Free Rent a Millionaire Groom by Judy Christenberry Page A

her waist with his big hands and lifted her above the net to spike the ball, she fell back into his arms and they both sank.
    His lips found hers before she got back to the top of the water.
    Jeff had protested his assist, but Elise was too dazed to answer. Bill, much to everyone’s surprise, pointed out it wasn’t forbidden in the rules. He even went so far as to lift Frannie to hit the next ball. She was so startled, the ball sailed past her out of the pool. Which, of course, was good for the other team.
    Now, after having taken down the net, they were all lolling in the water, too tired to think of climbing out. Helen appeared, however, warning them that lunch would be ready in fifteen minutes.
    The women all began scrambling for the side of the pool. Fifteen minutes wasn’t much time to recover from pool volleyball.
    “Elise?”
    She turned around to find James coming toward her. “Yes?”
    “I’ll head on home. I didn’t mean to barge in.”
    Rolland, just behind him, immediately protested. “Helen is counting on you joining us.”
    “But Elise didn’t even know I was coming—”
    “Please, James, stay and have lunch with us,” Elise asked. “Helen really would be offended if you left. You’ll love her.”
    “If you’re sure,” he said again, giving her plenty of opportunity to send him away.
    “I’m sure.”
    “Me, too,” Rolland added.
    Jeff splashed by. “Come on, James, I’ll race you to the shower. Man, you’ve got a wicked serve.”
    And like two little boys, the men were racing across the sidewalk to Jeff’s apartment.
    Rolland smiled at them. “Nice to see such good manners and boyish charm. Good combination. Reminds me of our Wyatt,” he said, nodding to Elise.
    “Yes, I suppose it does,” she agreed with a smile.
    So there were two perfect men. Who would have thought it?
     
    J AMES DECIDED Helen should open her own restaurant. No New Age cuisine for her. She made great food that filled a man up. He wouldn’t dare tell MaryBelle what a great lunch he’d had.
    It had to be good for a man: Rolland was living proof. In his eighties, and he looked and moved as well as Bill, who was no slouch himself, even though James figured he was around fifty.
    James couldn’t remember when he’d had such an entertaining day. And on top of that, he’d gotten to spend it with Elise. He hadn’t been able to resist the urge to drop in on her to see what she was doing. Itworried him, his need to see her, but he decided it was curiosity and would fade after a while.
    She’d slipped on a pale green wraparound dress, big white gardenias painted on the material. The tie that appeared to hold the dress together tempted him beyond belief. The only thing needed to make the day perfect was a big bed, Elise and him. Alone.
    “James? You gone to sleep?” Bill asked.
    “No! I was just thinking about—things,” James said.
    Bill’s knowing grin told James he understood. James noted how his gaze traveled across the room to Frannie, who was helping the women clear the table. Maybe he understood for a good reason.
    “I hope you don’t mind,” Jeff said, leaning toward James.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, Helen loves to play Trivial Pursuit. We like to indulge her.”
    “After eating a meal like that, Trivial Pursuit sounds perfect. As long as I don’t look too dumb. Do we have any ringers in here?”
    “Frannie’s pretty good,” Bill said.
    “We’ll probably need to play partners,” James said, grinning at Bill. “Just claim her now, and you’ll have the advantage.”
    Bill turned beet red. “Oh, I couldn’t—”
    “Sure you could,” Jeff urged. He stood up. “I’ll get the Trivial Pursuit, Helen. Phoebe, you want to read the questions?”
    “Yes, please,” Phoebe called from the kitchen.
    “Okay, we’re going to partner up. Daisy, you’ll be my partner,” Jeff said, organizing everything.“Elise will be James’s, Rolland and Helen will be together, and Frannie and