by Groovy Lee
Gracie watched with earnest curiosity at the way he softly danced his mother around. She never bargained on this. When he was cool and stiffly professional, she could handle her feelings for him, almost ignore him—almost. But this gentle, personable side of him was changing all of that, exposing a completely different side of him. It’s only been a week and as much as she tried not to admit it, her true feelings for him were gaining strength more and more with each passing day.
Ella’s turn was over. She danced back to her seat as he reached out to her, much to her dread. “Gracie,” his voice lowered to a more serious tone.
She placed a nervous hand in his and stood. The teasing and joking had vanished from the face that looked back at her. His hold was firm, his eyes intimate. She chose not to hold his gaze, but laid her cheek against his and allowed him to lead her, all the while warning herself not to stumble out of step.
The song finally ended, but he continued to hold her close to him. The room was hushed quiet as they stood in the middle of the floor locked together with Ella and Shara looking on and snickering. Another slow song began playing and he started to move once more.
“I think this is our cue to vanish, mother. What do you think?” Shara sang.
“I think you’re right,” Ella replied. “Let’s give them their privacy.”
Gracie grew petrified when the two women cooed good-night and slipped away. She didn’t want to be there alone in his arms, fighting the desire that was slowly swelling inside her; She wanted to scream for them to come back. Her foot stumbled, and he stopped moving.
“Am I taking you too fast?” He put a little space between them so their eyes could meet.
“No,” she willed her voice to remain steady. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t concentrating.”
“I guess I’ll let you slide this time,” he said with a charming twist to his mouth.
But then the amusement from his face calmed. His eyes lowered to her mouth. He leaned forward and almost touched them with his but suddenly he straightened and released her. “I think they bought it,” he said rather factually.
“Bought it?” her brows creased.
“You know—the loving newlyweds.”
Her heart thumped once, hard against her chest as reality bit her back to life. She was so caught up in his family warmth, in his sole attention to her, she had completely forgotten this was all an act for their sakes. That’s what all these little encounters were—an act. But, they were more than that to her. They were drawing her closer to him. She was treading on dangerous ground, but felt powerless to control it. How was she going to make it through the weeks left, if it wasn’t already too late?
“I think you’re right,” she answered with as much composure as she could muster while she looked around. “They certainly cleared the room.” She then did something completely unheard of: gave him a playful tap on his arm.
He remained silent, his eyes looking deep into hers as they stood alone in the middle of the floor. Gracie tried to appear casual, but each passing second that he held her rooted there, zapped at her armor.
“Well, I’m tired. And if we’re going to get any work done in the morning, I’d better turn in. Good-night,” she almost whispered and walked away to her room, unaware that his eyes followed her until she disappeared from sight.
The late hours seemed to crawl by. Gracie sat up in bed and glanced at the moonlit night outside her window. It was hopeless. No matter how hard she tried, or what position she lied in, she just could not fall asleep. She swung back the covers and slid out of bed, then eased her bedroom door open and peeked out before tipping out into the dark hallway for the kitchen. The house was an eerie quiet. After satisfying her thirst with a cold glass of water, she headed back for her room.
The moon’s rays cast an enchanting brightness outside the patio door, moving her to change directions and accept its invitation to step outside into the cool night air. She wrapped her arms around her and rubbed a little warmth into her skin, then strolled along the yard toward the beach. Strange sounds of animal life called to her from the woods, along with the roar of the waves. Patches barked out a greeting when she came near him; Starbucks didn’t bother to emerge from his cozy quarters.
“Hey, boy. What are you making all this fuss about? Be quiet. You’ll wake the whole house.”
She gave him a few more rubs then went for her walk on the beach. She stepped out onto the sandy floor and was instantly overwhelmed by the frightening darkness of endless water with the moon hanging over it. Something caught her eye far down in the distance. There was no mistaking the masculine figure walking along the edge of the shore in the moon’s dim light. Indigo seemed deep in thought. She wanted to turn away and leave him to his privacy, but couldn’t. It was enchanting the way he stood like a chiseled statue looking out over the water while the waves washed back and forth. What problem could be haunting him? Had his grown lonely for Felicia and wished she was with him on Eden’s Cove? She disregarded the hint of pain that shot through her at the thought. So what if he did? He wasn’t Indigo her man; but Mr. Farrell, her boss. And, she was his secretary brought here for a job. It’s imperative she remembered that if she wanted to keep her heart and mind sane. In the end, she would get Sugar and Spice, and that’s all.
She continued to stare unabashedly at him as he looked away to the other side of the world with the cool breeze lifting at the hem of his silky housecoat. He untied the sash around his waist and slid out of it, revealing his bare, masculine body. Gracie gasped and slapped her hand over her mouth to quiet herself. He turned as if aware of being watched, causing her to duck behind the hedges. (Did he spot her? Is he coming her way?) She dared to peek out again, just managing to see a little of him before he disappeared into the ocean. The sight of his naked body had her standing there, her mind in a complete daze, until she regained the strength in her knees to return to the sanctity of her bed.
She could barely look at him over the next few days for fear her eyes would reflect her guilty little escapade of that night.
***************************************
A week and a half of sunshine and unusually hot temperatures past with a threat of more to come. Instead of the usual Saturday spent on the beach, Gracie, Ella, and Shara decided to spend the day shopping in Montreal. After handing Gracie the keys, Indigo pulled a credit card from his shirt pocket and handed it to her.
“I’ve been meaning to give you this. It’s your money for all the work you’re doing here. There’s no limit—yet,” he winked. “So, shop to your heart’s content, you earned it.”
“Thanks,” she said as she turned it over and over to get a good look at it.
“Have fun, though the three of you will be having a gourmet meal in the city, while I sit out here and fend for myself.”
“If you’re trying to make me feel guilty, it’s working,” she laughed.
“Don’t,” he tugged at her silky bun, then his finger trailed down her cheek. “You deserve it. Go and enjoy yourself. With Shara and Nikki out of the house, I can get more work done on that book.” To her surprise, he leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “You’d better go before Nikki starts blasting that car horn.”
Gracie felt like a nurse maid having to constantly remind Ella and Shara to take it easy and not overexert themselves as they tried to raid as many shops as they could in the Place Vertu, one of Canada’s greatest malls. They consumed as many treats as they could stomach, including Shara’s craving for Salt and Vinegar potato chips. After more shopping and a seafood dinner, they returned just in time, loaded down with packages and groceries, to catch the last ferry for home. Gracie was a bit excited. All day she had been feeling a little guilty for leaving Indigo all alone at the house and fending for himself. How she wished she could have stayed with him so he wouldn’t be so lonely. A faint glow of daylight was left when Gracie guided the navigator into the driveway and parked behind the sleek Mercedes Benz Sports sitting there.
; “I wonder who that could be.” Ella leaned forward from her seat in the back to get a better look.
“Well, we’ll soon find out,” Shara replied as they exited the vehicle.
They opened the front door to a light chatter of voices. Conversation ceased when the three women entered the house. Gracie thought she recognized one of the voices, and when she was all the way in, her guess was affirmed when she noticed Reid reclining on one of the sofas. But her jaw tightened when she looked across from him and gazed upon the figure sitting beside Indigo. Shara exclaimed an “Oh-my-God” under her breath at the sight of the figure dressed in a Ralph Lauren black pinstripe pant suit, sporting a very fashionable hairdo, with a hateful glance that shot briefly at Gracie before looking away to the others standing behind her.
“Well, hello, Mrs. Farrell,” Felicia’s dark plum-colored lips drawled.
“Felicia,” she returned in a polite, cool manner.
“Shara,” Felicia took in her delicate condition with mocked sympathy. “I would ask how you’re doing, but I can see that for myself.”
“Always nice to see you too, Felicia,” her voice held an underlying tone of sarcasm.
As usual, and to no surprise to Gracie, she was not acknowledged.
“I’m sure you’re all quite shocked to see me here.” Felicia’s well-manicured hand smoothed along her dark-brown hair. “Actually, we’ve been here all afternoon. And after that long plane ride, plus the horrid car ride from the airport to here, Indigo has been the most gracious host.”
Gracie avoided looking at him and looked over at Reid instead. He hopped up from his seat and hurried over to her.
“Hi, Copper. Here, let me help you with those packages.”
She surrendered a few of the bags that filled her arms to him and proceeded him to the dining table.
Shara joined them holding a sleeping Nikki. After introducing herself to Reid, she addressed Gracie. “Mom and I are going to turn in now. Sorry to leave you like this, but I’ve had enough excitement for the day. You want help with the rest of the stuff in the car, first?”
“Oh, no, that’s okay,” Gracie rubbed Nikki’s back wishing she could leave the room, too, if it weren’t for Reid. “The two of you go ahead, I can get them. Tell Ella good-night for me.” After Shara left the room, Gracie grabbed Reid’s arm and pulled him toward the door. “Help me with the rest of the packages.”
They sauntered past the group in the living room saying their subtle rushed good-nights.
“What are you doing all the way out here?” she asked as they stood at the back of the Navigator with the back latch opened.
“Vacation,” Reid poked her. “Remember?”
“Oh yeah. When did you get here?”
“Early this morning. While I was here I thought I’d bring Mr. Farrell up to date on a couple of buyers I’m handling. By sheer coincidence, I happened to be on the same flight as Felicia. Since we were both headed this way, she rode with me. Thanks to her, I’ve missed the last ferry out, so I’ll have to stay at the Inn down the road and head for Mickey’s place in the morning.”
“I see.” She picked through the packages and held out a few for him to take.
“You know it was quite a shock when I heard about the two of you,” he said on a more serious note.
Gracie exhaled a sorry.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugged, picked up the two remaining packages, and slammed the overhead door shut. “Don’t be mad. It’s not what you think. I’ll explain it all to you later. You’re my friend, and I should have told you. Please forgive me, but I promise, you’ll understand everything soon.”
“Uh, I’m not mad. But, you sure did a good job of keeping it a secret. Whoever would have guessed there was anything going on between the two of you? That’s all Felicia talked about the entire trip. I don’t mind telling you she was more than a little peeved. And as you may already have guessed, you’re the talk of the entire complex at having landed Indigo Farrell and snatching him out of Felicia’s grip. I know her—she’s not here for a social visit. She came to cause trouble with a capital T. So, watch out.”
Gracie was moved by his protective gesture. But, he would soon know that she was on the losing end, anyway. Felicia would get what she came for. “Oh, she doesn’t scare me one bit,” she nudged against him. “Come on. Let’s get back inside before one of her flying monkey’s appear.”
Reid looked frantically around the night sky causing a burst of laughter to sound out. They went back inside and deposited the last of the packages on the table. They held one another’s gaze in a look of support, followed by a deep breath for patience, before joining Indigo and Felicia in the front room.
“Gracie, marriage seems to agree with you. Congratulations,” Felicia commented as she and Reid took their seats opposite them.
Gracie could feel the insincerity mixed in those words flowing across the room to her, and wanted to trip her up with a revealing question, but a simple, “Thank-you,” was her only reply.
“I was just asking Indigo here if you wouldn’t mind having pity on a poor soul and inviting me to dinner sometimes. I really hate the food at the Inn,” she rolled her eyes upward.
For the first time that night, she looked at Indigo who just sat silently leaving it up to her. “Sure. Why not? How about tomorrow night?” Her smile was bright for both of their benefits.
“Thanks, I’d love to.”
“You’re invited, too, Reid.
“I’d love to, Copper, but no doubt Mickey has plans for me. Sorry.”
She just caught that clinch in Indigo’s jaw at the mention of Mickey and felt a bit impish. After thirty more minutes of Felicia’s self-serving chatter, she finally decided it was time to leave for the Inn. Gracie felt sorry for Reid, having to go through the trouble of chauffeuring her around like her manservant. He would be having a good time with Mickey right now if it weren’t for her. She stood on the porch with Reid while Indigo and Felicia walked to the car.
“Maybe we’ll see one another again before I leave for the states,” he said.
“I would love for you to come and have dinner with us one night.”
“I don’t know what Mickey has planned, but I’ll try.”
“Well, if you can’t make it, I’ll see you back home.” She hugged him good-bye.
“Be safe, Copper.” He took her by the arms and studied her face closely. “When you get home, you’ll explain all of this to me, right?”
“I promise,” she whispered.
He smiled, tugged at her hair, and left.
She was standing over the packages strewn across the table, though not really concentrating on them. The resentment that began to grow the moment she saw Felicia, had now grown to a level ten. To think, she felt sorry for “poor” Indigo having to spend the day here all alone while they were enjoying themselves in Montreal, when Felicia was here the entire time keeping him company. And by the looks of it, doing a very good job. Reid said she was here to cause trouble, but she didn’t care. Whether she did or not was up to Indigo. Besides, Felicia couldn’t take what she herself doesn’t have to begin with. Does she know the truth? Maybe, if Indigo still loves her and wants her to be waiting from him when this arrangement was over in four weeks. She snapped out the dining room lights and went to her room before he returned.
CHAPTER SIX
After breakfast the next morning, Gracie and Shara spent most of the day cleaning the house for their expected but unwanted guest. To help them out, Indigo prepared lunch. Evening rolled around; Too soon for Gracie who stood in the kitchen gazing over the shrimp and vegetables lying before her. Shara volunteered to make the rice.
“You know, I have to hand it to you,” Shara said as she stood over the sink washing her hands. “If one of my husband’s ex-girlfriends showed up, inviting her to dinner would be the last thing I’d do.”
“Actually, she invited herself.” Gracie began chopping at the onions.
; “I should have known,” Shara scoffed. “She’s always showing up where she’s not wanted. Aren’t you the least bit jealous?”
“Of course, I am,” Gracie answered truthfully. “We all have a certain amount of jealousy in us when it comes to our husbands or wives; But, we shouldn’t let that jealousy rule us. There has to be a certain amount of trust. Don’t you think?”
“I guess I have to admire that bit of wisdom. I mean if I didn’t trust John, I’d go half-crazy out of my mind every time he left the country. And you know,” she looked away from studying the instructions on the back of the box of rice, her head tilted, a determined set to her mouth, “It would be good to take the high road like you’re doing. If one of his old flames showed up at my front door, I would graciously invite her in so that she could see he made the right choice. I’d make sure that when she left, there would be no doubt. That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it?” she pointed the box at her. “You sly fox.”
Gracie laughed along with her, all the while thinking that she’s not that sly, it’s just part of a game she has to play; and being jealous of Indigo and Felicia doesn’t play into it. The word doesn’t even fit into their relationship. So, Felicia has free-will to come and go around him as much as she wants. And, it’s quite obvious when they were together last night that there’s still something going on between them. Why else would she be coming to dinner if it isn’t what he wants? And here she is—Gracie—the lowly assistant, cooking and cleaning for the love of his life’s arrival.
“This only takes twenty minutes to cook.” Shara sat the box down on the cabinet. “I’ll save it until close to dinner time. Is there anything else I can do?”
Gracie looked up from her unintentional massacre of a stalk of celery. “No. Why don’t you go and get some rest? I can handle everything else.”
“What about this mess?” she waved over the dirty dishes and cluttered countertops.
“Leave it to me. I’ll have this place cleaned in no time.”