got anyone to bring, let’s just bring each other, okay?
Save a lot of hassles.”
“Ellen will go
nuts with the seating arrangements.”
“Ellen can kiss
my skinny arse.”
“Can I put that
in writing and you sign it before we post it to her?”
“Sure, why
not?”
Cindy laughed.
“Fine, let’s go together.”
“Dumb idea to
have ‘Marty and Partner’ on the invite anyway.”
“Trust me,
Ellen put that on there because she knows you change women as often
as your underwear. You’ve already gone through three girlfriends
since the invites were sent out.”
“Yeah, well,
right now I’m too busy to be canvassing the joint for a female.
It’s settled, then.” She could hear the grin in his voice. “I’ll
tell Ellen.”
“Be my guest.”
Cindy could just imagine the screech of frustration her cousin
would give. “And this is one less thing I owe you, so you can take
that off my tab.”
“You wish.” He
rang off.
Pushing herself
into a sitting position, Cindy placed the phone onto the hook and
smiled. At least she’d be sitting with someone fun. Marty was
irreverent to the point of embarrassing sometimes, but he could be
counted on to keep her entertained. Knowing Ellen - or more
precisely, her knowing Marty so well - she’d stick both he and
Cindy at the back of the hall behind a potted plant. That suited
Cindy, she could bring a book.
Thinking it
wasn’t such a bad idea, she reached for the phone when it rang
again. “Hello?”
“Cindy?”
“Tim?” All
hilarity fled her and she bit her lip anxiously. “The kitten?”
“He’s fine.
Kept me up most of the night, so out of the two of us, he’s the
better looking one right now.” Humour seeped through the phone.
Her shoulders
slumped in relief. “I’m so glad.”
“Do you still
want him?”
“Of course! Can
I get him now?”
“We’re not
officially open until eight, but I’ll be here. I’m here now,
actually, if you want to come straight away.”
“Great! I’ll
just replace this towel with some clothes and be right there.”
There was
silence for a split second, then, “A towel?”
“I took a walk
and showered.”
The silence was
broken only by what sounded like a heavy breath being taken.
“Tim?”
Concerned, she tightened her hold on the receiver. “Are you
okay?”
“Sure.” There
was a definite trace of irony in the reply. “By the time you get
here, anyway.”
She frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just a little
clothing adjustment needing to be made.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.
See you when you get here.” He hung up.
Rubbing her
forehead under her fringe, Cindy eyed the phone. The man was
stranger than the shirts he wore, and that was a fact.
Excitement
bubbled through her at the thought of finally picking up the
kitten. Racing into the walk-in robe, she grabbed a pair of
figure-hugging, tiny-flowered pants that stopped just below the
knee in a little frill. Wriggling into it, she snapped the button
closed and nodded in satisfaction. Yep, fitted like a glove. Eat
your hearts out, you voluptuous-babe-loving men! A low-necked,
plain white blouse with frilly cap sleeves topped it, and she
finished with a pair of white wedges. In deference to the heat, she
pulled her hair up into a loose knot on top of her head and
fastened it with a dainty clip. Little tendrils bounced around her
ears.
White button
earrings, a tiny-beaded white necklace that hugged her throat, a
swipe of lipstick, a smear of eye shadow, a buff of the cheeks, a
dollop of mascara, and she was good to go.
Grabbing a
little, tiny-flower printed purse, she tossed her mobile phone
inside, grabbed her car keys and ran down the stairs, almost
colliding with Sam at the bottom.
He frowned at
her. “It’s only seven thirty in the morning. What are you doing
up?”
“Things to do!”
She yelled gaily as she ran through the kitchen.
Sam followed a
little more slowly on her heels. “What mischief are you up to?”
“You’ll
Save a lot of hassles.”
“Ellen will go
nuts with the seating arrangements.”
“Ellen can kiss
my skinny arse.”
“Can I put that
in writing and you sign it before we post it to her?”
“Sure, why
not?”
Cindy laughed.
“Fine, let’s go together.”
“Dumb idea to
have ‘Marty and Partner’ on the invite anyway.”
“Trust me,
Ellen put that on there because she knows you change women as often
as your underwear. You’ve already gone through three girlfriends
since the invites were sent out.”
“Yeah, well,
right now I’m too busy to be canvassing the joint for a female.
It’s settled, then.” She could hear the grin in his voice. “I’ll
tell Ellen.”
“Be my guest.”
Cindy could just imagine the screech of frustration her cousin
would give. “And this is one less thing I owe you, so you can take
that off my tab.”
“You wish.” He
rang off.
Pushing herself
into a sitting position, Cindy placed the phone onto the hook and
smiled. At least she’d be sitting with someone fun. Marty was
irreverent to the point of embarrassing sometimes, but he could be
counted on to keep her entertained. Knowing Ellen - or more
precisely, her knowing Marty so well - she’d stick both he and
Cindy at the back of the hall behind a potted plant. That suited
Cindy, she could bring a book.
Thinking it
wasn’t such a bad idea, she reached for the phone when it rang
again. “Hello?”
“Cindy?”
“Tim?” All
hilarity fled her and she bit her lip anxiously. “The kitten?”
“He’s fine.
Kept me up most of the night, so out of the two of us, he’s the
better looking one right now.” Humour seeped through the phone.
Her shoulders
slumped in relief. “I’m so glad.”
“Do you still
want him?”
“Of course! Can
I get him now?”
“We’re not
officially open until eight, but I’ll be here. I’m here now,
actually, if you want to come straight away.”
“Great! I’ll
just replace this towel with some clothes and be right there.”
There was
silence for a split second, then, “A towel?”
“I took a walk
and showered.”
The silence was
broken only by what sounded like a heavy breath being taken.
“Tim?”
Concerned, she tightened her hold on the receiver. “Are you
okay?”
“Sure.” There
was a definite trace of irony in the reply. “By the time you get
here, anyway.”
She frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just a little
clothing adjustment needing to be made.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.
See you when you get here.” He hung up.
Rubbing her
forehead under her fringe, Cindy eyed the phone. The man was
stranger than the shirts he wore, and that was a fact.
Excitement
bubbled through her at the thought of finally picking up the
kitten. Racing into the walk-in robe, she grabbed a pair of
figure-hugging, tiny-flowered pants that stopped just below the
knee in a little frill. Wriggling into it, she snapped the button
closed and nodded in satisfaction. Yep, fitted like a glove. Eat
your hearts out, you voluptuous-babe-loving men! A low-necked,
plain white blouse with frilly cap sleeves topped it, and she
finished with a pair of white wedges. In deference to the heat, she
pulled her hair up into a loose knot on top of her head and
fastened it with a dainty clip. Little tendrils bounced around her
ears.
White button
earrings, a tiny-beaded white necklace that hugged her throat, a
swipe of lipstick, a smear of eye shadow, a buff of the cheeks, a
dollop of mascara, and she was good to go.
Grabbing a
little, tiny-flower printed purse, she tossed her mobile phone
inside, grabbed her car keys and ran down the stairs, almost
colliding with Sam at the bottom.
He frowned at
her. “It’s only seven thirty in the morning. What are you doing
up?”
“Things to do!”
She yelled gaily as she ran through the kitchen.
Sam followed a
little more slowly on her heels. “What mischief are you up to?”
“You’ll
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