Two's Company by Jennifer Smith Read Free Book Online

three
    bouquets of roses for the women in his life. He gave red roses to his mother,
    white roses to his sister, and yellow roses to Gillian.
    “You are such a charmer,” his mother said with a smile and kissed his
    cheek.
    “Thank you,” Sylvia said and buried her face in the flowers to inhale the
    lovely fragrance.
    “Yes, thank you,” Gillian said. “You’re very kind to think of me.”
    “You are all welcome,” he said. “Shall we go?” He held his arm for his
    mother, and one for his sister, but Sylvia sidestepped and urged Gillian to take
    Ian’s arm.
    “I have to get my purse,” Sylvia said with a sly smile.
    Ian rolled his eyes. “M’lady?” he said to Gillian and offered his arm,
    which she took.
    “Your sister is a matchmaker, isn’t she?” Gillian laughed.
    “She tries,” Ian said and escorted the women to the waiting limousine.
    After settling the ladies into the limo, Ian went back into the house and
    called for Sylvia, who came running down the hall.
    “We were going to leave without you,” he said teasingly.
    “No, you weren’t,” she said and took his arm. “What do you think of
    Gillian? Isn’t she wonderful? And beautiful?”
    “Yes, yes, and I think she’s a very nice person.”
    “Nice? Just nice?”
    “What else am I to think of her?”
    “She is quite worldly, she travels, has a great education, a wonderful job. I
    think you two would be perfect together.”
    “If she has such a great education and wonderful job, what would she
    want with me?”
    “Oh, you are impossible!”
    Ian opened the limo door and climbed in after his sister. “Yes, I am,” he
    said with a wink after they were settled.
    “You are what, darling?” his mother asked.
    “Nothing. A little joke between brother and sister,” Ian said and grinned.
    “You’ll have to forgive my children, Gillian. They seem to forget they’re
    no longer teenagers.”
    Gillian laughed. “That’s perfectly all right. I have a brother too. I
    completely understand.”
    Ian helped them out of the limo when they reached the restaurant and
    escorted them inside. A few of the couples had already arrived, so Ian escorted
    the women to the reserved tables. After making introductions, everyone ordered
    drinks, except for Sylvia, who ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri and then
    announced to her friends that she was expecting. The cheering and toasts began
    and the noisy group of friends continued their merriment right through dinner.
    With Fire Light just around the corner, everyone walked as a group to the
    nightclub and lounge and continued the party after dinner. Gillian fit in with Ian
    and Sylvia’s friends and family and Ian couldn’t take his eyes off her. She
    laughed and joked with them, and listened enraptured to all the tales they told.
    Ian could tell how entranced the men were with her, and the women had already
    ac cepted her as one of their own. When the music began again, Ian stood and offered
    his hand to Gillian.
    “Will you dance with me?”
    She smiled up at him and his heart thudded in his chest.
    “Yes,” she said with a smile and took his hand.
    Leading her onto the dance floor, Ian pulled her close. Her hair felt like
    silk against his face and smelled of flowers. He inhaled deeply, and then
    tightened his arm around her. Moving with the gentle beat, Ian realized how
    long it had been since he’d danced with a woman for the pleasure alone. A
    graceful and responsive partner, Gillian followed his lead, and as Ian gazed into
    her eyes, his stomach did a flip. The realization that he might actually have
    feelings for her suddenly hit him and he almost laughed aloud. What an absurd
    notion, he thought. He lived a certain way, had a certain lifestyle not conducive
    to romantic involvement. Still, the emotions that washed over him while they
    danced left him wondering long after the music had faded.
    At nearly three in the morning, Ian saw his sister and mother home,
    promising to escort Gillian