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Tina nodded. "Sorry. You're right. It happens so much less now, but it happens.
Perversely, on days when I'm so happy. And it always revolves around her. " The two women watched Natalie and the girls moving from table to table,
"helping" Chloe drop the party favors, fish made of colored glass, into the bowls next to the daisies in the center of each table. Each girl had her opinion of where she wanted to sit and what fish should be in her bowl.
A teenage girl came in, carrying a load of presents. She laid them down where Gen directed, then took a self-conscious position against the wall, looking bored. "That's Debra. " There was an apology in Tina's voice. "I know you said I needed to bring an additional adult to sit at the third table but my friend called just an hour ago. Her son fell off the swings and needed a few stitches and, well, I brought her teenager, Debra. " She nodded at the girl, looking sloppy and out of place at the formal affair in her hip-hugger jeans and crop top. "I honestly don't know how much help she'll be but she's been in trouble a lot, so her mother couldn't leave her at home. Dealing with her at the hospital wasn't an option, so I told her I'd bring her to 'help' me. " She waved her hands helplessly. "But don't worry. I can just sit my chair between two tables and watch both. . . "
"Can I be of assistance?"
Marguerite, startled, turned nearly into Tyler, who apparently had come in through the side porch door. Because she was startled, she took a deep breath as she turned. The aftershave, skin, soap, shampoo. . . all of him.
Chloe was right. The want and longing, banked up and building since the moment she'd left his house, just flooded out through her, making her feel better and yet far more flustered, all at once. His amber eyes were warm and intent on her, taking in everything about her appearance. He wore slacks and shirt, blazer and a tie. She wondered if he had a crystal ball.
"I'll be happy to sit at the third table," he said, his attention moving over the Japanese fashion she'd worn that fitted her body with elegant sensuality. He lifted her limp hand in his, kissed her knuckles. "If Mrs. . . " He turned his gaze to Tina, lifted a brow, his lips curving in a charming smile.
"Moorefield. Tina Moorefield. " Tina found her tongue after only a brief hesitation, which Marguerite admired, since she was still looking for hers. "And it's Ms. "
"If Ms. Moorefield doesn't object. "
"No. . . objections. If you're a friend of Marguerite's. " Tina added it hastily, apparently just managing to remember that she shouldn't be entrusting her charges to a total stranger.
"Well, that's debatable but I'm sure she'll vouch that I can be trusted with the well-being of a group of little girls. "
While destroying the sanity of an adult woman, Marguerite thought, but she pulled it together enough to nod.
"I've been trying to talk Marguerite into performing a Japanese tea ceremony for me but she tells me she reserves it only for her special customers. "
"A properly done chaji takes four hours. " His teeth flashed at her. "I have the stamina. " Tina stifled a chuckle. Eyes glinting, Tyler inclined his head to her and moved to a wide-eyed Chloe, asking her if she needed any help as if he'd worked there all his life.
"I'd offer to catch you if you need to swoon," Tina said under her breath. "Except my knees went weak watching him kiss your hand. "
"He is so irritating," Marguerite said, trying not to grit her teeth. Ti
na grinned, as though there was a joke everyone understood but Marguerite did not find the least bit funny.
"Men like that are always a handful. There was a bank president after me for a while. I didn't pursue it. Of course, if he'd been able to do that to me. . . "
"What?"
Tina ran a finger up the gooseflesh that still hadn't settled on Marguerite's skin.
"That. "
"Excuse me. I just need to go settle some things and then we'll get started. " She courteously extricated herself from the amused mother and stepped to Tyler's side, catching his sleeve and drawing him into the kitchen.
"What are you doing here?" She tried to keep her tone even, instead of snapping it out like an accusation. "I thought we were done. "
"I have a proposition for you. One I think you'll like. But it can keep until later. " He nodded at the swinging door, behind which the chatter of Natalie and her friends continued unabated, covering their conversation. "Let's not keep the birthday girl waiting. "
"Have you heard of the phone?"
He gave her an appraising look. "Would you have taken my call?" His intuition was getting on her nerves. She turned on her heel.
She let out a surprised squeak as his hands caught her waist, pulled her back against him. He bent to her ear, his grip appropriately placed, but her skin heated as if he were touching her in far more intimate places.
"I missed you. "
She closed her eyes, knowing he was saying what was resonating in her own heart.
