Chapter Thirty-Three
The next morning Carmella woke up early. Her final exams were starting and she had to reach her university campus on time for the next few days. Jaxon sat sipping his coffee and watching her restlessly pacing and worrying.
"Come here, Carmella, " he called her, pushing her coffee towards her. "Here sip this and close your eyes and feel the taste seep into you, tingle your taste buds. It will calm you down, try," he suggested as she came and sat beside him. She tried what he suggested and miraculously it help her calm down.
"Can you drop me at the University of Vegas?" She asked him.
"Sure I will and I will pick you up too. There's nothing to be nervous about. You will sail through don't worry, " he reassured her.
Just as promised Jaxon dedicatedly dropped her off at her campus every day for her exams and picked her up as well. Her exams went well and finally, she was free. Guests had already started pouring in for their wedding. It seemed the Parker family had invited everyone they knew!
Gilbert came over to Jaxon's apartment with his fiancée Jacqueline. Carmella hugged her, welcoming her inside. Ralph came with a beautiful young girl, around twenty whom he had met in London. He looked too whipped with her and introduced her to everyone.
"This is Raven Porterfield, she's doing a B. Tech in Apparel Production Management in London," he said proudly. Raven shyly waved at everyone.
Carmella hugged her, "Thanks for coming to our wedding, " she said, welcoming her.
"Where did you meet her dude?" Asked Jacqueline. She worked at their New York office.
"I went for a campus interview at her university and I recruited her as an intern at our London production house," he informed them. Raven excused herself and went to the washroom.
"Are you two together?" Jacqueline asked Ralph. He looked uncomfortable but shook his head.
"No, she's agreed to come on a work tour," he admitted, scratching his head, looking guilty.
"You tricked her into coming here?" Asked Jaxon incredulously.
"What the hell dude! Granny likes her and I had to introduce her as my fiancée to her. Ever since the act is on but she has a good for nothing boyfriend already," shrugged Ralph.
"Tell granny the truth. How long will you continue this?" said Gilbert.
Ralph sulked more, "I can't. She'll start her matchmaking again," he said, with a deep sigh.
"Cheer up now and enjoy her company while you can. Later you can poison her boyfriend, " suggested Jacqueline and Ralph's eyes lit up.
"You help me, okay?" He said with a grin and she nodded. Gilbert glared at the two of them with shock. They were so casually planning to murder Raven's boyfriend!
She came back and they all discussed Jaxon and Carmella's wedding plans. "Let's go somewhere for your bachelorette get together. We can have a blast. What do you all say?" Suggested Gilbert and they all agreed.
"I don't want a wild party with only drinking. Let's go to someplace where we can enjoy, someplace different, " said Carmella.
"We can go to Laughlin, it's just an hour's drive away. My uncle has a cottage overlooking the Colorado River. We could go to one of the five-star hotels to have dinner and spend the night at the cottage and return tomorrow morning. What do you all say?" Suggested Ralph. Raven didn't say anything and Ralph didn't look at her in case she declined. With the wedding three days away they could easily escape for one night.
Since it was just 9 o'clock in the morning, they went to prepare for the trip while Carmella and Jaxon accompanied her parents to the venue to check out the final plans. Satisfied with everything they returned home to pack an overnight bag for the trip.
After lunch, everyone came over and they all drove off to Ralph's uncle's cottage in Laughlin. It took them one and a half hours to reach the place. The wild desert scenery and the stunning mountain backdrop along with the beautiful Colorado River which runs right through the heart of town immediately excited them.
"It's so worth the effort, I love the place already," said Carmella.
"Yes so do I, " agreed Jacqueline.
"This is so different from London where it rains mostly, " said Raven. "This is my first trip to the US."
"Oh, then let's enjoy to the fullest," said Jacqueline.
The men returned after parking their cars. Ralph had the keys to the cottage. It was a beautifully decorated house with a private boat dock & a platform to sunbathe on. They went inside and checked the property out. There were three bedrooms very comfortable and cosy and freshly cleaned and all overlooking the river. There was a huge covered patio with seating & gas fire pit overlooking the river.
"This is awesome," said Carmella. They selected the bedrooms that they wished to occupy. Carmella and Jaxon had the on the far end of the cottage. Gilbert and Jacqueline occupied the one which was nearer to the front of the house. Jacqueline loved the garden and wanted to go for a walk along the waterfront.
Raven and Ralph occupied the only bedroom upstairs but Carmella could sense the tension between them. She knew they weren't together and it was difficult under the circumstances to share a room but she didn't want to interfere in their matters. She let them figure it out on their own.
After freshening up, they all met in the living room. "Let's explore first," suggested Jaxon.
"Yes we can see the attractions around Colorado in a paddle boat as well as check out some of the watersports offered, " suggested Ralph. They all agreed and went over to the waterfront to plan out what they could do. They rented paddle boats and explored the Lower Colorado River and visited the many cultural and historic sites. They saw the colourful rock formations, the deep canyons and spectacular desert wildlife in the Black Canyon and Topock Gorge areas. It was nearly evening by the time they were done.
Exhausted, they returned back to the cottage to freshen up for dinner. "That was awesome. Did you click pictures, Giles?" Asked Jaxon.
"Yes sure, I will forward them to all of you, " said Gilbert.
Ralph sat quietly watching Raven who was busy in the kitchen making coffee for all. Carmella helped her and they together brought the coffee served with muffins and French fries to the living room for all to devour. Carmella sat with Jaxon and they enjoyed the food. Gilbert stole from Jacqueline and she smacked him left and right. Raven ate a little but was acutely aware of Ralph's constant hot gaze focussed upon her.
"Why aren't you eating?" Jacqueline asked Raven. She looked towards Ralph who listened with his full attention.
"I'm full already," she said, shyly.
"No, you hardly ate anything," said Ralph and picked up a muffin and brought it to her lips. "C'mon eat up," he insisted.
Jaxon and Gilbert were sipping coffee and checking a post on Facebook. Carmella was busy getting more food from the kitchen. Jacqueline smiled and excused herself and went off to the kitchen to help her.
Raven took a bite of the cupcake, her cheeks colouring brightly. "No more, thanks," she said. Ralph ate up the rest and she coloured more.
Afterwards, they went to the nearest four-star hotel and casino on the riverfront for dinner. They danced in the disco and got drinks for all except Raven who was underage.
As they enjoyed their drinks, Ralph got up and asked Raven for a dance. She went with him. Later all of them joined in and danced.
They loved the late-night dinner. It was a special treat to the engaged couple. Carmella and Jaxon loved the treat and thanked all their friends. After an enjoyable time, they went back to the cottage. Carmella and Jaxon went for a walk along the riverbank, inhaling the fresh night air.
"This is what I love most. Friends, nature, bonding, wonderful food, bliss, " said Carmella.
"And I love you the most," he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her lips gently, lingeringly. "In three more days we'd be married and we'll go back to New York," he said breaking the kiss and holding her close.
"Yes, but I won't rejoin your company. I want to enrol into a postgraduate course as well as set up a boutique for my kidswear collection, " said Carmella.
"I know baby. I don't want you to join me. You can do whatever you want to," he said. They walked back to the cottage to their room to sleep.
Ralph sat on the living room sofa, not knowing whether Raven had finished taking her shower. After ten minutes, he went upstairs, unable to sit alone anymore. He opened the door and walked inside. Raven was still in the en-suite and he stripped off his shirt and changed into a pair of sweatpants and lay on the bed waiting for her.
He knew that his condition was pathetic being her boss who was much older than her. She wouldn't have agreed to come along with him if he told her that they were off to attend his partner and best friend's wedding. Now that he had her to himself, he had to convince her of his feelings for her. Deep feelings which he never felt for any other woman.
