Scorpion (7 page)

You
’re not asking me to marry you right now, right?

No, but I will one day.  When you
’re ready.

I sighed.

“What?” he asked out loud.

I guarded my thoughts.  He tried to find out what I was thinking.  I tried really hard but a picture of him in a tux seeped in my head.  He
’d seen the thread of thoughts by his look.

“I want to ask you something.”  He got down on one knee.

“What are you doing?” I gasped.

”Will you go out with me tonight?  Let
’s forget the world for a day.”

Where? 
Shoo!  That scared me.

“Not telling, but I took the pleasure of ordering something for you.  I shouldn
’t have been so assuming, but I guess I was hopeful.  It’s in your closet in the closed garment bag.  Meet me at the bottom of the stairs at 5:00.” 

He placed a very chaste kiss on my cheek and left out of the kitchen before I could protest.   I stood there a while, my mind going in every direction.  I was still
there when the kitchen behind me came to life with others and hinted that I might be more comfortable elsewhere so I left and went to my room alone. 

I
’d yet to hear about the morning and how it went.  We’d got so caught up in our world of needs we’d forgotten the rest.  I vowed to ask about it and the Elves I have yet to learn more about.  They were so intent on keeping me in the dark.  Regardless of personal safety, I had a right to know.

I
opened the closet and searched for this purchase he must have made before I came back wondering if it had been his aim.  I’m not really up to thinking about the why’s but more what comes later.

With no obvious item standing out I started to push one dress over, then my own skirts and such.  I
’d brought pretty much the twenty or so outfits I loved other than my favorites that fit quite well and dandily folded in the drawers.  I’m a jeans and princess sleeve tee kind of girl with a little flare.  Add some boots, favorite heels, or nice comfy flip-flops and I’m good to go.

A flick of the light switch and we were in business.  My eyes went to the middle of the closet where I
’d somehow missed the large black zip bag hanging low to the ground.  I must have buried it between clothes when I started moving things around. 

The bag resembled many of my own back home.  I’d learned from movies about proms and dances but all I’d ever attended was something labeled a ball or political event.  But I’d been especially intrigued by proms.
Regular human schools had them.  I wondered briefly if the Hunter school ever did.  Wait a minute, Fall Ball.  They’d mentioned it.  They do have a dance. 

When the right side zipper made its way down to the floor, I think my jaw hit the floor with it.  Gold shimmery silk looped everywhere. 
The most beautiful floor length gown with small straps and obviously clingy in certain places.  Something thumped my head when I came back up from eyeing the length as fitted to me.  A bag hung on the hanger with the dress.  Of course, matching shoes.  How does he know my size?  I will never, ever ask.

I let my fingers linger on the silky fabric for a while.  Wow!  Just Wow!

Claire showed me where all the boxes landed with the “stuff” my father had packed up.  This wasn’t all of it.  My room still had a few more personal items that I wanted back.  But
this
bag wasn’t here before.

I took my time getting ready getting a little excited about what the night might bring.  The long steam
y shower was really awesome especially with more of my own things.  I wondered briefly,
only
briefly, if his shower was as large.  And
only
briefly if we were to get married, where we would stay.  I shaved, conditioned my hair for twenty minutes, and totally reminded myself of the girl I started out as.  Lately, I’d spent so much time being SuperVal girl that I’d lost the inner me.  Was Cas bringing that out?  Was that a good thing?

Turning the shower off, I saw that my pendant and ring had been removed for the entire time since I
’d arrived and I hadn’t thought to replace either.  Torn between wearing what he gave me and the opportune times I wanted my thoughts guarded was tiring. And I wasn’t even dressed yet. But I didn’t want to spend the night not hearing him.  I’d already spent much of the time removing things that hindered me from hearing
him
.

Deciding on no jewelry across the neck, I put on my diamond stud earrings and that
’s it.  My necklace was safely tucked in my jewelry box I brought from home on the dresser in my room.  My room.  My other recent additions in the adorning department were hidden between the mattresses for safe keeping.  No unworthy one would guess I’d separated out all the goods.

Cas asked me day
s ago to keep the necklace and pendant on me,
just in case. 
Just in case for what, I asked.  He fumbled around his words of why it exists in the first place and some higher purpose we might not be aware of yet.  That sounded a lot like a secret he wasn't telling me.

I slipped into the dress checking the time.  4:35. I didn
’t have long to finish.  My hair and light make up were done with my favorite new gold like the sun yellow hues that Cas loved on me.  I’d pinned up my hair all around with the gold pins also found in my hanging bag.  This guy either had really great taste or an excellent female advisor—I wasn’t sure.  I’m hoping that advisor is old and plump. 

Now ready and five minutes to spare I opened the door and peeked.  The heels were a tad higher than I
’d have liked, but not stiletto or anything.  I closed my door not having a handbag or my pouch.  I’d not left without one ever. I couldn’t tuck jewelry in without losing it in the dress he offered. I’d been to plenty of balls and parties but I was nervous as heck right now at the prospect of being beside Cas in this getup.  I've worn a thousand of these dresses, but not for someone.  And I hoped he was in a tux!

I approached the stairwell and rounded the corner peeking down to the bottom trying to swallow the softball in my throat.  I couldn
’t see him if he was there.

I
’m here.

You
’ve listened all day and now you talk. 

The dress was backless.  The shivers going up my back were not from the chill.  I was so scared to go around that wall.  I took a deep breath and rounded the corner with outward confidence.  I knew what I looked like but even nerves of steel couldn't tame down the butterflies I held to see his reaction.

When I finally hit the second stair rounding the winding staircase and coming into view of the three people standing at the bottom, I saw quickly that Cas was turned away talking to one of his head guardsman, Liam.  I’d seen him on several occasions now.  He reminded me of a longer faced, fair-haired Cas.  A more defined jaw and longer torso, but very Vampire.  The guard was fully armed with a hand staying on his hilt.  He looked up first and I enjoyed his jaw dropping reaction to boost my true confidence.  I blanched when I caught the guy lifting his nose to the air.  Was he smelling me?

His Spanish accented request to be dismissed went unnoticed.

I was feeling good until Cas saw his face and turned to look up.  I so wanted to freeze on the step right there but I willed my feet to move on.  He was completely still.  Deathly still.  No smile, no frown, no anything.  I kept going despite. 

When I reached the bo
ttom step and stood a foot away still taller than him because of heels and a step, I prayed he would say something soon.  I didn’t even notice we were alone now.

“You are absolutely stunning.  Like an angel.”

I smiled.  A lot.  His hand reached out to take my arm and I caught the brief glimpse of how his arm shook just a little like he might be nervous.

Very!

Why?

I
’ve never been privileged to have this much beauty surround me. 

I
’m not that great.

Absurd.  You are the most beautiful creature I
’ve ever seen
.   I let it rest not wanting to spoil anything tonight.

“Where are we going?”

He just smiled, trying to appear more relaxed.

We walked like a king and queen out the front door and into a black sleek tinted limo.  I managed a grim look when I saw how elaborate he was making this.

What is wrong?
he asked.

He
’d seen my worried look. Or felt it. 
All this is just to take me out on a date?

You are my prize.  I want to show you off. 

“Prize?  That’s sexist.”

“Stace, do you not understand men in any way?”

I glared.
I don’t like limos.

“No, your brother was never much the gentleman.  Your father…well if your mother had lived, your father would have been different than the man you know. 
We, or at least me, am marveled by the beauty you surpass.  I can’t get enough of you.  We as men don’t have that, so I think we crave it.  To be around it.”

Who could dispute that?

We drove forever.  I was gifted with the sound of Pat B’s Fire and Ice through the back seated speakers. 

Your love is like a tidal wave, spinnin’ over my head...

I hummed to the music and watched the huge thigh beside me gain a tidal wave size inch on proximity near my own.  I forced those thoughts away and looked out the window.  Cas was texting something and mumbling about what the dessert should be and adding dollar signs to make it so.

  When the car slowed down, I realized how involved with the outside world I
’d become.  I turned my head and he was watching me.  I felt suddenly very self conscious of every inch of me. 

“You
’re watching me.”

“And…”

I smiled.  I do this a lot around him. 

Is that a bad thing?

No, NO!  Just...makes me self conscious of my every move.

The limo was stopped without me knowing.  “We
’re here.”  He was out of his door and the driver was opening mine.  He was there waiting when I stepped out.  I was forced to take my time in the heels for fear of looking a fool. Pity he can read all my thoughts.  Blocking!  Blocking!

I looked up to a fifty million story tall building in front of me. 
Is this where we’re going?

Not yet!

What does that mean?

No answer, of course.  Maddening, but exciting. 

He veered me left to the restaurant called “le bibliothèque” and paid the valet.  We were escorted in and led straight to a table in the back room where several attendants were waiting.  He’d either been here before or paid off a lot of people.

Both.

So this is a habit.  I was miffed.

I come here alone most nights because I don
’t want to make the kitchen cook for just one. 

Oh!

We were seated across from each other and promptly served salad with breadsticks.  The walls were line with books of all kinds like the larger room at the entrance.  I saw many standing at the shelves, reading and talking with their friends and table mates.    Our room replicated it exactly but was empty with the exception of us.

Italian?

Isn’t it your pick?

What do you like?

Isn’t it obvious?

Cas!

Mexican.

Really?

He nodded.  The people around us had to wonder why this couple was so silent.  Or maybe I was overly self conscious of everything tonight.

Will you take me to get it sometime?

“I would love too.  I have a favorite taco shop in downtown New Orleans.”

Wow!  Is that an overnight date?

He raised an eyebrow.  His mind was becoming clearer to me when I fumbled up over my not meant to be suggestive comments.  He was definitely very male.

Thank you, glad you noticed.

Well noticed.  Very much noticed.  “You look really nice tonight.   Do you think maybe you’d wear your black Levis for me to get tacos?”

“As you wish.  Any other requests?”

“Um, button up, not a pull on.”  Definitely!  They look really good on him.  Really, really good.  I daydreamed a second too long about both.

I got it.
Cas said internally.

Blocking!  Blocking!

He chuckled but held my gaze with more heat in his eyes than I could handle.  Sometimes Cas’ natural sexy mannerisms disturbed me.  If I get all heated just by the way his shoulders moved when he was laughing at me or simply answering a question with one of those quick nods that makes his hair fall in place above his eyes just the way I like, didn't other girls do the same.  He's gorgeous.  He has to be fighting off girls left and right?

We were both served some type of pasta dish with shrimp and chicken distancing my thoughts a little.  Very little!

The dinner was divinely good.  I freely dipped my bread in the sauce forgetting my attire and the ambiance of the room.  So when I put my bread back on my plate he knew and asked me why.

My father always said it wasn
’t lady like.

Well, do you see him here now?

I smiled and picked up my bread again watching his eyes as I dipped my bread in the sauce and savored the bite for as long as I could.

May I?
He leaned in taking a piece of another breadstick and reaching across to me.  He dipped it and held it up to my mouth.  I ate the bite carefully knowing he was watching how I tried too hard to accommodate his attempt at easing my worry.  This sent different emotions altogether.

Our eyes didn
’t leave each others for a long time as we ate the rest of our meal. 

“My father
’s room is where we would stay.”

Whatever my face conveyed, it said clueless.

Earlier today, you wondered where we would stay if married.  My father’s room is on the floor above ours.  The main suite.