Something to Talk About (13 page)

Alicia’s mouth opened, too, but not for food. She stared at Roxy, who was now eating with enjoyment, and shook her head. “
Rox
, you’re way wrong about this. First of all, Adam’s not that dense. I practically threw myself at him and he politely threw me back, that’s all. I’m telling you, he’s involved with someone else and that’s why I’m getting the cold shoulder.”

Roxy rolled her eyes in despair. “Alicia, men simply aren’t as emotionally facile as women. You can’t drop a subtle hint on a man; you have to practically club them over the head just to get their attention. You obviously thought that little bit of kittenish behavior was going to delete ten years of programming from his mental hard drive, but it didn’t. All it did was put him on red alert that someone else is getting some of your attention. And from what you’ve told me, he probably thinks that person is Bryant Porter. Mr. Porter sounds quite
dishy
, by the way. You might want to kick him over this way,” she added with a smile.

Alicia was so intent on Roxy’s assessment of the situation she missed her last remark entirely. Her forehead puckered in thought, she recalled the last few times she and Adam had been together. They’d gone to the Tigers’ opening home game and huddled in the stands bundled up and holding hands against the cold April day. They’d been out to eat several times, to church, to her parents’ house for dinner, and to the movies, and he’d been his usual warm, attentive self. She’d always been able to tell Adam anything and he was more attuned to her than anyone else she knew. How was it possible that he would suddenly get stuck on s
tupid? She finally looked directl
y at Roxy and denied her words.

“
Rox
, once again, I have to disagree. Adam isn’t your typical thickheaded male. Adam is sensitive and pe
rceptive; he always knows exactl
y what I mean even when
I
don’t know what I mean. He couldn’t be so obtuse that he wouldn’t understand what I was trying to say. He just wasn’t interested, that’s all,” she said resignedly.

Roxy beckoned to their server. “I need another glass of wine, please.” She gave the young man her best dimpled smile and as he retreated, she turned her attention back to Alicia. “Girl, you’re driving me to drink, you really are. I know you and Adam have this perfect friendship and you think he’s the perfect man, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t thick as a plank when it comes to romance. Honey, when a man has feelings for a woman, his common sense goes right out the
window. He’s not capable of normal thought patterns; everything’s all jumbled up in his brain and the result is chaos.”

“Hold on, now,
Rox
, I never said Adam was perfect. We’re used to each other,
that’s
all. But perfect?
Far from it.
Adam can be moody and distant and he’s much too self-contained. And he definitely has a temper, but most people don’t realize it because he doesn’t yell. He
seethes,
though, which is much worse. And he’s a perfectionist and he’s so neat it’s like he has OCD. Everyone thinks Adam and I never fight, but we have our share of arguments. We just get over it, that’s all. It’s because we’re friends, pals, buds, road dogs. We’re practically brother and freakin’ sister and that’s how he wants to keep it.”

Roxy stifled a groan after Alicia’s diatribe. “I think you need this wine worse than I do. And don’t tell me the man’s not interested in you romantically, because I saw you together last week, remember? When he took us out to dinner and a movie, there was only one thing he was watching all night and that was you. He hardly takes his eyes off you, and the way he looks at you, well, let’s just say children
under
thirteen should
not
be allowed, even with a parent or guardian.”

Alicia’s doubt was still apparent, although it was clear that Roxy’s words had affected her. She was about to concede this to Roxy when the expression on her face changed to one of distaste. “You make some interesting points, but I still think he’s dating someone else. As a matter of fact, there she is now,” Alicia said dryly.

Roxy almost got whiplash as she tried to turn her head in the direction that Alicia was staring, but her efforts were unnecessary. Alicia moaned and whispered,
“Madre de Dios,
she’s coming this way.” She said a few other things in Spanish that were undoubtedly impolite and possibly profane, yet she managed to look perfectly composed when Darcy Hamilton stopped by their table.

“Alicia, darling, how are you? I haven’t seen you in weeks but you’re looking just fabulous! I almost didn’t recognize you with that divine haircut,” she said in a sweet tone of voice. As usual, she looked beautiful in neatly tailored silver
y
gray high-
waisted
pleated slacks and a matching shirt. The silvery color brought out her gray eyes and her chicly styled hair was in its normal perfect state.

With a terse thank-you, Alicia acknowledged the compliment and introduced Roxy. Darcy turned her attention to Roxy and gave her an interested look. “Roxy
Fairchild?
Like Fairchild Cosmetics?” she asked curiously.

Roxy didn’t even blink. “Yes, like Fairchild Cosmetics, my family’s company. Nice to meet you,” she said coolly.

Darcy didn’t seem to notice the drop in temperature from Roxy’s direction; she turned back to Alicia with a big smile. “You know I’m having a huge housewarming party after the renovations are done. I do hope you can make it I’ve been driving poor Adam mad, but the result is so wonderful I’m recommending Cochran and Fuentes to everyone I know.” She glanced across the
room and waved at someone, her own dinner date, presumably. “I’m being rude, so I’ve got to dash. Nice meeting you, Roxy, and, Alicia, I just love that outfit. You really are looking wonderful,” she added warmly.

It’s hard to be nasty to someone when they’re being extra nice to you, so Alicia gritted her teeth and tried to be equally charming. Darcy left them to join her friends and Roxy took a deep breath.

“Mmm
-hmm.
So you’re telling me
that’s
the little vixen who has eyes for Adam, is that right?”

Alicia nodded glumly. “That would be her. And I think he’s acted on that interest which is why he’s acting cool toward me.”

To her surprise, Roxy shook her head violently.
“Nope, not possible.
You ’re
wrong about this one and I’m right In fact, I’m so sure I’m right that I say we make a little wager. The winner has to treat the loser to a day at the spa, and I mean head to toe, sister, from hairdo to pedicure, with a mud bath and salt scrub in between. If you and Adam
aren’t
a couple by Memorial Day, the treat’s on me. But since you’re going to lose, I’ma
go
ahead and make reservations at the most expensive spa I can find. I plan to bankrupt you, Miss Alicia.”

Alicia laughed at her friend but she had to clarify something. “Okay,
Rox
, if that’s how you want to waste your money, fine.
But why Memorial Day?
What’s so significant about that particular date?”

“This is why I’m going to win, girl, you don’t pay attention to detail. That Bachelor Auction is that weekend, remember? The one where you always go along and bail Adam out so he doesn’t have to be bothered with some nitwit trying to push up on him just because she had the high bid. Well, this is your perfect opportunity to bust a move and it’s gonna be the deal breaker. If you don’t get your point across then, you never will,” she said calmly.

Memorial Day was just a week away. If Roxy was right, she had a lot to do between now and then. Just getting her nerve up was enough. How was she supposed to do something to let Adam know she meant business when her simple flirtation had failed?

“And just to make it really interesting, if you go through with it, I’ll throw in a week at my time share in the Caymans to sweeten the deal,” Roxy purred.

Alicia raised an eyebrow and she stuck her hand out at once.
“Done.”
The gaun
tl
et was thrown. Now she just had to figure out a plan.

Chapter Nine

After a weekend of thinking about the Bachelor Auction the last thing Alicia wanted to do was hear more about it at work, but since two other associates from the firm were involved, conversation was inevitable. One of the newer architects, a tall, slender man named Hannibal Brown, was participating, as was Paul
LaBruglia
. Paul’s inclusion was a surprise move since he was an Australian of Italian descent, but he’d charmed the selection committee with his warm personality and undeniable sex appeal. He wasn’t overly tall, only about six feet
.
And he didn’t have the perfect looks of a movie star, either, although his thick curly black hair and dark green eyes were sexy enough to make one forget his large Roman nose. What made Paul so appealing was his frank appreciation of the opposite sex, his piercing intelligence, and his wicked sense of humor. When he suggested they bill him as the Vanilla Thunder from Down Under, the selection committee had all burst into laughter and agreed that he would make a most interesting addition to the group of men.

With three representatives from the firm participating in the auction and practically all of the staff attending, the daily comments about the festivities were beginning to grate on Alicia’s last precious nerve, the one she needed intact in order to stay sane. Fortunately, though, Adam was as low-key as ever about his role. All he said was, “I can count on you, right?” She’d said yes and that was it
.
He would pick her up and they’d attend together, she’d wait until the fateful moment and whip out his checkbook. Then they’d go some place and get takeout food and finish the evening watching samurai movies or playing Scrabble. At least, that’s how it had always gone before. This time it would be totally different, that is, if she could find something to wear.

Roxy had been driving her crazy about finding just the right thing to wear, and her enthusiasm was beginning to get to Alicia. They were at the condo with Alicia’s new evening wear spread out on the bed. There were lots of sexy things to pick from, but Roxy wasn’t convinced yet. The fact that it was a black-and-white ball was a nuisance as far as she was concerned.

“Black-and-white is so boring, so safe! And it’s been done to death, too. You need to wear something fresh and lively,
like that hot
orange number.”

The dress in question was an intense, vibrant orange strapless dress in a silk and cotton blend, made with a short full skirt that would be perfect for dancing, but as Alicia pointed out, it wasn’t formal enough.

“It’s actually kind of casual when you think about it,” she mused. Her seven-year-old nephew agreed with Roxy, however.

“I like that one,
Tia
.
It’s sexy,” he said with a grin.

“What did you say,
Paco
?” Roxy asked. The family always spoke Spanish at home and
Paco
sometimes forgot that not everyone understood the language.

“I’m sorry, Tia Roxy. I said she should wear the orange dress because it’s sexy.”

He laughed at the shocked look on Roxy’s face, his long-lashed dark blue eyes lighting with glee. Roxy ruffled his curly golden brown hair as she chastised him. “What do you know about sexy,
litde
boy? How did you get to be so mannish?”

“
We have cable,” he said innocentl
y. “
Ti
a, wear this one, this is pretty, too.”

This dress was certainly sexy; it was a fitted sheath with a slit up one side and a daringly cut bodice with one long sleeve. It was also a shimmering shade of violet.

Alicia sighed. “It’s pretty,
mijo
,
but it’s the wrong color. It has to be black or white.”

“Who says? You’re grown, wear what you want,” Marielle said from the doorway. She had her one-year-old-daughter, Gabriella, on her hip and was obviously about to put her to bed. Gabriella squealed and reached for her
tia
Alicia when she saw all the colorful dresses scattered about the room. Playing in her mother’s clothes was one of her favorite things to do, and her aunt’s room looked like a fantasyland at the moment.

Alicia smiled and took her chubby, curly-haired niece from her sister. “Oh, no, you don’t,
Princesa
Mariposa!
I know what you’re capable of and you’re not wrecking this room.” Ignoring the child’s wriggling, she turned to Roxy. “I guess we’ll just have to go shopping tomorrow.”

Marielle inspected the dresses lying on the bed and the other furniture and disagreed. “Not really, I may have something for you. Let me get these two into bed and I’ll be back. Tell them good night,
Paco
,” she instructed as her son ran to bestow hugs and kisses. “Kiss
Tia
so we can go to bed,” she instructed Gabrielle, who immediately produced big fake tears as her mother took her from Alicia’s arms.