by Scott, Lisa
She seemed to be thinking about it for a long time and he was getting nervous, but then she said, “I’ll follow you there.”
***
She pulled up in front of the address and did a double take.
“What do you think?” He spread his arms wide in front of a sprawling lakeside home.
“This can’t be in my price range.” Unless it’s haunted or the scene of a mass murder. “Why did you bring me here?”
“For a few reasons.” He grabbed a blanket and a picnic basket and led her around the side to the back yard. He reached for her hand, but she pretended not to notice. She had to keep this professional. But Henry certainly had something else in mind.
The backyard was like something from a home designer magazine. A huge white gazebo covered in roses stood in the middle of the back yard overlooking the lake.
“Wow.” She’d never seen a place like this, not in person anyway.
“Sensory overload. I’m going to engage all your senses so you can’t help but respond to what you really like.”
Her breath caught as she stepped into the gazebo, wondering if she stood a chance against this guy. “Where are the owners?” And what are the penalties for trespassing?
“It’s a foreclosure. Don’t worry, no one will find us here.”
“You’re sure?” She glanced left and right, wondering if they were in view of neighbors.
He pressed two fingers against her lips. “Shh.” He spread the blanket on the floor of the gazebo and pulled out two glasses, a bottle of champagne and a bowl of strawberries. The smile that unfurled was wicked.
She sat, frozen. Should she do this? He was trying to draw out her real desires. She appreciated that. The logical part of her did. But what about that uncontrollable heart of hers that hadn’t been let out for a run in years? It was bound to trip and fall. She reached for a big red strawberry and took a bite. A dribble of juice raced down her chin.
“Let me get that.” Henry rubbed his thumb across her chin, catching the juice. He licked it off his finger.
Elizabeth stopped breathing for a moment. “Thanks,” she whispered. She finished the berry and swiped her tongue across her lips. Henry plucked another one from the bowl and offered it to her. Their eyes locked as she sunk her teeth into it. He brought it to his mouth and bit off the rest up to the stem, watching her.
Perched on her knees, she brought a berry to his lips. His eyelids lowered and he nibbled it, catching the tips of her fingers with his lips and tongue.
A bead of sweat slalomed down her back.
“Don’t look now, but I think you’re unwinding.”
She ran her finger across his bottom lip. “I guess so.”
Henry kissed her fingertip. “Champagne?” He pulled away and reached for the bottle.
Fuel on the fire. “Shouldn’t we save that for when I finally decide on a house? We don’t seem to be headed in that direction.”
He popped open the bottle. “Don’t worry. I’m going to keep doing this until we find you the perfect place.”
She nodded. And after that? She took the glass from him and closed her eyes, letting the gold, bubbly liquid slide down her throat.
“Do you feel relaxed?”
“You could say that.”
He brushed her hair off her face and stroked the back of her neck. “I like the unwound Liz.”
She closed her eyes and nodded. She was unwinding all right; unwinding all of her good sense.
He leaned over and bit her bottom lip softly, like a berry. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she nibbled back.
He pressed her down onto the deck, bracing himself over her. He grazed her breasts with his fingers, tracing their outline straining against the fabric of her shirt. She moaned beneath him, her insides roaring to life like an old car that’d been left back in the barn for ages. She hadn’t been touched like this in a long time.
He rolled her onto her side next to him, twining one hand through her hair. She snaked a leg around his, her heart battering her chest.
“Let’s go check out the private beach,” he whispered.
She nodded, telling herself it was a good idea to stop. He pulled her up by the hand and they walked down to a golden stretch of sand. They sat in front of a fire pit and Henry set it ablaze. She tucked her legs underneath her and leaned into him as they watched the fire crack and pop while the sun continued its descent. She scooped up a handful of sand and let it run through her fingers.
“Tell me how this feels.” He wrapped his hand around hers. The sand spilled through their fingers.
Her eyes locked on his. “Amazing.” And absolutely terrifying.
His lips found hers while the fire snapped and crackled, the heat between them blazing even hotter. She was ready to give him everything; she wanted it more than anything. But warning bells chimed in her head. It was too easy to pretend this was real. This was just a lark, a ruse to help pinpoint her desires. She was going to get hurt. Her survival instinct was much stronger than her lust.
She pulled away from their kiss. “I can’t do this. I know you’re trying to help, but this is too much. I’ve got to go.” Stumbling as she stood up, she gathered her things and made a mad dash into the night.
Chapter 9
Henry scooped up a bucket of sand and smothered the fire with it. Damn. He should never done this. Liz wanted a house from him, nothing more. It was time to get back to business and beat his father’s record. He was done with these irresponsible ploys. She’d just been so hard to resist. But once in a while, a fool learns his lesson.
The next morning at the office, he tallied up the numbers again. There were ten days left in the month, and he needed another $550,000 in sales to beat the record. Even if Elizabeth did buy a house, he still needed at least two other sales to put him over the record, and none of his clients was anywhere near ready to make an offer, and some were getting antsy. The Boyds had called him twice about viewing some properties this weekend, and the Millers were desperate to find a place with their new baby on the way.
“Damn it.” He drummed his pen on the desk.
“Problems, bro?” Ted ducked into his office.
Henry dropped his head in his hands, while Ted plopped in a chair. “This is about that hottie I saw here, isn’t it?”
“She’s been more distracting than I imagined.”
“Distracted’s a good thing with the right woman.”
Henry rubbed the back of his head. “Yeah, well it absolutely kills me to say it, but you were right. I’m behind in sales.”
“Shit.”
“You’re telling me.
Ted stood up and leaned against his desk. “I’m still available to take her off your hands.”
“Don’t you have something to do?”
“I’m counseling you. And here’s what you have to do. Brush her off for a while till you get back on track.” He pointed at Henry. “Might even make her more interested.”
“We’re not…”
Ted left the room, smirking. “Of course you’re not.”
He hated to do it, but he picked up the phone and left a message canceling his appointment with Liz for Saturday morning.
***
Debbie plucked a blue sparkly dress off the rack and held it up. Elizabeth frowned.
“How about this one?” She showed her a strapless burgundy gown.
“No.” She took a long gulp of the coffee she’d picked up for them before their shopping expedition. That was more for her than Debbie. She’d been slowly replacing her four cups of tea with coffee and was hooked. But it would take way more than coffee to erase thoughts of Henry and their sunset kiss. She was embarrassed she’d gotten so spooked. He must have thought she was a complete nut. She wasn’t even sure she could work with him anymore. Maybe he thought the same thing. Maybe that’s why he cancelled their next appointment. She’d made a fine mess of things.
“I’m not so sure why you asked me to come shopping. You don’t like any
of my suggestions.” Debbie hung the dress back on the rack.
“Guess I’m impossible to please.” On all fronts.
“If you’re this picky with men, no wonder you’re single,” Debbie said, with a big sigh. She flopped into a chair outside the dressing room. “With your figure, you could wear anything. Wish I could say the same.” Debbie patted her belly.
Elizabeth sat down and wrapped her arm around her. “I’ve seen the way your husband looks at you. I’m pretty sure he thinks you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Debbie shook her head and chuckled. “I looked a lot different when we met, gosh, thiry-eight years ago?”
Thirty-eight years. Longer than she’d been alive. “And you guys are still together.” She swallowed hard, wondering what that would be like. “How did you know your husband was the one?”
Debbie laughed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Why not?”
Debbie closed her eyes and smiled. “I knew on the first date when he looked at me and smiled and said, ‘Who sprinkled stars in your eyes?’”
“You’re right, I don’t believe you. Didn’t it take time to get to know him, before you knew if he matched up to all your expectations?”
She covered her heart with her hand. “Honey, when you find the right one, your heart let’s you know. If you’re trying to decide if he meets a set of requirements? He ain’t the one.” She raised an eyebrow. “And why are you asking?”
Elizabeth crossed her legs and looped her hands around her knee. “I’m just curious, is all. Since it’s never happened for me.”
Debbie stood up and reached for a bronze-colored gown hanging by the dressing room. “Wear this Saturday night, and you might find out for yourself.”
She looked at the dress and shook her head. “Theresa could pull that off, but not me.”
Debbie put her hand on her hip. “How can you decide that without even trying? Same thing with men, my dear. You don’t know until you try one on.” She giggled. “And I think it’s been far too long since you’ve tried any on.”
Elizabeth shot her a look and grabbed the dress from her. It was flashier and more revealing than she would have picked, but she tromped off to the dressing room. She stepped into the gown and zipped up the back. Although, it didn’t go up all that far. It dipped further down than she would have dared.
She turned in front of the mirror, admiring the way the gown showed off curves she’d forgotten she had. She pulled her hair up off her shoulders and realized she was showing quite a bit of skin. It was like she was looking at an entirely different person: her sexy twin who always got what she wanted—and didn’t want it once she got it.
Smart, practical Elizabeth would have put the dress right back on the rack and found something that covered more flesh. And came with a jacket. But she took the dress off and looked for the nearest register before smart practical Elizabeth showed up.
Maybe it was time to change more than just her wardrobe. The status quo was not working. With her purchase in tow, she took deep breath and told Debbie, “I think I will go out with your nephew.” Maybe a blind date was the perfect cure for the non-relationship that had crushed her heart. Dr. Phil would have fun with that.
Debbie clapped and let out a whoop. “Consider it done.”
Elizabeth counted the carrots in her salad—which were outnumbering the chickpeas two to one—while Debbie’s nephew, Philip, explained the details of his latest bankruptcy case. Just in case the first two stories hadn’t enthralled her over the last half hour. And just in case she hadn’t deduced he was a lawyer of some importance at his firm.
This date was only making Henry that harder to shake; this was the anti-dote to ever date again. She wondered what Henry was doing, and realized Philip had stopped talking. She looked up.
He appeared confused. “I’m sorry. You’re not interested in my client’s asset reallocation?”
She wondered how red she was turning. “It’s just a lot of technical jargon. Legal stuff is just so…legal.” Public relations she could handle. Private? Not so much.
He rubbed his chin. “Usually women like hearing about my work.”
She nodded. “That’s probably because self-help books and dating articles always tell women to ask men about their work. A lot. Especially on the first date. And to appear really interested.”
He leaned back from her, like she’d just grown a cold sore. “Seriously?”
“Get them talking about themselves, that’s what we’re told.” She drained the rest of her iced tea. “Men like to be around women who find them fascinating, apparently.” Her dating muscles had certainly atrophied over the years.
He knitted his brows, as if a surprise witness had just shown up in court.
She reached over and patted his hand. “I haven’t been out in a quite a while. Don’t listen to me. Soon enough I’ll be an old biddy yelling at kids to keep off my lawn. You’re going to do just fine with the ladies, Phillip. Just not someone like me.”
She fished a twenty out of her wallet and left it on the table as he continued mulling over her words. She’d probably owe Debbie coffee for a month after this horror show.
Chapter 10
Elizabeth was enjoying the appreciative glances she kept getting as she worked the room. Helped keep her mind off Henry, and the appointment they should have had earlier that day. Maybe that kiss had been too hot for him, too. Lord knows it was the only thing she’d been thinking about all week. She even woke up clutching her damned pillow, as if her love life wasn’t embarrassing enough. Didn’t have quite the same effect as strawberries and soft lips. Maybe her house hunting days with Henry were over. He might never call again.
“Elizabeth, have I told you how stunning you look tonight? What’s the occasion?”
She turned around to face her boss. “Thank you, Dave. Debbie thought I should be a little dressier at the formal events.”
“Well, if you’re trying to impress anyone in particular, mission success.”
Her hand flew up. “Wait, no….that’s not it….”
“Do save me a dance.” He winked at her and walked away.
Imagining ways she could fake a sprained ankle, she returned to the registration table to see if all the guests had arrived.
“Bunch of attractive single men here,” Debbie said, “And quite a few of them were noticing you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Seems like Mr. Boss man appreciates it, too.”
Elizabeth gritted her teeth and grabbed the clipboard, pretending to scan the list of names.
“Good evening. Mr. Henry Watson and guest.”
She dropped the clipboard and looked up. “Henry?”
He picked it up and handed it to her. “Gotta keep a better grip on these things. It’s nice to see you.” His eyes swept from her head to her toes, and lingered over the middle parts. “Very nice.”
A shaky feeling had her reaching for the table. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” Debbie had been in charge of the guest list.
“I’m here with my mother, Helen. Mom, this is Elizabeth Marshall, one of my clients. We’re trying to find her the perfect house.”
They shook hands and said hello and Elizabeth discovered where he’d gotten those blue eyes. I should thank her for that.
Debbie and Theresa stopped what they were doing to listen. And leer.
“I was hoping this was one of the events you told me about.” Henry beamed at her.
Theresa leaned over and whispered, “Girl, you’re not house hunting, you’re spouse hunting.”
Debbie popped up from her seat. “Why don’t you show Mr. Watson and his mother to their table?” She handed over their place card. “Looks like they’re at table six.”
Henry caught Elizabeth’s eyes and winked.
“Table six. Of course they are.” She smiled at Henry. “Follow me.”
***
“Henry, you’re not listening to me.”
“What, Mother?” H
enry drew his eyes away from Elizabeth, who was standing across the room talking to some man far too handsome for Henry’s liking.
His mother turned down one corner of her mouth. “I said Marge’s daughter is getting married next month. I do wish you would have listened to me when I told you to take her out last year.” She shook her head.
“Mother, you know I’m busy with my job.” He scanned the room for Elizabeth again.
“That Elizabeth is pretty,” she said, watching him look for her.
“Yes, a very pretty client,” he said, then frowned. She was dancing with her boss. The man pulled her close, and she did her best to back away.
He admired the way that dress moved with her curves. What would it look like sliding down to the floor? Her boss set his hand on her hip. That wouldn’t do. He couldn’t watch her with him. He threw down his napkin and stalked onto the dance floor. “May I cut in?”
The guy frowned. “If you must. Oh, yes. You’re her realtor. I’m sure you have business to discuss.” He smirked.
Henry leveled him with a stare. “No, I just want to dance with the most beautiful woman here tonight.”
Elizabeth’s hand fluttered over her throat.
Henry held out his hand and she took it. He didn’t know what happened to her boss; didn’t care. All he knew was it felt right to have her in his arms no matter what he had told himself before.
“I hope I didn’t just cause you any problems,” he whispered to her, nudging her ear with his nose.
“Guess I’ll find out Monday morning.”
They moved together and he wished they didn’t have an audience. He wanted so badly to kiss her again. He wanted her even more each time they were together.
She took a deep breath and held it for a moment. “This is nice, really. But I have to get back to work after this song.”
The lump in his throat wouldn’t go down. “Of course. Thanks for the dance.” When the music ended, he let her go and wandered back to his table. But he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
It was a very long night watching Elizabeth buzz around the room and try to keep up with his mother’s endless recounting of whose daughter was engaged to whom and who had waited too long to snag the perfect wedding venue and now was going to have to settle for a three-star hotel ballroom. Finally, she sighed and gripped his arm. “Don’t you get it, Henry? I’m not getting any younger. I want grandchildren. And not one of you three boys is close to getting married.”