A Jewel In Time; A Sultry Sisters Anthology

by Barbara Devlin

  Emerson watched her, both amused and mesmerized.

  She held up a multi-colored case and beamed. “My toiletries! Time for a real shower.”

  He delighted knowing that something so simple as shampoo and potions could excite her. With each passing moment, he loved that woman, more and more. And that could be a problem tomorrow. “Enjoy.”

  She disappeared into the bathroom. How would they part at the airport? Would he ever see her again? Was theirs just an affair brought on by unusual circumstances and once back in their normal lives, the attraction would fade? No, that wouldn’t happen. Not for him, he was too into her.

  And wasn’t she into him? She’d said she loved him. Though she had looked horrified after she’d said it. Yet the way she’d made love to him afterward had been even sweeter and more vulnerable than she’d been previous times.

  Speaking of love making, they had spent a lot of time doing it. More time than they’d spent doing anything else. Granted being snowed in and staying in a room with a romantic view of the lights over the icy water of the harbor encouraged such activities. He realized they’d never been on a date.

  He scoured her belongings strewn on the bed and decided he would take Olivia on a proper date that evening. Now that she had warm clothing she could wear in public without resembling a hobo, he was certain she’d agree. And, perhaps with clothes on, it would be easier to discuss the future.

  Several phone calls revealed most area restaurants remained closed on Christmas Eve or were booked with private parties, so he made a reservation at the hotel restaurant. He requested the most private table with a view that they had available. He dialed the local florist to procure a bouquet, but their shipment of flowers hadn’t made it in, and they couldn’t even fill the holiday orders they had.

  He tapped the pen on the nightstand. He was going to have to be creative to provide Olivia with something special for Christmas.

  She emerged from the bathroom gleaming. She rubbed some sort of glossy stuff into her hair. “I feel like me again.”

  “You smell amazing.” The scent took him back to the first time he met her. “Will you go on a date with me tonight.”

  She grinned. “I’d love to.”

  “Reservations are at 7pm.” He reached for her, but she dodged him.

  “If you are taking me out, I have to blow dry my hair before it goes a million directions.” She shrugged into a robe and rifled through the remaining items in her suitcase. She draped a few items of clothing over her arm, plucked a pair of lacey red panties and a matching bra out of the mess on the bed and disappeared again.

  He smiled at her choices. He looked forward to seeing those undergarments in a pile on the floor after he’d admired them on her for a half a second before he removed them.

  While Olivia busied herself in the bathroom, Emerson snuck downstairs to plot his surprise. He borrowed a small wrapped gift box from under the tree in the lobby. There were so many, he did think one little gift would be missed. He got some tape from the front desk. Then he purchased a candy bar from the vending machine.

  He hadn’t seen Olivia eat candy, but all women liked chocolate, right? And, it seemed more appropriate than a bag of chips or a pack of gum—his other choices.

  On hotel stationary, he wrote:

  Merry Christmas, Olivia!

  I am grateful fate brought us together for this holiday.

  My gifts to you:

  1) a massage (given by me)

  2) breakfast in bed on Christmas morning (served by me)

  3) an evening out in Los Angeles (with me)

  With Love, Emerson

  Number one was a gift he’d enjoy giving as much, if not more, than she would enjoy receiving. Number two really wasn’t much of a gift, since he’d likely just call room service, but he liked how it sounded. Maybe she’d read into it that he could be breakfast. That thought distracted him from his task.

  Number three was premeditated. It guaranteed he’d see Olivia again after they got to Los Angeles, unless she totally blew him off. He knew that was a possibility, but hoped it wouldn’t happen. He had considered adding his heart as number four, but hadn’t wanted to be corny.

  Painstakingly, he removed the shiny red paper from the commandeered box, inserted the handwritten note, and re-wrapped the gift with the same paper. He poked a hole in the candy wrapper and slid the bow through it. Then tied it to the top.

  Happy with his creation, he hunted down the restaurant manager and tipped him heavily to have the waiter deliver the gift to their table that night with dessert.

  * * *

  Her red silk dress had been a hit. She’d bought it for Christmas Day dinner in Maui, and she wasn’t going to let it sit in her suitcase unworn. It hadn’t just hugged every curve it accentuated them. It was the kind of dress that gave a woman an unfair advantage.

  She wasn’t looking for that tonight though. She just wanted to dress up for Emerson, so he could get a peek at her glamorous side.

  And not only had he glimpsed it, he’d stared at it. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her all evening, not even to enjoy the beautiful view of light snowflakes falling into the harbor, as lights shimmered on the opposite shore.

  Their meals arrived and smelled delectable.

  “So, what happens when we get to Los Angeles tomorrow, Miss Hollywood?” Emerson twirled his fork in his pasta.

  “I thought we decided that wasn’t my nickname.” She had no idea what would happen. She hadn’t wanted to think about it, so she hadn’t.

  “As I recall, we didn’t agree on a replacement for it yet.” He leaned forward. “Are you avoiding my question?”

  “No, but I don’t know.” She emptied her martini glass with the hope the last sip might have the answer to his question in it. “My business and my life are in Los Angeles. Your business and your life are in London.”

  “So, this has just been a shag to you?”

  She hadn’t meant to offend or anger him. “I didn’t say that.” She shifted uneasily in her chair. Their conversation had gone in the wrong direction. She needed to get it back on track. “Let’s go back to choosing my nickname.”

  “There’s only one name I really want to call you right now.” His expression was stoic. She had to lighten him up.

  “Please don’t say snookums.”

  He smirked. “It’s better than snookums.”

  Mission accomplished. He had smiled. “Oh, hell, not something like sex goddess?” She took a bite of her fish. The flavors melted in her mouth. “Mmmm.”

  “No, but you are.” He ate a piece of alfredo covered shrimp.

  “OK, just say it.” She braced herself for his response.

  “Girlfriend.”

  She raised her eyebrows and cocked her head. So, he hadn’t been kidding when he’d said it yesterday. “Hmmm…how would that work?”

  “I don’t know exactly.” Emerson set down his silverware and more intensely focused on her. “All I know is that the last few days have been the best I’ve had this year, and it’s because of you.”

  His words touched her. What a sweet thing for him to say. Now that she thought about it, the last few days had been the best of her year also. “Yeah, I’ve had a really great time with you, too.”

  “I have feelings for you, Olivia.” He picked up his fork and stabbed at a piece of broccoli. “Real feelings.”

  “I know. I have them, too, for you.” She loved him. She allowed the feeling to flow through her. She didn’t want to lose that sensation.

  “You want to figure this out?” Emerson stirred his drink with the thin red straws.

  “Yes. Yes, I do.” She flagged down the waiter. “Can I get another martini, please?”

  Another two Cosmos for her and two gin and tonics for him, and they’d mapped out a tentative plan for long distance dating.

  “To choosing a new nickname.” She raised her glass. “Girlfriend.” It was official. She was now Emerson’s girlfriend. She liked how that sounded
in her head, but even better she liked how she felt when she said it. Proud and safe.

  “My girlfriend,” Emerson added and clinked her glass.

  “And that makes you my boyfriend.” She grinned.

  “We have dessert coming. Hope you saved room.” He nodded at their waiter.

  “I always have a little room for dessert.” She winked.

  “What the hell?” Horror danced across Emerson’s face.

  Olivia turned just in time to see a big black Labrador retriever grab part of a steak off a plate at the neighboring table and swallow it whole.

  The serene dining room erupted with activity.

  A couple clad in pajamas ran in with a leash and collar. The man yelled, “Rodolfo, get back here right now.”

  An older woman stood on her chair and screamed.

  The wait staff fluttered around like geese that had just been thrown a handful of breadcrumbs.

  The large dog raced past their table with a dinner roll in its mouth. The couple followed close behind.

  Olivia and Emerson laughed.

  Their waiter exited the kitchen with a tray holding their dessert. The lab jumped on him. The tray tilted sending cake, ice cream, forks and a wrapped gift to the floor. The crazed beast traded the roll for the gift and ran.

  Emerson hopped out of his chair and joined the entourage of people chasing the animal around the tables and chairs.

  Olivia watched amused. Though her curiosity was stirred as to why Emerson joined the couple.

  Finally, the crowd cornered the dog. His owners slipped the collar on him and Emerson tried to pry the gift out of the dog’s mouth. And the reason he’d gotten involved became clear.

  “Rodolfo, drop.” The female owner commanded. The lab obeyed.

  Emerson returned to the table with one shirttail out and slobber on his jacket sleeve. She handed him her napkin since his had landed on the floor. He dabbed the fabric in his water glass and wiped off the saliva.

  He placed the gift in front of her. “Merry Christmas.” The box was crushed, there were teeth marks in the Milky Way, and the ribbon had come mostly untied, but to Olivia it was the best Christmas present ever.

  “Thank you. I feel bad though, I didn’t get anything for you.” When had he had time to get something for her? And considering how hard he’d worked to retrieve it, it must be valuable. She fought against the panicked feeling rising within her.

  “Just open it.” He took a swig of water and smoothed his hair.

  Olivia slid the ribbon off and ripped open the shiny covering. She lifted the box lid to find a sheet of stationary. Her heart ached as she read it. Tears welled in her eyes. She so loved that man. “Thank you! It’s perfect. All of it.”

  “You’re welcome. Now can I unwrap my gift?” He rubbed his palms together.

  “I told you I don’t have anything for you.” A pang of guilt swept through her. He’d made the effort to create a gift for her and it never crossed her mind to make or find something for him.

  “Oh, yes you do. It’s all wrapped up in red silk and lace.” He licked his lips.

  She blushed. She’d willingly be his living Christmas present for as long as he’d like.

  Emerson raised his arm and motioned to the waiter. “Check, please.”

  Chapter 8

  The trill of Olivia’s phone pulled her out of her dream and spared her the driving rain with the pirate silhouette on the old ship. For that she was grateful. To her irritation, she still couldn’t identify the man on the boat, nor could she make out the name on the side. Instead of finding the answers she wanted, she grew increasingly more frustrated.

  Without opening her eyes, she found her phone on the nightstand and answered, “Hello.”

  “Merry Christmas, beautiful daughter!”

  “Hi! Merry Christmas.” Olivia snuggled deeper under the covers and imagined they were her mom’s arms. She missed her and her grandmother, too. It seemed like weeks, rather than days, since she’d seen them both.

  “You still stranded in Boston?”

  “Yes, but our flight leaves tonight.” Olivia fluttered her eyelids open and accustomed her sight to the light flooding the room from a crack in the heavy drapes.

  “Our?” She could see the wheels spinning in her mom’s head. That woman caught everything. “All right, who is he?”

  “Emerson. Remember the puffy guy in the elevator at the hospital?” Besides the staff and her grandmother, he was the only person they’d interacted with there, so she was surprised her mom hadn’t remembered him.

  “Kind of.”

  “You gave him coffee.” She smiled, recalling how awful he’d looked that night.

  “Oh, yes. Him.” Olivia wasn’t sure her mom actually remembered him or was just agreeing to move along the conversation.

  “Anyway, we met in the security line at the airport in New York, and it turned out we were on the same flight to Los Angeles. He’s helped me through this ordeal.” That was an understatement. He’d been her rock, her knight in shining armor, and trudging through the blizzard, and almost knee-deep snow, he had been the white horse, too.

  “I’m glad you aren’t going through this alone.”

  “Mom?” She was bursting to share how she felt about Emerson. She scanned the room. She was alone. Emerson must’ve gotten up and gone downstairs again that morning.

  “Yes? Is everything OK?” Even the slightest change in her tone, and the woman who’d given Olivia life was on it like glaze on a doughnut.

  “Yes, everything’s fabulous.” And it really was amazing. “I think I’m in love.”

  “With Travis?” The disgust dripped off the words.

  “No, with Emerson.” She hugged a pillow to her chest and sighed, as the feeling overtook her.

  “Really?” She could sense her mother’s excitement through the phone line. “Tell me all about it.”

  Olivia flopped on her back and relayed the events of the last few days. When she was done, her mom asked, “Have you had any recurring dreams?”

  “Yes.” Olivia had been calling them her brooch dreams, and she’d had them every night since she’d held the stone the night of her grandmother’s death.

  “So, does the sign in your dream indicate Emerson as your true love?”

  “Well, no, but I think the brooch is broken. I keep having this creepy vision about being on an ancient ship with a pirate silhouette.” She took a sip of bottled water.

  Her mother laughed. “It’s not broken. Have you opened my Christmas gift to you?”

  She bolted upright. “Oh, my, no! I forgot all about it.” To protect it from getting wet, she’d wrapped it in a newspaper at the airport and placed it at the bottom of her bag, where it had remained untouched.

  “Open it. I promise it’ll help.” She wondered if her mom had bought her a dream interpretation book. That seemed like the only gift that might help her make sense of the repeating images. That or a Magic 8 Ball. Or maybe an hour with a psychic.

  “OK, I’ll go do that now. I love you!” Though she was curious about the gift, she didn’t budge. The bed was too warm and safe.

  “I love you, too, dear. Have a wonderful Christmas, and let me know as soon as you are home safe.”

  She wished her mother a Merry Christmas and promised to call once she’d landed in Los Angeles.

  Olivia crawled out of bed and collected the gift. It was beautifully wrapped—her mom’s gifts always were extravagantly decorated. She slid the multi-colored bow off the package and ripped the wrapping paper to reveal a gorgeously crafted Lane wooden box. She lifted the lid and the scent of cedar wafted up into her nostrils. A lavender envelope, with her name written in cursive, sat on top of the contents.

  The note inside read:

  My dearest Olivia,

  The time has come for the brooch to bestow its gifts upon you.

  This book holds the stories of your ancestors, which the brooch connected with their true loves.

  Please take care
of it, and pass it and the brooch to your daughter.

  With All the Love in My Heart, Mom

  Olivia sighed. Her family took those messages from the piece of jewelry pretty serious. She had been intrigued, at first, but given how cryptic her dreams had been, she couldn’t see how they were going to be helpful in matching her with her true love, at all. Besides, she’d already found her true love in Emerson.

  She picked up the book. It was encased in a white linen cloth. Once she’d unwrapped it, she realized why. The paper was ancient and delicate. She spread the cloth on the bed, set aside the box, and cracked open the cover. The first entry was too hard to read, as it was written in ink, and the letters just looked like swirls, to her, which had faded into the parchment. She thumbed to the middle and scanned a story by a Lady Amanda. She’d dreamed of a captain’s insignia and married a captain. That seemed straightforward.

  She flipped through a few other entries and noted that the dreams hadn’t shown the women their man’s face or provided his name. Rather, they gave a specific clue that tied back to him. That fact made her feel better about not being able to see the features of the pirate silhouette on the ship.

  The stories, though she’d only scanned them, served to instill the belief in her that the power of the brooch was real. All of her ancestors were told of their true love. She wouldn’t be any different.

  Since she loved Emerson, and she’d met him right around the time she’d been given the brooch, surely he must have some tie to the ship in her dream. She vowed to find out what it was and win her knight.

  * * *

  Sharing with his mum that he’d met the girl he intended to marry ended up being an even better Christmas present for her than the silver tea set he’d carefully picked out at Harrod’s. She’d been beside herself with happiness and had insisted that he bring Olivia to England, as soon as possible, so she could meet her.