Free The Pajama Affair by Vanessa Gray Bartal Page A

arm and cinched it around her waist, drawing her tight against his chest. “A girlfriend who at the moment is making us late for supper.” He kissed her. “I’m starving.” When he kissed her again, she wondered if he was talking about food when he said he was starving.
    A knock on the window caused them to jump and break apart. Dirk’s cousin Sal opened the door and leaned in.
    “Well, well. I haven’t caught Dirk making out in a car like a teenager since he was a teenager. Hello, Liza.”
    He gave her what would probably a heart-stopping smile if she wasn’t too flustered and embarrassed to feel it.
    “Sal,” she said shyly.
    Sal and Dirk exchanged the sort of look men do whenever they’re feeling cocky and superior. Liza straightened her skirt and chanced looking in the mirror before exiting the car. She looked exactly like someone who had just been caught making out in a car, and her cheeks pinked with embarrassment. She had to remind herself she was twenty six years old and not sixteen like Sal made her feel.
    By the time they reached the house she had managed to regain some comportment. Dirk’s parents greeted her with a hug, and she tried to remember the last time she saw them. His mother must have been thinking the same thing.
    “Liza, we haven’t seen you since Christmas. Sometimes I think Dirk is trying to hide you from us. He’s always so mysterious.”
    “Isn’t he, though?” Liza agreed. Her eyes flicked to Dirk. He stood talking with Sal on the other side of the large kitchen. If he knew he was being talked about, he didn’t give any indication. But Sal did. He turned to wink at her and then resumed his conversation.
    Liza spun on her heel to hide her surprise. Sal was a flirt, this much she knew, but last time they met he ignored her like she didn’t exist. What had that wink meant? Last she heard he was dating a former Miss America contestant, so she didn’t flatter herself that he was interested in her. She was simply puzzled over the fact that he noticed her at all. Had longevity finally won him over? After five years maybe he figured she was here to stay, and he might as well approve of her.
    Was his approval the reason for Dirk’s sudden intensity? Had he been waiting for Sal’s nod in her direction before he advanced their relationship to the next level? Her heart started to thud. What was the next level for them? For her it meant marriage and commitment. What did it mean to Dirk? An extra weeknight spent at her house for supper?
    Her thoughts were interrupted by a touch at her waist.
    “Sal and I are going to talk business with Dad. I’ll catch up with you later.” Dirk leaned down to kiss her cheek.
    “Am I going to have to throw a bucket of water on you two kids?” Sal asked. His tone was teasing.
    “Why don’t you call your girlfriend and leave me and mine alone?” Dirk suggested.
    “That’s cold, Dirk. You know I don’t have a girlfriend anymore,” Sal said. He turned to Liza. “Liza, do you have any friends you could set me up with?”
    “Um,” Liza began, but didn’t know how to finish. She tried to imagine one of her sweet, plump single teacher friends on a date with the physically perfect Sal.
    “Stop poaching Liza’s friends,” Dirk said, and the two men left the kitchen together.
    Liza stood staring after them in dismay. Had she stepped through the looking glass? Usually as soon as they arrived here Dirk dumped Liza on his mother and went to watch television with his dad. Once he had patted the couch beside him and put his arm around her when she sat down. The memory of that small gesture had kept her buoyant for days. Now suddenly he was kissing her in front of his family and informing her of his plans. And Sal was asking to be set up with her friends.
    She turned questioningly to Dirk’s mother. Had she noticed the difference?
    Apparently so because she was now beaming at Liza. “Do you have any friends for Sal?” she asked.
    “I’m not sure I