Rent a Millionaire Groom (6 page)

“Television ads?” Daisy asked as she plopped her big straw hat on her head. She hated to freckle.

Elise shrugged her shoulders. “Yes. Somehow we discussed ads on television. Anyway, we got along fine. And we ate at a very nice Italian restaurant. Your turn, Daisy.”

The other two stared at her.

Phoebe finally said, “Are we on a schedule?”

“Why, no, what do you mean?” Elise asked, keeping her eyes closed behind her sunshades.

“She means you ran through your description of the evening like a news reporter only allotted thirty seconds to tell her story,” Daisy said, sitting up on
her chaise longue. “Did something happen you’re not telling us?”

“What could happen? We were just getting to know each other. Conversation, that’s all,” she assured them. Her mouth was dry. Lying seemed to be hard work. Especially lying and not blushing.

“Hmm, okay,” Phoebe said reluctantly. “Your turn, Daisy.”

“Well, I can be even briefer than Elise. No way, José. Your turn, Phoebe.”

“Now, come on, Daisy, he’s a nice man,” Phoebe protested.

“Yes, he is, especially if you want to hear about the new X-ray machine he bought for his office. And how much his Mercedes cost him. Did I mention how many new clients he’s gotten this past year? Or where he spent his last vacation? Then there’s his Rolex. I even got to listen to it tick,” she assured them, pretending excitement.

Phoebe held up her hand. “Okay, enough said. Sorry.”

Daisy immediately looked contrite. “You tried, Phoebe. It’s not your fault it didn’t work out.”

“He wasn’t like that when I met him,” Phoebe assured her.

“I probably brought out the worst in him,” Daisy said with a sigh.

Knowing Daisy didn’t want any more questions, Elise said, “How about you, Phoebe? Did you eat with the Madisons?”

“I did. We had a great dinner. And talked about…” she paused, looking at them expectantly.

Together Elise and Daisy said, “Wyatt.”

Phoebe chuckled. “Right. I asked them why he didn’t visit them more, but they defended him, of course. Said he couldn’t get away right now. He was very busy, and very successful—perfect as usual.”

“Did you ask them what keeps him busy?” Daisy asked.

“I was going to, but then dear, sweet Rolland asked me how I did on that test I had in Chemistry, and I got distracted. Aren’t they the dearest people?”

Daisy and Elise exchanged a look. They’d talked before about how good the Madisons were for Phoebe. She didn’t have much of a relationship with her own mother, who didn’t live nearby. The Madisons kind of filled that role for their friend.

“Yes, they are,” Elise agreed. “And Helen is such a good cook.”

“Yes, she is,” Phoebe said, patting her flat stomach. “I don’t think I can eat all day long just to make up for last night.”

“I don’t see any problem, sweetcheeks,” Jeff Hawkin crooned in Phoebe’s ear, startling her. He stood and leaned on the long netted pole he used to clean debris from the pool.

“Oh, Jeff, I didn’t hear you come up,” she said with a gasp, putting her hand to her chest.

“I was quiet because I was admiring all the natural beauty around the pool,” he said, and bowed deeply in their direction.

“Dear Jeff,” Daisy said, fanning herself with her straw hat. “If only you were ten years older.”

“I keep telling you, Daisy, I’m old enough.”

Elise couldn’t keep a smile from her face. Jeff flirted outrageously with every woman in the com
plex, even Helen Madison who was old enough to be his great-grandmother.

Jeff turned to Elise. “And you, young lady, I heard you’ve been stepping out on me. Who’s this guy who’s coming around? I haven’t checked him out yet.

“Feel free to check now,” a deep, silky voice said from behind Elise.

Elise almost fell off her chaise longue. “James!” she shrieked. “What—what are you doing here?”

That left eyebrow went up. “Enjoying the view?” he suggested, grinning at all three ladies.

“You got that right, man,” Jeff agreed, returning James’s grin.

Elise reached for the cover-up she’d brought down. Which was ridiculous. Her one-piece suit was modest compared to most women’s. But with James staring at her, she felt naked.

Jeff stepped forward, his hand extended. “Jeff Hawkin, pool cleaner and handyman extraordinaire.”

“James Dillon,” James offered, shaking his hand.

“Pull up a seat and join us,” Jeff invited.

Elise felt like objecting. No one asked her about James staying, and he was her guest. At least she thought he was. Maybe she’d been right Wednesday night and he was attracted to one of her friends.

While she was thinking, he’d been accepting Jeff’s invitation. When his warm hand slid along her calf to shift her legs so he could sit on the end of the chaise longue, she jumped again.

“You don’t mind if I borrow this spot, do you, Elise?” he asked after he’d sat down.

“It would be a little late if I did,” she pointed out.

“Of course, she doesn’t,” Phoebe said. “Were you in the neighborhood, James, or do you live near here?”

“I live closer to the school,” he said.

It occurred to Elise that she’d never bothered to ask where he lived. He probably didn’t mind. Starving artists weren’t house proud, usually.

“This is a great pool,” James said, looking around.

“Yeah, it’s the best. It’s even heated in the winter months. The air temperature’s okay for swimming in winter, but sometimes pool water’s too cold to be comfortable. But not our pool,” Jeff boasted proudly. “Did you bring your trunks with you?”

“Why, no, I didn’t. I didn’t think about swimming. I just thought I’d see what Elise had planned for the day.” He turned to send Elise that warm, sexy smile of his, and all her objections to his unannounced visit dissolved.

“I’ve got a clean extra pair. Why don’t you borrow them? Maybe we can get up a game of volleyball. How about it, girls? Will you play?”

Jeff frequently acted like a social director on a cruise ship, but everyone enjoyed his antics. Elise nodded, as did Daisy and Phoebe.

“Are you sure we have enough people?” Phoebe asked.

“I’ll round up some more. Come on, James, I’ll show you where to change. Rest up, ladies, while
we’re gone. You’ll need your energy when we get back.”

James, for the first time, showed a hint of hesitation, and looked at Elise.

She nodded with a smile. It wasn’t an elaborate invitation, but his smile widened and he jumped up and followed Jeff.

“Well, that was interesting,” Phoebe said, watching the two men walk away.

“What do you mean?” Elise asked.

“You were with him last night and he’s already back for more. And you two communicate pretty well without words.”

Daisy nodded. “Yeah, you can kind of feel a tension in the air when they’re together. I noticed it Wednesday night.”

“Don’t be silly. You know I’m—” she broke off and looked around to be sure she wouldn’t be overheard “—paying him. You’re imagining things.”

Her friends looked at each other and nodded. But Elise was afraid they weren’t agreeing with her.

Phoebe said, “I hadn’t intended to do anything energetic, but after that meal last night, I suppose it would be a good idea. Helen had made a cheesecake with strawberry topping to die for.”

“Ooh,” Daisy said softly. “I love those homemade cheesecakes of hers.”

“Maybe if we dropped by this afternoon for a visit, she’d serve it,” Phoebe said. “And they can rave some more about Wyatt. You know they always love that.”

“Sounds like cupboard love to me,” Elise teased.

Daisy just nodded, but Phoebe protested, “You
know we all love them. They’re such wonderful people.” She paused, then said, “You know, did it ever occur to either of you that Wyatt might really
be
perfect? With grandparents like Rolland and Helen, it might be possible.”

Shifting to her side, Daisy looked at Phoebe. “But no one wants a perfect man. Maybe that’s why dear Wyatt hasn’t married. He’s too good to be true.”

“Doubtful,” Elise assured her friend. “But since the dentist was a washout, we’ve got to find someone else for you. Hey, have we asked Jeff if he knows anyone? The book says talk to neighbors.”

“I want someone old enough to stay out past ten o’clock. Jeff’s too young,” Daisy protested.

“But he may know someone older. After all, he bartends down at The Prickly Pear part time,” Phoebe pointed out.

“Just what I need. A barfly.”

“
We
hang out there, too,” Elise pointed out.

Daisy shrugged.

Before they could continue their conversation, Jeff and his recruits emerged from the building.

“Hey, he got Frannie, Bill and Rolland,” Daisy said, a speculative look in her eye. “I wonder how Frannie arranged that?”

“I don’t know, but good for her,” Elise said. Frannie Fitzgerald was a delightful neighbor, even if she dressed a little on the colorful side. And she loved anything with cats on it. Today, she wore a skirted suit, black with the outline of cats all over it.

Bill White was the building superintendent. He and Frannie were about the same age, and she had a
terrible crush on him, though she pretended she didn’t. He seemed to ignore her.

“Maybe we should loan her our book,” Daisy whispered.

“You think Frannie isn’t self-confident?” Phoebe asked with a laugh.

“I don’t know, but she hasn’t caught his interest yet.”

Elise wasn’t so sure. Bill was walking behind Frannie and Jeff, and she thought of James’s words about following her around. Bill’s gaze was on Frannie.

James was walking between Bill and Rolland Madison, seemingly involved in conversation with both men. Rolland was in his eighties, but in magnificent shape. He’d served in the Navy for many years and his posture still showed it.

“Have I got a deal for you!” Jeff assured them as he reached poolside. “I couldn’t talk Helen into joining us, but to make up for it, she said she’d have lunch ready for everyone when we finished.”

Phoebe cheered, but all four ladies, including Frannie, protested Helen doing all that work.

“Now, girls, you know she worries about you not eating properly,” Rolland said. “She’ll love it. She’d rather cook all day long than play volleyball in the pool.”

“Come on, James, help me put up the net,” Jeff called just before he stepped off the edge into the pool, splashing all of them. Though the water was warm, they all yelled, anyway, knowing Jeff expected some reaction.

James laughed and started to move to the pool, but
first he ducked down and kissed Elise. Startled, she had no time to react before he, too, jumped in.

Rolland looked at her. “Your young man seems very nice, Elise. Helen was delighted to meet him.”

“Oh, Rolland, he’s not—I mean, I just met him on Wednesday.”

Rolland stared into space. “Sometimes it doesn’t take long. You know Helen and I only knew each other a week before we got married, and it’s been sixty-eight glorious years.”

The couple loved to talk about their brief courtship, so they’d all heard the story, but it moved Elise to tears every time. “I know, but there aren’t all that many men around as wonderful as you, Rolland.”

He cocked an eyebrow, similar to James, and said, “Well, now, that could be true,” shooting them a grin that was too cute.

Phoebe stood and gave him a hug. “Helen had better keep her eye on you, young man.”

“Come on in, everyone,” Jeff called.

Frannie, who’d been surprisingly quiet since she’d arrived, asked, “How do we choose up teams?”

“James and I took care of that,” Jeff assured her. “You and Bill are going to be on his team with Elise. The rest of us will skunk you!”

“Okay, as long as I don’t get my hair wet. Remember, you promised.” She moved around the pool to the wide steps and practically tiptoed into the water.

Her hair, bright red, always made Elise think of Lucille Ball. Frannie had hers pinned up in an elaborate beehive style, as usual.

Daisy leaned toward Elise as they got up. “Do you think she believed Jeff when he promised that?”

“No,” Elise responded. “But she’d shave her head if it got Bill’s attention.”

They joined the others with grins on their faces.

Several hours later, Frannie’s hair wasn’t the only thing that was wet—so was everyone in the game as well as a number of observers around the pool. The game had been a rousing success. Elise had even grown comfortable around James in her swimsuit—until he touched her. When he spanned her waist with his big hands and lifted her above the net to spike the ball, she fell back into his arms and they both sank.

His lips found hers before she got back to the top of the water.

Jeff had protested his assist, but Elise was too dazed to answer. Bill, much to everyone’s surprise, pointed out it wasn’t forbidden in the rules. He even went so far as to lift Frannie to hit the next ball. She was so startled, the ball sailed past her out of the pool. Which, of course, was good for the other team.

Now, after having taken down the net, they were all lolling in the water, too tired to think of climbing out. Helen appeared, however, warning them that lunch would be ready in fifteen minutes.

The women all began scrambling for the side of the pool. Fifteen minutes wasn’t much time to recover from pool volleyball.

“Elise?”

She turned around to find James coming toward her. “Yes?”

“I’ll head on home. I didn’t mean to barge in.”

Rolland, just behind him, immediately protested. “Helen is counting on you joining us.”

“But Elise didn’t even know I was coming—”

“Please, James, stay and have lunch with us,” Elise asked. “Helen really would be offended if you left. You’ll love her.”

“If you’re sure,” he said again, giving her plenty of opportunity to send him away.

“I’m sure.”

“Me, too,” Rolland added.

Jeff splashed by. “Come on, James, I’ll race you to the shower. Man, you’ve got a wicked serve.”

And like two little boys, the men were racing across the sidewalk to Jeff’s apartment.

Rolland smiled at them. “Nice to see such good manners and boyish charm. Good combination. Reminds me of our Wyatt,” he said, nodding to Elise.

“Yes, I suppose it does,” she agreed with a smile.

So there were two perfect men. Who would have thought it?

J
AMES DECIDED
Helen should open her own restaurant. No New Age cuisine for her. She made great food that filled a man up. He wouldn’t dare tell MaryBelle what a great lunch he’d had.

It had to be good for a man: Rolland was living proof. In his eighties, and he looked and moved as well as Bill, who was no slouch himself, even though James figured he was around fifty.

James couldn’t remember when he’d had such an entertaining day. And on top of that, he’d gotten to spend it with Elise. He hadn’t been able to resist the urge to drop in on her to see what she was doing. It
worried him, his need to see her, but he decided it was curiosity and would fade after a while.

She’d slipped on a pale green wraparound dress, big white gardenias painted on the material. The tie that appeared to hold the dress together tempted him beyond belief. The only thing needed to make the day perfect was a big bed, Elise and him. Alone.

“James? You gone to sleep?” Bill asked.

“No! I was just thinking about—things,” James said.

Bill’s knowing grin told James he understood. James noted how his gaze traveled across the room to Frannie, who was helping the women clear the table. Maybe he understood for a good reason.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Jeff said, leaning toward James.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Helen loves to play Trivial Pursuit. We like to indulge her.”

“After eating a meal like that, Trivial Pursuit sounds perfect. As long as I don’t look too dumb. Do we have any ringers in here?”

“Frannie’s pretty good,” Bill said.

“We’ll probably need to play partners,” James said, grinning at Bill. “Just claim her now, and you’ll have the advantage.”

Bill turned beet red. “Oh, I couldn’t—”

“Sure you could,” Jeff urged. He stood up. “I’ll get the Trivial Pursuit, Helen. Phoebe, you want to read the questions?”

“Yes, please,” Phoebe called from the kitchen.

“Okay, we’re going to partner up. Daisy, you’ll be my partner,” Jeff said, organizing everything.
“Elise will be James’s, Rolland and Helen will be together, and Frannie and Bill.”

James had never thought of Trivial Pursuit as a sexy game, but he and Elise sat close together on the floor around the coffee table. Every time they had a question, he slid his arm around her and whispered in her ear.

Sometimes, if he was lucky, she’d turn to face him and he’d snatch a quick kiss. She protested, trying not to be obvious to the others who pretended not to watch them, but James shushed her. He told her she was holding up the game.

By the time the game ended several hours later, he was in such a constant state of arousal, it was becoming painful. He only hoped it wasn’t obvious to everyone.

Jeff, as if reluctant to have the afternoon end, suggested they all go to The Prickly Pear, since he was on duty that night. James was afraid he couldn’t bear much more togetherness with Elise without doing something about how much he wanted her.

“I think I’d better go, Jeff, but thanks for the invite. And for the day. It’s been a lot of fun.” He stood up and crossed to Helen. “Mrs. Madison, that was an incredible meal. Thank you so much for inviting me.”

“Anytime, James, dear. Elise’s friends are always welcome. And please, call me Helen.”

He thanked her again, calling her Helen. Then he shook Bill’s and Rolland’s hands, said goodbye to all the women. Elise was standing by the door, and he grabbed her hand and tugged her after him. “I need a word with Elise, but thanks again.”

He closed the door behind them.

“What did you need to say?”