“Well, he and his date are getting up. I guess they’re done. No, wait. They’re coming our way.”
Great. No big deal, Cat. He’s just a friend, anyway.
After a few seconds, Cat heard that deep voice at her side. “Good evening, ladies. Enjoying a night out, I see?”
Cat turned and looked up at him. His eyes fixed on hers. She could feel her friends turn to focus on her, as well. She stared up at him, her gaze dropping from his eyes to his mouth. Anything to avoid this discomfort.
Nobody said anything. “Yes, we get together at least once a month,” she finally answered, feeling lame. Why weren’t her friends talking? “How are you? We haven’t seen you in the coffee shop in a while.” Ugh. She shouldn’t have brought that up. Now he would know that she’d noticed.
“I’ve been busy. May I introduce my friend, Li Mei? She’s a first-year computer science professor here at the university.”
Of course, she is. An odd stab of jealousy pierced Cat’s side.
“Mei,” he continued, “this is Catherine and her friend Eliza. They own the bookstore across from The Grounds, that coffee shop I told you about. And these are...”
“Their friends, Jill and Shannon,” interjected Shannon. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hello,” Mei said in a soft, shy voice. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Ben gently placed his hand at Mei’s elbow. “We’re off to see a movie. It was nice running into you. Enjoy your evening.”
“Yes, you too, Ben,” Eliza answered. “Hope to see you again soon.”
He just nodded, glancing once more at Cat before heading out the door.
Jill exhaled slowly. “C’mon, tell us the truth. Is there something there?”
“No—” Cat started.
“—Yes!” Eliza asserted.
“No, there isn’t,” Cat insisted. “Besides, you can see he has
a girlfriend.”
“That doesn’t always mean anything,” Jill said.
“It does to me.”
“Fine, you’re right,” Jill answered. “Tell me more about the grad student guy in the stacks, then.” She dipped her head and arched her eyebrow. “You know how books are an aphrodisiac for me.”
They all laughed. As Eliza started describing Grayson, Cat couldn’t help but look out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of Ben as he drove away.
Chapter 14
“Hey, Cat, it’s 4:40,” Eliza called from the other room. “You’d better hurry up. Daddy Warbucks is going to be here in twenty minutes.”
“He’s not Daddy Warbucks,” Cat hissed under her breath. Although now that she knew how wealthy he was, she did feel like Little Orphan Annie in comparison.
“What do you think?” she asked a short while later as she walked into the living room. “I feel awkward in heels. You know I never wear them.”
Eliza looked up from her latest book and gasped. “Oh, my gosh, Catherine Schreiber, you are gorgeous!”
Cat twirled around to show the dress and her hair, which she’d pulled back in a simple chignon. She was head-to-toe in black: black dress, black hose, black shoes, and she’d opted to wear the silver and sapphire hoop earrings her father had given her years ago. With her hair up and jewelry on her body, and even a little eye makeup on, she felt gorgeous. It was a nice feeling, one she hadn’t experienced in some time.
“Do you think the heels are too much? I splurged on them at Nine West.”
“They’re no Manolo Blahniks, but they’ll do nicely.”
“Mano-whats?”
“Are you serious?” Eliza twirled a piece of hair around her finger. “I know you’re not much into fashion, but did you never watch Sex in the City?”
Cat wrinkled her nose. “Nah. Not my style. I’m more a Bones or Castle girl.”
“In any case, you look great, Nine West heels and all. Just don’t fall over.”
“Don’t curse me!”
The doorbell rang. Cat nervously adjusted her skirt and checked to ensure she had her phone in her handbag. Peeking into the mirror in the entryway, she brushed her bangs out of her eyes then opened the door.
“Wow.” William stood in the doorway, eyeing her appreciatively. He pursed his lips and let out a breath. “You look fabulous. Even better than I had imagined you would in that dress.”
Cat’s face warmed with the compliment. “You don’t look so bad yourself, sir.”
He was clad in a well-fitted black suit with a slate blue sweater vest underneath, a long black coat over one arm. The other arm was behind his back, but he brought it forward to present her with a single white rose. “I thought this would express my gratitude that you are having dinner with me.”
Cat took the rose. He was grateful that she was going out with him? It should be the other way around.
“Hello again,” called Eliza from the background. “It’s nice to see you, Mr. Dawes. Here, let me fetch a vase for that.”
Walking over to Cat, she took the rose from her hands. “You two have fun. And don’t forget your jacket, Cat. It’s getting a bit nippy out there.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Cat teased, but shrugged into her black Lands’ End coat, wondering if it was a sin to cover Versace in such a way.
Outside a limo was waiting.
“A limo? Again?” She gave him a teasing grin.
He shrugged. “I decided this was more comfortable than a taxi for getting back and forth from the airport.”
“Airport?”
“I live in D.C. It’s quicker to fly than drive. At least when you fly privately.”
“You live in D.C.? And you came all the way back here for a date with me?”
He grinned. Wow, he had a sexy smile. “You’re worth it.”
Cat didn’t know what to say to that, so she opted for silence. The driver had hopped out upon seeing them and now held the limo door open for them. He helped Cat get settled inside—not an easy feat when one wasn’t used to a form-fitting dress and heels. William seated himself beside her.
“You said privately. Are you a pilot?”
“No, although I’ve taken a few lessons. My pilot, James, is very capable, though. You’ll see.”
I’ll see? Surely we’re not flying somewhere tonight? Rather than pepper him with additional questions that would reveal how out of her depth she was, she took a deep breath and nestled back into the seat.
“Ooh, it’s warm,” she exclaimed before she could stop herself. God, he must think I’m a complete ninny.
He ran his hand along the seat edge. “I know, isn’t it great? Whoever invented seat warmers in cars should be awarded the Nobel Prize.”
The lights of Charlottesville passed by as they rode. They asked each other simple questions about their families. She learned he was the oldest of four, with two middle sisters and a younger brother, all of whom worked in what he referred to as the family firm. He was so attentive and comfortable to be with that she shared about the loss of her father, and how she missed her family out in Ohio.
They passed Hollymead Town Center at the north end of town. “May I ask where we are going? Most of the restaurants I know are back that way.”
“Sure,” William replied, as the limo turned onto Airport Road. “I thought I’d take you to this Italian place I like. Sound good?”
“Yes, I love Italian.”
“Good. It shouldn’t take us too long to get there, maybe forty-five minutes by plane.”
“By plane? We are flying?”
William chuckled. “Yes, as long as that’s good with you. The restaurant’s in Harlem.”
Cat clasped her hands together, excitement pulsing through her veins. “Harlem? As in New York? You’re taking me to New York City? Tonight?”
The limo pulled up to the departures entrance and the driver stepped out to open the door. As William helped her from the car, she gave him a spontaneous hug. “This is going to be so great. I’ve never been to New York.”
“I’m glad you approve
of the plan.” He held her close for a brief moment before stepping back. “I hope you enjoy being with me, as well.”
Her cheeks prickled in embarrassment and she bit her lip in chagrin—she hadn’t meant to act more excited about the city than the date.
“No worries,” he reassured her. “I’m excited, too. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the city for anything other than business.”
Less than an hour later, they were ensconced in yet another limousine, heading from LaGuardia west into the city. It was hard not to act like a kid peering into a candy shop with her nose against the window. William had been telling her how his grandmother had burst into tears upon receiving the family Bible back last week but broke off to start playing tour guide as her eyes darted everywhere.
“It’s dark. What are you expecting to see?” he kidded her gently. “But on our left is St. Michael’s Cemetery, burial place of Scott Joplin. And now, a bunch of interstate and buildings here and there.”
Cat laughed.
“And now,” he continued, “a very long bridge over water.”
She elbowed him.
Realizing that there wasn’t much to see beyond headlights and taillights, she turned away from the window and asked him about his work. “What exactly is wealth management?”
“People pay us to tell them how to invest their money.”
“Really? Sounds—”
“—Boring, I know. Sometimes it is. But I have a head for figures.” He shrugged. “And it makes my dad happy to have his kids working with him.”
“He must be proud of you, and you him.” Envy stabbed through her at all the time she’d lost with her dad.
“Yes, that’s true. I’m lucky there. On the other hand, all my siblings are married, and my younger brother is about to become a father, so in some ways, I feel as if I’m missing out.”
She could relate to that. “Haven’t met that special someone yet, huh?” she asked in a teasing voice.
He paused before answering. “It’s hard to know if someone likes me for me, or likes me for, you know.” He gestured around the limousine.
She nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to have dinner with you. It was clear you had no idea who I was.”
“Okay, but the Bible and the dress and the clothing you wore tipped me off that you weren’t exactly in the poorhouse, William.”
“True. But most women pursue me because of my name.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Mr. Warbucks. You’re pretty easy on the eyes.”
“Mr. Warbucks?” His mouth tipped up in amusement.
Catherine wanted to melt into the seat. “Um, that’s what Eliza calls you. She Googled you.”
“Ah, so you do know who I am. Glad to see a mercenary gleam is still absent from your eyes. And Mr. Warbucks amuses me, as it would my oldest sister. She always tells me I should run an animal shelter because I want to take care of all the stray cats and dogs I see. They’re orphans, right?”
Hmm. Am I just a stray to him? I do feel kind of like a mutt sitting with a purebred at the moment. She shook the thoughts off, reminding herself that tonight, at least, she was Cinderella at the ball. If tomorrow she were sitting in pumpkin remains wearing tattered rags, so be it. For now, she was going to enjoy herself.
The limo eased over to a corner. “We’re here,” William announced.
Cat glanced out the window, expecting some sort of large, glamorous nightspot cordoned off by ropes. Instead, a cozy- looking dining nook nestled at the bottom of an unassuming apartment building. It was painted a rich tomato red and had large white letters across its top illuminated by small spotlights. She liked it immediately.
“Joey’s? Is that it?”
“Yes, ma’am. Finest Italian cuisine in the city.”
“Great, I’m famished.”
“I am, too. Glad you brought an appetite.”
After helping her from the car, William spoke briefly to the chauffeur, who nodded and drove off.
“He’ll be back when we call,” William said, presenting his elbow to Cat.
Arm-in-arm, they descended the few steps to the door, which an impeccably dressed older gentleman opened. He spread his arms in a welcoming gesture upon recognizing William. “Mr. Dawes, nice to see you again.”
“Thank you, you too, Joey. It’s been too long.” He turned to Cat. “Joey, this is my friend, Catherine. Catherine, Joey, owner.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Catherine. Come in, come in; get settled.”
Cat stared at the man. He seemed familiar. As they entered the restaurant, it struck her—he’d been in that mob show on HBO. She had to stop herself from gawking at the first famous actor she’d ever seen in person, so she turned to survey the room. It was small, holding maybe eight or ten tables, but was packed with people. At the bar, a man wearing a flashy gold vest waved at Joey and Will, and then went back to mixing a drink. The walls were covered with photos of celebrities, people she presumed had eaten here over the years. The smell of cigar smoke was in the air—not her favorite, but she’d manage, because she loved the music emanating from a black jukebox over in the corner, and it was clear everyone here was having a raucously good time.
Will led her to a small table covered with a white tablecloth nestled between two high-backed, darkly stained wooden booths. “I hope this place meets with your approval. The meatballs here are to die for,” he said as they sat down.
“Are you kidding? I love it! It feels so homey. And I love that the Christmas lights are up already, although it’s not even Thanksgiving.”
He chuckled. “They’re up year-round. Part of the charm, I guess.”
Joey pulled up a chair and told them about the evening’s specials. “Wine?” he asked after taking their orders.
“Actually, it gives me headaches, unless it’s sparkling,” Cat answered. “So I’ll just stick with water.”
“We’ve got Cristal.” Joey raised his eyebrows toward Will.
“Sounds great, Joey, thanks.”
Cat continued to people-watch. She couldn’t wait to tell Eliza about the thick Brooklyn accents surrounding her. At the table next to them, three men were engaged in an animated conversation about the Yankees versus the Mets. In the back, men in suits looked to be in serious but congenial negotiations of some sort.
Her eyes returned to Will. “Are they Mafia?” she whispered.
He leaned in over the table and lowered his head as if confiding a secret. “If they are, better not to ask.”
She gulped. “Good advice.”
Two glasses of champagne later, Cat was quite tipsy, in spite of having eaten a huge amount of the best Italian food she’d ever had. Chatting with William came easily, almost as if they had known each other for months instead of a few hours. That’s what she’d always wanted: someone with whom she was completely comfortable from the start, instead of having to worry about dating etiquette that she’d never mastered anyway.
Or having to worry that she’d made him up. She fought back a snort. She wasn’t going to think about that manuscript right now. She was going to enjoy this date. Starting with more champagne.
William chuckled as her hand wobbled in its effort to get the glass to her mouth. “Maybe we ought to opt for dessert over Cristal for now?”
She grinned sloppily. “I’m sorry. This stuff is so good I just want to quaff it.”
“First of all, kudos for working ‘quaff ’ into a sentence. And second, may I say that I’ve never heard anyone refer to Cristal as ‘stuff ’ before? I like it. I like you. No pretense about you.”
“Wait a minute. Are you saying that this is the Cristal champagne? The stuff that Puff Daddy or P. Diddy—or whatever his name is now—likes to bathe in? Isn’t it, like, super-expensive?”
He shrugged. “I can handle it. And I don’t know if the bathing rumors are true, but if they are, what a waste of a delicious drink.”
She scrunched her nose. �
��Think about the bubbles. Wouldn’t it feel odd to have those bubbles tickling you in, you know, all your private places?”
Will’s gaze dropped to her mouth before his green eyes rose and pierced hers. She swallowed and set the glass down. “Yeah, maybe I’ve reached my limit.”
He reached across the table and caught her hand before she removed it from the glass. “I was just entertaining the thought of...”
He cut himself off, looking down at his own plate and smiling briefly. “Never mind, I shouldn’t finish that. But tell me, Catherine. Why is such a lovely woman as you not married? Or at least not involved with someone?”
She gulped again. “I could ask you the same thing, Mr. Rich-Man-In-A-Limo,” she teased. She enjoyed the feeling of his warm fingers over hers. The noise level had risen as well-fed guests indulged in numerous drinks of their own, but it felt as if they were the only two people in the room.
“I was engaged,” she admitted. “Six years ago. Then my fiancé decided one woman wasn’t enough for him.”
Bitterness crept into her voice. “He’d had a girlfriend up in D.C. on the side for months. I didn’t find out until our wedding day, the day he stood me up at the altar. What a cliché, right?
“I didn’t know why he didn’t show until later, when the hotel called, saying housekeeping had found a note left in our intended honeymoon suite. When I read it, I learned about Stacy.” Cat practically spat the name. “He said he was in love with her and they’d run away to Vegas to elope.”
She paused to fortify herself with another sip of the champagne. “It was the most embarrassing moment of my life, standing there in front of all those people—my family and his family, our friends—not knowing where he was or why he wasn’t coming, my whole world crumbling at my feet. And he didn’t even have the decency to break it off beforehand, to spare me the public humiliation.”
Her eyes welled up with tears.
William let go of her hand and stood up. Her stomach flipped. Was he leaving because she’d blabbed all that to him? Why had she blurted all of that out?
He moved to her side of the booth, gathering her in his arms after he sat down. Oh, oh. I really am going to cry.
The Magic of Love Series Page 13