Part 5 (1/2)
”I'm fine, thanks,” Jamie told her, eyes twinkling.
”Audrey's a licensed ma.s.seuse,” Tewanda said, much to Audrey's annoyance. Still a bit shaken, she resisted the urge to pinch her friend.
Audrey summoned a tight smile. ”True, however we have a regular ma.s.seuse on staff. Part of the luxury of an expanding clientele.” She managed a chuckle.
”So you don't have to be so hands-on, hands-on, then,” Jamie said, obviously enjoying her discomfort. then,” Jamie said, obviously enjoying her discomfort.
”Right.”
”But since Jamie here is a special special guest of the Colonel and you're supposed to be taking care of him personally, surely you wouldn't mind working out a few of his kinks, right, Audrey?” guest of the Colonel and you're supposed to be taking care of him personally, surely you wouldn't mind working out a few of his kinks, right, Audrey?”
Did Maine have the death penalty? Audrey wondered, sending her friend a murderously sweet smile. ”Not at all,” she said in what she knew was far from a normal voice.
Looking entirely too pleased with herself, Tewanda leaned forward as though she was about to impart a kernel of significant advice. ”In fact, I can't think of a better way to start your Unwind experience than with a relaxing ma.s.sage.” She bobbed her head in a brisk nod. ”I have one every week.”
Jamie's eyes twinkled with humor. ”Really?”
”Oh, yes.” She preened. ”It does wonders for my complexion.”
”I've never had one. At least from a professional, that is,” he amended.
And on that singularly disturbing note, Audrey cleared her throat. ”You know what I think is the best way to start your Unwind experience?” she asked Jamie. ”With a nice session of water colors down by the lake. My grandfather says you're quite the artist.”
A soft chuckle erupted from his throat. ”Really? I didn't realize he was a fan of my work. I'll have to paint something special special for him.” for him.”
Actually, her grandfather had said no such thing and she fully suspected that Jamie hadn't painted any sort of picture, much less a watercolor, since primary school. Playing along, was he? Now that was interesting. And it would be fun, considering her grandfather had already explained his bizarre preferences and hobby choices for Jamie. With the exception of the whiskey and beer, the preferences preferences had been jokes. As for the hobby choices, her grandfather had chosen them so that Jamie could learn certain virtues. Like patience. had been jokes. As for the hobby choices, her grandfather had chosen them so that Jamie could learn certain virtues. Like patience.
Audrey grinned. ”Oh, good. We can have it framed in town and s.h.i.+p it to him before you leave.”
His eyes glinted with knowing humor. ”Excellent.”
Marginally relaxing, Audrey rocked back a little on her heels.
”But I'll still want that ma.s.sage.”
And every muscle atrophied again, particularly the ones in her face which controlled her smile. ”Of course,” she said because she couldn't think of any other response. Dissembling while visions of her hands on his warm, naked skin, kneading those impressive muscles was completely beyond her. Audrey released a silent quivering sigh.
Time to go home, she decided. ”Well, if you don't have any more questions, I think I'm going to call it an evening.”
”I'll go with you,” Tewanda said. She did an admirable job of looking concerned. ”I don't like you walking up that hill all alone.”
Honestly, this was over the top, even for Tewanda. Exasperated, Audrey shook her head. ”I have walked up that hill alone every night of every season since we opened, Tewanda,” she told her through partially gritted teeth. ”I think I can manage.”
”That may be true but-”
”Tewanda.”
”I'll walk you home,” Jamie offered, playing right into her maniacal matchmaking friend's hands.
”Really,” Audrey insisted. ”It isn't necessary.”
”But it'll relax me,” he said with a half-smile that made her belly do an odd little jump.
Oh, well...how nice for him. She wished she could say the same for herself.
”BE SURE TO GIVE MY REGARDS to the Colonel,” Jamie leaned in and whispered to Tewanda before following a somewhat irate Audrey out of the room. to the Colonel,” Jamie leaned in and whispered to Tewanda before following a somewhat irate Audrey out of the room.
”Sure thing, Ace,” Tewanda told him. She grinned and twinkled her fingers at him as he walked away. She was clearly enjoying herself, Jamie thought, fighting a chuckle. No doubt she'd received her instructions from the Colonel as well and was taking her role as matchmaker quite seriously.
While it was easy to laugh at her machinations, Jamie knew better than to discount them. As Audrey's right-hand man, so to speak, and clearly a good friend, she was better positioned than anybody to know what was happening with Audrey. If she was trying this hard to make sure that Audrey didn't marry Derrick, she had to have good reason.
Which made the Colonel sending him in as he had all the more understandable.
Sure, Jamie didn't like it, and no doubt being with her without being with her being with her was going to be sheer h.e.l.l, but she had two very discerning people covertly interfering on her behalf-three, if he counted himself, which, for reasons he didn't understand, he wasn't prepared to do just yet-and that told him enough about what he was doing to make him feel marginally better about his role in the deception. was going to be sheer h.e.l.l, but she had two very discerning people covertly interfering on her behalf-three, if he counted himself, which, for reasons he didn't understand, he wasn't prepared to do just yet-and that told him enough about what he was doing to make him feel marginally better about his role in the deception.
Besides, he didn't have any choice. He'd owed Garrett.
Jamie opened the door for her, ushering Audrey out into the cool autumn air. Dusk had come and gone, bringing darkness and a spattering of bright stars. Fluffy clouds glowed in the moonlight and drifted lazily across the deep navy sky.
”She's a piece of work, isn't she?” Jamie remarked lightly as they descended the steps onto the walk.
Audrey chuckled, the sound soft, soothing and feminine against his ears. ”Tewanda? That's one way of describing her.” She crossed her arms over her chest, huddling further into her jacket. ”I'm thinking 'fired' would be another.”
Jamie laughed. ”Surely not?”
”Nah,” she relented. ”I couldn't do what I do without her. She's invaluable-and insufferable. That's part of her charm.”
”Look at it this way,” Jamie told her. ”I bet you never have to wonder what she thinks.”
She shot him a pointedly wry look. ”Much like my grandfather.”
Jamie tilted his head back as another laugh rumbled up his throat. ”I definitely wouldn't argue with that a.s.sessment.”
”He strong-armed you into coming here, didn't he?”
That was one way of putting it, Jamie thought. ”In a manner of speaking.”
”In a manner of speaking? He filled out all of your paperwork, sent your itinerary and told you when to be here.”
”What tipped you off?” Jamie teased. ”The book on erectile dysfunction, the bottle of Metamucil or the package of adult diapers in the bathroom?”
”What?” she deadpanned with wide-eyed innocence. ”You mean you aren't an impotent, incontinent bed wetter?”
Smiling, Jamie ducked his head toward his chest and shoved his hands into his front pockets. ”Er...that would be a big fat negative.”
”I asked him about all of that. He was only joking with those things, you know,” she said. ”Wanted to prep you to relax with a good laugh.”