by Alexia Adams
“No, I want the whole deal—loving husband, lots of noisy children. If that makes me a Neanderthal then I’ll be the one hanging out with the dodos.” She stared at her desk to avoid the pity she was sure was written on her friend’s face. In this age when women were striving for equality in the corporate world she felt like a sellout wanting to be a stay-at-home mom caring for her husband and children.
“So where are you meeting your Internet date?” Mandy’s voice broke through her reverie.
“At that bar you told me about on Montgomery Street.” Lorelei took another sip of now-cold coffee, hoping to drown the butterflies dancing around in her stomach. She was always nervous before going on a first date. Usually, though, she’d at least met the man in person or he’d been recommended by a friend.
“Want me to come along as protection?”
“No, I’ll be all right. The place will be crowded on a Friday night. If I think he’s dangerous I’ll ask for help.”
“It’s the ones who seem normal who kill you in the shower,” Mandy said.
“Gee, thanks.” At least if she were dead she wouldn’t have to preside over a disastrous charity event that was sure to not only get her fired, but cost the entire San Francisco office staff their jobs. No pressure.
…
“Yo, Liam! You home?” David’s voice called out from the front of the house.
I have got to take his keys away before he barges in at an inopportune time. He’d given David a set of keys in case of emergency, but his friend had become so accustomed to coming over, he now let himself in and out any time of day or night.
“Yeah, I’m home. Be right out,” he said from the bedroom.
Liam glanced once more in the full-length mirror. The face that stared back was alien. Were these the features his mother hated? According to rumor, he was the spitting image of the father whose name he didn’t even know. As a child, seeing his face every day had reminded his mother of her stupidity in throwing away her marriage to Marcus’s father for an ill-fated affair with a man who loved only himself.
When he’d been little, he’d gotten through the pain of being hated by his own mother by imagining he’d been kidnapped as a baby and was being raised by a wicked stepmom. Every time they’d gone to the grocery store he’d scour the milk cartons to see if any of the missing children looked like him.
When the first whisker had appeared he’d never shaved it off in the vain hope his mother would realize he was not his father. But by then her indifference had been insurmountable, no matter what he did to try to please her. Now, however, it meant there would be no chance of anyone recognizing the new Liam as the reclusive billionaire with a penchant for Eastern European supermodels.
Grabbing his leather jacket from the bed, he wandered out to the main room. He could hear David rummaging around in the kitchen.
“Jason has the night off and I’m going out,” Liam said. David stared forlornly at the empty stove.
“Are there any leftovers from last night?” David opened the fridge door and stuck his head inside.
“Probably.” Liam leaned against the doorframe.
David eventually emerged from the fridge with two large plastic containers in his hand. As he turned and caught sight of Liam, his mouth flopped open and he dropped the food on the floor. A chicken drumstick rolled to a stop against Liam’s foot.
“What the hell?”
“That bad?” Liam glanced down at his clothes. He usually wore either a custom-made suit or jeans and a T-shirt. The salesclerk at the mall insisted that chinos and a button-down shirt with the leather jacket had regular guy written all over them.
David stepped over the mess on the floor and scrutinized Liam up close before retreating. “I can see now why you grew the beard. You’re broken.”
“Excuse me?” Liam ran a hand over his now-bare chin and cheeks. The smooth skin felt weird under his fingers.
“You’ve got a dent in your chin and a hole in your left cheek as well, definite defects. When this is over you’d better grow the facial hair back as soon as possible.”
“Thanks.”
“Damn, man, you’re wearing makeup.”
“I’ve got a bit of color on because the newly shaved areas are whiter than the rest of my face. I don’t want to look like I’ve just changed my whole appearance,” Liam said.
“But you have.”
David’s stare was becoming uncomfortable.
“Yes, but I don’t want to look like I have. She might think I’ve recently been released from prison or something.”
“Or the mental hospital. This is a completely asinine idea.”
“You think I don’t know that? But I promised Marcus and I have to give it a shot. As my friend, you should support me.”
“My mom always told me if all my friends were going to jump off a bridge I shouldn’t join them. Except that one time when I cracked the bank’s security system and the cops showed up at the door. Then she was actively encouraging it.”
“I’m not jumping from any bridge. I’m hijacking a date, that’s all.”
“Right. Now this is the bit of the plan that confuses me.”
Liam perched on a stool while David rummaged under the sink for something to clean the floor.
“I went back into the dating site. Lorelei has arranged a date with some architect for tonight at a wine bar in the Financial District. He’s not going to show up. I am.”
“How did you arrange that? You haven’t had him kidnapped, have you?” David asked.
“What kind of person do you think I am? I simply sent him a message from Lorelei’s account saying she had to work late and she’d contact him next week to rearrange. Then I deleted her profile and reimbursed the subscription fees.”
“Why did you choose this girl again? Aside from the fact that she’s gorgeous?”
“Because she’s new to the area. Apparently she has no relatives here so I won’t have to get involved with her family.” Liam popped a handful of M&M’s in his mouth.
“Sweet. What about the guy whose place you’re taking?”
“He’s a loser. Already been married three times and his divorce isn’t even final from his last wife. I’m saving Lorelei from him.”
“If thinking that makes you feel better.”
“It doesn’t, okay? Just drop it. I promised Marcus I’d finish his book and I’m going to do it, no matter the cost.”
“The cost to you? Or others?”
Liam stood abruptly, knocking the stool over backward. Before he could pick it up the door opened again.
Who now?
“How many people have keys to my place? I’ve got half a million bucks worth of computer equipment here.”
“It’s probably Helen. I made her a copy.”
“You gave your sister a key? I’m gonna change the locks,” Liam grumbled.
“Hi guys, I made some cookies. Thought I’d share,” Helen said as she walked into the kitchen. She wore bright-pink oven mitts and carried a metal tray with black blobs welded onto the surface. When her eyes flickered to Liam she dropped the tray, which clattered to the floor. Two of the black blobs managed to free themselves and shattered into a million fragments.
“You’re the second person to drop something when they’ve seen me. Is it really that bad?”
“No, no, it’s good, it’s very, very good,” Helen said, breathless. She bent down to sweep up the crumbs on the floor with her hand, her eyes never leaving Liam’s face.
“You’re making more of a mess, Helen,” David said, a note of exasperation in his voice. He picked up the tray and tossed it into the sink, then crossed to the closet across the room and retrieved the broom.
Still Helen stared at Liam.
“So, I need some advice on how to approach Lorelei,” Liam said.
“Tell her she’s too beautiful to sit alone,” David said as he emptied the dustpan into the garbage.
Liam grimaced. No wonder David hadn’t had a date in all
the years he’d known him.
“I don’t think you need to say anything,” Helen said. Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Excuse me, I think I left the oven on.” She raced from the room, both Liam and David staring after her.
“Women are crazy. Are you sure you want to get involved with one?” David said as the door slammed behind Helen.
He picked up the jacket from the stool next to him and shrugged into it. “I’m not getting involved. Not really, anyway. Make sure you lock up and put the alarm on when you’ve finished trashing my kitchen. And leave a note telling Jason you made the mess. I’m not taking the rap for it.”
With another handful of M&M’s for good luck, Liam strode out the door. Time to put the first act in motion.
Chapter Three
Lorelei sat next to the window at the trendy wine bar. The chair opposite her was empty, for now. She’d arrived five minutes late, hoping Richard, her Internet date, would already be there waiting. She didn’t want to appear eager. Apparently, neither did he, and twenty minutes later she still sat alone. Picking up her phone from the table she checked again for a message. He had her email address but not her cell number. It had seemed too stupid to give a man she’d never met her phone number. At least with the email account she could block his messages if he annoyed her. Pity she hadn’t thought to get his. She was rusty at this blind date thing.
She stared out the window. People were emptying from office buildings as though getting their first taste of freedom after doing twenty years. A group of three junior execs in cheap suits pointed across the street to the bar as though discussing whether to go there first or home to their wives and girlfriends.
How much longer should she give him? Ten minutes? He’d said his office was in Oakland, but he had a meeting in San Fran today. Perhaps his meeting was running late. It didn’t bode well for her fundraising dinner if she couldn’t even get an Internet date to show.
Her phone vibrated on the table with an incoming text.
Where are you? Tried your home number.
Her mother’s number appeared on the call display.
I’m on a date, Lorelei texted back.
Then why are you writing me back? That’s rude.
He’s in the washroom.
Has he been in there long? Maybe he has a problem. When he gets back ask him if he eats enough fiber.
And this was why she didn’t let her dates meet her mother.
He’s back. Got to go.
She didn’t like lying to her mother, but if she knew her date hadn’t shown the inquisition would start.
“Can I get you another ginger ale?” A server stood next to her table, staring pointedly at Lorelei’s empty glass.
“Oh, um, I’ll wait another couple of minutes,” she said. She’d ordered the soda rather than a glass of wine because she’d wanted her wits about her when Richard arrived.
The waitress motioned toward the bar and Lorelei looked around at the former near-empty space, which had become crowded over the past half hour. Patrons hovered around the bar and all the other tables were occupied. “I will need you to order soon. We have other guests wanting a table.”
Lorelei picked her phone off the table and grabbed her bag from the floor. Before she could stand a deep male voice spoke.
“I’ll have a glass of merlot, 2008 Decoy if you have it. And for the lady?”
“The same,” Lorelei said. Her eyes followed the dark-blue-clad legs up past a trim waist and massive chest, to a face that would haunt her dreams for nights. When he smiled, a dimple formed in his left cheek. An Internet date who looked better than his profile picture. But he had brown eyes. Richard the architect was supposed to have blue eyes. This epitome of masculinity wasn’t her date.
“I’m waiting for someone,” Lorelei said as the tall man sat down. She hoped he didn’t hear the disappointment in her voice.
“Not a problem. When he shows up I’ll disappear into the night. Besides, if he sees me sitting here maybe next time he’ll be on time.”
“I guess it’ll be all right.” She wasn’t sure how she could get him to move even if she did object.
“I’m Liam Mackenzie.” He held out a hand.
“Lorelei Torres.” She put her hand out and shook his. He held it for a moment longer than absolutely necessary, but not so long as to be creepy.
The waitress arrived with the drinks and a lingering smile for her companion. Lorelei took a sip; the wine was smooth and full-bodied, and probably not a cheap vintage. Still, if she only had the one glass she wouldn’t blow her whole entertainment budget.
“So, who are you waiting for? Your husband? Boyfriend?”
Lorelei glanced at her watch. Richard was forty minutes late and hadn’t let her know. He was done. “Doesn’t matter. What about you? Are you waiting for someone, or trolling?”
Liam laughed. “I was supposed to meet a client, but he canceled last-minute. I saw you sitting all alone and decided my night didn’t have to be a complete waste.”
“Well, I don’t sleep with men I’ve just met. So if you want to move on to easier pickings I’m sure you can have your choice of women here tonight.” She tamped down the rising disappointment. After the way Barry treated her, it was difficult to believe a man was interested in more than her body.
Liam laughed again. “I’m not here for a hookup, but thanks for the vote of confidence. I thought maybe you wouldn’t want to walk out of here alone, having sat at the table by yourself for the past thirty minutes.”
“You’ve been watching me?”
“No more than I’ve been watching everyone else. My brother is, was, a writer. He was fascinated by people. When we would hang out in public he used to make up stories about the people around us. I guess I’ve fallen into the habit of doing the same.”
“Tell me a story.” It seemed a good way to get him to stay at her table a little longer, if only to forget for a moment she’d been stood up. And nothing to do with the fact he was drool-worthy gorgeous.
He smiled before scanning the room. “See the couple standing over at the end of the bar?”
Lorelei wrenched her gaze from him and spotted a couple at the far end. The man was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that looked two sizes too small. Next to him a woman had on a red dress that barely covered her backside while she teetered on four-inch black stilettos. “Yeah, I see them.”
“His name is Jett, because his parents thought they were cool. And she’s Beatrice, because her parents weren’t. They met at a club last weekend. Under the influence, they each thought the other was amazing. And they’ve been telling their friends all week about finding the perfect guy/girl. But now, in the light of day, they’re not too sure. They have nothing in common and she thinks he’s a douche for checking out all the other women here and he thinks she’s boring because she doesn’t like motorbikes.”
“That’s not very romantic,” she said. However, as she watched, the woman put her empty glass on the bar, whispered something in the man’s direction, then wobbled her way to the far end of the room, bumping into a woman and nearly spilling her drink. Lorelei glanced back to the bar and the man had already sidled up to a group of women who appeared to be celebrating a birthday.
“Your turn,” Liam said.
“My turn?” Lorelei turned back to her companion and a frisson of excitement shot through her when his dark eyes met hers.
“Choose a couple or group and tell me a story.”
At least it would stop her from staring at him. “Okay.” Lorelei gazed around the room. A woman in a black dress stood next to a man wearing a suit. He had his arm around her shoulder and they seemed engrossed in each other. “The couple over there.” She nodded her head toward the two happy drinkers.
“The woman in the dress that was too-great-a-bargain-to-pass-up-even-though
-it’s-uncomfortable and the guy trying to compensate for his lack of height by wearing pinstripes?”
“Ah, yeah. They’re a married couple who
work nearby. They’ve met up for a drink before going to dinner, then home,” Lorelei said. “They’re thinking about starting a family but worried over the cost and who will give up work to look after the baby.”
“I can already tell you’re a good person, because you want people happy,” he said.
“So, what’s my story?” Lorelei took a sip of her wine. With Liam’s full gaze on her she put her hand on her chest, fingering the silver necklace her mother had given her on her twenty-first birthday. She pressed the points of the star into her fingers to stay grounded. It would be so easy to lose herself in his eyes, forget what she wanted in life, and take whatever crumb he was offering so she wasn’t alone.
“I can’t figure you out—that’s why I came over. You’re far too beautiful to be sitting here alone.” He grimaced at the corny line but carried on. “And any guy who stands you up must be an idiot. What I can’t work out is why you would date an idiot.”
“It was a first date. I didn’t realize he was an idiot. I’m new to San Francisco.”
“Well, then on behalf of the men of San Francisco, let me welcome you to our city. I’d like to take your date’s place and have dinner with you.”
He leaned across the table, cutting the distance between them. She caught a whiff of his cologne and it tingled her nostrils, making her want to inhale deeply. “I don’t think—”
“Please, I hate eating alone. All that’s waiting for me at home is an empty apartment and a frozen meal. What do you say?”
His deep-brown eyes gazed into hers. She was mesmerized by their chocolaty depths with no desire to escape. Another set of brown eyes flickered into her memory only to evaporate in a surge of heat as he smiled and the dimple in his cheek appeared. She’d always been a sucker for dimples.
“I guess dinner would be okay.” After all, she’d planned on going on a date. Did it matter which guy she ate with?
“Great, I booked a table at Domenico’s to take my client. If we hurry we can still make the reservation. Are you done here?” Liam signaled to the waitress and pulled out his wallet.
“I can pay for my drink.” Lorelei reached for her bag under the table.