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Thankfully Marie gained everyone’s attention, wanting to know where they would like to shop. When Whitney voiced no opinion she said, “Whitney, is there someplace special you would like to go?”
“I’ve never been to Napa so I really can’t say.”
“Then is there something you’re interested in shopping for?” Marie asked.
After her conversation with Tanner there was. “Yes, I need a new cocktail dress and I didn’t have time to get one before I left San Francisco. Do you know of a good place to buy one?”
A large smile came to Marie’s lips. “I know just the boutique.” She picked up a phone attached to the side of the car and instructed the driver where to stop. “There’s plenty of other places nearby for the rest of us to enjoy while you’re getting your dress.”
Minutes later they were stepping out of the car in front of a store with two windows on each side of a glass door. In one of the show spaces was a beautiful red dress. The bodice was seamed in panels so that it would fit tightly above the waist, while the skirt flared and flowed around the mannequin’s legs. It was so unlike anything Whitney owned yet for some reason she wanted to surprise, even shock, Tanner. What was happening to her? All her life she’d been in the background, had worked hard to stay there, and yet everything about the dress screamed, Notice me.
“I can see the red dress has caught your attention. Let’s go in and you can try it on.” Marie all but pushed her into the store.
The other ladies, including Charlotte, headed down the sidewalk with a wave of their hands. One said, “We’ll meet you in an hour at the café for tea.”
A small bell tinkled as she and Marie entered the shop. A saleswoman greeted them. Marie wasted no time telling her that Whitney wanted to try on the dress in the window. Minutes later Whitney was standing in front of three mirrors, wondering who she was looking at.
“It’s lovely on you.” Marie’s words were soft and reassuring.
Whitney moved from side to side, watching the folds of the dress sway around her legs. “You don’t think it’s too much?”
“No. Tanner won’t know what’s happened to him when he sees you.”
Did she want that? They weren’t lovers. She was looking for a woman for him, not to be his woman.
“Yes, and even better, it’ll get Charlotte’s goat.”
Whitney gave Marie a sharp look. “Why?”
“Because she seems to think she has some claim on him.”
Watching Marie’s face closely, Whitney responded, “Tanner said she’s engaged.”
Marie curled her lip in distaste. “She is, but that doesn’t seem to mean much to her. Max doesn’t spend enough time with her to keep her happy so she goes after other people’s husbands.”
Had Charlotte gone after Malcolm?
Marie picked out a necklace with a small pearl on the end of a stand on the table near them. “Turn around,” she ordered then fastened it on Whitney’s neck. “I’d like to see her put in her place. You might just be the person to do that.” Marie patted her shoulder. “Perfect. He’ll never know what hit him.”
Her? She’d never outshined someone like Charlotte. Cautiously Whitney asked, “If you don’t mind me being nosy, if you feel that way about her, why is she here?”
“Because she’s Max’s latest young thing.” Marie didn’t sound at all pleased. “His wife, Margaret, was my best friend. She died of cancer a couple of years ago.”
Whitney touched her arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you. It was a dreadfully hard time on everyone. Enough of that. Let’s get this dress paid for and go have tea.” Marie started toward the desk.
Did Whitney dare buy the dress? Tanner’s comment about her clothing compelled her to say yes, but she sure didn’t want Charlotte goading her into doing something to prove a point. But just this once it would be nice to indulge herself, wear something that made her feel confident, feminine.
“Okay.”
It wasn’t until she was taking the dress off and looked at the price tag that she almost fainted. It was half her house payment for a month. If she could just find the right woman for Tanner his fee would help her afford it. Even though she had his money in her purse, she wasn’t about to use it. Only because of the idea that wearing the dress would give her enough poise to pull off the rest of the weekend and deal with Charlotte’s barbs did Whitney have the courage to give the saleswoman her credit card.
She and Marie stepped out into the sunshine again. They gave her dress to the driver, who was waiting nearby, and started down the street. The honk of a car drew their attention. It was Tanner. He pulled into the nearest parking place and got out.
“What’re you doing here? I thought you were playing golf.” Whitney didn’t take the time to examine the little skip of her heart at seeing him.
“Turns out I was odd man out and not needed for a foursome. I tried to catch you before you left but apparently you have your phone off, so I thought I’d drive in and find you. Maybe see if I could join you ladies for lunch.”
“Sure. You’re welcome,” Marie said, then started down the street toward where the others sat on a patio of a café.
Whitney whispered, “So why are you really here?”
“I got to thinking it was unfair of me to throw you to the wolves by pressuring you into coming into town without me to run interference. So when I wasn’t needed for golf I came to save you.”
“Just like a knight of old,” Whitney jested. In reality she found it rather sweet that he’d been anxious about her welfare. Or was he just afraid she might slip up and tell everyone she was his matchmaker? Despite his high-handed method of getting her to come with him, he seemed genuinely concerned for her. It made it hard not to like him.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“I would never do that,” Whitney said with pretend sincerity and then followed Marie.
Tanner caught up with her. He took her hand and leaned in close. “We need to make this look good.”
A tingle of pleasure rippled through her. Just having him near made her feel warmer than the day indicated. She had to get a handle on her reaction or she would soon be swooning over Tanner like she had in college. That was a stage in her life she wasn’t returning to.
Minutes later they had taken a seat at the table on the patio with the other women.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had afternoon tea. I might do this again soon,” Tanner remarked as he picked up a sandwich that almost disappeared between his large fingers.
“You don’t know what you’ve been missing,” Whitney said. “It’s one of the most relaxing things I do for myself.”
“You’ve had afternoon tea before?” Tanner sounded surprised. Did he think
she wasn’t interested in anything that cultured?
“Many times.”
“I prefer other diversions,” Charlotte purred, giving Tanner a speculative look.
He ignored Charlotte and said to Whitney, “I’m going to count on you taking me to your favorite place. My treat.”
The look he gave her created a low glow in her. He was putting on a show for the women but she was still enjoying his attention, no matter what the reason.
Tanner was a perfect charmer during lunch. He spread his attention around each of the women, including Charlotte, but he made it clear Whitney was special. Where some men would have felt out of place as the only male at the meal, Tanner seemed to be enjoying himself.
When he wasn’t eating, his arm remained across the back of her chair. That element of his personality Whitney had seen when they’d been in college was now very evident during the meal. Occasionally his thumb would drop down and brush her shoulder.
When she shuddered he leaned in too close and asked with his lips just touching her ear, “Are you cold?”
He knew full well she wasn’t. If anything, she felt compelled to fan herself.
Tanner entertained with stories of his exploits during med school and shared one very poignant one about a patient. Whitney envied his ability to fit in wherever he was. He even paid for everyone’s meal, stating, “That’s what a gentleman does.”
“So, Marie, what do you have planned for us this evening?” he asked as they were leaving the café.
“Tonight we’re having a wine-and-cheese tasting at the winery, then taking a tour and ending with dinner in the wine cellar.”
They had arrived at the limousine and the women started taking their seats. When Whitney ducked her head to get in Tanner said, “Aren’t you going to ride back with me?”
He almost sounded hurt. “Uh, sure.” Whitney joined him on the sidewalk again. They watched the limo move away from the curve.
“Do you need to get anything else while we’re in town?” he asked.
“No, I’m good.” She already had a stunning dress that Marie would take care of.
