Page 23 of More Than A Boss

“You don’t look too shabby yourself, Mr. Dunn,” she said barely containing her happiness at seeing him.

Sensing his awkwardness, she took his hand and led him into the fray. He looked so sexy in his low-rider black Levi’s, worn with a belt and black tee that hugged his super-fit body. The way his jeans hugged his muscular hips and thighs, Oh My, she thought. He filled those jeans out in all the right places. Allie offered to take his coat, with Sam grabbing it from him and hanging it on the rack with the rest of the outerwear. He looked simply delicious, Allie thought to herself. She could hardly keep her hands off him. “Down, Girl,” she said to herself under her breath.

“Hey, everyone, this is Zane,” she announced to the group.

Everyone called out greetings, and a few teased him good-naturedly about his reputation as a taskmaster. He quickly relaxed and fit right in with the crowd. It was utter pandemonium and Allie loved it. She dug out a vase, added water, and placed the colorful autumn bouquet on the center of the kitchen island.

The twins, Clare, and the college kids all went outside to throw some frisbee, and the adults broke out the wine for a pre-dinner drink. “I have red or white,” Allie offered. “There is beer in the fridge as well. And please help yourselves and make yourselves at home! I’ll need a volunteer for kitchen help. Any takers?” she asked.

Casey quickly stepped in to claim her spot in the kitchen. “Me!” she said, waving her hand.

Zane called out, “I’ll do clean up.”

“Me too!” Charlie offered.

Darcy and Sam came in together from the living room, with Darcy asking, “Is anyone up for a poker game while we’re waiting on dinner?”

Darcy was met with a chorus of “Yeses.”

They called the college kids in from outside for the poker game, while Clare and the twins stayed outside to continue playing fetch the frisbee with Dugan. Casey was dying to corner Allie and pry information out of her.

They got busy, gathering what they needed to complete the food prep. As they pulled things out of the fridge, put pots on the burner, checked the turkey, threw casseroles in the oven to re-heat, Casey looked like she was ready to pop with curiosity. She could barely contain herself.

“You didn’t adequately describe the sexual magnetism of that hunk of burning love!” she admonished her friend as she dramatically fanned herself. “What the heck Allie, he is perfect! You’ve been holding back on me, and now it’s time to spill the beans!” she hissed at her friend, glancing over at the card players to make sure she wasn’t overheard.

“You didn’t ask,” Allie said, tongue in cheek.

“Let’s not get technical here. As your best friend I shouldn’t have to pry that kind of information from you. OMG, Allie! I hope I don’t start drooling at the dinner table.” Hearing laughter coming from the table, they looked over and noticed Darcy, who happened to be sitting next to Zane, grabbing his arm and smiling up at him, causing Allie to suddenly feel slightly sick. She felt a sharp jolt of jealousy, which was a new experience for her and most definitely an unwelcome one. Darcy was the life of the party, something Allie felt she had never been. Maybe that was more to Zane’s liking.

“Does he know?” Casey asked.

“Know what?” Allie responded.

“That you are in love with him?” she said.

Allie dropped the spoon she was holding, and it clattered noisily to the floor. “Don’t be ridiculous, Case. I am NOT in love with him!” she huffed. Was she, Allie wondered? She would admit to a crush, but love?

“I’m not buying it! It’s me, Casey. Remember me? Your friend since grade school? The one who has been with you through all your crushes and heartbreaks? The one who has your back?” she said practically. “You can’t hide it from me, Dear One! I’ll drop the subject for now, since you look like you’ve seen a ghost. However, we will revisit the subject at a later date. It will remain our little secret!” she patted Allie on the back in sympathy. They continued in companionable silence a while, as Allied pondered what Casey had just said. She felt deeply disturbed by her friend’s observation.

Glancing back over at Zane and seeing him smiling at something Darcy was saying made her want to scream. Instead, she refocused her attention on the cooking and, with effort, brought herself back to the moment she was sharing with her best friend in the world. She impulsively grabbed Casey and gave her a big hug.

“What was that for?” Casey asked.

“No reason. I just love you and am so lucky to have you in my life,” she said with emotion.

“You know I feel the same. I’m so glad you have moved on from that jerk of an ex!” she said emphatically. Sarah chose that moment to join them in the kitchen.

“I was losing, so I thought I’d join you two. Out of pennies.” She said. The three of them had a group hug, while Sarah whispered, “Funny, handsome as all get out, and smart as the dickens. I approve!”

“MOM, he is my BOSS, not my boyfriend! Behave yourself!” Allie grumbled. “What am I going to do with you two matchmakers?”

“I saw the way you looked at each other. My dear, I have been around the block a time or two. and I know magnetism when I see it!”

“Mom speaking of magnetism there seems to be a lot of it going around these days!” she teased. Her mom practically twinkled. “Well, at least I’m not in denial!” she swatted her daughter on her behind. “By the way, Casey, doesn’t Allie look stunning today?”

“Yeah, how is it that she can make sexy look classy, or maybe its classy look sexy? I don’t know!” she laughed.

Pleased, Allie graciously thanked them. Glancing over at the table again, she happened to catch Zane’s eye and he smiled and winked at her.

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