Beauty and the Feast (20 page)

“That’s one of the things I find so attractive about her,” protested Gabe. “There’s not a dishonest or disingenuous bone in the woman’s body.”

Marsha looked at him with what he thought was doubt in her eyes. “In all the years I’ve known you, that’s not been high on your list when it comes to who’s in your bed.”

“Since I met Eva, it’s become very high on my list.”

“She’s why you turned down Stephanie Lindstrom.” Marsha wasn’t asking a question.

“Yes.”

“Well, I’ve got to give you credit for that. She’s a pit bull, that one. She’s been asking questions, you know.”

“Stephanie? About what?”

“You. Who you’re seeing.”

“You’re kidding?” Gabe was taken aback. “I don’t think anyone here would discuss my personal life with her. I don’t even discuss my personal life with anyone aside from you.”

“No, nobody here. Some of our business associates. Obviously, until yesterday, nobody had any idea you were seeing Eva. I just heard that Miss Lindstrom has been asking about you. A few people thought it was worth mentioning to me. They’d seen you with Stephanie several times and of course assumed the two of you were an item.”

“I’m surprised it matters to her,” Gabe stated flatly. “Nothing happened between us.”

“Maybe in your mind, nothing of any consequence happened, but women sometimes make certain assumptions, read things into situations that aren’t there. With luck, she’ll come to her senses and drop it soon enough,” added Marsha. She nodded at the papers in his hand. “Shall we take a look at these students?”

* * * *

“Hey, lover,” said Gabe, “What are you doing up so late?”

“Just working on the buffet for Jason’s graduation.” She sounded a bit distracted.

“Damn. I was hoping you were curled up in bed, naked, warm, thinking of me. Thinking real hard about me.”

Gabe smiled when he heard Eva laugh into the receiver. “Well, I may do that, curl up in bed, in a few minutes. And maybe I’ll think of you, a time or two. Maybe.”

“Can I stay on the phone while you think of me?”

“Gabe! Now you’re embarrassing me.”

Gabe wondered if her cheeks were burning. “I can’t imagine how you could possibly be embarrassed after everything we did this weekend, but I think it’s fetching nonetheless.”

“Fetching?”

“Yes, fetching. Attractive. Appealing. Sexy.”

“I know what fetching means, Gabe. So how are things looking? Any chance you’ll be able to come back to the Valley before Friday?”

“Doubtful. But we can spend the entire weekend together.”

“I will need to prep for Jason’s party, and by the way, I’d like you to come. Dr. and Mrs. White invited me and I asked if I could bring a date, so, if you don’t mind, you’re it,” Eva said.

“I’d be honored. In fact, I was wondering if you’d attend an event with me this Friday. It’s right up your alley. It’s a catered dinner to thank the major donors for the Ride for Sight. One of the sponsors is hosting. Will you come with me?”

“Um… You mean like a date?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

“I’d like to, but Gabe, I guess I’m kind of a jeans and flip-flops girl. Do you know what everyone will be wearing?” Eva sounded a little nervous.

“Got a little black dress? You know, that proverbial little black dress I always see discussed in women’s magazines?” Gabe would offer to buy her a dress but he knew she’d be insulted.

“You read women’s magazines?”

“Only when I’m stuck in a waiting room,” Gabe said defensively, a hint of laughter in his voice. “It’s not like they have The New Yorker or The Wall Street Journal in dentists’ offices.”

“That’s true. Although my dentist here in
Napa
actually has a bookcase filled with novels. The last time I was there, I became so engrossed in one that she gave it to me.”

“Which one?” Gabe asked.

“The dentist or the novel?”

“The novel.”

“The Persian Boy. It’s a good book. I finished it in two days.”

“What’s it about?”

“You can read it for yourself. It’s sitting on my dresser.”

“So I’m invited back into your bedroom?”

“Yes,” answered Eva, “I can’t seem to say no to you.” Eva was silent for a second. “I really should be playing hard to get, Gabe. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can hear my mom’s voice now—
Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free
?”

“Don’t start listening to your mother,” said Gabe. “Listen to me. You don’t come free and you’re not easy. I want to be with you for a lot of reasons, the joy of fucking you just happens to be one of them.”

Gabe could hear the grin in Eva’s voice when she teased, “Is that kind of like The Joy of Cooking, because I’m looking for a first edition?”

“Honey, it’s better than The Joy of Cooking, although I have to admit that your food comes in a close second. Remember the salmon tartar you made for me?”

“Yes,” Eva answered.

“That was out of this world, but the taste of you is so much sweeter.”

“Gabe…I can’t concentrate when you do this to me.”

“Do what?” he asked, keeping his voice innocent.

“Make me think about you.”

“That’s the whole point, sweetheart. But if you need to concentrate, I can let you go,” Gabe offered helpfully.

“No, stay. I like the sound of your voice.”

“All right, but I’ll change the subject to something productive. Tell me what you’re making for Jason.”

“Really? You want to hear what I’m making?” Eva sounded surprised.

“Yes, of course. I love the way you cook…food, I mean.”

The passion in Eva’s voice when she talked about her culinary creations thrilled Gabe. It was almost like listening her talk about sex. She exuded that same enthusiasm, the same sensual energy and fire. He half expected to hear her to whimper with pleasure simply discussing the menu. He had remind himself to pay attention to Eva’s words because the mere sound of her voice over the phone was so arousing, so mesmerizing, that he ended up with a hard on regardless of what she was saying.

“Hmm? What? I missed that? Gabe commented.

“I’ll tell you what, just come on Sunday and you can taste it all. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

“Only on the condition that you attend the dinner with me on Friday. Quid pro quo.”

“What time will I need to be there? And where is this dinner?” Eva asked, doubt evident in her voice.

“You don’t have to worry about driving into the city. I’ll send a car to pick you up around six.”

“But Gabe…”

“No buts. You can do this. You’ve met my staff, this is no different. Piece of cake, Eva. And I know you’ll look beautiful whatever you wear. Even prettier if you wear nothing…” he added, hopefully.

“All right, all right, I’ll come. Just don’t expect me to know what everyone is talking about.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You are well-read, you’re observant, you’re perhaps the smartest woman I’ve ever met and you’re utterly charming. Marsha is enamored of you. And you’ve cast a spell over Luis. He’s besotted. Besides, we’ll be talking about biking and you can relate the story of how we met, you know… your colorful vocabulary and your little ass up in the air.”

“Uh, I think not, Mr. Abbott. I think we’ll keep that just between us.”

“As you wish,” said Gabe, gallantly. “Sweetheart, I hate to leave you, but I’m stuck in the office for at least another hour and I want to get some sleep tonight. I seem to be accumulating quite a sleep deficit.”

“That makes two of us,” replied Eva. “Goodnight, Gabe.”

“Night, Eva.”

Gabe clicked off.

Five days without her. This was going to be rough.

Eva stopped into the ATAP office first thing in the morning.

“I need help,” she announced to Tom and Marcus.

Tom rose to his feet and came around the black table he used for a desk. He pulled a chair over and sat her down.

“What is it, darling? You look worried.”

“I’m invited to a dinner in the city on Friday night. With Gabriel Abbott. It’s a
little black dress
kind of dinner. You have to help me, guys. I don’t even know where to look. I don’t know what to do with my hair, with my toes, with my fingernails. Look at them.” Eva thrust her hands forward. “They’re so short. Help me. Please. Help me.”

“Oh,” said Marcus. “Honey, you have come to the right place. Pygmalion redux.” He walked around her, appraising her from all sides.

“You mean
My Fair Lady
? You’re going to transform me from Eliza Doolittle into a Hungarian princess?”

Tom laughed. “More like you’re Cinderella and we’re your fairy godfathers.” He lifted her long hair off her neck and twisted it up onto top of her head. He considered his handiwork. “You just leave it to your uncle Tom and your uncle Marcus. We’ll have you looking fabulous.”

“He’s sending a car for me on Friday. It’s supposed to be at my house around six. Do you think I can beg off from the White’s? Miriam could clean the house for me and I can make their dinner the day before, on Thursday. I’ve already started on Jason’s graduation party.”

“We can arrange that. It’s the least we can do. After all,” said Tom with a knowing smile, “We did bring the two of you together.”

“Maybe we should branch out, start a match-making service,” suggested Marcus. “You know, Rent-a-Yenta.”

Eva burst out laughing.

Tom pointed a long finger at Marcus. “You know,” he said with a grin, “That’s not a bad idea. Not bad at all. I like it. I can see the shirts… pink and blue… R.A.Y. across the chest. It fits right in with our theme, All Things to All People.”

“We’ll brainstorm over the weekend,” said Marcus.

Eva started to rise from her chair.

“Sit your little self back down, darling,” Tom directed Eva. “We have some calls to make.”

* * * *

Gabe waited at the curb. He stood, chatting with his wine maker, Adam, when the man suddenly stopped in mid-sentence and stared over Gabe’s right shoulder. Gabe turned just in time to watch a shapely pair of bare legs in stilettos emerge from a limousine. He heard his companion whistle under his breath. The woman bent her head down, appearing demure, and leaned against the side of the vehicle, discreetly flexing one of her long legs to the side as she adjusted the strap of a high heel. She wore a body hugging short black dress, which showcased her high, pert breasts and her rounded bottom to perfection. Her deep auburn hair was piled on top of her head, her neck and shoulders bare, except for a long scarf draped around her naked, slender arms. It slid down her back as she leaned over. Her skin gleamed, pearlescent in the evening sun.

“Who is that stunning creature?” Gabe heard his companion ask in a low voice, “And can I have her?”

Gabe turned back to the man. “No, you can’t,” he said, “She’s mine.” He strode toward the limo.

“Hello, lover.”

Eva straightened up at the sound of Gabe’ voice. She colored nicely, her cheeks and neck flushing a tender pink.

“Hello.” She looked directly into his eyes and smiled a small, self-conscious smile.

Eyes on her taut breasts, Gabe’s mind was busy pulling off the dress. He wondered if she wore anything at all beneath that tight black getup. He leaned close to her hair and inhaled. “God, you smell good,” his voice pitched low. “You smell good enough to fuck. Right here. You’re dressed like the most delectable little morsel on a buffet table. I could eat you in one bite.”

“Gabe!” The blush deepened.

Gabe laughed as he kissed her on the cheek. He offered his arm. Eva took it gratefully.

“Stilettos aren’t my strong suit,” she admitted.

“You’ll do fine,” Gabe reassured her. “You’ll do better than fine. You’ll have everyone eating out of the palm of your hand.” Gabe nodded at his gaping acquaintance as they passed. “Just watch out for Adam over there. He’s already in lust with you.”

Ignoring Adam’s open-mouthed stare, Eva grinned up at Gabe as she said, “It’s good to see you. I’m beginning to think that five days without you is five days too long.”

“Well,” replied Gabe, his mouth against her ear, “Try to look at it this way, absence makes the cock grow harder.”

Eva burst into laughter, attracting the attention of several couples standing nearby.

“I don’t know about that,” she winked at him, keeping her voice equally soft, “If last weekend is any indication, I don’t think you can possibly get any harder.”

“You do know how to make a man feel good,” Gabe teased. “But I’m serious when I say that you look absolutely stunning. Remember, this dinner is just for fun. No pressure. You can stay with me all night or you can mingle. Whatever you feel most comfortable with.”

They strolled into the reception hall. Discreet eyes glanced in their direction. Gabe knew that his newest escort would quickly become a topic of discussion. He intended to find a way to let those who mattered know that Eva wasn’t a fling.