Page 12 of Say Yes

8

PHILIP

After givinga lot of thought to Casey’s proposal, I’d come up with my own plan. I wanted her to have all the life experiences she’d missed out on. A first date. A first kiss. A first dance. So far, we’d done things a little out of order, but it didn’t matter. It was all about the experiences leading up to the biggest one of all.

I was the first point of contact at an exclusive, private club that specialized in, to put it honestly, kink. It wasn’t my thing, but when I’d been discharged from the Marines after my mom’s accident, I’d had to find a job that paid the bills but also allowed me flexible hours. I’d struggled for a couple years, but I’d lucked out when I saw the ad in the classifieds, especially since it had been buried. All it had said, was doorman needed at specialty club, evening hours, well compensated, discretion and confidentiality a must.

Considering my size and former military experience, I figured I’d be a great candidate. I’d called the number on the ad and after an eye-opening interview, I’d been hired. That had been fifteen years ago. Believe it or not, there were more people in the kink community and lifestyle than I’d ever imagined. I met a wide array of members. Influential members, including one extremely expensive, ritzy restaurant owner. Who was doing me a huge favor.

At precisely 8:55, I pulled into Casey’s driveway wearing a navy and white pin-striped suit and dark blue tie. I’d tied my hair back, and in my hand, I held a bouquet of fresh flowers. I knocked and waited. Several minutes passed with no sound coming from inside. I figured this would happen. Casey was so used to me just walking in and making myself at home. I knocked again. Finally, I heard a shuffling from inside.

The door opened a crack, the chain across it halting its progress. Good thing I hadn’t tried to let myself in this time. Her eyes widened at the sight of me. The door slammed, and the chain rattled as she removed it. When she opened the door fully, it was my turn to be shocked. Casey looked fucking gorgeous. She’d twisted her hair up, but left a few long tendrils down to frame her face. She’d put on makeup that made her baby blue eyes pop. But that wasn’t what had my eyes almost popping from my head. It was what she was wearing.

Hugging her every curve was a sapphire-colored, floor-length gown that almost matched her eyes perfectly. It was sleeveless with a sheer panel from just above her breasts to her neck that gave the barest hint of cleavage and had a band of sparkling beads just under her small breasts. Casey was absolutely breathtaking. Feeling like an awkward teenager on prom night, I held out the bouquet.

“These are for you,” I said almost stupidly, struck dumb by the sight of her.

She lifted the flowers up to her nose, inhaling their scent. “Thank you so much, Philip. They’re beautiful. Oh, come in, please. Let me run and find a vase for these.”

She hurried away as I shut the door behind me, my eyes tracking her movements before I lost sight of her as she entered the kitchen. Lord, help me. A few minutes later, Casey returned with her purse in hand.

“I guess I’m ready.”

“Before we go, I just wanted to make sure you know how stunning you look. I was woefully neglectful not telling you as soon as you opened the door, but I was speechless at your beauty.”

“You have no idea how much that means to me, Philip. Honestly, Josie bought me this dress today. I was forced to tell her you were now helping me. In fact, you just missed her,” she chuckled. “She only left thirty minutes ago. I called her, frantic, after you left earlier, because I had nothing to wear. I do feel like a princess though.”

I reached for her hand, bowed, and kissed her knuckles. “Then, I shall be your Prince Charming for the evening, Princess.”

Her laughter lightened my heart. She didn’t do it often enough. I gave her my crooked elbow.

“Are you ready for our date?”

Her smile never even dimmed as she threaded her arm through mine. “Definitely.”

Once Casey was buckled in, I headed toward downtown Pinegrove. It wasn’t a huge city, but it was still large enough that we had a popular downtown with quite a few restaurants and bars on Main Street. It was summer, so a lot of people were out on Patterson Island, which was about a forty minute drive. It was a popular tourist island with a lot of beach rentals. I still expected there would be quite a few people wandering around, even on a Tuesday night. Which is why I chose Patsi’s Table. It was a couple blocks off the main drag. Most visitors to the city had no idea it existed, so it was really only frequented by locals.

Patsi’s was a quaint, two-story upscale restaurant that catered to some of the “upper crust” of Pinegrove. A real estate mogul, a pro-basketball player who lived here in the off-season, and the lieutenant governor could often be found eating here. The owners, a gay couple, frequented the club I worked at.

I turned down Porter Street and started scanning for a parking spot. As luck would I have it, I found one just before we got to the restaurant. I loved coming here, but I hated the damn parallel parking. I kept my eyes on Casey to see how she was reacting. So far she seemed calm with no signs of distress. Once I’d maneuvered into the spot, I cut the engine and jumped out to open her door for her.

“Just keep remembering to breathe.” I reassured her as I helped her down from her seat.

“I’m doing fine at the moment, I swear.” She smiled genuinely. Immediately, muscles I hadn’t realized were tense, relaxed.

“Here we go then.” I pulled her close to me, not only to help her feel more at ease, but also because I couldn’t not touch her. Her tart cherry smell wafted through my nose, and I could only shake my head, because the scent fit her perfectly—a little sour mixed with a little sweet.

No sooner did we reach the door than it was opened for us by a hostess.

“Mr. Maxwell?” she inquired.

“Yes, ma’am.”

She smiled and waved us in. “Excellent. My name is Tiffany. I’ll direct you to your table. If you’ll just follow me, please.”

Tiffany led us through the dimly-lit restaurant that was almost completely vacant until we reached a set of stairs. I gestured for Casey to go in front of me. The top of the steps opened up to a separate dining area with empty tables covered in pristine, white tablecloths. I grabbed Casey’s hand to stay in tune with her mood and to keep touching her. She didn’t tense, but instead, seemed relaxed as we weaved through the tables and through open French doors that led out to the rooftop patio. Soft music was playing and small, twinkling lights strung across wooden beams lit up the roof with an ambient, romantic glow.

In the middle of the rooftop patio was a table set for two with a lit candle in the middle.

---