by Cynthia Gail
As they entered the lobby, Beth noticed the bouquet of red and white Amaryllis in a large crystal vase.
“They’re gorgeous!” Beth leaned over the counter to grab the card just as Gina stepped back up to the desk.
“Mr. Chester brought them. Aren’t they beautiful?”
“Nick came by?” Beth’s heart raced, despite her disappointment in missing him. Her dreams had jumped an octave after his invitation to dinner last night. Just the thought of him stopping by and bringing her flowers made her toes curl.
Beth checked her cell phone for missed calls—nothing. She’d checked every five minutes since arriving this morning. How could she be so nervous about a phone call?
Nick did something to her insides. The bowling pins had returned, with a vengeance, and she didn’t know how to get rid of them. She might as well go shopping for coloring books with Jenny for all the work she wasn’t going to get done here.
Nick sat in his office and stared at the phone on his desk. He held Beth’s business card. He didn’t know why. He’d already memorized her number—both of them. Tapping his pencil, he counted the time until he thought she’d be back from lunch.
He knew hand-delivering the flowers had been a mistake. He should have had the flower shop deliver them, but he’d woken up this morning with an unreasonable craving to see her again. Last night’s encounter had given him the oddest combination of relief and anxiety.
He’d wanted to kiss her. Knew she would have let him. Standing there with her hands in his, he barely resisted the urge to bend down and taste her lips. They would have been sweet, and not just from the wine.
But for some reason, the little voice inside his head had said ‘no’ ‘Wait.’ So he did. He’d regretted his decision all night long and had woken up this morning with an overwhelming need to see her. Maybe he’d just wanted to confirm in person that she’d actually said yes to his dinner invitation. His debacle earlier in the evening had him second-guessing everything.
He dialed her direct office line and got her voice mail. Pressing zero, he transferred to the front desk.
“Welcome to La Bella Vita. This is Gina, how may I help you?”
“Gina, this is Nick Chester. Is Beth in?”
“Hi, Mr. Chester. I’m sorry. Beth did come back from lunch just a few minutes after you left, but she had several errands to run before the party this evening. She told me that if you called, to have you call her cell phone. Do you have the number?”
“Yes. Did she like the flowers?”
Nick could hear voices in the background and Gina didn’t answer right away. “See you next week, Mrs. Schaffer.” She paused. “Sorry, Mr. Chester. Oh, she loved the flowers.”
“Good. Have fun at the party tonight.”
Beth had just arrived at the craft store with Jenny when her cell phone rang.
“I’ll be there in a minute. It’s Nick.” She frantically waved for Jenny to go inside.
“Hello?” Beth tried to sound casual, as if she hadn’t looked up his number in the office computer and programmed it into her cell phone the moment she’d arrived at work this morning.
“Hi, it’s Nick.”
“Oh, hi.” The excitement she heard in her own voice shocked her. Her nerves had been on edge, waiting for his call all day–then totally frayed when she’d seen the flowers. But suddenly, the tension came to a halt and a thrill ran through her body in its place. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sorry I missed you when I dropped them off. Gina said you’d gone to lunch with Jenny.”
“I did. We’re out doing some last-minute shopping before the office party tonight. And, you’re not going to believe this, but we’re on our way into a craft store to get materials for homemade ornaments.” Beth paced the sidewalk near the storefront and tightened her scarf more securely around her neck.
“Really? What for?”
Beth told him about Jenny’s volunteer work and the gifts and cookies they were taking to the children on Friday.
“We made plans at lunch and I thought about the ornaments from your tree last night. We decided to make something like your Santa hat and let the kids write their names on the front with glitter pens.”
“They’re going to love them.”
She hoped so. They couldn’t make the children or parents forget their circumstances, but hopefully they could bring them some joy during the holidays.
“Jenny does this every Friday?” he asked.
“Yes. She usually spends the morning there, reading stories to the children and talking to the parents to make sure there isn’t anything they need.”
“That’s sweet.”
The conversation died off for a moment. Beth checked her phone to make sure she hadn’t dropped the call.
“So, are you still free for dinner tomorrow night?” Nick asked.
“I am.” Beth could just imagine what she looked like, standing in front of the craft store with a grin that wouldn’t stop. The temperature had dropped to thirty degrees and flurries had started to fall a few minutes before they’d arrived. She loved the winter. Loved the holidays. A ripple went through her stomach at the thought of possibly sharing Christmas with Nick this year. She quickly stamped it out. She could give in and let herself be excited about the date, but thinking further ahead than tomorrow could be a very bad idea.
“We have reservations at Carlino’s for seven o’clock if that works for you.”
“Really? You’ll have to tell me your secret. I didn’t think you’d be able to pull it off.”
She heard him laugh. “I can’t tell you all my secrets. My grandfather’s cook was a big stretch.”
“I bet I can get the truth out of you by the end of dinner.” Beth couldn’t believe her own flirting, yet he played along. Something about him drew the words out of her without thinking.
“Hmm. I don’t know.” He paused. “I might be willing to trade secrets. You’ll have to go first, since I’m already one ahead.”
“What if I don’t have any?”
“Everyone has secrets.” He chuckled.
She loved the sound of his voice. And his laugh. Warmth filled her, despite the chill in the air and the snow continuing to fall.
“I’ll see what I can come up with before tomorrow night. It probably won’t be as interesting as your leftovers, though.”
“I can see where that would be a hard one to beat. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“I should let you go so you can get back to your shopping.”
“Okay. Bye, Nick.”
Giddiness took over and made her want to skip, jump up and down, and do the happy dance. She paced outside the craft store and rewound the entire conversation in her mind. Twice, before going inside. She didn’t want the moment to end.
Beth couldn’t believe how long twenty-four hours could actually be. Waiting for Sunday evening to arrive had been excruciating. She and Jenny had shopped for the kids until late in the afternoon on Saturday, which meant she had to stay late after the staff party to finish all the paperwork she should have done earlier in the day.
When she finally made it home, she went to bed exhausted, hoping to fall into a deep sleep. But her mind couldn’t stop racing as she thought about Nick. Worried about their date, then, ten minutes later, excited. A roller coaster from one extreme to the other.
What should she wear? One by one, she mentally took inventory of every dress in her closet. Her outfit had to be perfect. Something classy, yet sexy.
And her hair. Would he like it up, showing off her neck, or should she wear it down, the way she had on Friday night?
Then she’d remembered the piano bar and dance floor pictured on Carlino’s website. What would it feel like to be in his arms, dancing close, his body touching hers as they swayed to the music of a baby grand? And when he took her home, would he finally kiss her?
By the time six o’clock arrived
Sunday evening, Beth had tried on four different dresses and fixed her hair three different ways. Nerves and anticipation were still dueling as she realized time had run out.
“So, when did he say he’d be there?” Jenny asked over the phone as Beth paced her living room and watched the second hand slowly ticking away the final fifteen minutes.
“Six-thirty, why?”
“He’s always early. Expect him at twenty after. It’s a quirk. You’ll never have to worry about him being late.
“Thanks for the tip. Cross your fingers, wish me luck, and say a prayer.”
“You don’t need luck. I read your horoscope and it’s going to be a great night. Relax and have fun.”
Beth thought about Jenny and the way they read their horoscopes every month without fail. The ritual had been funny when they were in college, a habit Jenny’s mother passed down. It was hilarious now. They were almost thirty years old and still read them as if they held the secrets to the universe.
“I know one thing, Jenny. If I get too nervous tonight, I’ll just think about you and your magazines. You know you can’t leave me guessing like this. Tell me what it said.”
“It said you would be receiving a random act of romance—getting surprised with a kiss, maybe.”
“I’m not sure how much stock I put into Marie Claire’s astrologist, but I hope she’s right.”
I think.
Yes, I do hope she’s right.
Dreams don’t lie—she had to admit her excitement about going on a date with Nick Chester.
“I have no doubts,” Jenny said. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Beth turned her cell phone ringer onto vibrate and slid it into her evening bag. She’d called Jenny to get a quick pep talk. If she hadn’t done something to keep herself busy, she probably would have changed her clothes two more times.
Hearing a door shut in the driveway, Beth’s heart raced. Think about Jenny and her horoscopes. The thought did make her smile, but it couldn’t help the pounding in her ears as it made her think about kissing Nick again. Okay, think about—
The doorbell rang.
She took a deep breath and counted to five. One more for good measure and she opened the door.
“Hi.” Beth’s heart seemed to beat triple time as she watched Nick’s eyes quickly sweep from her hair to her heels and up again. Of course, she did the same in the brief moment it took her to step back and let him inside. He wore a silky gray sweater, black dress pants, and Italian loafers. Simple in itself, yet the way the material fell against the hard muscles of his chest and shoulders made her memories and dreams pale in comparison.
“You’re stunning,” he said.
She felt one last drum roll in her chest before it dimmed to the slightest thrum. Something about his voice relaxed her nerves and spread a warm, melting sensation all the way to her fingertips.
“Thank you.” Beth turned toward the closet and remembered she’d already laid out her wrap while talking to Jenny. “I just need to grab my purse and I’m ready to go.”
Beth stepped into the living room and picked up her purse. Her matching shawl would be perfect for the evening—silky soft and elegant, while thick enough to keep the wind from freezing her bones. Of course, if Nick kept staring at her the way he was now, the temperature outside wouldn’t be a problem.
Nick took the wrap from her hands and draped it around her shoulders, dropping the ends across her forearms. “I have a confession to make,” he said.
“Another secret revealed?” She tried to sound lighthearted. The weight of his hands on her shoulders made it hard to concentrate on anything except the warmth spreading through her body.
“I wanted to kiss you Friday night, but decided to wait. It’s been the longest forty-eight hours.”
“You did?” She could barely whisper as he took her into his arms.
She hadn’t misread him after all.
For two days, she had second-guessed everything that happened that night. Just about the time she’d thought he was going to kiss her, knew he was just about to lean down and touch his lips to hers . . .
He’d stepped away.
A flutter rippled through her stomach as Nick continued to stare into her eyes. Despite her efforts, she could barely breathe through the tension filling the air between them. Please kiss me her only thought as time stood still.
He either heard the plea or was thinking the same thing, because his hand came to the side of her face in a soft caress and then he lowered his head.
His lips touched hers with a tender hesitation she hadn’t expected, easing the anxiety she’d held all afternoon. But after what seemed like only a moment, Nick pulled back.
Beth didn’t speak. Even if she’d been able to, words would have broken the spell and she didn’t want the moment to end. So she waited and then watched as his gaze lowered back to her lips.
She closed her eyes just before feeling his mouth on hers again. This time, his gentle touch paired with a strength that made every nerve ending in her body come to full attention. And as his tongue skimmed across her lower lip, she felt a long-dormant need rising inside.
She tilted her head and opened for him. His tongue touched hers in a slow, smooth stroke that left her insides trembling and her mind whimpering in a silent prayer. Nothing could have prepared her for the yearning in her chest or the ache she felt below.
Just as she felt a slight quiver roll down to her knees, Nick lifted his head and spoke in a low, gravely tone. “You were worth the wait. But I couldn’t have sat through dinner and continued to wonder.”
Beth didn’t know which she preferred, wondering or knowing. Now that he’d kissed her, she couldn’t help but want him to do it again. Her dreams paled in comparison. Reality was so much more. And to think this had only been a kiss. Except for his lips and a single hand, their bodies hadn’t even touched.
“Speaking of dinner.” Beth cleared her throat and tried to regroup her thoughts before they completely ran away with her. At the same time, she pretended not to notice how his eyes lingered on her mouth.
“We should go. And I believe you owe me two secrets now.” Nick stepped back, slid his hand away from her face, and took a moment to unnecessarily straighten the wrap on her shoulders.
So. She wasn’t the only one shaken.
As her mind came back to full attention, she realized what he’d said and a shot of courage ran through her. She wouldn’t second-guess her instincts again.
Lifting up on the tips of her toes, Beth briefly touched her lips to his and had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes flash with a subtle heat before he could rein it in.
She slowly moved toward his ear, letting her lips softly skim his cheek as she went. “I wanted to kiss you, too. So, now I only owe you one.”
CHAPTER 4
Nick laughed as he opened the front door and led Beth to his car. It took a lot to surprise him. She’d done it, though. Pleasantly.
He’d been on autopilot from the time she’d opened the door wearing a deep blue dress. Conservative at first glance, with a simple v-neck and long sleeves. He’d followed the soft cashmere down as it highlighted every curve on her body, making his heartbeat quicken. Hurrying to help her with her wrap, he’d wanted to get out of the house and on their way to dinner before he said or did something outrageous, like kiss her.
Then he’d slid the shawl around her shoulders and felt the velvet caress of the cashmere between her skin and his fingers. It had been impossible to turn away. There had been something in her eyes that drew him in. In hindsight, he couldn’t remember half of what he’d said before reaching down and touching her lips. He just knew he had to.
As she settled in the seat beside him, the light from the dashboard reflected off her dangling earrings and shimmered in the darkness, reminding him of the bare neck he’d craved to caress, but had held back. He wanted to take her hair down and run his fingers through it.
“I told my grandfather you were going to join us for
Midnight Mass.” Nick knew he had to rein in his thoughts. The evening would be unbearable if he didn’t relax and enjoy the moment, instead of letting his mind wander uncontrolled.
“I hope he doesn’t mind me intruding. Like I told you—”
He reached over and took her hand, stilling the words mid-sentence. “He’s ecstatic. He adores you.”
Talk about an understatement. When he’d told his grandfather about Midnight Mass, a sparkle had shown in the man’s eyes. Then he’d mentioned their upcoming date and the joy vanished, replaced with complete and utter elation. He hadn’t known how to react at first, though he wouldn’t trade the moment for anything. Seeing such pleasure in his grandfather’s eyes was rare.
“He does? He’s so sweet. I’m glad he doesn’t mind me coming.”
Nick watched a warm smile spread across her face as she spoke. He was aching to touch those lips again.
A moment later, they were turning off the interstate just a block from the restaurant. Thankfully. He’d never felt this way about a woman before. Never spent the entire day staring at paperwork and getting nothing done because all he could do was watch the clock tick minutes away as he thought about seeing her. She drove him crazy.
They were seated in a semi-private corner, near the glass wall overlooking the river. Lights from the bridge and neighboring riverfront properties reflected off the water. The ultimate setting for a first date.
Nick picked up the wine list and browsed the extensive selection. “You like chardonnay, right?”
“I’m flexible.”
The waitress arrived at their table, recited the chef’s specialty for the evening, and handed them each a dinner menu. Nick ordered a bottle of wine, then turned his attention back to Beth.
He was momentarily speechless. Sitting with her back to the glass, the light from a full moon reflected through the window and created a soft glow all around her.
“You owe me a secret,” he finally said, forcing sound through his suddenly dry throat.
Even in the dimmed light, he could see a soft pink blush rise up her cheeks. “You go first. I want to know how you got a reservation with one day’s notice.”