Ryder cleared his throat. “Thanks for the invitation. I would have loved to be there but I’m leaving town today. I’m sorry.”
“What? You’re leaving?” Peggy’s brows fell and she was glaring at him like he’d just committed a grievous sin.
“Yes,” he said, his voice quiet. “I’m heading back to Des Moines.”
“No, you’re not. I made arrangements. I had this all planned. You have to be there.” Her glare was still there but now there was a hint of disbelief, maybe even desperation, in her voice. It didn’t make sense. His presence certainly couldn’t make or break her party.
He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off. “I told all my friends you would be there. They’re expecting you. You have to come.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Well, since you put it that way, I guess I could stay one more day. I’ll just tell Blake-”
“Excellent.” She clasped her hands together, her eyes flashing with glee. “You know my house. Be there at seven o’clock sharp. The front door will be open. Just walk right in.” And then she came closer and tilted her face up to whisper in his ear. “And don’t tell Blake you’re coming. It’s a surprise.”
Now he understood. It was a surprise party for Blake. It looked like Peggy and her friends were about to give her a big welcome home. Ryder smiled and, without hesitation, he nodded. “I will definitely be there.”
CHAPTER NINE
“Where is everybody?” Blake whispered the words to herself as she stepped in the front door of Peggy’s house then pushed it closed behind her.
She left the foyer and stepped into the living room but there wasn’t a single soul in sight. “Strange.” She frowned. Had she gotten it wrong? She could have sworn her friend had said she should get to her house by ten minutes to seven, not a minute later, and just walk in the front door. Peggy had said she and the ladies from the sewing circle would be there, waiting. They’d planned a get-together, and Blake should arrive at the appointed time and she shouldn’t tell Ryder. Now if that wasn’t a sign of a surprise party in the making, she didn’t know what was. She’d guessed they’d planned a going-away party for Ryder. They must have given him some cock-and-bull story because he’d suddenly changed his mind and decided to stay one more night. So where the hell were they?
Confused, Blake left the living room and headed down the hallway toward the kitchen. Maybe she would find her answer there. They were probably all hiding out at the back of the house, waiting to yell, “Surprise!”
She was halfway down the hall, walking past the dining room, when she came to a sudden halt. The dining room, from what she remembered of it from her last visit, had been transformed into the most romantic parlor she’d ever seen. A glorious candelabra sat in the middle of the table, the glow from the candles’ flickering flames reflecting in the dark, gleaming mahogany surface. As if that weren’t idyllic enough, a bouquet of rich, red roses sat by the candles, their petals gleaming ruby-red in the subdued light. Surrounding this delectable display were a variety of covered dishes, obviously containing a meal that had been set out for some very special guests. Peggy looked like she’d pulled out all the stops in creating a scene that was sure to put whoever it was in a seriously sensual mood. What was the lady up to?
Curious, Blake made her way into the dimly-lit dining room and that was when she saw the folded card sitting on top of the largest covered dish. There were words scrawled on the front of the card. “For Blake and Ryder,” it read. What in the world?
Blake picked up the card and opened it to read what was inside. “I made this dinner specially for you both. Enjoy.” That crafty little matchmaker. Blake could only shake her head and smile. Peggy Thatcher was something else.
She’d just laid the card back on the table when she heard a knock at the front door. Ryder, no doubt. Peggy must have set things up so that he would arrive just after she did.
“Hello?”
She heard his voice before she saw him. He would have opened the door, just as she had, and was probably standing in the hallway, wondering where everyone was.
“I’m here,” she called out. “Come on back here.”
She heard when the front door closed and then came the sound of footsteps as he headed toward her. Ryder soon came into view, coming to a halt at the entrance to the dining room. He looked surprised to find her standing in the middle of the room. “You’re here,” he said, like he hadn’t expected it. “I thought maybe you would come…later.” Then he frowned. “Where is everybody?”
She gave a soft chuckle. “My question exactly.” Then she picked up the card and handed it to him. “Read this.”
He took it and as he read she was watching his face, her smile widening with each passing second, expecting him to burst out laughing. But he didn’t. Instead, he read it through then folded the card and set it on the table. “It looks like Peggy had this all planned out,” he said, his voice strangely quiet. “We'd better not let her efforts go in vain.”
Now what the heck did he mean by that? Blake cocked an eyebrow at him, waiting for his explanation, but he didn’t say another word. Instead, he walked over to the chair closest to the display of dishes and pulled it out. “Your seat, madam.” He gave a slight bow, as gallant as ever, waiting for her to make her move.
Two could play that game of formality. “Thank you,” she said and gave him a slight nod of acknowledgement then she went over to take her seat in the chair he’d selected for her.
As soon as she slid down onto it Ryder took the seat beside her. When he turned to her he was smiling. “I owe Peggy one. I can’t think of anything I’d enjoy more than spending a romantic evening with you.”
Blake knew exactly how he felt. This would be his last evening in Pequoia and Peggy, bless her heart, had made sure it would be a memorable one. Memorable for Blake, at any rate. She wanted to say something, to agree with Ryder, to let him know she was glad they were there. Alone. Together. But she couldn’t say it. Not just yet. It could break the spell she was under and she didn’t want to take that chance.
When Ryder didn’t seem perturbed by her silence Blake gave a surreptitious sigh of relief. He’d begun to lift the covers from the various dishes and she used the opportunity to admire Peggy’s handiwork and take the focus off the fact that they were alone together in a perfectly staged romantic rendezvous. By the time he’d uncovered everything Blake was gazing at fried chicken, baked potatoes, catfish, corn bread and a garden salad bright with baby tomatoes. She could only shake her head in awe. “Peggy certainly outdid herself.”