unable to hide the bitterness that laced his words. He regarded the creamy envelope in his hand.
"It is a wedding invitation," she said softly, resisting the urge to look at him. "But not to mine."
He shot her a glance. "Oh?"
"Sean's getting married."
"I spoke to him just last month," he said, frowning. "There was no mention of a wedding. Unless…"
"Shotgun wedding," she finished for him.
He tried to make light of the situation. "Parents must be ecstatic."
"Hardly, but they're used to Sean being difficult so it'll pass. I think they're just glad he's with someone that they know is a good influence on him."
Jed tried to imagine one of his oldest friends as a father. He laughed at the thought of Sean Kensington trading in his brand new Aston Martin for a kid friendly car. I wonder if he'd consider giving it to me…
Raye finally chanced a look his way, smiling at his obvious amusement. No doubt thinking of a way to ask Sean for that car, she mused, noticing the way his hair curled right below his ear; and that he didn't look as good in green as he does in blue.
Feeling her gaze on him, he asked suddenly, "How's the fiancé?"
She cleared her throat before answering. "The boyfriend's in New York on business. How's the wife?"
"The fiancée is gracing the runways of Paris."
He grinned. She pushed herself off of the table they'd both been leaning against and turned to face him.
"Congratulations."
He shrugged. "I owed it to her."
"You make it sound like an obligation."
"Most marriages are."
She laughed, reminding him of the seventeen-year-old girl he fell in love with all those years ago.
"Maybe."
She shook her head at his comment, her curls tumbling from the pins that held them in place.
"Gods you're a beauty."
"Careful, Kincaid. You're about to be married," she teased.
"And I'm dreading every minute of it!" He turned back to his desk and to the work spread out across its surface.
"So why get married?"
"Because you rejected my proposal," he said, not missing a beat.
"Touché. I don't suppose I can persuade you to have lunch with me?"
He paused; sure that it's a peace offering.
"You can't."
"I figured as much."
"But dinner sounds wonderful."
He looked up and smirked when he noticed her smile.
"Lovely. Pick me up at seven?"
"As you wish."
It's bittersweet to hear you laugh. Your phone is ringing I don't wanna ask. If you go now, I'll understand. If you stay, hey, I've got a plan.