by Francis Ray
“Aren’t you going to see who it is?” Celeste asked from the top of the stairs.
Alec’s lie about a date came back to bite him on the rear. “I’ll get it. You can go back to work.”
She sent him a strange look, then went back down the hall. Alec waited until he couldn’t see her, then went to the door. “Hello, Patrick. I was just about to get cleaned up.”
“Glad I caught you.” He stepped forward. Alec had to move to the side. “I don’t want you to be late for your date.”
It was all he could do to keep from looking over his shoulder. “Can’t have that, so let’s talk later.” He stepped around his brother and reached for the door.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get rid of me.” Patrick smiled. “You want her all to yourself, huh?”
“Yes,” Alec answered, disturbed when the words felt so right.
Patrick looked behind his brother and smiled. “Too late, and all I have to say is that you’re right, you’d better not let Rafael see her.”
Slowly Alec turned to see Celeste coming down the stairs. He gritted his teeth. His lie was about to take a bite out of his backside all right.
Patrick stepped forward to take the toolbox from Celeste with one hand and extend his other. “Patrick Dunlap. Alec’s older brother. You must be the woman he mentioned.”
“Celeste de la Vega,” she said, her gaze going to Alec. “And what exactly did he say?”
Patrick chuckled. “Nothing bad, I assure you. Just that you two had a date tonight. I just wanted to see the woman that has been tying up all of my brother’s time,” Patrick said, a grin on his face.
Celeste’s gaze again flickered to Alec, his tightly drawn mouth. He was angry—so what else was new? “He did, did he? What else did Alec say?”
“Not much, except you’re the reason he hadn’t been around much since he’s been here.” Patrick turned to slap Alec playfully on the back. “I can see why.”
“That’s very kind of you to say,” Celeste said. At least his brothers liked her.
“No more than the truth,” Patrick said. “I’ll get out of here. You two have fun tonight. I expect both of you Sunday around eleven for brunch. Afterward we’re going to take the boat out.”
Alec’s eyes darted to Celeste. “She might have plans.”
She smiled sweetly. “As a matter of fact, I don’t. Thank you for the invitation. Should I bring anything?”
“Just a hearty appetite.” Patrick clasped Alec on the shoulder again. “You had me worried.”
Exactly what he had wanted to avoid. “I’ve just been busy.”
“But you’ve been here almost a week and you haven’t been by the house once or to see Brooke. That’s not like you.”
To the Dunlaps, family was important and came first. Brooke was their favorite niece and lived in Charleston. “I wanted to get as much work done as possible. You never know when it might rain,” Alec said.
Since Patrick didn’t look as if he were buying Alec’s explanation, Celeste said, “I threw him off-schedule. He helped me when my assistant was ill. We both want to have things finished when Simon and Maureen return.”
“Another reason to be there Sunday. Simon called last night and said he’d call me Sunday. He and Maureen are having a great time and he’s learning about antiques.”
The tension around Alec’s mouth eased. “You’re taking paralegal courses to help Brianna. Now Simon is learning about antiques, but I can’t see him in her store.”
“When you find that special woman, you want to do everything you can to make life easy for her, to show her you care, to be with her.” Patrick glanced at his watch. “I’d better get going. I’m picking Brianna up after work.”
“Her car in the shop?”
Patrick momentarily tucked his head. “She has a hard time getting in and out of her Benz, plus I worry about what might happen if she has to stop suddenly with her stomach so close to the steering wheel.”
“I’d say Brianna is one lucky woman,” Celeste said.
“I’d like to think so.” Patrick opened the door. “Bye, Alec, Celeste. See you both on Sunday.”
Alec closed the door and faced Celeste. He didn’t like the smile on her face. “Celeste, I appreciate you helping me out. I had no idea that Patrick would come over here.”
“So we’re not going out?”
It was all he could do not to shift nervously under her steady gaze. “You know we don’t have a date. I just said that so he’d let me have some space.”
Folding her arms, she tilted her head to study him. “Are you in the habit of lying to your brother?”
He knew where she was heading and didn’t like it one bit. “Of course not.”
“I didn’t think so.” She headed for the stairs. “I’ll leave my address on the island in the kitchen.”
“Celeste—”
“I think Sticky Fingers. Neither one of us will have to worry about dressing up.” She looked back over her shoulder. “Plus I love their ribs. I’ll be ready at seven thirty.”
“You aren’t going to let me out of this, are you?”
“I might if . . .” Her voice trailed off.
“If what?” he prompted.
Her smile was slow, sexy and entirely too tempting. “Since you’re the detective, I’ll let you figure it out. Now I have to finish cleaning up. And by the way, I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
Alec watched her climb the stairs, his gaze unerringly settling on the enticing sway of her hips. He was afraid he already knew the answer. He wanted to take her out. If his life hadn’t been in such turmoil, he’d have asked her out when he’d seen her at the wedding reception.
Rubbing the back of his neck, Alec headed outside. He could handle tonight, and Sunday she’d probably be with the other women.
All he had to do was get through tonight.
NINE
“I wanted to stop by to see how things went today, but from the smile on your face I already know,” Celeste teased as she stepped into Gina’s foyer.
Gina’s smile widened. “It was wonderful. Max liked everything. He’s fantastic.”
Celeste tilted her head to one side. “You like him.”
“Of course. He’s courteous, thoughtful—” Gina abruptly stopped when she saw the teasing grin widen on Celeste’s face. “What is it?”
Not wanting to make Gina aware of how animated she was when talking about Max, Celeste said, “Nothing. I’m just glad you see what I’ve always told you.”
Gina’s smile dimmed. “I always wanted to please Robert, and failed so many times.”
“He failed you and your children,” Celeste said hotly. She detested him for leaving Gina, for making her doubt herself. Celeste had never told Gina, but she’d never liked Robert and thought Gina could do better if she could just get her confidence up. “Never forget that he was the one who couldn’t stick.”
“You don’t know how hard I’m trying, but after doing everything to please a man for almost fourteen years, it isn’t easy to move on and be my own woman,” Gina confessed.
“You’ll do it,” Celeste told her firmly. “You have so many people pulling for you.”
“I have to.” Gina looked into the backyard, where Gabrielle kicked soccer balls to Ashton. “I have to for their sakes.”
“Gabrielle still acting like the world revolves around her?” Celeste asked, narrowing her eyes as Gabrielle, probably intentionally, kicked the soccer ball ten feet wide of the net Ashton guarded. The smile on her face as Ashton, hands on his hips, said something to her proved it.
“I don’t know what to do with her,” Gina said. “I didn’t want her holed up in her room like a prisoner, so I let her kick balls to Ashton.” Gina shook her head. “She keeps taunting him. I was about to go out and send her to her room when you rang the doorbell.”
“And when you do it, add all of Ashton’s chores for the week,” Celeste advised. “My neighbor has seven childre
n and they all walk a straight line.”
Gina folded her arms. “The children probably have both parents.”
“No, they don’t. He walked when the youngest was two.” Celeste started from the kitchen. “She said since they outnumbered her, she had to be meaner and smarter. She loves her children and they love her back.” Celeste stopped at the front door. “You let Gabrielle be stronger and meaner because you hurt for her, but chica, it’s not working. She’s making everyone miserable.”
“I guess it’s time for tough love,” Gina said slowly.
“Way past due.” Celeste opened the door. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
“I almost forgot; how did things go with Alec today?” Gina asked when Celeste was midway down the walk.
Celeste tossed her a saucy grin. “We have a dinner date tonight.”
“What? You’re kidding?” Gina rushed down the sidewalk. “What happened to change things?”
“Long story. Suffice is to say he’s taking me out under duress, but I’m hoping before the night is over he’ll have warmed up to me,” Celeste said, determination in her eyes.
“Alec is a goner,” Gina said with a laugh.
Celeste’s laughter mixed with hers. “Hope so.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “Go rescue Ashton and show Gabrielle who is meaner and smarter.”
“I’m on it. Have fun.” Gina spun on her heels and went back inside, closing the door after her.
Gabrielle, you’re in for it now. In the past Gina had never closed the door, no matter what time of day or night it was, until Celeste was safely in her car, the motor running. Her leaving now said a lot. Gina was taking control of her life. About time, Celeste thought, and climbed into her van. Starting the motor, she pulled out onto the street and headed for the freeway.
She and Alec were each fighting for control of whatever it was that was happening between them. Alec wanted to ignore the sexual sparks flaring; she wanted to fan them. Dangerous and a first for her, but there was no way she was backing down or turning her back on what she felt in her soul was going to be important to her.
“Watch out, Alec. I’m coming for you.”
Alec considered not going, but that would have meant standing Celeste up. He didn’t have a doubt that she expected him. He’d gotten himself into this mess, and he had no idea how to get himself out.
Climbing out of his truck in front of her house on a quiet street, he shut the door. Business must be good. The single-story Mediterranean-style stucco home with a red clay barrel roof sat on at least a quarter acre. Celeste might have trouble with camellias but not, it seemed, with other flowers. They were everywhere. Peeking out from beneath the boxwoods surrounding the house, in pots on either side of the step, and anchoring the house.
He stepped on the sidewalk leading to the eight-foot arched door and paused. This was a mistake.
The front door opened. Celeste stepped onto the porch and propped one hand on the door frame. His breath stalled in his lungs.
She might be a tiny thing, but the woman had knockout legs. He’d always seen her in pants. Tonight she had on a little black skirt that stopped five inches above her knees, a white blouse, high-heeled sandals. He knew this was a bad idea.
Lowering her hand, she came down the steps and didn’t stop until she stood directly in front of him. “You’re five minutes late.”
“This is a bad idea,” he said. There was no sense beating around the bush.
“We’re just going out to dinner, just as you told your brother.”
His gaze flickered over her face, exquisite and unforgettable. “This is not going to work.”
“I’ll get my purse and lock the door.” Turning, she walked back up the steps. His gaze was again drawn to the enticing sway of her hips. Why couldn’t she have buck teeth and a rail-thin body?
Celeste disappeared inside the house, then came back almost instantly. Clearly she had been waiting for him.
Alec joined her on the small porch. “Did you lock both locks?”
She smiled and hooked her arm through his, undisturbed when he jumped. “Yes, and the timer for the landscape lights comes on at nine and goes off at five.”
Alec started toward the truck at a fast clip. If Celeste’s tempting body weren’t enough, the tantalizing fragrance she wore made him want to tear off her clothes with his teeth. He opened the door and helped her in, then bit back a groan as the skirt slid up farther. He slammed the door and rounded the truck. Inside, he started the motor and pulled away from the curve, his gaze straight ahead.
“How are things going with the gazebo?” she asked.
“Good.” He threw a quick glance in her direction. “Thanks again for your help today.”
“No problem. If you need to hire someone to help out, I know a couple of reliable men,” she told him. “Both are retired, and helping at odd jobs gives them purpose and extra income.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He eased to a signal light. “How about you?”
“I’m making good progress. I can’t wait to see Maureen’s and Simon’s reaction when they see the master suite.”
“How long have you been a decorator?” he asked. There was such excitement in her voice when she talked of her work. Once he had been the same way.
A haughty brow rose. “Interior designer,” she said, then laughed. “Right out of college. A loan from my father got me started.”
The light changed and he pulled off. “And the rest was up to you.”
Clearly pleased, she smiled. “Charleston, like many of the cities in the Old South, has a short list of designers who have set the standard, so I had to work harder, smarter. I hung out at the design studios, antique shops, getting to know the people there. It was tough going, but it was worth it.”
“You’re living your dream, then?” He pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.
A shadow flashed across her face. “Almost.”
He frowned. “What’s missing?”
She leaned closer. “Perhaps one day I’ll tell you. Now, I’m starved.” She opened her door and met him at the front of the truck, once again hooking her arm through his.
He studied her face. The shadow he’d seen moments ago was gone. It disturbed him to think life might have treated her unkindly. “You’re also evading.”
She leaned against him. He felt the soft impression of her breast, and his mind fuzzed when all his blood rushed south. “I’m hungry. Come on.”
Somehow Alec got his feet moving. He knew about secrets. “You eat here often?”
The door opened. “Welcome back, Celeste,” greeted a slender brunette.
“I guess I have my answer.”
She gave him a quick grin. “Hi, Bette. Table for two, please.”
“This way.”
Releasing his arm, Celeste stepped ahead of Alec and followed the hostess. Even if he hadn’t been a cop, he would have noticed the hungry gazes of men following Celeste’s progress. He’d already figured out she wasn’t hurting for a date, so why him?
The hostess stopped by a table in a quiet corner of the room. Alec reached for the chair. Giving him another smile, Celeste sat, hanging the strap of her small purse on the back of the ladder-back chair. Alec took the seat next to her, figuring this way she wouldn’t be in his direct line of vision.
He accepted the menu. Celeste placed hers on the table. “I thought you were hungry.”
“I know what I want.”
She gazed at him in that direct way of hers, and his entire body came to attention. Why couldn’t he just ignore the signals? Ignore the woman?
“Have you decided?” she asked.
Since his menu remained closed, he knew they weren’t talking about food. “You know the answer to that.”
“Pity.”
He was used to women who went after what they wanted, but not one he was having trouble resisting.
“Are you ready to order?” asked a fresh-faced waitress.
“Celeste?” Alec said
, studying the menu; he heard Celeste order ribs and sweetened iced tea. Lowering the menu, he eyed her white blouse and handed the waitress the menus. “I’ll have the same. It’s a good thing they have bibs.”
“So you’ve eaten here before?” Celeste asked.
“It’s one of Brianna and Patrick’s favorite restaurants,” he said.
Propping her chin on her palm, she leaned toward him. “Do you have a favorite back in Myrtle Beach?”
The waitress arrived and placed their drinks on the table, then withdrew. Alec didn’t like to think about home. “Not really. I work long hours and, when I have free time, I like to work in my woodshop.”
“How did you get into woodwork?”
“My father liked making things. I guess I took after him.”
“Was he a policeman as well?”
“Here is your order.” The server placed the platters on the table and withdrew.
“Yes,” Alec answered, fast losing his appetite.
Celeste put on a bib and picked up a rib. “I hope this doesn’t embarrass you, but I’m from Texas and this is the only way to eat ribs.”
Alec watched her white teeth bite into the meat, watched her eyes close, then heard a little moan. Celeste could drive a man crazy.
Her eyes opened as she chewed. “Every time my family visits, we come here.”
“Where exactly in Texas are you from?” Alec asked, glad she was no longer asking questions about him.
“Houston. My parents and older sister still live there.” Celeste put the small end of the bone into her mouth and sucked. Alec stared at the ribs, his imagination going where it shouldn’t.
“Ah— Is your sister an interior designer?” he asked, reaching for his tea and taking a huge swallow.
“A high school counselor.” Celeste cleaned her fingers with a wet nap, then picked up her fork. “She loves her students and they love her.”
“You sound close.” He picked up a rib. “What made you decide to leave Houston?”
“It was time,” she said, placing her fork on the plate without using it.
If he hadn’t been looking he might have missed the almost imperceptible tensing of her body. “Did your mother teach you how to cook?”
