Chapter Sixteen
Lily stood back from the small table and admired her handy work. The tablecloth was faded, but clean. The dishes weren’t fine china, but at least she had managed to find two of each that matched. Of course, she’d been a total blockhead and had bought a bottle of wine before she’d actually thought it through and remembered that Christian wouldn’t be able to share it with her, nor was she going to be so insensitive as to drink in front of him. But hopefully he would appreciate the bacon wrapped scallops with risotto, and the freshly steamed asparagus attractively plated. Were the candles too much? Too romantic? Would Christian think she was trying too hard?
Smoothing her hand over the yellow sundress printed with tiny blue flowers that was technically her sister’s, Lily checked the time. Any minute now…
There was a soft rap on the door and Lily grinned in anticipation. With a total lack of decorum, she threw open the door. Wow. After seeing Christian for so long in jeans and t-shirts while he worked on the remodel, she’d forgotten that when she had first met him, he preferred fancier dress. Probably because it looked damn good on him. Her eyes moved over him in appreciation, drinking in the sight.
“You look amazing.” Leaning forward, Christian brushed his lips over her cheek sending a shiver of sensation down her spine.
Lily blushed with pleasure at the compliment. She didn’t usually wear dresses, but she had wanted to look nice for him and was glad he had noticed the effort. “So do you.”
Moving back from the doorway so that Christian could come inside, Lily had to resist the urge to wring her hands, suddenly nervous. Her home was small, had been tight quarters when she and Daisy shared it, but Christian was so much bigger than Daisy and his combination of height and strength practically dwarfed the place. Hopefully he wouldn’t feel too hemmed in.
“These are for you.” Christian held out his hand to show her the bouquet of tiny flowers, mostly purples and blues with a few yellows and whites. He’d picked her flowers again. A rush of emotion suddenly closed off her throat as she remembered the day he’d brought her the daffodils and the words he had said that had touched her so deeply“strong, coming back beautiful year after year…”
Smiling fondly, Lily stepped in close and slid her hand against the one holding the flowers before she went up on tiptoe and leaned in for a kiss, her lips pressing against his, first in appreciation and then clinging for a heartbeat more in longing, before she stepped back and took the flowers from his hand. She could so easily lose her heart to this male. “Thank you.”
Christian ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck. She couldn’t be positive, thanks to the dim lighting, but she was pretty sure he was blushing and just the thought had her belly once again exploding with those giddy swirls of anticipation. “Are you hungry?”
With a nod, he glanced at the table. “It smells wonderful.”
Her step practically bouncing, Lily made quick work of putting the flowers in water before placing them between the candles at the center of the table. She was somewhat surprised when Christian held out a seat for her. She’d read about the gesture, sure, had even seen it in movies, but she’d never experienced this bit of chivalry, and had to admit it was rather nice.
She watched in fascination as Christian inhaled deeply, his eyes closed and a pleased smile tipping up the corners of his mouth. This was a man who appreciated food and she couldn’t wait for him to take that first bite. She wasn’t disappointed with his reaction, his face showing that he was practically in raptures as he chewed.
When he finally swallowed and opened his eyes, he pinned her with a look of disbelief. “This is amazing.” He shook his head. “You are amazing.”
Unable to hold back a smile, Lily was practically bouncing in her seat with happiness. She may have never technically been out on a real date before, and this one may have just begun, but as far as she was concerned, this was hands down the best date ever.
Janet pulled the car to a stop in front of the well-lit diner, grateful the place was even open. A small town like this, it wouldn’t have surprised her if they rolled up the sidewalks at six.
“I’d never even heard of this town before and I’ve lived in this state my whole life.” Rick said from the passenger seat as his head bobbed around taking in their surroundings before focusing on the windshield and the diner beyond. “Do you think they serve those old-timey milkshakes here? Seems like that kind of place.”
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Janet turned off the ignition and unfastened her seatbelt. “Let’s stay on task. Shall we?”
The diner in Malsum Pass was similar to most diners, well lit, the tables topped with Formica, the booths covered with vinyl, and counter seating with the kitchen beyond. Several customers were seated both at the counter and in booths and the smells of home cooking were obviously getting to her partner as she heard a loud rumble.
“Hey there, folks.” A middle-aged woman with her dark hair pulled into a topknot with a pencil stabbed through it shot them a smile and motioned toward one of the empty booths. “If you want to take a seat, I’ll be right with you.”
Rick shot Janet such a hangdog look of pleading that this time, she couldn’t hold back the eye roll. Heading for one of the booths, she sat and leaned toward him to whisper, “What’s your wife going to say if you come home stuffed and not able to eat the dinner she cooked for you?”
Rick grinned. “She’s with her bowling league tonight so I fend for myself.”
The waitress appeared and started setting up their table with placemats and utensils. “Can I get you folks something to drink?”
Before Rick could jump in and ask about milkshakes or whatever else he was craving, Janet spoke up. “We were hoping to speak with Lillian Oremun. Is she working tonight?”
The waitress eyed them both carefully. “Are you friends of Lillian?”
Moment of decision. Janet was quickly calculating the risks when Rick jumped in with a big grin. “We are. Old friends. We go way back.”
And Janet nearly groaned as the woman’s eyes flashed with suspicion for a mere second before she pasted a wide smile on her face. “Well isn’t that sweet of you to come see her.” That patently false tone making Janet want to grind her teeth.
“But I’m afraid Lillian has the next few days off. Needed to take some time and visit her sister out of town, you know.”
Janet smiled as well, hers just as fake as the waitress’s had been and glanced down at the woman’s nametag. “Can you tell us when she’ll be back, Lucy?”
“Should be back in a couple of days.” Lucy shrugged. “Now can I get you folks something?”
