TENLEY HAD BEEN to the Art Institute several times when she was younger. As she walked down the front steps, looking back at the classic facade, she let the memories wash over her. Her parents had been together and Tommy was still alive. They’d rushed up the front steps, racing each other to the door, hoping to see everything in just one day. And while her mother and father lingered over the paintings, she and Tommy found their favorite spots.
Tenley had been fascinated by the miniatures, like little dollhouses with each tiny piece of furniture perfectly reproduced. Tommy was drawn to the Greek and Roman coins, comparing them to his collection of Indian head pennies at home.
It had been one of the last times they’d traveled together as a family. But to her surprise, the memory didn’t cause the usual ache in her heart. Instead, she felt only a tiny bit of melancholy as she recalled the affection they’d all had for each other. Tommy had lived a short life, but he had been well loved.
Maybe that was what life was all about—searching for a place to feel accepted. Since Alex had left, Tenley had made the decision to walk away from the past and begin again. Though she was excited at the prospect, she was also a bit frightened.
She’d spent the afternoon strolling through galleries, studying the artists and wondering if they’d ever had the same doubts she was having. To pacify her grandfather, Tenley had met with an admissions specialist for the Art Institute school and, in the end, decided to apply for a three-week session in June and another in August. Six weeks away from home during her grandfather’s busiest season would be difficult, but he’d assured her he could get along with temporary help.
Housing was offered by the school, but it didn’t allow for pets. So Dog and Pup and her two cats were going to have to live at her grandfather’s place while she was gone. Josh could take care of the horses, moving them over to his family’s farm to make it more convenient, and she’d drive home on the weekends to make sure everything was running smoothly.
Yet, even though she tried to focus on the business at hand, her thoughts constantly shifted to the real reason she’d come to Chicago—Alex. They’d spoken several times since he’d left, mostly about the novel. But sometimes they drifted into conversation about their time together.
Though neither one of them wanted to make the first move to rekindle their romantic relationship, there always seemed to be a tension simmering right below the surface—as if the thoughts were there, waiting to be expressed.
Tenley stepped to the curb and held up her hand to hail a cab. A few seconds later, a taxi pulled up and she got inside. She reached into the pocket of her portfolio for Alex’s business card and gave the cabbie the address.
Though she’d come to Chicago to see Alex, her excuse for the trip was a meeting she’d scheduled with her editor. She’d finished the requested revisions and had completed the new artwork for the changes. Rather than sending them via courier, Tenley had decided to deliver them personally.
Marianne Johnson, her editor, felt it important they meet, but Tenley was really hoping to take a few moments to say hello to Alex. It had been nearly three weeks since he’d left and even though she thought of him every hour of every day, she was beginning to forget the tiny details that had fascinated her so. The closest thing she had to a photograph was the picture from the Smooth Operators Web site. And then she had her drawings, but none of those had a face with the body.
All she needed was a few seconds to recharge her memory. As the cab wove through the late-afternoon traffic, Tenley tried to imagine how it would be. She’d stand at his door and say a quick hello. He’d ask her to come in and sit down, but she’d beg off, explaining that she had a meeting scheduled with her editor. He’d ask her to dinner and she’d tell him she was driving back that night. He’d say the traffic was bad until later and she ought to wait.
All she really wanted to know was that she and Alex could deal with each other as business associates. The past was the past. It might not have been so important before, but in the past few weeks, Tenley had begun to imagine building a career as a graphic novelist. She’d already come up with four or five new ideas for stories.
The headquarters for Stamos Publishing was located in the South Loop in a huge brick building that had been modernized with new windows and a gleaming entrance. One corner was constructed entirely of glass, revealing a printing press in full operation.
Tenley paid the cabbie, then hopped out of the car, clutching her portfolio to her chest. She’d left her Jeep parked in the lot at the hotel, her bags in the trunk, preferring to let someone else do the driving while she was in town. Later tonight, she’d pick it up and head home.
She checked in at the front desk and was given a badge to clip onto her pocket. A few seconds later, Marianne Johnson burst through the door, a wide smile on her face. “Tenley! Gosh, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” She held out her hand. “How was your drive down? The weather looked good.”
“I actually came down yesterday afternoon. I went to the Art Institute this morning and spent most of the day there.”
“Wonderful! First, I want to take you by Alex’s office. I know he’s in and I’m sure he wants to say hello.”
“Oh, I don’t want to bother him,” Tenley said, suddenly succumbing to an attack of nerves. What if he wasn’t thrilled to see her? What if they had nothing to say to each other? She’d built this meeting up in her mind for three weeks, ever since Alex had left Door County. And now that it was here, she wanted to run back home.
“It’s no bother. When I told him you were coming, he insisted we stop by. Come on.”
They wove through a warren of hallways, past small offices and large conference areas, all occupied by production personnel. Marianne took her back to the pressroom and explained to her that her novel would be printed at their new plant in Elgin and that she would be invited to do a press check once the process had begun.
By the time they stepped inside the elevator, Tenley’s heart was slamming in her chest and she could barely breathe. What if she couldn’t speak? What if everything she said sounded stilted and contrived?
“Our sales and marketing offices are up here,” Marianne said, after they arrived at the second floor. “We’re so excited about publishing your novel. I think this new imprint is going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to this company.”
Unlike the production offices, the second floor was quiet, the hum of the printing presses barely audible. Marianne took her through a set of glass doors, then smiled at the receptionist. “Alex wanted us to stop in,” she explained.
Tenley took a deep breath. She’d brought a new outfit for the occasion. She wore a hand-woven jacket with a bright chartreuse turtleneck, a short black skirt and leggings underneath. Lace-up ankle boots and a studded belt finished off the ensemble. In her opinion, it was edgy and cool and it made her look like a real artist.
“Alex? I’ve got Tenley here.”
Marianne stepped aside and directed her through a wide doorway. Tenley pasted a smile on her face and walked in. The moment their eyes met, she felt as if she’d been hit in the chest with a brick. Her heart fluttered and her breathing grew shallow and she felt a bit light-headed. “Hello.” It was all she could manage.
“Hello, Tenley. Come on in. Sit down.”
His voice was warm and deep and caused a shiver to race through her body. “Oh, I can’t stay. Marianne and I have a meeting. And then I have to get back on the road. I’ve got a long drive home tonight. I just wanted to say hi.” She gave him a little wave and a weak laugh. The words had just tumbled out of her mouth so fast she wasn’t sure what she’d said. “Hi.”
“Don’t be silly. Your meeting with Marianne can wait.” He glanced over at the editor. “Right?”
Marianne nodded. “Sure. Just give me a call when you’re through.” The editor disappeared down the long hallway, leaving Tenley standing alone in the door. Wasn’t this how she’d imagined it? What was next?
“Come on in. Sit,” he said, pointing to the chair on the other side of his desk. “God, you look…incredible.”
“It’s the new clothes,” Tenley said. “Now that I’m an artist, I have to start dressing like one.”
“They suit you,” he said. “But then, everything looks good on you. I seem to remember a funny hat with earflaps. I liked that hat.”
“I didn’t bring it along. I didn’t want to look like a complete bumpkin.”
“So, are you really going back tonight? Because you can’t. We have to have dinner. I’ll take you out and show you the town.” He reached for his phone and punched a button. “Carol, can you make a reservation for Tenley Marshall at the Drake? Confirm it for late arrival on our account.”
Tenley shook her head. “I can’t. I have to get back. I promised my grandfather.”
“One of the suites would be good,” he said to his secretary. When he hung up the phone, he nodded. “Just in case you don’t want to go. You’ll stay for dinner, right?”
“Sure. The traffic will probably be crazy until later on, anyway. So, yes, I’ll stay for dinner.”
“Good. We have a lot to catch up on. I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I am,” she said, slowly lowering herself into the chair. She set her portfolio on the floor, fumbling with the handles. Why had conversation suddenly become so difficult? She couldn’t think of a single thing to say to him. He looked the same, maybe a bit more polished. He wore a finely tailored suit and a white dress shirt that showed off his dark features. If he’d picked out his clothes to please her, they were certainly doing the trick. He was as handsome as ever. “How have you been?”
“Good,” he said. “You know, this is crazy. Good, fine, you look great.” He circled around the desk, then stood in front of her, pulling her to her feet. Without hesitation, Alex cupped her face in his hands and gave her a gentle kiss. “That’s better.”
“I remember that,” Tenley murmured, her gaze dropping to his lips.
“So do I.” For a long time, they stood silently, staring at each other. And then, he blinked and glanced at his watch. “It’s almost four. Let’s go now and we’ll have a few drinks before dinner and—”
“I have to see Marianne,” she said, grabbing her portfolio.
“Right.”
“But I won’t be long. I’ll come back at five and we’ll go then.”
“Sure,” Alex said, following her to the door. “Her office is down there on the right. Name’s on the door.”
Tenley nodded and started down the hall. At the last minute, she glanced over her shoulder to find him watching her. “Stop staring at me,” she said.
Alex laughed out loud and Tenley hurried down the hall, enjoying the sound. It hadn’t gone badly. It could have been worse. They were able to be in the same room without jumping into each other’s arms and tearing clothes off. And though the kiss was a bit more than what friends might share, they’d been a lot more than friends.
If this was all it was, Tenley could be happy. There was no anger or regret between them. Only good memories and a warm friendship. She could move on from there.
When she got to Marianne’s office, she walked in, only to find another woman sitting in her guest chair. The woman jumped up and held out her hand. “Hello,” she said. “I’m Tess Stamos. And you have got to be Tenley Marshall.”
“Yes,” she said.
“I’m Alex’s sister. I work here, too. I loved your novel, by the way. It’s about time women start kicking butt in those books, don’t you think?”
“I do,” Tenley said.
Tess was tall and slender, with dark hair and eyes. She appeared to be a few years older than Tenley, but she had a confidence that made her seem just a bit intimidating.
“So, you saw Alex? He’s been going crazy all day waiting for you to come. He usually doesn’t let a woman get him so rattled. You must be special.”
“We’re friends,” Tenley said.
Tess observed her with a shrewd look. “I think you’re more than that. Alex has even mentioned you to my mother, which means he’s willing to put up with her nagging just so he can talk about you around the dinner table. But please, don’t break my brother’s heart or I will have to chop you into tiny pieces and run you through the printing press. I can do that, you know. I’m head of production.”
With that, Tess Stamos waltzed out of the room, leaving Tenley with nothing to say except, “She was…nice.”
Marianne circled her desk and took Tenley by the arm, guiding her toward a chair. “Don’t let Tess bother you. She deals with loud printing presses and stubborn press operators all day long. She’s used to speaking her mind.”
As they went over the new drawings and story changes, Tenley’s thoughts were occupied elsewhere. She’d expected a warm welcome, but there was something more going on. This wasn’t just a casual visit, at least not for Alex. He’d been anticipating her arrival and had even told his sister about her. But then, as a new author, she would naturally be the subject of conversation around the office.
There was no need to read anything into Tess’s words. Nothing had changed. Everybody was simply being kind and solicitous, just good business practice.
And at dinner tonight, she’d restrain herself, putting aside all the memories of their passionate encounters at her cabin. She was determined to make this relationship comfortable, to redraw the lines and follow the rules this time.
And though her heart ached a little bit for what they’d lost, Tenley could bear it. She was stronger now and able to look at the attraction between them with a practical eye. Though it would always be tempting, in the end, it just wasn’t meant to be.
ALEX GUIDED THE SEDAN down Lakeshore Drive, impatient to get to the restaurant so that he could turn his full attention to the woman sitting beside him. It felt so good to have her back in his orbit again. Though they hadn’t touched since he’d kissed her, just knowing he could reach out and make contact made him happy.
“How’s your grandfather?” he asked.
“He’s good. He says hello. He’s working on a new series of paintings. Barns.”
“And how are things in town? Is Randy giving you any problems?”
Tenley shook her head. “Actually, we’re dating now. He just wore me down and I had to say yes. We’re planning the wedding for June.”
Alex frowned, then noticed the teasing smile twitching at the corners of her lips. “I’m very happy for you.”
“What about you?” Tenley asked. “Have you been dating anyone?”
Alex was surprised by the question, but even more surprised by his answer. “Tenley, it’s only been three weeks. I’m not interested in dating anyone.”
“I just thought a charming guy like—”
He suddenly realized what she was getting at. “Oh, wait. I know where this is going. You looked me up on the Internet, didn’t you? And you came up with that silly Web site.”
“SmoothOperators.com. I didn’t, Randy did. He gave me the full report.”
“When?”
“Before you left. He dropped by the gallery when I was working.”
“Damn, he doesn’t give up, does he?”
“He’s dating Linda Purnell now. So, yes, he has given up. Unless he’s carrying a secret torch for me.” She glanced over at him. “Why haven’t you started dating again?”
“Because I haven’t met anyone half as interesting as you.” In fact, Alex hadn’t even bothered to go out since he got back to Chicago. He spent most of his evenings at the office, getting back to his apartment in time to catch the end of a basketball game or a hockey match. The rest of the night, he spent staring at his BlackBerry, trying to convince himself that not phoning Tenley was a good thing.
“I know what you mean. There aren’t that many interesting single guys living in Sawyer Bay. Though prospects improve in the summer.”
Alex reached out and grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. It felt so good to touch her. “We could skip the restaurant,” he said. “We’re just a couple blocks from the Drake. We could order room service and spend some time alone.”
She smiled weakly and Alex immediately regretted his suggestion. He was moving too fast. And it was obvious her feelings for him had changed.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said.
“You’re probably right. Best to maintain a professional relationship. But it worked out pretty well for us when we did it the first time.”
“Yes, but that was just for fun.”
Alex watched the traffic as it slowed in front of him for the light. What did she mean by that? Was that all he’d been to her, just a few nights of fun? Maybe all this distance was simply her way of letting him down easy.
As they drove along the lakeshore, Alex pointed out the major landmarks. Acting as tour guide kept the conversation light and interesting. But in his head, he was cataloguing all the questions that needed answers. Why couldn’t she love him? She didn’t really believe that ridiculous Web site, did she?
They were so obviously compatible, both in and out of bed. He loved talking to her. She didn’t babble like most of the women he’d dated. And she wasn’t obsessed with her looks or her clothes. Over time, Alex had realized that it was the little things that he found so attractive.
Tenley didn’t wear makeup, at least, not anymore. From the moment she got up in the morning until the time she went to bed, she never once looked in the mirror. She combed her hair with her fingers. She wore clothes that were comfortable and shoes that didn’t kill her feet.
And she read books. She didn’t watch silly television shows or buy fashion magazines. She had a stack of classics on her bedside table. She was smart and talented and witty.
“And when you have a free moment, you go out and do something useful with your time,” he muttered, “rather than going to get your nails done.”
“What?”
Alex glanced over to find Tenley watching him with an inquisitive expression. Had he said that out loud? “Nothing,” he said. “Here we are.” Thankfully, the parking valet provided a distraction. He opened Tenley’s door for her and helped her from the car, then circled around to grab the keys from Alex.
When they got inside, Tenley excused herself and headed toward the ladies’ room. Alex waited outside and watched as two women went in and came out before Tenley. What was she doing in there? He reached for the door and pulled it open. “Tenley?”
“What?”
“Is everything all right?”
He heard a sniffle. “Yes?”
Alex stepped inside, then locked the door behind him. He heard the tears in her voice. She was locked in the center stall and he rapped on the door. “Come on, Tenley, open up. I don’t want to have to crawl under.”
He heard the latch flip and he pushed the door open. She sat on the toilet, her eyes red, a wad of toilet paper in her hand.
“Go away,” she said.
“No.” Alex reached down and took her hand, then pulled her out of the stall. “Why are you crying?”
“I don’t know.” This brought a fresh round of tears and she turned away from him and sat down on a small chair in the corner. “God, I hate crying. I feel so stupid.”
“Are you upset with me?”
“No.” She paused and wiped her nose. “Yes. Maybe. You just make it so difficult.”
“What?” He pulled her into his arms and smoothed his hands along her waist. “I don’t mean to.”
Alex’s fingers found her face and he tipped her gaze up to his. Her eyes were red and watery and he brushed a tear away with his thumb. He didn’t have the words to make her feel better because he didn’t know what was wrong. So Alex did the only thing he knew would take her mind off her troubles. He kissed her.
But what began as a sweet, soothing kiss, slowly turned into something more. Her mouth opened beneath his and he took what she offered. How many nights had he lain in bed, thinking about this, about the next time he’d touch her and kiss her and make love to her? This wasn’t exactly the setting he’d imagined, but at this point, it didn’t matter. Tenley was back in his arms again.
He grabbed the lapels of her jacket and pushed them aside, desperate to find a spot of bare skin to touch. They stumbled back against the sinks and Alex picked her up and set her on the edge of the counter, stepping between her legs.
She had too many clothes on and there wasn’t enough time. He glanced over his shoulder and considered the stall for privacy, but decided against it. The door was locked. If someone knocked, they’d have to stop. But until then, he—
“No,” she said, pressing her hands against his chest. “Don’t do this.”
Alex was stunned and he immediately stepped away. “What is it?”
She pulled her jacket back up and slid off the counter. “I can’t do this. I—I have to go.” Tenley hurried to the door and pulled on it, but it wouldn’t open. “I need to go.”
“Tenley, wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t—It’s just been such a long time and I—”
She finally realized the door was locked and when she turned the knob, it opened. He followed her out into the lobby, but she headed back out to the street.
“Tenley.” He took her hand. “Where are you going?”
“I have to go home. I can’t stay here.”
“Don’t. I promise, I won’t kiss you again.”
She raised her hand for a cab, but he pulled it down. A cab screeched to a halt in front of the restaurant. Christ, he could wait all day for a taxi and now, when he didn’t want one, there were ten available. She pulled the door open.
“Wait,” Alex said to the driver. “We’re not through.”
“Go,” Tenley said.
“No! Wait.” He reached into his pocket for his wallet, ready to pay the driver to do as ordered.
But Tenley pulled the door shut. “Go, now!” she shouted at the driver.
Alex could do nothing but curse as the taxi roared off down the street. The valet stood at his desk, observing the entire scene with a dubious expression.
“Bad date?” he asked.
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Well, at least you didn’t buy her dinner.” He grinned. “Do you want your car?”
Alex nodded. He sat down on a bench, his breath coming in gasps, clouding in front of his face in the cold air. What the hell had happened? Where was the woman who’d crawled into his bed and seduced him on the night they met? Or the woman who ran into the snow stark naked?
Something had happened to the free-spirited Tenley he knew three weeks ago. How could someone have changed so fast? He reached for his cell phone. She’d spent the previous night in a hotel and left her car parked there. Maybe if he tracked her down, he might catch her before she left.
Alex stared at his phone, then shook his head as he realized the impossibility of that task. The bottom line was Tenley didn’t want to be with him. Whatever they’d shared had faded. And he’d just killed what was left of it with his behavior in the bathroom.
When the valet returned with his car, Alex gave him a fifty-dollar bill and slipped behind the wheel. He’d made only one mistake in his life and Alex suspected he’d never stop regretting it. He’d left Tenley that morning after his sister had called.
He should have stayed. He should have lived up there with her until he was absolutely certain she was in love with him. He knew her heart was fragile and yet he thought they’d just be able to pick up where they’d left off in a week or two. Only in the meantime, Tenley had erected a wall around herself, too high and too thick for him to broach.
He’d missed his chance with her and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.
TENLEY LOOKED at her reflection in the mirror, trying to see herself as others might. Gone was the streak of purple in her hair. Gone was the dark eye makeup and the deep red lipstick, the black nail polish.
She smoothed her hands over the bodice of the red vintage dress. She’d found the garment in a trunk in her grandfather’s attic and had thought the shawl collar and wide skirt made it a classic design. When she’d brought it down, her grandfather had grown all misty, remembering the night her grandmother had first worn it.
In her ongoing effort to get out more, Tenley had invited her grandfather to the Valentine’s Dance, held at the fire hall in town. The dance was one of the biggest events of the winter season. Everyone attended. Jimmy Richter’s Big Band came in from Green Bay to play and the Ladies Auxiliary made cake and pink punch. Anyone who was single was invited to attend, from teenagers to retirees.
Tenley suspected her grandfather had ulterior motives for accepting the date. Rumor had it he and Katie Vanderhoff had been seen together at Wednesday-night bingo for the past four weeks in a row. Though he might have wanted to ask Katie to the dance, Tenley knew the potential gossip would have scared him away. Considering the suitability of the match, the gossips would have had them married off before they stepped on the dance floor.
Tenley heard a knock on her door and she took one last look in the mirror. “You can do this,” she murmured. “It’s just a silly dance.”
But it was more than that. Since her trip to Chicago, almost two weeks had passed. She’d begun to see her life in a different light. She wanted to find someone to love her, a man who might make her feel the way Alex did. But Tenley knew it would take time. She wouldn’t fall in love in a week or even a year. There were too many things in her past that kept her from surrendering so easily.
But she had felt something with Alex and she was certain she could find that again if she only got out there and started looking. She had made one vow to herself. No more one-night stands. Sex for fun was a part of her past. From now on, she intended to act a bit more circumspect.
She grabbed her coat from the bed, then hurried to the door. The dogs tried to follow her outside, but she slipped out without them. “Sorry,” she said.
Her grandfather stood on the porch, dressed in his best suit, his hands behind his back. He slowly brought out a plastic box and Tenley was delighted to find a corsage there. “It’s an orchid,” he said. “I used to buy your grandmother white orchids all the time. She loved them because they lasted so long.”
Tenley took the box from his hand. “I’ll put it on in the car. It’ll freeze out here.” She hurried down the steps and hopped inside her grandfather’s Volvo. Shivering, she rubbed her hands together and then held them close to the heat. “Are you really sure you want to do this?” she asked.
“Your grandmother died four years ago. I think it’s time I got out there and met some ladies. Not that I want to get married again, but I would like to have some company if I decide to see a movie or dine out.”
He’d combed his bushy hair and shaved off the usual stubble that covered his cheeks. “You look very handsome,” Tenley commented. “All the ladies will want to dance with you. I heard you’ve been spending time with Katie Vanderhoff.”
He grinned. “Maybe. It’s those damn cinnamon rolls. I stop by for coffee in the morning and she feeds me one of those and I think I’m in love. That’s how your grandmother won my heart. With her apple pie.”
“Well, you’ll have to be sure to ask her to dance. Just make sure I get the first and the last one.”
Tenley flipped the visor down and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair looked silly, all curled and poufed up. As soon as she got to the dance, she’d take it down.
“You look very pretty,” her grandfather said, steering the car onto the road. “No more blue hair. Or was it purple? I can’t remember.”
“I’ve decided to be perfectly normal for one night. I’m even wearing underwear.”
“I don’t need to hear about that,” her grandfather said, wagging his finger, “although, I am glad to hear it. I wouldn’t want to have you twirling around on the dance floor wearing nothing beneath your skirt. And I do love to twirl a girl.”
By the time they got to town, Tenley was nervous. She’d been off the social radar for so long she knew her appearance would cause a lot of speculation. Everyone in town knew about Alex and her romance with him. But as far as they understood, that was still going on, long distance.
If they asked, she would have to tell them the truth—she and Alex had parted as friends. Friends who didn’t speak to each other. Friends who couldn’t possibly be in the same room without wanting to tear each other’s clothes off.
The dance was already well under way when they arrived. Her grandfather grabbed her coat and hung it up, then held out his arm gallantly, a broad smile on his face. “You look lovely. Absolutely lovely. I wish your grandmother could see you. You look just as pretty as she did on the night we met.”
“Thank you,” Tenley said. “Are you ready?”
“I am. Are you?”
She nodded. They walked toward the entrance to the hall and stopped at the ticket table. Harvey Willis’s sister, Ellen, was selling tickets and complimented them both on their snazzy attire.
The interior of the firehouse had been transformed. The trucks had been moved outside for the night and lights had been strung from the overhead beams. A small stage was set up on one end and the band was already in the midst of their rendition of “Moon River.”
To Tenley’s relief, there were plenty of familiar faces in attendance. If no one asked her to dance, she’d at least be able to chat. But as she scanned the room, her gaze came to rest on a face she hadn’t expected to see.
Her fingers dug into her grandfather’s arm as she gasped. “He’s here,” she whispered.
“Who’s here?”
“Alex. He’s standing right over there.”
“Oh, look at that,” her grandfather said. “Now, doesn’t he look handsome. And what’s that he has in his arms? Looks like roses.”
“Did you know about this?” Tenley asked.
“Well, he did call a few days ago. Wanted to know if the dance was on Saturday or Sunday night. I just told him what he wanted to know. I also mentioned you’d be attending.” He unhooked Tenley’s hand from his arm and gave her a little push. “Go on. Talk to him before some other girl snaps him up.”
Tenley slowly crossed the hall. Everyone was watching, even some of the guys in the band. Her knees felt weak and her head was spinning, but she held her emotions in check. She was not going to break down and cry. Nor was she going to throw herself into his arms.
She stopped in front of him, swallowing hard before speaking. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard you were planning on attending and I didn’t want to give any of these single guys a chance to charm you.”
“How did you know about the dance?”
“You mentioned it. You said Randy asked you every year.”
“You remember that?”
He nodded. “I remember everything you said to me.”
She glanced over her shoulder at her grandfather and found him grinning from ear to ear.
“I brought you something,” Alex said. He handed her the roses. “I’m sorry there’s so many of them, but I asked for the nicest bouquet and this is what they gave me.” He took them from her arms. “Here, we’ll just put them down.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“And there’s candy and a card, but I thought I’d save that until later. They’re out in the car.”
“Gee, all you forgot was the jewelry,” she teased.
“Ah, no. I didn’t forget that.” Alex reached into his pants pocket, but when he didn’t find what he was looking for, he patted down his jacket pockets. “Where did I put that?”
“I don’t need any more gifts, Alex. The flowers are fine.”
“No, you’ll like this one,” he said. “At least, I hope you will. Here it is.” He held out his fist, then opened it.
Lying in his palm was a ring…a diamond ring…a very large diamond ring. Tenley gasped, her gaze fixed on it. It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, a pale yellow heart-shaped diamond, surrounded by tiny white diamonds.
“What does that mean?” she asked. Was this a proposal? And if it was, did he really expect her to accept with all these people watching her? Or maybe that was why he’d done it here, so she couldn’t refuse. “Alex, I don’t think this is a good idea. You know how I—”
“Tenley, don’t talk, just listen. Yes, I know how you feel. And I understand your hesitation. Your experiences in life haven’t made it easy for you to open yourself up to loving someone. But what we shared that week in your cabin was something special and I don’t want to let that go.”
“Is this a proposal?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be,” Alex said. “You decide. All I know is I don’t want to lose you. I want you to be mine, for now and for as long as you’ll have me. I want you to be my valentine, Tenley.”
“But I—”
“Don’t say no. You can’t say no. Because I’m going to keep coming back every weekend and every holiday until you say yes. I’ll buy a place up here and I’ll come over every morning and take you to breakfast. And I’ll sit on your sofa every night and rub your feet. We’ll go for walks in the woods in the winter and we’ll take our clothes off and lie in the summer sun.”
He took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. “I’m giving this to you so that you understand I won’t change my mind. For as long as you wear that ring, I’m completely yours.”
“But how are we going to do this? You live in Chicago and I live here.”
“I’m not sure. At first, I’ll come up on the weekends. And maybe you can come down and visit. We’ll figure out all the details later, Tenley. We don’t have to decide everything right now. All we have to do is make a commitment to try.”
He was making it so easy for her to say yes. And she wanted to say the word, to throw herself into his arms and tell him it was quite possible that she did love him. Not just possible, very probable.
“I was thinking about spending some time in Chicago. There are some classes I want to take at the Art Institute this summer.”
He smiled. “Really? Because that’s just a quick train ride from where I live. You could stay with me. I could take you out and show you the city. You could even bring the dogs and cats. I’ve got plenty of room for all of you.” He dropped down on one knee and held her hand. “Say yes, Tenley. Tell me you’re willing to try.”
“Yes.” The word came out of her mouth without a second thought. “Yes. I am willing to try. And I will be your valentine.”
Alex stood up and pulled her into his arms, lifting her off her feet and twirling her around on the dance floor. The crowd around them erupted in wild applause and Tenley looked up to find everyone in the hall watching them. A warm blush flooded her cheeks and she buried her face in the curve of Alex’s neck.
“We’re causing a scene,” he said.
“I know. Don’t worry. It will give them something to gossip about tomorrow morning.”
“Are you all right with that?”
She nodded. “I think I can handle it.”
Alex set her back on her feet, then took her face in his hands and kissed her. That brought even more applause and a few moments later, the band broke into their rendition of “My Funny Valentine.” Alex swept her out onto the dance floor.
She’d never really danced before, but Alex seemed to know exactly what he was doing. She followed his lead and before long, they looked like experts. Everything always seemed so much easier when he was around.
Life, love—and dancing.