Part 18 (1/2)
He paused, glanced at the clock.
Breakfast could wait a little longer.
Chapter Twelve.
F riday night, Joy looked up from the hostess stand and froze.
Gray Bennett towered over her, a smile on his s.e.xy-as-h.e.l.l face. He was dressed in white linen pants, a navy blue blazer and an open necked s.h.i.+rt. He was tanned, his hair was a little on the long side, and he looked better than any man had a right to.”h.e.l.lo, Joy.”
She cleared her throat, not willing to take a gamble on her voice. ”Good evening.”
”How are you?”
She smiled, feeling a glow come over her like a heat lamp had been turned on above her head.
”Really well.” Now that he was here.
”This place is packed.” He glanced out across the tables. ”I didn't know you had to make reservations.”
She blurted immediately, ”I can make an exception for you.”
As well as making a fool out of myself, she thought. G.o.d, the eagerness in her voice made her want to wince.
He just smiled. ”If you wouldn't mind?”
”Not at all.” But she prayed he didn't have ten people with him. ”How many?”
”Just my father and I.”
Joy glanced to the door and saw Mr. Bennett talking to the mayor and his wife. Gray's father had had a stroke over the winter and was still recuperating, leaning heavily on a cane.
”I'll put you on the lake side. Come right this way.”
She could feel him moving behind her and saw some of the other diners look up and whisper. Gray Bennett was something of a local celebrity, considering all of his political power and connections. It wasn't often that someone who hobn.o.bbed with world leaders floated through town.
Although she knew the women would have stared if he'd been no more than a garage mechanic. That masculine air of his was an aphrodisiac like none other, capable of putting oysters in the shade.
”Would you like something to drink?” she asked as he sat down.
”A bourbon would be great.”
”I'm sorry, we only have wine.”
”Then a gla.s.s of something white is fine. And one for my father, too. a.s.suming he eventually ends his conversation with the mayor.” He smiled up at her and opened his menu.
On the way to the kitchen, Joy checked her watch. If everything went well, he'd be in their dining room for over an hour. Longer if he ordered dessert.
Sweet heaven, he was too handsome to look at.
As she poured two gla.s.ses of wine, she practiced the list of specials in her head, hoping she could come across smooth and in control. Like him.
She was heading for the double doors with a tray when Frankie called out, ”Joy! We've got a problem.”
Joy paused, looking through the round gla.s.s portals at Gray's table. He was helping his father sit in a chair.
”Joy!” Frankie's voice was sharp.
”What?”
”Grand-Em is back in the Lincoln Bedroom. Mr. Thornd.y.k.e just called. Can you go calm her down and get her into her own room?”
Joy squeezed her eyes shut. Not tonight. Not with Gray here.
”Pickup!” Nate called out.
”Joy?” Frankie said, coming over urgently and taking the tray from her hands. ”I'll take these drinks out. Where to?”
”Table twelve,” she replied.
Frankie shot over to Nate, put the two entrees he'd just plated on the tray next to the gla.s.ses and pirouetted out into the dining room.
A moment later Joy followed, on her way to the Lincoln Bedroom. As she pa.s.sed by Gray's table, she heard Frankie telling him and his father about the specials.
She was out in the hallway before she had to look back. Gray was laughing at something Frankie had said, a big, wide smile on his face, his eyes creasing at the corners.
And then suddenly, he looked at her. He actually looked right through the crowded room, directly at her. His smile lost some of its breadth and those stunning, shrewd eyes narrowed on her face. Joy stopped breathing.
As far as she was concerned, the whole world stopped moving.
But then Frankie looked over with a frown, as if she'd caught Gray's change in mood and was curious what the cause was.
Joy hurried away.
Holy Moses, what was that, she thought.
She took the stairs two at a time even though her legs were about as stable as her heartbeat.
Maybe he'd caught her staring and all her stupid fantasies had shown on her face.
Oh, G.o.d. The idea that he knew about her silly infatuation was enough to make her nauseous. Sure, in her daydreams he greeted the news flash with happiness. But in real life, she couldn't believe a man like him would feel anything other than pity for her.
When she got up to the landing, she saw the Thornd.y.k.es in the doorway of their room, looking worried.
”I'm so sorry about this,” she said, stepping past them.
Her grandmother was on the floor, poking at the wall with a screwdriver.