Chapter Fifteen #2
The long driveway leading up to the huge house was crowded with cars when they arrived. Logan slipped the Mercedes into a slot not too far from the house. As they walked to the front door Emma noticed the air seemed warmer than at the beach.
He pushed the doorbell. The noise inside and drifting around from the back virtually assured no one would hear the chimes. Opening the door, Logan motioned for Emma to precede him.
She stepped inside, looking around at the eclectic array of furniture and paintings.
Traditional and Early American blended with chrome-and-leather modern.
The pictures on the walls ranged from what looked like a kindergartner’s first rendition to a fine reproduction of a Monet.
It was only a quick impression, however, for she was immediately enveloped in a bear hug by a huge, shaggy man.
“Hello, beautiful woman. I knew you would come into my life someday.”
“Knock it off, Phil. The lady’s taken,” Logan said.
The man stepped back in surprise. “Taken? By who? You?”
“You have a problem with that?” Logan asked easily.
He pulled Emma closer, encircling her shoulders with one arm in a decidedly masculine staking of a claim.
Phil shook his blond head, the long strands swaying in tempo.
“I never figured it.”
Turning to Emma, he smiled. “Welcome, fair lady. I’m Phil Mott.”
“How do you do? I’m, uh, Lily Rambeau.”
Her hand was instantly engulfed in his.
“And do you admit to being Logan’s lady?” he asked, leaning a bit closer, his voice lowered, intimate—as if Logan wasn’t standing two inches away.
She smiled.
“I came with him.”
“Not at all the same thing.” he said in triumph, glancing at Logan.
“The same thing. Where’s the bar?” Logan growled.
Emma tilted her head to look at him. Was he jealous? It was so obvious that Phil was the kind of guy to kid everyone. She was intrigued with Logan’s frown. Surely he knew Phil was teasing. Was his reaction an act in return?
“The bar is on the deck. We’ve already started cooking, so help yourself when you want to eat. This is catch as catch can. Enjoy. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Phil patted Emma on the shoulder and gave her a wink. With a wide grin at Logan, he moved on.
“Want something to drink?” Logan asked.
His hand slid to the small of her back and he gently guided her through the clusters of people until they reached the wide wooden deck.
Steps led to the yard, a infinity pool to the left.
To the right several barbecue grills had been set up.
The tantalizing aroma of ribs and chicken smothered in rich sauce wafted in the air.
Emma felt her mouth water. She saw several people seated on scattered tables near the pool, platters of ribs piled in front of them.
“I’d like a glass of white wine,” she said. “And then something to eat. My mouth is watering.”
“Lily.”
A pretty red-haired woman pushed through another couple and, smiling broadly, came up to Emma. Giving her a big hug, she stepped back.
“I didn’t know you were coming. In fact I heard you’d gone to Mexico to film your part early. How have you been? We have to get together soon and catch up on all the news.”
“That’d be great. Why don’t you call me?”
Emma hoped desperately she wouldn’t be called on to introduce this woman to Logan.
“Let’s just say Tuesday. At twelve-thirty? Want to come to my place? I’ll fix shrimp salad.”
“Mmm.”
Who was this woman, and where did she live? Emma couldn’t agree, she hadn’t a clue.
“Hello, Margot,” Logan said, returning with two glasses in hand.
He handed one to Emma.
“Logan, hi.”
Glancing from one to the other, Margot’s eyebrows rose.
“Are you two dating?”
“Logan brought me here,” Emma said, wondering if that counted as a date.
“Ah,” Margot nodded, her eyes dancing. “Now I insist on lunch Tuesday, you have more to tell me than I have to tell you.”
“I’ll have to get back to you,” Emma said vaguely.
“Sure, whatever. Call me tomorrow. In the meantime, did you know Batts is dating Nigel? I heard it from Richard. I can’t believe it myself, but you know Richard.”
Emma sipped her wine and nodded, totally lost to the conversation.
Was she going to be exposed at the onset that she was not Lily?
Could she impersonate her sister for the duration of the party?
Glancing at Logan, she noticed he appeared bored with the trend of the conversation.
Not that she blamed him. She wasn’t one to gossip about others, especially when she didn’t even know the people.
“Hi, Logan, good to see you.”
A pretty dark-haired woman linked her arm with his and leaned against him casually. Her skirt was short, her halter top cut to reveal the charms she so artlessly displayed.
Emma wanted to knock her arm away and let her know loud and clear that Logan was her date for the evening. Shocked at her primitive thoughts, she took another sip of wine and tried to calm down. She’d never felt so strongly before, even when she and David had been dating for several months.
Of course, she never felt for David what she felt for Logan.
Oh. No.
She was falling in love with her sister’s neighbor.