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At her desk, she was ultraconscious of his body so near hers. Her hand trembled a little as she handed him the tie.
“Are you sorry I came, Elena?” he asked as he took the tie.
“It was tense waiting for you,” she told him. She couldn’t tell him that she felt exhilarated being with him. Wouldn’t that bind her closer to him before she knew what he was looking for in a relationship?
He gently slipped the tie around her neck and drew her close to him. “I had to see you,” he admitted.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she heard herself say.
His gaze drifted to her lips, and she wanted him to kiss her more than anything. Then his mouth covered hers. When she felt his tongue touch hers, every vein in her body felt electrified. She lightly bit his bottom lip, and he moaned. Responding to his passion, she circled her arms around his neck and pressed her body tightly against his.
The ringing of the telephone suddenly brought her back to the office. She slipped free of his arms, handed him the tie and picked up the receiver. Her sister’s voice filled her ear.
“El, why are you still at the office?” Jan asked. “You always let me know when you’re working late.”
“Sorry, I forgot to call,” she told her, aware of Garrett’s fingers lightly touching her hair. “I had some things to finish up.”
“I received a card from the Marriage Connection,” her sister went on. “It’s got the name of the restaurant for your Saturday night date.”
She saw Garrett walk over to the window. She felt guilty talking to her sister about a date with another man when she wanted to be with him. How could she go out on a date with someone else when her heart ached to be with Garrett?
“Jan, I’ll talk to you later.” Then she hung up and picked up her bag. “I’ve got to go,” she said, avoiding his eyes because of the content of her sister’s call.
In the hallway she was relieved when the elevator immediately came, and there were a few people inside as she got in with him. She blindly stared at the floor numbers lighting up on the metal wall.
The elevator doors opened at the parking level. As she was about to say a quick good-night to him and hurry to her car, he touched her arm.
“Will you be okay getting home?” he asked.
His caring made her feel even more upset about that date. “I’ll be fine,” she told him and then got into her car.
As she drove out of the parking garage behind his car, she watched him head up the street. She fantasized about blowing her horn to stop him and inviting him to her apartment. She wanted to know all about him. She wanted to cook dinner for him. She wanted to cuddle on the sofa with him.
Instead, she turned on a jazz station on the radio. She had to take her mind off Garrett. She couldn’t be with him if he wasn’t looking for a lifetime relationship like she was. Maybe the Marriage Connection date wasn’t such a bad thing. Maybe meeting another man would steer her thoughts away from Garrett.
As she stopped for a red light, she heard him blow his horn and saw him wave as his car moved way ahead of hers up the street. She waved back and realized that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t fight the growing inner connection she felt toward him.
As Garrett parked in front of Aunt Rosie’s house, he waved to the young woman leaving, who took care of his aunt’s needs from Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, a warm-hearted older woman came by.
Garrett unlocked the back kitchen door with his key. “Aunt Rosie, it’s me!” he announced, entering the Early-American-style kitchen. He could hear the voice of her favorite radio talk show host from the living room.
“I’m catching the end of my show, Garrett,” Aunt Rosie said. “Can you bring me a glass of grape juice?”
“You’re allergic to grapes,” he reminded her, pouring her a glass of orange juice instead. Though his aunt had lapses in memory and her eyesight was failing, she was as spunky as ever. As a widow with no children, she’d raised him since he was seven years old, when his parents gave her permanent custody due to their severe alcoholic drinking problem. Now that she was in her late seventies, he’d been caring for her by dropping by each day for a visit.
For the first time since his divorce, Garrett felt a pang of loneliness being at Aunt Rosie’s house. He wished Elena was with him. Knowing how family oriented she was, he was sure she’d enjoy his aunt. He quickly shed the thought. He knew he could never introduce Elena to his aunt. He couldn’t take the chance of getting that close to her. And he couldn’t tell his aunt about her. Talking about Elena would mean that he envisioned her as the permanent woman in his life. Everything inside of him resisted making solid plans like that for himself again, knowing how easily his future with the woman he loved could be shattered.
When Garrett walked into the living room to give his aunt the orange juice, she immediately waved him to sit down and be quiet. He knew she didn’t want him interrupting the remainder of the radio show.
He waited as she listened closely to every word of the host.
Aunt Rosie flipped off the radio. “Garrett, I got you a date for this Saturday night.”
“With who?” He grinned, not taking her seriously. “Michelle Pfeiffer?”
“Ha, ha, very funny,” she said. “Since you’re not looking for a girlfriend yourself, I’ve decided to do it for you.” She pointed to the coffee table. “Hand me that sheet of paper over there.”
He felt the urge to tell her about Elena, but he didn’t want her thinking he was serious with anyone. “What’s your plan for me, Aunt Rosie?”
“I heard about a dating service on the radio,” she replied. “It’s called the something connection. I can’t read the print too well, but the service chooses an ideal woman to match the man’s personality. I paid the fee and sent a personality profile on you.”
“You’re joking,” he said.
“You need to sign this form,” she said, handing it to him.
Garrett reluctantly looked at the paper. “This is the second sheet to the agreement. Where’s the first page?”
“It’s around here someplace,” she replied, sifting unsuccessfully through a stack of old newspapers on the floor. “I think page one gave the name of the dating service and a couple of rules I can’t remember.”
The idea of being with a woman other than Elena was making him more nervous by the second. “Aunt Rosie, you’re wonderful for thinking about me, but—”
She stuck a pen in his hand. “You need to date a woman who’s compatible with you,” she went on. “You made a big mistake with that con lady you married.”
Her words stung because he knew she was right. “Okay, I admit, I should’ve listened to you about my ex-wife.” His aunt didn’t approve of her from day one. He couldn’t help thinking that she’d like Elena.
“Sign this paper, Garrett,” his aunt pushed. “You might be matched with someone really nice.”
He couldn’t envision meeting a woman more perfect than Elena. His impulse was to say no, but he stopped himself.
“I need to read the rules first,” he said, knowing how persistent his aunt could be when she felt strongly about something. He’d do anything for her, and she knew it.
He read that he’d only be obligated to go on three prearranged, already-paid-for dates, one every two weeks, beginning with the upcoming Saturday. He could feel his aunt looking over his shoulder, waiting for his signature on the form.
“Okay, three dates, that’s it,” he said, forcing himself to sign.
“Garrett, you need to promise me one thing,” Aunt Rosie began. “Never tell your date I talked you into joining the service. That’s no way to start a romance.”
“I promise,” he told her, making a mental note to write a check to cover the cost of the service and deposit the money into his aunt’s bank account in the morning.
When he returned to his apartment in Santa Monica, Garrett felt uneasy about the prearranged date for Saturday night. Before he met Elena, he would’ve thought of the dates as three fun evenings, and that was it. But now he had no desire to go out with anyone, except her.
He shed his clothes and jumped into the shower, trying not to think about his powerful feelings for her. But when he flashed on holding her soft body in his arms at the office, he fantasized about what it would be like to hold her naked against him.
He turned on the cold water full-force. Temporarily dating a woman chosen by a service was a lot safer than being tempted by his intense attraction to Elena Martin.
As he felt the cold water on his face, he anxiously realized that Elena could make a man such as him momentarily forget his goal to become vice president and his vow to remain single.
“Aunt Elena, you’ve got red polka dots on your skin!” Bennie said with wide eyes.
“Polka dots?” she said as she nervously took out a black evening jacket from her bedroom closet for her first Marriage Connection date. She was so anxious that she’d probably smeared lipstick on her face.
“They’re spreading all over!” he went on.
She glanced in the bureau mirror and did a double take. “Oh, no!” she frantically said, seeing red spots on her neck and parts of her face. “Jan, come in here!”
Her sister, who’d stopped by her apartment with the kids to give her moral support for her first date, ran into the bedroom with Tod at her side.
Tod’s eyes almost popped out. “Aunt Elena, you’ve got the chicken pox!”
Jan examined the blotches. “You’ve got nervous hives,” she said, laughing.
“It’s not funny!” She grabbed her concealer makeup and applied the flesh-colored cream on her skin.
“Just relax and the spots will disappear,” her sister advised as Bennie and Tod ran into the living room to play on her computer.
How could she relax when Garrett had been on her mind all day? “Jan, I can’t go on this date.”
“You can’t back out now,” her sister insisted. “Keep reminding yourself that he’s perfectly matched for you. And he wants to get married, just like you do.”
“I’ll try. I really will.” She didn’t want to disappoint her sister, but she knew she’d be thinking about Garrett all evening. He was the one she wanted to date.
“El, you better get going,” Jan said. “Here’s the Marriage Connection card to give to the restaurant maître d’.” She handed the engraved card to her. “Call me the second you get home. I don’t care if it’s three in the morning!”
A few minutes later Elena anxiously parked her car in front of the Tiara Club in Santa Monica Canyon where a valet opened the door for her.
I’m going to meet the man meant for me, she silently told herself. Why couldn’t she believe that? Because of Garrett, that was why. A black-tuxedoed gentleman swung open the double doors of the restaurant for her to enter. Then, she handed the card to the maître d’. He immediately gave her black jacket to the coat-check lady.
“Follow me, mademoiselle,” the maître d’ said.
Elena took in the luxurious crystal chandelier and thick blue carpeting. The candle-lit tables had beige linen tablecloths and napkins butterflied in sterling silver holders with dazzling silverware at each china place setting.
She hoped she was dressed fancy enough in her jade velvet spaghetti-strapped dress. She had a string of pearls around her neck, matching pearl-drop earrings and was wearing jade pumps.
Her body trembled a little as the maître d’ led her to the door of a private room. She wanted to turn around and go back home. She didn’t want to meet a new man.
“Your date will be here any moment, mademoiselle,” he said.
As the gentleman opened the door, she glimpsed a formally set table with tall white candles and red roses in a crystal vase. She could hear soft piano music playing in the background and noticed a small hardwood dance floor.
“Mademoiselle,” he began, “I would like to introduce your date for the evening.”
Elena took a deep breath and turned around to meet the perfect man matched for her. Her eyes widened when she saw Garrett standing there!
“Elena Martin meet Garrett Sims,” the maître d’ said. “I will have your waiter bring in the champagne.” Then he left and closed the private room door behind him.
“Wow, Elena!” Garrett said, his eyes taking her all in. “You’re my date? I must’ve hit the jackpot!”
“Garrett, I can’t believe—” She was so thrilled that she could barely speak. “This is so incredible!”
He looked incredible. He was starkly handsome in a black tuxedo, crisp white shirt and black satin bow tie. The tux jacket stretched across his broad shoulders and solid chest. She felt the urge to throw her arms around his neck and tell him how ecstatic she felt that he was her date!
“You look gorgeous, Elena,” he said in a husky voice, his gaze sensually traveling down her body.
Her skin tingled at his visual caress. “So do you!” she blurted and then blushed, adding, “I mean, you look great, Garrett.”
She wanted to ask him a zillion questions about his signing up with the dating service, but she was so flustered being with him that she couldn’t remember the name of the service.
After a discreet knock on the door, the waiter entered with two crystal flute glasses of sparkling pink champagne.
Garrett slipped his hand in hers and led her to the dinner table. As he sat across from her, her heartbeat raced when she felt his knees gently touch hers.
“To us,” he said, tapping his sparkling glass with hers.
She nodded, unable to believe that her dream had come true. With a trembling hand, she took a sip of the pink bubbly, her eyes never leaving his.
The waiter served an exquisite salad of garden greens with French dressing and then an entreé of baked hen with baby carrots and garlic mashed potatoes.
“Hungry?” Garrett asked, offering her a cut of hen on his fork. “What a stroke of fate that I should be with you tonight,” he whispered. “I’ve got to admit something to you, Elena.”
“What?” she asked, feeling like her heart was about to burst with joy at being with him.
“The moment I met you in Stanley’s office,” he began, “I was majorly attracted to you. I’ve wanted to be with you ever since.”
“You’ve been on my mind since that meeting, too,” she responded, unable to hold back her feelings for him.
He leaned across the small table and gently stroked her cheek, sending chills down her skin. “No wonder the dating service connected us together,” he said.
Her heart skipped a beat as his finger slid down her neck, tracing the strand of pearls just above the rise of her breasts.
The waiter came into the room, asking, “Is the dinner pleasing to you?”
“Very pleasing,” Garrett replied, his eyes on her, as though he were talking only about being with her.
Elena was so consumed with Garrett that she didn’t remember finishing the rest of her meal. Before she knew it, the busboy was clearing the table. Then the waiter carried in a silver tray filled with chocolate éclairs, whipped cream fruit tarts, and creamy cheesecake.
She slipped a slice of sumptuous éclair into Garrett’s mouth and then let him lick the whipped cream off the tips of each of her fingers. The desire in his eyes matched her own, and she barely noticed when the maître d’ came into the private room.
The soft background piano music switched to a love ballad. The lights dimmed, and kaleidoscope rainbow lights glittered across the shiny dance floor.
Elena felt overwhelmed with nervousness thinking about dancing in Garrett’s arms.
“Please dance,” the maître d’ encouraged. “You will not be disturbed for the last hour of your evening.”
Garrett barely noticed the maître d’ leave. He couldn’t take his eyes off Elena. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her ivory breasts swelled over the top of her velvet dress, which hugged the hourglass curves of her body.
He took her hand and led her to the multicolored dance floor. He slipped his arm around her small waist and gently drew her against his body, slowly swaying to the love beat.
“It feels so good to hold you, Elena,” he whispered, pressing his palms against the small of her back, guiding her closer to him.
He could smell the vanilla in her hair. He could feel her firm breasts against his chest. He still couldn’t believe that he was with her.
Being with Elena, he lost all sense of time, all awareness of where he was. And before he realized it, his mouth was closing over hers, tasting the sweet nectar of her lips. He slid his lips down to her throat.
Wanting to touch every part of her, he slipped his fingers under the spaghetti straps of her dress. He felt her breathing quicken as he lowered the straps and touched her satiny shoulders with his lips. Her skin was so soft, so warm. He reached the hills of her breasts above her dress. He nibbled and kissed her flesh, needing to taste even more of her.
A low moan escaped from her lips as he cupped her velvet-covered breasts in his hands. He could feel her nipples rise against his palms. Her pleasure ignited his body like a lit match.
Garrett forgot that he needed to hold back his feelings and not get deeply involved with Elena. All he was aware of was his powerful need to get closer to her.
Three
Elena was oblivious to the kaleidoscope lights. She could barely hear the love ballad playing. All she could feel were the intense sensations of Garrett’s caresses.
She felt so close to him. She felt like he was her dream man come true.
Suddenly the buzzing of a cellular phone startled her back to reality. She realized that the ringing was coming from Garrett’s jacket pocket
She gently released herself from his arms, her skin still burning from his touch.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, pulling the cellular out of his pocket. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered back.
As she lifted up the straps of her dress, she noticed him take a few steps off the dance floor to answer the call. Though his voice was low, she couldn’t help hearing his words.
“I’m kind of busy, Bert,” Garrett said into the phone. “You what?” His voice lowered even more. “Are you sure it might be a new account for me? Who’s the owner of the property? I want to talk to him.”
Though her cheeks were still warm with arousal, Elena suddenly became aware that Garrett was discussing the possibility of getting a new property management account.
A flood of disappointment washed over her. No matter how close she felt to him during their date, Garrett was still her competitor. He wanted the vice presidency just as much as she did.
Just then she heard Garrett say goodbye and flip closed the cell phone. He turned to her, looking like he had a secret he couldn’t tell her. After their intimate moments together on the dance floor, she couldn’t help but feel excluded. Yet she knew he had no other choice but to keep silent about his business call.
And she knew she couldn’t get emotionally involved with Garrett, not if she wanted Stanley to promote her.
“I really need to get home,” she said, grabbing her purse with trembling fingers.
“Elena, I didn’t mean to spoil our evening,” he began.
“You didn’t,” she said, avoiding his eyes, wishing she’d never been kissed and caressed by him, because she only wanted more.
“I should never have answered that call,” he said.
She wished he hadn’t, either. Now there was a barrier between them that she couldn’t make go away.
“Garrett, our prearranged dates can’t make us forget who we really are,” she forced out.
“I don’t want it to ruin our evening together.”
“I don’t, either,” she said. “But the fact is that I want that job, too, Garrett. Tonight hasn’t changed my goal.”
She hated talking business with him, but she had to keep an emotional separation between them. She had to show him that the promotion was as important to her as it was to him.
“Maybe I’m wrong,” he began, “but I thought you and I were feeling close to each other tonight.”
“We are, we were,” she stammered, “but only because of the date. We’re business associates, Garrett. I can’t have anything more than a platonic relationship with you.” Her words felt forced. “I’m obligated by the dating service contract to go on two more dates with you, but we can’t date in between.”
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