CHAPTER NINETEEN
LORI
Lori enjoyed watching the proceedings with people bidding against one another good- naturedly. When Josh learned that Guy wanted the watercolor painting for his office, he bid on it too, raising the price for the charities, allowing Guy to win it.
Nicole won a piece of jewelry she wanted—a gold band with a diamond pendant. Susannah won a dinner for two at a local gourmet restaurant that served the best food in town. Ben Smith won a golf club he wanted.
Everyone was satisfied by the time the drawings were announced.
The trip to Florida went first, and an older woman won, delighting her husband.
“Okay, now the drawing for the stay in wine country,” said Al.
“I’ve kept the name of the winery as a special surprise for you folks who bid on it.
Many of you enjoy their wine and don’t know they rent out a small cottage on the property.
We’re proud to be among the first group to offer a stay at Adeline Hills Winery. ”
Hearing the name, Lori gasped. She’d only bought one ticket. Had she known it was Griff’s winery, she would’ve bought six tickets.
“You know the winery?” Guy asked her.
“Yes and no. I’ve heard about it and how special their wines are,” she said, clutching her ticket in her hands, which had grown sweaty.
“All right, here we go,” said Al. “This is the final drawing.” He reached into the glass bowl which held what looked like thousands of tickets to Lori and pulled one out.
He read off the number.
Lori stared at the ticket in her hand and let out a long sigh. The winning ticket wasn’t hers.
“I’ve got it,” said Guy getting to his feet. “That’s my number.”
After verifying the tickets matched, Al gave Guy a packet of information.
Lori clapped along with everyone else, but she was devastated. The thought of seeing Griff again had struck a need deep inside her.
Beaming, Guy sat down beside her. “This has been an enjoyable evening.”
“You’ve had fantastic luck,” said Lori. He’d spent a lot of money on charity and received prizes in return.
Everyone at their table stood, preparing to leave.
Lori spoke to each of them and walked with Guy to the coat check counter to get her coat.
Cynthia came up to Guy. “That’s a fantastic trip you won. I’m available to go with you. It’ll be more fun with two.”
“I agree,” said Guy, smiling at Lori.
Cynthia frowned and said, “We’ll talk about it later. And remember, we’re meeting tomorrow.”
“I’ll have time for coffee and to meet your friend,” said Guy. “That’s all.”
“We’ll see,” said Cynthia before turning away.
As Lori waited in the lobby while Guy went to retrieve his car, Susannah walked over to her.
“It was fun being with you tonight. Would you be interested in joining a group of my friends who meet every two weeks for a girls’ night out? It’s a lot of fun and a rewarding way to have some private girls’ talk.”
“Thanks. That sounds like a lot of fun. I’d love it,” said Lori, excited by the idea of broadening her social circle.
“I’ll call to give you details of where we’re gathering next.”
“I appreciate your thinking of me,” said Lori, waving as Guy’s car pulled into the front circle.
Lori went outside, where a Valet helped her into Guy’s car.
Guy drove out of the line of traffic and turned to her as he drove. “Want to go see my house? We can have a drink there before I take you home.”
“Yes. I need time to settle down. It was a lovely evening.”
“I think so, too. My partners enjoyed getting to know you better.”
“Everyone was very kind,” Lori said, wondering if she’d passed some sort of test.
###
Lori knew the neighborhood where Guy had purchased his home. The Highlands was considered one of the most exclusive areas in the county.
He pulled up to a two-story Tudor-style home with a brown stone and beige stucco exterior accented with strips of wood for effect. It was a tasteful and beautiful house that suited Guy, who had impeccable and expensive taste.
“It’s a little big for one person, but that will change,” said Guy. “It reminds me of the house I grew up in.”
“It’s beautiful,” said Lori as they pulled into the three-car garage.
He helped her out of the car and then led her through the back entrance into the kitchen.
Gazing at the high-end Bosch and Miele appliances, the many off-white, painted cabinets, and the gray granite countertops, Lori couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips.
It was everything she and Nick had wanted to do with their kitchen someday.
“While I open a bottle of wine, feel free to look around. I haven’t fully furnished the house. That’s why I’m meeting Cynthia tomorrow. She has a friend who’s an interior decorator.”
Lori walked through the dining room and into the living room, turning on lights as she went.
She loved the layout of both rooms and that each room had windows, overlooking landscapes.
It was too dark to see what kind of plants they were, but she liked the idea of having the plantings soften the outline of the house.
Guy joined her in the living room. “Let’s sit in front of the fireplace. I’ll turn it on.”
He handed her a glass of red wine and turned on the fireplace before taking a seat on the couch beside her.
“Here’s to a super evening,” said Guy. “I can’t believe I won a trip to wine country. It’s because I was with you. Why don’t you join me?”
“I’d love to,” Lori said, feeling guilty that her excitement was from thinking she might have a chance to see Griffin again. “When is it?”
“The reservations are for the week of April 1st.” Guy put his arm around her and drew her close. “Did you enjoy this evening?”
“Yes,” said Lori, smiling at him. “I like your partners and their wives. I think you’re going to be happy working with them.”
“Yeah, I made a wise decision in coming here. Thinking back on it, my parents and I left in a hurry.”
“It seemed that way at the time,” Lori said. “And though many people we knew in high school have moved away, some have stayed.”
“Yes, I’ve tried to get in touch with some of my old friends and have met up with a few. I’ve even signed up for paddleball with a couple of them.”
“That sounds like such fun. I don’t know how to play,” said Lori.
“I’ll teach you. It’s an easy way to meet people. Cynthia got me involved on a team.”
Lori took a sip and stared at the flaming logs in the fireplace, unhappy with the idea of competing with Cynthia for Guy’s attention.
Guy took the wineglass from her hand and set his down on the coffee table in front of them. Staring into her eyes for her acceptance, he drew her to him.
Her pulse pounding with excitement, she eagerly went into his arms. She leaned against his chest and inhaled his spicy cologne. It felt satisfying to be in a man’s embrace again. Her last date had been almost a year ago, and it hadn’t worked out for either of them.
Guy lifted her chin and gazed at her. “You’re beautiful. Being with you reminds me of all the hopes and dreams I had back in high school.”
His lips met hers, and they both sighed softly.
Guy’s arms tightened around her, and his kiss deepened.
Lori responded, letting herself fall into the feelings he brought out in her. She’d missed this sexual pleasure.
When they pulled apart, Guy grinned at her. “Better than high school, huh?”
She chuckled. “Much better.”
“We’ve both been through a lot. I’m glad to be back where I should be. I should never have let my parents dictate when we were leaving. I didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye. And then communication just evaporated.”
“I thought you didn’t care all that much about me,” said Lori. “But things tend to work out for the best. We both needed to grow up a bit.”
He grinned at her. “You’ve done a beautiful job of that. Come here.”
In his arms, they both acted like the teenagers they once were together.
But when he suggested they go into his bedroom, Lori shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t. Not yet.”
Guy was quick to back off and said quietly, “Maybe another time.”
###
Later, as Guy was preparing to take her home, he handed her the packet of information for the winery. “I saw your look of disappointment when you didn’t win. Take this home. You can arrange for us to make the trip. If, for some reason, I can’t do it because of a conflict, the trip won’t be wasted.”
“Are you sure?” Lori asked him, even as she tightened her grip on the envelope.
“Yes,” said Guy. “I have the niggling feeling I have a conflict that week.”
“Okay, but I’ll keep the reservation in your name,” said Lori, thrilled by the idea.