Unwrapped (27 page)

“I’ve never betrayed a trust.” Sam rubbed his knuckles over his jaw. “Your parents confide in me often. Arthur bought Judith a cashmere coat for Christmas. She sponsored a Hebridean whale in his name. There’s an Orca named Arthur Maynard Dutton swimming off the West coast of Scotland.”

Aidan smiled. “Last year, she set up a trust for a Key West dolphin. The year before, she was an advocate for a water buffalo in the Philippines. Dad’s name is spread throughout the world.”

“I know what Santa got you for Christmas,” Sam said, grinning.

“Give me a hint.”

“A blonde with a sprained ankle.”

Aidan damn sure hoped he could keep her. “I’m taking it slow. With any luck, this blizzard will last for several days.” He didn’t trust Allie not to slip out after the storm. He refused to let her disappear again.

“Does she know you’re a Dutton?” Sam asked.

Aidan shook his head. “No, and I’d like to keep it that way. She knows I work retail. A floor supervisor works best. I want her to like me for me. Not for my heritage.”

He rolled his shoulders. “I’m damn glad my parents went to Phoenix for the holidays. I need time alone with Allie before I introduce her to them.”

Sam smiled. “Pamela Parker knows you as Alden.”

“She’s a name dropper.”

“She said the two of you dated.”

“I’ve never met the woman.”

“You’re old news anyway,” Sam said. “She’s already started flirting with putter head.”

Aidan blew out a breath. “It’s going to be a long night.”

The men proceeded up the stairs. “Let’s hope there’s food for seven,” Aidan said. “I told the staff to take home all leftovers. We’re implementing a new menu after the holidays.”

They entered Tealuxe through the heavy leaded glass doors. Aidan paused at the entrance and looked around. The tea room looked lonely. Darkness hung low off the ceiling. He swung his lantern in a wide arc. Antique mirrors reflected the richly polished tables, the red velvet chairs, and settees covered in rich rose satin. Pristine linen was stacked on the tea carts.

An artist had painted a Victorian tea party on two walls. Those of the past and present sipped tea and savored iced scones. It was a blending of eras. A timeless tradition. His mother loved Earl Grey.

Sam crossed the room ahead of Aidan. The plush navy carpeting absorbed his steps. He pushed against the double doors that led to the kitchen, and listened. “The cooler is running, but the freezer’s shut down.”

Aidan came up behind him. “Let’s eat before the food spoils. You collect the dishes—”

Sam frowned. “Paper products are my specialty. I know nothing about china patterns.”

Aidan’s mother favored the Royal Albert Botanical set. “Locate cups, saucers, and dessert plates with red tulips and lavender lilacs.”

Sam grunted. “Isn’t there a pattern with deer and bear?”

“The tea party is for Marian Murphy,” Aidan said. “Let her enjoy it. Don’t forget the tea infusers.”

Sam looked confused and Aidan explained, “The mesh tea balls to steep the loose tea leaves.”

Sam made a few indistinguishable comments under his breath as he packed sets of china in a corrugated box, then located the sterling flatware. “Plastic forks would work just as well,” he muttered, this time loud enough for Aidan to hear.

Aidan raided the commercial refrigerator and walk-in cooler. There was more food than he’d expected. He loaded up on finger sandwiches and desserts, then chose a variety of tea tins. He went on to grab a bag of ice and several Ziplocs while Sam collected the china, a linen tablecloth, napkins, and a box of bottled water. Armed with the necessities, they took the stairs slowly.

“Tea party time,” Sam announced on their return.

Marian Murphy was so excited she clapped her hands.

Her husband Warren smiled at her enthusiasm.

Allie leaned forward in an attempt to help the men unload the boxes. Aidan pressed a hand to her shoulder and eased her back, then gently squeezed her arm. “We’ve got it covered,” he assured her.

“It’s hard for me to sit still and do nothing.”

She was an active woman. He’d witnessed her skiing, and her endurance was phenomenal. In bed, she’d been an Energizer snow bunny. She sat immobile now. Her ankle prohibited activity. She drummed her fingers on the leather armrest. The lady was restless.

“Does Dutton’s sell canes?” she asked.

“This isn’t a medical supply store,” Chris said from the couch.

Aidan ignored him.

Though he would have liked Allie to lean on him, she’d rather manage on her own. “We have opera canes.”

“They sound very formal.”

“You can select one after we’ve eaten.”

He packed a Ziploc with ice and gently placed it over her ankle, swollen to the size of a grapefruit. Not uncommon, he knew, but very painful. She winced, and he wished he could take her pain away. “Tea?” he offered. “Earl Grey, Darjeeling, or peppermint?”

“Darjeeling would be nice.”

Aidan oversaw Sam as he poured water into a pot, then started the portable stove. The water came to a quick boil.

“That’s all you had to do, push a damn button?” Chris was incredulous that Sam hadn’t let him work the stove.

“I also adjusted the flame,” Sam said.

“Chris could’ve done that,” said Pamela Parker, taking the golfer’s side.

Sam’s jaw shifted. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“Let’s not argue.” Marian took charge. She spread the linen tablecloth and set out the place settings. “Look at all these lovely sandwiches.”

A flash of lightning lit up the room, causing everyone to jump and gasp. Seconds later, thunder boomed. The northern windows rattled violently.

“Don’t worry,” Aidan was quick to assure them. “We don’t get thundersnows very often, but for your own safety, stay on the south side of the building.”

Chris didn’t care about the weather; he was more interested in the food. He pulled a face. “These sandwiches are bite size, crustless, and cut into diamonds.”

“It’s a formal tea,” Marian said.

“I can’t fill up on dainty and small,” Chris argued.

“Drink a lot of tea,” suggested Sam.

Tea infusers were distributed and types of tea chosen. Sam added hot water to the china cups. The group selected their sandwiches while their tea steeped.

Aidan filled Allie’s plate. “Cucumber and mint cream cheese, ginger-carrot, and lemon-crab salad.” He added two shortbread cookies and a slice of raspberry sponge cake to the dessert plate before passing it to her.

He settled in beside her, on a black leather wingback to her left. He sipped his Earl Grey and watched her savor each bite. She licked mint cream cheese from the corner of her mouth. The slow sweep of her tongue turned Aidan on.

He remembered her kisses. He could still recall the moist heat of her mouth as she licked her way down his chest. She’d tasted every inch of his skin, then gotten creative with her hands. There was passion in her touch, a need to rouse him fully. He’d remained erect for hours at a time.

His body stirred even now. He set the saucer over his zipper. The china didn’t fully disguise the tent in his pants. He discreetly reached into his side pocket and made an adjustment. He didn’t want Allie to notice her effect on him. Attraction was a bitch.

“These sandwiches are delicious,” she said seconds later. “This is my first afternoon tea.”

“My first and last,” said Chris as he cleared his plate of the finger sandwiches and started on a gingerbread scone. “I’ll never shop Dutton’s again.”

“It’s not the store’s fault you got caught in the blizzard,” Sam said between bites of pineapple and smoked salmon on a pumpernickel wedge. “You must live under a rock. The storm’s been forecast for days. Most people took its arrival seriously. You should have left for Atlanta earlier in the week.”

“I’m not a weather watcher,” Chris said, going on the defensive. “I had no idea the storm would get so bad I’d end up starving and freezing in a department store.”

“Hardly starving.” Sam glared at the golfer. “You’ve eaten ten tea sandwiches, but who’s counting?”

“I, for one, am enjoying myself.” Marian Murphy reached for a second tiny cream puff. “We’re not leaving anytime soon. Let’s get to know each other better.”

“Better how?” Chris looked suddenly wary.

“Tell us something about you,” Pamela encouraged. “We know you’re a professional golfer.”

“That’s all you need to know,” Chris said.

“That’s all I want to know,” said Sam.

“You’re a security guard.” Chris looked down his nose at Sam. “You work at Dutton’s—”

“—and he runs the tightest security on State Street.” Allie straightened on her chair. “Nothing gets by Sam. He’s a major crime fighter.”

“So you say,” said Chris.

“So I know,” Allie said. “Right before the store closed, Sam thought I was a thief. He stopped me in my tracks.”

Aidan watched Sam watch Allie. Sam’s chest swelled as he patted his utility belt. “It’s the Taser. My weapon puts the fear of God in shoplifters. I’m the only guard on the block packing.”

“Sam’s taken good care of us,” Marian said. “Aidan, too.”

“Great care,” Chris snorted. “How difficult was it to go to the tea room and bring back food?”

“You can fix dinner,” Sam said.

“I love to eat,” said Pamela. “I wish we were in New York. Post-theater Sardi’s has the best sirloin and cheesecake in the city.”

“Are you on Broadway?” Marian asked.

Pamela preened. “I’ll soon be performing at the Colbert Theater.
Peaches
is a romantic comedy.”

Aidan watched her flirt with the golfer. Her gaze was fixed on Chris as she leaned against him with her big breasts. Her body language said it all. No doubt the redhead hoped to snag a trophy boyfriend to get some publicity for herself. Pamela appeared very press friendly.

He knew Allie would never act in such a manner. That was another thing he liked about her. She didn’t play those games.

“Interesting title for your play,” Warren Murphy commented. “Is it about fruit?”

“I flash my boobs.”

Warren’s jaw dropped.

Marian’s gaze went wide.

“I bet you’re good in your role,” Chris said.

Aidan saw the appreciative look in the golfer’s eyes. Chris was imagining himself sitting in the first row when Pamela took the stage.

“The orange body paint clashes with my red hair,” Pamela complained, “but I have the best D-cups in the theater district.”

“Care to rehearse the play now?” asked Chris.

“Not in the store.” Aidan put a stop to the theatrics. “Save it for the performance.”

Pamela was stacked, and Chris apparently liked bigbreasted women. The golfer leaned back on the couch and slipped his arm around the actress. Pamela smiled, equally taken by his company. Aidan would need a crowbar or fire hose to separate them later.

Marian looked at Allie. “How about you, dear? Any showbiz in your blood?”

Allie shook her head. “I’m a ski instructor.”

“Not a very good one, given your ankle,” Chris said.

“I wasn’t skiing when I got hurt,” Allie said, and left it at that.

“Where do you teach?” Warren next asked.

“Wherever there’s fresh powder,” Allie said. “I have contracts with several ski resorts. I shift around.”

“Here today, gone tomorrow.” Aidan spoke the words without thinking. He could feel Allie’s gaze bore into him. He felt like a jerk for letting that slip out. He and Allie deserved privacy when they discussed their past.

To his relief, no one but Allie heard him. The group had switched topics and was now discussing the Christmas events each would surely miss.

Allie leaned forward, fiddled with the bag of ice on her ankle. “I’m prone to disappear,” she softly admitted.

“I’m familiar with that fact,” he whispered back. “You left me, remember?”

Her breathing deepened. “I had my reasons.”

“Give me one.” He needed the truth.

“You scare the hell out of me, Aidan.”

Chapter Three

A
idan’s expression froze. Allie Smith watched every handsome line on his face go rigid. Confusion pitched his gray eyes charcoal-dark. He didn’t understand. How could he? He didn’t know that every few months as a kid she’d been forced to uproot and move on, whether she’d wanted to or not. Town to town. Always wandering. Her mother had never found love, so why should she?

Beside her, Aidan shifted uneasily. He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair, and one side spiked. “Scary how, Allie?”

“Not Halloween scary,” she assured him. She didn’t want to talk about it, but if she didn’t say something, he’d think she didn’t feel anything for him. That scared her more. So she opted for the truth. She said in a low voice, “Heart scary.”

“You’re afraid of getting hurt?”

“This is very hard for me,” she said, hoping for his understanding. “I don’t do feelings, and you made me care.”

“
Who
cares?” Chris asked, poking his nose into their conversation, which didn’t sit well with Pamela. She crossed her arms and pouted. She wanted all his attention.

They had an audience, Allie realized. She hadn’t expected the truth behind her departure to surface while sitting around a coffee table in the dark with five other people staring at her.

“No one you’d know.” Aidan brushed him off.

Chris shrugged, continued, “The little I heard, I’d say you two have a past and are still hot for each other.”

“They make such a cute couple,” said Marian Murphy.

“You’ve got her undivided attention during the blizzard,” added Warren. “Go on, boy, court her.”

“If the lady is willing?” Aidan offered, meeting her gaze and daring her to commit, to them.

“I might be so inclined.” She’d love to have Aidan flirt with her. But first they needed to talk. Seriously. Perhaps they could find a quiet corner while they went shopping for her opera cane.

Allie looked at the coffee table, at the empty tea cups and one lone almond cookie, which Chris confiscated. To her relief, no one asked anything more about their brief affair. In truth, there wasn’t much to tell. She wasn’t sure what had motivated Aidan to make public his interest in her, but she wasn’t about to let the matter drop. When the time was right, she’d try to explain to him how she felt. She shook her head in frustration, so often words failed her.