The Right Touch

Disclaimers: Belongs to others

Author's Note: More obstacles for our couple. The course of true love ne'er runs smooth. And a thank you to everyone who's reading. I'm glad you're still with us. Bobby and Sue are so worth it. So are Jack and Tara, Myles and Lucy.

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Chapter 16

Thursday

Did he love her? That was the question running through his mind as he sat across Darcy at the restaurant table. Unexpectedly, she had called insisting on meeting for lunch today. She told him she'd be too busy the rest of the week to see him until the night of the gala and she wanted to see him now.

Ordinarily he would've been flattered with her request but not today. Today, something was different. What was it? Was it Darcy? He looked at her through dispassionate eyes. She looked as stunning as ever. But something was missing.

Darcy frowned slightly. Bobby was looking at her but there was a curious sense of detachment in his eyes as though he were seeing her for the first time. What was he thinking about? Or to be more precise, who was he thinking about?

"I'll have to be there early to make sure everything is going smoothly so meet me at the hotel at eight," Darcy told him. He didn't respond. She grasped his hand. "Bobby?" she said sharply. "Did you hear anything I've said?"

"Say what?" asked Bobby in surprise shaking him out of his musings. "Sorry, Darcy, just thinking about a problem I've encountered." He neglected to say they were the problem.

"Anything I can help with?" she offered.

He shook his head. "I'll have to work this one out myself." He smiled. "But thanks anyway." He leaned forward. "Now, what were you saying?"

She eyed him for a moment biting back the words she wanted to say. "I was saying I have to be at the hotel early to take care of the last minute details so why don't you meet me around eight? Did you pick up your tux from the cleaners?"

"Sounds good. Eight it is and I'm picking up my tux on Thursday. Is there anything else?" he answered in a business-like tone.

Noting his impersonal air, she softened her expression to try and coax him out of his mood. "I've missed you this past week, Bobby…a lot. I've been given a room at the hotel for the weekend. Perhaps you'd like to join me later Saturday night and we can have breakfast in bed the next morning...that is, if you're interested in eating." The implication of her words was clear.

At one time he would've jumped at the opportunity to share Darcy's bed. But now, the thought filled him with reluctance. "What say we wait until Saturday to see how you feel?" Bobby suggested. "You may be exhausted."

"I'm never too tired to be with you," she said huskily as she stroked his hand.

Before he could refuse, her cell went off. She sighed in exasperation and let go of his hand to reach for her purse.

"Yes?" she snapped. "Oh, Nicky, can't you handle whatever it is? I'm having lunch with Bobby."

She listened for a few seconds. "All right, all right. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

She looked at Bobby. "Another crisis. I swear this benefit has been cursed. Can we continue this conversation later?"

"Sure," he replied with a forced smile.

"Good." She stood up quickly. "No, don't get up," she told him as he started to rise. "Finish your lunch—one of us should." She leaned over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Talk to you later." She hurriedly left the restaurant.

Unseeing eyes stared at the food on his plate. A disaster had been averted with the timely interruption of the phone call because at that moment he realized it wasn't Darcy that was different—he was different. Maybe Sue would be able to help him. Automatically he reached for his cell and was about to press the speed dial for her number when he stopped. The last time he'd spoken to her was two days ago and their last phone call had been a strained one.

Sue had finally returned his call in the late Tuesday afternoon. Expecting her to be bubbling with news of the preparations, Bobby found Sue to be strangely subdued. For the first time, their conversation had been stilted as though two strangers were speaking. She had ended the call abruptly claiming a customer wanted to speak to her. He wanted to see her but D had come in with plans that demanded his immediate attention. By the time he'd fixed the problem, it had been too late to stop by the shop. A phone call to her Blackberry resulted in getting her voice mail. It was almost as if she were avoiding him. What had changed between them, he worried. He had a few minutes left. Should he go to the shop and find out?

Bobby looked up to signal for the check when his gaze fell upon a couple in a corner of the restaurant.

It was Sue...with a man.

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"Go," insisted Lucy. "Go to lunch with Dan. It would be nice to know your date a little before Saturday. You know, to see if you're compatible or not."

"But we're so busy," protested Sue. "I can't leave. Besides, what will you do for lunch?"

"I'll send Howie out to get something," Lucy responded. "Don't worry. Dan just wants to have lunch—one hour of your time. How can it hurt? And you do have to eat you know. Maybe with the right company you'll eat more than you have the past few meals," she said commenting on Sue's lack of appetite.

"All right," Sue relented. "I'll go. But if we fall behind on your precious schedule, don't blame me. You're the one insisting I go to this lunch."

For the first time since Tuesday, Sue perked up. When she'd made the decision to sever any contact with Bobby, she didn't realize it would be so painful—and lonely. She missed their conversations, she missed his way with words that made her laugh, she missed him. Maybe Lucy was right. Maybe she needed to get out and stop thinking about Bobby.

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Restaurant

"I'm looking forward to Saturday," Dan Malone remarked. "I've never been to a benefit gala before."

"Me, too," confessed Sue. "I hope I look all right."

"You'll be the belle of the ball," commented Dan with an admiring glance.

Sue blushed a faint pink at the compliment.

Lucy had been right. Lunch was turning out to be a pleasant hour with pleasant company. Not only was Dan Malone attractive, but he was also nice. No doubt prepped by Myles, he made sure he had Sue's attention when he spoke to her. After the initial awkwardness of two strangers meeting, the conversation had flowed gently from topic to topic.

"Myles mentioned, well, boasted really, that all of the flowers will be provided by The Right Touch," Dan said tactfully changing the subject.

"Actually, the flowers will be coming from his family's nursery," corrected Sue. "We're just putting them together."

"You make it sound like you're throwing the flowers in a vase and hoping for the best. I've done that and let me tell you, the results are not pretty," he said ruefully. "It takes talent."

She laughed. "You could take lessons in flower arranging," she suggested playfully.

Leaning forward, he asked hopefully, "Are you offering?"

She was taken aback at the unexpected suggestion. Dan Malone appeared to be interested in her but was he? The last man she thought was interested in her was Bobby—and look how that turned out.

"When I start those classes, your name will be at the top of the list," she promised.

He leaned back in his seat. "Good."

As they smiled at each other, Dan's eyes swiveled upwards. Sue followed his gaze.

"Bobby!" she exclaimed.

"Hello, Sue," greeted Bobby managing a small smile. "I thought I recognized you. I just wanted to come over and say hello."

"That's nice," she smiled uncertainly at him. She could feel her heart racing at his presence. "Bobby, this is Dan Malone. Dan, Bobby Manning." The two men shook hands.

"Are you here alone?" asked Sue looking around.

"Darcy had to leave unexpectedly. Yet another crisis has occurred in connection with the benefit."

"I see," remarked Sue solemnly.

The two stared at each other wanting to say something but unable to. Finally, Bobby broke the silence.

"I, uh, have to get back to the office. Enjoy your lunch. Nice meeting you, Dan." He nodded and left. He wouldn't be going to the shop after all.

Sue's eyes trailed Bobby as he headed out of the restaurant. Unconsciously, a small sigh escaped when the door closed behind him. She turned back to her lunch companion.

"Anything I can do to help?" asked a gentle voice.

"Not really," she admitted. "But thanks for the offer." She glanced at her watch. "I think I better go back and help Lucy. Thanks for lunch."

"My pleasure," he said with a smile. "I'll see you on Saturday."

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