Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [56]
“I’m sure they will, too.”
Gabe smiled as he sat down behind his desk. “No matter who fills in for Mrs. Summers, once they meet your girls, they will be totally captivated. They’re special.”
Parnell beamed proudly. “Thanks, Gabe. I think that they’re special, too, and they’re pretty smart for their age; even Mrs. Summers said so.”
Gabe grinned. Parnell’s words had been spoken like the proud father that he was. Deciding to move on to the reason that he had summoned Parnell to his office, he said, “I hate to take you away from your busy schedule, but there’s a new development that I need to cover with you.”
Parnell nodded. “All right. Shoot.”
For the next fifteen to twenty minutes, Gabe covered Denmark’s marketing proposal regarding the dinner theater. Afterward, Parnell leaned back in his chair and asked, “How soon will the architect have plans for us to look at?”
“In a week. One good thing is that nothing with the foundation will change. Every modification is with the interior.”
Parnell acknowledged what Gabe said. “Yes, but depending on what they want inside, we may have a long wait for building materials, so the sooner we can get those plans in our hands, the better off we’ll be.”
Gabe agreed. “That means that Landmark will need to get his interior designer working on this right away. I have a feeling he wants this as elegant as the dinner theater that’s in the White House.”
Parnell raised a brow. “There’s a dinner theater in the White House?”
Gabe chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders. “Probably, since it has just about everything else. All I’m saying is that after talking with Landmark, no expense will be spared on this. He’s very excited about it.”
Parnell nodded. “I’m curious as to why those Denmark folks just thought of it.”
Gabe replied, “Because at the time the original proposal was submitted they didn’t have Sage Dunbar managing things. She’s one sharp lady.”
“Yeah, and a very good-looking one, too.”
Gabe shot his eyes up from the papers on his desk, suddenly feeling ill at ease. Parnell’s words had struck a chord within him, a very unexpected jealous chord. He met the man’s gaze. “You think so?” he somehow managed to ask.
Parnell chuckled. “You’d have to be blind not to notice.”
Gabe looked at Parnell for a long time. Suddenly, his mouth felt as dry as dust. Could Parnell be interested in Sage? “And you’ve noticed?” he asked quietly, curiously, cautiously.
Parnell’s mouth titled into a full grin. “Yeah, haven’t you?”
Gabe’s mind suddenly focused on all the things about Sage that he had noticed, although he hadn’t wanted to. “Yes, I’ve noticed.”
“That’s good.”
Gabe leaned back in his chair and lifted a brow. Parnell was smiling, and Gabe had a funny feeling that he was somehow the joke. “Is there something going on that I should know about?”
An innocent expression covered Parnell’s face. “Something like what?”
Gabe frowned as he continued to stare at Parnell. Then a thought suddenly came to his mind. “My mother. Have you spoken to her lately?”
He watched as Parnell shifted uneasily in his chair. “What gives you that idea?”
“Just a hunch.” When Parnell said nothing else, Gabe said, “Well, have you?”
Gabe lifted a brow when Parnell shrugged his shoulders. “Uh, I do seem to recall her calling a few nights ago to check on the girls. She does that sometimes, you know.”
“Yes, I know.” And I’ll bet every penny I own that the girls aren’t the only person she’s calling to check on. He leaned forward in his chair and shook his head. This is so typical of Joella Blackwell. First she enlists the help of Christopher and now Parnell.
“The next time you talk to my mother, Parnell, assure her that I’m dating.”
Parnell glanced at him dubiously. “Are you?”
“As much as I want.”
Parnell shook his head. “But I’m not sure that will be enough to suit Ms. Joella. She’s concerned with there not being enough women out here for you to properly choose from.”
“And if there aren’t? What does she plan to do? Ship a bunch over here for me?”
Parnell’s smile spread slowly across his face. “Well, yeah,