The Dating List (8 page)

"Perhaps this is safer," Leah said, scanning the
traffic on Fifth Avenue for an empty taxi.

Colin spotted one first and raised his hand high in
the air.

"Safer? Are you afraid of me?" He asked as the cab
screeched to a stop in front of them.

"It's not you I'm afraid of…" Leah said as Colin
opened the door for her.

"Then who?"

She slid across the seat then he followed.

"Me. I'm afraid of myself. Driver, we're going
uptown…West side."

Colin closed the door with a chuckle then the taxi
sped away from the curb.

****

Carrie sat by the window, looking out at the gray,
cold day. A shiver ran through her body.
Perfect day for
chili.
She picked up her phone and sent a text to Grey at
work.

Chili tonight with Leah and Colin.

His response was almost immediate.

Great. Be home at five thirty.

Carrie sent a text to Leah, then put her phone down.
She opened the refrigerator and began to take the ingredients out
for her chili recipe when the phone rang. It was Delia.

"Hi, pumpkin. How are you?"

"Good. What's up?" Carrie opened the door to the
freezer.

"I've talked to three caterers. I'd love your
input."

"Wedding plans. Can you send me the menus in an
email."

"Carrie, I'm happy to do the planning but, honey, you
do have to be involved."

"Okay, okay. I promise to look them over
tonight."

"I like all three menus, so you'll have to pick."

"Why don't we send them to Mom?"

"Are you kidding? I'd rather wrestle with a tiger
than discuss menus with your mother. If you don't want to…"

"I get it. I'll have my answer for you tomorrow
morning."

"Hugs, baby."

"Hugs, Delia."

Carrie hung up the phone and chewed her lip.
Already it's beginning. I can feel it.

Before Carrie had much chance to upset herself
further, Colin and Leah arrived. Carrie put them to work right
away, moving her thoughts away from wedding plans and onto the
evening's meal.

Colin was mixing drinks at the bar while Carrie
fussed with the chili and Leah made a salad. The click of the lock
accompanied by the rush of cold air signaled Grey's arrival. Carrie
turned to watch her handsome fiancé enter the house. His cheeks
were rosy from the cold. His sandy-color hair was windblown. Carrie
loved the way he looked. She chuckled to herself.
I always like
looking at him.
Her stare brought a smile to his face as she
approached him. With only one leather glove pulled off, Grey took
her in his arms. She kissed his cold lips, warming them
immediately.

"No fire?" He asked, glancing at the fireplace.

"Only in my heart, dear," Carrie tossed back.

Grey hung up his coat and muffler, greeted Colin and
Leah then headed to the fireplace. Carrie brought him a vodka and
tonic then curled up on the floor next to him. He kissed her
quickly then returned to crumpling newspaper.

News of the day was exchanged at the dinner table.
Colin went on at length about the museum, which paintings were his
favorite and how he'd never expected to find an Egyptian tomb
fascinating. Leah blushed at his last comment. Carrie and Grey
exchanged looks. They knew something was going on. Grey chewed on
his salad before adding his bit of news to the conversation.

"Got a call from Mom today."

Eyebrows raised around the table.

"Mr. Davenport had a stroke. She doesn't think he's
going to last long."

Carrie put down her fork.

"Who's that?"

"He lives next door," Grey explained.

"Yeah with his hot daughter, Giselle, who had a thing
for Grey…"

"Oh, she did not," Grey said, but his blush belied
his statement.

"Oh?" Carrie raised an eyebrow in amusement and
trained her gaze on Grey.

"She…we…"

"They used to play
doctor
" Colin said,
laughing.

"Doctor?" Carrie's eyebrow arched a touch higher.

"Uh…not really. She was…is…the girl next door. And in
high school, we may have gone out a few times." Grey's blush
deepened.

"He took her to her prom. She was smokin' hot. All
the guys were after her."

"Colin…shut up!" Grey raised his voice.

"It's okay," Carrie said, resting her hand on Grey's
arm. "I'm not jealous. She had her chance and blew it. Now he's all
mine."

"Forever, honey." Grey placed his hand over hers. His
warm gaze sent a little thrill up Carrie's spine.

"My
forever
woman has yet to be by my side,"
Colin muttered, training his gaze on Leah.

Silence settled over the table. Colin continued to
stare at Leah who dropped her fork. The clatter of the utensil on
the plate drew Grey and Carrie's attention. Carrie stifled a grin
as she looked from Colin to Leah and back to Colin again. Color
rose to Leah's face.

"What are you all looking at?"

Grey cleared his throat. Carrie picked up her fork
and resumed eating. Colin took a sip of his wine. Leah placed a
forkful of chili and rice in her mouth and lowered her gaze to her
plate.

"So, what is everyone wearing to the party on Friday
night?" Carrie asked, looking around the table.

New Year's Eve, Central Park West and
77
^th
Street

Leah lit the last candle in the apartment, blew out
the match then checked her watch. Eight o'clock. People would be
arriving soon. She surveyed the open living and dining area. The
many candles created a soft, romantic glow throughout the space.
Fifty-five candles. Looks good.
She nodded her satisfaction,
spying at least one candle on almost every flat surface.
Romantic. Why should it be romantic? Leah…you don't have any
ideas, do you? Remember, you don't do romantic.
She shook her
head and laughed at herself.
He's too young. He won't be chasing
me for long. He'll meet some dazzling young women tonight and fall
madly in love.
She sighed, puzzled at the slight sense of loss
that idea brought. It was flattering to have such a gorgeous young
man hot for her. But it wasn't real. Besides, she had other plans
for her life.

Jean Luc, the caterer came out of the kitchen.

"Everything is ready, Madame."

"Excellent. I have to change, only take me a
minute."

He smiled at her and returned to the kitchen. His
helpers were setting up a buffet on the sideboard in the dining
room. Baked ham, escalloped potatoes, fresh sautéed green beans
mixed with pearl onions, salad, Jean Luc's special Dijon mustard
sauce, fresh baked rolls and fresh creamery butter completed the
elegant feast. Her mouth watered as she passed the sterling silver
chafing dishes keeping the food warm. The spicy aroma of the clove
ham teased her taste buds.

As she pulled out her clothes, she worried about
Colin.
I hope his tailored clothes arrived in time…and they
fit.
She unzipped her gold dress and stepped in, then struggled
with the zipper.
Damn! It's too long and my arms are too
short.
She pulled it up most of the way and wiggled. The gold
fringe shimmied with her hips, making her giggle.
I look like a
flapper!

As she applied the last of her makeup, the buzzer
rang. She knew Jean Luc would buzz the doorman so she had a minute
or two before her guests would be coming through the door. She
applied one more layer of coral lipstick, slipped her feet into
high-heeled gold sandals and tossed her hair over her shoulder
before greeting her guests.

Grey, Carrie and Colin were the first to arrive.
Carrie wore a long silver dress slit up to the hip on one side.
Grey looked smashing in his Armani tuxedo. They came and kissed
her. Hanging back was Grey's brother. Leah directed her gaze to him
and gasped.
Stan, you outdid yourself!

Colin stood twenty feet away wearing a Ralph Lauren
tuxedo that looked like it was made for his body. The tailoring was
perfect. Leah smiled to herself, remembering how Stan hadn't missed
a detail of Colin's form. But the store had done a magnificent job.
He looked beyond handsome. The dark suit set off his hazel eyes
which were focused on her. The slender lines of the pants and the
jacket emphasized Colin's height. He looked taller, slimmer. She
could hardly catch her breath. He spotted her and approached.

"Nice tailoring job. Fits like a glove. I have you to
thank," Colin said.

"You have your parents to thank for giving you that
body." Leah's hand flew to her mouth.
Open mouth, insert foot,
Leah!

He grinned, then his gaze raked her body from head to
toe.

"You look gorgeous. Wow! Gold is your color…like a
queen, queen of the roaring
20's
."

"Thank you. Would you mind?" She turned her back to
him. "I couldn't reach that last bit."

Colin put one warm hand on her shoulder, bared by the
dress, and drew the zip up with the other. The tingle from his
touch zinged through her body like a bolt of lightning. When she
turned around, he leaned down and brushed her lips with his. Leah
steadied herself with a hand on his shoulder. Her fingers dug in,
feeling the power of his muscles. A flutter in her belly warmed
her.
To have those long arms wrapped around me in ecstasy. Oh,
my God.

Within a minute, her reverie was broken by the
buzzer. Guests poured in while the buzzer rang almost constantly.
Men dressed in formalwear or dark suits were accompanied by women
in all manner of revealing dresses in black or white, magenta, hot
pink or iridescent purple. The room filled up. People lined up for
food. Jean Luc poured champagne into flutes and placed them on the
dining room table almost as fast as guests whisked them away. The
sound of voices deep in conversation mixed with the tinkle of
laughter and the murmur of whispers. Old friends greeted each other
with hugs while new acquaintances were introduced. Shadows created
by the candles danced on the faces of the beautiful people. A
holiday scent of cloves permeated the air. The mood was festive.
Leah took Colin by the arm.

"Come. I want you to meet some people."

She steered him toward a group of five young women
and two men, talking and drinking champagne. The women were dressed
to the nines. Their ultra-high-heeled shoes brought them to eye
level with Colin. The men in dark suits offered their hands to him.
Leah made introductions and discreetly left. When she glanced back,
a feeling of emptiness tore at her heart for a moment.
This is
better for him. It's not all about you, Leah. Do the right
thing.
The look of regret on her face was replaced by a soft
smile as she turned away to greet other friends.

****

One woman named Jodi looked Colin over from head to
foot then smiled smugly at him.

"You wear a tux well."

"Thanks. Like your earrings," Colin said.

"What do you do…for a living, Colin, is it?"

"I'm a teacher."

"Oh, like a college professor with a Ph.D.? Do I have
to call you doctor? Or do you just
play
doctor?" She threw a
salacious smile his way.

"Only a Masters, I'm afraid. I teach high school
Phys. Ed., and I coach wrestling."

"High school? Gym teacher? Really? I'm
surprised."

"Why?"

"You don't look the part…more like a Wall Street
banker. Too bad you're not," Jodi turned away and started a
conversation with the man on her left.

Colin stepped back as if he had been slapped.
What
a bitch!

The slight chubby young woman on the other side of
him with short red curls turned to him and whispered. "She's a gold
digger."

Colin looked at his new confidant and smiled.

"She always asks a man what he does first."

"I see and you're not like that?" Colin took a sip of
his champagne.

"Hell no! Besides I'm not interested in men anyway.
"

Colin laughed. "That makes two of us. So you have the
inside track on these women?"

"Yup. I don't hang with them but I've seen them at
these parties for years."

"Give me your honest opinion."

"My honest opinion? I wouldn't give you a nickel for
any of them…except one."

Her smiled widened. "Which one?"

"The one in gold." She nodded toward Leah.

"Leah?"

"That's her name?"

He nodded.

"Now she's something else. I'm Lena, by the way."

"Colin," he said offering his hand.

"Do you know her?" She shook his hand.

"I do."

"I'd love to meet her," Lena said, offering a shy
smile.

"Sure, but I don't think she swings that way."

"Never hurts to try."

He smiled at her persistence.

"Unless she's with you…"

"I wish."

Colin looked for Leah in the crowd and finally
spotted her standing near the kitchen talking to two well-dressed
men. She was laughing but he saw her glance over at him. She smiled
warmly at him. The heavier man of the two turned to see who
captured Leah's attention. Colin saw the man's frown of disapproval
which made him chuckle.
That's right buddy, younger, better
looking than you and available.

A brunette in a hot pink dress barely covering her
butt moved in front of him, blocking his view of Leah.

"Hi. I'm Alice."

"Colin," he said, frowning.
Got to keep my eye on
Leah.

"Sorry, did I spoil something?"

"Just checking out the food line," he lied.
Where's Leah?

"I'm starved. Let's go."

Alice took Colin's hand and led him toward the food.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Leah. Her laugh stopped
abruptly when she saw him with Alice.
Is she jealous? Is that
good? I hate games.