Fixed up in February (Spring River Valley Book 2) by Clarice Wynter Page B
Authors: Clarice Wynter
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give him another chance, Cass. He’s the one I’ve been looking for all this time.”
* * * *
At eight p.m. Audrey walked into the lobby of the West End Inn just outside Spring River Valley. She’d been a bit shocked when Cassie told her John had picked the hotel restaurant for their date. The place was expensive and very posh. She would have loved eating there under normal circumstances, but in this case she hated to think her date might consider the evening a waste, since she already knew there’d be no second date.
She was a fraud, in her nice black dress and strappy pumps, the ones Harper had insisted she wear despite the weather. Why had she bothered to dress up at all when her plan was to let Appendix Guy —J ohn — down easy?
She crossed the lobby to the concierge desk which sat in front of a richly carved archway leading into the candlelit dining room. The aroma of gourmet food reached her, subtle in the carefully conditioned air so as not to overwhelm the guests, just enough of a tease to entice people into the velvety dark interior of the haute eatery.
“May I help you, ma’am?” The man wore a tuxedo like he was born to it. He eyed Audrey’s not so fancy coat with a hint of suspicion, but his expression morphed into approval when she sloughed it off to reveal her sizzling dress.
“I’m meeting someone here. The reservations are under the name Isaacs.”
The concierge checked an ornately penned ledger and offered her a dazzling smile. “Of course, ma’am. Right this way. Your party hasn’t arrived yet. Would you care to wait at the bar or to be seated?”
Audrey fought not to roll her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to cling to the bar, looking like a singleton on the prowl. “I’d prefer to be seated, thank you.”
He bowed, which she had to admit, she liked. Then he led her expertly through the dining area, dodging tables and waiters with stunning expertise. Audrey noticed she turned a few heads along the way. She might have been flattered except the only head she wanted to turn was Max’s, and he wasn’t going to see her in this dress, with these shoes, new lipstick and perfect hair. She’d dressed for him, because she wanted him to be the one waiting at the table.
The concierge pulled out her chair, and a white-coated waiter appeared at his side. “May I take your drink order, ma’am?”
“Lemon soda with lime for now, thank you.”
“Enjoy your meal, ma’am. I will see that your party is escorted here as soon as he arrives.”
“Thank you.”
Both men disappeared, and Audrey was left to contemplate the place. Soft music played in the background, crystal candle holders sparkled on the tables which were covered in fine linen with lace overlays. Huge paintings decorated the walls which were painted a muted shade of olive green to contrast with the gold leaf of the enormous frames. The chairs were leather, the carpet plush. If it wasn’t for the captivating scent of food, she probably would have curled up to take a nap, the place was that relaxing.
The waiter appeared with her drink and whirled away again before she could thank him. She sipped, twirled the lime wedge around with her straw and let her gaze drift surreptitiously to the couples seated around her.
Fifteen minutes passed, then twenty. At eight-thirty she began to tap her straw on the edge of her glass. At eight forty-five she grabbed her purse and fished out her wallet. A twenty should cover the overpriced drink and a tip, she thought. So much for the perfect guy. John, as it turned out, wasn’t even Punctual Guy.
Before the twenty dollars hit the table, a shadow fell across the creamy tablecloth . Finally here? Audrey looked up, and her breath caught.
Max stood beside the table, dressed in a charcoal suit and tie and a dark wine-colored shirt. His gaze held not a hint of mockery or the hurt she’d seen in his eyes at the hospital. All she saw there now was desire.
She opened her mouth to speak,
* * * *
At eight p.m. Audrey walked into the lobby of the West End Inn just outside Spring River Valley. She’d been a bit shocked when Cassie told her John had picked the hotel restaurant for their date. The place was expensive and very posh. She would have loved eating there under normal circumstances, but in this case she hated to think her date might consider the evening a waste, since she already knew there’d be no second date.
She was a fraud, in her nice black dress and strappy pumps, the ones Harper had insisted she wear despite the weather. Why had she bothered to dress up at all when her plan was to let Appendix Guy —J ohn — down easy?
She crossed the lobby to the concierge desk which sat in front of a richly carved archway leading into the candlelit dining room. The aroma of gourmet food reached her, subtle in the carefully conditioned air so as not to overwhelm the guests, just enough of a tease to entice people into the velvety dark interior of the haute eatery.
“May I help you, ma’am?” The man wore a tuxedo like he was born to it. He eyed Audrey’s not so fancy coat with a hint of suspicion, but his expression morphed into approval when she sloughed it off to reveal her sizzling dress.
“I’m meeting someone here. The reservations are under the name Isaacs.”
The concierge checked an ornately penned ledger and offered her a dazzling smile. “Of course, ma’am. Right this way. Your party hasn’t arrived yet. Would you care to wait at the bar or to be seated?”
Audrey fought not to roll her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to cling to the bar, looking like a singleton on the prowl. “I’d prefer to be seated, thank you.”
He bowed, which she had to admit, she liked. Then he led her expertly through the dining area, dodging tables and waiters with stunning expertise. Audrey noticed she turned a few heads along the way. She might have been flattered except the only head she wanted to turn was Max’s, and he wasn’t going to see her in this dress, with these shoes, new lipstick and perfect hair. She’d dressed for him, because she wanted him to be the one waiting at the table.
The concierge pulled out her chair, and a white-coated waiter appeared at his side. “May I take your drink order, ma’am?”
“Lemon soda with lime for now, thank you.”
“Enjoy your meal, ma’am. I will see that your party is escorted here as soon as he arrives.”
“Thank you.”
Both men disappeared, and Audrey was left to contemplate the place. Soft music played in the background, crystal candle holders sparkled on the tables which were covered in fine linen with lace overlays. Huge paintings decorated the walls which were painted a muted shade of olive green to contrast with the gold leaf of the enormous frames. The chairs were leather, the carpet plush. If it wasn’t for the captivating scent of food, she probably would have curled up to take a nap, the place was that relaxing.
The waiter appeared with her drink and whirled away again before she could thank him. She sipped, twirled the lime wedge around with her straw and let her gaze drift surreptitiously to the couples seated around her.
Fifteen minutes passed, then twenty. At eight-thirty she began to tap her straw on the edge of her glass. At eight forty-five she grabbed her purse and fished out her wallet. A twenty should cover the overpriced drink and a tip, she thought. So much for the perfect guy. John, as it turned out, wasn’t even Punctual Guy.
Before the twenty dollars hit the table, a shadow fell across the creamy tablecloth . Finally here? Audrey looked up, and her breath caught.
Max stood beside the table, dressed in a charcoal suit and tie and a dark wine-colored shirt. His gaze held not a hint of mockery or the hurt she’d seen in his eyes at the hospital. All she saw there now was desire.
She opened her mouth to speak,
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