"That's because you've lived with your head buried in the sand for the last ten years. She and Dylan were real hot and heavy for a while, but word is that he called it off because she was pressuring him about marriage.
"Who'd you hear that from?" Anna asked.
"Who else? My mother." Mel said. If anybody knew anything in Paradise, it was Margaret James. "She got it straight from Veronica's mother who said she'd already picked out her dress and rented the church when he called it quits. She was apparently devastated."
"Huh," Anna said, weaving towards the couch. "I can't imagine buying a dress and renting the church before he even proposed. I would have ordered the cake first because you can always eat that. All you can do with a dress is watch it turn yellow, and then you get depressed because you realize you're nearing thirty and you're still not married."
"Wow, thanks for that visual," Mel said, wishing she'd had at least one shot. "I only have five years before I'm thirty."
All this thinking made Anna's brain hurt, and the sloshing in her belly wasn't making her feel so hot either. "I can't believe he'd break it off with someone that looks like Veronica. I'd even go out with Veronica if I was into women. I just love her hair. Maybe I should dye mine black. How do you think I'd look?"
"Like Elvira," Mel said. "Stick with your natural color. Dylan is attracted to you now, remember?"
"Yeah, but I stood him up. Do you think I blew my chances?"
"Knowing his reputation, probably. But you might still have a chance if you want to go for it," Mel said. "It's not like you have anything to lose."
"I'll have to do it tomorrow. I don't think I'm at my best right now. I'll explain the whole situation. Surely he'll understand once he knows the circumstances." Anna stood up slowly and put her hands on her head to stop the spinning. "I think I'm going to be sick," she said on her way to the bathroom.
"Well that'll impress him," Mel said to Anna's retreating back.
Shiney's Pub had been a fixture in Paradise for almost a hundred years. It had seen most of its patrons go off to war and witnessed prohibition, but its doors were still open. Four generations that carried the Shiney name had worked behind the long expanse of mahogany bar that had held many a drink. Despite its tavern atmosphere, they held family night every Thursday, just like they had since their doors first opened.
Dylan opened the glass-paned front door and searched for Mitchell in the smoky interior. The place was only half full on a Monday night, but there was still a respectable crowd.
It was a place that people came to after work to unwind or a place to party on the weekends. Circular tables were scattered on the wide planked pine floor, but the bar was the centerpiece where high-backed stools lined their way down the worn mahogany. A large mirror ran down the wall on the backside of the bar, and dozens of bottles stood in front of it, their reflections multiplied.
Dylan waved to a few individuals he knew and headed towards the bar. Brian Shiney IV was behind the counter pouring whatever was on tap into mugs and talking to Douglas Howard, the owner of Howard's Grocery.
"Hey, Brian," Dylan said. "Mr. Howard," he nodded to the ancient man sitting on the stool.
"What's going on, Dylan?" Brian said. "Can I pour you a drink?"
"Make it two, and I'll take one back to Mitchell," Dylan said, putting his money on the bar. "You look pretty busy for a Monday night."
"Yeah, we're doing okay. The nights are getting warmer, and people are starting to get out more. There's only so much you can do closed up in a house all winter," Brian said with a wink.
Yeah, I know, Dylan thought with a sigh. He was supposed to be doing it right now. He grabbed both mugs and headed back to the room that housed the pool tables.
Mitchell was playing pool in the center of the room while a table of women were attempting to play their own game, but they couldn't keep their eyes off of his backside long enough to make a decent shot.
Dylan shook his head in amusement. It was the same everywhere they went. Women were attracted to Mitchell like bees were to honey, not to say that he didn't score his own fair share of looks either. Fortunately, he and Mitchell both happened to be lovers of all women, and they all loved them right back.
"That was a lousy shot," Dylan said, setting his beer down and picking up a cue stick. "I'll beat you in no time if you're gonna play that bad."
"In your dreams buddy. I'm willing to bet that your mind is going to be so preoccupied with what you could be doing at this very moment, that you won't make a shot." Mitchell stood, propped against his cue stick, with a competitive grin on his face.
Dylan scowled at his friend's accurate statement and got ready to break. Unfortunately, Mitchell couldn't have been more right as to where his mind was, not a single ball went in the pockets.
"Shit," Dylan said. "What the hell could make her change her mind and run like that?" he asked.
"I don't know my friend. Maybe you came on a little strong. I mean, the woman comes to our office to get a new house and you give her an orgasm on your desk. Maybe it was more than she bargained for."
Dylan shot Mitchell a dirty look. "How the hell do you know what happened on my desk?"
"My office is right next to yours, and we have really thin walls. I'm pretty sure the whole building heard what the two of you were doing. Anna is definitely a moaner. Janet was talking to a new client, and I thought she was going to have a heart attack with all that noise going on."
Dylan threw the chalk at Mitchell's head, which he easily ducked. "I should just move on and chalk Anna up as a loss, but I want her so damn bad."
"Well, my friend," Mitchell said, looking towards the door, "The opportunity to move forward has just arrived. A blast from your past just walked through the door, and she looks like she'd be willing to take Anna's place for the night."
Dylan looked over his shoulder and gave a mental groan. He did not need this tonight of all nights. The woman grabbed her beer and kept her eyes intense on his. She was a magnificent specimen of womanhood.
"Hey, Veronica," Dylan said. "What brings you to Shiney's?" His already primed body leapt painfully at the woman in front of him, and his breath caught deep in his chest, making his heart throb in time with the bass from the stereo. Sex had never been a weakness between the two of them when they were involved, and his dick had chosen that moment to reminisce about old times.
"I just closed up the store and decided to unwind with a drink," Veronica said, standing close enough that their bodies touched.
She owned a little boutique called Veronica's Closet that sold women's clothing and lingerie. It was located on the other side of the square and was indeed a short walk to Shiney's.
Dylan willed his body under control and took a small step back. She looked as hot as ever, her thick black hair trailing down her back and her light blue eyes made up like a gypsy's. The long skirt and stretchy top she wore were the exact shade as her eyes, and they fit her body like a glove. She was one sexy lady, but the image of another sexy lady in the throws of her first climax intruded his thoughts. There would be no other women until he'd had Anna, no matter how frustrated he was, which made him even more furious at her for her desertion.
"Can I buy you a drink, stranger?" she asked, closing the distance he tried to put between them.
Veronica was close enough that he could smell the scent she wore, and the look in her eyes was an invitation in itself. She intoxicated him, and she clouded his judgment. It would be so easy to press his body closer to hers and take what he so desperately needed. But it would be wrong to substitute one woman for another. He wouldn't do that to Anna, assuming he still had a chance with her. And he wouldn't do it to Veronica. He still cared about her a great deal, just not enough to marry her.
"I was actually just getting ready to leave," Dylan said, handing her his cue stick and backing away. "I've got an early appointment in the morning, and I need to get home and get some sleep. Mitchell's probably game for a free drink though."
"What do you say, Mitchell, are you up for a free drink?" Veronica asked, undaunted by Dylan's rejection.
"Absolutely, babe, and I'll kick your ass instead of Dylan's," he said giving Dylan the sign that he had everything under control. "A man does need a challenge every once in a while."
"I hope you won't be making shots like I saw earlier," Veronica said. "You'll need some pretty wide pockets."