The Dating List (21 page)

Colin inched her sweater up until she grabbed the hem
and pulled it over her head. She tossed it on a chair. He unhooked
her bra.

"Oh, I have a present for you. In that bag over
there," he said pointing.

"I'll get it." She scampered across the room,
snatched the bag and returned.

Colin had slipped his jeans off and lay there wearing
only his boxers. Leah unbuttoned and unzipped her skirt, then
wiggled it down slowly. His gaze followed the garment slink down,
revealing her pink bikini panties. She heard his intake of breath
as the skirt hit the floor. Then she hooked her thumbs into each
side of her panties and took them off striptease style, humming
while she danced for him. Colin was practically drooling.

"Open the bag," he said, his voice cracking as he
stared at her.

She pulled out a teal blue beret.

"Perfect!" She laughed.

"Put it on."

"
Mais oui
," she replied.

Leah arranged the small hat artfully on her head then
bent over in a fit of giggling. Colin reached out for her, touching
her hand. She left the hat on and climbed on the bed. When he went
to sit up, she put her hand on his chest, pushing him back
down.

"Oh, no. This one is for you…no work, just pleasure,"
she cooed.

She bent over and slipped his swollen shaft between
her lips.

"If this is a dream, don't wake me up." He lay back
and closed his eyes.

Leah continued until he sat up.

"Stop, you're pushing the limits…"

She sat back on her haunches.

With a hand on each side of her waist, he easily
lifted her up and placed her over his hips. She balanced herself
placing her hands on his chest, one knee on each side of him. A
sexy grin curled her lips as she straightened the beret on her
head.

"Sooo sexy," he murmured.

"
Oui, Monsieur
."

He laughed then pulled her down for an ardent kiss.
When his hands covered her breasts, she moaned into his mouth.
Colin moved his hands down her smooth skin until they cupped her
rear end. He squeezed it, then inched his fingers underneath until
they touched her center. She squirmed.

"Oh, my God," she muttered.

He saw her eyes close, she stopped moving as he
caressed her, stroking her favorite spot over and over.
His
touch turns me to mush. I'm his, stop fighting it.
Leah arched
her back, thrusting her breasts close to his mouth. He simply
opened and closed on her peak making her cry out.

Suddenly, she changed position, dismounting slightly,
closing her fingers around his erection. She mounted him again,
guiding him toward her. He penetrated her but she stopped.

His hands tugged on her hips but she wagged her
finger in his face.

"Uh, uh, uh! This is
my
dance. Sit back and
enjoy the ride, sweetheart."

Straightening her beret, she moved down until he
filled her completely, groaning along with him. Leah pulled up and
down, her gaze glued to his. Colin squeezed her breasts gently as
she moved ever so slowly.

"Can we speed this up?" He choked out.

She shook her head.

"Torture?"

She shot him a wicked smile.

Colin transferred his hands to her hips, closing his
fingers on her waist, attempting to speed her up.

"God, Leah, please!"

Her eyes closed as she rode him, bracing herself with
her hands on his chest.

"More," he squeaked out.

She bent down to take his mouth. Her hands moved to
the bed on either side of his head and she picked up the pace.
Faster and faster she moved on him.

He groaned as his hands rode up and down with her
hips. His gaze focused on her breasts bouncing with her rhythm.
Suddenly she cried out his name and threw her head back. Her
nipples tightened, her face flushed and the beret went flying.
Colin slid his hands up her chest then lost control. He pulled her
down on him hard, twice, his eyes closed, sweat beaded on his
forehead. Leah collapsed on his chest, breathing hard.

He secured her in his arms and flipped them sideways
so they were face to face. His gaze studied her then his lips
brushed hers.

"You're mine, honey," he whispered.

And you're mine.

Easing out of her, he pulled up the covers, tucked
her into his shoulder and closed his eyes. The lovers dozed for two
hours, wrapped in each other's arms.

****

By three o'clock, the next day, Colin and Leah were
stretched out on the sofa in the living room, exhausted.

"French food for lunch, French chocolates even French
toast for breakfast…"

"Everything French today," Leah said.

"Only one more thing left…"

"What?"

"This," he said, leaning into a passionate kiss.

When they broke, she chuckled. "Of course! The French
kiss!"

Colin stood up and stretched. "Do we need to change
for dinner at Grey's?"

"I think it's pretty casual. This will be some
bizarre dinner."

"Why?"

"Carrie's parents and Aunt Delia will be coming
face-to-face for the first time in years. The fur is sure to
fly."

Colin's brow furrowed. "I have something to discuss
with my brother, too."

Leah cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Probably nothing." He shrugged.

"I get first dibs on the shower."

"Want company?" He shot her a wicked grin.

****

Uptown Saturday, late afternoon, Carrie chewed a
fingernail as she perused her list.

"Groceries bought, check. Bathroom cleaned, check.
Living room vacuumed, check. Linens ironed…nope!"

Stuffing the list in her apron pocket, she pulled out
the iron and plugged it in. Grey appeared wearing a running suit
and a headband to keep the hair out of his eyes.

"Doing my two miles, honey. Anything you need?"

"Yeah, to have my head examined. Why…why did I think
bringing Delia and my parents together over dinner tonight would be
a good idea?"

"Because you have the best of intentions and want
everyone to be friends. Unfortunately, they don't agree." He
brushed his lips over hers.

"Yeah, I'm such a damned optimist!"

Grey was out the door before the iron got hot. Carrie
consulted her list again, put on another pot of coffee and set up
the ironing board.

By six thirty, everything was set. Her silk screened
table cloth with matching napkins hung perfectly. Sterling silver
flatware gleamed in the soft glow of many candles. The crystal
twinkled. The stage was set. Carrie flounced down the stairs
wearing chocolate brown silk hostess pants and a beige
short-sleeved cashmere sweater. The scent of the pot roast
simmering in the oven mixed with the spicy aroma of gingerbread
she'd made earlier in the day, creating a tantalizing mixture.

Grey came down the stairs donning his navy blue wool
sport jacket and sniffing the air.

"Yum, something smells fantastic!"

Carrie joined him, lacing her hand with his.

"Mom's pot roast recipe…Aunt Delia's gingerbread cake
recipe."

"Very politic of you, mixing recipes from both
ladies. I'm marrying the smartest woman in New York."

He leaned down for a quick kiss.

"Hmm, you smell good, too."

"Lady Jeanne's new fragrance,
Rendezvous
."

"Honey, I'm ready to
rendezvous
with you,
anytime any place."

Carrie fell into his embrace. He closed his arms
around her, holding her tight.

"Don't worry. Everything will be all right," he
whispered.

"You don't know these women. They don't back
down."

"But you hold the trump hand, honey. It's your
wedding."

"Las Vegas is beginning to look better and better to
me every day."

He chuckled. "Just say the word, babe."

"I'm not ready for a white flag, yet. I want to have
a nice, simple wedding with only the people we love."

"Then that's what you're going to have." He stroked
her hair, preparing to plant another kiss when the doorbell
rang.

"And so it begins…" Carrie muttered as she disengaged
from his arms.

She opened the door and greeted Delia Tucker. After a
kiss on the cheek, she took Delia's coat and handed it to Grey.

"I swear, Grey Andrews, you're still the handsomest
man in the City."

He blushed. "Flattery will get you everywhere,
Delia."

"I keep looking when I'm walking about this town but
I haven't found one better looking than you."

"When you do, please don't tell Carrie."

Delia laughed. He hung her fur coat up, closed the
closet door and joined the women.

"She wouldn't care. She's so stuck on you, Adonis
could walk through this room and she'd see only you."

Grey smiled at her.

"What do you want to drink?"

"Got any of that marvelous Cabernet left?"

"Grey buys it by the case now."

"I'd love a glass. Got the fire going…perfect day for
it. April, huh? Feels more like January."

The air had chilled with the setting of the sun. A
stiff wind had driven the wind chill factor down to make it feel
like twenty-five degrees outside. Delia stood by the fire and
warmed her hands.

"So you really did it, huh?"

She looked directly at Carrie.

"What?"

"Invited your parents here tonight, too?"

"Plus Colin and Leah."

"Should be quite a show. I haven't seen Janice and
Harv since Jack's funeral."

"Jack?" Grey asked, handing her a glass of red
wine.

"Jackson Tucker, my late husband. He was Harv's
brother."

Grey handed Carrie the other glass of Cab he was
holding then retrieved one for himself.

"Let's toast to a peaceful evening," Grey said,
raising his glass.

Carrie chewed on her lip but raised her glass,
clinking it with the others.

"Have you always been an optimist?" Delia asked
Grey.

The doorbell relieved him from answering the
question. When Carrie opened the door she was relieved to see Colin
and Leah. But it wasn't five minutes later that Janice and Harvey
were at the door. Grey ran back and forth, taking coats and hanging
them up. Everyone clustered around the fireplace while Grey took
down more wine glasses and opened another bottle of Cabernet.

****

"Can I help?" Colin said, standing close to his
brother.

"Sure. Hold the glasses."

While Grey poured the wine, Colin spoke to him in a
low voice.

"What are you doing?"

"What? Pouring wine, what does it look like?"

"No, in Pine Grove…visiting Giselle Davenport?"

Grey's hand jerked, spilling wine on the counter. He
swore then wiped it up with a paper towel.

"I repeat, what are you doing? You have the best lady
on Earth."

"I can't explain now. You have to trust me."

"Trust you? I know you, Grey. Don't forget that."

"Then have faith."

"Faith in infidelity?"

"Shut up, here comes Janice."

"What are you two buzzing about over here?" Her sharp
blue eyes examined the men before she reached for a glass of
wine.

"Guy talk…basketball scores…baseball picks. You'd be
bored, Janice."

"I doubt that," she said, her eyes boring into
Grey's.

"Have you met my brother, Colin? This is Janice,
Carrie's mother."

Grey left Janice grilling Colin while he carried two
wine glasses to the guests waiting by the fire. His palms were
sweating and his stomach began to churn.
Keep your mouth shut,
Colin. Crap. How am I going to get through tonight?

Colin and Janice joined the rest. Grey stuffed a
piece of cheese in his mouth.
Gotta eat something. If I get
drunk…oh God, there'll be no holding me back.
He picked up a
stuffed mushroom and wolfed it down. Leah and Colin were making
polite conversation with Janice and Delia. Harv stood by himself,
sampling the
hors d'oeuvres
. Carrie sidled up to Grey.

"No blood has been drawn yet," she whispered.

He slipped an arm around her waist. They stood apart
watching the polite cocktail party conversation. Carrie left him to
make the last minute preparations for dinner. Grey took a gulp of
his wine and moseyed over to Delia.

"Who you bringing to the wedding, Delia?"

"Don't know. Haven't met him yet."

Grey burst out laughing. He kissed her on the cheek
and she shot him a mischievous grin. "You're one of a kind,
lady."

Janice cast a jaundiced eye at the pair. She looked
about to speak when Carrie clapped her hands.

"Dinner is served!"

The hungry crowd milled around until Carrie made
another announcement.

"There are place cards. Find where you're
sitting."

Grey chuckled to himself.
Good girl. Don't let
them choose their seats or you'll have a cat fight on your hands.
Carrie, always thinking.

Delia had Leah and Harvey between her and Janice. On
the other side, Colin sat next to Janice then Carrie then Grey. He
helped Carrie place the food on the table. Harvey was the first to
dig in and everyone followed suit.

"Delicious, my recipe, right?" Janice said, taking a
bite of the meat.

"Right, mom."

"You're a great cook, Janice. Of course you don't
know crap about fabrics or colors…but you're an expert with
food."

"Don't kid yourself, Delia. I know plenty about
fabric and colors. Enough to know that the
supporting cast
at the wedding should wear yellow. Make Carrie look good."

"In case you haven't noticed, Carrie doesn't need any
help looking good. She's gorgeous. She could wear a burlap sack and
still be the prettiest one in the room. And I'm not wearing
yellow," Delia chimed in.

"You don't have to be in the wedding, either, Delia.
I mean if the bride chooses yellow…I mean, it's
her
choice…"