Home for Love (An Adult Contemporary Romance) by Aneesa Price Page A

Bree whispered,
awestruck. The lobby of the hotel was elegant in tones of cream and champagne,
a theme that was carried through to the restaurant. “It must have caused quite
a stir with the locals.”
    As are you Todd, thought nodding, unable
to take his eyes off her when she shed her coat and scarf. She wore a flowing
back dress that left her long, elegantly-shaped arms bare. It was just to the
knee so her great legs were free to his eyes and while not revealing, it was
darn provocative. It nipped in under her substantially larger breasts and
tempted a man to snake his hands up the floating skirt and hike it up. Lust hit
hard and strong. He really needed to get her into his bed and soon.
    Bree stared at him, waiting for a
response. “Sure did cause a stir,” Todd nodded. “But the town council handled
all the changes well, positioning The Lodge as just another required one. The
owner’s local too - that helped.” At Bree’s frown he explained, “You remember
Jack Thornton?”
    “Jack? The sophomore that irritated the
crap out of me, our senior year?” Bree asked, flabbergasted.
    Todd grinned. “The one and same. But
he’s okay really. He only irritated you because he had a crush on you.”
    “But he can’t be above twenty-four.
How’d he do this?”
    “Drive,” replied Todd. “He went to the
Lower 48 after high school, developed some computer program, made millions and
came back a success. I know he irritated you and frankly, if someone moped
around behind me with every step I took, I’d feel the same. But, you ladies
didn’t always see what happened in the boys’ locker rooms. He wasn’t physically
bullied, but they sure did pick on him. I tried to intervene when I caught it
happening, but I wasn’t exactly round the guy twenty-four, seven."
     
    “Well good for him,” Bree responded.
    Todd smiled. “I know what you mean. It’s
always great to see folk, you know, do well.”
    He held out his arm for her to take as
the host showed them to their table. It was a beautiful setting. Very French -
or what she’d seen French looked like in the movies - small tables comfortably
seating two or four were scattered around the dining area, covered by long,
ivory tablecloths that complimented the warm wood of the bistro-styled chairs.
The soft notes of a piano, gently caressed by masterful fingers, emphasized the
ambiance, and relaxed the diners. The far side of the restaurant was comprised
entirely of floor to ceiling, ivory-painted French doors that led out to an
expansive lawn and even wider lake. Their table was situated in front of the
doors. Two chairs opposite each other, with a third holding an oversized
stuffed toy, in front of it, a prettily-wrapped pink box that looked more like
confection than a gift.
    “This is adorable, Todd,” Bree smiled up
at him when she was seated. She leaned over and touched the soft, silky fluff
of the polar bear ballerina decked in a pink puffy tutu and matching tiara.
“And what is this?” She indicated the box.
    “A man does not tell on one girl to
another,” Todd responded, with mock firmness.
    Picking up the box, Bree shook it, heard
rattling. Shaking her head, she looked up at him. “You know I hate not knowing
things. So spill. I’m her mother.”
    “That ploy won’t work with me, honey,”
Todd replied, smoothly. “Put the box down and stop staring at it. Amber can
show you once she’s opened it.”
    “You’re no fun,” Bree replied, pouting.
    “And you’re like the little girl who
can’t wait for Christmas,” he laughed.
    “Oh, well,” Bree shrugged. “I’ll see
soon enough.”
    Todd signaled for the waiter. “Please,
won’t you put the gifts in my car?” he asked.
    “Certainly sir,” the waiter replied
stoically, garbed in an equally sever looking black suit and starched white
shirt. He efficiently and noiselessly removed the gifts and walked towards the
restaurant exit looking odd carrying a large stuffed toy and equally