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“I mean, they’re teenagers,” he continued. “Sometimes I don’t understand a word they’re saying. But at least I’m never bored.”
She stood then, her movement abrupt. “I think I’ve stayed too long.” As she spoke, she smoothed her palms over the formfitting sheath she wore, as if brushing away imaginary wrinkles.
Chris stood, too, caught off guard by her action. Moments ago, they’d been chatting about his twins, and she’d been smiling and nodding. Now, her closed-off expression and tense stance gave him pause. “You don’t have to rush off, Eliza. There’s not too much going on here today.”
She slipped her purse strap over her shoulder. “It’s just that I really have to get back to the boutique. I’ve got a million things to do this afternoon.”
He wanted to convince her to stay, but how could he? She wasn’t the starry-eyed teenager who’d stolen his heart anymore; she was a successful businesswoman with responsibilities. Even though the woman she’d become appealed to him in every way, he knew he had no right to hold her there. “I understand. I won’t keep you, if you’ve got...” His sentence was cut off by the ringing of his cell phone. He slipped it from his pocket, glanced at it. “I have to take this. Excuse me, Eliza.”
“I’ve got to go, Chris.” She started walking toward the hallway.
“Just give me a few moments, please. I want to at least see you out, okay?”
She stopped, turned his way. “All right.”
He answered his phone then. “Jojo? How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m okay, I guess.”
Sensing the angst in her words, he asked, “What do you need, Jojo?”
“Well, there’s this dance coming up at school. Mom says I can go, if you say it’s okay. So, can I go?”
The parts of him that still saw her as a little girl warred with the reality of her actual age. Finally, he acquiesced. “Sure. Who are you going with?” Relief coursed through him as she named two of her female friends.
“There’s one more thing. I really need a dress.”
“A dress?” Chris looked at Eliza. She was leaning against the wall between the kitchen and the hallway. “Jojo, I may be able to help you with that.” Covering the microphone, he gestured to her. “Eliza, can you come here for a second?”
She walked over, a curious expression on her face. “What is it?”
“I know you have to go, but my daughter’s on the phone. She needs a dress for a school dance. Can you help us out?”
“Maybe. What size does she wear?”
He scratched his head. “I don’t know. I could ask her...”
Eliza’s lips tilted in a soft smile. “She’s thirteen, right? I remember those days well. Why don’t you just bring her to the shop Friday?” She glanced at her gold watch. “I really do have to go.”
“What time should I bring her?” he asked as Eliza strode away.
“Around six,” she answered as she rounded the corner to the hallway.
A few moments later, Chris heard the door to the office open, then close as she walked out. Uncovering the mic, he spoke to his daughter. “Good news. Friday, I’ll take you shopping for a dress.”
Jojo exhaled. “Thanks, Dad.” Then she paused. “Wait. You’re not going to take me to the little girl’s section of Macy’s again, are you?”
He chuckled at the memory of how their last shopping trip had panned out. “No, no. I’m taking you to a boutique in Gaslamp. Don’t worry, you’ll love it.”
“Sounds great. When?”
“I’ll pick you up around five Friday evening. We’ll grab dinner and head over after that.”
Her voice took on the light, happy tone of a girl pleased with her father. “You’re the best, Dad. Gotta go. Love you.”
He smiled, both at her words and at knowing she was excited. “I love you, too.”
After he disconnected the call, he looked around the quiet office. He and Vaughn had been the only members in the building today, and now that Eliza had gone, he was alone save for the security guard patrolling the place. In truth, he needed this time alone to think. The problems at Prescott George were pressing, and he needed the space and silence to determine the best course of action. As chapter president, the responsibility rested on his shoulders.
Chris knew full well what an honor it was for it to be chosen for the Chapter of the Year award. The San Diego chapter members were a younger set compared with the old guard of the original members’ descendants in some of the other chapters. Prescott George had been around for a long time, and not everyone embraced the necessary changes that came with changing times. Still, if the national organization had seen fit to recognize his chapter, then Chris would make damn sure that San Diego PG lived up to those lofty expectations.
Now, though, he had something else on his mind; an almost welcome distraction. He’d been shocked and amazed to see Eliza Ellicott stroll into the office, looking every bit like his dream come true. Here he was, at the top of his game in the architecture field, with his designs having been used for structures all around the world. Yet when she’d walked in, he’d felt...outdone, as if she were way out of his league. He could have spent all day talking to her, watching her smile light the room. While he didn’t like that she’d been inconvenienced by her brother, he was glad fate had decided to let him enjoy her company again.
He thought of Vaughn then and wondered what was going on at Elite. Lunch had long since ended, and Vaughn hadn’t reached out yet. Chris pulled out his phone again, intent on calling his friend before he continued strategizing his plans for the chapter.
After all, if it was something serious, he needed to know so he could lend a hand. He could only hope whatever was going down at Elite wasn’t tied to Prescott George. Their chapter had enough problems already.
* * *
Ellicott’s did brisk business on the weekends, and Friday evening was no exception. Eliza and her two clerks were all working, with Eliza bagging purchases and the clerks running the registers.
As Eliza passed one of her signature glossy silver paper bags filled with items to a customer, she heard the bell ring, signaling someone entering the shop. After the customer was taken care of, she glanced toward the door and saw Chris walking in her direction.
Eliza couldn’t help admiring him as he walked. Dressed in a dark blue polo shirt, matching sneakers and a pair of khaki shorts that revealed his muscled calves, he looked ready to head down to the marina for a day on the bay.
At his side was a pretty young lady in ripped white jeans, a Candy Crush T-shirt and sneakers. She was tall for her age; the top of her head lined up with Chris’s shoulder. Her dark brown hair, styled in box braids, hung just past her collarbone. Much of her face was concealed by the round frames of a very large pair of white-rimmed sunglasses.
The pair walked up to the counter, and Chris smiled as he made eye contact with her. “Hi, Eliza. Thanks for doing this for me.”
She swallowed a lump in her throat. The combination of his smile and his tone made her awareness of him rise. “No problem.” She reached across the counter and stuck out her hand to the young lady. “You must be Jojo. I’m Eliza, nice to meet you.”
“Yes. Hi.” Jojo removed her sunglasses.
Eliza’s breath caught when she saw Chris’s eyes looking back at her. To say Jojo resembled Chris would be an understatement. “Wow. You look an awful lot like your father.”
Jojo grinned. “Thanks, I think.” Shaking hands with Eliza, she asked, “Dad told me to call you Ms. Ellicott. Can I call you by your first name?”
Eliza chuckled. “I’m fine with you using my first name, but I’ll defer to your father.”
Chris shrugged. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”
“You can call me Eliza, then.” She walked around the counter and stood between Chris and Jojo. “So, what kind of dress do you have in mind, Jojo?”
Jojo’s expression showed her uncertainty. “I’m not really sure. It’s my first real dance.”
Eliza gave Chris a playful jab with her elbow. “You ready for this, Dad?”
Half smiling, he shook his head. “Don’t ask. Let’s just say I’m going along with it.”
“Well, Jojo, if you trust me, I’ve got some ideas.” She stood back, getting another look at her client. “With your height and figure, you’ll have a lot of options.
She blushed. “Really?”
Eliza nodded. “Definitely. As a matter of fact, I’ve got some new dresses that just came in from a local designer that I think would be perfect for you.”
Jojo’s eyes widened. “New designer dresses?”
“Yep.” Eliza reached out and linked arms with Jojo. “Come with me. I’ll show you.” She led her over to the right side of the store, where new merchandise was on display. “We can narrow it down if you tell me your favorite color.”
Chris followed them, observing quietly.
Jojo, her eyes still wide, perused the racks of dresses in front of her. “I really like orange. Do you have anything in that color?”
Eliza tapped her chin for a moment, mentally going through the latest shipment. Then she snapped her fingers. “Yes.” She moved over two racks from where Jojo and Chris stood and searched through the drawers holding merchandise she didn’t have room to display on the racks or mannequins. When she found the dress she was looking for, she unfolded it and held it up. “What do you think?”
Jojo gasped. “OMG. It’s gorgeous.”
“When you said you liked orange, I thought you’d like this one.” Eliza admired the sleeveless, calf-length dress. The V-neck line was subtle and adorned with crystals, as was the flounce at the hem. “It’s so new it hasn’t even been on display yet.”
“Wow.” Jojo took the dress from Eliza. Looking to Chris, she asked, “Can I try it on, Dad?”
“Sure.” Chris smiled at his daughter. “Is this the only one you want to try on?”
Jojo looked back at Eliza. “Can I look through the racks?”
“Go ahead.” Eliza watched as Jojo searched through the displays.
Jojo came back with two dresses. One was a soft shade of yellow and very low-cut in the front. The other, a coral minidress, couldn’t possibly hit longer than midthigh on someone her height.
Chris began shaking his head almost immediately. “No way, young lady.”
Jojo frowned. “Geez, Dad.” She turned to Eliza, hoping for a reprieve. “What do you think?”
Eliza tapped her chin with her forefinger. She agreed with Chris: these two dresses were far too revealing for someone Jojo’s age. Seeking to steer her in a better direction, she said, “I can see why you like them, but let’s try these instead.”
Her frown softening a bit, Jojo asked, “You have more dresses in mind for me?”
“Just a couple.” Eliza put back the dresses Jojo had chosen and noted the relief on Chris’s face. Then she moved through the store, pulling the other two dresses she thought might suit Jojo’s age and tastes, and handed them over. “Come on, I’ll set you up in a room.”
Once Jojo was inside one of the five dressing rooms on the back wall of the store, Eliza leaned against the edge of the counter, awaiting the fashion show to come.
Chris, standing next to her, said, “You’ve got a gift. I can see you’re very good at what you do here.”
“I appreciate that.” Eliza smiled his way. His compliment flattered her, probably more than it should have. Of course, it had always been that way. He’d been skilled at sweet-talking her back in the day, and he hadn’t lost his touch.
“I’m amazed at how fast you built a rapport with California’s most fickle teenage girl. Beyond that, you only chose dresses for her that were age appropriate, and she actually seemed to like them.” Chris shook his head, his expression conveying his amazement. “When I try to pick out things for her, I just get the pouty face.”
Eliza laughed. “Like I said, I remember what it was like to be her age. It’s an awkward time, when all a girl wants is to be cool and fit in.” It wasn’t until Eliza was in her midtwenties that she truly understood the value of individualism, and embraced it.
Chris walked closer to her, entering her personal bubble the same way he had at Prescott George. “Well, you have my undying respect and gratitude.”
“Still a smooth talker, I see.” She turned toward him, her back against the edge of the counter.
“It’s the truth.” He took a step closer to her. “These aren’t empty words to gas you up. I really feel that way.”
Their gazes met and held, and Eliza found herself unable to turn away. How could he still have such a hold on her, after all this time? It seemed she’d done the right thing by avoiding him over the last several years.
They stood there that way, searching each other’s eyes, for several long moments.
Jojo’s voice broke into Eliza’s thoughts.
“How do I look?”
Eliza, grateful for the distraction, drew a breath.
“We’ll talk more later.” Chris said the words for her ears only.
Chapter 3
Chris’s eyes lingered on Eliza’s face a moment longer, then he directed his attention to his daughter.
Chris swung his gaze toward Jojo, who’d emerged from the dressing room in a soft orange A-line dress with a taffeta skirt.
“It’s gorgeous.” Eliza smiled in her direction. “Turn around so we can see it all.”
The dress Jojo wore now wasn’t the first one Eliza had handed her, but she did look beautiful in it. “I love it, sweetie. Very nice.”
Eliza chimed in again. “What do you think of it, Jojo?”
Regarding her reflection in the mirrors in the corner, Jojo shrugged. “It’s really pretty, but I don’t know if it’s the one I want.”
Walking over to her, Eliza patted her on the shoulder. “That’s fine. Go try on the others, then you can make your choice.”
Jojo nodded, then disappeared back into the dressing room.
Anticipating this might take a while, Chris sat down on one of the three upholstered ottomans near the dressing room doors. He let his gaze sweep over the interior of Eliza’s boutique. From the front door, he’d seen a lot of it, but from his current vantage point, he could see it all. The soft gray walls and carpet seemed to disappear behind her colorful assortment of clothing, jewelry and accessories. The layout of the store left plenty of space for customers to walk between the mannequins, racks and displays, and there was even a small conversation area with a sofa, two chairs and a coffee table, situated on the opposite side of the counter from the dressing rooms. Though he didn’t know much about women’s fashion, he could appreciate the work Eliza must have put into the design and setup of her store. She’d taken a space that, from an architectural perspective, was pretty basic, and transformed it into something welcoming and aesthetically pleasing.
He saw her talking to one of her staff members, and he could feel the smile tilting his lips. She probably thought the long, silent moment they’d spent before Jojo had come out to model the dress could be forgotten or tossed aside. He knew better. Though no words had been exchanged, the unspoken desire flowing between them had been obvious. He wouldn’t press her about it now, because he’d come here for his daughter. Eventually, though, they were going to discuss what was happening between them.
Jojo came out then in the bedazzled orange dress Eliza had first chosen for her. Chris couldn’t help smiling when he saw his daughter in the dress. It was tasteful, pretty and perfectly suited to her.
Grinning, Jojo came to stand by the mirrors. “Wow. This is it.”
“I agree.” Chris watched her do a slow turn, amazed at how grown-up his little girl suddenly looked.
Eliza came over then and began applauding as soon as she saw Jojo. “Oh, honey. You should get this one. It’s perfect on you.”
Jojo’s eyes sparkled as she looked at her reflection from various angles. “Okay, Dad. This is the one I want.”
“Great. Let’s box it up.” Chris stood. He loved spending time with his daughter, and with Eliza, but he didn’t really want to spend his entire Friday night hanging out in a ladies’ clothing store.
“Wait.” Jojo walked away from the mirrors and grabbed Eliza’s arms. “Now I need accessories. Can you help me find shoes, jewelry and maybe a bag?”
“Sure thing.” Eliza glanced at Chris. “Give us a few minutes more, okay?”
Sitting back down, Chris nodded. “I’ll be here.”
He watched the pair search through the accessories displays on the front left side of the store and the shoe section next to them. He could hear some of their conversation about what was currently “in” right now, and their chatter about shoes, necklaces and handbags threatened to put him to sleep. Still, he could see the rapport growing between Eliza and Jojo, and from where he sat, his daughter even seemed impressed with his former sweetheart. Moody and unpredictable as Jojo could be, impressing her was no small feat.
When Jojo finally piled her things up on the counter for Eliza to ring up, Chris marveled at the size of the pile. “Do you really need all of this, Jojo?”
“Well, Dad, I got the dress for the dance, plus an extra one, just in case.” Jojo picked up the items one by one as she explained. “Then I needed shoes, earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, this cute little bag...”
Chris put his hand up. “Okay, okay.” He reached for his wallet as a smiling Eliza started tallying the bill.
Ten minutes and a few hundred dollars later, Eliza handed a metallic silver bag over the counter to Jojo. “Here you go, honey. Have fun at the dance.”
Chris turned to leave, but Jojo hesitated.
“Can I have a minute, Dad?”
“Sure. I’ll wait by the door.” He walked away, taking up a post by the exit. From where he stood, he could hear them talking.
“I’d really like to be able to call you, if you don’t mind.” Jojo leaned over the counter. “That way I can find out when new stuff comes in, and get tips from you on fashion and stuff.”
“I don’t mind at all.” A smiling Eliza took one of the store’s business cards off the stack by the register and jotted something on the back. Passing it to Jojo, she winked. “Here’s my number.”
“Thanks. See you later.” Jojo tucked the card into her hip pocket and walked toward where Chris stood waiting at the door.
As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Chris commented, “You really like Eliza, huh?”
“She seems cool.” Jojo’s tone was nonchalant. She waited for Chris to open the passenger-side door of his midsize sedan, then climbed in.
He shut his daughter in, then climbed into the driver’s seat. While buckling up he asked, “Are you actually going to call her?”
Jojo chuckled. “I am. I wanna get the new stuff before everybody else does.” She squirmed a bit and reached into her pocket. Handing him the card, she said, “So, be sure to return this to me after you call her.”
Chris felt his eyes widen. “What?”
Jojo shook her head. “Come on, Dad. You’re crushing on her. Anybody can see that.”
“You’re very perceptive.”
“I know. That’s why I knew you’d need my help.”
Chris shook his head. Starting his car, he marveled at his daughter. “You’re amazing. Thanks, Jojo.”
“No problem, Dad. You can pay me back in new clothes.”
A laughing Chris backed out of the parking spot and pulled out into the road.
* * *
Later that night, Chris pulled the Ellicott’s business card out and punched the number into his phone.
“Hello?” Eliza’s voice filled his ear as she answered the call.
“Hi, Eliza. It’s me, Chris.”
“Chris?” The surprise in her voice was soon replaced with acceptance. “Got my number from Jojo, right?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, she helped me out.”
Eliza cleared her throat. “What can I do for you, Chris?”
He had many answers for that question, but he went with the most appropriate one. “I’m just calling to thank you for helping me out with Jojo today.”
“It’s no problem. She’s a sweet kid, and I was happy to help.”
“She’s pretty hard to please these days, but bringing her to Ellicott’s got me some major brownie points with her. I really appreciate it.”
Eliza laughed, the sound soft and musical. “Like I said, no problem. Actually, you already thanked me, by spending all that money in my store. I’d say we’re even.”
“Still, I’d like to do something for you. Why don’t you let me take you to dinner tomorrow night?”
She hesitated for a long moment. “I don’t know, Chris.”
“It’s just dinner. You gotta eat, right?”
She exhaled in his ear, then gave in. “Okay, Chris. I’ll go out with you, but it can’t be anyplace too fancy.”
“We’ll keep it casual, I promise.” Chris grinned at the thought of spending time alone with Eliza after all these years. “What time should I pick you up?”
“Eight. You’ll have to pick me up at the boutique.”
“That’s fine.” He didn’t know if she would be getting off work around that time, or she just didn’t want him at her house, but it didn’t really matter. “See you then. Good night, Eliza.”
“Night, Chris.” She disconnected the call.
Tucking his phone away, a smiling Chris strolled to the bathroom for a hot shower.
* * *
Saturday night, Eliza stepped out of Ellicott’s at five minutes to eight and found Chris’s car idling at the curb. She waved, walked toward the car.
He jumped out and held open the passenger door for her. “Good evening.”
She raked an appreciative gaze over his body, encased in dark denim jeans and a fitted black T-shirt. “Hi, Chris.” She slipped into the car and buckled up as he shut the door.
“You look nice,” he remarked as he settled in next to her and started the car.
She looked down at her tan slacks and white cap-sleeve blouse. “Thanks. It’s just what I wore to work today. You did say it would be casual.”
“It will be.” He pulled away from the curb.
They stopped off for dinner at the Burger Lounge on Fifth Avenue. It wasn’t far from Ellicott’s, and Eliza loved the food there. She chowed down on the cage-free turkey burger, while Chris enjoyed the classic Lounge burger. They shared a mixed basket of fries and onion rings.
Conversation flowed easily between them, and Eliza almost felt like they’d never been apart. “So, tell me about some of the buildings you’ve designed. Are there any around here that I might know?”
“Sure. But there’s so many of them, it would be easier to just drive you around the city and show them to you.” He popped an onion ring into his mouth.
Her eyebrow lifted. “Oh, really?” Was that his way of asking her out again? They’d only been together for about an hour on this outing.
He nodded. “Yes, really. There are about fifteen buildings in different locations around San Diego that are original Marland designs.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “But it’s up to you whether you want the tour.”
Finishing her meal, Eliza tossed a crumpled napkin into the empty basket that had held the fries and onion rings. “I’m stuffed. Now I just want to crawl into bed.”
“You know it’s bad for your digestion to lie down right after you eat.” He stood, cleared away their trash and threw it away. When he returned, he held out his hand to help her up. “Lucky for you, our night isn’t over yet.”
She looked up at him, confused. “We’re going somewhere else?”
“Yes. And I promise you’ll love it.”
She pursed her lips. “All right now, Chris. We had dinner, like you asked. How long are you planning to keep me up tonight?” Too late, she realized the implications of what she’d said.
A wicked smile crossed over his face. “Not much longer. Don’t worry. I’ll have you home by eleven.”
Shaking her head, she let him lead her out of the restaurant and back to the car.
She watched the passing scenery as they drove through the darkened streets. It was around nine thirty, and the vibrant night life in San Diego meant there was still a decent amount of traffic. Everything she saw was familiar; she’d grown up here and had returned home to open the boutique about six months ago. Still, gazing out the window was the best way she could think of to suppress the urge to openly stare at Chris.