Page 19 of Kiss Me at Midnight
Lily didn’t deny it. “All those women you’ve dated… You’ve never been in love?” Lily drew back slightly, staring up at his face.
Jud shook his head and then brushed a lock of windblown brown hair away from her eyes. “If I had, I’d know what love is.”It would feel like this.
“Same, I guess.” Lily put her head on his shoulder. “My career makes it hard to meet someone outside politics. I’m not one for nightlife.” She gently plucked at his shirt sleeve. “I bet that sounds boring to you.”
“You say that like you think I’m out on the town every night.”
Lily shrugged. “Whether you are or you aren’t, it’s none of my business. All I’m saying is I’ve become as predictable as the New Year’s Eve ball dropping on Times Square, whereas you…”
“Hang on. Aren’t you the woman taking late night meetings and impromptu yacht vacations?”
Lily gave a little laugh. “I am, aren’t I?” Her words rang with pride.
“What’s this?” Dotty piped up in the lounge. The old woman didn’t bother accepting the plate the crew member brought her this time. She peered at it suspiciously. “I asked for an egg salad sandwich.”
The young man holding the sandwich grimaced. “The chef thought you’d enjoy egg salad and anchovies with pickled peppers.”
Dotty tossed her hands. “Egg salad. That’s all I want. Send it back.”
Next to her, Marta clapped her hands. “Attention. It’s time for the bon voyage pictures. Everyone move to the rail.” She had a serious-looking camera hanging around her neck.
Paulo helped Rachel and Dotty to their feet. The trio joined Jud and Lily at the railing. There was a group photo and then several photos of Rachel and Paulo. Abe was a no show.
“They look like they adore each other,” Lily whispered to Jud.
He stared down at Lily, feeling like he could adore her.
What?
Jud reminded himself of the demands of his career and his plans for Lily to be a convenient date when needed.
But he couldn’t quite shake the sense that Lily was over-qualified for the role.
*
Let the bridesmaid duties begin!
Lily entered the salon below decks after lunch, expecting to be inundated with engine noise. But when Marta closed the door behind them, it was blessedly quiet.
The salon was more like a beauty spa. There was a hair stylist chair, a massage table, and a pedicure lounger. The walls were covered with seagrass wallpaper. The floor with bamboo planks. The room was lit with heavy, black metal wall sconces that were everywhere throughout the yacht but at odds with the otherwise light, luxurious décor.
The juxtaposition was just as odd as how uncivilly Rachel had greeted Lily on the dock and then seemed more amenable to her presence during the yacht’s leaving port. Jud had warned Lily about Rachel’s mercurial nature. It kept her on pins and needles. She wasn’t going to be relaxing in this spa.
“Ladies, you have three choices in bridesmaid dresses.” Wasting no time, Marta brought three dresses from a closet. Her pink hair glowed nearly neon in the light.
“I didn’t want to force my style on my attendants.” Rachel sat in a pedicure lounger, turning on the tap and tossing in some bath salts. Unlike Lily’s tangled locks, her red hair was wind-tossed but attractively so. “Ladies choice. You don’t even have to match.”
Immediately, Grandma Dotty began inspecting their options, while Lily peeked into the closet. It was filled with clothing of all styles and colors. “What are these for?”
“My mood,” Rachel said simply. But her gaze was anything but simple. In fact, it seemed layered with dangerous undercurrents.
And here we go.
Lily braced herself for whatever attack Rachel decided to launch, wishing Jud were at her side. It was cowardly, but Lily imagined she could withstand whatever Rachel said to her if she and Jud were together.
“I’ll be darned.” Grandma Dotty held a cream and silver dress up to her shoulders. “This is a two-piece.”
“The top is a simple V-neck cream chiffon.” Marta went into bridal consultant mode. “The silver skirt is floor-length, A-line. And it has pockets.”
