Before We Kiss

by Susan Mallery

  A petite blonde walked into the office. She was pretty, with hazel eyes, but what caught his attention was the small fluffy dog who walked next to her.

  Dellina turned. “Hi,” she said, then nodded to Sam. “I have a client meeting.”

  He rose. “Sam Ridge.”

  Fayrene’s eyebrows rose. “One of the football players. Nice. Fayrene Hopkins. This is Caramel. She’s a Pomeranian.”

  Dellina finished writing and faced her sister. Her gaze dropped to the small dog. “She’s adorable. Pet-sitting?”

  “Yes. Oddly enough, Mayor Marsha brought her to me.”

  “I didn’t know she had a dog.”

  “Me, either.”

  Dellina crossed to the small animal and let Caramel sniff her fingers. “You’re too cute for words,” she told the dog. “Can I pick her up?”

  “Sure. She’s superfriendly and really well behaved.”

  “Hey, pretty face,” Dellina said in a low voice. “You want me to pick you up?”

  Caramel gave a little half jump as Dellina reached for her. Dellina snuggled her close, then laughed when the dog licked her chin.

  Sam eyed the fluffball and wondered how much she would shed on his clothes. Although he had to admit, Caramel looked pretty cute. More teddy bear than dog. And she seemed to have a decent personality.

  He’d never had pets growing up. His house had been wild enough with three kids and his not-quite-normal parents. A dog or cat wouldn’t have stood a chance.

  Dellina’s cell rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. “I have to take this. It’s about another lecture possibility. I’ll be right back.” She handed Caramel back to Fayrene and ducked out of the room.

  Fayrene looked at him.

  Sam saw that the sisters had some similarities. The same shape to their faces and the set of their shoulders. Although Dellina was a few inches taller, which he liked. He remembered what he’d been told.

  Fayrene took her sister’s chair and smiled at him. “So, you’re a man.”

  Sam immediately glanced toward the exit. No conversation that started like that was going to go well, he thought grimly. Maybe he and Dellina could wrap up the rest of the details over the phone.

  He cleared his throat. “Yes.”

  Caramel wiggled free of Fayrene and jumped into his lap. Before he knew what was happening, she’d planted her tiny back feet on his thighs, her front feet on his chest and was staring at him expectantly.

  “What?” he asked as he stared into round dark eyes.

  “I think she wants you to hold her,” Fayrene said. “I’ve only had her a couple of hours so I don’t know everything she likes.”

  Sam didn’t want to hold the dog, but he also wasn’t sure about her staring. He reached for her, not clear on how to pick her up. As his hands closed around her, he realized she was a lot smaller than she’d seemed. She was mostly fur. Her body was small, her bones slight. Jeez, he could crush her if he wasn’t careful.

  But before he could figure out how to hand her back to Fayrene, Caramel had wiggled and shifted until somehow she was on her back, gazing up at him. Her expression held contentment and absolute trust. She relaxed against his arm, nestling her head in the crook of his elbow. He stroked her chest, then rubbed her little belly. She sighed and closed her eyes.

  “She likes you,” Fayrene told him.

  News that was both gratifying and terrifying.

  “You’re one of Dellina’s clients, right?” Fayrene asked.

  He nodded. “She’s planning an event for my company.”

  “Great. And there have been a lot of women in your life?”

  Sam’s head snapped up. “Excuse me?”

  Fayrene grinned. “Groupies. Girls in hotel rooms. You know what I mean. You’re experienced when it comes to women.”

  Sam shifted uncomfortably. What the hell was she asking?

  “It’s about my boyfriend,” Fayrene told him.

  “The mysterious Ryan.” He relaxed and thought of the dry-erase board with the Ten Ways to Get Him to Propose header. “There’s an obvious solution.”

  “To what?”

  “The proposal.”

  Fayrene’s hazel eyes widened. “Okay. What is it?”

  “Tell him you want to get married.”

  Her mouth twisted in disappointment. “Like that is ever going to happen. I can’t just say I’ve changed my mind and want us to get married now.”

  “Why not?”

  Her gaze turned pitying. “Because he’s the guy. He’s supposed to propose. I want the romantic moment. If Ryan really loved me, he would know things were different. Or he wouldn’t be able to wait for me. He’d insist.”

  Sam thought attitudes like that were one of the reasons the divorce rates were so high. “Unrealistic expectations and too much idealized fantasy about what it should be,” he muttered. “If Ryan loves you, he’ll respect you. Did you two agree to wait for a few years before getting married?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then every single day he doesn’t mention getting married, he’s showing you he loves you and wants what you want.”

  “But I don’t want that anymore.”

  “He’s a man, not a mind reader. He’s doing exactly what you asked him to do. Changing the rules now isn’t fair to either of you. This is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with. If you can’t be honest about how you feel, how do you expect your relationship to last?”

  Fayrene’s eyes narrowed. “You’re no help at all,” she told him, then stood and scooped up Caramel. The little dog settled easily in her arms.

  “Tell him the truth,” Sam called after her.

  Fayrene didn’t answer and seconds later the front door slammed.

  Dellina returned to her office. “Did my sister leave?”

  “Yes. I don’t think she was happy.”

  Dellina didn’t look overly concerned as she settled back in her seat. “What did you say?”

  “That if she wants to change the rules with Ryan, she needs to tell him directly.”

  “Excellent advice.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Not that she’ll listen.”

  “I got that.”

  * * *

  DELLINA ARRIVED AT Jo’s a few minutes before she was scheduled to meet her friends. As she walked into the bar, she saw Taryn and Larissa were already at a big table, along with Consuelo Ly. Taryn, as usual, wore something fabulous. This time a gray plaid sleeveless dress with a slim belt of the same material and some kind of foldy-draping across the front. The style was deceptively simple, but Dellina had a feeling the designer was a name everyone knew and that the dress had cost more than a vacation to Hawaii.

  By contrast Larissa was in apple-green capris with a matching polka-dot T-shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and Dellina was sure she hadn’t bothered with makeup that morning.

  Consuelo defied all fashion convention in her work uniform of cargo pants and a khaki-colored tank. All she needed was a bit of camouflage paint on her face to look like she’d stepped out of an action movie.

  From Dellina’s point of view, they were all versions of exotic. Taryn with her upscale taste and glossy beauty. Larissa was the classic blonde bombshell with an athletic twist, while Consuelo was both stunning and powerful—combined in a petite package. By comparison, Dellina felt average. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She was sort of pretty, but nothing like them. She guessed she looked like what she was—a small-town girl. In a word—boring.

  For the most part she was content with that, but every now and then she wondered what it would be like to be glamorous and sexy.

  “Hi,” she said as she approached the table. She set down the ceramic container she held.
“I hope this is what you were thinking of. Rakisha from Plants for the Planet swears it’s going to last.”

  Taryn and Consuelo both stared at the dish garden Dellina had picked up on her way over to lunch. They’d all agreed to get Bailey a small gift to celebrate her new job with the mayor. Larissa touched a couple of leaves.

  “Nice,” she said. “There’s dracaena, spathiphyllum and syngonium. Pretty and it will last even if she’s not great with taking care of it.”

  Taryn winced. “You frighten me.”

  “I know about plants. Big whoop.”

  “It’s one thing to recognize them. It’s another to know their Latin names.”

  Dellina grinned as she took a seat. Her friends were nothing if not entertaining.

  Larissa pointed to Taryn’s dress. “Who designed that?”

  “Oscar de la Renta.”

  Larissa turned to Consuelo. “And who made your pants?”

  Consuelo glared at her. “Hell if I know. I get them at a surplus store or online. They’re pants.”

  Dellina leaned back in her chair. “I wish Jo served popcorn because this is like live theater.”

  Larissa grinned at her, then turned back to Taryn. “We all know stuff.”

  “I got that. But my stuff makes sense. Yours is weird.” She looked at Consuelo. “I know better than to diss anything you know.”

  “Good.” Consuelo started to say something else, then looked up. “Bailey’s here.”

  They all rose and clapped as Bailey approached the table. The other woman blushed nearly as red as her hair as she drew near.

  “Stop, please,” she pleaded. “You don’t have to make a fuss.”

  “We’re making a fuss,” Taryn told her. “You got a great new job. A fuss is required.”

  They all hugged Bailey, then took their seats. Bailey thanked them for the plant. Jo walked over and stopped at their table.

  “Congratulations on the new job,” she said. “Lunch is on the house.” She paused. “For Bailey. The rest of you can still pay.”

  “Of course we can,” Taryn said with a grin. “All right. I think this calls for champagne all around.”

  Bailey’s mouth parted. “It’s lunchtime.”

  “I know,” Taryn told her. “That’s the point. A single glass won’t hurt your work performance. This is a big deal. We’re all happy for you.”

  “I like how you roll,” Dellina said.

  “You’ll like her even more when I tell you she called ahead, so my best bottle is already chilled,” Jo said. “Back in a flash.”

  “Champagne at lunch,” Bailey whispered. “I haven’t had any champagne since my wedding. Thank you all. You’ve been so nice to me.”

  Consuelo waved away the praise. “Yeah, yeah, we’re amazing. How’s the new job?”

  Bailey started talking about how much she had to learn, not only about working with Mayor Marsha but about the town government.

  Dellina was more interested in the women at the table. For all Taryn’s toughness and attitude, she’d been the one to preorder champagne. And while Consuelo couldn’t handle a simple compliment or a thank-you, she would cheerfully strangle anyone who tried to hurt Bailey or her daughter. Larissa was the one Dellina knew the least, but from what she could tell, the other woman was caring and had no trouble poking fun at Taryn. A fun combination.

  Jo returned with the champagne. She expertly popped the cork, then poured them each a glass.

  “To new beginnings,” Taryn said to Bailey. “May you always be happy.”

  Everyone joined in the toast, then they sipped. Dellina took a drink. The champagne was light and fizzy. She glanced at the bottle and saw the label read Dom Pérignon. Which was so Taryn, she thought with a grin. Well, everyone should have it at least once in their life!

  She set down her glass. “Did you know Mayor Marsha had a dog?” she asked Bailey.

  “No. She’s never said anything. Why?”

  “She left her dog with Fayrene. I remember somebody mentioning a trip.”

  “Me, too,” Taryn said. “Then everyone freaked out, as if Mayor Marsha wasn’t allowed to travel. Can’t the woman take a vacation without causing a scandal?”

  “I think it’s because Mayor Marsha doesn’t go away much,” Dellina said. “I don’t remember it ever happening when I was growing up, although she must have left town sometime.”

  “Where’s she going?” Larissa asked.

  “New Zealand.”

  “That’s far,” Dellina said, wondering how long the flight had to be. Twelve hours? Longer? “What’s there?”

  “The Lord of the Rings tour,” Taryn said with a grin. “Maybe our mayor is a fan.”

  “The what?” Consuelo asked. “Because of the book?”

  Larissa patted her arm. “The movie. Remember from a few years back? It was a big deal. They filmed it there and I guess they left the sets in place. You can tour it all. See the hobbit village.”

  Consuelo shook her head. “No way our mayor is going all the way to New Zealand to look at a bunch of fake hobbit houses. Maybe she’s going to watch Kipling Gilmore ski.”

  Dellina stared at her. “You know where he’s skiing right now?”

  Consuelo lifted a shoulder. “I read it in Sports Illustrated the other day. He’s there for summer skiing. Which they don’t call it there, because it’s their winter.”

  “Someone has a bit of a crush,” Dellina murmured.

  Consuelo’s lips twitched. “I like watching him. You were looking, too, during the Olympics.”

  “I have to say I’m more comfortable with the idea of our mayor being a ski groupie than looking at hobbit houses on her vacation,” Taryn announced. “Which is, on the surface, kind of strange. I’m going to have to think on that.” She turned to Dellina. “Speaking of fun things like vacations and handsome men, are you torturing Sam about the party?”

  Dellina laughed. “Which category does that question fall into?” She held up her hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. For the record, I’m only working with him. There’s no torture. It’s all very professional.”

  A little too professional, Dellina thought. Because he was one good-looking guy. Nice, too. Quiet, but she liked that about him. Flashy didn’t suit her—not that Sam was making any offers.

  Jo came by and took their orders. When she left, Dellina helped Bailey set the plant on a chair in the corner.

  “Rakisha said her niece and grand-niece were coming to help with the business,” Dellina said as they returned to the table.

  “Who?” Consuelo asked.

  “The owner of Plants for the Planet,” Taryn said. “I’ve met her. She’s got to be a hundred and three.”

  “Not that old, but probably into her eighties,” Dellina told them. “We were all afraid she would be selling the business.” There had been a scandal a few years back, she thought. Something about a man. But she didn’t mention that to her friends. No need to spread rumors.

  “I’m glad she has family to help out,” Larissa said. “I love how the businesses are run in Fool’s Gold. I’d hate to see any of them go corporate.”

  “The good of the many over the profits of the few,” Taryn murmured. “How I adore your tree-hugging nature.”

  Larissa grinned. “Mock me all you want. I have a thousand causes I can talk about.”

  “Yes,” Taryn said. “And all supported by Jack. The things that man does for you. It defies logic.”

  Lunch passed quickly. There was plenty of conversation and laughter. Dellina walked out with Taryn, who stopped her on the sidewalk.

  “The party is really moving forward?” Taryn asked. “While I like to torture Sam for sport, the truth is we all want to please our clients. So if you need anything, let me know.”


  “Thanks, but it’s coming together really well. So far the only stumbling block is the evening lecture. I can’t find the right topic or person. What are both men and women interested in?”

  Taryn raised her eyebrows. “Is that a real question?”

  Dellina laughed. “I can’t hire someone to talk about sex.”

  “I don’t see why not. You’d have everyone’s attention.” An SUV pulled up at the curb. Taryn waved at the driver. “That’s my ride.”

  Because Angel had come to pick her up, Dellina thought, glancing at her friend’s five-inch heels. No way anyone could walk across town in those.

  Love, she thought as she strolled toward the center of town. It did crazy things to people. She had neither a man nor five-inch heels. Not that she wanted the latter. Or had time for the former. Serious relationships weren’t on her to-do list. But a couple of nights with a certain former NFL kicker would be nice.

  Dellina walked past Brew-haha. She thought briefly about popping inside and getting coffee, but then was seduced by the thought of a piece of fudge. On her way, she could check out what was new at Morgan’s Books. If she couldn’t have sex with the guy she wanted, she could buy a romance and read about someone else doing it with an equally hunky guy—however fictional he might be.

  She turned left on Frank Lane. At The Christmas Attic, she paused to wave to Noelle, who was behind the counter, helping a couple of tourists. Her friend waved back. Dellina continued to Morgan’s Books, only to come to a stop in front of the display.

  “It can’t be that easy,” she murmured, every fiber of her being hoping it could be just that simple.

  In the front window was a display for an upcoming book signing. Lark Heuston, a New York Times bestselling author, was going to be signing at Morgan’s store the Thursday before the Score party. Which meant she would be in town. Just as exciting was the title of her new book. Using Tantric Sex to Strengthen Your Marriage. Talk about an unexpected gift. Because Taryn was right. Sex was the one thing men and women could agree upon, she thought happily.

  The subject matter was appealing and informational, she thought as she headed for the door and stepped into the store. All she had to do was get the contact information from Morgan and then call Ms. Heuston to see if she would like to spend a couple of extra days in Fool’s Gold and give an easy ninety-minute lecture. Maybe they could even set up a book signing. Authors liked that sort of thing, didn’t they?