Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aides (33 page)

Sabrina was surprised when Trent pulled into the Sacramento Airport parking lot. She assumed they’d drive wherever he planned to go.

Trent pulled a duffle bag out of his trunk.

“What’s going on? I don’t have anything packed.”

“You don’t need anything. You’ll be well taken care of. Come on, we have to hurry.” Trent rushed toward the plane.

“Trent, what are you up to?” she said breathlessly, trying to catch up.

“About six foot one,” he said over his shoulder then slowed down long enough to grab her hand and hurry her along.

“Very funny. Come on, where are we going?”

“We are going on an exciting trip. We’re going to celebrate New Year’s in style. And you, my love, are going to sit back and enjoy the flight, while I enjoy you.”

They’d barely been in the air, had one glass of champagne, when they descended through the clouds into the most breathtaking vision of snowcapped mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe. Trent had a car waiting for them. A limousine. Black, sleek, and shiny.

From there they headed to Harrah’s. The air was crisp, cold and clean. Grey skies that threatened to snow any moment. The scent of pine and fresh clean air surrounded them. She was on an adventure of a lifetime and she wanted to remember every moment of it, forever.

She’d never been gambling before and was excited that Trent had planned it himself, wanting to surprise her. Between the hugs and gentle kisses he showered her with, all she could think of was that it had to be a dream and she never wanted to wake up.

Trent helped her play blackjack. She played six hands and won five hundred dollars then she begged to quit before she lost it.

Holding hands, they toured the casinos. There was chaos all around them. People packed elbow-to-elbow. Small wonder since it was New Year’s Eve. By four in the afternoon the constant thrum of pushy, intoxicated people, clanking glasses, and clanging machines gave her a headache. “Trent, can we please sit down somewhere quiet?”

“Sure, honey, whatever you want.”

Honey
. She liked that. He was so attentive, she hated to spoiled his fun. She’d hoped they’d spend New Year’s alone, just the two of them. She wanted to convince him to spend the night with her, for real this time. She wanted him to make love to her tonight, more than ever. She wasn’t sure it would happen now. She wasn’t sure of anything.

“I know, how about we go have an early dinner?”

“Sounds great. Hopefully we’ll find a place considering it’s last minute.”

“That’s what you think.” Trent couldn’t stand still. He practically bounced on the tips of his toes. Excitement radiated off him.

“Really? Why do I feel like you have something up your sleeve?”

“Probably because I do.”

“Which is?”

“To spend the evening with someone who is very special to me.” He tilted his head toward her, then pulled her into his arms.

“I see.”

There was more to it. Trent was enthusiastic about everything he did today. All remnants of guilt disappeared as though nothing ever happened between them. His chocolate brown eyes twinkled. His excitement was so charged she expected lightning bolts to shoot from his fingertips as he pointed out various games.

Back in the car, she sighed and leaned against Trent’s arm. “Ah—the sweet sound of silence. Right now it’s pure heaven.”

“I know. Casinos can be a bit overwhelming. The noise, the excitement, and the insanity. But I love watching people in them.”

“It’s probably fine on any other day, but New Year’s Eve is a bit much. I’m not into large crowds.”

Trent kissed her forehead. “I knew there was a good reason why I love you. I’m glad you don’t like crowds, neither do I.”

“What’d you say?” She sat up and gulped.

“You heard me. And yes, I said it. I love you.”

“Trent, are you teasing me?”

“Not about something this important. No.”

“Honestly? Truly?”

“Yes. I told you I loved you in my office that day. I wasn’t lying then. I’m even more serious now.”

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve dreamt you’d say those words to me?” She cried.

“Probably as long as I’ve wanted to get to know you better. By the way, I’m sorry for how rotten I was at Kat’s party. I shouldn’t have untied your top. It seemed the right thing to do at the time. And I’m sorry for being an idiotic ass wipe. I’ve wanted to apologize ever since.”

She shook her head. “Not necessary. I wasn’t exactly nice to you either.”

“When you gave me that smart ass remark that’s when I knew how much I wanted to get to know you. Only Kat put a halt to it.”

“She only recently told me you asked, and asked, and asked.”

“Okay, so I was a bit pushy with her. I had to try.”

“I’m glad you did. I only wish it had happened sooner.”

“Not me. It happened when it was right. I like everything about us.”

“Me too.”

Trent kissed her. It wasn’t a lightning strike kiss or a kiss leading to sex. It was an emotional kiss, one that ended when he pulled away and simply said, “I love you, Sabrina Thompson.”

“I love you too.”

“That’s good. Otherwise the rest of the night would be screwed up.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

Trent pulled her close. Her back was to his chest and he kissed her temple.

The snowy scenery gave her a feeling of euphoria as they turned right and headed toward the north shore. The snow came down in dime-sized flakes. The sky grew darker, creating a fairy tale perfect setting. If this was happiness, she never wanted it to end.

They pulled in the parking lot of a restaurant shaped like a railroad boxcar. Icicles over three feet long hung from the trim. It was the most breathtaking magical view. Lake Tahoe lay on one side of the road, the boxcar restaurant on the other.

Simply majestic.

Once inside the waiter escorted them to a back room where a long trestle table was placed in front of a roaring fire. The windows shared a view of passing cars, mounds of snow, and people enjoying the scenery. She felt as if she stood in center of a snow globe. If only she was able to commit this moment to memory.

A loud pop startled her and she jumped to Trent’s side.

“Surprise!”

Suddenly the room was filled. Her parents, her brother, Kat, Jill, even Angel. There were four additional people standing near Travis. Travis, what was he doing here? She turned one way, then another, everyone clamoring for their attention.

“Trent, what’s going on?” She covered her mouth, stunned by the moment.

“I—I wanted this moment to be perfect. I asked everyone to join us, hopefully you won’t mind.”

“Mind what? You’re not making any sense.” She took it all in.

Trent pulled his hand from his coat pocket, opened a black velvet box and said, “Sabrina, this has been a fast, crazy, wild ride. It doesn’t get better than this. I don’t want it to end. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

“Trent, are you out of your mind?”

“Probably, but will you?”

Family and friends smiled, urging her to respond. This wasn’t happening. Surely it was a dream.

“Sabrina?”

What must her folks think?

Her dad smiled and said, “Go ahead, honey, answer the man. He already asked permission.”

She clutched Trent’s sleeve. “Trent, you called my folks?”

“Yes. Sabrina. Will you please answer me? You’re killing me here.”

“Of course I’ll marry you.” She flew into his arms and kissed Trent with every fiber of her being.

Her hand shook as he slipped the ring on her finger. Her hand flew to her mouth. “Ohmygod, it’s beautiful.”

She was immediately engulfed in arms, congratulations, and excitement.

Two waiters served champagne encouraging everyone to be seated.

Once the noise died down Trent helped her to her seat then clanged a fork on his champagne glass. “Now that I have your attention and Sabrina’s, I want to thank everyone for coming. Sabrina is still in the dark about a few things. I’d like your patience and understanding as I fill her in.”

Her parents smiled and shared a whisper. Her brother, Nickie, whistled then grinned and took in the confusion, loving every second of it. Kat and Jill stared at her expectantly. They appeared to know more than she did. Angel sat next to Travis with tears in her eyes. Angel managed to wink at her. Travis was very un-Travis like, laughing like a fool and whistling through his fingers.

“Sabrina, I didn’t ask everyone here just to announce our engagement. In fact this will be the shortest engagement on record. I hope you won’t mind that I took a few liberties—”

“A few?” She held up her hand, flashing her ring. Their family and friends laughed.

“Yeah, I know. But I couldn’t take any chances. I got you to say yes, now I’m taking the biggest leap of faith and hope you won’t kill me when I tell you the wedding is tonight, at midnight.”

“What?” She stammered, “I can’t. I don’t have a dress, we don’t have a church—”

He pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh, it’s all set. Angel brought the dress. Kat and Jill have the accessories. The church is ready and waiting. All we have to do is show up.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll marry me—tonight.”

“I’ll marry you tonight.” The words came out, her voice a mere whisper.

Trent wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

“You do know how to sweep a girl off her feet.”

“There’s only one girl I want, you. How’s the headache?”

“What headache?”

“That’s my girl.”

Dinner was a casual affair lasting over two hours, but as it continued, excitement and enthusiasm heightened as time drew near. Trent filled their folks in on the details of their short and unusual courtship. She was grateful for the time Trent took to reassure her parents the hastiness of the occasion wasn’t a joke and not a shotgun wedding, but that it was a serious celebration of love.

She didn’t fault him for glossing over a few issues with a simple admission they’d met four years earlier. The attraction was there but the timing had been wrong until he’d come to California to see Travis. Then they met again and it was impossible to ignore the obvious. His only lie was when he said he’d been working with Travis the whole time, learning about the magazine, and loving every minute of it. It wasn’t really a lie, a mere stretch of the truth.

By the time dinner ended and everyone knew when they needed to meet at the church, they had a couple hours free. Trent said he wanted some alone time with Sabrina. He asked the driver take them to the private estate where the wedding would take place. A small rock chapel on the property.

As they pulled up Sabrina was stunned. Lights blazed from the stain glassed windows casting colorful rainbow glitter on the snow covered trees. It was still snowing lightly. The chapel was tiny, and yet perfect. It reminded her of a Kinkade painting. “Trent, will there be a photographer? I don’t want to miss a single moment.”

“Absolutely. I already requested the photographer take pictures at sunset inside and out.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re sure you don’t mind me springing it on you this way? I know women dream about this moment all their lives. I don’t want to ruin any plans you may have had. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

“You know, it’s funny, I never let myself dream about the wedding, only the man. I dreamed about you, so often. Nothing ever came as close to this. This is absolutely perfect. I couldn’t have done better myself.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“Let’s go in. I want to show you around.”

Trent helped her from the car. They huddled together as they entered the chapel wrapped in each other’s arms.