2

Alistair

"We're not really going to yell 'surprise,' are we?" Liliana asked, clasping her hands in front of her chin.

She looked like an excited kid waiting for her own party. Her blonde hair was tied up with loose strands framing her gorgeous face, and her blue eyes sparkled with anticipation.

I loved a pretty pair of blue eyes. And I loved curvy hips that I could sink my fingers into. The tight leggings Liliana wore showed off her perfect ass and shapely thighs. She was a real knockout. I couldn't take my eyes off her in the parking lot as we walked in together.

Yes, I admired the way her ass moved with each step as she walked in front of me. I was a red-blooded man.

But there was something else about her besides her looks that I liked too.

From the minute I'd hit my car door into hers, it had been hard to look away. As we stood between our cars, I’d thought maybe I knew her from somewhere. Maybe I met her a long time ago.

I'd taken in every beautiful feature, wracking my brain about why she seemed so familiar. By the time we got inside, I realized I didn't know her.

She only seemed familiar because she was like the perfect combination of everything that attracted me to a woman.

I was tempted to look for a straight pin, a knife, anything to pop another balloon just to have her body pressed against mine again.

I realized she was staring at me, waiting for an answer. I cleared my throat.

"I don't think it's wise to scare the hell out of someone who just turned eighty."

She nodded. And then her grandpa appeared, pushing my grandpa in his wheelchair.

The staff clearly didn't worry about giving an eighty-year-old a sudden heart attack, because they screamed "surprise" like they were at gunpoint.

It didn't startle him too much, probably because he didn't have his hearing aid turned all the way up. He clapped his hands together and smiled as he pretended to try to punch James for keeping the secret.

Liliana laughed next to me, looking delighted at how happy they both were.

As food and cake were handed out, and our grandpas smiled about us finally meeting, I could barely take my eyes off Liliana.

"Alistair thinks you two should let us in on some of your gambling," Liliana said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "He thinks he's got a good poker face. Though I don't honestly know how that would help with Gin Rummy."

Grandpa shook his head. "You're welcome to join us. But you know your grandpa cheats, right?"

They laughed, and I went back to watching her smile at her grandpa and mine. She had mine charmed, but that didn't surprise me. She seemed like someone who everybody probably liked.

And any man with eyes certainly had to notice what a stunning woman she was.

Another balloon popped. Liliana flinched along with everybody else, but unfortunately, she was too far away to jump into my arms.

Not that she would have done that again anyway. But a man could hope.

She smiled and looked at me, hopefully thinking along the same lines. As a couple other party guests came to talk to my grandpa, I moved closer to Liliana.

"Did the staff lose control while blowing up these balloons, or what?" she asked.

"Too bad you were so far away that time," I said.

She chewed on her bottom lip. "I agree."

I wanted to tell her I could put my arms around her and keep them there, just in case another one popped.

"Maybe you should stay a little closer, just in case another one goes off?" I suggested.

"Maybe I should." Her smile erased any doubts I had.

I couldn't let the party end without making sure I would see Liliana again.

“Can I call you sometime?” I asked. “If you’re okay with it, of course.”

I wasn't at my smoothest, but something about Liliana disarmed me. If she'd been just another beautiful woman I met at a bar or out somewhere, I'd have been more suave. But the sense that there was something special about her left me a little unsure of myself.

"Yeah, okay," she said, smiling as she took my phone to put in her number. She handed it back to me with a huge grin, her eyes focusing on my hand as I took it.

On my wedding band.

Her huge grin faded and was replaced with a scowl.

"I guess it's a good idea to exchange numbers," she said quickly. "In case one of us looks closer later and needs insurance information."

"I guess. But also, in case you want to meet here for a visit, eager to lose some money to a couple of old coots. And me." I put on my best sly grin. "Or meet for coffee or dinner or something. Without a couple of old coots."

Her smile was tighter than before.

"Sure. Sure thing," she said, but I could tell she was just being polite and had no intention of ever answering my call.

God damn it.

I should have taken my wedding ring off the day Marie told me she wanted a divorce, but at first, I'd hoped to save the marriage.

Then I just forgot about it. I hadn't been worried because I hadn't been looking or flirting.

I had no desire to date yet. Not until today.

Who would’ve thought I’d meet the woman of my dreams at a senior home?

I should have told her that my divorce would be final in a month or two. That my marriage had been over long before my wife cheated on me a year ago. We had lived separate lives for the past year and were finally officially calling it quits.

I decided that I would tell her about the pending divorce, without giving too many details. I knew she'd probably smile tightly and nod.

A lot of cheating, married men trotted out that line.

But in my case, it was true.

"Liliana, I know what you must–"

"Hey!" My brother Julian ran up to us. "Sorry I'm late. I got here as fast as I could. Did I miss much?"

The whole time he spoke to me, he was looking at Liliana. I could see the stars form in his eyes.

Julian was twenty-five, five years younger than me, probably closer to Liliana's age. And he'd dated more women at twenty-five than I had.

He was young and hip, with a sense of humor that made most people like him. At least until they got to know him.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he said, clearly not meaning what he said.

"You missed the surprise," I grumbled. "You should at least go let him know you're here." I motioned toward Grandpa, where a little white-haired lady was giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Be right back," he said to Liliana, not me. “Don’t go anywhere.”

I knew Julian was probably going to monopolize the rest of Liliana’s time, so if I was going to tell her I was in the process of a divorce, I had to do it then. I wanted to make sure she'd welcome my call because I absolutely had to see this woman again.

"Liliana–"

"Mr. Ashford?" a nurse with bright red hair touched my shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a minute about David? It’s important."

I tried to hide my frustration. Could the timing be any worse?

"Excuse me," Liliana said, heading back to our grandfathers, where Julian bumped his shoulder against hers and said something that made her laugh.

I followed the nurse out of the dining room, giving Liliana one last look, hoping I hadn't just blown my chance.