Silk Scarves and Seduction by Shiloh Walker

it. And look at my track record. Until Caleb, I had messed up every relationship I’d ever been in. And Caleb came to me. He made the move. I’m terrible at giving advice on things. But Caleb knew. Marc’s so far gone over you, it’s not even funny. I said something about it at my wedding, and that’s when Caleb told me, but he said you two had to find each other for yourselves. Once he told me, it was so easy to see. And for a while, it was funny, watching you two around each other, but now it’s just—hell. I don’t know what it is.”
    Then Tessa turned around and her cold blue eyes stared into Valery’s. “But that was just plain cruel. Blush, what in the hell is your problem? What are you so damned scared of?”
    None of Tessa’s words connected. Her legs collapsed under her and she just fell onto the chair under her. “He’s not in love with me,” she murmured. “He can’t be.”
    “Why not?” Tessa asked, lifting her chin.
    Because if he was, I just ruined everything.
    Aloud, she said, “Why do you think that? Where did you get such a fucked-up idea?”
    Tessa smiled one of the rare catty smiles that ever graced her face and then she replied, “I’m sure you noticed something of an anomaly on him, a piercing? For a man who is pretty damned good about practicing what he preaches and all. He doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink more than a beer here and there. Eats better than anybody I’ve ever met in my life. He’s the poster boy for healthy living.”
    “What in the hell does that have to do with anything?” Valery demanded, reaching up and grabbing handfuls of her hair.
    “Caleb told Marc years ago that you and him were meant to be together and he should ask you out. He was too chicken, according to Caleb. Marc said you’d end up married to some artistic freak or the like before you were even twenty years old and if he was wrong, he’d get his nipple pierced. Well, Caleb came home on leave the summer you turned twenty and held him to it. Then he asked him when he was going to ask you out. Marc was going to, but you were in Ireland, then when you came home you started dating somebody, an artist. He moped for months.”
    Valery licked her lips. “That doesn’t mean he is in love with me.”
    “All right. But him telling Caleb that you were the only woman he’d ever love does,” Tessa snapped, starting to pace the room, her long legs scissoring back and forth, shooting her an incredulous look. “Damn it. My wedding. You caught the bouquet. Marc caught the garter. He was standing there turning it around and around in his hands, staring at you like he could just eat you up in three greedy bites, and you were oblivious. And again, Caleb asked him when he was going to do something. Marc said, ‘I’ve been here, waiting for her to notice me for years. ’ And I quote, ‘The woman I’ve loved my whole damn life doesn’t even realize I exist. It’s useless.’ Damn it, Blush, I never realized you were a fool.”
    Valery blinked. She felt bruised. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
    “For crying out loud, why didn’t you ever look?”
    Valery stood up, taking a deep breath. Then she walked out the front door.
    Behind her, Tessa gaped, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Well, why don’t you just kick me next time?” she muttered, reaching up and rubbing her hand across her chest.

    Valery stood in front of her mirror, smoothing the lotion into her skin, forcing her mind to blank. She had to, because if she thought about anything, she’d shatter.
    She ached, hurt all over.
    She had been so terribly wrong.
    And she’d acted like some high school kid.
    The refrain from a movie she’d seen years before kept echoing in her head.
    Loser. Loser. Loser.
    How appropriate.
    She was a damned loser. She’d lost everything.
    Damn it. What in the hell was wrong with her?
    Was she that afraid of taking a risk?
    She scowled at herself.
    Yes. She was.
    She stared at her hands,