Page 114 of Nobody's Girl

“Oh, God, Cait!” Phoenix could think of nothing else as he looked at her. Her auburn hair was pulled back with a headband made out of glittery beads; the rest of her hair spilled in loose waves over her shoulders as she walked down to him. He took her hand, placing a kiss on top of it. “You’re gorgeous.”

“I love your suit, Phoenix,” she said, then pulled the lapel a bit and whistled. “Armani. Nice.”

The sweet moment was interrupted by her father. “And where will our daughter be?”

“Oh,” Phoenix said as he looked at the man who was frowning at him. “It’s a park. I’ve got a picnic planned.”

Her mother laughed as she shook her head. “Dressed like a couple of movie stars to eat on the ground. Have fun with that.”

“Mom,” Cait warned her mother. “Can you please be a bit nicer to this man?”

“I can,” her mother said. “As a matter of fact, I’d like to invite your young man to dinner tonight. It’ll be served at eight.”

Cait looked at Phoenix as she asked, “Would you like to come?”

He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Nothing would make me happier. I’d love to join your family for dinner this evening.”

“Great. I’ll set another place for you, boy,” Mrs. Flannigan said as she smiled like the cat who ate the canary.

“See you this evening then,” Phoenix said as he led Cait out the front door.

Her eyes fell upon the elegant car with the driver who was waiting at the back door for them. “You hired a car?” she asked.

“I did,” Phoenix said as they walked down the cement path. “Do you like it?”

“Afternoon, madam,” the driver greeted her. He was dressed in a chauffer’s uniform and tipped his hat at her as he opened the door.

“Good afternoon,” she said with a grin. “This is like a dream.” She slid into the back seat of the car. The rich color of the leather had her running her hand over it. “So soft. It smells so nice in here.”

Phoenix moved in next to her as the driver closed the door behind him. He leaned in and kissed her neck, taking in a deep breath. “You smell better, Caity-cat.”

With a giggle, Cait looked down at her hands as she had them folded in her lap. She hoped she could keep her wits about her with the man who was pushing all the right buttons.

Chapter 17

The clip-clop of horses’ hooves beat the pavement, then stopped in front of Kellie Flannigan’s family’s home. Ethan noted the nice trees in the yard and the way the grass was kept neat and the hedges were trimmed.

Climbing out of the carriage he’d rented for the day, Ethan called out to the driver of the two horses that pulled the pristine white carriage, “I’ll get her and be right back. No need to get down.”

“Yes, sir,” the driver said.

Ethan was dressed in a tan linen suit. He’d instructed Kel to wear something romantically comfortable. Curious to see what she’d come up with, he rapped on the door, then waited for someone to answer it.

A man opened the door. “And you’re the Scot.”

“Ethan Southern, sir. You must be Master Flannigan.” Ethan saw a woman behind the man, peering over his shoulder. “And you must be the mistress of the manor.” Neither greeted him with a smile of any kind.

The door was opened and behind them stood Kel. She was glowing in a flowing pale pink dress made of cotton and lace. Made in two tiered levels, the cotton portion covered her to just above the knees, and the lace went to the ground. Tan sandals let her pretty pink toenails show. She’d straightened her blonde hair and looked radiant.

“I like your romantic, comfortable style choice,” Ethan said as Kel walked to the door.

“And I like yours,” she said as she stepped out the door and saw the carriage. “I saw that from my bedroom window. I must admit, I’m impressed, Ethan.”

She took his arm, and he led her down the walkway. Her mother called out to them, “Dinner’s at eight, Ethan. I hope you decide to join us.”

He stopped and asked Kel, “Would you like that, my love?” She nodded, and he looked back at her mother. “I’d like that, Mrs. Flannigan. Thank you.”