"Makes sense," I say after a moment of consideration. I've experienced the 'perfect skirt' phenomenon while shopping but never while dating. Could Austin—
No. He could not. I had a 'live in the now' playboy type as a father and I will not inflict that on my child even if Austin would actually do it. Which I can't imagine he would.
Melissa and I reach the first store in the row and begin trying things on. She's definitely showing now, maybe even more than she was when we met, and the dresses she chooses pull so badly across her stomach that there's no way to tell how they'll look when she's not pregnant.
"I give up," she says eventually. "I'll just find a nice loose top or something. Maybe a muumuu. But we're not giving up on you. None of these things catch your eye?"
She's right, so we move on to another store, where she buys three pink baby outfits because she's convinced she's having a girl. In the third store, as we scan the racks she says oh-so-casually, "Austin's a pretty good guy, really."
"He's been a lot of fun," I say, not sure exactly where she's going with this.
She nods. "He's definitely that. But...." She clears her throat.
"But what?"
"But he can afford to buy you an outfit," she says, sounding like she's changing direction, "and he's got a point about you needing a boost to survive Linda, frankly. So I say let him do it. It's cool that he wants to."
I wonder what she was going to say, but she clearly doesn't want to tell me and maybe I don't want to hear it since it could be something bad about Austin. "It is cool," I say. Not to mention sweet and kind and adorable. Plus, if I take him up on this then every time I see whatever I buy with his money I'll remember this amazing week and how wonderful it was to be with him. "If I find the right thing I'll get it."
"Good enough." She pulls a soft oversized pale pink top from a rack, and swishes it back and forth so the fabric swings. "I like this. I've got a great purple skirt with an elastic waist that still fits me. I bet this would go with it."
I nod. "Try it on."
Moments after she disappears into a dressing room I find the dress. Everything else in the shop fades into insignificance when I touch its soft fabric. I wouldn't have thought it would be my kind of thing but the second I see it I know it's the one.
I take it back to the dressing rooms and let Melissa know I'm in there too.
"Good enough. This top is great, so I'll take it off and wait back here to see you."
I get into the dress, and even before I check my reflection I know it's me. "Coming out."
Melissa turns to see me, and her mouth drops open. "Corinne!"
I grin. "I know."
She grins back. "You," she says, "are going to knock Austin's socks off."
*****
I'm not sure his socks are knocked entirely off, but when I open my cabin door to him that night they definitely take a bit of a beating. He stares at me, then shakes his head as his mouth pulls into a warm smile. "Good Lord, woman, every time I see you you're prettier. And you didn't exactly start out ugly. Is that the dress you bought today?"
Melissa and I had refused to show the guys what we bought, despite their ridiculous levels of begging. I smile and nod, and swish my hips so the fabric swirls around my calves. The short-sleeved dress is a bright sky-blue at the top, blending down to the vibrant green-blue of Caribbean seas at the bottom, and every inch of it skims my body like we were made for each other. If I were even another week pregnant it might not work, but today it's perfect.
"Then whatever money you spent was worth it. And I don't care how much, by the way." He touches my cheek, then leans in and kisses me. "I feel like it's insulting, being so shocked by how good you look, but I don't mean it that way. This just... it's just you."
I nod. "I think so too. And thank you again. You look great yourself, by the way."
He tugs at the front of the silver-grey dress shirt he's wearing. "Oh, this old thing?"
I laugh. "What did you call yourself?"
He widens his eyes, then chuckles and kisses me again. It starts out sweet but becomes passionate in an instant, and we cling to each other kissing fiercely until the sound of a bunch of rowdy people bursting out of a cabin down the hall breaks us apart.
We stand staring at each other, both breathing hard, and I have just enough time to wonder whether the hunger and heat of that kiss is making his knees weak too before he winks at me and says, "I'll let you get away with that comment. This once. Since you're such a good kisser."
"I think you're the good one," I say, trying to match his playful tone though I'm still shaken by how badly I want him. Knowing I can't have him, I take a deep breath and check to make sure I've got my key card in my hand then let the door close with a faint click, sadly leaving us in the hall instead of the privacy of my cabin.
He holds out his hand. "Want me to do pocket duty?"
I drop the card into his palm and smile at him. "That'd be great, thanks."
He slips my card into his front pant pocket, and two thoughts hit me at once. Jealousy that the card is snuggled in so close to... a certain area of his body, and the sure knowledge that he's done 'pocket duty' for an endless stream of women and will be doing it next year for someone else.
I try to push both thoughts aside. I can't be thinking of that area of his body when I'm about to meet his mother, and what he does next year is of no concern to me. He's here now, with me, and that should be enough. It has to be enough. It's all I'm going to get. And nothing else fits my plan anyhow.
He takes my now-free hand and we walk along chatting about what we saw snorkeling and about the delicious banana ice creams Melissa and I brought back to the guys after our shopping trip, but when we turn the corner and the restaurant's classy black-marble entrance lies before us he goes quiet and slows down.
I look at him. "You okay?"
He blinks. "Yeah. Why?"
Before I can tell him, he shakes his head. "No, actually. You can always tell, and you're right. I'm not sure it's fair to inflict Mom on you. Like inflicting Godzilla on Tokyo. Are you feeling strong today?"
I try to clench up a good bicep. "I'm full of bananas and sugar. And I have a great new dress. Bring her on."
He laughs, then leans in and gives me a quick kiss. "Okay. Let's do this, Tokyo." He takes my hand again and we head into the restaurant.
The tuxedo-clad man at the reception desk smiles at Austin and says, "You're at the usual table, sir."
Austin smiles back, the man gives me a smile and nod, and Austin leads me to the table.
Nicholas is already there, and Melissa too in the pink top she bought today with a beautiful, although not my style, pastel pink and purple silk scarf wrapped around her neck.
And then there's the woman with vibrant red hair bound into a zillion tiny braids who's staring at me like I'm a polar bear who's suddenly appeared in the Caribbean. I don't think I've ever seen someone so thin; her cheekbones look like they could rip a blush brush to shreds. But Austin has those same cheekbones, although his aren't quite so close to the surface, and they have the same green eyes.
Hers flick to my hand in Austin's, then she looks up and raises her eyebrows.
Austin's grip tightens and he says, "Mom, Corinne. Corinne, Mom. Linda."
His nervousness is flooding me through our joined hands but I take a deep breath and try to sound calm. "Nice to meet you, Mrs.—"
I freeze. Not only is she not married to Austin's dad now, I wouldn't know how to finish that sentence if she were.
"Just call me Linda," she says, smiling at me. "I'm not Mrs. anybody."
"Good," I say, remembering what everyone's told me about how she appreciates straightforwardness, "because I've just realized I don't know Austin's last name."
Everyone laughs, and Austin pulls out a chair for me and says, "Powers."
I'm halfway into the chair and drop the rest of the way like a bag of rocks. "Your name is Austin..."
He blinks at me innocently, but
I see the deviousness behind it and smack his arm. "Honestly. How stupid do you think I am?"
"Not even a little bit." He takes the chair next to mine. "Davis. My last name is Davis."
I look at Linda and raise my eyebrows.
She grins. "Glad to see you know not to trust anything the boy says. But he's telling you the truth this time. Do you know these two?"
Melissa and Nicholas nod, and I say, "I've spent a few days with them, actually."
"And me, don't forget me."
"Nobody can," Melissa says wryly, "because you never shut up."
Austin chuckles, and Linda says, "Are you here by yourself?"
I shake my head. "With my brother and his friends."
Austin slips his arm around my shoulders. "But she's been nice enough to spend most of her time with me."
"Someone should, or you're a menace to society." Linda leans forward and puts her spiky elbows on the table. "So, Corinne, what's your story? I want to know every last detail."
Austin shakes his head. "My mother fancies herself a CIA agent," he says. "Just give her your name, rank, and serial number."
"Corinne Kostopoulos," I say, trying to sound military. "Um... I guess my rank is that I'm about to start a job as a lawyer's admin assistant."
Linda smiles at me. "You forgot your serial number."
"A plus," Austin says, picking up his water glass. "She's an A plus."
I feel myself blushing, but Linda says, "That's not a number, darling, but whatever. And what job did you do before?"
Urgh. "I was a clarinetist and clarinet teacher," I say, not wanting to drag this out, "but I couldn't get into the orchestra I wanted to join so I decided to change careers."
She gives a single nod. "Smart girl. If at first you don't succeed, erase all evidence that you tried."
I'm not quite sure what to say to this, since it sounds like giving up instead of choosing to make a new plan and I don't like to think that I gave up, but before I can answer she says, "And why are you bothering with my boy here?"
Because he's the best kisser I've ever known? I actually don't think she'd mind that as an answer but I can't bring myself to say it. Though it's true, he's so much more. "He's fun," I say, understating the case by about a million times and still not coming close to describing how great he is and how wonderful it's been getting to know him. "He's kept me entertained on the cruise."
"I bet he has," she says, her eyes dancing. "I hope he didn't knock you up."
My cheeks flame, and she chuckles. "Didn't they warn you about me, Corinne?"
"We did," Melissa and Nicholas and Austin say together.
Everyone laughs, and Nicholas adds, "But she probably thought we were exaggerating."
"Well, they weren't." Linda grins at me. "Whatever they said, they weren't exaggerating."
Our waiter arrives to take our orders, and once that's finished Linda says, "And now, for the most important question of all."
I brace myself.
"Where'd you get that gorgeous dress and those sandals, and can I get them too?"
I smile, relieved. "I got the shoes in Toronto, and the dress at a shop on the island today. It is pretty, isn't it?"
I wonder if I should tell her Austin bought it for me, but I'm not sure she'd approve of him spending money on someone he's just met. While I consider, she says to Melissa, "Should have bought me one. It'd be perfect to wear to your baby shower."
Melissa nods, then turns sharply to me. "Hey, would you want to come to that?" Her cheeks pinken. "And I was going to ask whether you'd want to keep in touch after the cruise."
I grin at her, thrilled she wants to. I don't know about the shower, because I'll definitely be showing by then, but I can worry about that later. "I'd love to keep in touch."
She grins back and Linda says, "And you'll come to the shower, of course. It's going to be awesome, if I say so myself."
"Which you do," Austin puts in.
Melissa smiles at me. "Technically, etiquette says family members shouldn't host baby showers, but..." She shrugs.
"But Linda doesn't care about such things, is what she's thinking. And she's right. I throw a great party and that's all that matters."
Melissa pulls her phone from her pocket and holds it out to me. "Want to trade numbers? And email addresses too?"
"Sure, but I don't have my phone with me. Or any paper."
Linda raises her hand and a waiter is instantly at her side. She explains the situation and he pulls a small square of expensive-looking paper with the cruise line logo embossed into it and a matching pen from his pocket and gives them to me.
As I thank him, I wonder if keeping in touch with Melissa will make not talking to Austin more painful. I hope not, but I wish I could take the time to give it a little thought and be sure it'll be okay. It's scary just leaping into something like this without planning it first.
Melissa hands me her phone and I give her the paper and pen, and we each record our phone number and email address.
As I pass her phone back, Austin holds his in front of me. "We should trade digits too," he says, in a stereotypical 'annoying businessman' way. "Have my people call your people and all that."
Melissa drops her phone to the table as if her hands have lost all feeling, and Linda says, "Really? Why?" in such a surprised tone that the words don't seem rude though they could have. I'm too shocked to be offended anyhow.
Austin clears his throat. "Well, what if Melissa loses her phone? Then how will you invite Corinne to the shower?"
"But Melissa's phone backs itself up to the—"
Nicholas cuts off, fast, as if he might have received a sharp kick to the ankle, and Melissa says, "Not a bad idea, actually. Austin, you're smarter than you look."
"I'd nearly have to be," he says. "And I'm saying that before anyone else can."
"I need to move faster," Linda says, smiling at him.
Austin pulls over the paper and pen with one hand and gives me his phone with the other. "Here you go."
"Thanks," I murmur, hardly able to think never mind speak. I would never have thought he'd ask for my contact information, and clearly nobody in his family would have either. What is going on with him?
I put in my name and phone number and email address, then on a whim type, "Thank you for the dress and for the best week of my life," into the notes field.
"Writing a novel?"
I smile at Austin. "Nope." I save the new contact and pass back the phone. "I'm done."
"Good, because the novel-writing thing is Mel's job."
Melissa sighs, and I narrow my eyes at Austin and say, "Hasn't she said she wants you to call her Melissa?"
Austin chuckles, and Linda gives an enormous bark of laughter that causes several people near us to gasp in surprise then says, "Corinne, you're all right."
I smile at her and give a pretend curtsey, although it's tricky while sitting. "Thank you."
Several uniformed men materialize out of nowhere with our food, and they offer fresh-ground pepper and parmesan cheese and gourmet salt all around. I don't need any of that for my steak, so I sneak a peek at the paper.
Melissa wrote, "Stay in touch!" beneath her information, which is sweet, but Austin's "A plus plus, actually" is far sweeter. Does he really mean that? And is he actually interested in seeing me after the cruise?
I look at his phone number, which ends in 672. There are six letters in his name, seven in mine, and the two of us have been together all week. Though I know it's ridiculous, and I also know Austin and I can't possibly have a future together, I can't help hoping it's a sign.
*****
Once we're finished with our meals and delicious desserts, Linda says, "Coffee?"
"Not for Corinne," Austin says. "She's a tea girl. Earl Gray steeped three and a half minutes in boiling water, two small spoons of sugar, half a shot of milk. Right?"
He's only heard me order tea once. "Right," I say softly, surprised and impressed.
Linda
laughs. "Bet they love you at Starbucks. But I'm sure they'll get it right here."
They don't, quite, but though it's a bit too strong for me I drink it and the others drink coffee except for Melissa who sticks with her water, and when we're all done Linda says, "So. Plans for tonight?"
"I'm wiped," Melissa says. "I'm thinking a little time at the quiet pool with the ereader and then to sleep."
Nicholas nods, and Linda sighs. "You guys are older than I am."
"More mature, anyhow," Austin murmurs, then receives a well-deserved smack from his mother.
"And what are your big plans, my annoying son?" Linda says, ignoring Austin's pained expression.
"Well, I took Corinne away from her 'Sex and the City' DVDs with the promise of keeping her entertained in the evenings, so I'll be doing that."
Linda takes a breath and Austin says quickly, "And in no way do we need your suggestions. Please."
We all laugh and she says, "Well, fine. Nobody wants my opinion." She pats Melissa on the shoulder. "This'll be you in twenty years, you know. Your kid won't listen to you any more."
"We never—"
Austin and Nicholas started speaking together, but they cut off together too and we all laugh.
"Good point," Linda says. "No, you never did listen. Oh, well."
"What are you up to?"
Linda grins at Melissa. "I've got three potential Mr. Right-For-The-Week guys on the hook and tonight I decide who I spend the rest of the time with. Should be fun."
This, from the sounds of it, is how Austin usually spends his cruises. I doubt, though, that he's as explicit about it as Linda is. I hope not, anyhow. Her casual attitude toward turning down two guys who might well think they've got a future with her is gross. Austin's a flirt, yes, but the incident with his 'friend' at the grill proves he's not as cruel as his mother.
Plan Overboard (Toronto Series #14) Page 8
