Part 7 (2/2)
At the thought, her belly quivered. Tonight, indeed.
The rest of the day pa.s.sed in a daze for Alex. He placed three incorrect orders for produce before Emma finally took over. Ordering him out of the kitchen, she grabbed the order book from his hands and shook her head.
”Boss, go put your flowers in a vase before they wilt,” she ordered. ”Better yet, go home and take a cold shower.”
Only a niece who was practically like a younger sister could get away with telling him what to do. Alex didn't care. Sarah had brought him flowers. n.o.body had ever brought him flowers, and though he knew his buddies would make unrepentant fun of him if they found out, it would mostly be out of jealousy. n.o.body had ever brought them flowers either.
”You're in a good mood.” Jennifer paused to stuff a handful of menus into a drawer. Now that lunch was over, The Foxfire would be fairly quiet for a few hours until dinner. She and Alex had often spent the time talking.
Not today, though. Visions of dark curls and blue-ice eyes were filling Alex's mind. Visions of Sarah.
”I'm in a great mood.” Alex punched the air.
Jennifer smiled flirtatiously. ”How come?”
”No reason.”
She must have caught the unspoken answer in his voice. She frowned, an expression that didn't flatter her. As if realizing that, she made an obvious effort to smooth the lines of her face into a smile.
”Well, if you're in a good mood, so am I,” she cooed.
”Good. Then you won't mind working the dinner s.h.i.+ft tonight. I've got to get home early. I've got a date tonight.”
It was a good thing he'd been out of range of her nails. He pushed through The Foxfire front doors. Otherwise, Jennifer might have given him a pretty bad scratch. He laughed about it on the way home, but realized how much had changed in the past few days. Even as short as a few months ago, he'd have returned Jen's flirting without thinking twice. They'd never dated, though she and Wendi had sometimes ended up at the same local watering holes he'd used to frequent regularly. It hadn't been hard to see that the hostess and the waitress would have gladly gone home with him, but he'd never taken it that far.
And now, he never would. He laughed again as he pulled into the driveway. She brought me flowers.
Investing in Rivka Delaney's art was the best decision he'd ever made. The afternoon took forever to drag by, but at last it was time to head over to The Gallery on Second. Parking his hunter-green Chevy Tahoe in the back lot, Alex let himself into the gallery with the key Rivka had given him. The lights were dim, but he heard voices from the back.
”Alex!” Rivka rose and kissed his cheek. Mick and Martin stood and shook his hand. Alex turned to Sarah, who smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
”Not in front of my sister,” she murmured into his ear. ”She doesn't know.”
”We were talking about the opening night party.” If Rivka had guessed anything about her sister and Alex, she didn't let it show. ”I want it to be the best party this town has seen in a long time!”
”She wants to make it a costume party.” Sarah raised one eyebrow. ”Sort of a masque.”
”Sarai's not thrilled, as you can tell.” Rivka nudged her husband. ”But we love it, don't we, Mickey?”
”You love it because you want to dress like a sheik and a harem girl.” Sarah rolled her eyes.
Rivka rolled eyes shaded in spangled eyeshadow. ”So? What's so bad about that?”
Martin cleared his throat and cut off Sarah's response. ”A costume ball would certainly attract the right people. The mayor always attends the Art Council's annual masquerade.”
”So, a masque it is!” Rivka clapped her hands and shot her sister a triumphant look. ”Alex, what do you think? It's mostly your money after all.”
”If it's what you want, Rivka, go for it,” Alex replied gallantly. ”You're the artist.”
”See?” Rivka stuck her tongue out at Sarah. ”Alex likes my idea.”
Sarah raised her hands helplessly. ”All right, you win. But I'm choosing my own costume.”
The last time Sarah had gone to a costume party, Rivka had insisted on costuming her. Sarah had spent the entire night in the bathroom, scrubbing off the silver paint that was giving her hives. A lovely water nymph she had been ... not.
”Fine ... whatever.” Rivka waved her hand airily. Her bracelets jangled. ”Come as Gumby for all I care.”
Alex wouldn't mind seeing Sarah in a harem girl costume. As if she could read his thoughts, Sarah caught his glance and smiled. The smile lit up her eyes and suddenly had him wanting to bend her over the table and make love to her right there.
”I wanted me and the boyo's to be providing the music,” Mick said. ”But my Rivka says she can't have me away from her side.”
Rivka shook her head. ”I'll be too nervous. We'll have a DJ. I need you with me, Mickey.”
Martin smoothed graying hair. ”I've already made arrangements for the paintings to be hung. We'll have all of Rivka's originals here, even some which have been purchased. The owners have agreed to lend them for the night. Of course, we'll also be offering all her prints for sale. We're going to have a drawing to win one of her latest portraits, too.”
”It's going to be fantastic!” Rivka let out a little scream. ”I'm so excited!”
Sarah laughed at her sister's antics, but didn't resist when Rivka leaned over the table and gave her a hug. Watching them, Alex noted how much they looked alike.
”The Foxfire is going to do the food, right?” Rivka turned to Alex.
”Sure.”
”Can you and Sarah take care of that? I think you two will work great together.”
If only she knew. ”I think we can manage that. Sarah?”
Sarah bit back a smile. ”Oh, I'm sure we can come up with a lot of interesting ideas.”
Rivka looked back and forth between the two of them as if she sensed an undertone to their conversation but didn't know what it was. ”Great. I'll leave you to it then. Don't worry, Sarai. It won't be hard.”
Sarah seemed to be stifling a giggle. ”That would be too bad.”
Rivka peered at her sister. ”If I didn't know you better, Sarai, I'd say you were making a dirty innuendo.”
Sarah returned her sister's look with exaggerated innocence. ”Me?”
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