“I’m just saying there’s nothing like a wedding where the bride looks like freaking’ Aphrodite to make you feel self conscious. That’s how drunken one night stands and unplanned pregnancies happen. There are probably some hot groomsmen in that wedding that would love to get into your panties. You, being the depressed spinster sister lets one of them give it to you, and the next thing you know...single mom,” she said.
“Ugh, Tara, you’re disgusting! Have you always been this crude?” I asked, irritated.
“Oh, calm down, Lil, I’m just teasing. Listen, I’m on my way to the elevators, I have to run. Call me soon, ‘kay? Love you, girl! Kisses!” she said, and the line went dead. Scoffing, I glared at my phone in disbelief. Why the hell was I friends with this woman? Looking back, there was always some moment in every conversation we ever had where she made me feel inferior to her or took some little jab at me. I was really going to reevaluate my friendship with her before I went back home.
I put my phone back in my bag just as the elevator doors opened. I stepped out and walked down the hall and stopped when I found the office door that read “Nephrology Department, Dr. Calvin P. Harrington, M.D., Department Head”. I smiled and opened the door. A large middle-aged lady with red hair greeted me from behind the desk. “Hello, may I help you?” she asked sweetly.
“Yes, I’m Lilly Harrington, I’m here to see my father,” I answered.
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, well, I’m Marjorie, and it’s nice to meet you! You’re daddy’s been talking about you for weeks! I’ll let him know you are here,” she said. She picked up the phone and pushed a button. “Yes, Dr. Harrington, your daughter Lilly is here to see you. Okay, I’ll let her know.” She hung up the phone and said, “He said he will be out in a minute. He’s speaking to another physician. Why don’t you just take a seat and he’ll be out shortly.”
I smiled at her. “Okay, thank you so much.” I walked over to an empty seat in the lobby and sat to wait. I picked up a magazine and mindlessly thumbed through it. About five minutes later, a door opened and my father walked out to greet me.
“Lilly, darlin, there you are. You look beautiful,” he said, walking over to me and taking my hand as I stood up. I decided to dress up just a little since I was meeting Daddy’s coworkers, so I chose a pair of gray dress pants, black leather pointed toe heels and a burgundy scoop neck sweater. I pulled my hair into a ponytail after I had teased it to make it full, and added some curls to it to make it bouncy.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“Well, come on back. I got a whole office waiting to see you,” he said, wrapping his arm around me.
After an hour of meeting the staff and chatting about everything from the wedding to Christmas, it was time for me to head out. Daddy had a full day ahead of him, and was heading out to make rounds. We walked out of his office and toward the elevators together.
“So, you headed home, darlin’?” asked Daddy.
“Well, I was actually hoping of running into Luke,” I said. “Since you and Mama are going to be out this evening, I thought I would ask if he wanted if he wanted to get together tonight. Maybe have dinner or something.” Evan’s dad and stepmother had arrived in town for the wedding, and they had invited my parents to have dinner with them and Violet and Evan, and Daisy was working tonight so I would have the whole house to myself for the evening.
He smiled at me, and said, “A dinner invitation from a beautiful girl? How can he refuse?”
“I’m hoping he won’t refuse. I haven’t been able to see him for the past two weeks.”
“Well, I bet he’ll be happy to see you,” he said, a twinkle in his eye and a smirk on his face.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Uh huh, okay. Well, I’ll let you go. See you later at home?”
He hugged me and kissed my cheek. “Sure will. See you darlin’. Enjoy your evening,” he said, winking at me. The elevator that was going up opened, and he walked inside. With a wave, the doors closed and he was gone.
When the elevator I was waiting for dinged, the doors opened and I blinked in surprise. Luke was on the elevator and was staring intently at his phone, most likely texting someone. He was so engrossed in his text that he didn’t even see me when I walked in. I took advantage of that moment and stared at him. He was wearing a deep blue button down shirt, navy dress pants, black loafers, and had a stethoscope hanging around the neck of his white lab coat. He looked gorgeous…every bit like a hot doctor. When he was done he put his phone in his lab jacket pocket, and looked up. His eyes popped open in surprise when he saw me. “Lilly, hey. I was just…” My phone dinged in my purse letting me know I had a new message. “…messaging you. Small world.”
“Yeah, it is. What was the message?”
“Oh, it was nothing. I just was asking how you were doing. I remember you were said you said you were going to come and see your dad today.”
“Yeah, I just left him. He was off to do rounds,” I said. This had worked out better than I had planned. I was going to find him and ambush him, and he ended up crossing my path. Here goes nothing. “What about you? Are you busy tonight?”
“Well, actually,” he said, seeming to think of an answer. He sighed, seemingly in defeat, and said, “I have some work to do in my office, but I was thinking of heading out for the day in a bit. I have some errands to run.”
My heart sank. “Oh, okay. Well I won’t keep you then,” I said, disappointed, and turned my head back to the elevator doors. Why did I do this to myself? Whether he really had errands or not, he obviously didn’t want to be around me. At this point I was throwing in the towel.
I felt his hand on my arm, and I turned toward him. He was standing close to me, and my heart skipped a beat. “Hey, what is it?” he asked, now taking my hand.
I shook my head. “No, it’s nothing.”
“Tell me,” he insisted.
“Really, it’s stupid.”
“Lilly, seriously, what is it?” he asked impatiently.
I sighed. “I was going to ask you if you wanted to get together tonight, but its okay. You’re busy, again,” I emphasized, “so it’s fine.” Hopefully he picked up on my irritation.
He spun me around to face him. “You wanted to do something with me tonight?”
“Well, yes, Luke. Of course I do. I haven’t seen you in almost two weeks, since Brody’s bar. I…I’ve missed you,” I declared.
He looked at me straight in my eyes. “I’ve missed you too,” he admitted. We stared at each other and he leaned just a little closer to me. The electricity between us was overwhelming. He moved his head closer to mine until he was so close that I actually wasn’t able to focus. Oh my God, was he going to kiss me in the elevator? Yes, please kiss me in the elevator! Just then, the bell dinged and the elevator doors opened. He cleared his throat and stepped back to hold the door with his hand so I could step out. Reluctantly, I walked out into the hallway and he followed me. “So, what were you wanting to do?” he asked me.
“Well, Mama and Daddy are going to be at dinner with Evan’s family tonight, so they won’t be home. Plus, Daisy’s on duty tonight so with me having the house to myself I was hoping you might want to come over for dinner. Maybe watch a movie after that.”
“Dinner at your place?”
“Yeah, I thought I could cook for you. I happen to be a chef, you know.”
Luke turned the corner of his mouth up in a half smile. “You know, that sounds great. What time were you thinking?” he asked.
“Would six o’clock be too soon?” I asked.
“Not at all. Six sounds perfect,” he said. “I do have a few things to take care of before I leave today, but I will definitely see you later.”
“Yes, later,” I replied. “Well, I better head to the grocery store. Seems I have a dinner to plan. Was there anything you want me to make?”
He looked at me with smoldering eyes. �
��Surprise me,” he said, and with a wink that left me breathless he turned and walked down the hallway calling out a goodbye.
I had made it to the grocery store in record time. I practically ran through the store grabbing everything I needed off the shelves (surprising considering I was in an extremely tiny town), which got me some very strange looks from people passing by. I was so involved in making sure I didn’t forget anything for this dinner that I didn’t notice when my cart crashed into someone. “Hey! Whoa, slow down!” I heard someone say, and when I looked up, Jack was turning around with a look of shock on his face. His eyes immediately softened when he saw me. “Oh hey, Lilly. You running a race or something?”
“Jack, I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you?” I asked, embarrassment spreading through me.
“Nah, I’m okay. You look like you’re in a hurry, everything okay?” I looked into his cart and noticed some fresh flowers that I couldn’t see through the green tissue paper surrounding them, a large tin of Christmas cookies, and a container of ribbon candy. Daisy’s favorite Christmas treats.
“Oh yeah, everything’s great. I am having Luke over for dinner tonight and he’ll be there in just over an hour, so I’m hurrying to get everything,” I said, and I saw him smile widely. “What about you? What’s with the flowers and ribbon candy?”
“Oh, that. It’s nothing. I was just…”
“Thinking of surprising Daisy when she gets off work?”
He smiled at me, and ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. “She told you?” Even though I had been getting reacquainted with Jack lately, he was careful not to mention anything about Daisy to me.
“She didn’t have to. I saw the way you two acted around each other my first night back in town. She didn’t tell me anything, I swear, she just confirmed it.”
“Well, then you know that she’s pretty much pushing me away,” he said.
“I know, and as much as I love my sister, I think she’s being a freaking idiot when it comes to you, Jack,” I said.
His smile spread to his eyes. “You do?”
“Absolutely. I think you are a wonderful guy, always have. You were such a good boyfriend to her. Only someone who truly loves Daisy would be able to take what she throws at them and persevere.”
“Thanks, Lil. I just wish she would hear me out and give this thing with us a real shot. This isn’t just some fling for me,” he said. My heart bled for him.
“Well, you know how Daisy can be. She’s the most stubborn woman I’ve ever known. Just be patient with her, Jack. She’ll get there.”
He waved a hand at the cart and said, “Well, if this doesn’t get her to at least talk to me about us, then I think I’m throwing in the towel.”
“No, Jack, don’t give up. You both deserve to be happy. She just needs to get out of her own way. Go for what you want. I am,” I said, and I immediately put my hand over my mouth.
He smiled mischievously. “Ah, so that’s what this dinner for Luke is about. You’ve got the hots for him, don’t you?” he teased.
I blushed. “No, I don’t,” I lied. “I just have a little crush, that’s all.”
“A little crush? Please, me and Daisy weren’t the only ones acting like idiots that night at dinner. Luke couldn’t take his eyes off you the whole night, and were blushing so much you looked like you were sunburned,” he said.
“Geez, I didn’t think I was that bad,” I said.
He pulled me into a one armed hug. “Aw, you weren’t. It was cute,” he said, and I stuck my tongue out at him.
I sighed. “I don’t know, Jack. Ever since I left Glenbrook, I’ve been happy. I love my life. I did everything I always wanted to, and now that Luke’s come back into my life everything’s just upside down. I’m suddenly thinking of things that I never thought I’d think of.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Oh? Like what?”
I hesitated, and after a brief moment, I said something I never thought I’d say. “Like how it would feel to leave California behind and come back home.”
His eyes widened. “Oh wow, Lilly. You’d really give up your life there for Luke?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think the fact that you would even consider that as an option means you do know. Luke doesn’t even know how lucky he is,” he said, a touch of sadness in his eyes.
“Daisy doesn’t either,” I said, trying to reassure him.
“I really have missed you so much, Lilly,” Jack said. He squeezed me tighter and looked at his watch. “Shoot, I’d better let you go. You have a dinner to cook, right?”
“Right. Good luck Jack. Hopefully things will go well for both of us tonight,” I said, and I hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek.
“Good luck to you too, Lilly,” he said, and with a wave we both went our separate ways, with hope in our hearts.
Dinner was almost ready, and the kitchen smelled wonderful. I decided to make filet minon in a mushroom wine sauce, artichokes with roasted pepper dip, mashed sweet potatoes, and a raspberry chocolate mousse. While the food was cooking, I had changed into a black asymmetrical top that hung off my shoulder, one of my favorite pair of jeans that flared at the ankles, and one of my favorite pair of heels; pink high peep toe stilettos covered in black lace. I wore simple diamond stud earrings and decided to wear in a side fishtail braid. I hope I wasn’t dressed too casually. Just as I was placing the finishing touches on the table setting in the kitchen, the doorbell rang. I looked at the clock on the wall. Six o’clock right on the dot. I wiped my hands on a towel and calmly walked to answer the door. I was so nervous I thought I was going to faint. I had never been nervous to cook for someone before. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. I gasped slightly at the sight of him. Luke was breathtakingly handsome. He had changed into a pair of jeans and was still wearing his loafers, and I saw a tight fitted gray sweater showing under his black leather jacket. “Luke, hi. You’re right on time,” I said.
“Just like I promised,” he smiled.
“Please come in. Dinner is just about ready. Can I take your coat?” I asked.
He shrugged out of his jacket, and he handed it to me. “Thank you. You look gorgeous, by the way,” he said, and I felt my cheeks redden.
“Thank you Luke,” I said, and hung his coat on the rack by the door.
“For you,” he said, and handed me a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
I grinned. “Oh my, thank you very much. My favorite wine,” I said, winking at him. I started to walk toward the kitchen with Luke in tow and placed the wine on the kitchen island.
He took a deep breath. “Oh wow, it smells like heaven in here,” he said. “Can I ask what you made or do you want me to be surprised?”
“You know what? I think I want to surprise you. Please have a seat,” I said, pointing to the table. I had set the table to look like a romantic restaurant setting. Fine china salad plates were sitting on top of beautifully decorated placemats, there were two taper candles lit and in between them was a small vase with red and white roses in it. Crystal wine glasses and silver cutlery completed the setting.
“Lilly, wow. You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble just for me.”
“Yes, I did. You are my guest, and as my guest I want you to remember this night forever,” I said, and quickly followed with, “I mean, this meal. I want you to remember the meal.” I had to be blushing about ten shades of red right now.
Smiling, he sat down at the table. I popped the cork out of the bottle of wine, which was thankfully already chilled. I walked over and poured us each a glass, and set the bottle on the table. I then served Luke a salad of fresh greens with Italian dressing. “Thank you,” he said, and motioned for me to join him.
I took a seat on the other side of the table and we sat and ate our salads in silence. I was getting more and more nervous by the minute and my appetite was starting to disappear. I decided to take that moment and serve the main course before I was completely unable to eat anything. I
stood up from the table and arranged our plates while he was still eating his salad. I could feel his eyes on me and it was making my scalp prickle. Curiosity got the better of me and I turned my head in his direction. He was leaning back in his chair with his ankles crossed, and he was sipping from his glass of wine. He was giving me an absolutely smoldering look that made all the feelings in me shoot straight to my panties. I squirmed a little bit, trying to regain myself. Lord, it was getting hot in here. I turned back to the plates, and once I placed the finishing touches on them, I turned around and carried them to the table. Luke had moved the salad plates for me so I could place our food on the placemats. He was beaming at me as I took my seat across the table. “What is it?” I asked.
“It’s just…watching you over there, cooking this incredible dinner for us…you just amaze me, Lilly.”
I blinked in surprise. “I do?” I asked, my cheeks warming.
“Yes. Watching you putting everything together so carefully, it’s obvious that you love this. I remember that being a chef was always your dream, and now that you are…I know this is going to sound strange or out of place, but I’m proud of you. I know I didn’t have a hand in your success, but…”
I stopped him. “I know what you mean. And, thank you for that, Luke,” I said. We both smiled at each other, and suddenly I felt my appetite start to come back. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s eat before it gets cold,” I said.
This dinner had gone way above and beyond my expectations. Once I got over my initial nervousness, I had begun to relax and have fun. Luke loved the food, so that was a relief, and we had spent almost an hour just talking and laughing. At the risk of ruining our good time, I decided to address the elephant in the room (or maybe it was just an elephant to me). “So, are you going to tell me why you’ve been avoiding me for almost two weeks?” I asked him, teasing.
Say Yes Page 10
