Her heart did a slow dive and then settled.
"It's late." She murmured huskily.
"I could make it worth your while. Cook you breakfast in the morning."
"That's not going to work."
His sigh warmed her heart. "How about dinner Friday night? Same place, same time."
"Spirano's?"
"Yes. And then a trip to Paris for the weekend."
Her breath caught. "Only someone like you can work that into a sentence. Dinner locally and then off to Paris."
"I want to be alone with you. I want to show you the city, shop for you."
"Rodney--"
"Indulge me, please."
Her heart raced as she thought back on the conversation with Carrie. This was the opportunity she was waiting on. He would be buying her things, expensive things, ones she hadn't asked for. He was offering.
"Melanie?"
"I'll...I'll let you know."
"I'm going to continue to hound you until you say yes."
She blew out a breath. "I'm sure you will. It's good to hear from you."
"It would be better if I saw you in person. I have an idea what I would like to do to you."
"I'm sure. Talk later."
"All right. I'll leave you alone for now. Dream of me."
"Count on it." She hung up with a smile on her lips and him on her mind.
*****
"It's lovely."
Gloria turned her head to smile at the woman as she put the tray on the Chippendale table by the large bay window.
"Think so?" She dabbed emerald green to the corner of the easel and stepped back to take it in. Painting was her hobby and her therapy. It had served her well after she had lost her husband and continued to do so now.
"I'm thinking of gifting it to Rodney, spruce up his living room." She stepped back to the easel and dabbed more paint on. "His birthday is coming up end of October."
"You're planning a lavish party." Martha poured tea and walked forward to hand it to her.
"He's going to protest, but mother's privilege." She smiled and walked over to wipe her hands and drop the brushes into turpentine. Settling by the window she curled her feet under her and stared out at the windy fall day.
"He's met someone." She murmured, wrapping her fingers around the delicate cup.
"And you're worried that it's like before." Martha sat comfortable in her position as a friend as well as the one who ran the household.
"Hmm. My boy is smart, but that woman broke his heart." She sighed. "I've seen the girl, exceptionally beautiful, flawless complexion and a stranger. I've never seen her before. Melanie Foster. I've asked around and no one knows her. It's like she just dropped from the sky."
