She spotted David’s grandfather first. Though the man was eighty, he still retained a commanding presence. A distinguished-looking gentleman with a shock of white hair, he sat at the head of the table with all the presence of a CEO presiding over a board of directors meeting. On his right sat David’s cousin, Blake.
Even as a boy Blake had never been as handsome or athletic as David. Now, ten years later, the difference was even more pronounced. Blake’s hair had thinned and his face had a fleshy softness that spoke of too much fine dining and too little exercise. She didn’t recognize the woman sitting beside him. Christy decided she must be his wife.
That left the brunette with her back to them. Lauren. And next to Lauren was one empty chair.
Christy’s feet slowed, but David’s hand pushed her forward.
“Sorry we kept you waiting.” David started to pull out the chair, then stopped, only then realizing what Christy had already noticed.
An uneasy feeling traveled up her spine. She’d assumed David had told his family they were married and that this was going to be a “getting to know you” kind of dinner. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“I told you I was bringing Christy.” David motioned impatiently for the waiter to bring another chair.
“No, you just said you had a surprise.” His grandfather rose and smiled at Christy. “I believe I know this young lady, although I’m afraid I’ve forgotten your last name.”
“Fairchild,” she said automatically. The fact that she was legally a Warner still hadn’t sunk in. “I don’t blame you for not remembering, Mr. Warner. It’s been a long time and we only met one time. It was a Christmas Eve service. David and I sat with you and your wife.”
“That’s right. I remember now.” The older man nodded. “I’m sorry to say that Myra is no longer with us. She passed on three years ago.”
“I’m so sorry,” Christy murmured.
A look of sadness crossed the older man’s face. “I attend services alone now. David doesn’t seem to be interested in going to church.”
The older gentleman’s tone told Christy what he thought of that behavior.
Blake stifled a smile.
David’s jaw tightened.
An uneasy silence descended over the group.
“It’s been a few years since chemistry.” Blake broke the silence and offered Christy an engaging grin. “Hopefully you haven’t forgotten those fun-filled days.”
“I remember.” How could she forget? She’d been convinced that having Blake as her lab partner had been part of some diabolical plan to drive her crazy. Blake had been convinced he was God’s gift to women. He’d asked her out repeatedly. But his persistence hadn’t bothered her half as much as the fact that he’d pursued her knowing she was his cousin’s girlfriend. “And this must be your wife?”
“I’m Karen.” The woman’s smile was warm and welcoming. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” Christy shifted her gaze to the silent brunette.
“Hello, Lauren. It’s been a long time.”
Lauren flashed Christy a smile that looked so phony, Christy wondered why she’d even bothered. “You’re right, it—”
“Enough of the chitchat.” David’s grandfather waved a silencing hand. “We know Christy, she knows us. Now, let’s get down to business.”
“Get down to business?” David waited until Christy had sat down before pulling up the extra chair the waiter had brought.
“I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re anxious to hear your surprise.” His grandfather quirked a snow-white brow. “We can’t wait to find out what could have been so important that it would make you give up front-row tickets to Johnny.”
David had told Christy his grandfather was a big Johnny Kilgore fan and that’s why the man had chosen to celebrate his eightieth birthday in Las Vegas. But Christy knew the hurt in the older man’s eyes was more about his grandson missing his birthday celebration than his missing an opportunity to see Mr. Las Vegas.
David paused and Christy offered him an encouraging smile. She was glad it was him and not her who had to find the right words to mend the hurt feelings.
“Granddad, let me start by saying I’m sorry I missed your party. I really am.”
The tense lines on the older man’s face relaxed a little at the sincerity in his grandson’s voice. But David wasn’t out of the woods yet. He’d offered an apology, not an explanation.
The older man shifted his gaze to Christy. “I have the feeling that Miss Fairchild had something to do with your no-show last night. Am I right?”
Christy just smiled.
“As a matter of fact, she did.” David draped his arm across the back of Christy’s chair and met his grandfather’s gaze. “I was on my way to the Stardust when I ran into Christy. We started talking and decided to have a glass of wine in the lounge. Catch up on old times. One thing led to another—”
“Goodness, David. Your grandfather wasn’t asking for a complete rundown of your night’s activities,” Lauren interrupted with a nervous laugh. “What he was trying to say is that we were worried. It was his birthday and you were nowhere to be found. When we called your room and you weren’t there, we even thought about calling the police. Where were you, anyway?”
“I was in Christy’s room,” David said abruptly. “I spent the night.”
“David!” Lauren’s eyes widened.
“Son, this isn’t appropriate for—”
“Granddad, it’s okay.” David met his grandfather’s gaze. “Christy and I were married last night.”
So much for finding just the right words.
Christy clasped her hands in her lap, lifted her chin and forced a bright smile.
For an instant Lauren’s face blanched. Then her green eyes flashed. “That’s really not funny, David.”
“It’s no joke.” His arm tightened around Christy’s shoulders. “We got a license, found a wedding chapel that had a cancellation, and got married.”
“You’re serious.” Blake’s gaze shifted from David to Christy.
David nodded.
“Well, I’d say congratulations are definitely in order,” David’s grandfather said without missing a beat. Though clearly stunned, the older man responded with surprising aplomb. He leaned across the table to shake David’s hand while flashing Christy a warm smile.
“Congratulations?” Lauren’s shrill voice cut the air like a knife and several people at a nearby table turned to stare. “He marries a woman he hasn’t seen since high school and you congratulate him? On what? His stupidity?”
Karen gasped.
Blake settled back in his chair and crossed his arms, his bemused gaze shifting from Christy to his cousin.
David’s hand clenched into a fist behind Christy’s back and she could feel the tension emanating from him.
“You were dating me,” Lauren said, shooting Christy a piercing glare. “Now you up and marry this—”
“Lauren, what’s done is done.” Though David’s grandfather’s voice was soft and low, his tone brooked no argument. “David and Christy go way back. I don’t know the whole story about what happened last night, but I do know that sometimes those old feelings never die.”