Elizabeth was enjoying the appreciative glances she kept getting as she worked the room. Helped keep her mind off Henry, and the appointment they should have had earlier that day. Maybe that kiss had been too hot for him, too. Lord knows it was the only thing she’d been thinking about all week. She even woke up clutching her damned pillow, as if her love life wasn’t embarrassing enough. Didn’t have quite the same effect as strawberries and soft lips. Maybe her house hunting days with Henry were over. He might never call again.
“Elizabeth, have I told you how stunning you look tonight? What’s the occasion?”
She turned around to face her boss. “Thank you, Dave. Debbie thought I should be a little dressier at the formal events.”
“Well, if you’re trying to impress anyone in particular, mission success.”
Her hand flew up. “Wait, no….that’s not it….”
“Do save me a dance.” He winked at her and walked away.
Imagining ways she could fake a sprained ankle, she returned to the registration table to see if all the guests had arrived.
“Bunch of attractive single men here,” Debbie said, “And quite a few of them were noticing you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Seems like Mr. Boss man appreciates it, too.”
Elizabeth gritted her teeth and grabbed the clipboard, pretending to scan the list of names.
“Good evening. Mr. Henry Watson and guest.”
She dropped the clipboard and looked up. “Henry?”
He picked it up and handed it to her. “Gotta keep a better grip on these things. It’s nice to see you.” His eyes swept from her head to her toes, and lingered over the middle parts. “Very nice.”
A shaky feeling had her reaching for the table. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” Debbie had been in charge of the guest list.
“I’m here with my mother, Helen. Mom, this is Elizabeth Marshall, one of my clients. We’re trying to find her the perfect house.”
They shook hands and said hello and Elizabeth discovered where he’d gotten those blue eyes. I should thank her for that.
Debbie and Theresa stopped what they were doing to listen. And leer.
“I was hoping this was one of the events you told me about.” Henry beamed at her.
Theresa leaned over and whispered, “Girl, you’re not house hunting, you’re spouse hunting.”
Debbie popped up from her seat. “Why don’t you show Mr. Watson and his mother to their table?” She handed over their place card. “Looks like they’re at table six.”
Henry caught Elizabeth’s eyes and winked.
“Table six. Of course they are.” She smiled at Henry. “Follow me.”
***
“Henry, you’re not listening to me.”
“What, Mother?” Henry drew his eyes away from Elizabeth, who was standing across the room talking to some man far too handsome for Henry’s liking.
His mother turned down one corner of her mouth. “I said Marge’s daughter is getting married next month. I do wish you would have listened to me when I told you to take her out last year.” She shook her head.
“Mother, you know I’m busy with my job.” He scanned the room for Elizabeth again.
“That Elizabeth is pretty,” she said, watching him look for her.
“Yes, a very pretty client,” he said, then frowned. She was dancing with her boss. The man pulled her close, and she did her best to back away.
He admired the way that dress moved with her curves. What would it look like sliding down to the floor? Her boss set his hand on her hip. That wouldn’t do. He couldn’t watch her with him. He threw down his napkin and stalked onto the dance floor. “May I cut in?”
The guy frowned. “If you must. Oh, yes. You’re her realtor. I’m sure you have business to discuss.” He smirked.
Henry leveled him with a stare. “No, I just want to dance with the most beautiful woman here tonight.”
Elizabeth’s hand fluttered over her throat.
Henry held out his hand and she took it. He didn’t know what happened to her boss; didn’t care. All he knew was it felt right to have her in his arms no matter what he had told himself before.
“I hope I didn’t just cause you any problems,” he whispered to her, nudging her ear with his nose.
“Guess I’ll find out Monday morning.”
They moved together and he wished they didn’t have an audience. He wanted so badly to kiss her again. He wanted her even more each time they were together.
She took a deep breath and held it for a moment. “This is nice, really. But I have to get back to work after this song.”
The lump in his throat wouldn’t go down. “Of course. Thanks for the dance.” When the music ended, he let her go and wandered back to his table. But he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
It was a very long night watching Elizabeth buzz around the room and try to keep up with his mother’s endless recounting of whose daughter was engaged to whom and who had waited too long to snag the perfect wedding venue and now was going to have to settle for a three-star hotel ballroom. Finally, she sighed and gripped his arm. “Don’t you get it, Henry? I’m not getting any younger. I want grandchildren. And not one of you three boys is close to getting married.”
Henry rolled his eyes. “Some day, Mother. Some day. I’ve got—.”
“__your career, yes I know. Don’t you know by now that’s not everything? Haven’t you learned anything from your father’s mistakes?”
He looked at his mother and her sincere, pleading eyes. “You’re right. Maybe I have.” He squeezed his her hand. Excuse me.” He kissed her on the cheek, got up from the table and continued his search for the luscious brunette in bronze. He had to give it one last shot.
He found her in the lobby, bent over paperwork on the table. “Another check list?”
She looked up and he was very pleased with her smile. “It’s best to look busy when the boss is around looking for another turn on the dance floor.” Her smile fell. “How are sales? You going to beat the record?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Not so great. Might not be breaking that sales record, after all.” He shrugged. “Looks like my hot streak is over.”
Reaching forward, she gripped his arm. “Don’t get discouraged because of me. I’m an incredibly picky woman who doesn’t know what she wants. I should give the house hunting a break for now. It’s not you…you’ve been wonderful.” She looked back at her papers.
It’s not you, it’s me? That’s the first time he’d heard that as a realtor instead of someone’s soon-to-be ex.
She toyed with a strand of hair grazing her cheek. “I’m sorry. This is just too hard.”
He sat on the table. He wasn’t going to give up. Not yet. “I think we need to take another look at that log cabin. You really liked it.”
“You don’t have time to waste on me. You need to concentrate on selling houses. To normal people. Who know what they want.” Her voice was a whisper.
He walked around the table and leaned against the wall next to her. “I have time tonight.”
Her eyes widened like two dark pools. “Tonight?”
“Might help to see what the place looks like under the moonlight.” And what you look like under moonlight…
She nibbled on her lip.
His shoulder brushed hers and he whispered in her ear. “And, I do believe they have a hot tub we haven’t tried out yet.”
She caught her breath and he realized how close he was to her lips. “The owners live out of town and I still have the key.”
“I have to be here until the event wraps up. That’ll be late.” Her breath was hot on his cheek.
He shrugged. “I have to take my mother home. I’ll come back to get you.”
She thought about it for a moment and her tongue flicked across her lips. “Sure.”
He squeezed her hand and went back to his table to take his mother home and count down the minutes until this very private showing.