A San Diego Romance Page 3

  He saw her talking to one of her staff members, and he could feel the smile tilting his lips. She probably thought the long, silent moment they’d spent before Jojo had come out to model the dress could be forgotten or tossed aside. He knew better. Though no words had been exchanged, the unspoken desire flowing between them had been obvious. He wouldn’t press her about it now, because he’d come here for his daughter. Eventually, though, they were going to discuss what was happening between them.

  Jojo came out then in the bedazzled orange dress Eliza had first chosen for her. Chris couldn’t help smiling when he saw his daughter in the dress. It was tasteful, pretty and perfectly suited to her.

  Grinning, Jojo came to stand by the mirrors. “Wow. This is it.”

  “I agree.” Chris watched her do a slow turn, amazed at how grown-up his little girl suddenly looked.

  Eliza came over then and began applauding as soon as she saw Jojo. “Oh, honey. You should get this one. It’s perfect on you.”

  Jojo’s eyes sparkled as she looked at her reflection from various angles. “Okay, Dad. This is the one I want.”

  “Great. Let’s box it up.” Chris stood. He loved spending time with his daughter, and with Eliza, but he didn’t really want to spend his entire Friday night hanging out in a ladies’ clothing store.

  “Wait.” Jojo walked away from the mirrors and grabbed Eliza’s arms. “Now I need accessories. Can you help me find shoes, jewelry and maybe a bag?”

  “Sure thing.” Eliza glanced at Chris. “Give us a few minutes more, okay?”

  Sitting back down, Chris nodded. “I’ll be here.”

  He watched the pair search through the accessories displays on the front left side of the store and the shoe section next to them. He could hear some of their conversation about what was currently “in” right now, and their chatter about shoes, necklaces and handbags threatened to put him to sleep. Still, he could see the rapport growing between Eliza and Jojo, and from where he sat, his daughter even seemed impressed with his former sweetheart. Moody and unpredictable as Jojo could be, impressing her was no small feat.

  When Jojo finally piled her things up on the counter for Eliza to ring up, Chris marveled at the size of the pile. “Do you really need all of this, Jojo?”

  “Well, Dad, I got the dress for the dance, plus an extra one, just in case.” Jojo picked up the items one by one as she explained. “Then I needed shoes, earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, this cute little bag...”

  Chris put his hand up. “Okay, okay.” He reached for his wallet as a smiling Eliza started tallying the bill.

  Ten minutes and a few hundred dollars later, Eliza handed a metallic silver bag over the counter to Jojo. “Here you go, honey. Have fun at the dance.”

  Chris turned to leave, but Jojo hesitated.

  “Can I have a minute, Dad?”

  “Sure. I’ll wait by the door.” He walked away, taking up a post by the exit. From where he stood, he could hear them talking.

  “I’d really like to be able to call you, if you don’t mind.” Jojo leaned over the counter. “That way I can find out when new stuff comes in, and get tips from you on fashion and stuff.”

  “I don’t mind at all.” A smiling Eliza took one of the store’s business cards off the stack by the register and jotted something on the back. Passing it to Jojo, she winked. “Here’s my number.”

  “Thanks. See you later.” Jojo tucked the card into her hip pocket and walked toward where Chris stood waiting at the door.

  As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Chris commented, “You really like Eliza, huh?”

  “She seems cool.” Jojo’s tone was nonchalant. She waited for Chris to open the passenger-side door of his midsize sedan, then climbed in.

  He shut his daughter in, then climbed into the driver’s seat. While buckling up he asked, “Are you actually going to call her?”

  Jojo chuckled. “I am. I wanna get the new stuff before everybody else does.” She squirmed a bit and reached into her pocket. Handing him the card, she said, “So, be sure to return this to me after you call her.”

  Chris felt his eyes widen. “What?”

  Jojo shook her head. “Come on, Dad. You’re crushing on her. Anybody can see that.”

  “You’re very perceptive.”

  “I know. That’s why I knew you’d need my help.”

  Chris shook his head. Starting his car, he marveled at his daughter. “You’re amazing. Thanks, Jojo.”

  “No problem, Dad. You can pay me back in new clothes.”

  A laughing Chris backed out of the parking spot and pulled out into the road.

  * * *

  Later that night, Chris pulled the Ellicott’s business card out and punched the number into his phone.

  “Hello?” Eliza’s voice filled his ear as she answered the call.

  “Hi, Eliza. It’s me, Chris.”

  “Chris?” The surprise in her voice was soon replaced with acceptance. “Got my number from Jojo, right?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, she helped me out.”

  Eliza cleared her throat. “What can I do for you, Chris?”

  He had many answers for that question, but he went with the most appropriate one. “I’m just calling to thank you for helping me out with Jojo today.”

  “It’s no problem. She’s a sweet kid, and I was happy to help.”

  “She’s pretty hard to please these days, but bringing her to Ellicott’s got me some major brownie points with her. I really appreciate it.”

  Eliza laughed, the sound soft and musical. “Like I said, no problem. Actually, you already thanked me, by spending all that money in my store. I’d say we’re even.”

  “Still, I’d like to do something for you. Why don’t you let me take you to dinner tomorrow night?”

  She hesitated for a long moment. “I don’t know, Chris.”

  “It’s just dinner. You gotta eat, right?”

  She exhaled in his ear, then gave in. “Okay, Chris. I’ll go out with you, but it can’t be anyplace too fancy.”

  “We’ll keep it casual, I promise.” Chris grinned at the thought of spending time alone with Eliza after all these years. “What time should I pick you up?”

  “Eight. You’ll have to pick me up at the boutique.”

  “That’s fine.” He didn’t know if she would be getting off work around that time, or she just didn’t want him at her house, but it didn’t really matter. “See you then. Good night, Eliza.”

  “Night, Chris.” She disconnected the call.

  Tucking his phone away, a smiling Chris strolled to the bathroom for a hot shower.

  * * *

  Saturday night, Eliza stepped out of Ellicott’s at five minutes to eight and found Chris’s car idling at the curb. She waved, walked toward the car.

  He jumped out and held open the passenger door for her. “Good evening.”

  She raked an appreciative gaze over his body, encased in dark denim jeans and a fitted black T-shirt. “Hi, Chris.” She slipped into the car and buckled up as he shut the door.

  “You look nice,” he remarked as he settled in next to her and started the car.

  She looked down at her tan slacks and white cap-sleeve blouse. “Thanks. It’s just what I wore to work today. You did say it would be casual.”

  “It will be.” He pulled away from the curb.

  They stopped off for dinner at the Burger Lounge on Fifth Avenue. It wasn’t far from Ellicott’s, and Eliza loved the food there. She chowed down on the cage-free turkey burger, while Chris enjoyed the classic Lounge burger. They shared a mixed basket of fries and onion rings.

  Conversation flowed easily between them, and Eliza almost felt like they’d never been apart. “So, tell me about some of the buildings you’ve designed. Are there any around here that I might know?”<
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  “Sure. But there’s so many of them, it would be easier to just drive you around the city and show them to you.” He popped an onion ring into his mouth.

  Her eyebrow lifted. “Oh, really?” Was that his way of asking her out again? They’d only been together for about an hour on this outing.

  He nodded. “Yes, really. There are about fifteen buildings in different locations around San Diego that are original Marland designs.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “But it’s up to you whether you want the tour.”

  Finishing her meal, Eliza tossed a crumpled napkin into the empty basket that had held the fries and onion rings. “I’m stuffed. Now I just want to crawl into bed.”

  “You know it’s bad for your digestion to lie down right after you eat.” He stood, cleared away their trash and threw it away. When he returned, he held out his hand to help her up. “Lucky for you, our night isn’t over yet.”

  She looked up at him, confused. “We’re going somewhere else?”

  “Yes. And I promise you’ll love it.”

  She pursed her lips. “All right now, Chris. We had dinner, like you asked. How long are you planning to keep me up tonight?” Too late, she realized the implications of what she’d said.

  A wicked smile crossed over his face. “Not much longer. Don’t worry. I’ll have you home by eleven.”

  Shaking her head, she let him lead her out of the restaurant and back to the car.

  She watched the passing scenery as they drove through the darkened streets. It was around nine thirty, and the vibrant night life in San Diego meant there was still a decent amount of traffic. Everything she saw was familiar; she’d grown up here and had returned home to open the boutique about six months ago. Still, gazing out the window was the best way she could think of to suppress the urge to openly stare at Chris.

  He’d always been handsome, but now he was even more so. He’d aged like fine wine, and his success in the architecture field only added to his attractiveness. In the confines of the car, there was nothing to dampen the clean, masculine scent of his cologne. He smelled fantastic, and if she recalled correctly, he wore the same scent now as he had back when they’d dated.

  She hazarded a glance his way, but didn’t dare look at his face. Instead, she looked at his hand on the gearshift as he drove. The powerful engine of the car responded to his every command, the sound changing in time with his movements. The vehicle was under his complete control, and Eliza knew that if they didn’t stop soon so she could get some fresh air, she would be, too.

  He pulled into the parking lot at the San Diego Zoo, and Eliza’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you doing, Chris? The zoo closes at nine.”

  “I know it does. For everybody else.” He winked as he cut the engine.

  That only confused Eliza more, but when he came around to the passenger side to open her door, she took his hand. The only way to find out what he meant was to follow him, so she did.

  An employee opened the locked gates for them and ushered them in. “Good evening, Mr. Marland, Ms. Ellicott.”

  “Hi.” Eliza turned her questioning gaze to Chris. “What’s going on?”

  He tipped the employee, then started walking toward Front Street. “It turns out that if you make a generous donation to the zoo’s improvement fund, you can have the place all to yourself for a private tour.”

  She blinked a few times. “You mean...”

  “Yep. There aren’t any other visitors here.”

  Amazed, she asked, “What are we supposed to do in an empty zoo?”

  He chuckled. “It’s not like the animals and their caregivers went home, you know.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  He guided her down the footpath through Koalafornia Boardwalk. “I remembered how much you loved the koalas, so I thought we’d spend some time at the koala exhibit.”

  She felt the smile stretching her lips as they passed through the carnival-like section of the zoo that led to the koalas. “You remember that? That was ages ago.”

  They crossed through Bieler Plaza and into the Outback section where the koala exhibit was located. “Of course I do. Remember when we came here that summer after you came home from freshman year of college?”

  She smiled at the memory. “I remember. I was at the height of my koala obsession.” She found the animals adorable, and right now, she thought Chris was pretty cute, too. “You bought me that giant stuffed koala from the gift shop. I still have it...somewhere.”

  “You kept it all these years, huh?” He placed a hand over his heart. “I’m touched that you held on to it.”

  She couldn’t help laughing at his silliness.

  They approached the koala exhibit and were greeted by a uniformed employee who introduced herself with a smile. “I’m Alice, and I’ll be facilitating your experience tonight.”

  After greetings were exchanged, they were led behind the exhibit to a small building. Eliza was delighted as she and Chris were treated to a private, up-close look at the twenty or so koalas in the habitat. She watched them nibble eucalyptus leaves, saw them napping in quiet corners of the yard, and even saw a few joeys huddled against their mothers. As they watched the scene, Alice regaled them with many interesting facts about the cute furry creatures.

  By the time they left, Eliza felt gleeful. She’d never forget her experience tonight. Turning to Chris as they walked back to his car, she said genuinely, “Thank you for this. It was amazing.”

  “I did promise you’d enjoy it, didn’t I?” He reached for her hand.

  She let him hold her hand. After what he’d just done for her, he deserved that much. “I can’t believe you’d do all this for me.” The gesture had been incredibly sweet, and far beyond what any of her other boyfriends had ever done for her.

  “Why not, Eliza? This is how you deserve to be treated.”

  She looked up into his eyes, saw the sincerity there. Dragging her gaze away before she fell under his spell, she faked a yawn. “What time is it?”

  He looked at his wristwatch. “After ten.”

  “You can just drop me back at Ellicott’s. My car is there.”

  Once they were both strapped into their seats, he did as she asked.

  Back at the boutique, he walked her to her car. “I had a great time tonight, Eliza. And I’d really like to see you again.”

  Her breath caught when she heard his softly spoken words. Her heart pounded in her ears with all the intensity of a Max Roach drum solo. Parts of her were elated, but other parts of her were...unsure. “I don’t know, Chris.”

  “I don’t want to pressure you. But I had to let you know how I feel.”

  She exhaled slowly. “Tell you what. Let me think about it, and I’ll get back to you.”

  He offered a slight smile. “Fair enough. Good night, Eliza.”

  “Good night, Chris.”

  After she pulled out, she looked in her rearview mirror and saw him idling at the curb for a moment before he hung a U-turn and drove off into the night.

  Chapter 4

  Chris spent the better part of Saturday night lying awake. In the center of a king-size bed, with an extra-firm mattress, seven-hundred-thread-count sheets and extra-plush pillows, he should have slept peacefully. He’d closed his eyes, shifted positions, willed himself to seek rest. Despite his efforts, thoughts of Eliza kept him up, in more ways than one.

  As he lay alone in the darkness, visions of her beautiful face filled his mind. She’d always been lovely, but now she’d fully grown into her beauty. She was savvy, successful and doing what she loved. He knew well the joy of turning one’s passion into a career, and her enjoyment showed through in the way she ran her boutique.

  Then, on top of all her wonderful qualities, she’d been patient and helpful with Jojo. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d s
een his daughter get along so well with someone she’d just met. Jojo had used the word cool to describe Eliza, and that was very high praise coming from a teenage girl.

  She’s perfect. Or at least, as close to perfect as a man could ever hope for. Fate had brought her into the office a few days ago. Now he wanted her back in his life, for good. He could still see the conflicted expression she’d worn when he asked to see her again. It seemed like she wanted him to, but something was stopping her from giving him a chance. What was holding her back from him? What was she afraid of?

  He had no answers to those questions, and before he could decide how to assuage her fears, exhaustion got the better of him.

  * * *

  Over the next few days, he stayed close to home. Most of his time was spent in the well-appointed office he’d included in the floor plan of his one-of-a-kind home. The house, a supermodern structure built of white marble and impact-resistant glass, sat nestled into a hillside high above the city. The property boasted an underground garage, an infinity pool and panoramic views of the city and the bay below. His office, located on the second floor, had one entire wall made of glass that overlooked the pool.

  Chris spent hours at his drafting table, fine-tuning his design for the Museum of Sustainable Art. Based on the museum’s mission statement, the building would be built with as many recycled building materials as structurally possible, while still maintaining an attractive and safe result. The parameters of the job presented a unique challenge, but Chris embraced it. This project gave him a rare opportunity to stretch his creative mind and take his art to a higher plane. He used his straightedge to map out lines and wrote notes in the margins of the drafting paper as he worked.