Brian was meeting Lacey downstairs at eight-thirty. She wore a red halter dress. The skirt swung slightly above her knee. It tied in the back around her neck. It could pass for semi-casual. Lacey had no idea where Brian was going to take her. Hopefully, what she had on would pass muster at the restaurant.
There was a knock on the door. Surely, Blake hadn’t arrived, yet. It was only eight o’clock.
Lacey opened the door to see Rebecca, one of the innkeepers. “He’s not here already is he?” she asked nervously.
“Oh, no, dear. I came to see how you were fairing. First dates can be a bit harrowing and you seemed pretty excited about it when you came in to tell me you were expecting someone.”
“I could use an ear if you got a minute.” Lacey stood aside to let her in.
“Sure,” Rebecca entered the room.
As Lacey closed the door, Rebecca said, “Oh, you look nice.”
Lacey had curled her blonde hair on the ends. She didn’t have bangs. “Thank you. I was about to put on my earrings and bracelet.”
“Oh.”
Lacey walked to the dresser. “It’s just a gold bracelet and hoop earrings.” She raised them up to show Rebecca.
“Those go with you dress very well.” She sat down on the bed. “So tell me. Are you nervous?
“Yes,” she answered bluntly as she put the earrings on. “He is so . . . gorgeous and confident. I really am hoping it works out. When we met today there was an instant . . . attraction between us. He felt it, too, otherwise he wouldn’t have asked me out.”
“True. Even though I just spoke to Brian briefly today when he checked in he seems nice enough.”
“Yeah, there’s just one thing that bothers me about him.”
“What?”
“He paid for all my paintings and photos in cash today.”
“So?”
“So, he bought everything I had. It came to three thousand two-hundred dollars.”
“Mercy,” Rebecca echoed loudly. “He paid it all in cash?”
“Yes, ma’am. That’s a lot of cash to carry around in this day and age.”
“It sure is. Hmm.”
“A girl can’t help but wonder what a man does for a living that he has that much cash on him.”
“I don’t blame you. Best find a discrete way of asking him what he does for a living,” Rebecca suggested seriously. “Just in case.”
****
Blake had changed into a Brioni designer suit. It was midnight blue with micro-pinstripes. He wore a white shirt and a midnight blue tie with it.
He was actually nervous. He hadn’t been nervous for a first date since he was fourteen. He had finally got the nerve up to ask Tiffany Rhodes out on a date - thanks to his father’s encouragement.
“If she says no, let it go and ask another girl out. It’s one thing there’s plenty of and that’s women. The population is more women than men, son.”
But, she had said yes. His mother had made arrangements at the country club for them to have dinner out on the patio. His father had to tie his tie because his hand was shaking so bad. As had he helped him get dressed, he gave him some advice. One tip included whether to kiss a girl at the end of the date.
“Now, son, if it went well, then try to kiss Tiffany. Now, she’ll be nervous, but don’t let that deter you. You’re growing into a man and men are natural hunters. We make the first move. Got it?”
It had gone more than well. And when Blake had kissed Tiffany in the back of the limo before they got home it turned into a mini make-out session. They had dated for almost a year. Blake had grown more than fond of her, and then she dumped him to go to the prom with the star quarterback. Blake had been crushed. Since then, he had vowed to never let another woman get him that emotional again. It wasn’t worth it. He had dated other girls in high school and college since then, of course. And every one of them weren’t good at nothing other than sex, reproducing, and serving a man’s needs as needed. His mother had turned out that way, too. She had left his father for another man. Two months after she had left his father, she had been on a yacht with her new lover when they ran into an impromptu storm. The yacht capsized and they both drowned. The paperwork for the divorce hadn’t even been drawn up when she had died. Therefore, making Blake’s father a widower.
God had the right idea when he put men over women in Blake’s opinion. Lacey had embarrassed him more than hurt him emotionally. He had every intentions of putting her in her place in front of God and everybody on the street today. But, he had been truly overwhelmed by her beauty. He couldn’t help it. Like he couldn’t help but find out more about her and where she had gone after she jilted him at the altar.
This is a simple recon mission. Robinson’s reports aren’t enough. I really need to know why she wouldn’t marry me. And I need to know about her from her.
It was a need to know Blake couldn’t fight off. Lacey was just that intriguing to him despite being a woman.
There was a knock on the door.
Who could that be?
Blake opened the door to Rebecca, one of the innkeepers.
“I came to check on you. First dates can be a bit nerve wrecking,” she said with a soft smile.
“I’m fine . . . Well . . .” he trailed off.
She continued to give him a soft easy smile. “May I come in?”
Blake stepped aside so she could enter.
“You look very debonair,” she complimented and sat down in a chair.
“Thank you,” he said as he closed the door.
“So, you’re nervous, yes?”
“I hate to admit it, but, yes, a little,” he said wryly. “I’m too old to be nervous about a first date like I’m a teenager.”
“Oooh, not necessarily. Plenty of adult men get nervous about a first date with a woman who . . . isn’t the typical woman. I gather from this afternoon that you find Lacey special.”
“Yes. I believe she is.”
She definitely is, but I can’t figure out why except for how beautiful she is.
“May I give you some advice?”
Oh, why not?
“Sure,” he replied.
“Be upfront. Be honest about everything. A woman warms up and opens up when a man does. In this day and age, women are more astute and paranoid about men.”
The last thing Blake could be was honest with Lacey.
Lacey walked down the stairs of The Cozy Inn. Brian was there waiting on her. He looked terrific. And his suit looked expensive, a dark blue well-tailored suit. Just like earlier today, his hair was neatly combed back from his face. “You look . . . absolutely enchanting,” he said with amazement. “Oh, thank you,” she whispered shyly. He was such a charmer. “You look very handsome. I love your suit.” “Thank you. Shall we go?” he asked as he offered his arm. Lacey wrapped her arm around his. “Are you willing to tell me where we are going now? I’ve been in suspense all day.” “Right this way,” he said as he began to escort her to the parlor. Lacey was confused at first. They were heading to the dining room. They walked through it. She was about to say something when they got to the back room, which was open. When she had eaten in the dining room with the rest of the guests yesterday, the door w
Blake walked Lacey to her door. She turned to face him. He took the opportunity to take her again in his arms. He kissed her. Lacey didn’t seem to mind because she met him stroke for stroke. Her lips, now poutier from being kissed thoroughly, were so soft. She probably never had a real man kiss her before. But, she had one now. He didn’t stop until she moaned. When he pulled back, her lids were heavy and her breathing a bit shallow. Before he could say what was on his mind she spoke. “I can’t invite you in.” He knew what he wanted and he also knew she wanted the same thing. “Why? We want each other.” It wasn’t a lie. In this moment, he did want her. More than any woman he had ever bedded in his life. “I can’t. I . . . I’m not a woman who leaps in and out of bed with people. I don’t have casual sex,” she whispered. “Who said it would be casual?” He didn’t mean to ask that. Of course, it would be casual. That’s the
A few days later . . . Lacey and Brian were having a picnic a few feet away from the river that was on The Cozy Inn’s property. For the last two days, Lacey hadn’t seen much of Brian accept at meal times at the inn. He had gotten caught up on conference calls at Michelson Investments. Even though she missed spending time with him during the day it gave her a chance to do some work for All-Time Languages and scope out some scenery to take pictures of and paint. Brian was stretched out on his side on the plaid blanket facing her. Lacey was sitting with her legs stretched out in front of her. The picnic basket was between them. Rebecca had prepared them the picnic lunch – for an additional charge, of course. But, it was worth it. Sandwiches, homemade chips, pudding for dessert, champagne, water, etc.Lacey leaned back, bracing her hands behind her on the blanket. “It is such a beautiful day.” It was about seventy-three degrees out and the
Blake and Lacey packed up their mess in the picnic basket and placed it to the side. They laid back on the blanket, looking at the sky, relaxing. Blake put his hands behind his head as he looked at the brilliant blue sky and the whiter than white clouds. He hadn’t stopped to look at the sky since he was thirteen. He remembered how he had an appreciation for nature back then. Once he had reached fifteen, after Tiffany had broken his heart, he no longer cared about nature – or anything other than himself and money. Blake wondered if his mother leaving his father when he was eighteen and Tiffany making him look like a fool at such a young age had anything to do with how he turned into the person he was today. Had all that changed in over a week? Lacey breathed out a relaxing sigh, bringing him out of his thoughts. Blake turned to look at her. She had a lazy smile on her face and her eyes were closed. She was the catalyst that pl
Two weeks later . . . After much contemplation, Lacey called her mother from her burner phone. The truth was she missed calling her mother to let her know what was going on in her life and to get her advice. Her mother answered on the third ring. “Hello?” “Mother, it’s Lacey.” “Oh my god! Lacey! I had hoped against hope you would call again. I got your voicemail a while back. I didn’t pick up because I didn’t know the number or the name. Oh, darling!” she cried happily. Lacey smiled as she became teary eyed. “I’ve missed you.” “And I’ve missed you, too. Very much. Oh, my darling child. Where are you?” “I’m at an enchanting bed and breakfast with the most enchanting man,” she swooned as she laid back on the bed. “A man? Do tell.” Lacey told her mother everything about Brian. “Yesterday, he bought me twenty-one bouquets of flowers. The number of days we’ve known
Lacey and Brian entered Marty’s Bar at seven. It looked like a country western type of place. Wooden booths lined the walls. Round tables of various sizes were sprinkled around the room. The bar was in the middle of the room and went all the way around in a square. Beer mugs hung above it. “Hi,” a girl said who was wearing a waist apron. “Just take a seat where you like. Someone will be with you in a minute.” They walked to a booth and took a seat across from each other. “Well, this is different from what I’m used to. What about you?” Brian asked. “The same.” The menus were in a holder next to the side of the wall. Lacey grabbed two and handed one to Brian. The band, The Finleys, were supposed to start playing at eight-thirty. Before they could say anything else, a girl with really short brown hair came over. She was petite. “Hi, Welcome to Marty’s.” She sat down two glasses of water and straws. “Do yo
The next day . . . Blake had called his butler bright and early to tell him to have a guest room prepared for a female guest. He also told the butler to make sure the chef had all of Lacey’s favorite foods at the ready. Then, he called his personal shopper to have a list of stores ready to take Lacey to. He couldn’t order Lacey a credit card or open an account for her until Monday. Then, he called his pilot to let him know he wanted to be picked up at one p.m. at the Portland International Airport and he would have an extra passenger. He headed downstairs. It was a quarter till eight. He wore a white dress shirt, a white and silver stripped tie and gray slacks. He was going to drive into Portland to see if he could find any decent jewelry stores. He wanted to get Lacey something special. “Good morning, Horace,” Blake greeted happily as he landed on the last step of the stairs. He hadn’t felt this happy and content since – he couldn’t re
It was almost noon. Blake was only a mile away from the inn. He had found a top-notch jewelry store in Portland called Springer’s. He had purchased a fourteen carat gold sapphire and diamond bracelet for Lacey to match her blue eyes. It had cost him five figures but he didn’t care. It was the first time he had spent so much money on jewelry for a woman – family members included. As he got closer to the inn, he noticed a stretch limo. Someone wealthy had arrived. Blake parked his rental, grabbed the gift he had the jeweler gift wrap for him, and headed to the house. As he walked, Lacey popped up from a rocking chair on the porch. If she hadn’t, he wouldn’t have seen her until he got to the porch. “Well, hello, gorgeous,” he greeted as he walked up the walkway. “Hey, handsome. I was told you went to Portland this morning.” “I did,” he confirmed with a smirk. He climbed the steps to the wrap around porch. He walked r