Chapter Forty
Leighann stood in front of the closet, jaw slack and eyes wide as she stared at the black, formal evening gown hanging in there. She wasn’t even aware that the dress was there until Enrique had texted her to check the closet.
She wasn’t sure what she expected, but this was most certainly not it. When she thought date, she thought Sunday best or business casual. This was like prom or something. No wonder he kept suggesting she start getting ready.
It was a black form-fitting gown with silver and sequin embroidery. It was gorgeous and elegant, fit for a grand, red-carpet event but way too much for a simple first date. She was starting to understand that Enrique did nothing in half measures, and the date she had envisioned was nothing like what she could expect from this man.
After several minutes of indecision, she decided to approach Enrique on the subject. This kind of thing made her uncomfortable. A quiet dinner here with a movie and popcorn after was just fine for their first date. She didn’t need or want all of this.
Being sure to close the door gently instead of slamming it in her agitation, she headed down the hall and knocked on his bedroom door. No answer. Pivoting on her heel she headed to the office door and knocked. No answer. Feeling exasperated with each passing moment she stomped down the stairs to the main floor.
“Enrique?” she called, but there was no answer. She searched, but he was nowhere to be found.
If she spent a minute longer looking for him, she would be late, and she hated to be late. With a heavy sigh, she dragged herself back to her room and reluctantly prepared for dinner.
Leighann stared at herself in the full-length mirror after she zipped up the dress, mentally thanking the designer for the side zipper. The minimal makeup she applied highlighted her eyes and added a bit of pop to her lips. Her straight blond hair was held in place away from her face with a comb encrusted with Swarovski crystals, leaving the length of it to fall over her shoulders and back. She ran her hands down the dress, smoothing invisible wrinkles.
She was nervous, but now that the work had been done, she was looking forward to her date with Enrique. It felt nice to dress up occasionally—fun even. This was a little more than she was prepared for, but she expected to have a good time if she didn’t let her nerves get the better of her. She felt out of her depth in this extravagant gown.
A knock sounded at the door. She took a deep breath and smiled before turning away from the mirror and heading to answer the door. When she opened it, Enrique stood before her, looking dashingly handsome in a charcoal gray suit, no doubt tailored just for him. His hair was slicked back, his jaw clean-shaven, and he looked like he had been ripped off the cover of a GQ magazine.
A flush rushed to color her cheeks as she exited her room, closing the door behind her.
“Well, you certainly clean up nicely,” she quipped, trying to calm her racing heart and the nerves that were threatening her composure.
Standing next to him, she felt very self-conscious. He looked like he had been born in that suit, a descendant of one of those mythical Greek gods, and he stared at her like he had never seen a woman before. Every cell in her body wanted to turn around and hide in her room, pretend this whole thing never happened.
His palms started to sweat, and he balled them into fists in an effort not to pull her into his arms and kiss her senselessly. “You’re breathtaking,” he stated confidently, still absorbing the full impact of her beauty. He had been attracted to her before, in her natural, athletic state. But now, dressed in the finery of a woman with her eyes and lips highlighted, he couldn’t think straight.
She grinned. “You look like you’re breathing fine. ”
He smiled and nodded, noting her attempt to move things in a different direction. “Are you ready to go?”
Not in this dress , but she smiled at him and nodded regardless of her trepidation. Her stomach churned slightly at what to expect since she knew how extravagant he could be. But she let him take her hand, kiss her palm, and link their fingers as he assisted her down the stairs in her black high-heeled shoes and, after slipping into their coats, out to the waiting SUV.
A driver stood in front of the back passenger door, opening it for her to get in. She smiled warmly and thanked him before climbing in.
They sat side by side on the heated leather seats while the driver closed the door and climbed into the driver’s seat.
Enrique turned to Leighann, still silently admiring her. “Do you like the dress?”
Leigh bit the corner of her lip, trying to think of the best way to answer his question without sounding like an ungrateful brat.
“Um, it’s beautiful and comfortable if you are used to wearing these types of dresses,” she said. “Maybe a bit too much for a first date?”
“Well, I think it looks perfect on you,” he smiled. “You look gorgeous, Leighann.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you. So, where are we going?”
He returned her smile, taking her hand in his once more. “You’ll see when we get there.”
“Keeping me on the hot seat, huh? ”
“I thought you’d enjoy the suspense,” he said, referring to one of the random conversations they’d had about different movie genres.
“Once in a while,” she shrugged.
“Patience is a virtue, Leighann. We’ll be there in no time.”
When Enrique said they’d get there in no time, she had no idea that meant the thirty minutes it took to drive to Aspen. They talked but kept things light and simple. Commenting on the roadways, the damage they passed, the accumulation of snow, that kind of thing. No brain power needed. It calmed her nerves a little, but her anxiety was still running high when they pulled up outside a well-known five-star restaurant.
She had wondered about this place but never dreamed of actually having the opportunity to eat there, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it now. Still taking in the elegant fa?ade of the restaurant, she was startled when uniformed staff opened her door.
“Good evening, ma’am,” he greeted her, stretching a hand to help her out. Reluctantly placing her hand in his and stepping down, she murmured, “Well, here goes nothing.”
Enrique was already at her side, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm. The night breeze was cool against her cheeks, and the stars in the sky shone brightly, making her think of what it would be like to go star-gazing with Enrique. Just the two of them, lying on a blanket beneath the stars, whispering their dreams into the night sky.
She banished the thought as they approached the entrance. Tonight wasn’t going to be anything like that.