Two's Company

obvious delight in her voice. “Gillian,
    you look radiant. What have you been doing?”
    Without a glance at Ian, Gillian didn’t give anything away. “I had a salt
    scrub and facial this morning,” she said with a smile.
    “That sounds wonderful. Who did you use? Maybe I should call them
    before I leave.”
    “I’m not sure,” Gillian replied. “I left her card at the hotel. I’ll get it for
    you.”
    “Come on, Mother’s waiting in the dining hall,” Sylvia announced, and
    led the way.
    “You’re amazing,” Ian whispered, leaning in toward Gillian.
    “Thank you,” she whispered back and walked ahead to catch up with
    Sylvia.
    “Ian,” his mother said as she kissed his cheek. “Thank you for picking up
    Gillian for us. We could have sent the car, you know.”
    “It wasn’t a problem, Mother,” he replied.
    “And why she won’t stay here when we have so many guest rooms, I just
    can’t figure,” Catherine continued. “There really is no reason why she should be
    staying at a hotel alone.”
    “Mother, please,” Sylvia said with a shake of her head. “I already
    explained it to you. Gillian isn’t comfortable staying in someone else’s home and
    she really does live in hotels most of the time anyway.”
    “Mother, please take a seat,” Ian said, and held out a chair for her. “And
    Sylvia,” he said holding her chair. “Last, but certainly not least, Gillian, may I
    help you to your seat?”
    “Thank you, Ian. Such a gentleman,” she said with a bright smile and took
    the chair he held.
    After he’d seated himself, Ian asked, “What’s on the agenda for today,
    Mother?”
    “I have an appointment, but I believe Sylvia and Gillian are going to the
    club later.”
    “Yes,” Sylvia confirmed. “I spent all last evening on the phone with
    everyone from school and we’re having cocktails at the club this afternoon. We’ll
    have dinner at Alfredo’s, followed by dancing at Fire Light.”
    “Well that sounds like a fine evening for you ladies,” Ian said as brunch
    was served.
    “It’s not only for the ladies, at least not the dinner and dancing. Won’t you
    come with us, Ian?”
    “I have plans, Sylvia, I’m sorry. If I’d known earlier I might have been able
    to rearrange my schedule, but as it is… ”
    “Oh, please, please, please Ian?” Sylvia whined.
    Ian raised a brow and laughed. “You sound exactly as you did when you
    were twelve and wanted me to drive you someplace without Mother knowing!”
    “So you’ll come?” Sylvia said with a laugh.
    “I suppose my appointment isn’t so important that it can’t be changed for
    my only sister.”
    With a sideways glance toward Gillian, Sylvia whispered, “I can always
    get him to do what I want him to.”
    “Is that a fact, little sister?” Ian said, laughing.
    “Yes, it is! Besides, you can be Gillian’s date for the evening.”
    “I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” Gillian said quickly.
                  “Of course it will,” Sylvia replied. Everyone is married now, so their
    husbands will be along for dinner. And Mother has promised to join us, as well.
    Ian can escort three beautiful women this evening. You can handle three, can’t
    you, Ian?”
    Tipping his champagne glass to his lips, Ian took a sip, and replied, “It’ll
    be a harrowing undertaking, but I suppose if anyone can do it, it’s me!”
                                                           ~ * ~
    Leaving the women to themselves after brunch, Ian drove home. He
    wanted to rearrange his schedule for the evening, but he also needed sleep.
    Lying on his bed in only his boxers, he stretched out and closed his eyes.
    Gillian’s face came to life before him and he thought about the night they spent
    together. He hadn’t intended for the evening to end with them in bed together;
    that had seemed to happen on its own. Very smoothly, very easily. Too easily, he
    thought now. He hadn’t had an actual date with a woman in so long, he couldn’t
    remember when it hadn’t been strictly business.
    Even though he knew she’d intended to hire him for the evening,
    something had changed for both of them. He liked her. That was the unusual
    part. Not that he didn’t like his clients, but the relationships were far from
    friendship. And he really liked Gillian. In fact, he actually looked forward to
    tonight, and looked forward to spending a night with friends and family