Page 60 of An Irresistible Force (Vancouver Vice)

I checked my phone. “In about half an hour. And I’m sure Chris doesn’t think this is a date.”

My mother leaned in closer. “But you do. And you’ve gone to so much trouble to get dressed up for him tonight.”

“Mummy, stop. All I wanted was to look like someone who might plausibly be out with Chris. But he’s only escorting me because he’s a nice guy.”

“What do you think of Christopher? At the beginning, you seemed dead set against him. But now you seem to like him a lot.”

“Well, as much as I hate to admit it—I was wrong about him. He’s smart and he works hard. He’s been a team player too. He doesn’t mind pitching in and doing whatever we need.” I smiled as I remembered him dressed up as V-Ice. But in another way I was right about him. He turned out to be exactly the guy I had imagined he was when I was a teenager—dedicated, down-to-earth, and fun.

“So, you trust him now? You don’t agree with Thomas’s idea that Christopher is only helping us to encourage the sale of the team?”

“Chris only says what is true. The more I look at the financials and the state of the hockey team, the more I realize that we will never make a profit without the help of the Millionaires.”

My mother’s mouth was set in a straight line. “It’s all so much to think about. I have to admit, I’ve been so busy with the gala that I haven’t had time to think much more about the future of the Vice. Was there any news from Thomas’s mediation session on Friday?”

“I haven’t heard a word about it.” Which was odd, but I’d been busy getting ready. “Sometimes these things are delayed though.”

“It would be nice if it was delayed and you could stay longer.”

I nodded. Once I couldn’t wait to get back to Toronto, but now my life here seemed more tangible and exciting. The work was challenging, and I was enjoying being back in Vancouver with my family and old friends. And then there was Chris—I felt that we were friends now, but perhaps we were only work friends? Realistically, once we sold the team—would I even see him again? It seemed very unlikely. After all, I had spent several years of my life trying to run into him accidentally and never achieved that goal.

While that made me feel sad, when I looked at my very pleasing reflection in the mirror I came back to earth. Tonight was the night I’d worked so hard to prepare for. If tonight was going to be my one and only evening with Chris Luczak, I’d make damn sure it was a good one.

27

Prince Charming

Chris

Larson was a genius.I realized that as I drove up to Amanda’s house. For once, I was going out with none of the stress of a real date. I didn’t have to worry about making a good impression or saying the right thing. Amanda already knew me, warts and all. Having a female friend was a great idea, and I was looking forward to a fun, relaxing night.

I parked in their long circular driveway behind a black Bentley. There was a man in it and he nodded to me. He was wearing a suit, and I wondered if he was Jeannie’s date. Then I realized he must be her driver. These people.

As I knocked on the door, I wondered how Amanda was going to look. She was pretty much the worst-dressed woman I’d ever met. The only thing she had looked good in so far was jeans. But her mom would make her wear something nice for the occasion. Hopefully, she wouldn’t look too butch.

Jeannie opened the door. “Good evening, Christopher. Do come in.” She was already wearing her coat, a full-length cape that made her look like a storybook character. She had long gloves on too.

“Good evening, Jeannie. Are you leaving now?”

“No, I was waiting for you.” I noticed that Bonita was lurking at the back of the hallway too. Jeannie smiled at me. “You look very well. I always enjoy seeing a man in a tuxedo. Vince hated formal dress, but it was always worth the effort.”

I smiled. “Well, you know, with so many black tie events, I had to buy my own penguin suit. So I’m always happy to get chances to recoup my investment.”

She laid her hand on my arm and laughed heartily. Amanda complained about her mother’s bossiness, but Jeannie had a charm that made her manipulations invisible.

“I’m sorry that we can’t give you a ride as well,” I told her. “I could have brought the Range Rover instead of the Jag.”

“Not at all. Freddy is very happy whenever he gets to drive the Bentley. It was my husband’s toy, and we save it for special evenings.”

“It’s a beautiful car. I bet it drives like a dream.”

“Oh, are you interested in Bentleys? You must take it out for a spin sometime.”

Just then there was a noise at the top of the stairs. I looked up and saw Amanda.

She was utterly amazing. She looked taller, elegant, and very feminine. She was wearing a long blue gown, and her hair was all done up. As she descended the staircase, I could not tear my eyes away from her. She was a completely different woman.

Close up, everything was even better. Her hair looked shinier. Her shoulders and back were bare and her skin looked pale and perfect—like a statue in a museum. Her expression was relaxed and happy, and her whole face sparkled. She looked like Amanda, but Amanda on steroids. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she asked in a completely normal voice, “Ready to go?”

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