A Merry Little Christmas(20)

"Let's see, pickles, olives, three kinds of mustard, two kinds of  mayonnaise, hot pepper rings ... oh, I know what- lettuce! We need  lettuce and sliced tomatoes for the sandwiches," Angelique said. Paris  entered the kitchen in time to hear her last words.

"I got you covered kid. I sliced up some tomatoes early this morning and  I washed and wrapped two heads of romaine lettuce," she said.                       
       
           



       

Lisette had made two huge cheesecakes, one with a raspberry swirl and  one praline, but she was also about to make her special dip for the  fruit. "It's so easy it's ridiculous but it tastes very complex and  rich. All you do is take some plain Greek yogurt and stir brown sugar  into it until it's all blended. People think you slaved over it and it's  so easy, a child can do it," she said with a grin.

"I hope you can do it fast because it looks like Donnie and Warren just arrived" Paris said dryly.

"Why on earth are they here so early? Why can't men ever do what they're  supposed to do when they're supposed to do it?" Angelique asked with  obvious irritation.

"Because then they'd be women," Paris answered. "Okay, we'll have to  regroup. I'm going to disappear upstairs to take a shower and get  dressed and Angel, you're going to have to drag Donnie off somewhere on a  fake errand. Go get some ice or some wine or something. Ready?" She  looked at both women before opening the back door, which led into the  kitchen.

There stood Warren and Donnie with an alarming-looking apparatus and a  big box. Warren gave them a winning smile and informed the ladies that  they were going to deep-fry a turkey as their contribution to the  dinner. "It marinated all night, plus I injected it with my special  mixture and it's going to melt in your mouth," he promised them.

In short order the patio had been cleared of snow, the deep-fryer had  been set up and all was ready for the undertaking that would begin as  soon as the oil was hot. In the meantime, Angelique had to take matters  into her own hands. She turned to Donnie with a big fake smile and asked  where the dogs were. Donnie looked surprised for a second, and then  replied that they were at home. It would never have occurred to him to  bring Jordan and Pippen to Evilene's lair.

"Well, we have to go get them," she said gaily. "They love a party and  they're very well behaved. And we need some more ice," she said  hurriedly. "I'll meet you at the car, let me get my coat." She stared  meaningfully at Lisette as she skittered out of the now-crowded kitchen  to fetch her coat from the hall.

Paris immediately jumped up and said she had to go get dressed. "I went  to my Zumba class this morning and I have to get clean and cute. See you  later," she said as she also left the room.

Warren and Donnie looked at each other and shrugged. "I guess we'll be  back soon. If I'm not back in an hour, put out an APB on me," Donnie  said as he went out the back door.

Lisette was saved from having to say anything as Angelique called her  from the living room. She went to see what her friend wanted and was  touched to see Angelique fluffing her shiny black hair and taking a last  look in the small mirror in the entry hall. "Okay, I'm going to keep  him gone for a least an hour," she instructed Lisette. "So you better go  for it." She looked down at her outfit and mumbled, "Do I look okay?"

She was wearing jeans that fit perfectly, accentuating her long legs,  and had on a pretty turtleneck with horizontal stripes in bright colors,  plus her low-heeled ankle boots, nicely polished as always. Angelique  had a fetish for keeping her footwear like new. She was wearing her  usual Youth Dew and a small pair of gold hoop earrings. Lisette assured  her that she looked adorable. Angelique smiled at her friend as buttoned  up her pea coat and put on a knit cap and the long knitted scarf that  matched the sweater.

"You look beautiful, too," Angelique replied. "Now, go get busy, we're  on a schedule here!" With a wink she dashed out the front door and ran  lightly down the steps to Donnie's car. He was waiting next to the  passenger side and gallantly held the door open for her, making sure she  was seated before closing it behind her. In seconds, he had come around  to the driver's side and seated himself, fastening the seat belt and  checking the traffic before expertly backing the car down the driveway.  The car was filled with music as the thrilling voice of Will Downing  poured from the stereo system, and the air was full of the utterly  masculine odor that was part Donnie, part his expensive aftershave.  Suddenly, Angelique found it a bit hard to breathe. She sat up a little  straighter and reminded herself to stay calm. Something was overwhelming  her; it was like being in a fragrant steam bath at a luxury spa, only a  lot more sensual. Before she could figure out why she was so caught up  in a simple car ride, Donnie reached over and took her hand, the left  hand that wasn't yet wearing a glove.

"So you've finally got me where you want me. Now what?" he asked in a low, sexy drawl.                       
       
           



       

***

Lisette went back into the kitchen, hoping she looked more composed than  she felt. She looked perfectly lovely in black skinny jeans and a pale  green sweater that buttoned up the front with tiny, enticing  mother-of-pearl buttons. Her wavy hair was shiny and soft and she was  wearing small black opal studs in her ears. A soft, beguiling fragrance  trailed her as she went to rejoin Warren. She appeared serene and  composed, but at the moment she was anything but. Warren was leaning  against the kitchen counter as if awaiting instructions. Smiling, she  offered to hang up his leather jacket. "Why don't you make yourself  comfortable?" she invited. "Would you like to watch television in the  living room?"

Before she could chastise herself for inviting him to go into another  room and leave her behind Warren took the lead. "No, I don't want to  watch television," he said with a smile. "What I want to do is watch  you. There's nothing on television that can compare to you."

Lisette knew she was blushing; she could feel the heat along her  cheekbones. She went to Warren and held out her hands for his jacket.  "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me," she said softly.  "Now, why don't you go sit down and I'll make you a cup of coffee or  something."

Warren shook his head. "I'll hang this up, I know where the closet is.  And why don't you sit down and I'll make something for you, honey. I can  tell you ladies have been working all day. Allow me to do something for  you, Lisette." The smile she gave him was as warm as summer. She did as  she was bid and sat down at the wooden table in the sunny window-lined  eating area of the big kitchen. In a few minutes Warren had returned to  the kitchen and washed his hands at the sink, singing softly as he did  so.

"You have a nice voice," Lisette told him.

"Glee club. Glee club and years of singing in the church choir," Warren  said casually. With a minimum of effort, he located the coffee and the  filters and soon the rich aroma of coffee filled the room. He and  Lisette chatted easily while the coffee brewed and he located two big  cups with matching saucers. He worked quickly and efficiently, heating  milk and taking a bottle of chocolate syrup out of the refrigerator. He  brightened upon finding a container of heavy cream and took it out, too.

Lisette watched in fascination. "What are you making, Warren?"

"I'm making you a cup of cafe mocha, honey. It's going to be so good  you'll want it every day, so be careful you don't get addicted," he said  with a comically raised eyebrow. He looked in a drawer and found a  small whisk, which he used to whip a small amount of the cream. Finally  everything was ready and he prepared two cups of a mocha mixture that  smelled absolutely heavenly. He topped off each cup with a swirl of  cream, asking Lisette if he'd put too much on hers.

"There's no such thing as too much whipped cream. I adore it," she confessed.

Warren smiled as he scooped up a dollop from the small bowl in his hand.  He held his finger out and Lisette licked the cream off delicately with  a little sound of pleasure. Warren put the finger in his mouth as if to  savor the taste of her tongue. He looked incredibly sexy doing it and  Lisette suddenly felt light-headed.

She lowered her gaze and picked up her cup with unsteady hands. "Thank you so much, this was very sweet of you," she murmured.

Warren looked at the adorable picture she made in the bright sunlight  and he moved his chair closer to hers and sat down. He took a small  drink of the mocha and made an expression of approval. "I haven't lost  my touch," he said with a half smile. Then his face got serious and he  looked directly at Lisette, examining each aspect of her beauty, noting  her fine features, her soft skin, her full lips and her bright, alert  eyes, which were locked on his. Abruptly he asked her what fragrance she  was wearing.