by Amy Jarecki
“Yeah, you are.”
“It’s hard to see them grow up.”
He rolled on his belly. “I’m sure it is.”
“You want to go out for dinner? Maybe a movie?”
An eyebrow arched. “You asking me on a date?”
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
Thoughts of Malibu forgotten, Matt flipped open his laptop to see what was playing at the cinema.
***
Showered, Rebecca wore only her bra and panties as she circled around her ample closet. She had already tried on half her wardrobe and nothing worked.
What does someone wear to dinner and a movie these days? Jeans? I don’t want to look like the every-day Rebecca. Hmm, something nice but not too fancy.
Filing through her tops, she found an angora black sweater with a scooped neck with a sprinkle of diamond rhinestones. It was like finding a new treasure because it still had the tags.
Perfect. And I have the black pants to go with it.
Pulling the sweater over her head, her eyes beheld Amanda standing at the closet door.
“That sweater is beautiful. What’s the occasion?”
Caught.
Her gut clenched. It reminded Rebecca of her utter mortification when her mother discovered her stuffing her bra in the eighth grade. “Ah, I’m going out to dinner.”
“With Matt?”
Rebecca’s fists flew to her hips. “Actually, yes.”
“Did he ask you out on a date?” Amanda demanded in a not-so-nice tone.
“Well, if you must know, I asked him and you can wipe that nasty smirk off your face right now.”
Amanda’s hip jutted to the side. “God. You asked him?”
“It’s dinner and a movie. Nothing more.”
Amanda disappeared from the doorway. “I’m going to Sean’s.”
The back of Rebecca’s neck burned. “What about your homework? I don’t think…”
“If you can go on a date, I can do my homework at Sean’s house,” Amanda called from the hallway.
Rebecca popped her head out of the closet. “I’ll see you back here by ten,” she yelled but the door to her room slammed.
I guess that could have been worse. Couldn’t it? Aside from Sean.
She shrugged off Amanda’s belligerence and slipped into her snug fitting slacks, picking out a pair of heeled black pumps. Opening her jewelry armoire, she chose a string of black pearls and matching earrings and carted them to the vanity, then removed her sweater so it wouldn’t get soiled.
She sat and flipped on the lighted makeup mirror. Usually she just stood and slapped on a little makeup but tonight she planned to take extra care, starting with massaging in moisturizer, foundation and a tad of cover-up under her eyes. She applied a shimmering soft pink-tan highlight to her eyelids followed by an accent of brown in the corners to make her eyes pop. A fine line of eyeliner, some mascara, a little lip liner filled with raspberry lip gloss.
Not bad.
Rebecca used a curling iron to tame her wild locks into sassy ringlets, fastened her jewelry and slipped the sweater back over her head. She regarded her reflection in the full length mirror. The heels made her legs appear longer and aside from a little tummy, her figure still looked pretty good for forty—maybe not as rock solid as Matt. She sucked in her stomach and assessed the side view.
Better.
The all-black outfit accented her red hair and fair skin and the scoop neck showed a hit of cleavage. She nodded in approval, dabbed on a touch of French perfume and headed to her car. It was just as well Amanda wasn’t there to add unpleasant overtones.
Matt opened the condo door before Rebecca had a chance to ring the bell. Patches ran up to her, hair standing up on the back of his neck, barking like the maniacal watch-dog he was. Catching her scent, his tail oscillated like the wings of a humming bird. With a deep laugh, Rebecca scooped him up. “Patches, you’re protecting Matt’s condo, aren’t you sweetie pie?”
Matt took the dog and kissed her. “You are absolutely stunning.”
“Thanks. You too.” She admired his gray tweed blazer over a navy striped collared shirt, with the top button open. Her tongue grew a mind of its own and flicked across her lip.
Matt gestured toward her sweater. “Want a lint roller?”
Heat ignited her cheeks. Why did she always manage to end up covered in dog hair? “Would you mind?”
Matt disappeared into the laundry and came out with a lint roller and something else behind his back. After Rebecca’s sweater was free of Patches’ fur, Matt revealed a dozen red roses. “I was going to give these to you when we got back, but since I had to make a trip to the laundry, I decided not to wait. I’m used to being the one knocking on the door.”
Rebecca’s breath caught. She hadn’t expected flowers—she was the one making the peace offering. “They’re beautiful. I absolutely love roses. I see you picked a bunch with tight buds so they’ll last a long time.” She leaned in and kissed him.
“I’m glad you like them.” Matt put the vase on the counter for Rebecca to pick up on her way home.
“We’d better get going if we want to catch the movie.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“I made a reservation at the Marlton Tavern. Is that all right?”
Matt shot her that grin that made Rebecca’s knees turn to butter. “Are you kidding?” He winked. “I’d go to McDonalds if that’s what you wanted.”
“I think I can spring for something a bit more upscale than that.”
She opened her car door. “Have you been to the Marlton?”
Matt slid in beside her. “Nope.”
“It once was a stately home on Main Street, but they converted into a fine dining establishment several years back—sort of like Braddocks in Medford.”
Once inside, Rebecca asked for a quiet table upstairs and they were seated in a small room with only a couple other tables. Rebecca ordered the wine and recommended the crab cakes.
Matt held up his glass. “To our first date, may we have many more.”
“Our first date.”
Matt took a long slow sip of the chardonnay, his eyes never leaving hers. “So, what made you change your mind about me—about us dating?”
“Let’s just say I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the past few weeks.” Rebecca ran her finger down the condensation on her water glass. “This is a big step for me, Matt.”
He placed his hand over hers and hot blood sizzled through her entire body. “I know, and like a fine wine, it’s been worth waiting for.”
She couldn’t breathe as his blue eyes darkened and gazed into hers. With a glint of danger, they smoldered with intensity. Rebecca tried to inhale but only managed a shallow breath. She was losing it.
“How can you make me feel giddy with a look?”
“Me? You’re the enchantress.” With a wicked glance, he leaned forward and gave her a teasing kiss, his tongue flicking between her lips. Rebecca knew the peck was harmless, but it spilled through her soul.
She floated through dinner. “So how are East Coast Operations shaping up?”
“Business is good. Almost too good. I’m going to need to hire on if it keeps up.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Sure, but I’m getting tired of consulting.”
“I thought you liked being your own boss.”
“I do, but…” Matt swirled the wine in his glass. “It’s not as fun as showing dogs.”
Rebecca looked at the dried skin around her fingernails, caused by hot bath water and dog shampoo. “It has its occupational hazards, but you’re right, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. And the clients are rolling in now that I won Philly.”
Matt raised his glass. “Good for you.”
“Amanda is a help but I think I’m going to need another handler.”
“Oh yeah? How much does a gig like that pay?”
“Ten dollars an hour.”
Matt’
s shoulders sagged. “Too bad, I might be interested.”
Rebecca shook her head and her curls jostled against her cheeks. “Looking at your lifestyle, I don’t think dog showing would suit you.”
“I’m not so sure. You seem to do okay with your classes and grooming added in.”
“Sure, I manage to pay the bills but not much more.”
The salads arrived.
Rebecca lifted her fork. “Mandy’s going to be on her senior trip and I’ll need someone to help out with my client dogs at Westminster. Are you interested?”
“At ten dollars per hour?”
Rebecca cringed. “I thought you’d do it for free. After all, we’re dating now and I’ve taught you everything you know.”
“So that’s why you asked me out?” Matt laughed when her jaw dropped. “Of course I’ll do it but I’m going to need some practice.”
“You think you could make some time over the next couple weeks?”
“You name it. I’ll be there.”
Rebecca licked her lips. She liked the sound of that.
The crab cakes arrived. Matt dug in and found huge clumps of crab hidden beneath the crusty exterior. “Wow, these are good.”
Rebecca picked at her food while she watched Matt eat. Studying a person chewing his food always interested her. Sure, she had seen him eat but had never actually watched. Matt took big bites that fit in his ample mouth. After all, such a big guy would look silly with a little mouth. But though he chewed with his mouth closed, she could hear his jaw working. It seemed almost like a clicking sound. That could be annoying if things were completely silent. He looked up. “What?”
Rebecca smiled. “Nothing. I’m glad you like it.”
When they finished eating, Rebecca insisted on paying since she had been the asker but Matt only allowed it if she’d let him pay for the movie. Too full for popcorn, he led her to the center of the top row. “Best seats in the house.”
“I like it up here too. The kids always want to sit in the front.”
The lights dimmed. Matt reached for her hand. She glanced at his profile.
Is there any side to him that isn’t totally hot?
He caught her looking and lowered his lashes. Heat spread between her hips when he bent his head and moved his lips toward hers. His tongue gently slipped past her parted lips with a burst of savory male and she welcomed him into her mouth. A deep moan tickled her throat. It was as if she was seventeen sitting in the back of the theater with her boyfriend, necking. Nice.
Matt continued to hold her hand once the movie started, his grip tightening as the emotion of the story heightened. As the plot reached the climax, he put his arm around her shoulders. Rebecca leaned her head against his warm shoulder and sighed.
Why is it that men are walking heating pads?
Rebecca’s skin tingled throughout the movie. Holding Matt’s hand, the smell of spicy male, the feel of his strong arm resting against hers made it difficult to breathe. She could have sat beside him forever. The only problem was that she didn’t remember much about the movie. A lot of guns shooting, some kissing, and beautiful-looking actors—she hoped Matt wouldn’t notice her inattentiveness. They stayed in their seats and watched the credits, holding hands.
Then he reached for her chin and his powerful fingers gently pulled her toward him. Bending his head, he captured her mouth with his full lips. Rebecca’s heart thundered against her ribcage. His mouth covered hers with urgency. His tongue searching, his kiss was raw, unapologetic and undeniably seductive. When Rebecca came up for air, she drew in a throaty breath. “Wow.”
“Yeah…Wow.”
Rebecca looked across the empty theater. “We’d better go.”
Her fingers drummed on the steering wheel as she drove him to the condo. She focused on bringing back her self-control. Things in the theater got pretty hot and she needed to cool down—definitely needed to put on the brakes.
Rebecca walked up to the door alongside him.
Matt tugged her hand. “You want to come in?”
“It’s late. I should get home.”
“Just one drink?” Matt cupped her face in his hands. “I had a really good time. So good, I don’t want it to end.”
Butterflies spontaneously attacked. Rebecca opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by his inviting mouth over hers. Her body betrayed her, the heat inside rose, her need tightened deep inside her womb. She pictured him naked. Her breasts ached to see him that way. His kiss explored her mouth and sucked her deep desires to the surface of her skin. He felt it too.
Rebecca forced herself to pull away. “One step at a time.”
Matt’s jaw tightened and a pang of guilt needled at the back of her neck. “Just a minute.” He turned and darted back to the kitchen. Returning with the roses, he pecked her cheek. “You nearly forgot.”
She smiled at his thoughtfulness though his eyes reflected his disappointment. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
Chapter Nineteen
With the holidays over, the show season would be quiet for a month, enabling Rebecca to work with her client dogs and prepare them for the ring.
Saturday afternoon, she and Amanda headed to the studio to work with the new client puppies. Since there was a Chihuahua with good breeding, Amanda would gain a championship title on her quickly, which would grant her quick acceptance as a professional handler. “In addition to the Chihuahua, I’d like you to work the Shih Tzu and the Lhasa Apso champions that I’ve contracted to show at Westminster.”
Amanda twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “Wow, I thought you’d only start me with one dog, two at the most.”
“You can handle it, but your job will have to take precedence over your social life. If you were working for another handler, you’d have to do the same. That means if there’s a conflict with obedience or anything else, your client dogs come first.”
“I know. Don’t worry, Mom.”
“I know you can do it. With your win at the Philly show, you proved that you’re a topnotch handler but you have to make a commitment. And you know you’re going to need the money for college. If you can stick with it, I’ll have work for you all summer.”
“Yeah? That’s good.”
“Let’s start with each dog on the table.”
The new puppies were all less than five months old and appeared to have never been put on a show table. Rebecca’s cure for table fright was to feed them every meal on the table but for this exercise, she had Amanda coax them forward with a treat to ensure they overcame their fear of the edge.
The puppy cowered, crouching down, shaking with fright. She petted him and spoke in a soft lull. “There, there, it’s okay. That’s not so bad.” She let him smell a piece of dried liver but he was too nervous to eat it. She pulled a piece of fresh chicken out of her pouch and got a more interested response, letting him nibble at the treat. The dog’s eyes followed her hand as it retrieved another chicken morsel.
“This is so tedious.” Amanda looked up with a groan.
“I know but you have to put in the time. Come on, coax him forward an inch with the chicken. If you can get him to the edge of the table, you’ve won. You know how it works.”
“Yeah, but I’ve been spoiled by Gordo. He does everything perfectly. It’s easier to train a novice handler and their dog than it is to start a dog from scratch myself.”
“Welcome to the world of pro handling. No made-to-order champions here. It’s all on you to shape them into beautifully behaved show dogs.”
Amanda’s eyes flashed with a competitive spark. “That’s the way I want it.”
Once the Chihuahua began to relax and enjoy the treats on the table, Amanda started the task of teaching him to walk with a lead. The dog had no clue and obviously had not been handled by the client. Rebecca made a mental note to ensure she spoke to the owner about the dog’s care.
Her head snapped around when Ryan bolted through the door. “Amanda? Whatcha doin’ out here?”
“I’m working with the dogs. What else, Einstein?”
“You’ve got a dance to go to.”
“Huh?”
Matt, dressed in a black tuxedo with a dashing white tie, stepped into the shed, looking as out of place as a penguin in the Serengeti. “Um, I’m here to take you to the father-daughter dance.”
Rebecca gasped, a hand covering her mouth.
Amanda’s eyes darted to Matt. “What? Are you joking?”
“Actually, no. I’m a tad overdressed for this to be a joke.” He stepped forward, holding up his palms in surrender. “Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to take the place of your dad or anything. But it broke my heart to see you excluded from the fun.”
Amanda obstinately stood in the middle of the ring and crossed her arms. “What makes you think I would go with you?”
“Because you want to show your friends you can.”
Matt shot Ryan a conspiring look. Ryan grabbed Amanda’s hand. “Just come with me. I want to show you something.”
She didn’t budge. “What?”
“A surprise, come on I said.”
“Whatever.” Amanda handed the leash to Rebecca and followed Ryan to the house.
As the door slammed behind them, Rebecca turned to Matt. “What’s going on?”
“When Amanda came home crying about the father-daughter dance, I thought I could take her. Ryan helped me. He got her sizes, and then we bought her a dress, shoes, the whole get up.”
“Oh my goodness.” Rebecca’s hands flew to her cheeks. “You did that for Amanda? How thoughtful.”
“I think she’s going to need help with her hair.”
“You’re right.” Rebecca quickly returned the Chihuahua to his crate and headed into the house.
Running up the stairs, she could hear Amanda shouting. “I don’t care how pretty the dress is. I’m not going.”
“Why not?” Ryan sounded frazzled.
“He’s not my father. No one told me about this. I need a shower. I haven’t even tried the freaking dress on.”
“We had a size six model try it on.” Ryan’s voice cracked. “Come on, Mandy, it’ll be perfect.”
Rebecca poked her head in the doorway. “Amanda, this was very kind of Matt and you haven’t exactly been nice to him.” She walked over to the bed and held up the gown. “Oh my, have you looked at this? It’s exquisite.”