his profile, she wondered. How many women had Griffin been with? Was he seeing anyone now? Not that she was interested. With a new season storyboard past due and factory refurbishments underway and ongoing talks with her website designer… Life was already way too busy.
“How about a trip to the Mediterranean kingdom of Teirenias?”
Vanessa considered the name. “I know I should have heard of it…”
“It’s an exclusive twin island state steeped in myth. A college graduate from my hometown ended up there on a working holiday. She became the royal prince’s private maid for a week.”
Vanessa didn’t hide her grin. “Or maybe she has a good imagination.”
“An ancient fertility goddess brought them together…if you believe the story.”
The way Griffin was smiling at her, his lidded gaze searching hers as if he knew her every thought, past as well as present… She felt exposed, stripped bare. But not in a bad way. Not a bad way at all.
Feeling her cheeks pink again, Vanessa grabbed another canapé and then just put it out there.
“There’s a bigger crowd checking out that date with Boston’s most eligible bachelor.”
He tried on a modest grin. “I’ll never live that down.”
“Uh-huh. So embarrassing standing up on a platform while females throw crazy offers all over the place.”
“If it’s so easy, I can speak with my team. How about a date with Boston’s most eligible bachelorette?”
Vanessa choked on the canapé. “ Me ?” She’d been known for her adventurous bent in college days. But now? “I’m really a behind the scenes girl.”
“The one who gets things done.”
She thought about it and nodded. Sure . “Must have inherited it from my dad.”
“Inherited his business brain, too.”
“Definitely not for construction.”
“For fashion.”
She smiled. Her father would’ve given him the lowdown. “ Fashion for every body .”
“Catchy slogan.”
“It’s been a work in progress pretty much all my life.”
No need to go into the personal struggle behind that phrase. Some people turned to drink, turned to drugs, when they felt sad or lost or, yeah, embarrassed. Vanessa turned to food. But she’d learned to accept herself…her feelings, her body. The lot.
Pretty much.
“You were eight the last time we met,” Griffin said as they strolled again. “Your dad was having trouble with his reel and you’d lost a saddle.”
She thought back, remembered. Right . “For my favorite horse. Ten inches tall, white with a long blue tail.”
“You lost the saddle in sand not far from the lake cottage your family rented that summer.”
“Our last summer…”
His hold on her arm tightened a little and his voice lowered. “Ronan told me about your mom. About her illness. I’m sorry, Nessa.”
She had some vivid memories of her mom…helping her dress her dolls in their different outfits, making fudge double-chocolate brownies together for picnics. Sometimes, all these years later, she’d find herself floating away, remembering, wanting to stay in the perfect past.
“The saddle…” Griffin went on as they passed more auction lots, “You promised me a silver dollar if I found it. I searched the beach, those dunes, for weeks.”
Vanessa winced. Her early childhood had been so cruisy compared to his. “Wish I’d known. I would’ve given you two dollars.” Five .
He looked amused. “I didn’t do it for the money.”
Another couple joined them, and another. The entire time, Griffin never let go of her arm. Because her father had asked him to take care of her? Or because he enjoyed the contact, maybe as much as she did. What girl wouldn’t?
Simply put, Griffin was over-the-top yum . She’d forgotten about her school girl crush, the way he’d made her blush.
Or, she had until tonight.
Chapter 3
As a boy, Griffin had intrigued her.
As a man, he couldn’t be outdone.
At the charity event, Vanessa hadn’t bid on Boston’s Most Eligible Bachelor.