"Wait, I'm Stephan Landers, Jonathon's best man. I hear you're the lovely maid of honor. I have a drink for you." He pushes the glass of champagne at me.
I raise my eyebrow at him. "I'm Maya Aaron, nice to meet you." I nod and walk away, looking for something stronger to drink. No way am I taking a drink from a man who uses cheesy lines like that.
I make it across the room to the bar and find it’s only serving wine and champagne. Great.
For Ana, I'll put up with anything.
As the drink service ends, the wedding coordinator takes the wedding party aside to go over how tomorrow will playout. Jonathon acts as if he's above all this, his nose in the air and chest puffed out. Stephan is definitely going to need me to use the Jaws of Life on him. He pulls me to his side and locks his arm around me. I twist away from him. He leans into me again and looks down the front of my dress. I step back again.
I need another drink, or maybe six.
Ana's style isn't present anywhere in this wedding, it's all about Jonathon. He tried to make sure this wedding was the event of the year, even attempting to get James to push the royalty card and have one of the princes make an appearance. Thank God they both declined.
We walk into the banquet room where the dinner service will be. Everyone is already seated at the tables, leaving me to sit next to Stephan. I notice that Jonathon has seated me far away from Ana. I hate assigned seating.
As the waiter walks by, I stop him.
"Can I please have two fingers of scotch neat?"
"Ma'am, we are only serving wine during dinner."
"Beer? Ale?" I ask hopefully, crossing my fingers under the table.
"No, ma'am." He walks away and I'm more frustrated than earlier.
You've got to be shitting me. Wine. I'm not a wine drinker. I need something stronger if I'm going to have to deal with Mr. Grabass. And just like that, he slips his hand under the table and slides it across my leg.
I reach down and clasp his fingers in mine and bend his wrist back. Leaning toward him, I smile sweetly.
"Touch me again and I'll break your fucking hand." I bat my eyelashes at him.
I feel the tingles of awareness, like someone is watching me. I turn to see Duncan with a scowl on his face. I smile and tip my wine glass at him.
After dinner, I rise to make a run for it, walking away as fast as I can. As usual, luck isn't on my side.
"Maya, why don't we let bygones be bygones and you come to my room later?" Stephan reaches out to push his key card into my cleavage.
That is it!
I grab his hand with my right, pull him toward me as I turn, stomping my heel into the top of his foot. He groans and bends forward. I jump out of his reach. This time, I don't play all sweet and nice.
"I said touch me again and I would break your hand. You should be happy I'm being nice. I could not only break your hand but drop your ass right in front of everyone." I storm off.
We're now doing an after-dinner mingling session, according to the wedding coordinator. I need to get out of here. Ana and Jonathon are walking around, and I can't find anyone else I know to talk to. I'm still not very comfortable in crowds. I can feel the tension building in my shoulders.
I finally find a door leading out to the gardens. I can see the lights of Hyde Park across the hedges and hear the sounds coming from there. I want to escape into the smells of the garden. The fresh cut grass scent tickles my nose. I start to relax as I walk off the balcony into the lower garden. Now, this would be a place Ana would actually like. It’s beautiful with lights wrapped around the bases of some of the trees, but mostly everything is natural.
All the champagne, wine, and jet lag are catching up to me. Ineed to relax before tomorrow so I can be on my best behavior for Ana. I really need a heavy bag or a good workout. Although, some sex with Duncan would be good too.
Damn, bad, Maya.I have got to stop thinking like that.
I'm in a darker part of the garden. The sounds of the party float down to me as it’s still in full swing. I hope that fucktard doesn't find me out here. I'm just about to call Derek about the delivery when I hear something behind me.
CHAPTER SIX
MAYA
"Are you hiding from the bride or the best man?" a voice says from behind me.
