“I can’t say I have a plan, but I’m pretty quick on my feet. I’ll think of something.”
“You’d better think of something quickly, we’re leaving in a little while.”
“Is there any more roast beef?”
Michael looked. “Yeah.”
“Then set me up. I think better on a full stomach.”
CHAPTER 19
After an afternoon of being pampered from head to toe, Paige lay on the chaise lounge and wondered how she was going to stand up. She hadn’t felt this relaxed in years.
Beauty tools in hand, Sinclair and Iris walked into the room.
“Hey, there, sleepyhead. It looks like you’re fully relaxed,” Sinclair remarked as he set his bags down.
Paige opened her eyes. “Hello, Sinclair. Hello, Iris.”
“Check that. The word to use for you is serene.”
Trim and neat, Sinclair didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a male makeup artist. He was heterosexual, dressed conservatively, and towered over nearly everyone at six feet, five inches.
“Mami, you look so rested,” Iris said as she set her bag down. A petite brunette from the Dominican Republic, she used “mami” as a term of endearment and she was one of the only two people Siobhan and Paige trusted with their locks.
“I’ve been massaged, had a manicure and pedicure, had my pores vacuumed, my skin exfoliated. The only thing they didn’t do was a tummy tuck.”
“That’s why God made Spandex,” Sinclair said as he laid out his makeup supplies.
An excited Jennifer walked back into the room. “This is so much fun,” she said gleefully.
“Jennifer, did you formally meet Sinclair and Iris?”
“Oh, yes,” Jennifer grinned.
“We became fast friends on our way back here,” Sinclair grinned.
Iris winked at him. “Fast friends, indeed.”
“Oh, I have to get one thing and I’ll be right back.” Jennifer hurried out.
Paige got up and sat in a chair in front of the mirror.
“Sweetheart, I need to keep hanging with you.”
“Is that right, Sinclair?”
He leaned closer to her ear. “Anytime you give me a client who tips to the tune of five Benjamins in addition to my fee, I will show up with bells on.”
“Something tells me you’ve done the bells thing before,” Paige joked.
“I do like the ladies to know when class is in session.” He winked.
They broke up with laughter.
Jennifer walked back in. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing. Now let’s make you more beautiful,” Iris said.
Paige and Jennifer spent the next couple of hours getting their hair and makeup done. In the meantime the Kleins returned from their appointment and were dressed and ready at the appointed time.
When Paige and Jennifer walked into the living room, Mrs. Klein was lovingly adjusting her husband’s tie.
“Jennifer.” Mrs. Klein’s eyes popped.
Jennifer twirled around. “What do you think, Mom and Dad?”
Iris had given her an updo of curls with a few tendrils around her face to showcase her makeup. Sinclair had played up her two best features, her eyes and mouth, with a dramatic palette of color without being too over-the-top.
“Jennifer, you look beautiful,” Mrs. Klein said proudly.
“So you approve, Mom?”
“I definitely approve.”
Paige saw Jennifer’s feet leave the ground.
“Baby girl, you’re gorgeous!” Mr. Klein kissed her. “How lucky am I? I get to show up with three beautiful women.”
Mission accomplished, Sinclair and Iris walked in.
“Have a great night, folks,” Sinclair said.
“You all look wonderful,” Iris added.
Mr. Klein walked over to the both of them and slipped them a tip.
Sinclair won’t be able to answer my call fast enough after this, Paige thought.
“Thanks again, guys.”
“You’re welcome, Paige.”
Charles showed Sinclair and Iris out.
“Okay, ladies, Raymond has brought the car around. We should leave now.”
“Oh, Hiram, aren’t you forgetting something?”
“That’s right. Thank you for reminding me, my love.” He reached into his pockets and pulled out two black cases. He handed one to Jennifer and one to a shocked Paige.
“Oh, Daddy.” Jennifer removed a beautiful diamond necklace. “This is beautiful. Thank you.” She kissed her dad. “Mom, can you help me put it on, please?”
“Sure, sweetheart.”
Paige opened hers and was floored. “Oh, my.” Paige removed the necklace. It was a white gold necklace with her August birthstone and a few diamonds. “Mr. and Mrs. Klein, I’m speechless.”
“You’ve been so lovely to our princess, this is our way of thanking you. Besides, a pretty lady needs something to adorn her neck,” Mr. Klein explained.
Paige kissed both of them. “Thank you so much. I would cry but I’d ruin my makeup,” she joked.
“Let me help you put that on, Paige.”
Paige held her hair up. “Thanks.”
“There you go,” Jennifer said.
“And here we go.” Mr. Klein motioned towards the door. Charles handed everyone their coat as they filed out.
Paige watched as Jennifer became giddier the closer they got to the Plaza. Although she looked as cool as a cucumber, Paige shared her excitement. When they arrived at the Plaza there were dozens of valets lining the sidewalk. Each helped guests, especially ladies, get out of the cars gracefully.
As they walked through the lobby Paige had visions of Edith Wharton’s New York society at the turn of the century with all its grandeur, customs, and attention to manners. Life for most of modern society may have had far fewer restraints, but the unwritten rule of the order of things was evident at the mostly WASP event. Most of the old money families on the social registry held court wherever they sat, while new money families hoped to be acknowledged. Although they came from old money, the Smythes were different. They never saw the need to be a part of the outdated caste system.
“Jennifer, do you see Michael anywhere?”
She looked around. “Not yet, Mom.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll find you,” Mr. Klein said. “In the meantime, ladies, let’s make our grand entrance. I can’t wait to see everyone green with envy.” He laughed.
“Hiram.” Mrs. Klein actually giggled.
“Are you ready to make your debut, Paige?”
“As ready as I will ever be, Jennifer.”
Across the ballroom Matthew and Michael stood with champagne glasses in hand.
Michael was about to put the glass to his lips when he stopped cold. “Wow.”
“What?” Matthew wondered before catching sight of the Klein party.
With her long red hair in loose curls that framed her face, Paige was a vision in black. Her strapless black gown showed off her hourglass shape. All eyes were on the Klein party as they descended the stairs. Michael and Matthew wasted no time in heading to the stairs to greet them.
“Michael!” Jennifer beamed.
Michael thumbed his nose at convention and manners as he took her in his arms and kissed her. “You look amazing.”
Jennifer tried to compose herself. “Thank you, honey.”
“You all look wonderful.” He kissed his future mother-in-law and shook his future father-in-law’s hand.
“Paige’s sister designed both her dress and mine.”
“She did a great job. You look fantastic, Paige.”
“Thank you very much.”
“I second that. You look exquisite, Paige. You too, Jennifer. In fact, all of you made quite an entrance,” Matthew said.
Paige nearly blushed. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
Matthew stopped the champagne waiter. They each took a glass.
“Let’s make a quick toast to a g
reat evening,” Mr. Klein said.
“Here, here.” Everyone clinked glasses.
The Smythes came over and more pleasantries were exchanged. Michael took his fiancée to the table while Matthew took Paige for a stroll around the room.
“I didn’t want to say this in front of everyone, but you look so sexy. I love your hair down like that.”
“You do?”
“Makes me want to run my fingers through it. I’m glad you made me wait to see you tonight. You didn’t disappoint.”
Before Paige could say anything one of those wispy creatures she saw in the weddings and celebrations section of the Times walked over.
“Matt, is that you?”
“Cecilia. How are you?”
She kissed him on the cheek. “I’m surprised to see you here. It’s been ages,” she said as she waved her empty glass.
“I know.”
“Oh, do I give this to you?” she asked Paige.
“Pardon me?” Paige couldn’t believe her ears.
“Cecilia, this is Paige Baldwin, Esquire. She’s a guest of ours.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re wearing black so I assumed…”
“That I worked here? You have a black dress on too. So wouldn’t that mean we’re both working?” Paige kept her sarcastic tone loud enough for Cecelia to hear and get the point and low enough so no one else heard.
Matthew resisted the urge to laugh out loud. “Okay, Cecilia, nice to see you.”
He and Paige walked away.
“I can’t believe she had the nerve,” Paige fumed.
“You have to forgive her, Paige. Her family is rich, connected, and terminally stupid.”
She laughed.
“That’s better.” He stopped to listen to the music. “Can you waltz?”
“Naturally.”
“So let’s show them how it’s done.”
Matthew and Paige hit the dance floor as the “Blue Danube” played. Other couples watched as the two waltzed with ballroom precision. Paige truly felt like Cinderella at the ball.
As they rounded the floor again, Paige saw a group of young women gathered near the floor. They seemed transfixed at the sight of her dancing with one of “their” eligible bachelors.
When the music stopped, Matthew escorted her to the table. However, before he could sit he was tackled by a society maven who looked like Wallis Simpson.
“Little Matt Smythe. Is that you?”
“Yes, Mrs. Bennett. Nice to see you again.”
“I told Anna Beth it was you. You do remember my daughter, right? You used to play together as children.”
“Yes, of course. How is she?”
“Single.”
Don’t roll your eyes, Paige, she told herself.
Mrs. Bennett motioned to a plain-looking woman of average height who looked to be a little older than thirty and seemed to weigh less than 115 pounds soaking wet.
“Hi, Anna Beth.” Matthew barely kissed her face.
“Hi, Matt.”
“Why don’t you two take a spin on the dance floor and catch up?”
Anna Beth pulled Matthew out to the floor.
She’s stronger than she looks, Paige thought as she sipped her champagne.
Michael and Jennifer came back to the table. “Hey, Paige. Where’s Matthew?” Michael asked as he held Jennifer’s chair.
“He’s dancing with someone named Anna Beth.”
“Mrs. Bennett was here, wasn’t she?” Jennifer asked without missing a beat.
“As a matter of fact, she was.” Paige watched Anna Beth attempt to monopolize Matthew’s attention.
As soon as the music changed, another society mother pushed her daughter into Matthew’s arms on the dance floor.
“It must be a conspiracy,” Paige muttered quietly.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing, Michael.” Paige put on her phony grin.
Paige watched for the next hour as a parade of women lined their daughters up to dance with Matthew. She managed to eat a bite or two of the appetizer before her stomach threatened rebellion.
“Hello there.” Paige heard a voice come from behind her.
She turned around. “Hello.”
The man put his hand out. “I’m Larry Richards. I grew up with Matt and Mike.”
She shook his hand. “Hi, Larry, I’m Paige.”
“Nice to meet you, Paige, Do you mind if I sit down?”
“Not at all.”
He sat down. “I’m taking a break from my wife. She’s working the room.”
“I know how that is.”
He glanced over at the dance floor. “Poor Matthew looks trapped.”
“Yes,” she sighed.
“You’re right about that,” Jennifer agreed.
“By the way, Jennifer, how are you?”
“Good, Larry.”
“You look great. Being engaged agrees with you.”
“It agrees with the both of us.” Michael took Jennifer’s hand in his.
“Yes, it does. How’s life in the business lane, Mike?”
“Not bad. I’m sure the baby business is booming.”
“The baby business?” Paige looked confused.
“I’m an obstetrician/gynecologist.”
“That explains that.”
Jennifer looked over at Paige. “Are you okay, Paige?”
“I’m fine,” she lied.
Jennifer looked over at the table of ladies behind her and knew better. The society matrons had successfully maneuvered Matthew away from the outsider to their daughters. Lucky for Paige, Mr. Klein and Mr. Smythe took a spin with her on the dance floor.
Just as she was about to sit down, Larry walked up.
“How about we take a turn?”
“Sure.” She followed him.
They began dancing.
“He’s not happy, you know.”
“Pardon me?”
“Matthew. He’s not happy about this.”
“Really? It doesn’t look like he’s tried to get away.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t know what it’s like in this world. Those ladies are a wiry, conniving bunch. Take it from me. I’ve lived around this all my life. You’re the only reason Matthew’s here, but they have to think that their daughters have a chance with him, which they don’t.”
“You sound sure about that.”
“That’s because I am sure. I’ve known Matt forever and he’s never been happy with this stuff. He hasn’t been to one of these things since he went to college.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Oh yeah. I was the one with him when he had to buy another tuxedo because the one he had was completely outdated.”
Paige smiled. “Really.”
He looked down at her. “Yes, really. Matthew is nuts about you.”
“That makes me feel a little better.”
“Good. Now let’s show these folks how you do the cha-cha.” He laughed.
Paige and Larry danced like champions. Matthew smiled to see Paige do her thing.
Later on that evening Paige was tired, and she hadn’t had much time with Matthew. Cinderella was leaving the ball. The Kleins had Raymond pull the car around.
Raymond helped her into the car. “Here you go, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” She slid into her carriage.
Raymond pulled the car into traffic.
Paige stared out the window. Then the car stopped and the door opened. Matthew slid in.
“Matthew.” She was shocked. “Where did you come from?”
Without a word, he kissed her.
“I’ve been dying to do that all night long. Hey, Raymond, thanks.”
“Not a problem. Back to your place, right?”
“Yes, please.”
“I repeat, where did you come from?”
“Mike managed to get me away from those barracudas and Jennifer played interference so I could slip away and back to you.”
“All of this for me?”
“Yes.” He kissed her again.
The time melted away and they were in front of his place in Harlem. Wrapped in his arms, she entered his house and went up the stairs. Slowly he removed her coat. He tenderly caressed of her shoulders, first with his fingers and then with his lips. He planted kisses down the nape of her neck to the center of her back.
“I’ve been dreaming about you,” he whispered breathlessly as he unzipped her dress.
She turned around. “I’ve been dreaming about you, too.” She put her arms around him and kissed him. Her gown was on the floor. Paige ran her hands over his shoulders and removed his jacket. Then she unbuttoned his shirt and exposed his sexy chest. She kissed his neck and chest. His body shook with excitement when she slowly unbuttoned his pants, which fell onto the floor. He lifted a surprised Paige in his arms, took her to the bedroom and then unhooked her bra.
He laid her on the bed and slowly took her bikinis down to expose her secret. Soon his secret was laid bare, too. Like the first night they’d met they made love with abandon, but this time there was a fire and intensity between them. It was as if they couldn’t get close enough. Every move raised the stakes. Matthew wanted Paige to belong to him alone, every kiss and every stroke made her his alone. They rode a tsunami of pleasure.
* * *
The next morning Paige lay in bed, still fast asleep. The smile on her face said it all. She was a happy and contented woman. Matthew slipped out to get bagels and coffee, leaving Ms. Prudence to keep Paige company.
Paige opened her eyes to see Prudence sitting up.
“So we meet again, Prudence.” Paige reached over and grabbed her cell phone so she could quickly check her messages at home.
“You have one new message. Paige, it’s Dr. Schwartz. I need you to come in on Monday. That’s our paperwork day but I would like you to come in so we can talk. Come anytime because I know you have a business to run. Don’t worry, you’re not dying. I’ll see you Monday.”
I’m not dying, but it feels like I just got kicked in the gut, she thought as she closed the phone. The cat got up and rubbed Paige. “My, you’re a sweet little kitty.”
“Isn’t she?” Bags in hand, Matthew walked over to the bed and sat down.
Paige made sure she was cheerful. “I see you were busy this morning.”
“What Sunday morning would be complete without the Times, coffee, bagels, and a sexy woman?”
Bliss, Inc. (Indigo Love Spectrum) Page 21
