On the Ropes Read online

  “You’re still going with that beautiful name, Ullustra Salon and Day Spa?” Abbey asked.

  “Yes, that’s the one. I just love it! And I can’t wait. This salon has been a dream of mine, well, of ours, for a long time,” Angel said as she and Vanessa started on Cassie’s makeup.

  Abbey turned to Roxanna, lifting her chin and closing her eyes. “I’m ready. I decided I’m going to wear my hair down.” And that had nothing to do with Luke liking her hair down. No, she preferred her hair down. Screw Luke and what he preferred. He was probably bringing his girlfriend, Hollywood It girl and chestnut-haired bombshell Brenna Sinclair. He wouldn’t notice if Abbey’s hair were on fire so her hair and makeup for the day were for her and no one else. That was what she told herself, anyway.

  “Brenna Sinclair’s not attending, Abbey,” Cassie said. Had she said Brenna’s name out loud? Damn.

  Roxanna stopped working on her makeup for a second. “The Brenna Sinclair? She’s dating Luke Stryker from the Cobras, isn’t she?”

  No, no, no. Abbey didn’t want to get into this right now, or ever. Brenna not attending Cassie’s wedding meant nothing. She was probably on location somewhere across the world and couldn’t be bothered with some commoner’s wedding. Luke was undoubtedly with her Thursday night instead of taking his best man responsibilities seriously and attending the rehearsal, dinner, and Cassie and Jake’s bachelor slash bachelorette party.

  “Yes, but Abbey had him first, and he’s the best man,” Cassie teased.

  Abbey needed to put a stop to this conversation. “First of all, I didn’t have him. We dated when we were younger. I was eighteen, and he was twenty when he won his first World Series championship. How did he want to celebrate? By cheating on me with some bleached-out blonde, fake-boobed bimbo, that’s how. Secondly, he’s been dating Brenna Sinclair for the last three years. We ended things ten years ago. He’s moved on. I’ve moved on. End of story and no big deal.” There, that should shut everyone up. Except now she felt sick to her stomach. When would she get over him? Wasn’t ten years enough time?

  Leah and the four stylists remained quiet, but Cassie wouldn’t let it go. “I call bullshit. I know Luke. He’d never cheat on you. He adored you, Abbs. He still does.”

  Abbey’s hands clenched in her lap, her anger boiling over. “Well, you didn’t walk in on him and that skank naked and drunk in their hotel room, I did. So, so … bullshit back at you!” Her ears rung. She was lightheaded and panting.

  Roxanna kneeled down and took Abbey’s hands in hers, unclenching them. “Slow breaths Abbey, it’s all right.”

  Cassie came rushing over and Roxanna moved aside, allowing Cassie to take her place. Cassie rubbed Abbey’s arms, trying to calm her down. Abbey took deep breaths, slowly regaining her composure. She was ruining everything. This was Cassie’s special day and she was having a meltdown. She felt a tear run down her cheek. She was hopeless.

  “I’m so sorry, Abbs. If you say he cheated on you, that’s that. If you say it’s over, it’s over. I won’t bring it up again.”

  Abbey looked up at her sister, so beautiful and composed. She was actually glowing. Jake would be floored when Cassie made her way down the aisle to him later that afternoon. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to overreact, but I don’t need to relive that horrible day, all right? I thought Luke and I had what you and Jake do, but I was wrong.”

  Abbey continued before Cassie could respond. “And that’s okay. We were young, his major league career was just getting started. It was wishful thinking on my part to believe we had a future together. He went on to become an MLB superstar and I didn’t do too shabby myself, right? A BS in Computer Science and an MBA. A ten-year stint at Office Supply Galaxy. I’m pretty awesome, I’d say.”

  Abbey made sure she didn’t mention she’d gotten laid off on Wednesday, just as she was getting ready to leave the office for the day. She had put in for vacation time on Thursday and Friday for the wedding. She had been asked by her new manager, who she couldn’t stand, to a small conference room where a HR representative was sitting at the conference table with a stack of termination paperwork waiting for her.

  She had been taken completely by surprise, although she should haven’t been. Her manager Tim Webber was an arrogant, know-it-all blow hard. He’d only been with Office Supply Galaxy for three months but he acted as if owned the place, or at least the IT department. He hired a couple of guys from his previous company two weeks after starting, so Abbey suspected he wanted to bring on another one of his people and needed to get her out of the way and use her vacant position to do it.

  Abbey was shown a document indicating over fifty additional people were being let go and that her responsibilities and skill set were no longer needed. She had almost laughed at Tim when he told her that since she was the only person at the company who administered and engineered the software system she managed.

  When Tim finally shut the hell up and left the conference room, the HR rep had reviewed the termination paperwork with her. At least she was given six-month severance and three months of paid health insurance. That took some pressure off. Abbey hadn’t been allowed back to her desk. A company security guard brought her purse and escorted her to her car, like she was a criminal. She was due back at the office Monday evening to meet with the HR rep and collect her personal belongings from her cubicle so it wouldn’t be a distraction to the other employees.

  Cassie stood up, holding Abbey’s hands. She looked at other women in the room with pride on her face. “I’d say you rock, Abbey. Not only did my little sister get her BS in Computer Science and her MBA but she did it on OSG’s dime, fully paid for through their tuition reimbursement program, no student loan debt. And she did it while working full time.”

  “Good for you!”

  “That’s amazing!”

  “I agree, you rock, Abbey!”

  Abbey felt herself blush. “All right, everyone, yes, I’m amazing. But today’s about you Cassie, not me.” She giggled and hugged her sister tight. “Thanks. I love you.”

  Abbey stood back, looking Cassie over. She was absolutely radiant. She couldn’t wait to see her in her wedding dress. “Angel, Vanessa, you did a great job with Cassie’s hair and makeup. She looks like a princess.”

  Vanessa came forward and looked Cassie over. “We didn’t really do very much with the makeup, not that we’re heavy handed with it. Cassie just has a natural glow.”

  Cassie squeezed Abbey’s hands, a huge grin on her lovely face. Cassie looked in the eyes and whispered, “I’m pregnant. That might have something to do with my natural glow.”

  The room erupted into squeals. Leah rushed to their side and the three of them ended up in a group hug. “Oh my God, we’re going to be aunties!” Leah exclaimed.

  “Shhh, you’re the only ones I’ve told other than Jake. I told him he could tell the guys as long as no one says anything.”

  Abbey noticed Vanessa and Roxanna had concerned expressions on their faces. They both came closer and both said, “How far along are you?”

  Cassie beamed. “Eight weeks.”

  Vanessa and Roxanna shared a knowing look and Roxanna spoke up. “You really shouldn’t say anything until you reach the third trimester, you know.”

  “I don’t mean to be a downer, but I miscarried twice. Once at six weeks and then again at ten,” Vanessa added.

  Angel and Madison came over to the group. Angel put a supportive arm around her sister Vanessa’s shoulder. “Yes, and now you have two amazing little boys, don’t you?”

  Vanessa smiled at her sister. “I sure do.”

  “I know I shouldn’t have said anything, but I’m so excited. And the wedding is today. I just couldn’t keep the news to myself. And I know there’s a risk, but Jake and I will handle it. It’ll be all right, regardless. Just promise you won’t say anything, please?” Cassie looked to the group of women around her, a pleading expression on her lovely face.

  Abbey gave Cassie a quick hug. �
��We won’t say a word. Right, ladies?”

  “Right!”

  “Okay then, that’s settled. Now for some raspberry pastry before I get dressed.” Cassie scanned the dining room table for a savory raspberry treat and filled a glass with orange juice. “We better finish getting ready. Patty Hailey, the photographer, and videographer will be here soon.”

  That got everyone’s attention. Patty Hailey owned the premiere Chicago event planning company Hailey’s Events. Luke’s Uncle Darren had booked them for Cassie and Jake immediately after they chose their wedding date.

  Abbey and Leah quickly took their seats with Roxanna and Madison at the ready. “Cass, would you mind if Madison did an up ’do for me? I really want to impress today,” Leah said.

  Cassie swallowed a mouthful of pastry and dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Of course not. I want you and Abbey to feel beautiful today too.”

  Abbey smiled, knowing who Leah wanted to impress. Poor Leah. She’d been in love with Heath Jackson all her life. The sexy, blond-haired, hazel-eyed mountain of man and former Marine was one of Jake’s closest friends and a groomsman. Heath had been Leah’s second next-door neighbor growing up. Unfortunately for Leah, Heath was ten years older than she was and regarded her as more of a pesky little sister than a potential love match. At twenty-five, Leah wasn’t a child, but Heath hadn’t seemed to notice. Maybe today Leah would make sure he did. Abbey didn’t envy Heath. When Leah put her mind to something, she went after it with gusto.

  “This need to impress wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain sexy, blond-haired, tattooed Marine, who’s also a groomsman, would it?” Abbey teased.

  “Oh, do tell,” Madison said as she worked on Leah’s hair.

  “Absolutely. I want to hear this,” Roxanna added.

  Leah sighed and seemed to take a minute to organize her thoughts. “Well, the short version is he’s one of Jake’s good friends, and his family lived in the next house over to us in Elmhurst. I’ve known him all my life. Loved him all my life, actually. He’s ten years older than I am, not that it should make a difference, and it doesn’t to me. But to Heath, I’m just his friend’s annoying little sister. And yes, when I was younger, I probably was annoying. But I’m twenty-five now, a grown woman, most definitely not annoying. Hell, I even work for the Cobras in the finance department with him although he’s not my direct manager. We’re perfect for each other. He’s just a stubborn jerk and won’t give us a chance.”

  Cassie returned to her seat so Angel and Vanessa could touch up her makeup before she got dressed. “Jake says he’s changed a little since returning from Afghanistan. And I don’t mean from his hearing loss.”

  Heath had returned from Afghanistan six years ago, injured after IEDs, improvised explosive devices, exploded during one of their missions. He’d lost two men in his unit with several others sustaining severe injuries, including Heath who had lost seventy percent of his hearing as a result of being so close to the blasts.

  Physically, Heath had healed from his injuries, with Luke replacing the clunky, outdated hearing aids the VA provided him with a state-of-the-art tiny pair that were barely visible and provided much better sound. Emotionally though, Abbey suspected Heath still suffered. Maybe Leah could help her wounded warrior. Abbey hoped so because she agreed with Leah. If Heath was willing to give them a chance, he and Leah could be happy together.

  Leah frowned, nodding her head in agreement. “I know that. I know war changes you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be happy. Once Luke replaced Heath’s hearing aids, he went to college using his VA education benefits and got his finance degree and MBA, and now he manages the Finance department for the Cobras. He turned a bad situation around. He should be proud of himself. I am.”

  Madison finished up with Leah’s hair, adjusting wisps on each side of her face. “Leah, if he lost members of his unit, he’s probably feeling survivor’s guilt. I know how that feels. My husband passed away a year ago. And although I know in my head I should move on and not feel guilty for being alive and try to be happy like I know my late husband would want me to, my heart says something different. Don’t be so hard on Heath is all I’m saying.”

  Leah nodded and took a hold of Madison’s hands, squeezing tight. “I’m so sorry, Madison. And I’ll try to go easy on Heath, but I will not take no for an answer. I believe my love can help him if he would just give me a chance.”

  Madison smiled back at Leah. “I think all the women in this room know the love of a good woman can make even the most stubborn, jerky men come around. You, my dear, are ready to get dressed.” Madison handed a Leah a hand mirror to show off her wonderful work.

  “Madison, wow. Thank you so much! This is perfect. Not overdone at all.” Leah admired herself in the mirror before making her way to one of the suite’s bedrooms that had her and Abbey’s clothes. “Hurry up, Abbey, let’s get ready.”

  Abbey looked up at Roxanna and she smiled. Roxanna handed her a hand mirror and she couldn’t believe what she saw. Leah was right. The makeup was flawless but not overdone. “Thank you, Roxanna, Leah was right.” She looked up to see Cassie smiling over at her. Even though her life was a total mess at the moment, Abbey felt beautiful. For the first time in a long time.

  Abbey could do this. She could put her personal issues aside and be there for her sister’s big day. She would be the best maid of honor a bride could ask for, and she wouldn’t let Cassie down. She’d be calm and collected. She’d be gracious and considerate for Cassie and for herself.

  Time to put on her big girl panties and suck it up. It had been ten years since she’d broken up with Luke. That was long enough to pine after someone who didn’t want her. Abbey had gone to great lengths over the last ten years to steer clear of Luke and could now admit that might have been a bit drastic. Weddings were a time of new beginnings. Maybe she could begin again with Luke as friends. In actuality, Abbey didn’t have much of a choice. He was dating someone else and from everything she’s seen and heard about Luke and Brenna as a couple, they seemed happy. And she would do her best to be happy for them. That knot in her stomach over the thought of Luke with someone else would eventually go away. Maybe if she put an effort into dating, she wouldn’t feel so preoccupied with Luke’s love life. Maybe.

  As Abbey padded to the bedroom to get dressed, Angel called out to her. “Don’t forget, we made up bags for the three of you with everything we used today so you can recreate your looks whenever you want. I’m a rep with the cosmetic company so you can order the exact items anytime you need them.”

  Abbey liked that idea. She normally didn’t wear much makeup, but if she was going to start dating again, she’d take more time on her appearance. “Thanks, that’s really thoughtful of you and so helpful for me.”

  Leah had just finished putting on a delicate white lace bra and panty set when Abbey walked into the bedroom to get dressed. Heath was in trouble if he got the chance to see what Leah was wearing under her bridesmaid dress. The bra and panty set complemented her sexy curves just right. “What do you think?” Leah did a quick spin as she giggled.

  “I think you’re gorgeous and Heath’s not going to know what hit him if he gets a chance to see what you’re wearing,” Abbey said.

  Leah pointed to the lingerie set Abbey purchased for the wedding, the cornflower-blue matching her dress perfectly. “Looks like you got something special too.”

  Abbey felt herself blush. She had never bought lingerie so fancy before. “I just wanted something pretty to go with my dress. I didn’t have a specific someone in mind to model it for.” Although she couldn’t help wondering what Luke would think.

  Stop that. It doesn’t matter what Luke would think.

  Leah slipped into her hose and a long slip. Abbey held open the unzipped bridesmaid dress so Leah could step into it without ruining her hair and makeup. Once it was comfortably in place, Abbey zipped it up and Leah turned to face her.

  The lace and illusion mesh bodice of the bridesmaid’s
dresses was delicate and feminine. The cornflower-blue color flattering on both Abbey and Leah. And with elbow-length lace and mesh sleeves, and a floor-length skirt, it was the perfect. “God, Leah, you’re stunning, really.”

  “You think so?” Leah asked, a huge smile on her face.

  “Absolutely.” Now Abbey was excited to get dressed herself.

  “Okay, now get that sexy lingerie on and I’ll help you too.”

  Leah admired herself in the dresser mirror while Abbey put her new lingerie set, hose, and slip on. When she was ready, Leah helped her into her own dress and pulled up the zipper. Leah fluffed up Abbey’s hair, laying it just so around her shoulders.

  “Wow, Abbey, just—wow. You were right to leave that gorgeous blonde hair down.” Leah turned Abbey to face the dresser mirror

  Abbey looked at herself in the mirror, shocked. She almost didn’t recognize herself. A little makeup and hair styling made such a difference. She would definitely order makeup from Angel after the weekend was over. “I feel wow.”

  “Jake’s invited a few of his single lawyer friends and college buddies. You never know who might get a peek at your lingerie tonight.” Leah waggled her eyebrows and took her dyed-to-match, much too high heeled for Abbey’s safety, pumps and went back to the dining room.

  Abbey wasn’t so sure she wanted anyone else taking a peek at her lingerie tonight, but for the first time in a long time, she felt amazing. She grabbed her own dyed-to-match, safe one-and-half-inch heels and followed Leah out to the dining room.

  Cassie rushed over to them both, giving Abbey and Leah quick hugs. “You both look wonderful. I knew this dress would be perfect for you guys.” Cassie teared up.

  “Don’t cry, Cassie, your makeup! Look up and blink. It will stop the tears from falling,” Vanessa suggested.

  Cassie laughed at herself and did as Vanessa suggested. It worked, no tears fell.

  Abbey looked around the room and found Roxanna and Madison missing. Had they already gone on to the church? All four stylists agreed to stay through the ceremony to help with hair and makeup touch ups if needed for pictures.