The truth of the matter is that Ryan is the man I’m allowing to buy me breakfast before I tell him to go back to his part-time girlfriend. Of course, I don’t say that to Geoffrey because I want him to think I’m on a real date.
Ryan stands up and offers Geoffrey his hand. “Hey man, nice to meet you.”
Geoffrey doesn’t take the proffered appendage. Instead, he looks at me. “Can I borrow you for a minute?”
“You want me to go with you?” What’s he playing at? “Is the lodge in the midst of some kind of crisis?”
“It’s not work-related.”
“I’m on a date, Geoffrey. Are you sure this can’t wait?”
“It can’t wait.”
I smile at Ryan, losing all interest in dating him. “I’ll be back in just a minute. If the waitress comes, I’ll have the pigs in a blanket.” No sense eating delicately as I’m no longer trying to impress him. Thoughts of Jack fill my head, and I will not do to another woman what was done to me.
Geoffrey leads the way out of the restaurant and down a long corridor. I finally catch up to him as he walks into the ballroom. “What in the world is going on with you?” I demand as the door shuts behind us.
He turns to me and says, “Claire.”
“Yes.”
He takes a step closer. “Claire, I want to date you.”
“You’re leaving town,” I remind him.
“I am, but why can’t we just go out once or twice and see if there’s anything there?”
Oh, there’s something there. While I don’t say this out loud, I know he feels the electricity between us as well as I do. The air is positively crackling with possibility and, dare I suggest, yearning.
“Cheryl from the Quick Stop has a crush on you,” I tell him. Why did I say that?
“I don’t have a crush on her,” he says, taking a step toward me like a panther about to pounce on its prey. “I have my sights set on someone else.”
Oh, my sweet ever-loving hot lava. My legs suddenly go limp like cooked angel hair noodles. “Me?” I ask.
“You,” he tells me right before reaching out to pull me toward him. Thank goodness he’s holding onto my arms, or I’d have collapsed in a heap at his feet. Which is not a sexy look on anyone.
“I don’t know what it is about you, Claire, but you make me want to break the rules.”
“I want you to break the rules,” I whisper while turning my face up toward him. I want to jump up into his arms and throw my legs around him and hang on like we’ve been super-glued together. Luckily, I manage to restrain myself.
Geoffrey leans down so that I feel his breath on my face. I could count the freckles on the tip of his nose if I could concentrate long enough. “I’m still leaving in two months,” he says.
“I know. I’ve decided that I’m not looking for anything serious.” To borrow a line from Cheryl, I add, “I think I might just need a little fun right now.”
“I’m fun,” he tells me in a low growl. “How would you like me to make you dinner tonight?”
“I’d like that very much.”
“I’ll pick you up at six.” He’s so close I could probably bite his chin without moving. Not that I’m a notorious chin biter or anything. He’s just that close.
“Why are you picking me up?” I want to know. “I only live next door. I’m pretty sure I can manage it on my own.”
“I don’t doubt your abilities in the least. I just think that picking my date up is the gentlemanly thing to do.”
“If you insist,” I say. Is he going to kiss me or not?
“I better let you get back to your fireman.” He steps backward, causing me to stagger toward the vacant space he left behind.
“My who?”
“The guy sitting in the dining room ordering your pigs in a blanket.”
“Oh yeah, him.” I jolt upright. You could parade every firemen calendar poster boy that ever was in front of me right now and I wouldn’t notice them. I only have eyes for Geoffrey.
How in the world am I going to keep myself from falling for him?
Chapter Thirty-Six
Ruby
“Okay, Tom,” Ruby tells her husband. “I’ve talked to both of the boys and neither of them are expectant fathers. I’m going to need some more information on what you were talking about the other day.”
Opening the Scrabble app on her computer, Ruby waits while the droid picks her tiles. G-C-F-R-E-D-O. The letters mean nothing to her, so she plays through the game. When it’s over, she takes a picture of the board and studies it for messages from Tom.
Royal, family, trouble, dating, party, music, fighting, yowza. Huh. Ruby decides Tom must not have been playing with her, after all.
“Any messages from heaven?” Chris asks from her desk which is across the room from Ruby’s.
“Nothing that makes any sense.”
“Maybe Tom just wanted to play today and didn’t have any words of advice,” Chris replies as the phone rings.
“Willamette Valley Lodge.” Ruby takes notes while the person on the other end of the line talks. Then she says, “I’ll have our party planner get in touch with you on Monday to firm up the details.” Then she hangs up and tells Chris, “That party with all of the special requests is making some changes to their reservation.”
“Good thing you took a deposit,” Chris says. “Speaking of parties, word on the street is our singles’ mixer was a hit!”
“I’ve already got Claire working on the next one. This time we’re going to have an age range though. Clem Gipson called to tell me he wasn’t looking for a woman his granddaughter’s age.”
“Too funny,” Chris laughs, “because Edina Shmit told me after meeting all those young men, she was never going to date anyone over fifty again.”
“Tell Edina that if things go well, we might just offer a cougar event in her honor.”
Geoffrey
Despite having only been gone a few days, walking back into my house is a surreal experience. Before I left for Malquar, this place felt like mine. Now I feel like I’m a visitor. I suppose that as my brain accepts the next stage of my life, everything about Oregon will start to feel that way.
But just because I’m moving home doesn’t mean I’m going to stop having adventures. Heck, I’m about to embark on an adventure with Claire tonight.
After unpacking and taking a quick shower, I sit down at the kitchen table to decide what to make for dinner. While it’s technically our first date, Claire and I have already had two practice dates while we were supposed to be doing research watching that old show.
I’ve obviously cooked for Claire before, but I want to make tonight’s meal different, sexier. I decide to go with Swiss fondue for the entrée and chocolate fondue for dessert. This meal won’t require any utensils, it’ll just be dip, bite, dip, bite. Oh man, I can’t wait.
After doing the grocery shopping and getting everything prepped, I run a dust rag over the main surfaces of my house before starting to unwrap the dozens of candles I bought this afternoon. Nothing says romance like candlelight, and I’m not messing around here.
Just before six o’clock, I freshen up and head over to pick up Claire. She answers the door looking like a goddess. “You’re beautiful,” I tell her with an abundance of appreciation.
“This old thing?” she asks flirtatiously while twirling around to show off all angles of the turquoise-colored dress she’s wearing. I want to pull her into my arms to see if the fabric is as silky as it looks, but she is already slipping on her coat. I ask, “Should I say hello to your mother?”
“No.” She pushes me out the door. “We do not need to bring my mom or Ruby into whatever is happening here.”
“What’s happening?” I need confirmation that we are following the same rules.
Claire smiles coyly. “My friend is going to make me dinner. Isn’t that what you think is happening?”
“I’m making you dinne
r all right, but please don’t think I have solely friendly motivations.” That sounds more like a threat than I intended, but I want to make sure Claire knows I have ulterior motives. I don’t want her crying foul when I leave Oregon.
Instead of backing down from my warning, she leans into me and practically purrs, “Good.”
I take her hand and lead the way down her front walk while trying to remind myself to go slowly. I don’t want to scare her away with the intensity of my feelings.
Opening my front door is like walking into another world. The fire is crackling in the fireplace, pillar candles are the main source of lighting, and Nat King Cole is crooning softly through the speakers hidden around the house. It’s a scene ripe for seduction.
Claire gasps. “You’ve been busy today.”
“I had to do something so you wouldn’t want to date any more firemen,” I say teasingly, though I totally mean it.
“It shouldn’t matter how many firemen I date,” she replies before adding insult to injury by saying, “It’ll be nice to have someone waiting in the wings after you go home.”
She’s not playing fair, but I decide it’s best to change the subject. “Would you like a glass of wine or champagne?”
“I’ll leave that up to you. Either sounds lovely.”
I watch as she walks into my living room and sits down on my sofa. The skirt on her dress hikes up slightly, leaving her knees bare. Who knew knees could be arousing?
Once again, I wonder what kind of man could have cheated on a woman like Claire. She’s confident, funny, beautiful, and as sexy as the day is long. She’s everything a man could want. She’s certainly everything I could imagine wanting.
I grab a bottle of Viognier and two glasses off the kitchen counter before joining her in the living room. The fireplace illuminates her, giving her an otherworldly aura, like a siren from Greek mythology, luring me onto the rocky shore. Although, at this moment, I don’t care if my ship crashes and sinks. I cannot stay away from her.
The smile she gives me causes my heart to pick up speed. “What are you thinking about?” she asks.
I don’t pull any punches. I simply say, “I’m thinking about how to get you to break your ‘no kissing until the third date’ rule.”
Her smile morphs into a smoldering gaze. There’s such intensity in their blue depths, it’s like she can see right through me, like I’m an open book with no secrets at all. “That rule only applies to men I might have a future with,” she purrs.
Ouch! Her comment stings like I got on the wrong side of a swarm of hornets.
She’s making it clear she doesn’t see a future with me, which of course is the way it has to be. The only problem is, I’m afraid the more time I spend with Claire, the harder it will be to see a life without her. I need to get a handle on this or escort her back home and save myself some heartache.
I settle next to her on the couch and pour wine for us both. Then I hand her a glass while raising mine, “To good friends enjoying each other’s company.”
She gently touches her glass to mine. “To having some fun without any strings attached.”
Why does she have to keep saying things like that? Is she trying to remind me or herself?
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sharon
Peeking out the second story window, Sharon watches as Claire and Geoffrey walk hand-in-hand to his house. So much for her daughter’s claim to be going over to Tara’s place for a movie night. Claire did seem to be taking too many pains with her appearance for just a girls’ night. Picking up her phone she texts Ruby to fill her in.
Sharon: Claire and Geoffrey are going over to his house.
Ruby: You think they’re working on the next Speed Date event?
Sharon: They’re working on something. They’re holding hands.
Ruby: WOOT! Don’t let on that we know.
Sharon: A little covert action might be just what they need to realize how good they are for each other.
Ruby: I hope so, but what if I lose Claire and Geoffrey when he leaves?
Sharon: What if he stays?
Ruby: Hopefully that’s the case and I get to keep them both.
Sharon: Claire might still follow him if he’s determined to go home.
Ruby: I suppose it’s more important for two people I care about to find love.
Sharon: That’s a girl! Onto good news! My sister Tooty is coming for a visit in a couple of weeks. She thought she could be the surprise entertainment for your next dating event.
Ruby: What? That’s fantastic! I can’t pay her what she’s used to getting paid though.
Sharon: You’re not going to pay her at all! She’s doing it for fun.
Ruby: I sure am glad you and that daughter of yours came into my life.
Sharon: The feeling is mutual. Claire’s whole demeanor has changed since coming here. I know it’s only been a short time, but she’s already more relaxed than she ever was in LA.
Ruby: The Willamette Valley Lodge is a magical place!
Sharon replies to Ruby’s last comment with a smiley face before picking up a pen and writing down some initial thoughts for a new song.
Claire
I feel like I’ve been a tightly wound ball of yarn that’s been thrown into a room full of feral kittens. In other words, I’m unraveling with a vengeance. Leaning against Geoffrey’s shoulder I confess, “I missed you while you were away.”
“I missed you too.” He readjusts so his arm is around my shoulders.
Snuggling into him, I ask, “Really?”
“Why do you think I came back so early?” Oh, I think he’s sniffing my neck. Nice.
“Tell me about your country,” I say, while his hand starts to brush through my hair, sending ripples of yearning to my core.
“It’s a small island with beautiful cobblestone streets; there are medieval buildings mixed in with more modern architecture; we have a gorgeous rocky coastline that looks like something you’d expect to see in Wuthering Heights.” He continues, “There are moors and wooded areas, cliffs and valleys. It’s the most beautiful countryside I’ve ever seen.”
“It sounds wonderful,” I tell him. “I’d love to see it some time.”
“Really?” he asks. “Maybe you can come with your mom and aunt the next time they sing for our king.”
“It must be weird living in a country with royalty,” I say, while wondering if Geoffrey would be glad to see me there.
“Malquar royalty isn’t quite the same as British royalty. Sure, there’s pomp and circumstance and all of that, but we don’t have paparazzi stalking our royal family or anything. They’re more figureheads of a time gone by.”
“I used to dream I’d grow up to be a princess,” I laugh. “Me and every other girl in the world, huh?”
“There are four princes in Malquar. Maybe one of them would make your dream come true.” I feel his hot breath on my cheek, and I want to curl into him forever.
“I don’t believe in fairy tales anymore,” I tell him sadly. “I think we have to make the most of the lives we’re given without expecting someone to wave a magic wand and bring our happy ending.”
“So that’s a no to running off with one of our Malquarian princes?” I know he’s teasing, but he sounds so serious.
“How ’bout I let you know once I meet one?” I joke back.
“Deal.” I want to kiss Geoffrey and I want to kiss him now. He may not be available for the long term, but at this moment, I’m pretty sure I don’t care. I’m a grown woman, and I can have some fun if I want to. The devil on my shoulder has taken over my inner dialogue and I welcome her insights wholeheartedly.
The angel on my other shoulder is wearing a gag and looks desperate for me to untie her so she can talk me out of what I want to do, which is to jump on Geoffrey’s lap and engage in a lip lock he won’t soon forget.
Should that lead to something else, so be it. I’m ready for a chan
ge. I’m ready to start enjoying men and not looking at them as potential heartbreakers. So long as I don’t let my heart get involved, I might be in for the experience of a lifetime.
I put my wine glass on the coffee table and turn so I’m facing Geoffrey. I’m so close I could lick him. I whisper, “Thank you for inviting me to dinner tonight.”
He jumps up so suddenly, I nearly fall into the empty space he leaves behind. “I’ll just go get the fondue from the kitchen.”
I grab his arm and pull him back down. “That can wait a few minutes.”
“I should get it now.” He tries to pull away.
What’s going on here? “Geoffrey,” I yank him down with enough force to dislocate something. “Sit.”
He perches on the very edge of the couch, so I stand up and hike my full skirt up slightly. Then I plant one foot firmly on either side of his legs. I push him back boldly and sit on his lap. “Wh … what are you doing?” He sounds panicky.
“I’m breaking my no kissing on the first date rule,” I tell him, while leaning my face close to his.
Geoffrey places his hands on my arms to hold me back. “That can wait until after dinner.”
“No, it can’t,” I practically purr. Then I press my lips to his and “oh my stars and stripes,” as Tooty would say. My insides start to bubble like some cauldron ready to explode with a magical spell.
Kissing Geoffrey is like coming home, but to a home so fabulous I could never have imagined it. Tingles of anticipation and raw lust start creeping up my spine. My whole body erupts into goosebumps of desire. I want this man like I’ve never wanted anything else in my life.
“Claire,” Geoffrey groans into my mouth before parting his lips. I love how he tastes, how he smells, how he kisses. I no longer know where I end and he begins. We’re just one big ball of radiance, and I have no self-control.
I give my devil full reign while she stands on my shoulder and yells, “Let’s do this thing!” I reach out, letting my fingers start to slip open the buttons of Geoffrey’s shirt. I get halfway done before sliding my hand inside to feel the hard warmth of him. Forget supper, I’ve just found my main course.
It's My Party: A Royal Romantic Comedy (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers Book 3) Page 18
