by Nancy Martin
Re-arranging a large stack of books, the manager said, “Sorry about today’s review.”
“What review?”
“In the local paper. Some blue blood trashed your book.”
Grace felt her stomach drop. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Well, it’s pretty scathing. An old lady who says she was acquainted with your mother says you’re destroying her reputation.” The manager produced a newspaper clipping from her pocket and handed it over. “We already had two people who asked us to hold autographed copies call to cancel their orders. She’s put off by your sexual politics.”
“Sexual--? What sexual politics?” Grace tried to skim the article.
The manager shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I haven’t read the book. But whatever it is, we’ve had complaints.”
Grace thought she detected a gleam of pleasure in the manager’s eyes. Was she enjoying making Grace squirm? She handed the review back without finishing it.
Grace stood beside the table, and for the next hour she chatted with customers. Or rather, she tried to. Most people avoided the table, and the few that did approach her seemed to think she worked for the store and asked for directions to the bathroom. The store manager disappeared and let Grace handle the situation on her own. Finally one middle-aged woman rushed up and said she wanted to buy a copy of Grace’s book for her neighbor’s son who was graduating from college.
“He’s always been a jerk to me,” the woman said fiercely. “Ever since he was a little kid, he’s been nothing but rude. Your book better do him some good.”
Grace wasn’t sure how to react to the woman’s obvious resentment. She autographed the copy, and the woman rushed away. Grace scanned the store for Luke, hoping for a friendly face. No luck. He had wisely left the building. The other clerks in the store avoided looking Grace’s way. Disaster was in the air.
The stacks of books beside her did not diminish. Customers were few and far between, and none of them expressed any interest in buying an etiquette book.
The only excitement came when a shabbily dressed old gentleman fainted in front of her table. Grace saw him looking pale and disoriented, and she leaped to catch him just as he lost consciousness. Gently, she eased the man to the floor. She called for help, and the store clerks finally came running. Someone called 911, and paramedics showed up with smelling salts to revive their patient.
At least her book wasn’t the only thing that almost died.
At last, Grace’s time was up and the store manager returned to her table to stare glumly at the remaining books. “I guess that stinky review had a big impact.”
Grace decided not to point out that she had sold a number of books at her earlier events. The manager turned her back and began to pack books into cartons, presumably to be returned to the publisher. Grace thanked her and headed for the door.
Luke was just coming through the door, looking windblown. “How’d it go?”
“Minor catastrophe,” Grace said.
His face changed. “What went wrong?”
“In this morning’s newspaper, one of my mother’s so-called friends criticized my edition of the book.” She shoved her arms through the sleeves of her coat.
Luke held her coat for her. “Everybody’s entitled to their opinion.”
“Yes, but do they have to spout off in the newspaper? I think I sold three books in this store.”
He put his arm around her. “Don’t let one loss ruin your season.”
Grace sighed. “The most action was an elderly gentleman collapsing in front of my table.”
Alarmed, Luke asked, “Is he okay now?”
“He was talking when the paramedics put him on a stretcher.” Lowering her voice, Grace added, “If I hadn’t been there, I’m afraid the store manager might still be stepping over him. She’s definitely in the wrong business.”
Luke held the door for her, and they went out onto the sidewalk together.
Grace said, “I need more lessons from you. What do I say to people who are rude to me?” She told him about the woman who wanted a copy of the book to teach her friend’s son a lesson. “I felt as if she wanted me to punch the kid in the nose for her.”
“You can’t take it personally,” Luke said. “Let everybody have their say. If you listen, they start to feel you’re interested in them, and they ease up. At least, that’s my experience. And you’re a good listener.”
“Am I?” His observation surprised her.
“That guy at the airport, the one who wanted my autograph for his son? You had him in the palm of your hand just by listening to his story. So relax and be yourself. Without worrying about making your mom happy. She’s not here.”
Grace tried to shake off her disappointment, but it was hard.
Evening had started to gather. Traffic had picked up, and a throng of pedestrians pushed past them.
Luke said, “You want to go find that reviewer’s house and throw some eggs?”
“I’m tempted.”
Luke pulled her to the edge of the sidewalk so they wouldn’t get trampled. “Don’t look back, because you’re not traveling that direction.”
Grace mustered a smile. “Where’d you get a line like that?”
“My physical therapist—the woman who helped me get back on the field after my leg thing. She had the annoying ability to piss me off, but just when things got tough she’d say something that made me forget about pain and frustration, and I worked harder. Listen,” he said, voice changing, “I know a hotel here in Philly. A really nice hotel. How about we stay there tonight?”
Grace hadn’t been prepared for a proposition to come so abruptly. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m ready yet. And I told Nora I’d be staying with her tonight.”
“I know that was your plan, but this is your kind of place.” Persuasively, he cradled her by the elbows and pulled her close enough so their bodies touched. His gaze was warm on hers. “I think you’d really like it. I checked, and they have a suite available.”
“Luke--”
“C’mon, it’ll cheer you up. It has two bedrooms. I’m not pushing for a hot night in bed with you. Well, not too much.” He kissed her forehead to sweeten the offer. “I mentioned it to your friend Nora. She’s cool with it, if you want to change your plans. What do you say? I want to show you I have better taste than airport bars and dry toast for breakfast.”
Grace hesitated. She had been looking forward to spending some quality time with Nora. But Nora seemed to have her hands full with Emma at the moment. Besides, she could hear Nora’s voice in her ear. Have a fling with him, darling.
“Two rooms?” she asked him.
“I promise,” he said.
How does he make you feel? Nora’s question came back to her. Right now, he was making her feel comfortable. His advice for dealing with people had been useful. And his touch made her feel desirable. Plus, if she was honest with herself, she was melting inside. For the first time in a long time, she wanted a man.
Guessing her thoughts, he widened his smile. “C’mon. Let me show it to you.”
They walked several blocks until they reached a more genteel part of the city. A restaurant glowed with cozy candlelight on one corner. A small park with benches and a sculpture stood on another. A mime was dancing on the sidewalk, making a little girl and her mother smile. The wedding cake-shaped city buildings loomed ahead.
The grand hotel had twin gas lamps outside, marble steps, and a pair of carved lions that stood guard at the entrance. A doorman in a uniform with gold braid appeared and held the glass door wide.
“Good evening, miss. Good evening, sir.”
“How’s it going,” Luke said in return.
The lobby had masses of fresh flowers, thick carpets, and large Chinese pots spotlighted to show their perfection. Luke guided Grace through the hushed elegance toward the bank of elevators, and he used a special key to gain access to the top floor.
“You already checked
in,” Grace observed, trying not to sound nervous.
“I wasn’t going to drive home tonight, so I need a room,” he said. “I figured I’d take a chance and get one we could share.”
He opened the double door to the suite. Stepping inside, Grace took one look at the beautiful paradise on the other side of the doors and saw that he’d made a big effort to impress her. No, on second thought, it was less about impressing and more about making her happy. He’d chosen the hotel because he thought she’d enjoy it.
Kip hadn’t tried to make her feel special since … well, never. And now here was Luke, giving her something very special indeed.
Grace felt her throat start to close up.
Luke misinterpreted her silence. “If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll take you to Nora’s place, no problem. But I’d like you to stay.”
She turned and walked into his arms. Stretching upwards, she brushed a kiss across his lips. “I want to stay. I’ll call Nora and cancel our girls’ night.”
Luke smiled, pleased. Then he kissed her long and deliciously before turning Grace loose to explore.
The suite had its own sitting room, an alcove with a billiards table, and a dining room with a massive display of fresh fruit and fragrant flowers. Within a few minutes came a discreet knock at the door. When Luke opened it, a dignified hotel employee stood outside—complete with uniform and a silver tray with coffee cups and a silver pot. “May I come in?”
He introduced himself as Emmanuel, their private butler. “We usually serve coffee at this hour, sir, but I could bring tea or perhaps cocktails. What would you prefer?”
Luke asked for a beer. Grace she’d love a pot of tea. The butler gave a little bow and promised to return shortly.
Exploring, Grace found her luggage already in the pastel bedroom with the canopied bed draped in silk. The bathroom included a whirlpool bath, a bidet, and a vase of white roses that smelled heavenly. Across the hall, Luke’s duffel bag sat on a king-size bed big enough for a harem.
Emmanuel returned pushing a cart laden with savory hors d’oeuvres including a plate of oysters and a gently melting brie slathered with nuts and drizzled with pomegranate juice. He poured Grace’s cup of tea and Luke’s beer, then lit candles around the room, conferred with Luke about the room’s electronics, and finally crossed to open the silky curtains to show the dazzling city lights below.
He said he could arrange a couple’s massage, a private yoga session, or dinner for two, if they wanted.
“Thanks, Manny,” Luke said. “We’ll be in touch.
When the butler left for the adjoining service kitchen, Grace said, “We should have tipped.”
“I already took care of him.”
Grace stripped off her jacket and sank into the sofa. She kicked off her shoes. “This place more than makes up for bad book sales.”
Luke was taking a look out the window. “Nice, right?”
“Very right. Thank you for being so thoughtful.” She relaxed and smiled up at him from the luxury of plush cushions. “If you were down here, I’d be kissing you right now.”
Immediately, Luke headed for the sofa. Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down. She pressed a few soft kisses on his mouth before he took control of the situation. With one hand expertly placed on the small of her back, he leaned back into the pillows and pulled Grace on top of him until she found herself completely entwined with the man. Kissing him was delightful—gentle, yet erotic. It was exciting to get to know him in a physical way. She could feel her heart pounding. His breath was quick, too.
He could have taken her into the bedroom right then, and she would have gone. But he was in no rush. She realized he was going to make her long for it.
“Hungry?” she whispered when they drew apart at last and gazed deeply into each other’s eyes.
“Not for food,” he murmured.
“Unfortunately, I’m starving.”
He made a funny noise of exasperation and set her upright on the sofa. Grace drank her tea and nibbled from the tray while Luke clicked on a sports headline channel, no sound, and they sat together, enjoying the comfort.
In no time, though, Grace felt herself getting sleepy. The stress of the day overwhelmed her, and she zonked out there on the sofa.
She woke from her nap an hour later, snuggled close, her head on Luke’s chest, one hand resting perhaps too intimately on his lap. She sat up and pushed her hair back, yawning. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea I was so exhausted.”
“Busy day,” he said with a smile, touching her face. He had brought up the sound on the sports channel while she slept, but now he shut off the set. “You okay? What do you say we go out? Get some dinner? Go see my friend at his club? I’d like you to meet him and some of the guys.”
Grace remembered he had an invitation from the nightclub owner. She was curious to meet his friends. “Am I dressed okay?”
He tossed down the remote and gave her slacks and shirt a noncommittal glance. “If you’re headed to a garden club meeting, you look great. But … got anything short and slinky?”
“I don’t do slinky,” Grace said.
“You could rock slinky,” Luke shot back with a grin.
“Let me see what I can pull together.”
In her room, Grace fervently wished Nora could appear in a puff of smoke like a fashion-consulting genie. Grace stripped off her clothes and took a fast shower. Wearing the hotel bathrobe, she began rooting through her suitcase full of book tour clothes. She found a short black skirt that Nora insisted she buy, and a silver belt that had seen Grace through many a fashion crisis. With growing anxiety, she realized she had nothing to go with them—not for an evening of clubbing with rich football players and their slinky female companions.
In desperation, she phoned the butler in the service kitchen from the phone on her night table.
Emmanuel appeared in her room in minutes, using a narrow service hallway that allowed him to slip in and out without Luke being the wiser. “Yes, miss?”
They had a short consultation, and he seemed unfazed about the wardrobe challenge she presented. Assuring her he had helped many guests in similar situations, he went down to the boutique in the lobby with her credit card in hand.
While he was gone, Luke knocked on her bedroom door as Grace stood at the bathroom mirror, re-applying her makeup.
“Everything okay?” he called.
“Getting there,” she said, mascara wand in hand.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
“I’ll be ready by the time you are.”
She listened to the water run in the bathroom across the hall and couldn’t help imagining what Luke might look like wearing nothing but steam.
Before her thoughts got too hot, Emmanuel returned with a selection of items on hangers from the boutique.
“You have many talents, Emmanuel,” Grace told him when he presented each of his suggestions for the evening. “Thank you.”
She chose the off-the-shoulder beaded sweater and decided to keep the sleeveless black lace tank, too. She had a feeling Luke would approve both. She found her wallet and handed Emmanuel a generous tip.
“No, miss. The gentleman has already--”
“This is between you and me,” she said with a smile. “Thank you for being discreet.”
“My pleasure, miss.”
Dressed, she made a call to Nora, who didn’t answer. Grace left a message. “I’m taking your advice and staying with Luke tonight. Hope that’s okay with you, Nora. Call me if you have news about Emma, though, okay?”
She was in the suite’s living room putting on her shoes when Luke came out wearing a button-down shirt, trousers, and loafers. Simple clothes, but good quality. He didn’t need anything else to look gorgeous.
“Wow,” he said when he caught sight of her in the mostly-new outfit. “Maybe we should stay in after all.”
He touched her bare shoulder appreciatively and then slid his hand down her back to pull her clos
e. He nuzzled his nose into her hair and pressed a kiss to her throat that sent sizzles to warmer places. More promise of good things to come later, Grace thought.
“You said something about a night on the town,” Grace said, barely holding back a sigh. “So let’s get going.”
The smiling butler appeared and reported to Luke that he’d successfully made them a dinner reservation, and he had a cab waiting.
Dinner turned out to be Spanish tapas in an intimate restaurant with a guitarist playing softly in a corner. Grace and Luke shared many small plates and a bottle of wine. Luke was an adventurous eater, she discovered—maybe not sophisticated, but willing to try anything. They talked food and travel, mostly. Luke had visited every major American city with an NFL team, and he knew all the hotspots. He had a tall tale to tell about each place. He liked the music in Nashville best. The food in New Orleans. The nightlife in New York
She asked him about his basketball tournament, and Luke admitted that his brother Mark had been wounded in Afghanistan and was now in a wheelchair. Grace listened with equal parts shock and sympathy.
“Basketball had always been Mark’s sport,” Luke said. “He was pretty down about not being able to play anymore, but while he was recovering at a military base in Texas he found a group that plays wheelchair basketball. I went down to visit him and got interested.” He shrugged, making light of his efforts. “I started helping out. One thing led to another, and pretty soon I had a tournament on my hands.”
Grace was sure it wasn’t that simple, but she liked the way his eyes glowed when he talked about his brother. It was very different from the way he’d looked when he told her about his troubled young sister Savannah. Mark might be in a wheelchair, but his life was on an upswing. Savannah, not so much. Again, Grace was reminded that Luke had packed a lot of experience into his young life.
She might have lingered over a shared dessert to learn more about the rest of his family, but Luke checked his watch. “C’mon, let’s get moving.”