Eagle's Destiny (8 page)

His mouth was next to my ear and I could feel his warm breath. 
When h
e whispered
it sent tingles down my spine
, “I’m glad you wore such high heels.  It’s nice not to have to bend over.”

I leaned back to look at him, and laughed.  His left arm wrapped around my waist and he pulled me close again.  The song was over too quickly, and when we made our way back to our table, Caesar was waiting.  Caesar led us to a table in a secluded spot.  The lighting was subdued as most of the restaurant was lit with only candle light that reflected off the white tablecloths.  A very romantic first date Michael had selected. 

After telling us about the
evening
’s specials, Caesar left us with the menus.  I breathed in the aroma
surrounding me
and could feel my hunger rapidly rising.  I ordered the smoked chicken ravioli and Michael chose the gnocchi.  Both of us selected the Caesar salad.  He ordered a nice dry Riesling, which would go well with our white cream sauces.

“Well I’m impressed.”  He commented in disbelief.

“About what?”  I looked a
t Michael over the candle light, and
his blue eyes were sparkling with the reflection.

“Most women would never order a cream sauce on a first date.  I expected you to pick at a salad.”  His eyes continued to sparkle, and I noticed it was not just the candle light.  There was mischief in his eyes. 

“I like food, but I don’t eat a lot wh
ile
I’m working.  I think you’re going to notice I’m not like most women.”

“Oh believe me, I’ve already discovered that.  I haven’t figured you out yet, but Elizabeth you are unique.”

I gave him a little smile over the candle light.  “And are you planning on trying to figure me out?”

He laughed and leaned across the table, “Are you going to let me?”

I leaned in also and looked directly at him.  “That’s where the anticipation comes in.”  I winked.

He shook his head.  He reached for a breadstick and took a bite.  “You are being wicked.  I think you enjoy teasing me.”

The waiter arrived with our salads and we dug in.  I encouraged Michael to tell me more about his daughters, and his face lit up when asked.  His pride in both girls was evident.  The girls’ personalities were like day and night.  Tammy was Michael’s tomboy.  She liked to roughhouse and would chase the dogs around the yard for hours.  She always had animals, the larger she got, the larger the animals.  Michael was surprised they did not have a horse already, although she had hinted at it several times.  Tammy loved to go hiking and camping with Michael, but the photography part didn’t interest her.

Katy, the more sophisticated of the two was perfectly happy living in New York.  She enjoyed the city life and everything it offered.  Katy took to music very early on in her life and unbelievably her piano lessons were never forced.  She was the one always wearing the dresses and enjoying her dolls.  Exceedingly patient, she would look at her dad’s photographs offering praise and criticism.

“I can’t believe that you let Katy move to New York all by herself.”  I said as the waiter was placing our pasta dishes in front of us.

“No way in hell would I have let her go there alone.”  Michael said emphatically and then added, “My sister Christina
,
who we lived with for several years
after my divorce
moved to New York two years ago. 
When
Julliard accepted Katy, it was a natural decision.  She lives with Christina in Manhattan, although she doesn’t advertise that she lives with her aunt often.”

I smiled, “What about tall, handsome, and thirty?”

Michael pressed his lips together, “Oh him.  Christina promised she would keep an eye on the situation, but then I don’t totally trust my sister either.”

“Why don’t you trust her?”  I took a bite of my chicken ravioli.  “Mmmmm…this is yummy.”

“Christina is somewhat of the loose cannon when it comes to dating.”

I raised my eyebrows in response, “Sometimes love takes all forms.”

“Not with my daughters.”  Michael said as he took a forkful of gnocchi.

I laughed taking a sip of wine, “You sound just like a dad!  Wait until you meet my dad, you will have met your match.”

Michael laughed with me, “Oh is he tougher than me?”

“Oh yes, and then some, he’s a retired L.A. police detective.  He would greet my dates at the door holding a gun and then interrogate them in our living room.  I’m surprised that some of the guys even bothered to call me
for a second date
.”

Michael raised his eyebrows and laughed, “I’m not that bad.”

“You say so now,” I giggled, “but wait, one of these days you’re going to meet Mr. Thirty.”

Caesar came by our table to check on us.  He beamed at us, “Ah, Mr. Michael, you now have three of the loveliest ladies in the area.  You must not take them all.  I have not seen Miss Elizabeth look so happy in a very long time.”

At that moment, it would have been acceptable if the earth cracked open and swallowed me whole.  I did not even try to stop the blushing.  I looked anywhere but at Michael.  Caesar gave me a wide smile.

Michael laughed and answered with his own compliment, “It was easy to lure them here with your delicious food and wonderful ambience.”

“Mr. Michael, you know you are most welcome here!”  Caesar took my hand and pressed a quick kiss on the back, “And my beautiful Miss Elizabeth, you had my heart from the beginning.”

I giggled, “Don’t you let Rosa hear you say that, or she will be after the both of us!”

Caesar suppressed a laugh, “I am very lucky because my Rosa is always after me!  Enjoy my friends.  It is good to have you here.”

As Caesar left us, I
commented
, “He’s such a cutie.”

Michael looked at me,
and
his eyes were sparkling again, “You like that romantic old world charm.”

“Remember, I am a romance writer.”

“That I have not forgotten.”  He answered
with a raised eyebrow
.

We lingered over the rest of the meal and wine.  Caesar tried to sway me with his tiramisu desert but I was too full, and as it was Caesar had to pack up half my meal to go. 

Leaving
the restaurant, Michael took my hand
and said
,
“
I’ll be glad to put the top up.”

I shook my head, “No
,
I’ll be okay.”  Helping me with my sweater, his hands lingered on my shoulders, and the heat of his fingers warmed me through.  It seemed as if he was going to lean down and kiss me, but the moment passed and he opened the car door.  I slid in and put the scarf over my head.  The air was warm, it was a perfect summer evening, and I was out with the most delightful man.  I sighed aloud.

He sat down next to me.  “What?”

I looked a
t him and smiled, “Nothing.” 

I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes.  The engine roared on again and off we went.

Michael did not drive home as quickly.  There was no traffic but it felt like he was taking his time.  I
relaxed
in the seat reveling in the
sky
.  The stars were out and it looked like a full moon tonight.  Caesar had been correct, I had not been happy like this in a very long time.  Michael was smiling too, I was curious about his thoughts, but this time, I would let it go.

We pulled up in front of my house.  Michael shut off the engine.  He quickly got out and around the car to open my door. 

“It isn’t too late
to
come in for coffee,” I invited softly hoping for a yes because I didn’t want the evening to end.

Michael took my hand
and helped me out of the car
.  “I’d like that.” 

My heart leapt up and I wanted to do a high five!

We walked together up to the door.  I slipped the key into the lock.

“Why are all your lights on?” he asked.

“I don’t like coming home to a dark house.”  I answered simply.  I did not want to explain to him about my ex-husband, not tonight.  “Would you like a tour?  It’s not a grand as yours, but I like it.”

Michael smiled.  “I like what I see.”  He stood very close to me with his hand at the small of my back.  That small touch made my stomach start the flip-flops again.

I pointed out the kitchen, the guest room, and great room.  “And what’s in there?  Is that your bedroom?”  He asked, his hand almost guiding me in that direction.

I nodded, “Yep.”

“Can I see?  I showed you mine.”

“It’s not like yours.  It’s just a regular bedroom.”  I was glad I had made the bed and tidied up after dressing this afternoon.  I sighed, “Okay.”  I led him into the bedroom.

“I wouldn’t have taken you for a sleigh bed person,” he smiled. 

He pointed to my bed with the enormous dark cherry wood head and footboards.  The walls and floors in the bedroom matched the rest of the house.  The bed looked fluffy covered with a large feather comforter and six big pillows.  Higher off the ground, a normal height person would have had to take a running leap into the bed.  For me it was a small hop.  Being tall had its benefits.

“Remember, romance writer.”  I answered.

“And the steps?” 
He
indicated
to the steps next to the bed.  They matched the dark cherry wood on the head and footboards.

“For the dogs, the bed is a little high for them to jump.”

Michael sat down on
the
bed.  He did not have to hop.  “See it’s not too high for me.” 

As if by cue, both dogs jumped on the bed and rubbed up next to
him
for petting which he obliged.  I almost expected Michael to pat the spot next to him for me.  I was not going to take the bait even though I wanted to. 
He
sat on my cream-colored feather comforter grinning at me.  The vision burned into my memory.  I shook my head and slipped out of my shoes.

As Michael looked around, he zeroed in on the framed polar bear poster on the wall next to the bathroom door and walked over, “I need to get that print for you.”  He said tapping the glass in the frame.

We
both looked at ourselves in the full-length mirror
which stood
along the wall next to the polar bear poster. 
He p
ut his arms around me
from behind and
rested his chin on the top of my head.  “I don’t mind you being shorter too.”  Gently pulling my hair off my shoulders and letting it fall down my back, he murmured, “Your hair is beautiful.  It’s very sexy when you wear it loose.”  His lips were close to my shoulder and his warm breath
on my neck
sent shivers down my spine
as it had while we were dancing
.  Our eyes met and held in the reflection of the mirror.

I stopped breathing. 
What was Michael expecting?  What was he thinking?  My inclination was to push him over to the bed where we both could just let ourselves go.  Our mutual attraction was obvious to us, well, to everyone.  The little internal voice I always tried to ignore began shouting again,
“No!”
  This was not like me.  Why he was having this effect on me?  Normally I could hold onto my dignity when encountering a good-looking man.

He whispered again, “Breathe Elizabeth.”

I caught my breath and my rational thinking returned. 
“Coffee.” 

Michael pressed his lips together and nodded in agreement. 
Clearing
his throat and let
ting
go of me,
he replied,
“Yes, coffee.  Decaf?” 

When we were back in the kitchen, I pulled the decaffeinated beans out of the freezer, and started grinding the coffee. 

“I see you’re a purist.”

I grinned, “Coffee is like my baseball, serious business.”

He chuckled, “I like that about you.  You put everything you have in the things you do.”

I looked at him, “I think that’s where you and I are a lot alike.”

Michael walked over to the entertainment center on the wall opposite the kitchen.  He picked up the IPod sitting in the docking station and scrolled through the music.  After he replaced the IPod back into the docking station, Frank Sinatra started singing. 

“I would never have taken you for a Sinatra fan.”  I called from the kitchen.

Michael laughed, “Back at you.”  He moved around the room turning off all the lights and left the two lamps on by the couch.

“I grew up with music playing in the house all the time.  My mother majored in musical history in college.  She was definitely of the hippy generation.  I’ll never know how my parents ended up together.  When I was young, Dad was ultra conservative.  I’m surprised how far to the left he has moved.”