“Wow” was his single comment, and Jamie restrained a smile as they walked through the foyer and into the restaurant.
As chic as the Clam Shell had been, the Sunfish Grotto overshadowed it. There were fountains and hidden lights, tables secluded by discreet plants, lit aquariums and architectural features. The dance floor was flanked by an aquarium filling an entire wall, with waving plants and lazy fish.
Zack saw her looking at it and said, “During the day it’s lit from the top by natural light, as well.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“So are you.”
A maître d’ approached them. “Mr. Denning, your brother and Ms. Wheeler are already seated.”
“Thank you, Dennis,” Zack said. “May I introduce you to Jamie Conroe?”
“Very pleased to meet you, Ms. Conroe. Is this your first visit to the Sunfish Grotto?”
Jamie had a feeling he knew it was, but smiled anyhow. “Yes. Zack has been telling me how special it is, and now that I’m here, I can only agree.”
“Yes, miss. I hope you enjoy your visit. Let me show you to your table.”
Zack slid his arm around her waist as they followed the maître d’, and a pleasant thrill went up her spine at his touch. Although they were playacting the “date” portion of the evening, Jamie could sense his pride at being her escort and a flash of old-fashioned feminine power went through her. It wasn’t something she’d experienced in a while and she’d forgotten how fun it could be.
* * *
ZACK WAS STUNNED as he walked with Jamie through the restaurant. He’d known she was pretty, even the first day they’d met, though it had been masked by a smart mouth, her oversize clothes and an obnoxious trailer. It wasn’t long afterward that he’d recognized her sexy appeal and felt a growing desire. Now, seeing her in a sensuous gown intended to send a man’s brain reeling in foggy appreciation, he wondered how many complex layers were beneath Jamie’s surface. Why would she hide in overalls and sell strawberries over more glamorous pursuits? Of course, she’d probably accuse him of male stereotyping if he said anything.
“I hate to admit it,” Jamie said, glancing at the creamy linen and sparkling stemware, “but this place is even more than you described. I used to dream of living in a home where entire walls were aquariums, just like your dance floor.”
“You don’t want that any longer?” he asked. If things had been different between them, he would have tried to convince her to forget dinner and spend the evening making love on the king-size bed in his apartment. Who needed food if you could have Jamie Conroe for every course from appetizers to dessert?
“No,” she said. “Aquariums are wonderful, but now I want lots of windows and access to the outdoors. It’s lovely visiting a place like this, though.”
Zack blinked and dragged his thoughts away from his bedroom. They went around a row of plants and came to a private dining alcove created by walls of softly lit stained glass. An artistic mermaid on one side peered at a sunset on the other. Though it had added to the expense, Zack had asked the architect and interior designer to create numerous private spaces within the Grotto. Each was unique, and people were already reserving their favorites.
Kim saw them first, her eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise. “Hello, Jamie.”
Brad looked at them also, his surprise more pronounced.
Zack pulled out a chair next to Kim’s and held it for Jamie before seating himself. The maître d’ bowed slightly and departed.
“I’m glad the two of you could have dinner with us,” Zack said, choosing his words carefully.
Brad’s brow creased, but he said nothing while Zack and Jamie exchanged a look. The four of them studied the menus, yet before they could order, a wine steward brought a bottle to the table.
“This is the selection you made earlier, Mr. Denning. Is it still acceptable?” He showed Zack the label.
“It’s fine. Brad, taste the wine, will you?” he asked. “I want to take Jamie to the dance floor and see if her gown twirls as well as it looks.”
“Of course,” his brother answered in a stiff voice.
“Is something wrong with Brad?” Jamie whispered as they retraced their earlier steps.
“I don’t know. We haven’t had a chance to talk much lately. Right now I’m hoping he’s reassessing his assumptions about me and Kim.”
The band was playing one of Zack’s favorite arrangements. It was an exquisite composition, yet he smiled humorously as he pulled Jamie into his arms.
“Is something funny?” she asked.
“Not really. The music is a piece I particularly like, that’s all.”
“And that’s amusing?”
“It’s called Air on G String by Bach. My band director in high school thought it would get the boys interested in practicing more. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize the parents of the teenage daughters would object.”
Jamie nodded. “Because it got the boys thinking about girls wearing G-strings.”
“You got it.” He gathered her closer. She was soft and silky and smelled faintly of lilacs. For a moment he had a peculiar conviction that he’d built the Grotto for the sole purpose of dancing with Jamie. Foolish, perhaps, but the Sunfish Grotto had been designed to create mood, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he’d been drawn under its spell.
* * *
BRAD SCHOOLED HIS EXPRESSION, but he was annoyed.
What was Zack doing, messing around with Jamie? Sure, play a game for the staff. Put on a good show for the town and even the tourists, but a romantic display in front of Kim? And what about Jamie—what if she got the wrong idea? She was probably too levelheaded, yet it still seemed unfair.
“Sir?” the wine steward said. He’d poured a glass of the wine and was waiting for approval.
“Oh.” Brad tasted the wine. “It has a sour taste. Is that normal for this particular vintage?”
The steward seemed startled. “No, sir, it is not. I’ll take the bottle back and bring another.”
“It’s good you tasted it instead of me,” said Kim when the steward had gone. “I’m not a connoisseur.”
“Neither am I, though Zack has tried to educate me. He doesn’t drink much, but says he’d rather have one good glass than a bottle of anything lesser.”
Kim smiled. “My grandfather was an alcoholic, so I was always glad that neither of you were big drinkers.”
Brad remembered her talking about it one late night when he’d called and Zack was at work. She’d been sad over her grandfather’s early death from years of alcohol abuse and he’d mostly listened, her voice a pleasant change from the loud chatter of the men in the recreation hall.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked.
She hesitated for an instant. “I’d love to.”
They made their way to the dance floor, where they saw Zack and Jamie turning slowly on the floor, along with two middle-aged couples.
“It’s been years since I danced,” Brad said in a low voice.
“Me, too, but I suppose the band will survive.”
He held her carefully and moved onto the dance floor. She was obviously worried about whether the movements would hurt his leg, but the slow pace was comfortable.
“I’m not spun glass,” she teased after a couple of minutes. “You can hold me tighter.”
The words surprised Brad, along with the playful smile she cast at him. If he hadn’t known better he would have said she was flirting. Hell, he was a lousy judge of women—it couldn’t mean anything.
As they danced, Brad thought about switching partners to give Kim a chance to dance with Zack, but they didn’t meet up in a way that made it possible. It was almost as if his brother was avoiding them on the dance floor. The band was starting a new piece of music by the time Brad was close eno
ugh to Zack to say anything.
“Zack, I shouldn’t be selfish and keep Kim to myself,” he said in a casual tone. “And you shouldn’t do the same with Jamie.”
A rueful expression crossed Zack’s face, but he graciously bowed and agreed to the partner exchange.
“Have you figured out what to do about the fruit stand?” Brad asked Jamie after a moment.
“Yes,” she answered softly after casting a quick glance around, probably to see if there were listening ears. “I’ve installed security cameras with motion sensors. They should pick up anything that happens out there.”
“That’s a good idea.”
He was relieved; Zack wouldn’t feel he had to watch the stand with Jamie, and she’d be safe.
They danced in silence for a few rounds, then Jamie glanced over at Kim. She and Zack were chatting amiably.
“It’s nice that Kim has been able to come to Mar Vista so often,” Jamie said. “She must enjoy it here, though seeing friends probably makes it even nicer.”
“Zack and Kim go way back,” he said.
“Hasn’t she known you almost as long? Or maybe I misunderstood.”
It was true; he’d met Kim only a month after she and Zack became acquainted, but they’d met because she was dating his brother. Of course, they hadn’t been a couple for a long time and...well, his friendship with Kim had survived on its own.
When the music ended, Zack reclaimed Jamie and they moved away. Kim regarded them with a pleased smile.
“They seem to be getting along exceptionally well,” she commented.
As Zack’s lawyer, it was natural that she was concerned over the fruit stand and property issue.
“Yes, though I don’t know how it will end,” Brad murmured. “Jamie is very attached to the land. She told me it’s where her grandparents met.”
“No wonder it’s special to her.”
“I suppose the place you meet your future love is always memorable. How about you and Zack? Where did you two meet?”
Kim didn’t seem to mind the question. “At the hotel where he was working, naturally. I went for a job interview and was surprised to discover the assistant manager was another college kid, same as me.”
“Zack went up through the ranks like a speeding bullet. Did you get the job?”
“It was offered, but I got a chance to clerk for a lawyer, so I chose that instead. Zack would never have gotten involved with an employee, so if I’d gone to work for him, we would have become friends without the detour into romance.” She tilted her head back and looked at him. “Bet you don’t remember where you met me.”
Brad chuckled. “I do, as a matter of fact. You were hanging around the parking lot waiting for Zack. I was in town and he asked me to pick you up so we could all have burgers together. We ate alone because someone in a drunken stag party pulled the fire alarm at the hotel, and he couldn’t leave. You had a jalapeño turkey burger with chipotle-flavored sweet-potato fries.”
“I’m impressed.”
“It’s not every day a jarhead meets a gorgeous woman with adventurous tastes in food.”
“Watch it, marine. I thought you said your social skills were rusty from being on active duty so long.”
Strangely, Kim was acting completely normal and didn’t seem to mind the possibility that Zack and Jamie had become a couple. And more than once her manner was flirtatious, or at least that was how it appeared to him. His social skills were rusty, but it was pleasant to be reminded that he was more than a soldier...and particularly nice to remember he was more than a recuperating patient.
Strangely, he’d always felt Kim was special. If there wasn’t anything between her and Zack, then maybe...
No. Brad pushed the thought away. It was impossible. Who knew how long it would be until he’d recovered enough for active duty, if ever? The doctors seemed to think it was possible, but he was cautious about getting his hopes up. At the moment, he was a Marine Corp officer who wasn’t physically fit to serve. What did he do in the meantime? He certainly couldn’t be with Kim—she had a flourishing law practice with everything going for her. She didn’t need a banged-up jarhead around.
* * *
OVER ZACK’S SHOULDER Jamie watched a large fish drift through the aquarium bordering the dance floor and wondered whether the wall-sized tank was fresh or salt water. Salt, she decided, noting the starfish hiding in the corner.
The dappled light from the aquarium provided most of the illumination on the dance floor, creating the ultimate romantic atmosphere. Or maybe it was just atmosphere, and Zack was responsible for the romance.... No. Jamie reminded herself it was an act.
After another dance, Zack looked down at her. “Should we go back to the table soon and order something?”
“Probably. I ate a snack around six, but it’s wearing off.”
“A snack? Did you think I wouldn’t feed you for hours?”
“You never know. There must be a few places at Mar Vista I haven’t seen yet.”
He laughed and swung her around in time with the music.
It was amazing to think they were able to tease each other after having had a roaring argument earlier in the afternoon. Considering their history, they would probably be having another battle before long, but at least they’d set aside their hostilities in order to put on a good show for Kim and Brad.
Zack held her hand as they walked off the dance floor and back to the table.
“Did you notice that Brad either didn’t notice us leaving, or didn’t care?” he asked as they reached the table. “They’re still dancing.”
“Good.”
“How about having dinner again tomorrow night, or even Sunday, since Kim has reservations through Monday? Same time, same place, but just the two of us. That should enhance the idea that we’re a couple and show Brad that he’s welcome to pursue a relationship with Kim.”
Jamie sighed. One thing always led to another. Maybe it was inevitable that she would have to do something to keep the charade going once she’d gone along with it. Not that she minded, exactly. Brad was a terrific guy and doing something for him seemed worthwhile. She didn’t want to examine any other motives more closely.
“Tomorrow night, then,” she said. “But we’d better go to the Clam Shell.”
“Why not here?”
“Because this is the one dress I’ve got that’s suitable for this kind of fancy restaurant. I don’t mind wearing things over again, but not two days in a row.”
“That gown is gorgeous on you, but you don’t need something long and fancy to eat here.”
“I’ll...think about it,” she said, wondering if she’d lost her mind. It was hard to deny the appeal of coming back to the Sunfish Grotto. How many places were there like it in the world? “I’m not sure what I expected here—a lot of wood and leather and plants, I guess.”
“We have some of that, but calling it the Sunfish Grotto opened up the imagination. There’s even one table where the alcove is stone and there’s an aquarium along one side at the top. It’s part of the dance floor’s tank, which makes it easier to maintain.”
“You must have someone who does nothing except tend fish tanks.”
“Close to it. He’s also responsible for the fountains and ponds in the gardens.”
“Hi, you two,” Kim said as they came back to the table. “Hope we didn’t keep you waiting.”
“Go dance some more,” Zack offered. “We’ll order appetizers and might even leave some for you.”
“I don’t think we should go anywhere,” Brad advised Kim. “He used to eat more potato chips at family picnics than the rest of us put together.”
“Ha,” Zack rejoined. “I’ll never forget the time Brad introduced me to tacos. He told me the sauce wasn’t hot and squirted a whole packet on mine.
I swear he did it thinking I’d end up giving it to him.”
“And did you?” Jamie asked with a grin.
“Not a chance. I ate every flaming mouthful.”
“I thought you liked spicy food,” Kim said.
“Not when I was eight.”
Jamie pictured the scene: the small kid perspiring as he stubbornly consumed the taco with his eleven-year-old brother watching. It was an insight to the determination Zack had, even as a child. No younger-brother complex for him.
The server came, bringing them menus, so there was a lull in conversation as they studied their options. They each chose a main dish, and Zack added several orders of appetizers.
“This place is a marvel,” Kim said as the menus were carried away. “I like it more every time I see it.”
“The Grotto is my favorite part of the resort,” Zack said. “At least of the parts we constructed. The whole area is fantastic. Maybe I’m biased, but this has to be one of the most beautiful sections of the California coastline.”
Jamie felt the same. Warrington had been a popular tourist town for years, which accounted for its many art galleries and quaint restaurants. The town didn’t lack motels or bed-and-breakfast establishments, but Mar Vista was the only high-end option and it was unquestionably boosting the area’s economy.
“I couldn’t believe it when I found this land for sale,” Zack continued. “It was exactly the place I’ve imagined since I was ten years old.”
“Exactly?” Kim teased.
“Okay, maybe Disneyland was more what I pictured at ten. But this is what I’ve wanted since I was at least fifteen.”
“Most boys think of fast cars or being a famous sports figure at that age,” said Jamie. “Why a resort?”
“Our mother got sick when we were kids,” he explained. “She almost died, and after she got well, she couldn’t seem to get her energy back. Dad splurged and took her on a vacation to a spa retreat, someplace where she would be pampered.”
Harlequin Superromance January 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Everywhere She GoesA Promise for the BabyThat Summer at the Shore Page 73
