Lucky 13

by Cat Gardiner

  “Well … I’m hoping for a promotion after the initial success of the Foundation’s campaign at the end of 2014. Only time will tell though. I have a lot of fundraising events planned for you and your fellow firefighters. If all goes well, we could be looking at close to a million in donations by this time next year, and hopefully that will equate to a Vice President’s position for me.”

  “You and BADCo are a good fit. Reynolds is a good man and he’ll do right by you, I’m sure. It’s clear how hard you’re working toward the Foundation’s success. You deserve the accolades, but if he doesn’t promote you, I do know that the Foundation could use your talents on a full-time basis.”

  “Your aunt alluded to that when I met her.” Before she had the chance to ask how he knew Stan or how he knew the Foundation was looking for an in-house coordinator, the limo pulled up in front of Madison Square Garden, and Andy exited to open their door.

  Elizabeth chuckled. “Are we returning to the scene of the crime here? You’re not taking me to a Knicks game are you?”

  Darcy climbed out of the limo first and offered his hand to her in assistance. After sliding across the seat, one long, sexy leg exited, the zipper of her skirt hiking ever so slightly to reveal the lace top of her stocking along with a glimpse of the black satin garter strap attached.

  Honestly, he didn’t know if he was going to last through the night without touching her intimately. Everything about her was killing him with passionate desire and when that studded shoe exited the car, followed by the inviting glimpse of her black lingerie, it was nearly his undoing.

  Above him, the Jumbotron changed screens to announce their destination. He stammered slightly with the effort to take his mind off the sexy vision before him. “No sports, just some Christmas fun. Are you familiar with A Christmas Story?

  Elizabeth beamed. “Are you kidding me!? It’s my favorite holiday movie, and I’ve been dying to see the Broadway musical since it opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater last year.”

  Already she was bowled over.

  “Good, I’m glad. I just recently saw the movie myself and thought it was hysterical.”

  He altered his voice a bit and quoted a famous line from the movie, “I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!”

  Her responding laugh was music to his ears, especially when she responded with another quote, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”

  Darcy took her hand again, bidding Andy good-bye, “Thank you, Andy. We’ll see you back here at ten.”

  “Very good, Sir. Enjoy the show.”

  Elizabeth chuckled at the ‘Sir’ as Darcy led her inside. Their entrance into the complex was already altogether different from her last entrance.

  The theater was modern but intimate, not as large as she had expected, and Darcy had arranged for a side box for two. Nestled beside his seat, a large picnic basket filled with carefully warmed finger foods and chilled wine waited for them. She was amazed at how he could arrange for anything, even when The Garden had such strict security and restrictions.

  So far, this incredible date was more than the fulfillment of attending the theatrical musical production she had wanted to see for a year, it was the myriad of things Darcy put into making the evening special for her. She felt like a princess when he helped remove her coat, and poured Chardonnay for them both, then shared a scrumptious meal of Szechuan noodles, egg rolls, ginger chicken and all types of dim sum with chopsticks.

  Holding the small, white carton of Chinese potato salad, Elizabeth looked at the name of the restaurant printed in red on the side of the box. It read, Shanghai Café Deluxe. She whispered to him in the dark, “I know this place. It’s Downtown on the Lower East Side.”

  Darcy couldn’t help smiling before he placed the beef teriyaki hanging from his chopsticks into her mouth. “A friend of mine who lives down off Delancey Street recommended it.”

  “Wow, small world. I have a friend on Clinton.”

  Over the next two hours, the expensive French wine, unassumingly drunk from juice glasses went straight to their heads. They laughed at every line of the show with undisguised exuberance. Darcy became enchanted by the little snort she emitted at the end of her laugh when Ralphie, the main character, donned his pink Bunny pajamas. Her palpable excitement and earnest attempt to learn the song lyrics to “Ralphie to the Rescue” was so adorably cute, he just wanted to kiss her. She was an accomplished, business woman wearing a two thousand dollar suit and leather-studded pumps – not to mention the concealed, but hotly imagined, garter belt. Yet, she had no qualms about releasing her vibrant joy by allowing her inner-child to get wrapped up in the musical.

  He hoped she would know how he felt and his sincere interest and attraction for her when, for dessert, he fed her chocolate covered strawberries. The intimate touch of his thumb along her bottom lip, to clean the small deposit of chocolate, he was sure would stoke and fan the growing embers of desire within her.

  By the time Christmas Day came for Ralphie, heralding the musical’s finale, Darcy knew he was head over heels in love with Elizabeth. He couldn’t help it when his right palm smoothed down her tweed covered thigh, coming to rest upon her exposed knee. The silkiness of her black stocking turned him on immensely. Yes, he had almost everything in life, but there was only one thing he wanted – Elizabeth – forever.

  In the darkness of their box, she looked over to him and smiled flirtatiously. Damn if her body wasn’t betraying her with that first intimate touch. She fluttered and it wasn’t in her stomach. Brazenly, her arm crossed over his, and she mimicked the movement of his hand, sliding down his muscular thigh, daring to glide over the fine merino wool toward his inner thigh.

  Unabashedly, he mimicked her hand, his index finger drawing small circles upward until finally coming to rest mere inches from her heated point of desire. With one small subtle move, his index finger slid under and toyed with the garter strap for a split second. It was too much for him. He was coming undone and any modicum of gentlemanly restraint was almost tossed aside. He shifted his weight in his seat, too uncomfortable to sit due to his extreme arousal.

  He leaned over, whispering into her ear, “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

  She nodded, promptly feeling bereft the moment his hand left her heated body, but she understood. He felt exactly as she. It took every ounce of restraint not to run her palm over the bulge of his trousers or to lean into him and kiss him seductively, madly, or the most brazen action of all that flitted through her mind – to suggest they leave to make music of their own.

  Elizabeth’s head spun and not from the headiness of drink, which was present, but more so from the fact that she was falling in every way for Mr. December.

  Over The Garden’s exiting crowds, Darcy was just able to catch sight of his limousine illegally parked at the curb. He held onto Elizabeth’s hand tightly as they navigated the sea of people to where Andy stood awaiting them.

  She suddenly stopped, looked to the sky above and touched the tip of her nose. “It’s snowing.”

  He grinned, so happy that the night was going exactly as planned. “Good. I love the snow.”

  “Me too.”

  “I’m glad to hear that because our night isn’t over yet, you know.”

  Leaning into her, that intoxicating honeysuckle scent beguiling him. With lips touching the curve of her ear, he couldn’t resist a small kiss before whispering, “I have something special planned.”

  Another kiss to her ear followed, his lips wanting so much more. Hungry for those succulent, cherry-bomb lips of hers, he had yet to find the perfect moment to taste them. He would though, and knew their first kiss would be fantastic. The first of their lifetime together.

  Elizabeth unabashedly snaked her arm inside his open coat, responding intimately to his whisper as her hand smoothed around his waist. She purred into his ear, “I can’t wait.”

  Darcy leaned back, gazing into her eyes for a long moment,
a spell wrapping around them as the gentle caress of feather light snowflakes floated in the air. He wondered what she really couldn’t wait for and hoped it was the same thing he desired. “Then we better go. Our chariot waits.”

  They resolutely advanced through the crowd to the curb, reaching Andy where the usual perfunctory greeting and questions commenced.

  The twenty-minute limo ride uptown was filled with playful banter against a soundtrack of familiar seasonal songs. It was obvious they were both struggling to maintain proper decorum and restraint, and damn if Elizabeth didn’t just want to jump his bones the minute his hand brushed against her knee, again.

  Andy pulled to the curb at the 59th Street entrance to Central Park and parked behind a glossy, white hansom carriage, drawn by a single white horse. He exited the limo, popped the trunk and with basket in hand, conferred briefly with the driver before opening the passenger door.

  Darcy exited first, holding out his hand for Elizabeth and again, watched her long leg extend to step out to join him on the sidewalk.

  The beautiful carriage’s top was pushed back, exposing red, vinyl seating, which matched the painted trim on the carriage and wheels. Even the top-hatted driver’s black cape had a red lining.

  Elizabeth giggled when she saw the carriage. “You didn’t?”

  “I did. Are you pleased?” Darcy beamed in response to her apparent glee.

  “Pleased? Absolutely. Tickled. Delighted. I’ve wanted to do this my whole life! I could kiss you!”

  “That’s right … you promised, didn’t you?”

  “Yes and I always keep my promises.”

  Darcy turned to his driver. “Andy, I’ll text you later and thanks.”

  He looked to Elizabeth. Her face was filled with an enticing combination of charming child-like wonder and alluring adult excitement. Whatever she wanted was what he wanted. He wanted to give her the Christmas she yearned for, one where mothering taunts, dinner date pressures, and all the horrible unlucky dates leading to this one, would disappear from her memory. This was a night he hoped she would never forget.

  As the carriage driver raised the canopy, he informed the couple that they could be out in the park for as long as they wanted provided the temperature didn’t drop below nineteen degrees and as long as the snow fell only lightly. “And most importantly, know that my ear buds are in, and I can’t hear or see a thing you’re doing back there. Enjoy the ride and enjoy the magic. Central Park at Christmastime during the snow is like nothing you will ever experience. It’s breathtaking. I hope the memories you make tonight will never leave you.”

  That was the plan.

  With Darcy's assisting firm grip, Elizabeth climbed into the carriage with him settling beside her. “I can’t believe you did this for me. I’ve lived my whole life in New York and I’ve never done this. It’s been on my list along with taking the Staten Island Ferry and visiting the Statue of Liberty, but at Christmastime, this was the one thing I most wanted to do.”

  “Me too. I’ve never done this or visited the Statue of Liberty. Maybe we’ll do that together in the New Year.”

  “I’d like that,” she replied with a resolute nod. Yes, she really liked that idea. Hopefully, her family wouldn’t scare him away.

  Darcy noted how she rubbed her gloved hands together. Her cheeks were chilled and turning red. Even the tip of her nose had grown cold. He promptly unfolded the provided plaid, wool blanket, draping it across their legs. Reaching into the small wicker basket at his feet, he withdrew a Tiffany sterling silver flask, engraved with the letters ‘FD’ on the front. “Try this. It’ll warm you up measurably.”

  “What is it?”

  “Chambord – black raspberry liqueur. I think you’ll like it.”

  He watched her as her red fingernail traced the engraving.

  “FD, like the Foundation.”

  “My initials, but yes, just like the Foundation.”

  Her plump lips surrounded the small opening and when finished, her pink tongue gave a swipe over her beckoning top lip. She smiled broadly with sparking eyes. “Yum.”

  Yes, yum, indeed.

  As the carriage made its way through the narrow roads and paths of the romantic park, Elizabeth sat in awe of the park's beauty at night. What seemed like a million tiny, white lights graced stark branches, glittering against the crystalline of the new snow settling upon the trees. Freshly fallen, the dusting accumulated on each park bench and every illuminated lantern-style lamppost they passed. In silent wonder, the park welcomed the beginning of Mother Nature’s silently falling winter caress.

  Besides the nervous pounding of their hearts, they only heard the clip clop of the horse’s hooves until Darcy broke their quiet, reflective repose. He passed the flask back to Elizabeth. “So, tell me. What’s your Christmas wish, Liz?”

  “Something big … like world peace or something just for me?”

  “What’s closest to your heart? What do you desire most?”

  “That’s easy … unconditional love. A family, and one day a partner or husband who will love me no matter my imperfections or mistakes I make. Someone whose love overlooks my shortcomings, my lists, and my bad luck. I don’t have that now, not from anyone other than Char and Jane.”

  Elizabeth turned slightly toward Darcy, handing him the flask after taking a final swig. He held it for a moment, his heart full because of her statement. He wanted to ask why she didn’t have it, and why she looked only for a Christmas date and nothing more, but that would give away everything. He knew those answers already, and didn’t want her to know he had been reading her blog – not just yet.

  With his free hand, he took hers in his. “You will. Loving you unconditionally will come easy for your soul mate.”

  “Maybe. My friend down on Clinton Street calls one’s soul mate – a bashert.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Perhaps all those Christmas wishes I made years ago may one day come true.”

  Darcy brought the flask to his lips. It was the closest his lips had come to tasting hers, and at that moment, once again, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her.

  “What is your Christmas wish?” She took back the flask, getting blissfully buzzed and feeling warm all over from both the liqueur and the thought of his lips pressed against hers.

  “Hmm … that’s easy, too.”

  Elizabeth was stunned by not only his incredibly sexy, soulful singing voice but also when he confidently sung a small verse from ‘her song’. “All I Want for Christmas is You.” She wondered if this night could get any better. So far, it was perfect and so was he. Why had she been so blind to him?

  He reached over, smoothing her hair. His hand stilled at the back of her head, slowly guiding her toward him so that her body came to lean upon him. Raspberry scented and deeply impassioned his deep voice seduced her. “May I kiss you?”

  “Yes.”

  It was a gentle kiss, soft and molding. Their lips overlapped one another’s, alternating between gentle sucks and slow glides. The warm, sweetness of their breath exchanged, becoming one.

  Her hands slid under his overcoat lapels as her body leaned more forward upon him, feeling the strength of his chest below hers. She had waited all night for this delicious kiss and it was as incredible as she imagined. Their lips fit perfectly, both giving and receiving. She trembled in those places that no one before him had ever reached – or cared to reach. Her heart, her soul and her body came alive.

  Wrapping his left arm around her waist, he pulled her into him, his free hand unclipping her hair, fanning through the unbound raven locks. He deepened the kiss, becoming lost to the glorious sensation of her and the sweetness of her taste. When she moaned softly, his embrace tightened, sliding down her back and pressing her snugly against his body.

  When their first kiss slowly ended he groaned. “We should have done that weeks ago.”

  “Then let’s make up for lost time. Kiss me again.”

  Darcy did as instructed. Only this kiss was hungry, needy an
d matched hers with every glide of their lips and stroke of their tongues. He was on fire for her and sure she could feel the strength of his arousal against her hip, which forced him to restrain his fervor. He slowed the pace of his kiss, until finally their lips parted.

  Reveling in the feel of her snuggling into his arms and leaning against him, they sat in reflection, attempting to slow the pace of their escalating passion. The easy, steady tempo of the horse’s gait calmed their racing heartbeats.

  Long minutes of beautiful serenity passed as they burrowed under the blanket, cuddling together. Darcy finally found his nerve to ask, “Liz, I know you’re going to the Foundation Holiday Gala, and I don’t want to freak you out like I’m pushing or rushing, but I was wondering if you would like to attend as my date? I’d be honored if you went with me. It’s an important night and I … want to share it with someone special.”

  He had just found out that it wasn’t just an ordinary annual holiday ball. At this year’s event, the American Burn Association was to present their most prestigious award – to him. Sure, he could take anyone, any bimbo who had the expectation of a sexed-up night afterward. There was even the date his aunt had been pressuring him to take: Sarah Pendleton, a childhood friend and ex-girlfriend, the woman everyone had once expected him to marry. But he, unequivocally, wanted to share the night with Elizabeth.

  After that incredible kiss, the earlier Chardonnay at the theater and the heady warmth from the brandy, she felt euphoric. The combined effects of her drunken lightheadedness, Darcy’s strong embrace, and the strength of her heartbeat were such that neither John Lucas nor the commitment she had made to him, were even a passing thought. She simply forgot all about him attending the gala as her date.

  She adjusted her weight, almost lying across the seat, facing him while surrounded by his capturing hold. He wasn’t about to let her fall from the seat and clutched her tighter. A simple tender expression of her hand threading upward through the curls at the base of his neck delighted him.