She shared the plan she’d hatched earlier that day. “First, we visit Gran together. Then we escort her to Malcom’s unit and refuse to leave till they talk. Or vice versa.”
“If they’re both home.”
“If not, we’ll track them down.”
Doubtful the grandparentcounseling thing would work, but ready to give it his best, Blake headed with Vi to sign in atthe front desk. Lots of activity there with Charlotte overseeing visitors coming and going. They waited awhile for their turn.
“You’d think they were lined up to buy tickets to a concert,” Vi muttered under her breath.
“There’s no rush.”
“I can’t help it,” she said again in the low voice. “I want to get this done.”
“And we will,” he assured her, directly into her ear. She wore small earrings with cat faces, the same size as her pale yellow earring flowers last night. He’d noticed them when he’d kissed her just below the earlobe and she’d tilted her head for him. “Cute kitty earrings,” he added, close enough that his lips brushed the sensitive place.
Vi shivered, and the urge to plant a lingering kiss there grabbed hold of him.She pulled away.“Stop,” she scolded, all no-nonsense.
She had a point. He behaved himself. At last, they took their turn at the desk. He greeted Charlotte with his usual grin. “Don’t you ever take a day off?” he asked as he signed in.
“I’m filling in for Dean. His daughter’s getting married this afternoon. Don’t you love weddings?” She smiled at them.
If she thought he and Vi were headed that direction, she was mistaken. “They’re all right. You remember Vi.”
“Of course. I haven’t seen you since last week, Vi. Welcome back.”
“Thanks. It sure is busy today.”
“You know how weekends can be.”
Despite the line of people waiting to sign in, there was no one at the elevator. Eager to get Vi alone for a few minutes, he nudged her into the empty car as soon as the door opened.
“Now who’s in a rush?” she asked.
“I am.” Usually slow elevators bugged him. Not today. Refusing to waste a second, he pulled her close for a string ofsizzling kisses. By the time the car beeped their arrival at the sixth floor, he was way too turned on.
“What was that for?” she asked, looking dazed. “I thought we agreed to slow down.”
“It’s not like we’re doing anything wild. We’re seeing each other and had a little time to ourselves, so why not make good use of it? Also, we needed a distraction before we meet with our grandparents. This is the first time, and as prickly as they both are, things could get dicey.”
“No, Blake, not the first time. At dinner the night they sprung their engagement on us, then again at the Sea Captain’s Café.”
“But we haven’t gone as a couple to visit them here in their units.”
“I don’t know that I’d call us a couple,” she said.
“What would you call it?”
“Seeing each other, period. To me, the word ‘couple’ signifies a commitment we don’t have.”
Talk about nitpicky. “In my book, if we’re seeing each other, we’re in a relationship, which qualifies as a couple. You okay with that?”
“I guess,” Vi said. “Call it what you want as long as they don’t get any ideas about this thing between us. Their attention ought to be focused on making up and reconnecting, not on you and me. I think we should see Gran first. Malcom’s more stubborn than she is and might not want to go to her unit.”
“Fine with me.” Vi’s hair needed combing. “Hold still,” he said and smoothed it for her. “Better, but you might want to check for yourself.”
She dug in her purse for a comb and mirror. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It looks like we’ve been in bed together.” She blushed, which was cute. “I wish I didn’t have flyaway hair. That’s why I wear it pulled back at work. Yours is nice and thick. I envy that.”
