His Reluctant Lover (7 page)

The waiter arrived with their meals and Georgette had to stifle her angry retort until the waiter left once more.  She picked up her fork and looked down at her salad, irritated that Blond Bimbo Brenda had her favorite and she was eating a salad filled with fatty chunks of meat, cheese and smelly green olives. 

Focusing on the argument instead of her meal, she looked directly at Dylan, refusing to back down.  “I’m not advocating eliminating all progress.  I understand the value of getting rid of old buildings that are dangerous, probably a haven for rodents, diseases and criminals.  What I’m simply suggesting is that you take a look at some of the homes, find out if any might be worth saving, and perhaps use a bit of creativity to save them.  Isn’t it better to save something worthwhile than to quickly tear it down and start something new?”

Dylan stabbed a perfectly grilled shrimp from his jambalaya.  “When the old is worth saving, yes.  I agree with you. But we can’t just hold off until all the options are examined.  It’s too expensive.”

She flicked some olive mush off of her lettuce.  “See?  That’s what I don’t agree with!  So many people simply ignore doing the hard work and preserving something worthwhile!  They just tear something down and move on with their lives.”

Brenda glanced nervously at Georgette.  “Those houses are a hazard, in most cases.”

Georgette sighed, shaking her head.  “Sometimes it is hard to preserve something, but it is definitely worthwhile.”

“Only in certain circumstances,” Dylan pointed out.

She looked back up at him.  “And you’re an expert at knowing what has value?” she retorted.  “Sounds to me like you’re more interested in tearing things down and putting up the new stuff.  New is more exciting initially, but when the cracks in the walls start to show, are you simply going to tear that house down as well?  It isn’t perfect any longer, so why save it?”

“I am definitely into creating a new environment.  Especially when the old has worn out its usefulness.”

She started to say something, but shut her mouth.  It was pointless with this man.  She thought of something else, opened her mouth to make her argument but then stopped herself. 

“No retort?” he challenged. 

She stabbed another bare lettuce leaf.  “I don’t argue with people who refuse to accept that someone else might have a valid point.”

He laughed softly, but accepted the change in subject.  Blond Bimbo Brenda was obviously confused about what was going on but trying to pretend that she understood while Charles stepped in and changed the conversation back to how his bank could help Dylan’s company in the upcoming project.  The three of them were once again off on numbers.  Georgette kept silent, refusing to even listen to the rest of the discussion. 

When the waiter arrived with the check, she breathed a sigh of relief, eager to get away.  Although she wasn’t really participating in the conversation, neither was Dylan.  In fact, he’d finished off his shrimp meal then sat back and proceeded to make her feel uncomfortable while the other two discussed whatever interest rates would be the best for the project.  Dylan stared across the table at her, his eyes looking at her as if she would be a better meal than his shrimp.  When he started rubbing his finger across his mouth, she almost stopped breathing.  It was somehow a sensual invitation and a daring challenge, all at the same time.  She felt her heart speed up, her body shivered and something strange happened down low in her belly.  The fierce look in Dylan’s eyes told her loud and clear that the discussion was not over between the two of them despite the fact that she’d stepped out of the argument. 

When there was a pause in the argument over indirect expenses and return on investments, she politely ended the meal.  “I’m sorry to be the fun sponge of this wonderful meal, but I have to get back to work,” she announced. 

Charles instantly looked contrite, suddenly realizing that he’d been ignoring her.  “Georgette, I’m so sorry, my dear.  I have been rude.”

She put a reassuring hand on Charles’ arm and shook her head.  “I am fine.  I really do need to get back to work though.”

She leaned forward and kissed him gently.  And after that kiss, if her eyes slid to Dylan’s, well, she was only politely saying goodbye to him.  It wasn’t like she was rubbing his nose in her relationship with Charles. 

After a polite, curt nod to Brenda, she walked out of the restaurant with as much dignity as her shaking knees would allow. 

When she stepped out into the heat, she looked around, trying to get her bearings.  Which was ridiculous since she had been coming to this restaurant for years and her boutique was right across the park, which wasn’t really a park but more like a large square with grass, trees and benches for tired or hot walkers to sit down under the shade trees and revel at the amazing humidity in New Orleans.  The square was surrounded by shops and restaurants on all sides and she occasionally stepped to the center of the square to look at her own shop, make sure that it still looked as lovely as she’d originally intended. 

She stopped today, more to center herself and get rid of the unwanted feelings that were zinging through her body.  She felt more alive for some reason.  Perhaps it was only because that man had gotten under her skin and she hadn’t had a good fight in a long, long time.  Not since Suzy Raballa had stolen her boyfriend during their sophomore year of high school had she acted so blatantly rude.  And it had felt good, both then and now.  She might not have scored any points against the horrible man’s rhinoceros hide, but at least she’d stood up for herself.  She didn’t even care that neither Brenda nor Charles had understood what she and Dylan were truly arguing about.  It wasn’t any of their business.

It wasn’t her business either.  Dylan Alfieri was not part of her past, present or future.  He was simply a man that she would endure for her grandfather’s sake during the occasional social event. 

She wasn’t going to…

Georgette had just started walking again when a strong hand wrapped around her upper arm, swinging her around until she slammed into a very hard, very large chest.  “What are you doing?” she demanded as she glared up at Dylan.  “Let go of…”

She wasn’t able to finish that command since his mouth covered hers, kissing her with more passion than she’d thought possible in one human being.  His kiss was so demanding, so sensuous and he wouldn’t relent until she was giving back to him everything he was doing to her.  Georgette wasn’t aware of her hands gripping his suit jacket or even that her body was now pressed against his.  The heat from the sun was gone from her consciousness since all she knew was this man and the way his hands were holding her, the way his tongue dove into her mouth, daring her to participate in the kiss. 

She hadn’t been able to openly challenge the man during lunch but she wasn’t going to give in to his intimidation now.  She kissed him back for all she was worth, giving as good as she was getting and she trembled when he deepened the kiss, almost bending her backwards. 

When he finally lifted his head, both of them were breathing hard.  His hands were still holding her against him and she couldn’t stop the trembling.  Nor could she force her hands to release the material in her fists.  They simply stared at each other, neither saying a word. 

A car honked in the distance and Georgette jerked back, her eyes slicing to the pedestrians on the sidewalk.  What had she done?  Why had she kissed this man?  She didn’t like him or anything that he stood for.  And Charles would be devastated if he heard about this incident.  How could she have done that to such a kind, gentle man? 

“I have to go,” she whispered and pulled out of his arms.  She couldn’t even look at him as she hurried away.  This was crazy, she thought as she walked into her boutique. 

“Any messages?” she asked automatically as she walked up to the stairs where she had her office.  She had to pause on the second step, her legs too shaky to take her further.  Leaning back against the white wall, she closed her eyes and tried to get her heart rate back down. 

“Nothing right now,” Dorothy replied as she came out of the back room, carrying some fabrics in her arms.  Dorothy was a very elegant lady with impeccable taste that was only superseded by her penchant for gossip.  Dorothy knew everything about everyone, most of it heard through the store.  So many of the brides and bridesmaids came to the boutique for fittings and, with wine and lots of laughter, the gossip came out during the fun sessions. 

“Who was that gorgeous guy that was walking across the park with you?” Dorothy asked. 

Georgette’s head snapped up and she looked nervously at her assistant.  “Man?  There was no man,” she came right back but Georgette could see the disbelief in Dorothy’s eyes.  And even worse, the denial had sparked Dorothy’s curiosity.  “Oh!” she came back, trying to diffuse the issue.  “That was probably Dylan Alfieri.  Charles invited him to join us for lunch along with this…woman,” she finished off lamely.  “They’re quite nice.  He’s starting a big renovation project down by the river.  All those abandoned warehouses will go away to be replaced by homes.”

Dorothy’s confusion dissipated and her eyes brightened with a smile.  “That sounds like a great idea.  I’ve always wondered why someone hasn’t come in and gotten rid of all those empty buildings.  They’re just rusting away.  Why didn’t someone tear down all those buildings before now?”

Georgette was still too flustered by that kiss, and the way she’d reacted to it, to want to hear acclaim for Dylan’s plan.  “I’m not sure.  I guess the city was waiting for someone who had enough money.”

“Oooh!  Gorgeous and rich!  Is he single?”

Georgette cringed.  “He was with a very beautiful blond at lunch,” she replied, hating the idea.  It suddenly occurred to her that he’d left the restaurant, left his lunch date, and came out to kiss her!  What kind of scum does that? 

Of course, Dylan and Brenda hadn’t really acted like they were dating.  Georgette gave up on going to her office on the second level since her legs were still shaking too badly.  She was pretending to sift through orders but her mind couldn’t focus on anything in front of her.  Georgette just wanted the trembling to stop and her concentration to come back to her.  This was ridiculous!  The man only kissed her. 

But good grief!  What a kiss!  She could still taste his lips, feel the texture of his mouth, his tongue.  He really was a good kisser, she thought.  It wasn’t bad to admit that he was good at kissing, was it?  She could give him that much and still not like him, not respect him, couldn’t she? 

She sighed and sat down on one of the plush stools behind the counter.  Maybe she should just call her grandfather and tell him that she refused to see Dylan.  Her grandfather would understand, wouldn’t he? 

She glanced at her watch and cringed.  She’d have to get him away from his “golf” game, she thought.  How could he still be playing “golf” at his age?  Of course, “golf” was only his excuse to go visit his mistress.  She’d discovered that little secret one day by accident.  When she’d confronted him about his faithlessness, angry that he was hurting her grandmother, he chuckled and said that he and her grandmother had an understanding. 

What that was, she didn’t even want to contemplate.  She hadn’t spoken to him for a week after that discovery.  But during that time, she’d rationalized that she couldn’t be angry with him when her grandmother wasn’t angry.  She didn’t have to like it though.  Nor did she have to agree with the arrangement. 

But nor would she ever trust a man either!  Her father had left soon after she was born.  Apparently, he’d never really been in love with Georgette’s mother, an admission her mother had finally explained.  But that admission had come only after Georgette had begged, pleaded and nagged for details about her father for months. 

So her father wasn’t interested in sticking around.  He’d apparently found another woman more interesting and her grandfather had an extramarital affair, one that was ongoing and weekly.  Was it any wonder Georgette stuck with Charles?  He was kind and generous.  Safe. 

“Are you okay, Georgette?” Dorothy asked.

Georgette jerked slightly, looking up at Dorothy.  “Yes.  Of course.  Why do you ask?”

Dorothy looked across the counter at her friend and boss, not sure what was going on.  “Because I’ve been talking about the latest orders and requests and you’ve barely even said a word.”

Georgette shook her head.  “I’m sorry.  I was distracted by…”

She was about to come up with an excuse, but the phone shrilled, relieving her of the need to think up a viable lie.  “I’ll get it,” she said and lifted the phone.  “Wedding Designs,” she greeted the caller. 

“Georgette!  You never answer the phone over there!”

Georgette wasn’t sure who this was.  “Linda?”  Linda owned one of the shops further down the street and they met for lunch at least once a week.  They’d been friends since high school and knew everything about each other.  Including the fact that Linda’s husband had confessed to seeing a prostitute several years ago, a confession that had rocked Linda’s world and left her crying for a week.  They’d worked it out through counseling and penicillin but it had been a difficult time for her friend. 

“Yes!  Tell me it’s true,” Linda gushed with a conspiratorial laugh. 

Georgette had no idea what her friend was talking about but she went along with it.  “Okay, it’s true.”

“I knew it!  You did kiss him!”