Chapter 4-3
390 Words
Perrin could feel Bill Cullen’s attention without turning to look. Why did his attention so affect her that she couldn’t turn in his direction?
She’d also overheard his stumbling attempts to talk with Carlo. She wanted to tease him about it. See if she could goad him into a blustering defense about how he hadn’t followed her here because he’d fallen in love with her while she slept on his office couch.
She also wanted to find out more about him and his family. He was so sweet with the kids. Perrin couldn’t imagine what that was like. Cassidy’s dad had been a good guy even if he didn’t speak much, letting Perrin come and stay during college vacations so that she never had to go home. Jo’s dad had been a sullen fisherman who lived on his boat or in a bar. Not a drunk, just an every-night regular until the day he’d died. Her own dad… She wouldn’t think of him.
Jaspar clearly worshipped his dad, and Tammy, once she’d loosened up about being too careful, had leaned against him happily while she’d reached up to stuff confetti down the back of his shirt.
“So, Perrin. I will be needing a terribly sexy dress.” Melanie was laying it on a little thick, sliding her hands down her sleek form, perhaps for the benefit of the others.
A quick wink showed that Perrin was absolutely right.
“I will be coming to the opening night of Carlo’s opera. I must be the most beautiful woman on opening night so that Carlo will not be able sing without thinking of me. I must have another of your dresses.”
“Did you know I’m designing the costumes for the opera?”
“No? C’est vrai? Très bon!”
“Yes! And the best part?”
“Oui?”
“It’s making Bill absolutely nuts!”
Melanie and Perrin both turned to look at him. He turned from one face to the other, then he blushed.
“Oo,” Melanie rested a hand over Perrin’s and whispered after Josh had started a conversation with him. “This one, he likes you.”
Perrin looked back at Bill’s profile a little more closely. “No… I don’t think so. Besides, he’s married. You should see his kids. They’re wonderful. So alive. So un… ” She’d almost said undamaged.
Melanie squeezed her hand. They had recognized that in each other at their very first meeting, a common bond even Jo and Cassidy didn’t understand more than intellectually.
“So uninhibited,” she corrected. Then she glanced once more down the table at Bill. If she was being objective, she’d say that Melanie was right.
But that made no sense.
- Writer
