The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen is actually in bed with me. His declaration of love hadn’t made her run for cover. Jeff marveled at his good fortune and prayed it would withstand the revelation of his real connection to the paintings downstairs. Jen’s next operation was scheduled for the week after Memorial Day. They had set the earliest possible date Jen’s surgeon would agree to and hoped enough money would come in at the gallery’s grand opening to cover the expenses. Russian roulette would have been less stressful. He wanted to end this charade with Zoe, introduce her to Jen and then . . . and then, what? Ask Zoe to marry him? Yeah, he admitted to himself, he wanted to claim her as his forever lover, partner and friend. Without her his future would be bleak, indeed. But, proposing? That would have to wait until he gave her the news about Jen.
He studied Zoe’s face, relaxed in sleep, her dark lashes fanned across delicately arched cheekbones, her lovely lips slightly parted and still plump and swollen from his kisses. Skeins of dark hair spread across her pillow, the faint scent of tropical flowers still noticeable when he buried his nose behind her ear and inhaled deeply.
“Mmm, good morning, Studley.” Zoe snuggled against him and dropped kisses on his chest.
“Good morning, sweet cheeks.” He captured her mouth and nibbled on her lips as his cock responded to her touch.
“Mmm.” She sighed into his mouth and slipped her hand lower to feather teasing fingers along his rapidly hardening shaft.
He reached across her to dig for a condom in the nightstand.
“Oh no,” she exclaimed, pushing against his chest. “Look at the time. It’s already nine-thirty. We have to get back to the Wyndham’s and clean up from the party. The guys we hired to help do the take-down will be there by ten.” She shoved at him again.
“We don’t want to get there too early and disturb the Wyndhams, babe. Last night was a late one for them and they’re probably still sleeping off all the champagne.” He nuzzled her neck and tweaked a nipple that had peaked despite Zoe’s protestations.
“No. No. Stop that!”
She smacked his butt hard enough to tell him she meant it, so he sighed and gave up.
“Besides, I want to be there first for a change and tease Amanda for being late. “I’ve got to shower, dress and be there before she shows up.”
“I’ll put on some coffee then meet you in the shower.” He wagged his eyebrows.
“Not a chance, Studley. Work first, then we can play.” She grabbed clean underwear out of the drawer and hurried to the bathroom.
He watched her shapely derriere disappear through the bathroom doorway and ordered Jeff junior to stand down. A command his smaller head was reluctant to obey.
So. Dev and Amanda. A happy couple. He’d definitely ask Dev for pointers today. Because he couldn’t handle one more day with the eight hundred pound gorilla in the room every time he made love to Zoe. Last night he told her he loved her. Tonight, after they finished the take-down at the Wyndham’s, he’d tell her about Jen, about the paintings that were hers and the reasons for his subterfuge. This charade had gone on long enough. Just making the decision to come clean lifted his spirits. By tonight there would be nothing in the way. He’d ask her to marry him and he hoped she’d say yes. He whistled on the way to the kitchen.
The last overnight guests drove away as Zoe and Jeff rode by the big house. They parked his bike at the old house and Jeff headed over to the Wyndham’s to see if any of the hired help had arrived.
Zoe went inside and found Amanda stuffing table linens into plastic bags. “Damn. You beat me. I wanted to gloat when you got here late and all dreamy-eyed after last night’s lovemaking with Dev.”
Amanda looked up, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen. She jammed another tablecloth into the bag. “No lovemaking last night. We’re over.”
“What?” Zoe’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious.” She spied a trash can full of tissues and shook her head in confusion. “Oh, honey, what happened? I thought . . . I thought . . .” She went over and threw her arms around her friend. Amanda hung on to her and sobbed.
“I thought so too.” Amanda sniffled and grabbed more tissues. “But . . .” She blew her nose. “. . . I was mistaken.” Tears slid down her face and she mopped at them with another wad of tissues.
Zoe frowned. “I can’t believe that. Mandy, seeing him around you . . . It’s obvious he cares for you.”
Amanda shook her head. “You want it to be that way, because you have stars in your eyes for Jeff, and you want us both to have what you have.” She blew her nose again and added to the pile of soggy tissues. “Oh god, and look at me, sucking all the joy out of your new relationship with him. I’m so sorry, Zo.” She forced a smile. “In spite of my current mood, I am really happy for you. Jeff is a great guy and you two are so good together.” She gave Zoe another hug of congratulations. “Now, enough of my sad story.” She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. “Don’t talk about this with Jeff until after we’re done here and you guys go home. Otherwise, one kind word and my waterworks will start up again.”
“Okay, sweetie, but if Dev shows up here, I’m going to kick his butt into the bay.”
He didn’t show, though, much to her disappointment. The three of them and the crew they’d hired worked until after noon setting the house to rights, taking down the tents and lighted garlands, rolling up the carpets on the deck and restoring the furniture to its original places.
Mrs. Wyndham offered them drinks and sandwiches. She was in high spirits after the success of her party and added a big bonus to the remainder of her bill. “Ladies, you were everything I could have asked for and more in event planners. If you ever need a recommendation please don’t hesitate to use my name. I’ll be delighted to give you a five-star review.” She studied Amanda’s face. “You don’t seem as pleased about your success as I expected, Amanda. Is there a problem I’m not aware of?”
“Not at all, Mrs. Wyndham, I’m just tired after last night. Thank you so much for your generous bonus and for recommending us to your friends.”
Normally willing to let Amanda do all the talking, Zoe spoke up to shift their client’s attention away from Amanda’s blotchy face. “Yes, ma’am, word of mouth is worth far more than paid advertising for new start-ups. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your kind words.”
“Well, you deserve it, ladies. I am especially impressed by how quickly and efficiently you and your staff returned my home to its normal condition.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Wyndham. Here is the key to the small house. The rental company will be here tomorrow morning to collect the tables and chairs.” Amanda dropped the key into her hand.
“Don’t let me keep you any longer, dear.” Mrs. Wyndham patted Amanda’s arm. “You do look like you could use a good nap.”
Zoe walked Amanda to her car and hugged her again. “Mrs. Wyndham is right. Get some rest, sweetie. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Amanda nodded and drove away. Zoe had taken Jeff aside early on and warned him not to say anything about her friend’s sad eyes and down-turned mouth. “I’ll tell you all about it, later. She’s hanging on by a thread right now and we don’t want to snap it.”
“Yeah, but I thought . . . I mean, I—never mind. We can discuss it later.”
She loved Jeff all the more for his concerned gaze that followed Amanda’s car. She rubbed his shoulder. “C’mon, let’s go home. We can grab takeout from Donatelli’s and I’ll tell you what I know about it.” She wrapped her arms around Jeff on the ride home and prayed he’d never take back those three big words he’d said last night.
Jeff parked in front of his unit and took off his helmet. He wondered if Jen was in the studio. Usually when she heard his bike she expected him to at least poke his head in the door and say hi. See if she needed anything. But right now he
didn’t have the energy to put on a ‘happy face’ and chat with his sister.
Zoe had shared the details of Amanda and Dev’s break-up over dinner last night and the news cast a pall over them both. It put Jeff’s plan to tell all on hold. Indefinite hold. Zoe’s scathing comments about Dev’s stupidity in keeping secrets from Amanda convinced Jeff to keep his own secret a while longer.
Their usual lovemaking was tinged with urgency, a need to reassure them both that their love could withstand any assault life would throw at them. As Zoe snuggled against him in bed later, he sensed the distress over her friend’s situation would not soon fade.
This morning he used his caretaker job as an excuse to get away and think about his own situation. He got the feeling that Zoe was equally glad to have a bit of alone time.
He let himself into his room and tossed his keys on the dresser, then stretched out on his bed and stacked his hands behind his head. Although they hadn’t hit it off right away, when Dev had asked for his help with the renovations to Amanda’s cottage, he didn’t hesitate. The one day spent working together had shown him a lot about the other man, whose career as a jazz pianist died on the same day as his friend. One arm and hand was covered with burn scars, his fingers no longer facile enough to play the music he loved, but he didn’t bemoan his fate or cut himself any slack while they worked. Being her employer wasn’t the only reason Dev helped Amanda. He loved that woman.
Jeff had used their relationship as a kind of bellwether for himself and Zoe. Now he had second, third, and fourth thoughts about how their own affair would work out. What had seemed a good idea when he’d first met Zoe, now didn’t seem so smart. Now he knew her better. Much better.
Hell, now he loved her.
When she found out about Jen, and the lies he’d told her all these months, would she react the same way Amanda did? Kick his ass to the curb and walk away? He wouldn’t blame her. He prayed that wouldn’t happen, but if that was the price he’d pay for Jen to return to the land of the living, then so be it.
Oh yeah, he understood Dev’s feelings all too well. Jeff had been the driver when Jen was hurt and the fact that the accident hadn’t been his fault wasn’t the issue. As his mom lay dying, she had asked him to look out for Jen, and he had sworn he would.
But he’d been late picking her up from dance class and had to get her home and himself to work. Instead of his usual route along the back roads, he’d taken the beltway.
In the rain.
At rush hour.
Jeff squeezed his eyes shut as the scene replayed in his head for the thousandth time.
He’d seen the jackknifed tractor-trailer five hundred yards up the road and congratulated himself on managing to stop in plenty of time to avoid the other cars that hadn’t been so lucky. They were in the high-speed lane by the guardrail and as he turned to Jen to make sure she was okay, he saw the panel van coming up behind them start to skid on the wet pavement. Saw the driver frantically spinning the steering wheel to regain control. There wasn’t enough time to do anything but yell as the van barreled into them at forty miles an hour. Jen’s door crumpled and glass spewed inside as the passenger-side air bag ballooned. It kept her from hitting the dashboard but unfortunately also held her in position just long enough for the panel van’s side mirror to come through Jen’s window and lay open her face from temple to chin. She’d turned to look when he yelled and her face, hip, and leg had taken most of the impact.
That was the last day his sister danced, or walked unaided. The last day she let anyone but him and his dad see her face. He hoped, when the time came, Zoe would understand Jen’s refusal to be seen and the reason for his deception.
Please, God.
But after today’s revelation about Amanda and Dev, his hope was fading fast.
Chapter 19
At this point, Zoe wasn’t sure she’d survive the gallery’s grand opening. The past three weeks had been unbelievably hectic and only Jeff’s love and support had kept her from flying apart.
Their big party at the Wyndham’s had gone amazingly well, earning them a nice bonus check which she had immediately spent on additional advertising. That night would be etched in her memory forever. Jeff, on his knees, declaring his love and proposing. She’d thought it another smartassed stunt at first until Amanda shook some sense into her.
So, with the evening off to a wonderful start, Zoe’s feet barely touched the floor as she circulated among the guests. She and Amanda were like two planets in eccentric orbits, meeting occasionally to compare notes and congratulate themselves on a job well done. Needless to say, when she and Jeff finally made it home that night—morning?—they had made love with an intensity that was off the charts.
While Zoe ramped up her preparations for the gallery opening, she spent a good deal of time providing her friend some much-needed emotional support. All the while thanking god she didn’t have to deal with problems like Amanda’s between herself and Jeff. The other couple’s break-up had subdued Jeff’s normal upbeat, irreverent personality. For a while Zoe worried at his change in attitude, but eventually Jeff snapped out of his moodiness and their nights in bed again became the stuff of every woman’s dreams.
Over the past few weeks she’d signed several more artisans and the gallery’s walls and display cases were stocked to overflowing. Jeff had more paintings in the upstairs storage area along with works by her other artisans. Russell Manheim’s canvases were hung at the front. Zoe was in heaven, as long as she didn’t think about Fredrick Barker. She so didn’t want him to show up for the opening—or ever, truth be told.
Good grief, her life was a virtual roller-coaster. She had at least twenty yellow sticky-notes plastered along the edges of her computer monitor. And several hundred more invisibly stuck to her brain.
Zoe glanced at her watch. Eight-thirty already? She’d been up since dawn checking things off on her to-do list. Time to shower and dress for the big day. Amanda would be here at nine to help out, the photographer from the Blue Point Cove Courier was due at nine-thirty to get some gallery shots before the crowds hit.
Please, God, let there be crowds!
Jeff would pick up pastries from Olivia’s bakery and Russell from Marjorie’s B and B. Her phone rang and she snatched it up on the way to the bathroom. Her heart still fluttered when his pic showed on the screen of her phone. “Hello, Studley. What’s up? Do you need something?”
“Only you, sweet cheeks. I’m checking to be sure your head hasn’t exploded with all the details you’re tracking today.”
“Nope. Still attached. It’s gonna start spinning on my shoulders any minute though. How’s Russ? Did you keep him out till all hours last night?”
“Nah. We called it a night by ten. He was jet-lagged and I was . . . tired, too. I’m bringing one more sculpture over this morning. Along with Olivia’s goodies, of course.”
“Well, I’m on my way into the shower, so I’ll be ready soon.” She turned on the water.
“Ah babe, now that’s not fair. Teasing me like that when I’m too far away to wash your back. If you wait a few minutes, I could hop on my bike . . .”
“No waiting today, Studley. Too much to do. See you soon, though.”
“Yeah. Bye love.”
Tourists had been rolling into town since last night and the sidewalks were beginning to fill with the sound of flip-flops and laughter. Some had already wandered in and purchased a few things, thanks to the extra air play on Dev’s radio station. Russell had arrived last night and spent the evening with Jeff, then settled into Marjorie’s bed and breakfast. When she opened the doors at ten a.m. he’d be here to give the gallery some star quality.
Andy Phelps, one of Dev’s announcers, had convinced her that she needed a website and he offered to put one together for her. Whenever she had her next free thirty seconds. The photographer fro
m the Blue Point Cove Courier was due any minute.
She carried her mug of coffee downstairs, careful not to trip on the long handkerchief hem of her skirt. The vibrant tropical print topped by an orange tank top and sheer cardigan created a fresh splash of color and would make her easy to spot once the gallery filled with browsers. The bat-sized butterflies were back, doing aerial acrobatics in her stomach. She put her coffee down. Any more of that and she’d be running for the restroom.
A knock on the back door snapped her attention from her to-do list. Amanda, looking cool and chic in a blue-and-white striped seersucker pantsuit. She’d volunteered to man the cash register so Zoe could mingle with the browsers and answer questions. Zoe hugged her. “Thanks for helping out today, Mandy. If all goes well today and you give me the green light, I’ll hire someone to give me some relief from now on. I didn’t want to do it before today in case it would jinx the opening.”
I’m glad to help, Zoe. I’m almost as excited about today’s event as you are. Besides it helps keep my mind off my own rollercoaster situation.” She grinned.
“With all the uproar over at the Wyndhams—”
Amanda held up her hand. “Let’s not go there now. Today is all about you and your dream come true.” She scanned the displays and nodded. “Did you always know you could make this work? You were so single-minded when we first met. Back then, I had no idea if you had the determination, and expertize, to pull this off. But you did, Zoe. Your mom would be so proud of you.” Amanda hugged her, then giggled. “Okay, enough hugs. I’m morphing into the casual professional.” She straightened her shoulders. “Is the coffee service set up? The wine chilling? The hors d’oeurves unpacked?”
“Yes, yes, and no.” Zoe checked her watch. “Jeff and Russ are in charge of the hors d’ouerves. They ought to be here soon, and all other artisans are due by nine-forty-five.” She wrung her hands and rolled her neck to release some of the tension building there. “I hope sleazebag doesn’t come today. If you see him arrive, come find me, then don’t leave me alone with him unless we’re out front here with all the people.”
His By Design Page 19