I Do? I Don't?

Perfection wasn’t something she could pin on her friend. At twenty-four, Cassie was still trying to find herself. Smart and savvy, she just couldn’t seem to settle down to any one man or occupation. Greg, on the other hand, was born responsible. He simply didn’t understand Cassie’s lack of commitment.

Cassie shrugged. “Look, I’m sorry, Niki. I’m not the one who’s marrying Greg—thank God. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that counts.” She glanced at Niki sharply. “You are madly in love with him, aren’t you?”

The question took her aback. Of course, she loved Greg. She wouldn’t be marrying him if she didn’t. But madly in love? The term conjured up emotions that were unpredictable, out of control. Her feelings for Greg were more of a steady nature.

“What a silly question,” Niki said, laughing to hide her uncertainty. She ignored her friend’s curious gaze. “I think it’s time I talked to the caterer.”

Cassie draped an arm around Niki’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll join you. Thanks to my mother and her socializing ways, if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to throw a good party. I’ll show you how to handle a temperamental caterer.”

As they fought their way through the crowded living room, Niki felt the weight of Jack’s gaze. She resisted the urge to glance back at him. No need to flirt with danger, she told herself. She was in no mood for another confrontation.

Guests were everywhere. They stood huddled in groups, scattered about the Oriental rug in tight knots of human congestion. Her mother’s card party had taken up a boisterous residence in the middle of the room. They were comfortably settled on the couch and wing back chairs. She caught her mother’s eye and conveyed a silent message of Help! Relief poured through her as she watched her mother rise to her feet to follow.

The party spilled out into the entranceway. A group of Greg and Jack’s classmates from high school were balancing plates of food on their knees and sipping champagne as they sat on the foyer’s gracefully curved staircase. Niki flashed them a smile and a wave as she and Cassie strode down the hall and ducked into the kitchen.

Compared to the blare of the party, the bustling noises of the catering staff seemed like heaven. Cassie took a seat on a bar stool at the kitchen’s center island. Niki leaned against the door and gave herself a moment to calm her frazzled nerves.

Her moment of peace, however, was short-lived.

“Miss Adams?”

The caterer appeared before her. He was big man with dark hair and the build of a former football player going slowly to seed. He wore a look of concern. “You okay, Miss Adams?”

She forced a smile. “I’m fine. Were you looking for me?”

His thick brows knitted into a frown. “There’s too much humidity tonight. What with the rain and the heat from the crowd, the miniature cheese soufflеs are falling flat as soon as they hit the air.”

Niki sighed. “There’s so much food out there already—”

She didn’t have a chance to finish. The kitchen door swung open, whacking Niki on her backside. Her mother had arrived. Worry shadowed her green eyes. She looked as frazzled as Niki felt.

“Niki, what in the world has happened to Greg?” she demanded.

Cassie chuckled from her perch at the island.

The caterer didn’t appreciate the interruption. “Miss Adams, about the cheese souffles—”

Her mother glanced sharply at the caterer. “Soufflеs? Who cares about the souffles? There’s enough food out there to feed an army. I’m worried about the champagne.”

“The champagne?” Niki and Cassie chorused.

Her mother thumbed their attention toward the party. “The waiters are serving glasses of champagne as though they were sparkling water. At twenty bucks a pop, let’s slow down the flow, okay?”

“But Mrs. Adams, how can I…”

The voices faded as the dizziness grew. Too many voices. Too many demands. Niki felt as though she were on a merry-go-round, only the sound was distorted and the action slowed. She rubbed her throbbing temples. The room felt uncomfortably warm. Just as she felt as though she might scream or faint, the door opened, once again whacking her on the backside.

This time Jack stood before her.

One look into his eyes and Niki wanted to scream. She could see the big-brotherly concern etched across his face. She struggled to gather her scattered aplomb. The last thing she wanted was for Jack to see her ruffled. He’d never let her live it down if she fell apart now.

“Niki, are you okay?” His deep voice brought her senses back into sharp focus.

“Why does everyone keep asking me if I’m okay?” Niki snapped.

“Probably because you look like death warmed over,” Cassie offered.

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” she lied, as she fought a new wave of dizziness. “It’s just warm in here, that’s all.”

“Warm, my eye,” her mother said. “It’s all this rushing about you’ve been doing.” She shook her head, sending the corkscrew curls bouncing. “Why you and Greg decided on such a short engagement is beyond me. Three months isn’t long enough to make plans for a wedding. No wonder you’re feeling peaked.” Determination crossed her plump face. “Jack, take her outside. Get her some fresh air.”

“No, Mom,” Niki said quickly. “I’ll be fine—”

“Niki, I think you’d better listen to your mother,” Cassie said, slipping off the bar stool. “You really do look pale. Helen and I will take care of the food. You go on outside for few minutes.”

Before she could make another protest, a strong hand was pressed against the small of her back, pushing her gently toward the door. Trepidation shimmied along her spine. A cool, damp breeze caressed her flushed skin as she stepped outside. She lifted her face to the heavens and a fat drop of rain plopped onto her nose.

“It’s raining,” she said, turning back, glad for an excuse to go inside.

Jack didn’t give her a chance to escape.

“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and started running. His skin felt warm against hers, his grip firm. She had no choice but to follow. Deftly skirting the raindrops and puddles, he led her to the gazebo.

Niki gave a silent moan. Being alone with Jack was bad enough. But returning to the gazebo felt as though she were returning to the scene of’the crime. For this was where he’d stolen her youthful fantasies.

As soon as their footsteps thudded against the wooden floor, Niki snatched her hand away from Jack’s grasp. She strode to the far end of the gazebo, as far away from him as possible. He lingered at the gazebo’s arched entranceway, blocking the exit. Short of hopping over the railing in her green silk dress, there would be no escaping him.

Neither of them spoke. An eternity passed as they listened to the rain drum against the gazebo’s roof. A damp chill turned their ragged breaths into foggy plumes. The night pressed against them, dark and forboding.

Jack shattered the silence. “Do you plan to stay mad at me forever?”

She heard a shade of the old Jack in his tone. The teasing, confident boy who could sweet-talk his way out of any argument. Steeling herself against his charm, she refused to look at him. “Mad doesn’t even begin to describe the way I feel.”

“Niki, I didn’t come out here to argue with you—”

“Then why did you come?”

“To reason with you.” A hint of exasperation edged his voice. “Obviously, that was a mistake.”

She glanced at him. Beyond the reaches of the light, he looked dark and elusive, like a shadow in the night. “Why? Because you can’t reason with a child?”

He released a slow, impatient breath. “I never said you were a child.”

“No, but you implied it.”

“All I said was that you were too young—”

“I’m old enough,” she insisted.