Читать книгу The Summer Wedding: Groom Wanted / The Man You'll Marry - Debbie Macomber - Страница 8

Two

“I’ll pay for the dress myself,” Jill insisted for the tenth time. She couldn’t believe she’d agreed to attend this dinner party with Jordan Wilcox. Not only didn’t she know the man, she didn’t even like him.

“I’ll pay for the dress,” he said, also for the tenth time. “It’s the least I can do.”

They were in the ultraexpensive dress shop located off the hotel lobby. Jill was shifting judiciously through the rack of evening gowns. Most were outrageously overpriced. She found a simple one she thought might flatter her petite build, ran her hand down the sleeve until she reached the white tag, then sighed. The price was higher than any of the others. Grumbling under her breath, she dropped the sleeve and continued her search.

Jordan glanced impatiently at his watch. “What’s wrong with this one?” He held up an elegant cocktail dress. It was made of dark green silk, with a draped bodice and a slim skirt. Lovely indeed, but hardly worth a week’s salary.

“Nothing’s wrong with it,” she answered absently as she flipped through the row of dresses.

“Then buy it.”

Jill glared at him. “I can’t afford eight hundred dollars for a dress I’ll probably wear once.”

“I can,” he returned from between clenched teeth.

“I won’t allow you to pay for my dress.”

“The party’s in thirty minutes,” he reminded her sharply.

“All right, all right.”

He sighed with relief and put out a hand for the dress. Jill stopped him.

“Obviously nothing here is going to work. I’ll check what I brought with me. Maybe what I have is more suitable than I thought.”

Groaning, he followed her to the elevator. “Wait in the hall,” she said as she unlocked her door. She wasn’t about to let a strange man into her room. She stood by the closet and rooted through the few dresses she’d unpacked that afternoon. The only suitable one was an antique-white sleeveless dress with large gold buttons down the front. It wasn’t exactly what one would wear to an elegant dinner party, but it was passable.

She raced to the door and held it up for Jordan. “Will this do?”

The poor man looked exasperated. “How do I know?”

Leaving the door open, Jill ran back to her closet. “The only other dress I have is Aunt Milly’s wedding gown,” she muttered.

“You packed a wedding dress?” His gray eyes lit up with amusement. It seemed an effort not to laugh out loud. “You apparently have high hopes for this vacation.”

“I didn’t bring it with me,” she informed him primly, sorry she’d even mentioned it. “A friend had it delivered.”

“You’re getting married?”

“No. I— Oh, I don’t have time to explain.”

Jordan eyed her as if he had plenty of questions, but wasn’t sure he wanted to ask them.

“Wear the one you showed me, then,” he said testily. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“All right, I will.” By now Jill regretted agreeing to attend the dinner party. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.” She closed the door again, but not before she got a glimpse of the surprised look on Jordan’s face. It wasn’t until she’d slipped out of her sundress that she realized he probably wasn’t accustomed to women who left him waiting in the hallway while they changed clothes.

Although she knew Jordan was impatient, Jill took an extra few minutes to freshen her makeup and run a brush through her shoulder-length brown hair. Using a gold clip, she pinned it up in a simple chignon. Despite herself, she couldn’t help feeling excited about this small adventure. There was no telling whom she might meet tonight.

Drawing in a deep breath to calm herself, she smoothed the skirt of her dress, then walked slowly to the door. Jordan was waiting for her, his back against the opposite wall. He straightened when she appeared.

“Do I look okay?”

His gaze narrowed assessingly. His scrutiny made Jill uncomfortable, and she held herself stiffly. At last he nodded.

“You look fine,” was all he said.

Jill heaved a sigh of relief, returned to her room to retrieve her purse and then joined Jordan.

The dinner party, as he’d explained earlier, was in a private room in one of the hotel’s restaurants. Jordan led the way to the elevator, his pace urgent.

“You’d better tell me what you want me to do,” she said.

“Do?” he repeated with a frown. “Just do whatever you women do to let one another know a certain man is off-limits, and make sure Suzi understands.” He hesitated. “Only do it without fawning all over me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Jill said, gazing up at him in mock adoration and fluttering her lashes.

Jordan’s frown deepened. “None of that, either.”

“Of what?”

“That thing with the eyes.” He motioned with his hand, looking annoyed.

“Should I know something about who’s attending the party?”

“Not really,” he said impatiently.

“What about you?” He shot her a puzzled look, and Jill elaborated. “If I’m your date, it makes sense I’d know who you are—something beyond your name, I mean—and what you do.”

“I suppose it does.” He buried his hands in his pockets. “I’m the CEO for a large development company based in Seattle. Simply put, we develop projects, gather together the financing, arrange for the construction, and then once the project’s completed, we sell.”

“That sounds interesting.” If you thrived on tension and pressure, that is.

“It can be,” was his only response. He looked her over once more, but his glance revealed neither approval nor reproach.

“I didn’t like you when we first met.” Jill wasn’t sure why she felt obliged to tell him this. In fact, she still didn’t like him, although she had to admit he was a very attractive man indeed. “When I sat next to you during the flight, I thought you were very unfriendly,” she continued.

“I take it your opinion of me hasn’t changed?” He cocked one brow with the question, as if to suggest her answer wouldn’t trouble him one way or the other.

Jill ignored him. “You don’t like women very much, do you?”

“They have their uses.”

He said it in such a belittling, negative way that Jill felt a flash of hot color invade her cheeks. She turned to look at him, feeling almost sorry for a man who had everything yet seemed so empty inside. “What’s made you so cynical?”

He glanced at her again, a bit scornfully. “Life.”

Jill didn’t know what to make of that response, but luckily the elevator arrived just then.

“Is there anything else I should know before we get there?” she asked once they were inside. Her role, Jill understood, was to protect him from an associate’s daughter. She had no idea how she was supposed to manage that, but she’d think of something when the time came.

“Nothing important.” He paused, frowning. “I’m afraid the two of us might arouse some curiosity, though.”

“Why’s that?”

“I don’t generally associate with … innocents.”

“Innocents?” He made her sound like one of the preschool crowd. No one she’d ever known could insult her with less effort. “I am over twenty-one, in case you didn’t realize it.”

He laughed outright at that, and Jill stiffened, regretting—probably not for the last time—that she’d actually agreed to this.

“I think you’re wonderful, too,” she said sarcastically.

“So you told me before.”

The elevator arrived at the top floor of the hotel, where the restaurant was located. Jordan spoke briefly to the maître d’, who led them to the dinner party.

Jill glanced around the simple, elegant room, and her heart did a tiny somersault. All the guests were executive types, the men in dark suits, the women in sophisticated dresses that could all have been bought at the little boutique downstairs. Everyone had an aura of prosperity and power.

Jill’s breath came in shallow gasps. She was miles out of her league. These people had money, real money, whereas she’d spent months just saving for this vacation. Her money was invested in panty hose and frozen dinners, not property and office towers and massive stock portfolios.

Jordan must have felt her unease, because he turned to her and smiled briefly. “You’ll be fine.”

It astonished Jill that three little words from him could give her an immeasurable boost of confidence. She smiled and drew herself up as tall as her five-foot-three-inch frame would allow.

Waiters carried trays of delicate hors d’oeuvres and narrow etched-glass flutes filled with sparkling, golden champagne. Jill reached for a glass and took her first sip, widening her eyes in surprise. Never had she tasted anything better.

“This is excellent.”

“It should be, at three hundred dollars a bottle.”

Before Jill could comment, an older, distinguished-looking gentleman detached himself from a younger colleague and made his way across the room toward them. He looked close to sixty, but could have stepped off the pages of Gentlemen’s Quarterly.

“Jordan,” he said in a hearty voice, extending his hand, “I’m delighted you could make it.”

“I am, too.”

“I trust your flight was uneventful.”

Jordan’s gaze briefly met Jill’s. “It was fine. I’d like you to meet Jill Morrison. Jill, Dean Lundquist.”

“Hello,” she said pleasantly, giving him her hand.

“Delighted,” Dean said again, turning to smile at her. He held her hand considerably longer than good manners required. Jill had the impression she was being carefully inspected and did her utmost to appear composed.

Finally, he released her and nodded toward the entrance. “If you’ll both excuse me for a moment, Nicholson’s just arrived.”

“Of course,” Jordan agreed politely.

Jill waited until Dean Lundquist was out of earshot. Then she leaned toward Jordan and whispered, “Suzi’s dad?”

Jordan made a wry face. “Smart girl.”

Not really, since few other men would have had cause to inspect her so closely, but Jill didn’t discount the compliment. She wasn’t likely to receive that many, at least not from Jordan.

“Who was that standing with him?” She inclined her head in the direction of a tall, good-looking young man. Something about him didn’t seem quite right. Nothing she could put her finger on, but it was a feeling she couldn’t shake.

“That’s Dean Junior,” Jordan explained.

Jill noticed the way Jordan’s mouth thinned and the thoughtful, preoccupied look that came into his eyes. “He’s being groomed by Daddy to take my place.”

“Junior?” Jill studied the younger man a second time. “I don’t think you’ll have much of a problem.”

“Why’s that?”

She shrugged, not sure why she felt so confident of that. “I can’t picture you losing at anything.”

His gaze swept her warmly. “I have no intention of giving Junior the opportunity, but I’m going to have a real fight on my hands soon.”

“Just a minute,” Jill said. “If Suzi is Dean Senior’s daughter, then wouldn’t a marriage between you two secure your position?” It wouldn’t exactly be a love match, but she couldn’t envision Jordan marrying for something as commonplace as love.

Jordan gave her a quick, unreadable look. “It’d help, but unfortunately I’m not the marrying kind.”

Jill had guessed as much. She doubted there was time in his busy schedule for love or commitment, just for work, work, work. Complete one project and start another. She knew the pattern.

Jill couldn’t imagine falling in love with someone like Jordan. And she couldn’t picture Jordan in love at all. As he’d said, he wasn’t the marrying kind.

“Jordan.” A woman’s shrill voice sent a chill up Jill’s spine as a beautiful blonde hurried past her and straight into Jordan’s unsuspecting arms, locking him in a tight embrace.

“This must be Suzi,” Jill said conversationally from behind the woman who was squeezing Jordan for all she was worth.

Jordan’s irate eyes found hers. “Do something!” he mouthed.

Jill was enjoying the scene far too much to interrupt Suzi’s passionate greeting. While Jordan was occupied, Jill took an hors d’oeuvre from a nearby silver platter. Whatever it was tasted divine, and she automatically reached for two more. She hadn’t recognized how hungry she was. Not until she was on her third cracker did she realize she was sampling caviar.

“Oh, darling, I didn’t think you’d ever get here,” Suzi said breathlessly. Her pretty blue eyes filled with something close to hero worship as she gazed up at Jordan. “Whatever took you so long? Didn’t you know I’d been waiting hours and hours for you?”

“Suzi,” Jordan said stiffly, disentangling himself from the blonde’s embrace. He straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “I’d like you to meet Jill Morrison, my date. Jill, this is Suzi Lundquist.”

“Hello,” Jill said before helping herself to yet another cracker. Jordan’s look told her this was not the time to discover a taste for Russian caviar.

Suzi’s big blue eyes widened incredulously. She really was lovely, but one glimpse and Jill understood Jordan’s reluctance. Suzi was very young, early twenties at most, and terribly vulnerable. She had to admire his tactic of putting the girl off without being unnecessarily rude.

Jordan had made Dean Lundquist’s daughter sound like a vamp. Jill disagreed. Suzi might be a vamp-in-training, but right now she was only young and headstrong.

“You’re Jordan’s date?” Suzi asked, fluttering her incredible lashes—which were almost long enough to cause a draft, Jill decided.

She smiled and nodded. “We’re very good friends, aren’t we, Jordan?” She slipped her arm in his and looked up at him, ever so sweetly.

“But I thought—I hoped …” Suzi turned to Jordan, who’d edged himself closer to Jill, draping his arm across her shoulders as though they’d been an item for quite some time.

“Yes?”

Suzi glanced from Jordan to Jill and then back to Jordan. Tears brimmed in her bright blue eyes. “I thought there was something special between us….”

“I’m sorry, Suzi,” he said gently.

“But Daddy seemed to think …” She left the rest unsaid as she slowly backed away. After three short steps, she turned and dashed out of the room. Jill popped another cracker in her mouth.

Several people were looking in their direction, although Jordan seemed unaware of it. Jill, however, keenly felt the interested glances. Not exactly a comfortable feeling, especially when one’s mouth was full of caviar.

After an awkward moment, conversation resumed, and Jill was able to swallow. “That was dreadful,” she muttered. “I feel sorry for the poor girl.”

“Frankly, so do I. But she’ll get over it.” He turned toward Jill. “A lot of help you were,” he grumbled. “You were stuffing down crackers like there was no tomorrow.”

“This is the first time I’ve tasted caviar. I didn’t know it was so good.”

“I didn’t bring you along to appraise the hors d’oeuvres.”

“I served my purpose,” Jill countered. “But I’m not happy about it. She’s not a bad kid.”

“Believe me,” Jordan insisted, his face tightening, “she will get over it. She’ll pout for a while, but in the end she’ll realize we did her a favor.”

“I still don’t like it.”

Now that her mission was accomplished, Jill felt free to examine the room. She wandered around a bit, sipping her champagne. The young man playing the piano caught her attention. He was good. Very good. After five years of lessons herself, Jill knew talent when she heard it. She walked over to the baby grand to compliment the pianist, and they chatted briefly about music until she saw Jordan looking for her. Jill excused herself; their meal was about to be served.

Dinner was delicious. Jill was seated beside Jordan, who was busy carrying on a conversation with a stately-looking gentleman on his other side. The man on her right, a distinguished gentleman in his mid-sixties, introduced himself as Andrew Howard. Although he didn’t acknowledge it in so many words, Jill knew he was the president of Howard Pharmaceuticals, now retired. Jill pointed out that PayRite Pharmacy, where she worked, carried a number of his company’s medications, and the two of them were quickly engaged in a lengthy conversation. By the time dessert was served Jill felt as comfortable with Mr. Howard as if she’d known him all her life.

Following a glass of brandy, Jordan seemed ready to leave.

“Thank you so much,” she told Mr. Howard as she slid back her chair. “I enjoyed our conversation immensely.”

He stood with her and clasped her hand warmly. “I did, too. If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep in touch.”

Jill smiled. “I’d enjoy that. And thank you for the invitation.”

Then she and Jordan exchanged good-nights with her dinner companion and headed for the elevator. Jordan didn’t speak until they were inside.

“What was all that with Howard?”

“Nothing. He invited me out to see his home. Apparently it’s something of a showplace.”

“He’s a bit old for you, don’t you think?”

Jill gave him an incredulous look. “Don’t be ridiculous. He assumed you and I knew each other. He just wanted me to feel welcome.” She didn’t mention that Jordan had spent the entire dinner talking with a business associate. He seemed to have all but forgotten she was with him.

“Howard invited you to his home?”

“Us, actually. You can make your excuses if you want, but I’d really like to take him up on his offer.”

“Andrew Howard and my father were good friends. My father passed away several years back, and Howard likes to keep track of the projects I’m involved with. He’s gone in on the occasional deal.”

“He’s a sweet man. Did you know he lost his only son to cancer? It’s the reason his company’s done so much in the field of cancer research. His son’s death changed his life.”

“I had no idea.” Jordan was obviously astounded that he’d known Andrew Howard for so many years and hadn’t realized he’d lost a child. “You learned this over dinner?”

“Good grief, dinner lasted nearly two hours.” She sighed deeply and pressed her hands to her stomach. “I’m stuffed. I’ll never sleep unless I walk off some of this food.”

“It would’ve helped if you hadn’t eaten half the hors d’oeuvres all by yourself.”

Jill decided to ignore that comment.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Jordan surprised her by asking.

“Not in the least, as long as you promise not to make any more remarks about hors d’oeuvres. Or lecture me about the dangers of swimming at night.”

Jordan grinned. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

They walked through the lobby and out of the hotel toward the beach. The surf thundered against the shore, slapping the sand, then retreating. Jill found the rhythmic sounds relaxing.

“What sort of project do you have planned for Hawaii?” she asked after a few minutes.

“A shopping complex.”

Although he’d answered her question, his expression was preoccupied. “Why the frown?” she asked.

He shot a quick glance her way. “The Lundquists seem to have some sort of hidden agenda,” he said.

“You said Daddy’s grooming Junior to take your place,” Jill prompted.

“It looks like I’m headed for a proxy fight, which is an expensive and costly proposition for everyone involved. For now, I have the controlling interest, but by no means do I have control.”

“This trip to Hawaii?”

“Is strictly business. I just wish I knew what’s going on behind my back.”

“Good luck with it.” This was a world far removed from Jill’s.

“Thanks.” He grinned and suddenly seemed to leave his worries behind.

They strolled for several minutes in companionable silence. The breeze was warm, the moon full and bright, and the rhythm of the ocean waves went on and on.

“I suppose I should go back,” Jill said reluctantly. She had a full day planned, beginning first thing in the morning, and although she didn’t feel the least bit tired, she knew she should get some sleep.

“Me, too.”

They altered their meandering course in the direction of the hotel, their shoes sinking into the moist sand.

“Thanks for your help with Suzi Lundquist.”

“Anytime. Just say the word and I’ll be there, especially if there’s caviar involved.” She felt guilty, however, about the young and vulnerable Suzi. Jordan had been gentle with her; nevertheless, Jill’s sympathy went out to the girl. “I feel kind of bad for Suzi.”

Jordan sighed. “The girl just won’t take no for an answer.”

“Do you?”

“What do you mean?”

Jill stopped a moment to collect her thoughts. “I don’t understand finance, but it seems to me that you’d never get anywhere if you quit at the first stumbling block. Suzi takes after her father and brother. She saw what she wanted and went after it. Rather an admirable trait, I guess. I suspect you haven’t seen the last of her.”

“Probably not, but I won’t be here for more than a few days. I should be able to avoid her during that time.”

“Good luck,” she said again. She hesitated when they reached the pathway, bordered by vivid flowering shrubs, that led to the huge lighted swimming pool.

Jordan grinned. “I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”

The night couldn’t have been more perfect. It seemed such a shame to waste these romantic moments, but Jill finally forced herself to murmur good-night.

“Here,” Jordan said just as she did.

Jill was startled when he presented her with a single lavender orchid. “What’s this for?”

“In appreciation for all your help.”

“Actually, I should be the one thanking you. I had a wonderful evening.” It sure beat sitting in front of her television and ordering dinner from room service, which was what she’d planned. She held the flower under her nose and breathed in its delicate scent.

“Enjoy your stay in Hawaii.”

“Thank you, I will.” Her itinerary was full nearly every day. “I might even see you … around the hotel.”

“Don’t count on it. I’m headed back to Seattle in two days.”

“Goodbye, then.”

“Goodbye.”

Neither moved. Jill didn’t understand why. They’d said their good-nights—there seemed nothing left to say. It was time to leave. Time for her to return to her room and sleep off the effects of an exceptionally long day.

She made a decisive movement, but before she could turn away, his hand at her shoulder stopped her. Jill’s troubled eyes met his. “Jordan?”

He caught her chin, his touch light but firm.

“Yes?” she whispered, her heart in her throat.

“Nothing.” He dropped his hand.

Jill was about to turn away again when he stepped toward her, took her by the shoulders and kissed her. Jill had certainly been kissed before, and the experience had always been pleasant, if a bit predictable.

Not this time.

Exciting, unfamiliar sensations raced through her. Jordan’s mouth caressed hers with practiced ease while his hands roved her back, moving slowly, confidently.

Jill was breathless and weak when he finally broke away. He stared down at her with a perplexed look, as if he’d shocked himself by kissing her. As if he didn’t know what had come over him.

Jill didn’t know, either. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, and then she remembered something Shelly had told her—the overwhelming sensation she’d experienced the first time Mark had kissed her. From that moment on, Shelly had known her fate was sealed.

Jill had never felt anything that even came close to what she’d just felt in Jordan’s arms. Was it possible? Could there be something magical about Aunt Milly’s wedding dress? Jill didn’t know. She didn’t want to find out, either.

“Jill?”

“Oh, no,” she moaned as she looked up at him.

“Oh, no,” Jordan echoed, apparently amused. “I’ll admit women have reacted when I’ve kissed them, but no one’s ever said that.”

She barely heard him.

“What’s wrong?”

“The dress …” Jill stopped herself in time.

“What dress?”

Jill knew she wasn’t making any sense. The whole thing was ridiculous. Unbelievable.

“What dress?” he repeated.

“You wouldn’t understand.” She had no intention of explaining it to him. She could just imagine what someone like Jordan Wilcox would say when he heard about Aunt Milly’s wedding dress.