Non-Refundable Groom. Patty Salier

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ relax and the spots will disappear,” her sister advised as Bennie and Tod ran into the living room to play on her computer.

      How could she relax when Garrett had been on her mind all day? “Jan, I can’t go on this date.”

      “You can’t back out now,” her sister insisted. “Keep reminding yourself that he’s perfectly matched for you. And he wants to get married, just like you do.”

      “I’ll try. I really will.” She didn’t want to disappoint her sister, but she knew she’d be thinking about Garrett all evening. He was the one she wanted to date.

      “El, you better get going,” Jan said. “Here’s the Marriage Connection card to give to the restaurant maître d’.” She handed the engraved card to her. “Call me the second you get home. I don’t care if it’s three in the morning!”

      

      A few minutes later Elena anxiously parked her car in front of the Tiara Club in Santa Monica Canyon where a valet opened the door for her.

      I’m going to meet the man meant for me, she silently told herself. Why couldn’t she believe that? Because of Garrett, that was why. A black-tuxedoed gentleman swung open the double doors of the restaurant for her to enter. Then, she handed the card to the maître d’. He immediately gave her black jacket to the coat-check lady.

      “Follow me, mademoiselle,” the maître d’ said.

      Elena took in the luxurious crystal chandelier and thick blue carpeting. The candle-lit tables had beige linen tablecloths and napkins butterflied in sterling silver holders with dazzling silverware at each china place setting.

      She hoped she was dressed fancy enough in her jade velvet spaghetti-strapped dress. She had a string of pearls around her neck, matching pearl-drop earrings and was wearing jade pumps.

      Her body trembled a little as the maître d’ led her to the door of a private room. She wanted to turn around and go back home. She didn’t want to meet a new man.

      “Your date will be here any moment, mademoiselle,” he said.

      As the gentleman opened the door, she glimpsed a formally set table with tall white candles and red roses in a crystal vase. She could hear soft piano music playing in the background and noticed a small hardwood dance floor.

      “Mademoiselle,” he began, “I would like to introduce your date for the evening.”

      Elena took a deep breath and turned around to meet the perfect man matched for her. Her eyes widened when she saw Garrett standing there!

      “Elena Martin meet Garrett Sims,” the maître d’ said. “I will have your waiter bring in the champagne.” Then he left and closed the private room door behind him.

      “Wow, Elena!” Garrett said, his eyes taking her all in. “You’re my date? I must’ve hit the jackpot!”

      “Garrett, I can’t believe—” She was so thrilled that she could barely speak. “This is so incredible!”

      He looked incredible. He was starkly handsome in a black tuxedo, crisp white shirt and black satin bow tie. The tux jacket stretched across his broad shoulders and solid chest. She felt the urge to throw her arms around his neck and tell him how ecstatic she felt that he was her date!

      “You look gorgeous, Elena,” he said in a husky voice, his gaze sensually traveling down her body.

      Her skin tingled at his visual caress. “So do you!” she blurted and then blushed, adding, “I mean, you look great, Garrett.”

      She wanted to ask him a zillion questions about his signing up with the dating service, but she was so flustered being with him that she couldn’t remember the name of the service.

      After a discreet knock on the door, the waiter entered with two crystal flute glasses of sparkling pink champagne.

      Garrett slipped his hand in hers and led her to the dinner table. As he sat across from her, her heartbeat raced when she felt his knees gently touch hers.

      “To us,” he said, tapping his sparkling glass with hers.

      She nodded, unable to believe that her dream had come true. With a trembling hand, she took a sip of the pink bubbly, her eyes never leaving his.

      The waiter served an exquisite salad of garden greens with French dressing and then an entreé of baked hen with baby carrots and garlic mashed potatoes.

      “Hungry?” Garrett asked, offering her a cut of hen on his fork. “What a stroke of fate that I should be with you tonight,” he whispered. “I’ve got to admit something to you, Elena.”

      “What?” she asked, feeling like her heart was about to burst with joy at being with him.

      “The moment I met you in Stanley’s office,” he began, “I was majorly attracted to you. I’ve wanted to be with you ever since.”

      “You’ve been on my mind since that meeting, too,” she responded, unable to hold back her feelings for him.

      He leaned across the small table and gently stroked her cheek, sending chills down her skin. “No wonder the dating service connected us together,” he said.

      Her heart skipped a beat as his finger slid down her neck, tracing the strand of pearls just above the rise of her breasts.

      The waiter came into the room, asking, “Is the dinner pleasing to you?”

      “Very pleasing,” Garrett replied, his eyes on her, as though he were talking only about being with her.

      Elena was so consumed with Garrett that she didn’t remember finishing the rest of her meal. Before she knew it, the busboy was clearing the table. Then the waiter carried in a silver tray filled with chocolate éclairs, whipped cream fruit tarts, and creamy cheesecake.

      She slipped a slice of sumptuous éclair into Garrett’s mouth and then let him lick the whipped cream off the tips of each of her fingers. The desire in his eyes matched her own, and she barely noticed when the maître d’ came into the private room.

      The soft background piano music switched to a love ballad. The lights dimmed, and kaleidoscope rainbow lights glittered across the shiny dance floor.

      Elena felt overwhelmed with nervousness thinking about dancing in Garrett’s arms.

      “Please dance,” the maître d’ encouraged. “You will not be disturbed for the last hour of your evening.”

      

      Garrett barely noticed the maître d’ leave. He couldn’t take his eyes off Elena. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her ivory breasts swelled over the top of her velvet dress, which hugged the hourglass curves of her body.

      He took her hand and led her to the multicolored dance floor. He slipped his arm around her small waist and gently drew her against his body, slowly swaying to the love beat.

      “It feels so good to hold you, Elena,” he whispered, pressing his palms against the small of her back, guiding her closer to him.

      He СКАЧАТЬ