Authors: Cheyenne McCray
The woman shrugged. “Just killing time before I head back to the hotel. I didn’t have anything in particular in mind.”
“I take it you aren’t in the mood to search for homes today.” Ricki handed the purse and clip to the clerk.
Deena shook her head. “There’s something about looking for a place alone that’s not as much fun as looking with a friend.”
“Kind of like dress shopping.” Ricki smiled. “I tell you what. You helped me. I’ll be glad to show you around town and at least help you find a neighborhood you like.”
Deena visibly brightened. “I’d love that.”
“I take Sundays off.” Ricki handed the sales clerk her Visa card. “Does the morning work for you?”
“Perfect.” Deena looked delighted.
“I can pick you up at your hotel,” Ricki said as they walked out the door of the dress shop, Ricki carrying the dress bag over one arm, the shopping bag in her opposite hand. “How’s ten-thirty in the morning?”
“Sounds great,” Deena said.
“I’d better get home and shower before my date.” Ricki sighed. “Hopefully it’s someone worth wearing this dress for.”
“If not, I’ll take you out to dinner and you can wear the dress for a girls’ night out,” Deena said with a smile.
“Deal.” Ricki walked up to her charcoal gray Prius. “Do you need a ride back to your hotel?”
“I’d love one.” Deena ruffled her short blonde hair. “I went for a walk and I think I strayed a little far.” She told Ricki the place she was staying in, and Ricki recognized it as an extended stay hotel.
Ricki unlocked the driver’s and passenger doors and put her bags in the back seat. She climbed into the driver’s seat as Deena sat on the passenger side and they shut the doors. In the confined space, Deena’s lilac perfume was a little stronger. It was a pleasant, old-fashioned scent that was at odds with her modern appearance.
“Where are you from?” Ricki asked as she drove Deena to her hotel.
“Tucson.” Deena braced her elbow on the window frame and plucked at her hair as they drove. “Have you always been in Prescott?”
Ricki shook her head. “Moved here from Phoenix after my divorce.”
“Owning a popular bakery like you do, you must know everyone,” Deena said.
“Not really.” Ricki glanced from the street to Deena. “I know a lot of people thanks to the bakery and being here a while, but the town is growing so fast and it’s spread out across Prescott Valley. It’s impossible to know everyone.”
“So it’s possible you could know your blind date when you meet him,” Deena said. “It’s also possible that you don’t know him.”
“Exactly.” Ricki let out a little groan. “I’m really not looking forward to this.” She flashed a smile at Deena. “Of course if he’s hot it will be a different story.”
“Here’s hoping you’ll enjoy yourself one way or another,” Deena said as Ricki pulled the car up to the hotel Deena was staying at. From her side vision, Ricki thought she saw Deena roll her eyes as she spoke. Surely not. Maybe Deena had something in her eye or Ricki had just imagined it.
Ricki parked. “I’ll see you at ten-thirty on Sunday morning.”
“Wonderful.” Deena put her hand on the door handle and started to open the door. “Thank you.”
“I’m the one who owes you a thank you.” Ricki smiled. “You picked out the perfect dress and I really appreciate your help.”
“My pleasure.” Deena opened the car door. “See you Sunday.”
Ricki gave Deena a smile before the woman climbed out and shut the door behind her. She watched Deena walk up to the hotel before she backed up her car and headed away toward home.
Ricki walked from the garage door into the house and laid the dress bag over the back of a kitchen chair before she dropped the shopping bag with the shoes, evening purse, and hair clip on the table. She set her everyday purse next to the shopping bag, along with the mail she’d picked up at the mailbox.
She’d purchased the fixer-upper house when she moved to Prescott. Working on the house herself, and making it look and feel just the way she wanted it to, was one of her passions. She’d had to hire some outside help, but for the most part she was doing it herself. It gave her a sense of pride and accomplishment whenever she finished a project before starting another.
Xena slid in through the doggy door by the double French doors and bounded up to Ricki, tail wagging as she pranced and greeted Ricki with joy.
Ricki knelt to hug her golden retriever. “Xena, girl. It’s good to see you. How’s my warrior princess?”
The golden wriggled more with happiness and licked the side of Ricki’s face causing her to laugh and give Xena another hug.
“All I can say is that Aunt Madge had better come through,” Ricki said to Xena as she released the dog and stood. “I’d rather spend the evening home with you than end up on a date with some loser. But Auntie promised no losers. I’m holding her to that.”
Xena gave a sharp bark and Ricki nodded. “That’s right. If Aunt Madge sends me out on a rotten date it’ll be the first and last one.”
Of course Madge wouldn’t see it that way. Once she sank her teeth into something, she didn’t easily let go.
Xena turned and headed straight to the kitchen, her toenails clicking on the tile floor. The kitchen had been the first place that Ricki had remodeled after the exterior of the house had been painted and the front and back yards cleaned up.
First she’d sanded down the cabinets and painted them, and then had torn out the linoleum and had put down new Saltillo tile herself. She couldn’t afford granite so she paid to have Corian countertops installed instead. She’d also replaced all of the old appliances with new ones, including a second oven. She couldn’t afford everything at once, so she bought things she needed or wanted, as she was able.
Ricki went to the pantry where she selected one box of treats from the collection she kept for Xena. She opened the container and then held up a piece chicken jerky.
Xena sat and waited for Ricki to give her the treat even though her eyes said she wanted to do anything but sit still. After Ricki gave Xena the jerky, the dog gulped it down and started prancing around the kitchen, still excited that Ricki was home.
“I need to get you a buddy.” She leaned a hip up against the counter as she talked to Xena. “What do you think of a chocolate lab? They’re beautiful, just like you.”
Xena barked twice and Ricki grinned. “I take that as a sign of approval.”
Ricki turned to a cabinet and grabbed a prescription pill bottle. She opened it and dumped one of the antidepressants into her palm before getting herself a cup of water and downing the pill. She put away the bottle and drank another glass of water before rinsing out the cup, drying it, and putting it in a cabinet.
Her cell phone rang and she dug it out of her jeans pocket. She looked at the screen. “Aunt Madge,” she said out loud and looked at Xena. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’s calling to say my date cancelled.”
Xena wagged her tail.
Ricki pressed the on button and held the phone to her ear. “Hi, Auntie.”
“Are you ready for your big date?” Madge sounded delighted as she spoke. “I promise you’re going to love him.”
Sure she would. “Where did you find this guy?” Ricki asked.
“No clues allowed, young woman,” Madge said. “I just wanted to make sure you’re getting ready. He’ll be there at seven-thirty.”
Ricki glanced at the clock on the Keurig coffee maker. “It’s only six-thirty. I have plenty of time.”
“I hope you have something elegant to wear.” Madge was all about style and class. “Like I told you before, he’s taking you someplace nice.”
“I went dress shopping today.” Ricki looked at the dress bag lying over the back of the kitchen table chair. “I found something suitable.”
Madge’s voice had a slight note of disapproval and Ricki pictured her aunt’s frown. “Suitable better not be boring.”
“It’s very pretty.” Ricki pushed away from the counter. “As a matter of fact, it’s gorgeous. I even had help picking it out.”
“Good.” Madge’s tone turned pleased. “Now hurry and get ready.”
Ricki rolled her eyes. “I’d better get off the phone then.”
“You call me first thing in the morning,” Madge said with firmness in her tone. “I want to hear everything.”
Ricki wondered just how much there would be to tell. “First thing, I promise.” Ricki punched the off button, set the phone on the table, and rubbed her upper arms with her palms, feeling suddenly jittery. She looked at her wine rack. “I think a glass of wine is just what the doctor ordered.”
A bottle of Chardonnay was already open and in the fridge, so she got it out and poured herself half a glass in one of her crystal stems.
She took a long sip then glanced at Xena. “If he’s a loser, you chase him off, okay?”
Xena gave a sharp bark and Ricki rubbed the dog behind her ears with her free hand before picking up the dress bag and heading to the bedroom.
“Maybe the neckline is too much after all.” Ricki held her hand to her belly that was fluttering like crazy while she stared in her bedroom mirror. It had taken some acrobatics to get the zipper up by herself. “Check out my boobs. They look huge.” She glanced at Xena. “What do you think?”
Xena cocked her head to the side like she was considering the question.
Despite the neckline accentuating her cleavage, Ricki had to admit she looked pretty darn good. Her honey-blonde hair was swept up with the pretty black clip that had sparkling crystals along it and she’d put on the three-quarter carat diamond earrings.
She studied her hazel eyes. Was she ready for this? It was her first real date since the times she went out for coffee with a couple of guys after her divorce. Having coffee with a man didn’t really count. She hadn’t been crazy about either of them enough to go out with them for dinner, so here she was, going out with someone she didn’t even know.
The doorbell rang and Ricki’s stomach flip-flopped. “Here we go,” she said aloud. She looked at Xena. “Bite him if he’s a jerk.”
Xena barked and wagged her tail.
Ricki wobbled a little in the red heels but straightened her spine and walked as gracefully as she could to the front door. Both dread and anticipation filled her. Would he be as handsome as her aunt had told her? Her version of handsome might be something completely opposite of what Ricki thought good-looking should be.
Xena walked at her side. “Remember, chase him off if you don’t like him,” Ricki said to the retriever.
When she reached the front door she took a deep breath and turned the bolt lock and the lock above the handle. She looked at Xena. “Are we ready, girl?” she asked. Xena looked expectant and Ricki opened the door.
Her jaw dropped and her knees went weak.
Garrett McBride in the flesh, looking sexier than she’d ever remembered seeing him before. He wore a black Stetson and a black western dress jacket over a white western shirt, black slacks, and black boots. He filled his clothing out in a way that showed what a large powerful man he was. His jaws were smooth-shaven, and his blue eyes appraised her in the same way she was looking at him.
“Garrett.” His name came out breathy as she spoke it. “You’re my date?”
“I wondered what Madge was up to.” The corner of his mouth turned up slightly. “You look gorgeous, Ricki.”
“Thank you.” She smiled even though she still felt a little jittery, in spite of the wine. The fact that she was about to go out on a date with Garrett, a man she’d had a crush on for ages, made her even more nervous. “You clean up real well yourself.”
He crouched so that he was almost at Xena’s eye level. He held his hand beneath her muzzle so that she could scent him “You’re a beautiful girl.”
Xena wagged her tail and pushed her nose under his hand, telling him that she wanted him to pet her. He rubbed her behind the ears and she gave him a pleased look as she wagged her tail faster.
“Looks like Xena approves of my blind date.” Ricki couldn’t help feeling tremendous relief, yet she felt on edge, too. What if Garrett wasn’t happy having her as his date?
Garrett rubbed Xena’s head. “I had a golden retriever when I was a teenager. The only dog I love as much is a lab.”
Ricki took a step back. “Let me grab my purse.” She realized she was shaking a little as she picked her clutch up from the entryway table, along with a light black shawl, and returned to the front door.
Garrett stood as she reached him, his face as stoic as ever but she thought she saw appreciation in his gaze. Or was that her imagination? Would a man like Garrett really like a woman with her curves? She slipped the light shawl over her shoulders to chase some of the spring evening chill away.
“Guard the place.” Ricki pointed to Xena who wagged her tail but looked disappointed that Ricki and Garrett weren’t staying.
Ricki locked the door behind her and then Garrett put his fingertips at the small of her waist as he escorted her to his truck. A shiver trailed her spine at the warmth of his touch and she wondered if she’d be able to walk straight in her pretty red heels if he kept touching her that way.
The truck was a king cab and Garrett helped her step up on the running board and then into the vehicle. He shut the door behind her and went around to the driver’s side and climbed in.
As she watched him start the truck, Ricki couldn’t believe she was actually going on a date with one of the sexiest men she’d ever had the pleasure of meeting.
“I have to admit I was a little leery when Madge corralled me into tonight.” He met her gaze after he turned the key and the engine roared to life. “I’ve never gone on a blind date before.” He studied her. “I’m glad you turned out to be my date tonight, Ricki.”
She managed a smile. “I’m glad it’s you, too,” she said and wondered how she’d gotten so lucky as to have her blind date turn out to be Garrett McBride.
The nicest restaurant in Prescott was a lovely place on Cortez Street called Devine. It served continental cuisine and had an intimate atmosphere. Ricki had been there only a couple of times for special occasions and absolutely loved the place.
“How are you, Mr. McBride?” The restaurant’s young hostess smiled at Garrett as he escorted Ricki in. Ricki couldn’t remember ever meeting the petite brunette.