Free Rent a Millionaire Groom by Judy Christenberry

conversation, Jeff and his recruits emerged from the building.
    “Hey, he got Frannie, Bill and Rolland,” Daisy said, a speculative look in her eye. “I wonder how Frannie arranged that?”
    “I don’t know, but good for her,” Elise said. Frannie Fitzgerald was a delightful neighbor, even if she dressed a little on the colorful side. And she loved anything with cats on it. Today, she wore a skirted suit, black with the outline of cats all over it.
    Bill White was the building superintendent. He and Frannie were about the same age, and she had aterrible crush on him, though she pretended she didn’t. He seemed to ignore her.
    “Maybe we should loan her our book,” Daisy whispered.
    “You think Frannie isn’t self-confident?” Phoebe asked with a laugh.
    “I don’t know, but she hasn’t caught his interest yet.”
    Elise wasn’t so sure. Bill was walking behind Frannie and Jeff, and she thought of James’s words about following her around. Bill’s gaze was on Frannie.
    James was walking between Bill and Rolland Madison, seemingly involved in conversation with both men. Rolland was in his eighties, but in magnificent shape. He’d served in the Navy for many years and his posture still showed it.
    “Have I got a deal for you!” Jeff assured them as he reached poolside. “I couldn’t talk Helen into joining us, but to make up for it, she said she’d have lunch ready for everyone when we finished.”
    Phoebe cheered, but all four ladies, including Frannie, protested Helen doing all that work.
    “Now, girls, you know she worries about you not eating properly,” Rolland said. “She’ll love it. She’d rather cook all day long than play volleyball in the pool.”
    “Come on, James, help me put up the net,” Jeff called just before he stepped off the edge into the pool, splashing all of them. Though the water was warm, they all yelled, anyway, knowing Jeff expected some reaction.
    James laughed and started to move to the pool, butfirst he ducked down and kissed Elise. Startled, she had no time to react before he, too, jumped in.
    Rolland looked at her. “Your young man seems very nice, Elise. Helen was delighted to meet him.”
    “Oh, Rolland, he’s not—I mean, I just met him on Wednesday.”
    Rolland stared into space. “Sometimes it doesn’t take long. You know Helen and I only knew each other a week before we got married, and it’s been sixty-eight glorious years.”
    The couple loved to talk about their brief courtship, so they’d all heard the story, but it moved Elise to tears every time. “I know, but there aren’t all that many men around as wonderful as you, Rolland.”
    He cocked an eyebrow, similar to James, and said, “Well, now, that could be true,” shooting them a grin that was too cute.
    Phoebe stood and gave him a hug. “Helen had better keep her eye on you, young man.”
    “Come on in, everyone,” Jeff called.
    Frannie, who’d been surprisingly quiet since she’d arrived, asked, “How do we choose up teams?”
    “James and I took care of that,” Jeff assured her. “You and Bill are going to be on his team with Elise. The rest of us will skunk you!”
    “Okay, as long as I don’t get my hair wet. Remember, you promised.” She moved around the pool to the wide steps and practically tiptoed into the water.
    Her hair, bright red, always made Elise think of Lucille Ball. Frannie had hers pinned up in an elaborate beehive style, as usual.
    Daisy leaned toward Elise as they got up. “Do you think she believed Jeff when he promised that?”
    “No,” Elise responded. “But she’d shave her head if it got Bill’s attention.”
    They joined the others with grins on their faces.
    Several hours later, Frannie’s hair wasn’t the only thing that was wet—so was everyone in the game as well as a number of observers around the pool. The game had been a rousing success. Elise had even grown comfortable around James in her swimsuit—until he touched her. When he spanned