Page 44 of Fragile Kiss (Fragile 2)
“Stop thanking me,” she said, waving Lillian out the door. “Relax, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hope your meeting goes okay,” Lillian called, rushing down the front steps toward the car that waited by the gate.
“Don’t worry about it,” Katharina called back, waving one last time and shutting the door on her way back inside. Lillian ran ahead, smiling at the driver and climbing into the back seat. Having a half day without Katharina was definitely much-needed. After last night with Cayden, what she needed most right now was some time by herself to think about it and figure out what to do next.
How am I even supposed to handle it? she wondered, searching for the answer during the car ride. But as the car pulled up to the restaurant Katharina had sent her to, Lillian could already tell she would be spending the afternoon here, and in no rush to leave.
“Thank you,” she told the driver as she got out and looked at the front of the place. It was made of old stone and draped in plants. A water fountain was just inside the doorway, and as she walked in she felt like she was being immersed in a blissfully zen jungle of fragrant jasmine vines mixed with a high-end restaurant. Most of the seats were empty, and she could see out the back onto the patio.
Yeah, she thought as a waiter led her to a table on the patio. I’ll be able to get some good thinking and reading done here. I might even solve a couple of mysteries this afternoon, too.
SHE TAPPED HER FOOT nervously, taking another sip of her gin and tonic. I’ve really gone off the deep end today, she thought, stirring the liquid with her tiny straw and listening to the clinking of the ice against the glass. A glass of wine before lunch and now another drink. Got to take it easy tomorrow.
A couple of months ago, she would have been anxious beyond belief about having a drink. Her new meds were working well, and she had figured out what seemed to be, at this point, most of the foods that triggered a flare-up. Since lunchtime she had made extra sure to eat enough of the right things, so the alcohol wouldn’t irritate her system. The glass of wine at Katharina’s hadn’t upset her, so that was a good sign.
I just can’t go overboard tonight, she told herself firmly, taking another little sip. I’m already a tiny bit tipsy and I don’t want to suffer tomorrow.
Turning her attention to the huge room with its dim, warm lights, she listened to bits and pieces of others’ conversations around the room. The hotel was enormous, so it only made sense that the bar was just as impressive. She almost didn’t come down, but she knew that Katharina would see the bill and know if Lillian came or not.
What she wasn’t expecting, though, was to arrive and give Katharina’s name for the seats, only to be asked if “the other person joining” would be there soon.
Lillian didn’t know who the other person was, but she nodded and smiled. She had been doing a lot of that in Los Angeles, nodding and smiling. Things were so different here than back in her humble home with her usual clients and the two cats.
After she ordered her drink, she decided to accept the fact that Katharina had told Cayden to come. No one had told her that; she just knew it. Damn you, woman’s intuition. She bit her lip and tried not to jerk her head around, looking for a familiar face.
“Hey, you,” came the voice, and she stood up like something had poked her back.
“Hey,” she breathed, not sure why she was nervous.
Cayden sat down, propping his arms on the top of the seat. He looked so at ease. Lillian couldn’t take her eyes off him or keep them from wandering all over his body. I slept with that last night. She tried to stifle a grin. I slept with that gorgeous creature and that ridiculously sexy body last night.
A waiter came over and asked for Cayden’s order, to which he responded, “Long Island iced tea.” The waiter nodded and disappeared. Lillian ogled.
“What?” he laughed. “Is that considered a girly drink? Should I get something else?”
“No, no,” she held up her hands. “Get what you want. I heard a couple earlier say how it’s extra strong.”
“I’m a big guy. What can I say?” He winked. They sat there for a minute in silence, just looking at each other like they were on a first date. While waiting for Cayden’s drink, they made small talk about their day and asked all the typical, boring questions two people could ask each other. The subject of conversation moved to food, and Cayden began a rant about the burrito place for a full two minutes. The only thing that stopped his talking was the waiter bringing his drink.
“Thanks,” Cayden made eye contact with the waiter, who dipped his head and left the two again. Raising his glass, he looked at Lillian. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” she said, feeling her face flush, and they clinked glasses. Cayden took a sip and closed his eyes.
“That’s amazing,” he breathed. “Want some?”
“I don’t know,” she said cautiously.
“Have you ever tried one?”
“No.” She felt like a teenager again.
“Try some. Just a little.” He handed her the glass, and she timidly took a sip from
the straw. He just sipped from this straw, she thought, remembering how, when she was younger, she thought drinking from the same straw or place on the edge of a cup meant she was kissing the other person.
It was really good. She nodded and handed him the glass again. “Good choice,” she smiled. “I might get that next time.”
“Next time?” he raised an eyebrow cheekily. “Does that mean you’re coming back to Los Angeles?”
