“But,” Vivian added quickly, “he’s very good at pretending he’s straight. He should be a convincing date.”
“Knowing Luke, he’ll be at the next table, watching over us like a hawk. Miguel had better be convincing.” Oh, God, she was in way over her head.
“Is this a bad time to reaffirm my notion that you’re playing with fire?”
Ellie groaned. “Is there ever a good time to make me feel like an idiot?”
Vivian was laughing when she hung up the phone. If she had to pick one thing she loved about having Ellie living here in town—and there were many—it was that she made life exciting again. Not that Vivian was a believer of any of those silly sayings—Life ends when you hit forty being one, and her favorite, Have a kid and kiss your life goodbye.
A load of bull, of course. Some of her best memories were from recent years, and she certainly didn’t regret having Tanya. Her daughter was the most important person in her life and always would be. Yet, since Tanya had moved off on her own, Vivian was having trouble adjusting. She’d been a mother for so long, now that her baby didn’t need her anymore she didn’t know what to do with herself. She’d worked as a medical receptionist in San Francisco, not because she had an all-consuming love for the job, but to put food on the table and pay for Tanya’s college tuition. With Tanya out of the house and on her own, Vivian had quit the job and decided to really think about what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
Moving to San Valdez hadn’t even occurred to her until she ran into an old friend who happened to be the owner of the Dancehall. The man was eager to sell the club and the need to do something new prompted her to buy it from him. The move had also allowed her to get away from the newest complication in her life. Maybe it was taking the coward’s way out, but hell, she deserved at least one act of cowardice in her life. She could’ve copped out years ago, when her parents had urged her to have an abortion once they found out she was pregnant. Instead, she’d ignored their advice, became a twenty-year-old single mother and worked her ass off to make ends meet. She hadn’t taken the coward route then, but she sure as hell was entitled now.
“All fixed.” Miguel’s cheerful voice broke through her thoughts and brought on another chuckle.
Ellie would have a blast with him. Miguel had been working as her pool boy for two years and something about his slightly feminine Spanish accent and mischievous brown eyes sparked a deep fondness in Vivian. He really was a decent boy. She just hoped Luke Russell wouldn’t eat him alive.
“Thanks, Miguel. I’ll have a check for you next time you come by.” She rose from the pool chaise she’d been lounging on and walked Miguel to the back gate. “Take care of my girl tonight, will you?”
He shot her a big smile. “I’ll do my best. You know, this is the first date I’ve had in ten years.”
She raised a brow, not quite believing him. “Really?”
His smile widened. “With a woman, of course.”
Opening the door for him, she fought back another wave of laughter. Damn, maybe she ought to go into work tonight, if only to see the fireworks sure to explode.
After Miguel left, Vivian crossed the yard and climbed up the large cedar deck. She collected the sarong and magazine she’d left on the table, and then headed inside the house. Since her entire body was covered with tanning oil, she decided to take a shower before she settled down on the couch with a good book. She allowed herself one day a week to unwind and relax, and no matter how tempted she was to go to the club and take a front row seat to Ellie’s date, she concluded it wasn’t worth giving up her downtime.
“Poor Luke,” she muttered to herself. The guy was barking orders at the wrong girl.
She reached for the strings holding her bikini top together and tugged on them. The top slid off, causing her breasts to drop a little, which in turn caused her to stifle a sigh. Ah, she longed for the days when her breasts had been so firm and perky she didn’t even need to wear a bra. Or when those irritating stretch marks that had plagued her skin since giving birth had yet to exist. Oh well, she knew she still looked good. Slim waist, firm ass, wrinkle-free face. Sure, there were minor imperfections like the sagging breasts and stretch marks, but she could overlook those. With her non-existent sex life, it was doubtful anyone would see them anyway.
She took two steps toward the washroom when a loud knock rapped against the front door. Now who the hell was that? She paused for a moment, and then realized it was probably Ellie. No doubt a basket case over her date tonight.
Grinning to herself, Vivian walked to the door, having no qualms about covering her chest with one hand and throwing open the door with the other.
She regretted it instantly.
“Hi, Viv.” His voice was deeper than she remembered. But still sexy. He was still sexy.