Page 24 of Kiss Me at Midnight
Grandma Dotty handed the scissors over to Marta.
“Confident and sexy, you say?” Marta raised the tool in question and snipped air. “I never give up on a challenge. Move aside, grandma. I have work to do.”
Chapter Five
“What happened to you?” Jud stood in the doorway of Lily’s cabin staring at a virtual stranger. “I mean–”
“I look gorgeous. I know.” Dotty fluffed her once white, now metallic-silver, hair. “We had a spa afternoon. And after much discussion and negotiation, Lily and I decided bold changes were in order.” She stepped aside, revealing Lily standing near the closet.
Her brown hair wasn’t bound in a bun or spreading across her back. It was short and brushed her shoulders in a way that framed her face and complimented her chunky glasses. But she hadn’t just cut her hair. She wore a short white cocktail dress and matching heels.
Sexy heels.Something inside of Jud gave a howl of appreciation.
“You hate it.” Lily came to stand next to her grandmother. “Marta said she’d give me confident and sexy. Instead, she gave me–”
“Confident and sexy,” Jud breathed. “You look fabulous. Both of you.”
“Really?” Lily gave him a shy smile. “Marta had this dress stuffed in the back of the spa closet.”
“The pantsuit is all mine.” Dotty struck a pose in her black outfit. “Marta’s closet in the spa downstairs is mostly full of duds, if you ask me. Kind of like the chef’s attempt to make an egg salad sandwich.”
“Allow me–the luckiest man on board–to escort you two beautiful creatures to dinner.” He offered them each an arm.
For a few steps, they walked sideways through the hall.
“This is proof that three’s a crowd.” Dotty marched on ahead. “Pace yourselves. We have to climb two flights of stairs to get to the dining room.”
Jud held Lily back, slowing her steps. “I need to–”
“Tell me something? Yeah. Me, too.” Lily kept her voice low. “I think Rachel really loves Paulo. She said all the right things about him today. Does Paulo feel the same way?”
He hadn’t stopped underneath another ghastly metal chandelier to talk about Rachel’s love life. “I can’t be sure about Paulo. There was a language barrier, but before we go upstairs…” Jud turned her to face him. “I need to do this.” He drew Lily into his arms and kissed her thoroughly, the way that dress demanded a man kiss a woman.
Lily drew back without opening her eyes. “I understand that language.” She sighed and pressed her lips to his cheek. “Unless you’re acting.”
Acting? Manly pride rushed through his veins. “Honey, the way you kiss, no man needs to act out his response.” Lily looked dubious, so he kissed her again. “I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I want to date you.” She was perfect for the role of his fake girlfriend.
“Are you guys coming?” Dotty poked her head over the curved railing. “Or canoodling?”
“Canoodling,” Jud called back, grinning. “Can you blame me? Lily looks ravishing.”
Dotty’s thready laughter trickled down to them.
“Stop with the compliments.” Lily gently pushed Jud away and started up the stairs.
“It’s the truth.”
She paused halfway to the next floor. “Guys only want to date me for one reason.”
“The pleasure of your company?”
“My political influence.” Lily would have continued her march up the stairs if not for Jud capturing her hand and holding her in place.
“You’re hanging around the wrong men.” Jud was certain of that. “Guys who don’t value a woman’s sharp mind and sparkling conversation.” Guys who didn’t suspect that this brainy, beautiful woman could kiss a man’s socks off.
Lily slowly pulled her hand free. “I’m taking days off for a chance to feed the hungry and shelter those in need. If the wedding is happening, I need to go back to New York and drum up funding elsewhere. I’ll talk to Paulo at dinner in Portuguese. If he loves Rachel, we’ll get off in Norfolk tomorrow morning.”
“But…”Then I’d have no excuse to kiss you.He stuffed that thought down deep and reached instead for his cool composure. “If that’s the case, you owe me two more dates in New York before I have to go back to Hollywood. Three dates is your rule. Why is there a rule?”
