Chapter 5: An Invite for Drinks at the Willard
Liliana's POV
Another Sunday workday at the shop was coming to an end. It had been a hasty request to which Liliana had only been too happy to step in and help out. Aubrey had wanted to take her daughter to visit her grandmother. Contentedly, Liliana settled in for a simple afternoon of customers and carnations.
The past few days had been consumed with thoughts of Darick. Thankfully, Felicia Asmodeus had stayed away from the law offices leaving Liliana to contemplate if another call to Darick Xander was fitting. But unfortunately, the fence Liliana was still poised on had become quite uncomfortable.
Liliana sighed heavily while rolling down the front door shade and turning off the outdoor sign lights. The shop’s threshold had not been graced by the one person she had been pining to see. A piece of her had been secretly hoping that Darick would stop in. The credit card with his name on it had still not been picked up. It was the last vestige of hope she had for a chance meeting.
“So, you were desiring to see me again?
Liliana spun around coming nose to nose with the devilishly handsome man that had filled most spare thoughts over the last two weeks. The blood pulsing in her veins rose to a roar, and she could barely contain the thrill that the man ignited. The two stood impishly grinning at each other, their chests spontaneously rising and falling in unison. Spiritedly, Liliana replied.
"I was just wondering if you were ever going to come back in and pick up your card?"
Ducking his chin, a boyishly wicked smile curved his full lips.
“My assistant had a new one ordered up. One of the many perks of the card. It came within an hour. No. I'm here to extend an invite for a drink. The Willard Hotel on Wednesday. I can send a car if you like. All you have to do is say yes."
Placing her hands playfully against his chest, she lightheartedly pushed back, gaining a snippet of space between their bodies. Sighing inside, she took pleasure in the feel of his strength. The well-defined muscles under her hands unspokenly told of his intensely disciplined training.
Stepping sideways, Liliana moved out of the circle of intimacy their closeness had created. Then, lifting her chin, she jocosely responded.
“My, my. You are surely used to immediate responses to your every wish. What if I have something on Wednesday?"
"You don't. I called your office. A Ms.Jenkins was kind enough to block the evening out in your calendar. I think she remarked something along the lines 'Thank goodness. A man that finally deserves you."
Liliana's mouth went slack. Darick Xander reached over, and with one finger pushed her chin gently upwards, closing her lips.
"You are quite charming when you’re speechless. Which I’m sure is infrequent based upon your record as a lawyer. Actually, your background is quite impressive if I may compliment you."
The man had moved from the circle of light cast by the hanging fixture. Instead, his eyes glinted brilliantly like unclouded stars. The intensity burned into Liliana's secret self.
"Then I guess my answer is yes. No car. I'll just meet you there."
His voice continued to come across the cool interior of the plant shop. Liliana watched in fascination as he lifted out a silver pocket watch on a fob to check the time.
"Perfect. Let's say 9 p.m. My day will be spent in a tomb of an office buried in boring meetings. Drinks with you will keep me alive."
Bowing small but strangely stylish, the man turned and was gone before Liliana had time to ask what she should wear. The faint sounds of his parting words were heard through the front glass '...wear something elegant. Red is my favorite color.’
With a feeling she hardly recognized, Liliana did a twirl among the potted plants. Her mind began to race. What does a woman wear to an invitation of late evening drinks with a very wealthy man? And did he really say red?
Pushed into the back of her closet was a dress she had never had the opportunity to wear. It was a heavy red silk jacquard dress with cascading blooms falling from the shoulder, down across the chest, and pooling along the skirt hem. Created in the 1950s, it came from a bygone era of Hollywood glamour. Just one of the many dresses her mother had left behind.
The last time she considered wearing it, one of her associates had been planning on a courthouse wedding. Liliana had insisted on dressing up; however, the ceremony never took place. The man's fiancee had changed her mind and decided to hold off on the marriage. So, It had been sitting in her closet since waiting for a moment like now.
Picking up her phone, she shakily dialed Aubrey. Most likely she had already returned from the busy day with family.
"Hi, Liliana. Everything ok with the shop?"
Barely containing what felt like teenage giddiness, Liliana immediately subdued the slight panic of her friend's voice.
"He came back into the shop. We're meeting for drinks on Wednesday."
The silence on the other end was suddenly pierced with a deeply feminine squeal of triumph.
"Fantastic! I just had a feeling about this guy.”
***
Peering one last time in the full-length mirror. Liliana nodded with approval at the reflection staring back.
The dress still fits perfectly. The silk fabric over the years had retained its crisp, punctilious drape while the cherry blossoms scattered about on the surface left one drinking in the luscious curves of her body.
Added was a pair of deep red sling-back heels. The only jewelry was a small dainty gold chain with her mother's cross glinting at the neckline. Her hair was swept up into a chic chignon with an intricate pinned side braid. Leaving the lines of her shoulders and neck unadorned and enticing.
A brief honk was sounded below on the street. Glancing at the small analog clock on the night table, a wellspring of butterflies erupted under her swelling breasts. Picking up a small French perfume bottle, Liliana dabbed the beating pulse points behind each ear. There, she thought, enough to entice him to lean in closer.
“Well, Darick Xander. Here I come. With fate on my shoulders."