Of all the people in the world to need my service, she was without a doubt the most room stopping. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. It was going to be impossible to come up with an excuse for staring at her this time. Her soft brown hair was swept neatly to the side and curled, and her eyes could melt even the coldest mountain. I could feel myself swooning a bit. I had to stop.

She loved the attention. I saw her blush and become happy. I didn’t know how a woman this gorgeous got to be so self conscious. If she weren’t a client I would kiss her right now and try to keep her from leaving the room the whole night. If she was a car, I was a deer standing in the headlights.

“Close your mouth, you’re leaking drool.” She giggled. I loved her giggle. She had a soft sweet laugh. I was becoming more and more excited to spend this weekend with her.

“You look ravishing. You look enchanting.” I remembered why we were here. “You’re going to knock him off of his feet.” I tightened my tie and offered her my arm. “Shall we go down?”

“We shall.” She took my elbow.

As I walked her to the elevator I could feel my body telling me that this woman was different from the rest. It wasn’t just age difference anymore, and it wasn’t the fact that she was adorable. There was something about the way she was peculiar that I loved. Maybe she would continue to see me after this weekend. I’m sure I could put her dead-beat ex to shame. He was going to rue the day he split up with her. This whole wedding was going to be asking “what happened between you and April” to him. He would have nothing to say other than “I’ve made a huge mistake.”

I could tell she felt good. At first she was hiding when she put this one, but once she got into her high heels and make up, she was beginning to see what I saw.

“So I’m going to meet your mother and father tonight?”

“Yes. Hopefully you won’t have to do too much talking. They have a lot of nagging at me to do anyway.”

“Right. Okay. So we met at a bar and you were wearing this dress.”

“We didn’t agree to that.”

“Let me fantasize.” I felt like I was making her uncomfortable with my bluntness. I wanted her to feel beautiful, but I didn’t want to be off putting.

“Save it for when there are people around.”

“You’re a person too, April.” Maybe I should have waited to shmooze. I didn’t want to come off as a horny escort, even if that is what I was. I just wanted to make sure my client had a good time, and if we had a little more fun than the contract required then it was all for the better. The elevator opened and we went into the terrace.

“Okay, here we go.” She said, squeezing the handle tight. We entered the room, and just as I thought it would happen, everyone was stunned. It could have been shock about seeing the ex-fiancee, but I knew better. It was seeing someone like this in person. It was intoxicating. “Oh no, here comes my mom.”

Just then a pompous looking woman came our way. She seemed as stuck up as I had been warned. I had a way of dealing with these women. Several of my clients are this type exactly. She squeezed April around the shoulders, avoiding messing up her makeup or hair. “Hello, darling. Who might this handsome gentleman be?”

I held out my hand and greeted her. “Grant Taylor. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Where is Mr. Somerset?” April looked over at me and gave me a playful nudge that warned me to cool it.

“I had no idea that you would be coming with my daughter. Tell me more about you.”

“Sure. Let’s get a drink first. Can I get you ladies a martini?”

“You know me so well.” Her mom joked. April motioned to get two. As I walked to the bar I overheard her mom saying “Did you sell your soul for that one?” She didn’t know how close she was.

“We’ve been dating for a few months. I didn’t want him to have to meet the family or my ex. That’s why I didn’t want to come with him.”

“And this whole time you were lying. I thought you were ashamed of being single.”

April laughed loudly as a queue to get me back in the conversation. Unfortunately, the bar was packed, and she would have to wait. I had several eyes looking me up and down from both men and women. Some of them were trying to see if I was a threat, and others were hoping that I was one. I wonder which one of these men were Tom. I’m sure it would be more obvious as the night went on. I got the martinis and joined April and her mother again. Her father was now standing there, looking at me with surprise.

As I approached I heard her mom whisper to him “You aren’t going to believe this, honey.” I gave April and her mom their drinks then held out my hand to her father. “Grant Taylor. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine. We were certain that our daughter was in a dating drout. Little did we know she had a catch like you.”

After taking several large drinks April chimed in. “Grant operates a hedge fund.”

“That’s true.”

“It can’t be.” Her mom eyed me, trying to find where my cord was, as if I was a talking doll.

“Oh, but it is.” I took out my business card and handed it to her and her father. I was glad I upgraded to get the nice paper on these so they looked just as classy as I was trying to emanate.

“You don’t say.”

“Oh, but I do.” The conversation about my work continued and brought the attention away from April for a while. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she felt a lot of relief. Talking to her mom was strange. I felt like I was constantly being put to a test, like I was being measured up. April finished her drink fairly quickly.

“Maybe you could get a job as a secretary there, April.”

“Okay! We should go mingle more. I’ll talk to you later, mom.” April grabbed my shoulder and led me around the room. She was tapped on the shoulder and jerked back. “Mrs. Middleton!”

“Hello, sweetie! We are so glad you could make it. It has really been too long. How are things going?”

“They are going well.”

“And how is your writing doing?”

“I’m keeping at it. No bites yet.”

“A rolling stone gathers no moss.” I could tell that Mrs. Middleton already had a few. Maybe April wasn’t the only one who wasn’t too excited about this wedding. “Your writing is so lovely, dear, I’m sure you will get a job. I was so sad when your mom told me that you almost couldn’t make it.”

“Well, here I am!”

“And who might this be?”

“Grant Taylor, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Is this your boyfriend, April.”

“It sure is.” You could tell by the rosiness of April’s cheeks that she was boasting and gloating to Mrs. Middleton. It could have also been the alcohol.

“What a handsome fellow.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“You take good care of April. She is sublime. Simply magnificent.”

“Don’t I know it.” April looked in my eyes and we traded a glance. She was stunning. The whole world could see it besides her.

“Tell me more about your life, dear. How are things after the accident? Did you heal properly? Do you need help?”

“I’m doing fine now, thanks.” They continued talking like that for a while, catching up. I decided to excuse myself and get a drink of my own. It would be a long night for me, and I was going to enjoy it the best way I knew how.

When I joined them again Mrs. Middleton had to go talk to another family that just arrived. She gave me a hug goodbye and whispered about what a great woman April was in my ear. It was clear to me that Mrs. Middleton was nicer to April than her mother was. Perhaps that was where April’s self confidence had gone. April snagged another drink and we went to a secluded table.

With my strict diet it didn’t take much to get me tipsy. At this point I was fine, but another glass and I knew that I would be a little bit more cheerful and a little bit warmer. I felt like dancing with April, but I knew that this was neither the place nor the time.

There was a tinge of jealousy in my heart for her. I wished she weren’t still going after this Tom guy. I knew it was hopeless, and so did she. I just didn’t want her to have any feelings for him. It was crazy and stupid, especially since I was used to being the other man. Something about April just made me want to keep her safe.