Her Best Match: A Romantic Comedy (The Best Girls Book 1) (26 page)

“You cooked dinner?” Her heart gave a leap of joy at his presence, despite all her self-warnings.

Gram answered. “Steven is a fantastic chef. And we don’t keep a cook on staff since I’m seldom here anymore.”

“What’s for dinner?” asked Charlie.

Gherring smiled. “The first course is lobster bisque.” He set the soup down and headed back to the kitchen.

“You’re not eating with us?” asked Anne. She kicked herself for sounding so eager.

“I’ll be back in second. I just need to turn the burner down to simmer.”

When the kitchen door closed behind him, Anne turned to Gram. “When are we going to work on our plan? I didn’t know Mr. Gherring would be here.”

“Steven made me promise not to attempt to set him up with a woman, so I’ll keep my promise. However, I didn’t promise not to help
you
, so I’ll be your secret consultant—” Gram’s voice dropped abruptly.

“How’s the soup?” Steven strode back into the dining room.

“I love lobster bisque—it’s my all-time favorite soup. And this is the best ever. What’s the secret?” asked Emily.

“A little dry sherry,” he replied. “It’s also got Worcestershire and Tabasco. I can give you the recipe.”

“Emily loves to cook,” said Anne.

“Tell me about yourself, Emily. What do you do?” Gram asked.

“Well I have a Masters degree in Accounting and I’ve already passed my CPA exam. I just need to work another four months and I’ll be certified.”

Charlie said, “Yep, the family genius.”

“Maybe I was just the one who actually put forth a little effort in school. Don’t let Charlie fool you, Gram. She’s just as smart as I am. But she never saw the value in studying.”

“New subject… How did you learn to cook?” Charlie asked.

“It was that or starve to death,” he laughed. “I guess I could eat out or order in every night. But cooking is a lot more challenging and a lot more satisfying. Although it’s not a lot of fun to cook for one person.”

Gram cleared her throat. “Yes, it would certainly be nice if you had someone to cook for.”

Gherring glared. “Gram, we’ve talked about this.”

“I meant, of course, you could stay out here with me.”

“Sure Gram, except you’re usually four hours away from here.”

“You could cook for Anne.”

Anne felt the heat radiating from her skin. Perhaps she could melt under the table, and no one would notice. The room was deathly silent.

Gram continued, “You do live downstairs from Steven, don’t you Anne?”

“Yes, but Mr. Gherring has to deal with me all day, Gram. In the evening I’m sure he needs a break.” She turned a hard stare at Gram. “Besides, if he was with me all the time, when would he have time to
date
?”

“You’re quite right, dear. That would be bad. He does need time to date. However will he ever find a wife if he doesn’t date anyone?”

“Gram! That’s quite enough of talking about me as if I’m not sitting here at the table. We’ve already had this discussion, and you promised—”

“I did promise not attempt to set you up. But I didn’t promise not to nag you about it. There’s only one way to get me to stop nagging you. Get married.” She paused to pat her lips with her napkin. “Or I guess you can keep waiting for me to die…”

“Yes I know, Gram. You’re not going to die before I get married. Can we change the subject?” He looked at Charlie and Emily. “You see what I have to put up with?”

Charlie laughed, but Emily said, “I’d say you’re pretty lucky to have someone who loves you that much.”

“How can you take her side after that great dinner I bought you last night?” Gherring pretended outrage.

“I’d be more worried about the dinner tonight, Emily. He could spit in your food,” said Charlie.

Giggles broke out all around and the mood was lifted again.

Gherring served a main course of almond crusted salmon with garlic-mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. Dessert was chocolate mousse.

“I’ve died and gone to heaven! This meal was even better than last night’s,” said Charlie.

Gherring beamed at the praise. But Anne had been quiet throughout dinner, trying to settle her thoughts.

“Did you like the meal?” he asked her.

“It was amazing.” Her answer was sincere, but she couldn’t make eye contact.

“I have a little surprise for Charlie.” Gherring stood, walking toward the door.

“What? Is it a present? What is it?” Charlie leaped to follow him.

“No, it’s not a present. It’s an experience. Come see.”

Gherring led the group outside to the garage and opened the door. Inside was a white Maserati MC12. Charlie squealed at the sight.

“I thought you might want to go for a ride.”

“Okay, she can go first, but I want a ride too,” said Emily.

Anne watched as Charlie climbed into the passenger’s seat.

“Now you won’t go over the speed limit, will you?” Anne asked in her best worried-mom voice.

“Of course not. Although I’m fairly certain Maserati’s have a different speed limit than the rest of the cars out there.” He chuckled as he started the engine and spun the tires in the driveway before racing to the road.

“I can’t believe he’s got a Maserati,” said Emily. “This is the best weekend ever. None of our friends will believe it. We’ve got to get pictures. I wish we didn’t have to go home tomorrow.”

“I’m going to miss you so much.” Anne gave Emily a hug.

“Why don’t you girls come back here for Thanksgiving? I’d love to have you.”

“We’ve got to take care of Grandpa at Thanksgiving, because Mom’s going to be in Paris.”

“Paris! Why are you going to Paris?”

“She’s going to Paris with this French guy named Henri who’s really crazy about her.”

“Henri? Henri DuBois?”

“You know him?” asked Anne.

“I know him. And he’s not good enough for you.”

“Gram,” said Anne, “he’s not as bad as you think.”

Gram’s expression was disapproving, and Anne’s heart fell.

“Please don’t be mad at me, Gram. He’s been really sweet to me and to the girls.”

“I know what he was like before. I can’t believe he’s changed that much.”

“Even Steven found out some of the stuff he thought about Henri wasn’t true at all.”

“Humph! Well I don’t like him.”

“It’s not like I’m planning to marry him, Gram. I’m just going to visit him.”

“Humph!” They stood in uncomfortable silence until Gherring returned to trade passengers. Charlie climbed out of the driver’s seat.

“He let you drive it?” asked Emily.

“I made the mistake of saying I would let her drive it if she knew how to drive a manual,” Gherring chuckled. “Who knew she’d actually know how?”

“And I was pretty good, wasn’t I?”

“I have to admit, you surprised the h—, the heck out of me.” Gherring looked to see if Gram had noticed his near slip.

Instead of fussing about his language, she said, “I can’t believe you let Anne associate with the likes of Henri DuBois.”

Gherring started laughing. “Now you see what it’s like to be on the receiving end of Gram’s disapproval. Perhaps you’ll be more sympathetic in the future.”

“I suppose you drive a manual as well?” he asked Emily.

“Of course I do, but I’d rather just enjoy the ride.”

“I think every girl should know how to drive a stick shift. All three of us drive a manual car at home,” said Anne.

Gherring shook his head. “You never cease to surprise me.”

When the Maserati disappeared again, Anne turned to Gram.

“Please Gram, don’t tell Mr. Gherring about Paris. He doesn’t know.”

“If you think Henri is so great, why don’t you want Steven to know about Paris?”

“Because he doesn’t like Henri either, and it just upsets him. But Gram, Henri was a perfect gentleman. He acted like he had a huge crush on me and said a lot of things that made me feel… I don’t know… attractive again. He made me feel special and beautiful. And when he calls me, I feel like I’m really important to him. I’ve just missed that, I guess. And he opened up to me and told me some things about how he’s been hurt—”

“That’s the real thing, Gram,” Charlie butted in. “Mom can’t stand to see anyone hurting. She just melts.”

She gave her mom a hug. “But I love you for it.”

“Humph! All right, I won’t tell him. But I think you can do better than Henri DuBois.”

“He’s pretty handsome though—you have to admit that much.”

“Handsome is as handsome does,” said Gram.

“Anyway, I’m not looking for a new husband. I’m happy like I am. I’ve had one great love in my life, just like you. Right, Gram?”

This time Gram didn’t respond.

When Emily and Gherring came back, Charlie pulled out her phone and took pictures of them with and in the Maserati. He asked Anne, “Did you want a ride as well?”

“No, that’s okay—”

“Come on, Mom. It’s amazing,” said Charlie.

Emily said, “Mom, if you don’t try it, you’ll never know what it feels like. You’ll probably kick yourself for wasting the chance.”

He was already climbing in the driver’s seat.

“I guess I’m going.”

Charlie leaned in the car and took a picture of Anne and Gherring inside together.

“Ready?” asked Gherring. Before Anne could answer, he stepped on the gas and sped out of the driveway. Anne couldn’t help a little squeak that came out of her mouth as she felt her back pressed into the seat. Gherring drove a short distance to a turn off on a deserted road that wound around through the hills. As he steered the car skillfully through the twists and turns, Anne found herself with a broad smile plastered on her face. And she couldn’t stop smiling. Watching him control the powerful car, she thought of how strong he was. He handled driving as he did everything else in his life—with expert efficiency and absolute control. It made his masculine appeal even stronger.

Just for a moment she allowed herself to imagine what it would feel like to kiss Steven Gherring. Would he be soft and gentle, sweet and romantic? Or would he be strong and powerful, taking what belonged to him? Or maybe he would be subtle and teasing, drawing out her fervor until she surrendered her lips to be plundered?

“You look like you’re really enjoying this,” Gherring commented. Anne felt the blood rising in her cheeks and thanked God the light was dim. He’d caught her enjoying a bit more than a ride in a fast, powerful sports car.

“It’s… It’s indescribable.”

“Did you want to drive?”

“No, I like watching you. Uhmm, I mean, I just like watching you drive. I don’t need to drive.” She blushed even deeper. Thank goodness he couldn’t tell. “So does this thing really ‘do one-eighty-five’, like the song says?”

He smiled. “I’ve had her up to one-eighty, and I think she’d do two hundred on a straight course.”

“She?” Anne asked. “What’s her name?”

“Gayle.”

“Really? Why Gayle?”

“That was the name of my first true love—in fourth grade.” He laughed. “Even now, in my memories, she’s beautiful beyond imagination.”

Anne grew quiet again. “I can’t thank you enough. You’ve been amazingly generous this weekend.”

“You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.” His eyes cut her direction. “I wanted this to be a special time for all three of you.”

“It was, thanks mostly to you. You didn’t go out and buy a Maserati just so Charlie could ride in one, did you?”

He laughed. “No that one was a lucky coincidence.”

“Still, it was very nice, and the girls really like you.”

“And do they, like their mother, freely bestow love and affection on everyone they meet?”

“What? I don’t—”

“Really? You’re going to deny this?”

“Well, I don’t bestow on
everyone
—just
most
everyone.”

“Name one person you’ve met in New York you haven’t loved.”

Anne thought for a moment. “Jeff Murphy!” She lifted her chin high.

Gherring chuckled. “Okay, but you were even nice to him at first. The original question was about your girls, though.”

“Okay, the girls… Charlie bestows love pretty freely. But if you make her mad—watch out—she’ll never forget. Emily is very careful and not very trusting.”

Gherring nodded as if he was not surprised. “Well, they’re lovely girls. I’d be very proud if they were my daughters.”

He drove the sports car back into the garage. Gram and the girls had returned into the house, out of the chill air.

“This was really nice,” he said. His voice was husky as he leaned toward her. “I really enjoy making you smile.” His blue eyes were hooded as he reached his left hand out to brush against her cheek. Anne closed her eyes and held her breath while her insides quaked. Then his fingers slid gently down her neck, leaving a sizzling trail in their wake. He moved has hand slowly along her sweater-clad arm. Then she heard a click as he released her seat belt.