Gina Wilkins - Surprise Partners

Holding the cordless phone on her shoulder while she rummaged in her refrigerator for a snack, Lydia frowned. “Are you saying you didn’t like Scott?”

“Oh, I liked him. I’m just not sure he’s right for you.”

Plucking an apple from the crisper, Lydia closed the refrigerator door and leaned against the counter. “Not that I have plans to run off and marry him or anything, but why do you think he’s wrong for me?”

“I don’t know, exactly. He’s just too…polished. A little too slick and lawyerish. I’m afraid you could be hurt by someone like that, Lyddie.”

Lydia sighed. “That’s hardly fair. Just because you have a silly bias against attorneys—”

“And politicians, corporate types and stuffy academics,” Larissa added without hesitation. “It isn’t just lawyers, even though our father should have taught you a lesson about them.”

Ignoring the pointed reference to their late lawyer father, Lydia continued, “Scott’s really very nice. You shouldn’t judge him—or anyone—by his profession. Not everyone can be an artist or poet or musician.”

“Charlie’s friend isn’t any of those things,” Larissa was quick to point out. “He owns an alternative bookstore—New Age, occult, that sort of thing. He’s very sweet and gentle and deep thinking. Much more your type than that glossy, pretty lawyer.”

Lydia set down her apple with enough force to bruise the skin. “You’re really being very offensive about Scott.”

“Okay, he’s terrific. But so’s Gary. And I think, in the long run, Gary’s more your style.”

It was all Lydia could do not to growl. Larissa was actually criticizing Scott because he was too handsome, charming and successful! She was hardly flattered by her sister’s doubts that such a man could be genuinely interested in her.

“Don’t get me wrong, Lyddie,” Larissa said, apparently finally realizing that her sister was annoyed. “As I said, Scott seemed nice enough. He’d probably be just the guy for a woman interested in a hot, brief, teeth-rattling fling. But since that’s hardly your sort of thing—”

“Hardly.”

“—he’s probably wrong for you,” Larissa concluded evenly. “Gary, on the other hand, is much more suitable. He’s admitted that he’s looking for someone to settle down with—”

“Which I’m not.”

Continuing to ignore Lydia’s interruptions, Larissa went on, “And he shares your passion for classic theater. He never misses a local performance of Shakespeare or any of those old plays you always enjoy.”

“So find him someone else who enjoys theater. I have no interest in meeting him.”

“Just give him a chance, will you? Charlie and I are thinking about throwing a party to show off our new apartment. It would be a good opportunity for you to meet Gary and—”

“Not interested,” Lydia repeated firmly. “I would be delighted to attend your party, of course, but I would like to reserve the right to bring my own escort—or come alone without fear of being harassed by your matchmaking once I get there.”

“You’d bring Scott?” Larissa asked in blatant disapproval.

“Maybe. Or someone else I choose to ask.” Not that she actually knew anyone else at the moment she’d want to invite to a party, she thought. She had plenty of male friends and knew that there were one or two who would like to spend more time with her, but she just didn’t have the time or inclination to get involved in anything right now. She was much too busy with her career pursuits and didn’t want to risk sending mixed signals about her feelings.

That was what had been so easy about her date with Scott yesterday, she mused. There’d been no false expectations on either side. She had been free to enjoy his company, admire his undeniable attributes—even indulge in a few harmless daydreams—without worrying that her heart would be broken since she wasn’t in danger of creating false hopes.

All in all, he’d been the perfect escort at this point in her life, she decided. She wondered if he would be interested in spending another totally undemanding evening with her. If she could get up the nerve to suggest it to him.

“Fine,” Larissa grumbled. “Bring whoever you like. Or come alone. Either way, Gary will be there. You might just discover that I know exactly what you need.”

“And you might have to admit that I’m the only one who really knows what I need,” Lydia retorted.

All she needed, she thought as she hung up the phone a few minutes later, was a friend. And Scott had very generously offered just that.

“You’re sure I’m dressed appropriately?” Lydia fretted on the following Saturday afternoon.

Sitting behind the wheel of his little sports car, Scott smiled. “Relax, Lydia. You look great.”

She smoothed the khaki slacks she wore with a thin white twin sweater set. “What can I expect to happen at this party?”

He chuckled, amused at her uncharacteristic show of nerves. “I take it you’re the type of person who doesn’t like surprises?”

“No,” she admitted. “I like to have everything planned and spelled out for me in advance. Not knowing what to expect makes me nervous.”

“I hate to tell you this, but you can never know what to expect at one of these parties.”

She groaned softly.

Reaching over to pat her clenched hands, Scott added reassuringly, “There’s really nothing to worry about. My friends enjoy getting together occasionally for an evening of food and games. We used to gather once a month, but we’ve all gotten so busy lately it’s harder to find the time.”

“What kind of games do they play?”

With a perfectly straight face, he replied, “Strip poker and naked Twister, usually. I hope you aren’t modest.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her blink, then frown. “I was being serious, Scott.”

“What makes you think I wasn’t?” When she only glared at him, he chuckled. “Okay, sorry. Usually we play trivia games or charades or word games that can be played in teams. The game itself doesn’t matter. It’s just the chance to get together and have fun.”

“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I’m really not very good at games.”

“Lydia, you’re going to give yourself an ulcer worrying about everything this way. Chill out.”

“I’ll try,” she promised, pressing a hand to her stomach as if she were already suffering from the condition he’d warned her about.

Scott found her nervousness rather endearing. He thought it was funny that a woman of her impressive reputation was worried about an evening of games with his friends. “Just relax and have a good time. I think you’ll like everyone there.”

“But will they like me?”

“How could they not?”

A hint of pink stained her cheeks. “That was very nice. Thank you.”

He smiled. “Thank you for coming with me this evening.”

“It was a fair trade,” she reminded him. “I’ll keep your sister at bay for you this evening and you’ve promised to help me fend off Larissa’s efforts to fix me up with Charlie’s friend, Gary.”

“This was a great idea,” he said, pleased with himself for coming up with it. When he learned that Lydia’s sister was still matchmaking as relentlessly as Heather was, he had proposed a plan he hoped would give them some relief until their sisters had moved on to other projects. He and Lydia would be “standby escorts,” he’d suggested. Whenever one of them needed a no-strings, no-pressure date for an event, they could call the other. If they were available, they’d make an effort to go along to distract the matchmakers.

Lydia had been a bit hesitant at first. “I thought we agreed that neither of us really has time for dating anyone right now.”