Barefoot in Lace (Barefoot Bay Brides Book 2) by Roxanne St. Claire Page B

halfway there this afternoon.”
    “You were?” Ari shot up. “If you’re holding out on me because of those Flipsticks…”
    “The only person I’m holding out on is Thomas Jefferson DeMille.”
    “And how’s he handling that?”
    “Mmm.” Gussie thought about that. “He’s accepted it for now, but I don’t think the ‘we just met’ excuse will last long. He is one determined man.”
    “So what’s stopping you?”
    “Besides the fact that I hardly know him?” Gussie asked. “I mean, I met him yesterday, and he’ll be gone tomorrow.”
    “He better not be. He’s doing our wedding this weekend.”
    “Well, not exactly gone tomorrow, but soon. But I don’t want to get all worked up over a guy who doesn’t even own a home, let alone plans to settle down and live a normal life.” She could feel Ari’s gaze on her and avoided it by picking up a dishtowel and refolding it.
    “Maybe you’ll be the one to change him.”
    “Said every woman who’s ever met him. And then failed.”
    “Well, if he’s that much of a player, you wouldn’t be attracted to him. Maybe there’s more than meets the eye, even if what meets the eye is pretty nice.”
    “That’s what I keep thinking,” Gussie admitted. “There’s something very caring about him. He raised his sister and seems concerned about his niece. It’s like he’s a supernice guy wrapped in this cloak of ‘I vant to be alone’ that doesn’t even ring true.” She sighed and straightened the already straight dishtowel. “Did you get any of that when you met him today?”
    “I didn’t get past the hair and the biceps.”
    “I know, right?” From the other counter, her phone dinged with an incoming text. “But you would if you spent time with him because you have such a great sense of intuition with people.” She picked up her phone and looked at the screen. “Oh, speak of the devil.” Damn it, why did a text from him give her a thrill?
    “Really?”
    She clicked on the message and read. “He wants to know if I can meet him and Alex for dinner tonight.” She looked at Ari. “He wants me to talk her into going to France with him, and if that fails, I guess I can suggest she stay with me.”
    “Oh, okay. You go, and I’ll scrounge for leftovers upstairs.”
    “No, come with me.”
    Ari held up a hand to say no, but Gussie grabbed it and squeezed. “You have to come,” she said as the rightness of the idea took hold. “You’re such a good judge of character, Ari. And it’s not a date since Alex will be there. It’ll be fun. I’ll text him back and tell him we’ll meet them at South of the Border in half an hour.”
    She expected an instant yes, but Ari narrowed her eyes and held her hand out. “It’ll cost you.”
    “Damn it.” She yanked open the pantry door and dug into the open box of Flipsticks. “Here.” She slapped about six into Ari’s palm, getting a jaw-dropped look of shock in return.
    “I would have settled for something less fabulous. A Twizzler or Good & Plenty. The ’Sticks are for sex.” She put the Flipsticks back into Gussie’s hand. “If Tom can wait, so can I.”
    Ari sounded pretty confident she wouldn’t have to wait long. Well, she was a damn good judge of character.

 
    Chapter Nine
     
    It had been remarkably easy to persuade Alex to go out to dinner. Tom had to say only four words: Gussie will be there . He didn’t mention that Gussie was bringing a friend. He didn’t want anything to change her mind, since he was certain that once he got them together again, Gussie could convince Alex that she should go to France. And if she didn’t, surely Alex wouldn’t mind Gussie’s generous backup plan.
    He still wasn’t sure of that idea, on many levels. It felt like shirking his responsibilities, yet he believed the offer was genuine. Would Ruthie have approved? He had to ask himself that question every time he made a choice for Alex now. Although sometimes he wondered how much Ruthie had