Only in Dreams(44)
“Yup, disaster,” Emmie says again, looking at Olivia who has now made her way over to the next box of samples. It is probably the quietest and most content I’ve ever seen the child.
“It’s really not a big deal, Em. I’ll go, prove I don’t love him anymore, and that will be the end of it.”
“So you told Henry about it then?”
“No!” I exclaim. “He wouldn’t understand.”
“What on Earth would he not understand about his fiancée going on a date with another man?” she teases.
“Oh, you know—”
“Good evening, ladies,” Christian says as he walks in through the door. “Don’t you all look beautiful.”
“Oh please, sucking up doesn’t work with me anymore,” Em huffs, waving a hand in her brother-in-law’s direction.
“Me? I’d never,” he insists smugly.
“I’m wearing yoga pants that are a size too small for me, and I have half of Olivia’s dinner on my shirt. Shut it down, Romeo.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Come on Olivia,” Emmie continues, walking over and scooping her daughter into her arms. “Let’s let these two insanely dysfunctional people get on with their disastrous evening.”
“Gee, thanks sis,” Christian says as she walks past him.
“Anytime,” Em replies. God, I love that girl. She might be the only other snarky bitch who can hold her own with the Bennett brothers.
Christian waits for the door to close before turning and looking in my direction. I make my way around the counter and stand for a moment, waiting to see if he realizes I’m wearing the piece he’d noticed from the collection.
“Wow,” he gasps, drinking me in.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I say, impressed by the gray blazer and button-up shirt. Though it is paired with jeans and boots, I can only assume it is fitting for what he has chosen to do for our evening.
“Shall we?” he asks, extending an arm to take my hand.
“Of course,” I reply, grabbing my leather satchel and throwing it over my shoulder. Considering ‘wow’ is the only comment I get, I’m not sure he notices I’m wearing—.
My thought is suddenly cut short. “I’m honored you’d wear a piece from your new collection on our date.” Strike that, he did notice.
“Yeah, I’ll definitely be avoiding red wine this evening,” I comment before giggling and making my way out the front door. “So, what are we doing?” I inquire eagerly. I hate to admit it, but part of me has been looking forward to this evening all week. Not that I think anything will actually come out of it, but it sure is going to be fun to see Christian try.
“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised,” he replies with a smile.
I look up at him; I can see he’s very pleased with himself. “Oh, that’s how it’s going to be.”
“What?”
“You want to keep it a surprise.”
“Surprises can be fun.” He grins as I come to stand at the door of his truck across the street. I turn around and realize he isn’t near me. Instead, he’s on the sidewalk, watching me, just standing there with that crooked smile, his hands in his pockets.
“What are you doing?” I ask, puzzled.
“I’m heading to our date, what are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“We can walk,” he explains.
“Oh, I see. So it’s the steakhouse for dinner then,” I say, thrilled I’d so easily uncovered his secret.
“Nope, not the steakhouse.”
“What? That’s the only place open this late on a Friday night on the strip … unless …” I start.
“Unless what?”
“You’re taking me to the diner for dinner? That’s a little low rent for a blazer, isn’t it?”
“Did I say we are going to the diner?”
Oh my God! There are only two restaurants open on the strip past seven on a Friday. Unless we’re walking a mile outside of town, which means I did not wear the right shoes, there are no other options.
“Fine, I give, where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” he says as he continues to casually stroll down the sidewalk. I can tell he knows it’s pushing me to the brink not to know, and he loves every second. “Beautiful night, isn’t it?”
I look up at the night sky. I’ll be heading home to New York in a couple more weeks, preparing to begin my life as Mrs. Wallace and an image like this will no longer be part of my day. “Yes, it is.” I sigh deeply.
“What is it?”
“I’m going to miss the stars. You just can’t see them like this in the city, you know?”