Page 19 of Safer Together
I unzip the dress that Elliot had given me and lift it up high, slipping it over my head. Once I have placed my arms through and pulled it down to fit properly, I grasp the side zipper and pull it all the way up. I then look at myself in the mirror. It fits me like a glove. Elliot must have been paying very close attention to my clothing. Either that or he guessed my size correctly.
I shiver slightly at the thought of how much this dress probably costs. It could be just as much as six months mortgage payment, for me that is, not Elliot. I push that thought down and try to forget about it. After all, he can afford it. I step into my low-heeled black pumps that I brought with me, and I am done.
I find myself standing before the full-length mirror in the bathroom and am happy with the reflection staring back at me. The makeup and hair complemented the dress perfectly and I was pleased to see that it suited me. The length was a tad shorter than I would normally wear myself, and I would have to be careful in the car ride to keep the dress pulled down over my scar, albeit I was more dressed up then I usually would be for a work function. Especially more so than with the black dress I had brought with me to wear tonight, the same one I had worn the day I met Elliot.
With a good long look at my reflection, the decision was made. I am ready. I need to find Elliot and thank him for the dress. With one final glance at myself, I turn on my perfectly acceptable low heel and make my way out of the guest house and over the lawn to the main house. I am thankful that there hadn’t been any snow, the grass is still solid, and I don’t sink into the lawn at all.
As I come closer to the main house, I can see through the bay window that Elliot is waiting for me in the living room, standing before the fireplace. I open one of the French doors and walk in, closing the door softly behind me.
As I enter the room, Elliot turns his head to look at me, his eyes start at my legs and work their way upwards, until reaching their final destination, my face. He is breathtakingly handsome in a dark black wool blend suit, a beautiful navy business shirt underneath and a tie, black mostly with a dark navy-blue pattern running through it, finished with black wingtip shoes. My heart aches just looking at this man. “Nice tie,” I smile. It matches my dress.
He walks toward me, “Angela, you look so incredibly beautiful,” he whispers, now standing directly in front of me. He lifts his hand and strokes his forefinger down my cheek. I move my face in response, into his touch and look up to him.
“Thank you for the dress Elliot. It’s lovely.” I speak with conviction, for which I am proud. I normally lose confidence when I am this close to him. When we touch, a feeling comes over me that, quite often, leaves me without clarity.
“You’re very welcome. I love that color on you.” He leans in the final few inches between us and presses his lips against mine. Just as I am about to open my mouth to him, he begins pulling back again. He is asking permission in his own way, making sure he wasn’t crossing any lines. I angle my face more toward him and push my chin higher to offer my lips. Once again, he leans in and kisses me. This time we both give a little and take a lot from each other. Our tongues playing with each other and the lightheaded feeling returns, just like it always does when this gets heated. We are both kissing each other as though it had been a month since we had last kissed each other, not this morning.
I pull away, in order to clear my head. We then lean in and place our foreheads together. We are both silent for a moment, then to break the silence I ask what I thought would be a simple question. “Why do you attend your Christmas party?”
He seemed a little taken aback by this, he pulls back a little, our physical contact now broken. He rubs his hand under his chin, thinking before replying, “I don’t see much of them throughout the year. Well, except for Kat and my two foremen who oversee the jobs for me.” He pauses seeming reluctant to speak, “I guess I feel more like one of them at the party, than just their boss, and with you there tonight, I won’t be alone, which is a first for me,” he says. A warmth spreads over my body, I am the first woman he has taken with him to a work function. I feel as though I might be glowing.
“How many people will be there tonight?” I ask.
“Around forty or so, I would imagine. That includes partners and us of course,” he replies, kissing the back of my hand. I nod in response, happy with that number. I was expecting a lot more people. After all, Elliot’s company is incredibly successful. I had imagined he would employ a lot more people.
I am happy to know that it would be like my own Christmas party last night. Not too many people, I should be able to remember several names. In my job I am used to remembering names.
“Will we be there for as long as you stayed at my party, babe?” I stretch out my hand to stroke his face.
“Probably a few hours. I pay for a full three-course, sit-down meal for everyone.” I smile. That will allow plenty of time for me to meet everyone. Well, everyone he wants to introduce me to, anyway.
“As long as it’s not too late of a night. Remember I need to duck to the shops tomorrow to get a couple of last-minute things in preparation for Christmas lunch on Sunday.” I don’t want to tell him that it was last-minute present shopping for him.
“I promise it won’t be too late an hour,” he replies. “I’m happy to leave at any time if you’re not enjoying yourself. Just let me know and we can head off. Speaking of which, we should make a move shortly.”
Elliot offers his hand to me which I accept. We walk toward the front door where the car is waiting. After opening the car door for me and helping me into my seat, he closes the door. I take a moment to fix the hem of the dress over my legs, so it falls over my knee. Just as I have the position perfect, he opens his own door and slides in beside me.
I can’t say why I am feeling nervous. It is similar to the nerves I felt when we went to visit his parents for the first time, and this is only his employees. It isn’t as though I need to impress anyone. I guess, though, I knew why. By stepping out with Elliott tonight at his own staff party, we are confirming to everyone that we are, in fact, an item. The possibility of a photograph of us being taken tonight is high, way more so than last night in a steakhouse. I am once again grateful for the beautiful dress I am wearing, also being here in New York where so many memories that I have are horrible. I hope that tonight will be a night to remember, for all the right reasons.
I look lovely in the dress Elliot had picked for me. I look like someone who can stand next to this amazingly handsome man and hold her own. I am quickly brought back from my thoughts by Elliot’s voice. “Are you okay, Angie? You seem deep in thought.”
I turn to look at him. I think for a moment before replying, “I am wonderful. I’m just wondering how I got so lucky.” I give him a full smile and lean in to settle my head on his shoulder. We lock our hands together; I can smell the all-too-familiar male scent of Elliot. He smells like his aftershave, mixed together with soap and his masculine scent that only he produces.
He smells so amazingly delicious that I know that there is no scent on the planet that could ever compare to Elliot. “You know what? I was just thinking the same thing.” We both chuckle at his response.
Sometime later we are pulling up to the marina. As I step out of the car, I notice a large boat at the end. In front of it are strings of fairy lights wrapped around the large sign declaring her the ‘Bateaux.’ I turn to my side to look at Elliot who is already looking at me, a smile forming on his lips.
“Are we going on that boat?” I ask, pointing in the direction of the yacht.
He simply nods in response, he takes my hand in his, raises it to his lips and kisses it quickly. “Let’s do this, Angie.”
I stay perfectly still, allowing my face to go totally blank. I need to be convincing for this next line. “Ahh, Elliot, you know how I get motion sickness on a plane?”
His eyes enlarge. “Crap. I didn’t even think of that. It’s all right, I’ll call Kat and let her know that I’m unwell and they should celebrate without me. I’m so sorry, Angie.” As Elliot retrieves his phone from his pocket, I can no longer keep up the charade. I start laughing. He looks directly at me.
“You’re incredibly sweet to cancel your own Christmas party because of me, but there is no need. I’m fine on boats, as long as they aren’t out in the ocean in mile-high waves.”
His lips curl up into a half grin. “You had me going, then,” he pauses leaning his face within an inch of my own. “I would cancel anything that makes you uncomfortable, baby. I’m glad I don’t have to tonight, though, as I’m looking forward to showing you off.”
