Chapter 41
I Only Have Eyes for You – Art Garfunkel
Tally
The excitement was bubbling in my stomach, and I wanted to stamp my feet as I waited for Wilder.
We were going out to dinner at a new fancy restaurant that had opened in nearby Clementine Hill.
I had no idea how he’d got a reservation because I’d heard it was booked for months, not just weeks.
He’d done it, though, and was a few minutes out from picking me up.
As I paced the cabin for about the fifth time, I heard his truck pull up outside. I wasn’t sure whether to go running out, if that was even possible in my strappy shoes, or just wait.
I didn’t have to think about it for long because there was soon a knock on the door.
Smoothing down my tight, strapless, black dress that I’d paired with simple gold hooped earrings and a couple of bangles.
My hair was pulled back into a tight, high, ponytail and I was wearing the perfume that Wilder always said drove him crazy.
“Hey,” I said, aware that I sounded breathy.
“Shit.” Wilder took a step back and blinked slowly. “You look incredible.” He whistled low and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Want to stay home instead?”
Giggling I almost agreed but I hadn’t rubbed cocoa body butter into every inch of my skin and spent almost an hour on my makeup to stay home.
“As much as I’d love to,” Wilder said, holding out a hand for me, “you look too damn beautiful for it just to be for my eyes. You deserve to be shown off, Brownie.”
I grabbed my coat and purse and then took his hand.
“Wait, let’s get your coat on, it’s cold out here.” He took it from me and helped me into the red wool coat that I’d paid a ridiculous amount of money for with one of my first paychecks in Kentucky. Once it was on he turned me and kissed me softly. “Time to go beautiful.”
As he led me to his truck, the butterflies swooped higher.
Calling it beautiful didn’t come close. The restaurant glowed with soft, amber light that danced off cut glass and flickered from candles tucked into corners.
A jasmine tree stood at the center, its delicate scent curling through the air as its blossoms trailed along trellised branches overhead.
Fronds draped down from the ceiling, casting shadows like lace and wrapping the room in an intimate, fragrant cocoon.
At the edges, soft music played low, barely there, just enough to melt everything gently into place.
As we were led to our table I didn’t know where to look. It was sensory overload with mirrors, candlelight, perfume and glass and with Wilder’s hand at the small of my back, his thumb slowly rubbing up and down, it felt like every inch of my skin was on fire.
At the table, Wilder held my chair out for me and when I sat he dropped a kiss to my bare shoulder.
There was already a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket, and I gave a quiet gasp when I saw it was my favorite. One I’d mentioned to Wilder once.
“Did you call ahead?” I asked as the waitress left us with menus.
“I wanted to be sure they had the wine you like.” He reached for the bottle having told the waiter he would pour. “They had to buy it in.”
“Wilder!”
He filled my glass. “You deserve it. You don’t mind me getting this, do you?”
“God, no. I love this wine. Thank you.”
We lifted our glasses for a cheer and Wilder said, “Make sure you look into my eyes when we cheer.”
“Okay?”
“Yep, if we don’t it's seven years of bad sex.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really and I for one do not want to bring that to the party, Brownie. Do you?”
My heart flipped a couple of times, wondering if he was hinting at something that I wasn’t sure I could live without.
Dinner had been perfect. The steak was cooked to perfection; the chocolate dessert made my taste buds tingle all while Wilder did and said everything to make me feel special.
And my gosh did he succeed. He held my hand between courses, poured my wine and even moved his chair around the table so it was next to mine.
When it was time to pay the check he handed his card over and wouldn’t even consider letting me pay my half. Which was why I insisted on us going to a bar afterward for me to buy him a drink, even if it was a Coke.
“You want to grab a table,” Wilder said. “I’ll get the drinks.”
“Nuh uh. You get the table, and I’ll get the drinks.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Compromise. Let’s go together.”
“Okay, but I’m buying.”
He narrowed his eyes on me but took my hand and led me to the bar. Once we reached the brass topped bar, Wilder stood behind me and caged me in with his arms.
“What do you want, honey?” I asked over my shoulder.
“A Bud Zero.”
As the bartender approached I leaned over the bar so he could hear me, and Wilder’s hands tethered me at the waist.
“Yes ma’am, what can I get you?”
“Two Bud Zero please.” I’d had enough to drink, remembering the aftermath of a certain engagement party.
When the bartender turned to take two bottles from the refrigerator, I looked around the bar taking in the quirky memorabilia on the walls and shelves around the room.
There was even an old bicycle hanging from the ceiling.
There were secluded booths around the sides of the bar and when my gaze moved across them I almost jumped out of my skin.
“Brownie?” Wilder’s mouth dropped to my ear. “You okay?”
“Don’t do it straight away but look over to your right in the booth at the end.” My voice trembled as an unexpected fear spiked. Maybe not fear but surprise and maybe a little unease.
“What the hell is it? You’re trembling.”
“It’s Glenn.”
I felt Wilder shift behind me, when his hands gripped my waist tighter he cursed. “Is that fucker following us?”
“Don’t know, but don’t you think it’s weird he’s here?” I turned in his arms to see his jaw was tight and pulsing. “I don’t know why but it doesn’t feel right to me. Feels like he’s invading our privacy somehow.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean.” He stiffened. “I’m going to ask him what he’s doing here.”
“No, honey, don’t.” I grabbed hold of his arm that was still caging me in. “I’ll pay for the beers but let’s just leave.”
I flashed my card and took the two bottles and turned back to Wilder and passed him one of the drinks.
“Don’t let him know we’ve seen him,” Wilder said from the corner of his mouth. “Head toward the tables near the door.”
We did as he suggested, Wilder’s hand at my back, and when we reached the one closest to the door both placed our drinks down and slipped away.
The air outside was cool but I felt chilled to my bones. Something was off about Glenn being in the bar. Something I couldn’t put my finger on, but it was something that made me feel uneasy.
We walked quickly back to the truck, my hand firmly in Wilder’s as I resisted the desire to check behind me. Once we got inside we turned to each other and even in darkness I could see the furrow to his brow as he looked through the windshield to the street stretching out in front of us.
“We can’t jump to conclusions, but why the hell is he out here in Clementine Hills. I’ve never heard him say he’s going anywhere except to Downtown Bar & Grill, unless he’s going home to Denver.” Wilder’s hand reached for mine.
“Maybe he met someone?” I suggested.
“Hmm, I don’t know. There was no one with him and just one glass on his table.” He glanced at me and gave me a tight smile. “Anyway, let’s go back to your cabin and forget about him. Unless you want to grab a drink at Downtown?”
“No.” I suddenly felt desperate for him. To let him peel off the skimpy black lingerie I was wearing.
Smiling, he turned away and turned on the engine. “Excellent idea.”
I wanted to believe he didn’t think it was as strange as I did, but the way he gripped the steering wheel made me think otherwise.