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The Bridge was the star of the acreage. The curved acrylic panels encircling the bridge showed a clear view of the night sky, which he was sure was just as breathtaking in the daylight. Full of wooden walkways leading to tiered levels of the conservatory, lush tropical plants, a waterfall and free-flying butterflies, Jamal put it on his checklist to bring JJ to. Well, after the wedding, anyway. He doubted she was going to get to see much of it when Kyle and Callie were exchanging vows.
Kyle led the group of guys to the middle of the bridge down a brick pathway. Chairs had been set up on either side of the path.
“You guys will come from here and walk down the path with the bridesmaid you’re walking with and stop right in front of the front rows of chairs.” Kyle motioned down the path the group just walked. “JJ will come right before Callie and her dad. Hopefully we will get it the first time and then get to go eat. Ted’s is catering the rehearsal dinner at the banquet hall beside the dressing room where we just were.”
“Alright, man! Let’s get this show on the road. I’m always up for Ted’s.” Jamal’s mouth started watering. Ted’s Café Escondido was the best Mexican food in Oklahoma City. He loved their fajitas. Well, he loved pretty much everything about the place. He was even man enough to admit they made a damn good margarita.
“No Ted’s until we get this perfect, Jamal. I’m getting this wedding thing down before Saturday.” Jamal turned to the sound of the soft, Oklahoma accent of Kyle’s fiancé, Callie. She sure was a cutie. Jamal had even eyed the untouchable beauty a time or two before she hooked up with his best friend. Callie wrapped her arms around Kyle’s waist as Kyle placed a kiss on her forehead.
“I’m not gonna lie, Curly,” Kyle said, “I could seriously go for some Ted’s right now.”
“Then get this right, honey bun, and we can go eat.” Callie winked at Kyle and walked back down the path. “Follow me boys and you can meet your walking partner.”
“Honey bun, Kyle, really? That’s embarrassin’ man. She’s got your dick wrapped around her finger.” Jamal shook his head.
“Just follow my fiancé so we can go eat. I’m starving,” Kyle said, rolling his eyes at Jamal.
Callie led the group of men down the pathway and stopped in front of a small waterfall. A small green lizard ran across the bricks in front of his feet.
“Woah! Be careful! You almost smushed the little guy.” Jamal pulled up short in front of a small, black-haired beauty. Her hair fell in a dark, silken curtain to her shoulder blades, the front pulled back from her face, highlighting her porcelain skin and high cheekbones. Brown doe-eyes looked at him from under full lashes. Her full lips were tinted a soft pink. Jamal couldn’t tell if it was natural or some sort of lip stuff women liked to wear. The belt of the full-length dress she had on accented her tiny waist and small stature. She was probably five-four on a good day. She was breathtaking.
“Sorry; didn’t see the little guy. I woulda felt pretty bad if I had, what did you call it, smushed him? Never heard that expression before, Bambi.”
Doe-eyes’ nostrils flared and she huffed at him. He actually heard the huff. ”Don’tcall me Bambi Mr. um…what’s your name? You do have a name, right? Everyone’s parents give them some sort of moniker when they’re born. They don’t just call you kid.”
Jamal paused in shock. Who the hell used the word moniker in everyday language?
“Well? I asked you a question. Polite society dictates that you form some sort of response. Are you mute?” she asked, her arms crossed over her chest and her tiny foot tapping out a rhythm on the stones.
Jamal smiled. “You mean you don’t know my name?”
Bambi stared at him blankly. “Should I know your name?”
Was she kidding?Surely she was kidding, Jamal thought. Everyone in OKC knew who he was. Or so he thought. The girl standing in front of him was proving him wrong.
“I’m Jamal. Jamal Jenkins. Point guard for the Thunder. And you are?” Jamal gave Bambi one of his killer smiles that had women of all ages swooning. She just rolled her eyes. Rolled. Her. Eyes. First a huff, now an eye roll. This was a new territory he was venturing into.
“Well, I guess that means we’re partners then,” she said with a sigh. “I’m Cassie. I guess it’s nice to meet you…did you say your name was Jamar?”
Jamal almost had to pick his jaw off the floor. Of all the nerve. Jamar?
“Ja-mal,” he said loudly. “Not Jamar.”
The woman shrugged her shoulders. “My fault.”
Kyle forgot to mention the bookworm might have been a knockout, but she was also an insufferable asshole.
“Are you the one who likes to read so much? Kyle told me I was walking down the aisle with a book nerd,” he said, trying to get a rise out of the beauty standing before him.
Cassie glared at him and put her hands on her hips. “I am incollege, you big dummy. I have to read. It’s kind of part of the curriculum.”
“Did you just call me dummy?” Jamal asked with a grin. “What, are we in first grade? Can I pull your hair, Bambi? Isn’t that what boys do to girls on the playground?”
He leaned against the wall, his hands crossed over his chest, a picture of nonchalance, even though his heart was beating a frantic rhythm under his arms. He didn’t feel like this. Ever. It was very unsettling. What was worse, he didn’t know if it was her beauty that threw him for a loop or the fact she couldn’t give two shits who he was.
Jamal took a step forward to close the gap between him and the beauty. Leaning down, he tugged a wisp of her hair and whispered in her ear, “I can call you names, too, Bambi, but I can promise it won’t be something as elementary as dummy.”
Cassie jerked away from him like he had stuck her with hot poker. “I don’t want to hear any names you call me. Now, leave me alone.”
