Holly didn't want to douse the woman's excitement by saying that she'd already had a detailed report about Melvin's good points from Richard last night, including his opinion that, the sooner the pair of them got married, the better.
"Sounds like Melvin might become more than just a travelling companion," Holly ventured.
A self-satisfied expression zoomed into Mrs Crawford's blue eyes. "Maybe. I'm not about to rush into anything. But you know, Holly, there's no better way to find out a couple's compatibility than to go away together somewhere. Being together twenty-four hours a day finds out the flaws in a relationship, I can tell you. I can still remember my honeymoon," she said, and actually shuddered. "If Melvin and I are still happy with each other after two months, then we might tie the knot. I have to confess that I have liked what I've seen so far. Melvin is a very good-looking man. And he has the most beautiful home. It's in one of Strathfield's best streets."
"Yes, but can he play bridge?" Holly asked, rather mischievously.
Mrs Crawford laughed. "You know me well, don't you, my dear? Yes, of course he can play bridge. It was the first thing I asked."
"In that case, you have my seal of approval. I … " The phone suddenly ringing made Holly forget what she was going to add.
"Would you excuse me a moment?" she said.
"A Flower A Day," she answered.
"Won't keep Richard at bay."
Holly immediately went hot all over. For a man who was on the conservative side in the flesh, he was quite the flirt on the phone. By the time he'd hung up last night she'd been as turned on as she'd been the previous night, tossing and turning in her bed into the small hours of the morning. And he hadn't even touched her. Just talked to her.
How would she react when he started making love to her? And he was going to. Next Saturday night. She just knew it.
"I'm sorry," she said, a shiver running down her spine, "but I have a customer and I can't talk right now. Could you possibly ring back a bit later?"
"Can't. I'm off to a board meeting and then off to the airport. Just wanted to ring and warn you before you went shopping for a new dress that Reece said there's going to be lots of dancing at the party."
"What makes you so sure I'll be buying a new dress?" she retorted in a teasing tone. She'd become a bit of a flirt on the phone as well.
"I'm thirty-eight years old, Holly. I know women. You wouldn't be seen dead next Saturday night in any old dress. Just don't buy a long one. I have a hankering to see you in something sexy and short, with a swishy skirt."
"Swishy?" she repeated, though her mind was still on sexy.
"Yes, swishy. Look, I won't keep you and I won't go bothering you with late-night phone calls for the rest of the week. I, for one, need some sleep before next weekend if we're going to be dancing the night away. See you next Saturday night, beautiful. At eight."
"Don't you dare be late," she blurted out before he could hang up on her.
"I won't be," he returned with a dry laugh. "Don't worry."
Holly gripped the phone for a few seconds after he hung up, then slowly, and with a ragged sigh, placed the receiver back on its cradle.
When she turned back to Mrs Crawford, the woman was staring at her with a very thoughtful look on her face.
"That was Richard, wasn't it?" she said.
"Yes," Holly admitted. "Why? What's wrong? Oh, I get it. You don't really approve of my going out with him, do you?"
"You're going out with him again?"
"He's taking me to a party next Saturday night."
"I see," the other woman said, then frowned some more.
"So can I. You don't think I'm good enough for him, do you?" Holly threw at her.
Mrs Crawford shook her head, her expression anguished. "It's not that, dear. Please don't think that. You're a lovely girl. It's just that you're not long over Dave and I … well … I wouldn't want you getting hurt again."
"You think Richard will hurt me?"
"I don't know what to think. All I know is that Richard has never gotten over his wife's death. It shattered him totally. You are the first girl he's taken out in any way, shape or form since Joanna's death."
"Forgive me for saying this, Mrs Crawford, but how do you know that? He doesn't live with you. He could be picking up a different woman every weekend and you'd be none the wiser. He's still a young man. You don't honestly think he's been celibate all this time, do you?"
Holly watched the cold, hard logic of her words sink in.
But the woman still shook her head. "I know my son. He has not been with any other woman since Joanna died and I can tell you why. He's still in love with her. He was crazy about her. You went to her funeral, Holly. You saw his grief. Don't go there, love. She spoilt him for any other woman."
"I don't believe that," Holly argued, thinking of the way Richard had kissed her. There'd been passion in that kiss and with passion came the possibility of love. Holly had been able to think of nothing else but Richard Crawford since the moment his lips had met hers.
"Your son genuinely likes me, Mrs Crawford, and I like him back. I fully intend going out with him next Saturday night and nothing you say will stop me."
The older woman's blue eyes softened on her. "I wouldn't dream of trying to stop you. You're one of the nicest girls I've ever met, Holly. Frankly, I like you much more than I ever liked Joanna. If by some miracle you and Richard find a future together, I would be the happiest mother in the world. But be careful. Promise me not to rush into anything. Will you promise me that?"
"Are you talking about sex?" Holly retorted, flustered and angry by the woman's interference. The last thing she wanted to hear was how much Richard had loved his wife. Or that he was still in love with her. "Are you asking me not to go to bed with your son?"
"No. No, I'm not asking you that. It might do Richard the world of good to go to bed with a girl like you."
"What do you mean, a girl like me?"
"I mean a girl who's a giver instead of a taker."
"His wife was a taker?"
Mrs Crawford shrugged. "Joanna was … greedy. Greedy for life and greedy for Richard."
But I'm greedy for him, too, Holly wanted to cry out.
She had to go out with him next Saturday night. Had to feel his lips on hers again. Had to let fate take her where it willed. Or wherever Richard willed.
"Maybe he's just lonely," Holly said in an attempt to defuse this conversation, which was in danger of getting out of hand. "We all get lonely, Mrs Crawford. I'm lonely. It's not as though Richard and I are about to get married. We just enjoy each other's company."
"You're right. I'm being melodramatic. I should be grateful to you for making Richard see that life is still to be lived. Please don't tell my son about this conversation, Holly. I won't, either. Promise?"
"I promise."
"Forget what I said about his wife, too. He's awfully sensitive about Joanna. Clams up whenever I mention her."
"I certainly won't be bringing his wife up," Holly said, unable to ignore the stab of jealousy over Richard still being obsessed with his wife.
But she could see that it was probably true. Probably true what she'd said as well. Richard was taking her out because he was lonely.
But that didn't make her own feelings any less intense. Holly couldn't recall ever losing this much sleep over Dave, not till after he'd dumped her. She couldn't recall any of Dave's kisses doing what Richard's kiss had done to her last Saturday night, either. She'd been mindless within seconds. Lord knew what would have happened if he'd pushed the matter further.
Instead, he'd stopped, leaving her more turned on than she'd ever been in her life. She hadn't wanted him to leave. She'd wanted him to stay and make love to her. Wanted him to bypass all those feelings of sexual inadequacy that had always plagued her.
"I … I have to get back to these flowers now, Mrs Crawford," she said, agitated by her thoughts. "I hope you have a wonderful trip."
"Thank you, dear. And take care."
"I will. I promise."
Famous last words.
A swishy skirt.
Well, it had that all right.
Holly stood back from the full-length mirror and twirled around once. The skirt flared out, but stopped short of showing her white satin G-string to the world. Which was just as well because the darned dress showed more of her body than any dress Holly had ever owned.