The Best Is Yet to Come (The Best Girls 0.50)
Page 3
“Look, Steven. It’s the end of September now, and the election is in November. What if we just went to all the obligatory functions together until after the election? I’ll make it worth your while.” She gazed up through her lashes, her lips half-parted, full and inviting.
“I’ll go to the Black and White Ball with you next weekend. That’s it. Take it or leave it.”
“But you’ll think about the rest?”
A sigh escaped. “I’ll think about it.”
Her smile was radiant. “Steven Gherring... We’re going to make beautiful music together.”
Chapter Two
“Happy Birthday!” said Gram, as she arrived at Steven’s office door. “Where are you taking me to lunch?”
Steven shook his head ruefully at the diminutive gray-haired dynamo that was his ninety-five-yea
r-old grandmother. “Gram, I have work to do. I can’t just leave right now.”
“Certainly you can. What will happen? Will your boss fire you?”
He chuckled. “I just might fire myself if I mess up this deal at a critical time.”
“Your deal can wait,” she said in a firm, no-nonsense tone. “I’m hungry now. And we have things to talk about.”
Gherring was already rising from his desk to follow her, surrendering to her inescapable persistence.
“Anyway, it’s your birthday. You knew I was coming,” she complained, walking briskly out of his office. He followed her obediently onto the elevator, nodding to Katie as he passed her desk.
“But I thought you were coming for dinner. You surprised me, showing up early.”
“Well, this is a very important birthday. Your fiftieth. Half a century. More than half of your life is over.”
“Thanks Gram.” He couldn’t help the sarcasm that crept into his tone. “You sure know how to cheer a guy up.”
“The critical point is you still don’t have a wife.”
“Gram. It’s my birthday. Please don’t start with that.”
“I’m ninety-five years old. I don’t have much time left in this world, and—”
“I know,” he pre-empted her oft-repeated line. “You refuse to die before I get married. Gram, you may just have to live forever.”
“No. I’ve decided you’ve had enough time to find a wife on your own. I’m going to find one for you.”
“Gram!” he growled, towering over her five-foot frame. “You’d better not try to interfere.”
Unimpressed, she glared up at him with her arms crossed. “You’ve left me no choice.” The elevator opened, and she marched toward the lobby doors, forcing him to trail behind her.
“You certainly have a choice.” He struggled to keep up with her rapid strides toward the waiting limousine. “You can mind your own business.”
Her serene expression belied her words. “That’s exactly what I intend to do.”
“What does that mean?” he asked, as warning bells chimed in his head.
“It means just what I said. I’m going to take care of my own business. And in this particular case, it means finding you a wife. In fact, I’ve already got the ball rolling.”
“Well, you can just put the stops on that ball. I don’t need your help. In fact, I may have a possible candidate.”
“Who?” she asked, her brows knitted with suspicion.