Page 49 of 40 and Flirting (with Disaster)
“Okay.” She rolled off him, dragging her skirt down as she settled into her seat. Jamie straightened himself, cranked the car, and pointed them toward her apartment. Instead of worries filling Iris’s thoughts, it was memories of the past few minutes and dreams of the moments to come. Much sweeter, and Iris hoped to keep things that way for a little bit longer.
Twenty-Three
The Carousel glittered like crown jewels set atop its own lake. Iris admired the view of the glass-enclosed building, now blazing with lights, as she pulled into the parking lot and found a space along the periphery. The lot was full—of course it would be on a busy Friday night—but she knew Jamie had arranged to take a few hours off to have dinner with her family. Adam and Chloe, and hopefully Krista, would all be here soon.
The pier leading from the parking lot to the double glass doors that formed the entry to the restaurant’s second floor was dotted with couples and groups waiting for their tables to be ready. She made her way through the crowd, her gaze repeatedly seeking out the man-made lake beyond the building. Jamie had certainly built a destination when he’d built the Carousel. Even with her memories of what had happened here with Kirk, she couldn’t be blinded to the beauty of what Jamie had created.
Just inside the entry stood a slim glass podium, behind which waited a young man, sharply dressed in black and white, that she didn’t recognize. His name tag read, Sam.
“Good evening, ma’am. May I have your name, please?”
She gave him a warm smile. “Yes, Iris Daniels.”
“Ah, yes. Mr. Worthington’s guests.” He set down the pen in his hand and raised a finger. “Wait here just one moment.”
Iris watched him cross the restaurant toward the back hall where Jamie’s office was located. She’d gotten caught up in searching out her favorite part of the décor, the carousel horses adorning the walls between the wide windows, when she sensed Jamie’s approach. His energy was too strong to miss, even in this crowd. He wore a crisp white shirt that set off the deep tan of his neck from hours in the sun, and long black slacks emphasized his height. He always made her feel tiny in comparison even though she was average height for a woman, not only because of his height but because of that heavy barrel chest and the heft of his muscles. Just looking at him move gave her the shivers.
His smile lit a glow inside her. “There you are, beautiful.”
A thrill went through her. Jamie’s hand enveloped hers, and in front of everyone in the dining room, he drew her closer, leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers. When he drew back, she was breathless. “You look wonderful tonight.”
She glanced down at the copper-colored sheath she wore. “I wanted to dress up for the evening.”
“And give me a gorgeous gift, because I get to look at you all night.”
A blush heated her cheeks. “Are you flirting with me?”
He winked. “Every chance I get.”
Her heart fluttered into her throat, her smile so wide her mouth ached. “You make me feel so special, Jamie,” she said, the words bubbling up without warning.
“Good.” He eased in for another kiss. “That’s exactly what I was hoping for.”
“Stop groping my mom,” Adam said somewhere behind her.
Iris sputtered out a laugh. “Adam!”
“Never,” Jamie said, winking at her son this time. Moving to Iris’s side to face the newcomers, he reached for Chloe. “Nice to see you again, Chloe.” When he kissed the back of her hand, Adam gave a mock growl.
A masculine chuckle sounded behind Adam’s back, and Michael appeared to one side of him. “Just ignore him,” Michael said to Adam. “He can’t seem to stop himself.”
Jamie chuckled. “Keep it up, son. Do you guys want dinner tonight or should I leave you out in the cold?”
“It’s not cold; it’s hot.” Adam tugged at his collar. “I think you’re in the wrong season, mate. Must be the age creeping up on you.”
Jamie turned back to Iris, a huge sigh leaving him as he rolled his eyes. “Rescue me from these two?”
Iris laughed, shaking her head. “You’re on your own.”
The boys chuckled.
Jamie escorted them to a table at the end of the dining room overlooking the lake. Set atop a dais, much like the one she’d shared with her ex-husband all those months ago, this table was massive, suited for a large party. Candelabras adorned the center, their candlelight shining off the gold of the tableware and the soft petals of the flowers gracing the length of the table. The entire setup was much more elaborate than the normal decor for the tables in the Carousel.
“Jamie!” Iris stroked the edge of a set of gold-rimmed dishes. “This is lovely.”
“Only the best for my girl,” Jamie told her.
As they settled into their seats, Iris glanced around, anxiety starting a flutter in her stomach. “Krista’s not here yet,” she murmured quietly to Jamie.
