A Match for Celia

Celia was still standing openmouthed in the middle of the sitting room when he closed the door behind him. His last glance at her showed him that she suddenly looked wide awake.

Celia woke Sunday morning still tired, a bit achy…and thoroughly confused. She’d come to this resort to learn more about herself, and what she wanted. Now she felt even further from the answers than she’d been before.

Reed Hollander had kissed her. And something inside her had changed.

Shaking her head in quick rejection of that fanciful thought, she stepped beneath a hot, stinging shower. She lingered for a long time beneath the steamy spray, refusing to allow herself to think about Reed, or Damien, or anything else in particular. By the time she finally emerged from the bathroom, she felt somewhat more relaxed, more like herself.

She was also a bit homesick.

On an impulse, she pulled on a bathing suit, then donned a striped T-shirt and denim cutoffs over it. Maybe she’d spend some time on the beach today, she thought. Alone? Well—that remained to be seen.

And then she reached for the telephone, trying to decide who to call. Her mother? No, not when she was in this state of mind. Her mother would only worry. Rachel wouldn’t be much better, though Celia wouldn’t have minded hearing her older sister’s calm, practical voice. Cody…well, as much as Celia loved her brother, she didn’t know what she would say to him.

Almost without realizing her intentions, she fou

nd herself dialing a number that was as familiar to her as her own.

“Granny Fran?” she said a moment later. “Hi, it’s Celia.”

“How nice to hear from you,” her grandmother said sincerely. “Are you back from your vacation?”

“No, I’m still in Texas. I just thought I’d call to say hello.”

“I’m glad you did. Are you having a nice time?”

“It’s a beautiful resort. You would love all the flowers. The weather’s been perfect—can you believe it’s warm enough for swimming here?”

“Sounds lovely, dear, but you didn’t exactly answer my question. Are you having a nice time?”

“For the most part,” Celia hedged. “It hasn’t exactly turned out the way I expected.”

“Oh?” Her grandmother sounded concerned. “Mr. Alexander isn’t being a good host?”

“He’s not even here. Hasn’t been since I arrived.” Celia gave a quick summary of the emergency that had called Damien away, and her conversation with him the day before. “He should be here tomorrow morning.”

“I suppose you’re looking forward to seeing him.”

“Yes, of course,” Celia answered, but only after a momentary hesitation.

“Sounds as though you may have changed your mind,” Frances observed perceptibly.

Celia sighed. “I don’t know. I really didn’t have any specific plans when I came here, hadn’t made any decisions about what direction I wanted my relationship with Damien to take. I just thought I’d take it a day at a time, get to know him a little better, learn more about his lifestyle. But then I met Reed, and now I’m confused again.”

“Reed?”

“Yes.” Celia moistened her lips. “He’s a…er…another guest here. He’s an accountant from Cleveland, vacationing alone. We’ve been doing some sightseeing together.”

“And…”

“And…he’s very nice. You’d like him, I think. He’s rather quiet, and serious and courteous. He has a thing for history, and he’s been teaching me a little about the history of this area. He makes it all sound very interesting.”

“An accountant with a passion for history?” A note of amusement crept into Frances’s voice. “Quite a change from your dashing jet-setting friend, Damien.”

Celia grimaced. “I know. They couldn’t be more opposite. I should be bored to tears when I’m with Reed, the way I am with so many of the guys back home. And yet…”

“And yet?” Frances prodded gently.

“I’m not.”