Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
brADY
I was under pressure to create the perfect first date. I'd never spent this much time thinking about taking a girl out. Dinner was a cliché. A movie date was juvenile and, frankly, boring. What could I create on the island that would be special?
The only brother I trusted with this discussion was Hudson.
He was the one in a committed, mature relationship.
I volunteered to pick up the debris at Hudson's work site so that I could pick his brain.
Hudson and his crew helped me fill the truck bed, and when it was done, Hudson lingered by the driver's side door. "You wanted to talk about something?"
"Yeah, I want to plan something nice for Hazel. A night to remember. You got any suggestions?"
Hudson whistled. "That's a tough one. What were you thinking?"
"Not just dinner and a movie. Something romantic."
"You've already been dating, and you've been friends for years. Is there something that she enjoys that you could take advantage of?"
I shrugged. "She loves to read. She's a librarian."
"Maybe set up dinner at one of the libraries in a historic house on the mainland. I think I read something about a company that was offering that as a service. They bring the food and wait staff while you enjoy the ambiance."
"That's a great idea." I pulled out my phone and started scrolling. "What are the odds they have an opening tonight?"
"I doubt everyone wants a meal in the library, so that might be your in." Hudson was already backing away, eager to get back to work.
"I appreciate the assist," I said with my phone to my ear as I climbed into the cab of my truck.
A man answered, and I told him what I wanted to do.
He gave me the name of the company that serviced the historic landmarks' dinners, and I called there next.
No one had booked the library at a certain mansion for the night, so it was mine if I wanted it.
A romantic library dinner was perfect.
Satisfied that I'd solved my first-date dilemma, I texted Hazel telling her I'd pick her up at seven and suggested she dress up.
Hazel: Now I'm intrigued. Where are we going?
Brady: It's a surprise.
Hazel: How will I know what to wear?
Brady: I think it's a dress-and-heels kind of situation.
Hazel: Fancy.
Brady: It's not super fancy, but I think it will be the perfect evening for us.
Or at least I hoped it would be. I didn't have much time to plan something. Not with the engagement party this weekend.
Hazel: I’m excited for what you have planned.
Brady: See you tonight. And no guesses.
Hazel ignored the last part because she sent me a string of guesses every so often throughout the afternoon.
Each message heightened my anticipation for the evening.
I wanted her to remember it fondly. What librarian wouldn't enjoy a romantic dinner in a historic library?
With the man she was hopefully falling in love with?
I'd successfully blurred the lines between friends and lovers, but I didn't have much time to win her over. Did she think of us as just friends with benefits? Or was she coming around to the idea of us as a real couple?
The rest of the day passed quickly. For the first time in my life, I was nervous for a date. I worked it up in my head even though a company was handling the entire evening for me. I only had to pick out the flowers and the food that would be served.
I got ready at Hudson's house, having grabbed my suit from mine earlier in the day. I sent a picture of me standing in front of the mirror so she'd know what I was wearing.
Hazel: You're so handsome.
Brady: If you think I'm so good looking, how did you resist me for so long?
Hazel: Mmm. I think it was that pesky friend situation.
I liked how we could text like this, banter back and forth. It was easy and fun. I took one last glance in the mirror to make sure my tie was straight, and then I grabbed my keys. I'd even arranged to borrow Shep's prized Mustang for the evening. I didn't want to pick up Hazel in a truck.
I drove over to Shep’s to grab his key. Shep answered when I knocked. "What's the occasion?"
"A special evening with my fiancée."
He frowned. "Yeah, but didn't you already lock her down? Your ring is on her finger."
There were a lot of untruths in that sentence, but I wasn't going to enlighten him. "You never stop dating the woman you love."
Shep nodded. "Dad says that."
"I like to think something he said over the years got through."
Shep nodded as he turned to grab the keys from the hook. "Yeah, he sure said it a lot."
When I reached for the keys in his outstretched hand, he held them away from me. "Take care of my baby."
"I assume you're referring to the car," I said dryly.
"Obviously, I'm talking about the car, and it's not just any car."
I rolled my eyes. "It's your baby. Got it."
"It's special to me, and I'd like it to remain in one piece," he said emphatically.
"I'm taking my girl to dinner, not a monster truck show."
His brow furrowed. "Were you seriously considering doing that?"
I snatched the keys from his hand. "You're so easy to tease."
Shep followed me out to the car he'd pulled out of the garage for me. The blue paint and silver chrome gleamed in the evening light. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You're happy?"
I thought about the night ahead and how I felt when I was with Hazel, even the text exchanges this afternoon. "Yeah. I am."
It was a quiet realization. One that snuck up on me. This thing with Hazel was a slow progression, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
"How did you make your first move?" Shep asked quietly.
I thought back to the night we finally kissed for real. "I think it just built up to that point. I bided my time, waiting for the right moment. But I also needed her to see me as someone besides her best friend."
"How did you do that?"
It was the first night in my bedroom when she was feeling awkward. "I needed her to see me as someone she could be attracted to. Not just a friend."
"Ah. I see," he said, but I don't think he did.
"You got a girl you're interested in?" I asked him, wondering why he was asking about this.
Shep took a step back, shaking his head. "Of course not."
He was back to his usual self, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was genuinely asking how he'd let the girl he was interested in know he liked her.
"Thanks for the car."
"Don't wreck it," he grumbled as he turned and headed toward the front door.
I'd leave my truck here for the night and maybe even the weekend. I liked the idea of driving Hazel around the island in style. It was the first time I saw the draw of the car.
Shep used it to attract women, but I only wanted the admiration of one. The best part was that she didn't care what I wore or if I showed up in an expensive car. She just wanted me.
I tried not to let the nerves get to me, but I was worried that the night wouldn't be what she was expecting. I hoped she'd enjoy dinner in a library, or I was in trouble.
By the time I parked at my house, I was a bundle of nerves, unsure if this was the right move, certain I was going to screw everything up. I'd built this evening up too much in my head.
I knocked on the door, feeling a little weird doing this at my house. A few seconds later, the door opened.
I was vaguely aware that Max was sniffing me, probably wanting to know why I was knocking on the door of my house and standing on the porch like I was a guest. But my attention was on the woman who stood in front of me.
She wore a short red dress with silver heels.
"You look gorgeous." There weren't even words for how amazing she looked. The short skirt flirted high on her thighs, and I wanted to see if she was wearing panties. Was she already wet for me?
I mentally shook my head. "Are you ready to go? I have reservations for us."
She grabbed a black clutch and shooed Max inside. "I'm ready."
I held my arm out for her, and she drew up short when she saw the Mustang. "What's this?"
"I thought we'd drive in style tonight."
"Oh, fun." I opened the passenger side door for her, assisting her inside. "Isn't this Shepard's?"
"He was generous enough to let me borrow it tonight. With strict instructions not to crack up his car."
"No pressure, right?" Her hand moved over the dashboard, and I wondered if she'd touch me with such reverence later tonight.
I had to make it through this part of the evening before I could be truly alone with my girl. "I planned a night for you to remember."
"Is this what we'll say is our first date?" she asked.
"Yeah, but we'll tell them it was a while ago. Not tonight."
"Right."
I wondered if she thought this was just to satisfy the game-show part of the engagement party. I wanted her to believe that I'd planned this for real and with her in mind. "I wanted this to be a night we'd both remember. Something we'll enjoy."
"I can't wait to see what it is." She looked out the window. "The anticipation is killing me."
I reached over and interlaced my fingers with hers, marveling at the feel of her smooth thigh underneath our joined hands. "That makes it even better."
She licked her lips, and I wondered if it would be okay to turn around and take this to the bedroom. Who needed fancy dinners and candlelight? Not this guy.
We had a longer ride since we were going off the island. When we approached the historical house, she sucked in a breath.
There were white twinkling lights wrapped around the palm trees as we drove closer. "I think they keep the holiday lights up year-round."
"Are we going to tour the house?" Hazel asked eagerly.
"We're not here for an official tour." The evening was just dinner in the library and then a stroll through the gardens afterward.
Her face fell. "Oh."
"Don't worry. You'll like this even better. And I can bring you back for a tour another time."
"I'm sure whatever you have planned will be great," she said.
I hoped so. I parked in front of the house, allowing the valet to take the keys.
By the time I moved around to the passenger side, another valet had already helped Hazel out of the car.
I offered my elbow to her, and we walked up the stairs.
Inside, a butler greeted us. "Let me take you to your private room. "
"Fancy," Hazel said under her breath.
My heart beat so hard; I could barely hear over the sound of it. The butler led us down the hall past several ornately decorated rooms until we got to the library.
"You will be dining in the library this evening," the man said as he bowed and then went back to his post at the front door.
Hazel sucked in a breath. "We're eating here?"
There was a two-person table covered in a white cloth in front of the fireplace. There were leather chairs around the room, and the walls were covered in wall-to-wall shelves of books. "That's the plan."
My heart was suspended in midair while I waited for response.
Hazel let go of my arm, moving farther into the room. She touched the spine of several of the books. "I can't believe you planned this."
"Do you like it?" I held my breath.
She turned with a smile. "I love it."
I let out the breath I'd been holding. "Good. I was hoping you would."
"How could I not? The only thing better would be if I had one of these in my house," she said with wonder in her voice.
I made a mental note to see if we could install one. Shelves could easily be added to my office. But I'd let that be a surprise for another day, if she decided I was the one for her. This wasn't a done deal. I needed to court my fiancée.
A server came into the room with a bottle of wine and a white cloth over his arm. "Would you like your wine now?"
"We'd love some."
We waited while he poured the glasses, and Hazel tested it. Then he left the room, giving us time to explore for a few minutes before dinner.
"This is amazing. I didn't even realize they allowed people to eat dinner in here." Hazel couldn't seem to tear her gaze away from the spines of books, occasionally reaching out to touch the worn covers.
The fireplace gave the room a cozy atmosphere, and the rain that had just started to fall outside heightened that feeling. "Yeah, it's a new thing apparently. Hudson told me about it."
"I like it. It's very romantic."
I relaxed more with each sip of wine. Hazel appeared to be enthralled with the room itself, and I was merely a backdrop to the evening. I didn't mind because I had plans later where I would be front and center.
We circled the room, talking about the various books we found, and Hazel occasionally squealed with delight when she discovered a favorite title. I made a mental note of the ones she liked so that I could add them to the library I now fully intended to build for her one day.
When her stomach rumbled, we sat down, and the meal was served. I'd requested seafood dishes and a chocolate cake to share for dessert.
When we were finished eating, the butler escorted us to the gardens. The rain had slowed to an occasional drip, but he handed me an umbrella just in case. We walked hand in hand on the paths, enjoying the evening.
"I can't believe we have this place to ourselves."
"It's really nice." I wasn't sure what to expect when I booked the evening, but it had far exceeded my expectations, and it appeared to be the perfect date for Hazel.
"No one's ever gone to this much trouble on a date with me before."
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. "You deserve this and so much more."
"It's probably because we started out as friends. We know each other on a different level than other couples."
"Any man who dates you should take the time to get to know you on this level. It doesn't take a genius to know a librarian would enjoy an evening in a library."
Hazel shook her head, a smile playing on her face. "You're right."
Meeting her desires wasn't complicated and shouldn't be a difficult feat.
I wanted her to see me as more than a friend, someone who could provide her with everything she ever wanted and desired or push her to get those things for herself.
I wanted to be the man at her side during the day and in her bed at the end of the night.
I wanted everything. But it was too soon to have that conversation with her.
When we reached the gazebo at the center of the gardens, Hazel walked inside and turned to face me. She lifted her wine glass. "Thank you for taking me on the perfect first date."
"It was my pleasure to watch you enjoy the books and the ambiance."
"It couldn't have been with a better man," Hazel said as she went up on tiptoes and kissed me. I held her to me, deepening the kiss and hoping this was the beginning of our happily-ever-after.