Chapter 5: Continuation of Chapter 2

I'm slightly surprised when she orders champagne. I'm even more surprised when the bartender cards me. I pull out my license and flash it to him, thankful that my recent heartache hasn't taken a toll on my face. He gives me an apologetic smile. "Are we celebrating?" I ask, putting away my identification. "Nah," she says, grinning. "It's the lowest drink in calories." That's good to know. There's not a bride I've worked with that hasn't been on some sort of diet. It's a little crazy. You have the ring, the man obviously loves you. Own it! "Have you heard anything from . . ." Skye asks, treading lightly. "You can say his name," I say. "No, I haven't heard from Rhett." Rhett is the last thing I want to talk about. I'm here to avoid all the memories—memories—the site of our first date, first kiss, where he proposed to me. We should have been married by now, happy. There's just something about Rhett. His eyes are the palest blue I've ever seen, and his brown hair is always slightly messy like he just fucked someone hard. Rhett's got handsome down pat. It's the details of a man that make him sexy—the stubble on his face, the v-cut, the blue of his eyes, the veins in his hands. Rhett has it all. He just might be the perfect man. There's just one problem, he's gone. I can't forget. Did I mention the way he kisses? He kisses me like he means it, like kissing me is one of his basic human needs. I wonder if any man will ever kiss me like that again. No matter what's happened, Rhett still gets my knickers in a twist, but I guess there are certain attractions that just burn too bright to fade. "Maybe that's for the best," Skye offers. Resisting the urge to ask if she or Brody have heard from him, I down my drink. After all, the calories aren't going to kill me. The memories might, though. Skye's phone dings. "It's probably Brody," she says with a snipe of attitude, digging through her purse. "Telling me he's working late again." With that, I motion for another drink. Things between Skye and my brother haven't been great lately. There's tension between them that wasn't there before. Brody has yet to hire a replacement for Rhett. It's long overdue. I'm not sure why. We don't really talk about it. My breakup didn't just happen to me. It happened to all of us, but none of us want to talk about it. Maybe that's why Brody is working like he is. Must run in the family. He and I both seem to think if we work hard enough, we won't have to feel so damn much. Skye waves the bartender away. "It's not your brother." Turning the phone to me, she raises an eyebrow. "Dr. Hottie wants to know if you're single?" There's not a ring on my finger. I haven't been on a date in God knows how long. I check the single box on my taxes, my medical forms. Yes, I'm single. It's just my heart still feels very much attached. I blow out a deep breath and fake a smile. Single girls have more fun, right? "He's a little old," I say. "Experienced!" Skye says, winking at me. "What else do you know about him?"