The Deception by Lynne Constantine Page B

Mom.”
    Theo carried platter after platter of Greek delicacies, and laid them on the dining room table. She was too busy helping her mother to see if Stewart was still there or had left. She decided to go and see what she could find out about him from her father.
    A group of men surrounded Nick as Theo approached.
    “Ah, here’s my little girl.” He put an arm around her. “Pardon me gentlemen.”
    They moved to a quiet corner of the room.
    “It’s so good to have you home. The house is lonely with both you and your sister away at school. I wish you hadn’t gone so far away.”
    Theo smiled at the familiar refrain. “Only two more years and I’ll be back.”
    “I can’t wait. I hope you haven’t made too many plans for your break. Mom and I would like to have you to ourselves at least a couple days.”
    “Don’t worry Dad. Oh. I’m playing tennis with Stewart Elliott on Saturday.”
    Nick’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh?”
    “Yes. We were talking and he mentioned that his tennis partner had moved away and he was going to have to forfeit his match this weekend. When I told him I played, he asked if I’d fill in.”
    Nick digested this information. “Theo, he’s a little old for you.”
    “It’s just a tennis match, Dad. And besides I’m 21, not a baby anymore.” She hoped she sounded nonchalant. She sighed and gave him a kiss. “You worry too much.”
    Saturday arrived and she was a nervous wreck.
    “How does this skirt look?”
    “The same as the last one, great,” Nicole said. “What is wrong with you?”
    “Have you met him?”
    “Yes I met him. He’s okay.”
    “Okay? He’s gorgeous!”
    Nicole looked up from her magazine and frowned. “I’m not talking about his looks. Since when are you hung up on looks? He’s a little too perfect for me.”
    Theo rolled her eyes. “You’re too critical. He’s just well mannered. What’s wrong with that?”
    Nicole shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing. Look, forget it. I only talked to him for a few minutes. You like him, and that’s fine. He’s just not my cup of tea.”
    Theo laughed. “Good thing. I’d hate to compete with you.”
    Nicole narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about? You’re beautiful. And besides, we’d never let a guy come between us.”
    Theo nodded. Nicole would never do anything to hurt her. Stewart showed up exactly at 10:00 looking like he walked off the pages of a magazine. Crisp and clean. She didn’t know which was whiter – his teeth or his shirt.
    “Let me grab my racket and we’ll be on our way.” She smiled over her shoulder.
    “Don’t forget your gym bag. You can shower at the club and then we’ll go to lunch at the Hopkins Club.”
    “Yup. Got everything I need.”
    He opened the door for her and waited until she engaged her seat belt before shutting it and walking around to his side of the car.
    He looked at her hands.
    “Where are you gloves? It’s cold out.”
    She chuckled. “You’re starting to sound like my father.”
    “Men have a habit of protecting things that are precious to them.” He put his hand on her arm, and she felt a thrill rush through her.
    When he smiled at her, she knew at once that she always wanted to be the reason for that smile.
    She spent the next two weeks seeing or talking to him every day. She was surprised by how much they had in common. They liked the same movies, enjoyed the same books. His manners were refreshing. So different from the guys at school, who treated her like she was one of them. She liked the way Stewart always held the door for her and pulled out her chair at restaurants. As far as pushing for a physical relationship, Stewart had been the perfect gentleman. He was chivalrous, just like her father. Call her old fashioned, but she enjoyed being treated like a lady. What was wrong with wanting someone to take care of you? Sometimes she felt like she had been born sixty years too late. Oh she didn’t want a return to the days when women had no