Page 12 of Lilly
“It’s fine,” I interrupt, because I have no intention of allowing whoever it was on the phone to ruin our evening. As much as I want to ask about the psycho she mentioned, Iwon’t.
When the first course gets delivered, I begin to think Lilly isn’t going to eat anything. She just sits and stares atit.
“What’swrong?”
“Nothing, it looks delicious. Too good to eat. I’m sorry, Lucas. This is just…not me. I don’t dress up like this or go to fancy restaurants. I feel totally out ofplace.”
I instantly feel bad about my choice. I wanted to show her a good night, treat her, but my effort has fallen completely flat and instead made heruncomfortable.
“We can leave,” I offer, putting my knife and forkdown.
“No, no, no. I’m sorry,” she says again. “I’ll be okay, it’s just a shock Iguess.”
“Well for the record, Lilly, you look exactly like you belong here. You’re the most beautiful woman here.” I’m relieved to see a small smile twitch her lips as her checks flush red at mycompliment.
“Thank you,Lucas.”
Once she’s had another glass of wine, Lilly loosens up a little. I see her shoulders relax and the conversation starts to flow a little better, although the focus is mostly work. That’s not a bad thing, but I already spend my life there—it would be nice to have a little reprieve. On the other hand, though, it’s better than her asking about mypast.
“Let me take that,” I say to the waiter when he returns with her jacket after I’ve paid the bill. Lilly tried to argue and wanted to pay half. That was not fucking happening. I already feel bad enough for making her uncomfortable with my choice of restauranttonight.
“Thank you,” she says, turning back towards me once she has her jacket on. I can tell the wine we’ve consumed tonight has had an effect on her. Her eyes are bright and her cheeks pink. “Tonight was incredible.” Fuck knows why, but I feel like puffing my chest out with pride at her words. All I did was bring her to a fancy restaurant, yet she’s looking at me like I’m something special. That is so not the case, and once she discovers how true it is, she’ll be running amile.
As soon as we step out of the restaurant, Lilly wraps her arms around herself in an attempt to keepwarm.
“Here,” I say as I shrug my jacket from my shoulders and drape it overhers.
“You’ll be cold,” she says in a pathetic attempt to refuse the offer, but I can see she’s so cold that she doesn’t meanit.
“It’s fine,” I say, trying to sound convincing because it’s anything but fine. It’s fuckingfreezing.
We set off back towards Lilly’s flat. I glance to the side to see her resting her head back as she stares out the window. I can’t help but reach my hand over and place it on her thigh. Her head snaps to mine. I expect her to look angry and push me away, but she surprises me. She just smiles and places her hand onmine.
“Thank you for tonight,” she says again. “I shouldn’t have enjoyed it is much as Ihave.”
“What makes you saythat?”
“You’re my boss, Lucas. We shouldn’t be doingthis.”
“I could sack you, would thathelp?”
Lilly lets out a little laugh and it feels like it hits me right in the chest. I don’t waste time thinking about what that might mean. “No, Luc, I need themoney.”
“I could still pay you…just not for cleaning,” I say with a smirk on my face, because I can feel her looking atme.
“Lucas!”
“That’s a shame. I think we would enjoy it.” I give her thigh a little squeeze and I don’t miss the feeling of her muscles tightening. Fuck, I want my hand on more than herthigh.
“Well…thanks again, I guess,” Lilly says sheepishly at her front door. I walked her up here on the off chance that I might get invited in, but it’s not looking thatway.
“You’re welcome, Lilly.” I reach up and hold her jaw in my hand while rubbing her cheek with my thumb. “It’s been apleasure.”
She stands still for a few seconds, but to my relief she starts to lean towards me. If it’s the result of the wine or my actions I have no idea, but I’m gratefulanyway.
Our lips are about to touch when there is an almighty crash from inside. Lilly jumps a mile and looks scared witless. My instincts take over and I grab her and pull her behind me before walking into her flat. When I get inside, I see a woman dressed in a man’s t-shirt, stood around shards ofglass.
Just as Lilly steps inside, Taylor comes running around the corner, dressed in only a pair ofboxers.
