“Of course, I will.” Della sighed with pleasure, and then opened her eyes. “Can I hug you now?”
Mariah held her arms wide. “I thought we’d never get to this part.”
Della walked into them, feeling happy and content. “Thank you, Mariah. Thank you so much. After all these years of study—it’s finally happened.” Giggling, Della squeezed until Mariah grunted. They both ended up laughing.
“Knock. Knock. Rapid Delivery for a Dr. Della Livingston. Is she here?”
Mariah pulled away. “Looks like your parents remembered after all.”
Della snorted. “That would be the surprise of a century.”
They both trotted back down the hall and met the guy now standing by Della’s old desk.
“So who’s the lucky lady?” he asked with a smile, a small package tucked under his arm.
“I’m Dr. Livingston,” Della said, letting her hard-earned title roll off her tongue.
“Okay. Sign here, Dr. Livingston.”
Grinning, Della smiled. She signed the form and then took the package. There was no return address listed. “Anonymous sender?” Della asked.
“No, ma’am. He said there was no need to announce him because you’d figure it out. And I hope you don’t mind, Dr. Livingston, but I was instructed to wait until you opened the package I just gave you.”
“Alright,” Della said. She glanced at Mariah.
“None of this is my idea,” Mariah said. “I stopped at arranging for you to have an office. My next step would have been to offer to buy you lunch.”
Laughing, Della ripped the decorative paper with congratulations written on it. Inside was a folded shirt. She dropped the torn paper in the trash, held the shirt up to her chest, and laughed. On the front was a blue tardis and the words “The Doctor Is In”.
“This has to have come from Elliston,” she said, grinning at Mariah. “He’s all about geek humor. Wasn’t this sweet of him? Now I have a new workout shirt.”
The delivery man stuck his head out the door. “Okay. She opened it and laughed. Bring the rest of it in now.”
“The rest of it?” Della’s mouth fell open when a grinning group of delivery people marched in with three massive vases full of flowers and two stacks of packages. One even rolled in a new leather office chair with a big red bow tied around it.
“Oh, my.” Mariah laughed and came over to stand by her shocked assistant. She leaned in to whisper. “You must be the best bed partner he’s ever had—just saying…”
Della turned to stare at her boss. “All we did was sleep—I swear.”
“Well, I think it’s a safe bet to say the man really likes you then.”
Della pointed to tables in the waiting area for what hadn’t fit on her desk. There were so many flowers she was going to have to donate some of them. Maybe she’d take one vase to her parents. She’d have to make sure Mariah took one home as well.
“I’m overwhelmed. Is this what it’s like dating a rich guy?” Della whispered.
Mariah shook her head. “Not that I’ve seen. I think this is what it’s like when Elliston McElroy cares about making you happy. Kind of easy to see why he gets all those high ratings.”
Della snorted. “His ratings are because of the way he kisses. He’s naturally talented in that area. Trust me—he earned those ratings.”
Mariah laughed at Della’s honesty and the look on her face. “I so did not see this happening.”
“See what happening?” Della asked in between waving goodbye and saying thanks to the giant delivery crew. Goodness, what kind of money had Elliston spent on her? “I’m picking him up this evening. Why couldn’t he have waited until then to give me a gift?”
“Honey, if I understood male reasoning, I’d be the richest woman on Earth. I doubt all these things would fit in your car. I’m sure he’s been busting to get all this to you. This was not arranged in one day.”
Della nodded absently and fingered the large stack of brightly wrapped gifts still resting on her desk. “I’m afraid to open them.”
“And maybe a little afraid of the man who sent them?” Mariah added.
Della nodded. “It’s a reasonable response to a pushy guy. Like most men who are good at business, Elliston can be very pushy when he wants something.”
Mariah tapped her lips with a finger and pretended to wonder. “Wants something? Do you mean like a woman they’re interested in sleeping with?”
“There’s no need for that gleam in your eye. The Perfect Date golden boy’s infatuation won’t last. He’s going to feel very differently about me come tomorrow or at least by Monday. Tonight at the rehearsal dinner, he gets to meet my crazy family. It will be the beginning of the end.”
“Men have been dealing with crazy in-law families throughout history. Maybe he’s tougher than you think. John wasn’t put off by working with my ex.”
Della turned a somber look to her boss, mentor, and friend. “You and John are an anomaly. But this is how much I like Elliston… if I thought he’d let me get by with it, I’d change my mind about taking him with me this weekend. Unfortunately, I know him better than that now. He tracked me down at my gym. I have no doubt he’d just show up at the rehearsal dinner anyway. He’ll want to keep his word.”
“And to see you obviously. Did he make John help him find you?” Mariah asked.
Della shook her head. “No. He used his own geek superpowers.”
“Do I want to know what those entail?”
“No. Just know that no one was seriously harmed and someone got twenty dollars for their trouble.” A giggle suddenly overtook her best effort to stay serious. “My reaction to him is unbelievable. I tell myself I should still be mad, but I can’t seem to stay that way. He gets this confused guilty look on his face that’s hilarious, and then I end up laughing. He even stayed to work out with me.”
“Good God, Della. Never let a man know you get over being mad that fast. I like Elliston, but no male should have that kind of power over a woman,” Mariah said, laughing at her giggling assistant.
“I know, right?” Della said, fingering the mixed bouquet in the purple vase. The flowers were beautiful and each vase held a different set. She looked at Mariah. “I can understand the flowers, but who gives a woman an office chair?”
“The hot geek who knew I was giving you an office. I can’t even imagine what’s in the other packages. John and I had Elliston over for dinner last week. All he wanted to talk about was you. After he left, John spent the rest of the evening grilling me about your dating deal. It was obvious to both of us that the boy is smitten.”
“Smitten is just another way of saying obsessed. I promise you that’s going to pass. And for the record, you and John show far more interest in me and my life than my own family does. I never know how to respond to knowing you care what happens to me.”
Mariah chuckled. “Today you respond by opening your presents and enjoying the end result of all your hard work. Then you leave early this afternoon, so you and Elliston can get an early start. You said it was a three-hour drive, right?”
“Right. And thank you for the millionth time for supporting me,” Della said.
“My pleasure. I’m going to head to my office now and let you open your presents by yourself. Enjoy your moments while you can, Dr. Livingston. These big ones don’t come along too often.”
Chapter Nine
His condo was located in a gated neighborhood full of BMWs and Porches. She pulled up in her humble blue hybrid Honda Civic and heard the engine cut off as she waited for him. It wasn’t long before Elliston emerged from his front door with a duffle, a garment bag, and his light brown hair tinged in dark emerald green. He was wearing jeans and an untucked blue striped shirt the color of his eyes with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His tribal sleeve tats were in full view and a tiny sapphire stud glinted in one earlobe.
Her smile was wide when he climbed into the car. He returned one nearly as wide as hers.
“Dr.
Livingston, I presume.”
“Are you ever going to get tired of that joke?” Della asked.
“Eventually. Probably. Still sounds cool when I say it.”
She giggled in response to his deliberate waffling, unable to stop herself. “Tell you what... let’s skip my sister’s wedding and just go to dinner somewhere. I’ll consider our deal fulfilled. Just the way you look has exceeded my expectations.”
“That’s an extremely appealing offer, but why would we do that?”
Della smiled and let her gaze roam him. “This is one of the best moments of my life and I really don't want to ruin it.”
Elliston narrowed his gaze. “But we have to go. I died my hair green just for the occasion—well, the stylist did anyway. It took over an hour to put it in even though she assures me it will wash out in the shower.”
“I know. I know. It’s just…” Della stopped, sighed, and stared at him for a long minute. His jaw was rough with a day’s growth of beard. He’d gone all out to look as ‘bad boy’ as he could. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. You’re the most perfect fake boyfriend I ever could have imagined taking to my sister’s wedding.”
“Good. You should know—Dr. Livingston—that in the last month I have contracted over a hundred thousand dollars worth of work from Bert’s friends and more are still considering the bids I gave them. I owe you this weekend and we are going to see your family.”
“But…”
Elliston held up a finger until she went silent.
“There is only one remaining question here—am I driving or are you?”
Della sighed deeply. “It’s my car. I prefer to drive it myself.”
“Fine,” Elliston said, getting comfortable. “How far is it? I’m planning to nap the whole time.”
Despite her trepidation about him going with her, she laughed at his teasing. “Thank you for the flowers, Elliston… and for the office chair. You did too way much for me.”
“Are you impressed that I showered you with congratulatory presents?” Elliston asked.
“I…”
“Yeah… that’s what I thought you’d say. At least the t-shirt made you laugh. I knew it would be a winner.”
Della chuckled. “Yes. I laughed at the t-shirt. I also went completely girly over all the flowers. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m taking one vase of them to my mother as a peace offering.”
Elliston shrugged a shoulder. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I got the three that looked good to me. I figured you would do something good with the others. As long as they’re being enjoyed, that’s good enough for me.”
“You’re being modest. I know you spent a ton of money to buy all those office supplies and gadgets. Even the red stapler was top of the line.”
“All tax deductible for a businessman, my good doctor.”
“You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
Elliston grinned. “Maybe. Is it working?”
Della nodded as she picked up the I75 exit to Lexington. Outback was an hour further up the highway. “The last time I got flowers was my high school prom and that was a wrist corsage. You gave me a whole store’s worth.”
“I hardly think three vases count as a store’s worth.”
Her laughter filled the car. “It does where we’re going. Outback, Ky. Population 4872 and half now that my sister Irena is expecting a baby. Of course, the Livingstons comprise probably a good quarter of everyone living there.”
They made small talk for nearly two hours before the car answered her cell phone and threw up an incoming call. It was her sister, Martina—the person her mother always called the ‘ringleader’ among her siblings.
Della sighed as she looked at Elliston. “I have to take this call. It’s one of my sisters.”
Elliston waved at the dash. “Take it. I’m fine.”
Della pushed the button to answer. “Hello, Martina.”
Martina responded with typical fervor. “Girl, where in the world are you? Why aren’t you here yet?”
Della drew in a deep breath. “I’m just a few minutes from town… and I was working all day.”
“You’re always working. Anyway… Momma wants to know if you can stop by the bake shop and get the dessert Annie made for the rehearsal dinner tonight. Billy has our car and the groom is off doing groom things with his folks. I’m stranded here at the rehearsal hall with our weeping bride who has baby sickness all day long now. Fun times happening here, sis.”
Della took note of the time before making any promises. “Sure. I should be there before Annie closes up.”
“No worries there. Annie said she’s gonna wait for you. Then after you get dessert, can you swing by and pick up Daddy from the Outback VFW? His truck’s in the shop. He was out muddin’ with Clarence and messed up his 4-wheel drive. I guess he was too busy this week to fix it himself.”
“What in the world is Dad doing at the VFW? Martina, tell me he’s not drinking.”
“Do not yell at me, Dellaphina. I’m not the boss of our daddy. Maybe his poor little baby Irena getting married is driving him to drink. I don’t know. I have my own problems. I had to get the bus to drop the kids off at Billy’s mother’s house after school. The woman gives them red fruit punch to drink and then I have to try to get them to sleep at night. Do you know how hard that is? That red dye causes hyperactivity, you know.”
Della sighed heavily. Her sisters and their children were always in crisis. “Where’s Mom? She should be getting daddy.”
“Momma is still at Catherine’s. She’s helping let the wedding dress out again. Irena insisted on having one of those tight fitting mermaid things even though that shiny white material makes her Livingston butt look twice as enormous. Everybody says she looks just like you from the back. I told Irena to do a princess dress. Everyone is going to notice that baby bump she’s sportin’ in that tight thing she picked out. Her baby belly is going to be all shiny and look as big as her backside does.”
“Martina, enough about Irena’s butt. I’ve got you on speaker phone and there’s someone in the car with me. Now focus for a minute. Why can’t Josephina pick up Daddy? She’s old enough now to go into the VFW.”
“Oh no, she’s not. Momma and Daddy wouldn’t even let her have champagne at her own wedding. Have you forgotten how to do math, sis? Figured that fancy education ought to be worth more than that…”
“Martina…”
A laugh remarkably like Della’s came over the airwaves. Elliston turned in his seat and smiled at his stressed-out driver. It probably wasn’t the time to tell Della how entertained he was.
“Josephina is barely twenty, and certainly not twenty-one. You know we were all stair steps after you. I always wondered if Momma and Daddy just didn’t do anything in bed for those six years after you were born.”
“I don’t really want to know,” Della said flatly. Her gaze darted to Elliston who had a hand clamped over his mouth to stifle his laughter. She cleared her throat. “Okay. Tell Mom I’ll pick up Daddy at the VFW too.”
“Thanks, honey. I can’t wait to meet that boyfriend you’ve been hiding from us. Everyone’s got their own ideas about him. Does he wear a tie and lift his pinky when he drinks his coffee? Oh… and speaking of boyfriends… did anyone tell you Jeff Wagoner is out of the military and planning to come to the wedding? He knows you’re coming by the way. I’m warning you because I wouldn’t want things to get awkward with that new beau of yours hanging around. We told Jeff you were spoken for…”
“Martina? My phone is cutting out. Talk to you later.” Della lied and ended the call with relief. If she hadn’t been driving, she’d have banged her head on the steering wheel. She turned to Elliston. “It’s not too late. We can turn around. I’m great at making excuses to them.”
“Dellaphina?” Elliston said, grinning at her.
Della pressed her lips together firmly and nodded.
Elliston sputtered, but he had to say them all—just once at least. �
�Dellaphina, Martina, Josephina, and Irena? Your names all rhyme.”
“Dad said it was my mother’s idea. He doesn’t fight with her about much.”
Elliston chuckled. “So who’s Jeff Wagoner?”
Della shrugged. “Jeff is a guy I dated in high school. My family thought we were going to get married. He went into the military. I went away to college. End of story. But here’s the secret… Jeff never asked me to marry him. They think he did and that his leaving broke my heart. Letting them believe that suited me because they blame him for me never tying the knot. It was way easier to let them believe Jeff hurt me than to convince them I had bigger dreams than staying in Outback and getting married.”
“I see. So how serious were you and old Jeff?”
Della snorted. “As serious as any other two eighteen-year-olds I guess.” She glanced his way. Elliston’s eyes were staring straight ahead. Was he jealous again? “Jeff is old news. I haven’t seen him in a decade. I probably won’t even recognize him.”
Elliston turned a bright blue-eyed stare her way. “I’ve never had to compete with someone from the military. That’s a bit different than your friendly neighborhood personal trainer with his low IQ.”
“Brad’s IQ is fine. And why would you feel like you’re competing with any guy?” Della asked.
Elliston shook his head. “If you keep playing that clueless game, no one is going to believe we’re a real couple. All males get jealous in the right circumstances. I’m feeling as territorial about my fake girlfriend as I’m sure your father would expect me to be.”
Della thought about that for a moment. It did make sense from a guy point of view. “Fine. Dad’s going to have problems with nearly everything else about you anyway. I guess you hanging off me all the time is probably the best plan.”
“Hanging off you?” Elliston chuckled. “I’ve never hung off a woman in my life. I prefer it to be the other way around.”
Never Be Her Hero Page 8
