“They’re a great bunch. You and Jeremy have really worked hard and your efforts are paying off,” Marcus said, accepting the drink.
“I’m glad to hear you say that. You know, Jeremy is the best youth leader we’ve had at the church and I’m so glad I get to help out. It’s a real privilege,” David said humbly.
“You both do a lot of good work.” Marcus gave his friend an encouraging smile.
“Thanks, Marcus. I appreciate that.” He took a sip of his drink and then rested one hand against the wall. “We’ve been planning to start a new men’s Bible study for guys specifically in our age group. We’d love it if you came.”
Marcus had already heard a little about the group. He didn’t think it was the place for him, but he appreciated the offer. All the men in David and Jeremy’s study were married, and the thought of hearing them talk about their wives and families, as they no doubt would, didn’t thrill him. Although he agreed he needed to do something. “Thanks, Dave. I’ll give it some thought. The last study I went to was the one the church hosted on grief a few years back.”
“That was a while ago, Marcus. I know you’ll never fully recover from the loss of Bree, but don’t make a hermit of yourself, okay?”
He wasn’t a hermit. Marcus frowned. Is that what people thought? He interacted plenty at work. Maybe not so much at church. “I’ll give it some thought.”
“Good. Make sure you do.” Dave clapped him on the back. “You’ll never find another wife if you don’t get out and about more.”
Marcus was speechless for a moment. Dave meant well, but suggesting he was on the lookout for a new wife was insensitive. It fell into the same category as asking a newly married couple if they were pregnant yet. When he found his voice, Marcus had to comment. “What woman would want to spend her life in Bree’s shadow?” he asked honestly.
“I agree. It’d take a very special woman, but they’re out there. And there’s nothing wrong with asking God to provide you with a special someone,” David said gently.
Marcus didn’t know quite what to say. He recognised the wisdom of Dave’s words, but he also couldn’t imagine his life with anyone other than Bree. She was the only woman for him. And without her, his life felt pointless at times.
Maybe that was the challenge and the evidence. Maybe the fact that he felt so lost without her was the very reason he should find someone to share his life with.
“I’ll consider it,” he finally said. He’d at least think about asking God to provide someone to share his life with. For now, that was the best he could offer.
Chapter 11
“That’s perfect,” Tiffany said, looking at the photo her sister showed her of the hair style she thought would look best on her. It was the evening of the ball, and Denise was helping her get ready at their parents’ home.
Denise was a great hairdresser, and once more, Tiffany was thankful for having a dress maker in the family as well as a hairdresser who also enjoyed doing makeup.
It was saving her so much time, energy, and most importantly, money. She never would have been able to afford having her hair and makeup done professionally by someone else, and as someone who typically let her hair air dry and threw on a bit of mascara and little else, she wasn’t quite the expert her sister was.
Of course, it was also a stroke of luck that her mum was not only a dressmaker, but one who happened to have enough fabric lying around from a previous project that she was able to make an entire dress out of it.
By the time Denise had completed her hair, Tiffany was thrilled. She could hardly believe her eyes when she saw the intricate updo in the mirror. “Okay, you need to do my hair more often,” she said with a laugh.
“Tiff, you need to do your hair more often,” her sister teased in reply. Tiffany couldn’t help but laugh with her. She was fairly low maintenance, that was certain. But she was glad in that moment that she didn’t have to rely on her own abilities.
“Now, go put on the dress,” Denise insisted.
Tiffany carefully slipped the gown on, a figure-hugging A-line style that flared slightly from her hips, followed by her shoes and jewelry. She eyed herself approvingly in the full-length mirror, twirling this way and that. The dress was exquisite, and she felt like royalty. She’d never thought she could look so good.
Denise’s mouth fell open. “Oh, my goodness! You look gorgeous!”
Tiffany laughed breathlessly. “I can’t believe it either. Thank you so much.” She gave her sister a hug as tears welled in her eyes.
“You’re more than welcome.” Denise held her at arm’s length. “You look amazing, Tiff. Now, go show Mum. I think she’ll burst into tears when she sees you.”
“Okay.” Tiffany blinked her own tears back. Holding up the bottom of the dress, she carefully went down the stairs, since she wasn’t used to wearing heels and a full-length gown. When she reached the bottom, three sets of eyes stared at her. Mum’s, Mike’s and Polly’s.
“Mummy! You look like a fairy princess!” Polly exclaimed loudly and with great enthusiasm.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Her mum stood and gave her a hug.
A broad grin spread across Tiffany’s face. It was truly a dream come true to feel so beautiful. If only she could bottle the feeling and hold onto it forever.
“Now, go on and have a wonderful night. Don’t worry about the kids. You can pick them up in the morning after church and I’ll only call in an emergency.”
“Thanks, Mum.” Tiffany kissed her mother tenderly on the cheek then turned to Mike and Polly. She wished she could get down to their level and look them in the face, but the dress made it impossible for fear of wrinkling or ripping the hem. Instead, she slipped an arm around each of their shoulders. “And you two be good for your grandmother, alright?”
Both children nodded vigorously and threw their arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around them and kissed them goodbye when Denise announced that her ride was there.
Tiffany felt her heart leap into her throat, but she was ready to face the evening ahead, whatever it might hold. She glanced out the window. A stretch limo was parked in front of the house and she could hardly believe her eyes. Her magical evening had begun.
Stepping out of the house, Tiffany quickly realised she was on display for the entire street. Heads popped out of windows and doors, and her mother’s neighbours stood in their front yards, pointing towards her and the limo.
As she made her way towards it, the driver, who’d been approaching the house, rushed back and opened the back passenger door for her.
She was already in the spotlight. Her pulse raced. Was she crazy for thinking this was a good idea? She hoped she was dressed appropriately. That she’d blend in and not be noticed.
Reaching the limo, she paused and turned around and waved to her family. They all wore grins on their faces, and her mother brushed her eyes and pulled the children closer. With another wave, Tiffany bid a final goodbye and stepped inside the limo to sink into a butter soft, white leather reclining armchair. .
She looked up and gave the driver a tentative smile. The kindly man, dressed in a dapper blue three-piece suit, removed his cap and gave her a reassuring nod. “Please make yourself comfortable, Miss Harris. If you need anything at all, press this button to speak with me and I’ll attend to your needs immediately. And please help yourself to some refreshments which you’ll find in the cooler.”
“Th-thank you.” Her voice squeaked. When he closed the door, she realized that she was shielded from all the stares of her family and spectators by the deeply tinted windows. Marcus was not in the limo, but she found a bouquet of roses with a note from him.
Dear Tiffany,
Thank you for accompanying me this evening. I hope it will be enjoyable for you as I’m sure it will be for me. The driver is picking you up first, but I will see you very soon.
Thank you,
Marcus
She read the note again. His tone was appropriate
. Kind and friendly, but certainly not romantic in any way. She was grateful for that. The last thing she wanted was for any confusion between them. She was a date of convenience and nothing more.
And she hoped it would stay that way.
Although a small part of her wondered if there was anything deeper to Marcus Alcott’s invitation, she tried to ignore that thought. It was ridiculous. There was no way a billionaire widower would want to date his mother’s caregiver.
As the limo pulled away from the kerb, Tiffany settled back and enjoyed the ride. She’d sometimes wondered what the inside of a limo might be like. This one oozed luxury and elegance. Plush leather recliners with seating for perhaps ten people, a large plasma TV screen, a champagne bar, and a retractable roof. She’d never imagined such opulence could exist. If only Steve could see her now.
Soon the limo turned into the main driveway of the Alcott estate. She never entered via the front door, always using the back entrance which was more suitable for employees. But tonight she was a guest. Seeing the estate through fresh eyes, her breath caught. The circular driveway, surrounded by manicured rose gardens, was simply magnificent. Had Marcus picked the roses from the garden?
The limo stopped and Tiffany experienced a moment of panic. Should she wait? Should she go in? What should she do?
Those questions were answered quickly enough when the driver came around and opened her door. That was surely a sign she was to go to the house. She looked at the flowers and wondered whether she should take them with her, not really knowing if that was the right thing to do. Desperately trying to tamp down the anxiety that was building, she finally just grabbed the bunch before stepping out of the limo.
“Mr. Alcott is waiting for you inside, Miss Harris,” the driver told her in a most polite tone. Once more, she felt quite certain he sensed her apprehension and was trying to put her at ease.
Nodding, Tiffany made her way to the front door of the mansion, careful not to tread on her gown. She pressed the buzzer and the door opened immediately. Her gaze met Marcus’s. He must have seen her arrive, but she was surprised that he was the one who greeted her. The butler would normally answer the door. The sight of him in his black, trimly cut tuxedo pushed every thought away, except for realizing how lucky she was.
“Hi,” he said, a shy smile spreading across his lips.
Tiffany hadn’t expected to be quite so overwhelmed by his good looks, but she’d never seen him looking so elegant before. He was a handsome man, but something about him tonight took her completely by surprise.
“Hi,” she replied, her voice almost squeaking again.
He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek in a perfectly gentlemanly way. The kiss shocked her even more, but it solidified the fact that she was his date for the evening.
Tiffany felt herself blush, but she hoped he wouldn’t notice, or that the layers of makeup her sister had added would cover up the pink. “Th-thank you. For the roses,” she said, looking down at the flowers in her hand.
“Do you like them? I wasn’t sure what flowers you might like, but it’s hard to go wrong with red roses.”
“They’re beautiful.” She gave him a sincere smile.
For a moment they stood awkwardly staring at each other before he seemed to wake up to the fact that they were still in the doorway.
Chapter 12
Marcus had not expected to be so entranced by Tiffany. She was exquisite in her navy gown. The sequins in the lace sparkled in the light, and her hair and accessories enhanced her overall outfit. He was sure she would catch every eye at the ball.
He’d always known she was a beautiful woman, but it hadn’t been a thought he’d ever lingered on. She was his mother’s caregiver so it hadn’t occurred to him to think of her as more than that. Not when they only passed one another a few mornings a week for a matter of minutes. And certainly not when he was still grieving his wife.
But all of those things could not stop him from noticing her now. “Did you enjoy the limo?” he asked as they stood in the doorway.
“It was amazing. I’ve never been in one before, so it was a new experience. I think everything is going to be new this evening. I hope I don’t embarrass you.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, and I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the ride,” he replied with a smile. He could sense she’d been nervous at first, but within moments she seemed to relax a little. “Would you like to join me on the deck for a drink? We’ve still got some time before we have to leave.”
She nodded. “That sounds great.”
He led her through the house to the deck where a cart was filled with drinks. “What would you like? There are soft drinks, bottled mineral water, sparkling water, juice, wine or beer.”
She hesitated. Maybe he’d given her too many options, but he’d wanted to be sure to have whatever she liked available.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” she finally replied.
He nodded and smiled at her. “I’m having sparkling water with a dash of lemon. Is that alright?”
“That sounds perfect. And very refreshing,” she replied with a laugh.
“Great,” he said before getting to work making the drinks.
Despite not being a drinker, he always had an alcohol bar ready in case of meetings with clients or gatherings with employees for Christmas or other celebrations. A celebration would be expected soon after the closing of the new contract. He’d have to plan that at work during the next week.
But tonight was not a night to think about work, and he tried to remember that. It was a night to enjoy his time with a beautiful young woman and honour the memory of his late wife. It was a night to raise money so that no man would have to face the loss he had faced.
Nevertheless, Marcus couldn’t help feeling a trifle guilty for being spellbound by this beautiful woman.
He hadn’t been distracted by a woman in a very long time. No matter how many years had passed since Bree’s death, he still considered her to be his wife, so to notice anyone else felt like a betrayal.
However, Bree wouldn’t want him to still be grieving for her. He knew that in his heart. In fact, she’d told him not long before she passed that she wanted him to date other women after she’d gone. To fall in love. To marry. And yet, somehow it didn’t seem right. Maybe it was still too soon. But he wasn’t going to fall in love. Although Tiffany was a lovely woman, she was just doing him a favour by accompanying him to a ball.
Even if other people got the wrong idea about him bringing her, he was doing nothing wrong at all and shouldn’t feel guilty. But nothing could develop between them, anyway, even if he did want it to. As far as he knew, she wasn’t a believer, and that was the most important consideration for him. If she didn’t share the same foundational beliefs as him, there was no point in considering the possibility of anything further.
It was strange to even consider such things, but he couldn’t help thinking about the possibility of it developing into a relationship. Whatever he was feeling about Tiffany, he was thankful that she was willing to go with him that evening and they would enjoy their time together. It meant a lot that he had someone to take. Even better that she was gorgeous.
Handing her a drink, he sat beside her and gave a warm smile. “Are you comfortable out here? You’re not cold?”
She returned his smile. “No, everything’s perfect. And the view is amazing.”
Marcus nodded. That was certainly true. The view was one of the best features of the estate, especially at this time of day as evening began to draw in and the lights across the harbour began to twinkle in the distance. Above them, the sky was turning from light blue to black, and a few stars began to pop out.
“You look fantastic, by the way,” he remarked.
She turned to him, a look of gratitude and relief on her face.
“Thank you. Is it too much? I was a little worried I might be overdressed.”
“Not at all. You’ll fit in just fine.” He didn’t tell he
r that she might be the belle of the ball.
He sipped his drink and leaned forward. “I also wanted to thank you for joining me this evening, Tiffany. It’s not easy trying to find a date for something like this, and I know it’s probably a little awkward for you to be going with your client’s son. But I’m truly grateful that you were willing to accompany me.”
She lifted her gaze and met his. “I’m glad to be able to help. It was a little weird at first, being asked by you, but I’m glad you did. I think I need an evening out. It’ll do me good to take a break from my normal life for one night and enjoy myself.”
He smiled. “I’m glad to hear that.”
They spent a few more minutes sipping their drinks and gazing out over the harbour in silence, but every now and then, Marcus snatched a glance of his enchanting date.
Chapter 13
The view from the deck was incredible. Tiffany had never seen the harbour from this angle in the evening and she wondered what it must be like to actually own a home that had views like this from every aspect.
She’d been on the deck many times with Ruth, but never at night time with the lights across the harbour beginning to sparkle. And it was entirely different sharing the moment with Marcus. It was better than she could have imagined.
And then there was the fact that she felt like royalty. How could she possibly feel any more beautiful and wonderful than she did right now? It was all so perfect, she almost had to pinch herself to be sure it was happening.
For a moment, she had an urge to reach out and hold Marcus’s hand, but she quickly snapped herself out of her daydream. This was not a real date. He’d politely clarified that when he thanked her for accompanying him. There was no reason at all to start imagining that there was anything more to the evening than that.
She couldn’t allow herself to be distracted when there was nothing more to the evening than her simply accompanying him as they’d agreed. She barely knew him. Other than the fact that he was extremely rich, he worked at a tech company, and he had a great mum, she knew very little about Marcus Alcott.
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 17
