CHAPTER 24
WHITNEY
I was in the bathroom getting myself ready while the green dress hung in the corner. I couldn’t wait to see which suit Liam picked to wear tonight. Both of them looked absolutely wonderful on his body but the best part was how wonderful they would look on the floor of this cabin. I shivered at the thought as I placed a few more bobby pins in my hair. Then, I migrated to my makeup as I sat down at the vanity.
I really wanted to do myself up for this dinner tonight. I left my hair in its natural wavy state and curled it up into a beautiful updo. It was piled on top of my head with small strands framing my face and it looked stunning with the jewelry Liam insisted on purchasing for me. He really did too much at the shops earlier.
We went into the dress shop and bought the dress and shoes and then I dipped into the lingerie store to buy matching lingerie I was intent on him not buying. But, the moment we passed by a jewelry store, he ran in before I could catch him.
He ended up buying me a beautiful necklace and earring set and told me it was penance for my not allowing him to purchase my lingerie.
Sitting at the vanity, I began to swipe on a bit of lipstick. I chose a deep red that contrasted the green dress I was wearing. Then, I set my sights on my eyeliner. A simple cat-eye would do, along with a few swipes of mascara. My skin looked so radiant and the blush that tinted my cheeks looked so natural that I didn’t even need foundation or contouring. So, I left all that to the side before I started putting on my jewelry.
The earrings dangled down the side of my face, accenting my neck with my hair piled high on my head. They were white gold, a sparkling chain dropping to a beautiful emerald. The matching necklace draped midway down my neck and housed both emeralds and diamonds. The white gold string shone against my skin as I studied myself in the mirror. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten this dressed up for a date like this and, all of a sudden, I started to feel a bit nervous.
Shaking the feelings from my body, I tossed my towel off to the side. I pulled out the lingerie I’d purchased from the bag and began placing each piece onto my body. I put on the decorative corset before I rolled on the matching stockings. It was lacy and light, added no support whatsoever, but looked fabulous against my skin. I squealed with delight before I reached for my dress and, soon, I was slipping my feet into my heels and staring at the finished product in the mirror.
Everything was perfect and I was ready to step out of the bathroom.
“Liam, you ready?” I asked.
“Ready and waiting,” he said.
Reaching for the doorknob, I took a deep breath. This was it. The moment of no return. I had no idea why in the world I was so nervous suddenly and it took me a second to calm my body. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, quelling the shaking in my hands before I opened the door.
The suit Liam was wearing was perfect.
He’d chosen the gray suit, paired with the shirt. His shoulders were accentuated and the tapering of his waist was accented by a single button done up on his coat. His long legs looked wonderful in the gray pants and the blue shirt made his beautiful peridot eyes pop. He took my breath away, especially with his hair swooped off to the side like he had it.
But the way his eyes danced around my body left me rooted in place.
“My god, Whitney,” he said.
My eyes fluttered up to his before I registered the shock on his face.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
But all he could do was shake his head.
“Liam?” I asked.
His eyes came back up to mine before he slowly walked toward me. He took my hands in his and pulled me away from the bathroom and, suddenly, I felt a bit exposed. He wasn’t saying anything and I was beginning to wonder why. I locked my eyes onto his as he continued to take me in and then he slowly twirled me around in his arms.
“You look—”
I took a step back from him as he snickered, his head shaking before a smile lit up his eyes. His beautiful eyes that matched his beautiful suit.
“You look incredible, Whitney,” he said.
“You think so?”
“Oh, yes.”
The tone of his voice made my knees grow weak.
“Shall we?” He offered me his arm and I grinned with delight.
He escorted me to his truck so we could drive around to the back of the lodge where the restaurant was located. We walked in and, immediately, the tone of the entire night changed. The dim lighting of the restaurant and the soft smells of food trailing up our noses put us in a different mindset. I realized just how hungry I was and, immediately, Liam’s body tensed. I knew he was in an unfamiliar setting, so I had the hostess settle us down at a table in the corner away from everyone else.
The small candle flames dancing in the middle of the table illuminated his face and the shadows that played off its sharp edges somehow made Liam even more handsome than he already was.
“Welcome to The Lounge,” our server said. “My name is David and I’ll be taking care of you this evening. Could I interest either of you in a glass of wine?”
“I would love one,” I said. “What about you, Liam?”
“Do you have a bar?” he asked.
“A full bar, yes sir,” David said.
“Could I get a whisky on the rocks?” Liam asked.
“Of course, sir. What kind?”
“Got any Johnnie Walker?”
“We have the Blue Label, which is a wonderful blend,” David said.
“I’ll take one of those and this beautiful lady here will have a bottle of your finest red wine.”
“Oh, I don’t need a bottle,” I said.
“A bottle,” Liam said, grinning.
“I will come back with those drinks and then I will take your orders. Take your time, enjoy yourselves, and welcome to The Lounge.”
I watched our waiter walk away before I shot Liam a look.
“An entire bottle?” I asked. “Really?”
“Trust me, that Blue Label isn’t the only one I’m having,” he said. “If this entire meal is complimentary, why not go all out?”
He had a point but I still couldn’t help but laugh.
“That suit looks divine on you,” I said.
“Have you looked in a mirror recently?” he asked.
“Actually I have, thank you very much.”
“I’ve had a great time with you today,” he said.
“I did, too. It’s been a long time since I’ve just walked around with someone and taken in shops like that.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve ventured into town like that, so thanks,” he said.
“Why don’t you ever go into town?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just… it feels more natural at the cabin.”
“I guess I just thought you cooped yourself up because of things that happened to you in the Navy but you really seemed comfortable walking around today. What was different?”
“Whisky on the rocks for you, sir, and a bottle of wine for the breathtaking lady.”
Our waiter set our drinks down in front of us before he planted the bottle of wine in the corner. I didn’t recognize the brand or the label which meant it was probably a very expensive bottle.
“Are the two of you ready to order?” David asked. “Or do you need another minute?”
“I’m ready if you’re ready,” Liam said.
“I am. Though, I have a question. We tell you which heading we want, correct? And underneath that heading is all the courses we will be presented with?”
“Precisely,” David said.
“Then I would love the Wild West,” I said.
“I like a woman who enjoys her meat,” Liam said, grinning. “I’ll have the Rolling Countryside.”
“Two excellent choices,” our waiter said. “I will put those in and bring the first courses when they are ready.”
“So,” I began. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
“What would you like to know?” Liam asked.
“Anything and everything.”
He looked at me for quite some time before his eyes began to sparkle.
“I enjoy your body,” he said.
“That’s pretty obvious,” I said as I sat back in my chair.
“Is it now?” he asked.
“It is. Come on. I want to get to know you.”
I felt his foot scoot closer to mine underneath the table. The warmth of his body trickled up my leg, prickling the smooth skin underneath my stockings. He was teasing me. Trying to rile me up while we were in a public place.
And he was succeeding given the way my neck was heating up.
“Your first course,” David said, interrupting the moment.
“Wow, that was quick,” Liam said.
Dinner was delicious. My meaty courses were cooked perfectly and Liam’s seafood smelled divine. We talked about his childhood and his favorite outdoor adventures. We talked about my childhood before the homelessness set in. We told each other jokes and laughed over memories with our best friends and, by the time dessert was sitting in front of us, he was three drinks in and I was almost done with the bottle of wine.
“Crème brûlée for the gorgeous lady and a dulce de leche for the gentleman.”
“Thank you so much, David,” I said.
“My pleasure,” David said. “Whenever the two of you are done, just leave your dinner tickets on the table and the meal will be taken care of.”
“I’ll make sure to do that,” Liam said.
“The two of you sit as long as you like and enjoy the rest of your evening.”
I hummed over my dessert as it melted in my mouth. The hardened sugar on the top of my brûlée had been heated to perfection and the silky substance underneath melted on the tip of my tongue. I could tell Liam was enjoying his cake since he finished it in three massive bites and, by the time our plates were bussed away from us, we were both settling into a comfortable silence.
“Can I ask you a question about your time in the Navy if I stay away from your nightmares?” I asked.
His playful gaze slowly turned to stone and I swallowed hard while he turned the question around in his head.
“Whitney, I just…”
He turned his gaze out toward the restaurant and I was readying myself to go after him if he got up and left.
“The Navy really messed me up,” he said darkly. “It put me through things I never thought I would ever experience as a medic.”
I wanted to ask him what happened. I wanted to continue prying at this crack in his facade. But I stayed silent, hoping he could continue this train of thought.
But instead, he slowly got up from his chair.
Downing the rest of my wine, I stood as he tossed the dinner tickets onto the table. He began his walk out toward the lobby and I was hot on his heels. I didn’t want the evening to end like this. I was readying myself to apologize for broaching such a sensitive topic. It had been the perfect day and I had the perfect plans to end it sitting right underneath my dress.
He didn’t walk as if he was angry but his strides were long and it was hard to keep up.
“Liam? Wait.”
He walked all the way through the lobby and out onto a side porch before he finally stopped. My heels clacked with my movements as I rushed behind him, slowly stepping up to his side before the cold of the night draped over my naked shoulders.
“Here,” he said as he slid off his jacket.
He draped it around my body like the gentleman he was. Then he did something I didn’t expect.
He slipped his arm around my waist and held me close to his body.