Perfection #2 Page 3

  "Kate, did something happen? Did you guys break up?" I coaxed her along patiently.

  "All of this, getting married, looking at apartments together, thinking about the future — it was all so exciting until I started thinking about it. All of a sudden, I wanted to stop, so I did. I guess I just panicked a little and I left Riley sitting at a restaurant. Now, he won't take my calls — he won't even talk to me. The last thing he said to me was, 'If you can't be sure about us than I can't be sure of us." Kate's shoulders slumped with sadness. "What am I going to do? I cannot stop thinking about him. I miss him. I love him. I have never said that before, I love someone."

  Wow. This was huge. Kate was right — I had never heard her say "I love you” to anyone. Well, no one that she dated anyhow. She was pretty close to her brother and she often told me she loved me, in a friendly sort of way. However, for her to say "I love you" to a guy — yeah, that was the headline here.

  "It is going to be okay, Kate it will be — I promise. I saw you two together. Riley seemed so happy and so did you. It cannot be over but you did leave him in a restaurant so maybe you should just let him cool off. When did this happen. Today? Yesterday?"

  "It was yesterday. Right before we talked. I wanted to tell you then but it seemed like you had your hands full."

  I hugged her. "It is going to be okay. So do you want Riley? Or do you plan on walking away?"

  Kate rubbed at her mascara stained eyes with a soggy tissue. "Do you think there is a chance? Do you think I could get him back?"

  "Are you kidding me? You are Kate — breaker of hearts! In all of the time I have known you, I have never seen you not get what you wanted. If you want this guy, you should go after him. This is not the time to play nice. You do not want to wait around for the ex to come back in the picture or for someone else to grab him up. You tidy yourself up and you go over there to talk to him. Don't take no for an answer." I smiled at her encouragingly.

  Kate sat up a little, her shoulders back, her head high. "Yes, I can do that. What is wrong with me? I don't understand how emotional I have been. Thank you for listening, I know you have travel plans. What time are you leaving?"

  "In about an hour—I still have to pack." I confessed with a goofy look on my face.

  "What!? Well, let's get packing. Come on, I will help you."

  Before I could start snatching clothing out of my drawers and closet, the doorbell rang. I froze, "Oh no! I hope he's not early." I opened the door, surprised to find a delivery man standing there with two boxes. "Lilly Brightwood?" he read from his clipboard.

  "Yes, that is me."

  "These are for you. No need to sign anything." He pushed the boxes into my arms, smiled and left me standing agape in my apartment.

  "Well, don't just stand there. Come on in here. Let's see what you have.” I slid the boxes on the table and opened them, surprised to find long stem roses and wine, and a silk nightgown and robe, in black no less, in the other. Kate looked at me wide-eyed and handed me a card. I did not even need to look I knew who they were from — Bullet. I took the card in my hand and I read the brief message. "Looking forward to our time together. Thought this might come in handy. B."

  Kate slid the lingerie out of my hand. "Ooh... Just feel that." Kate examined the label, "Wow, he's got taste. See? That's Fox and Rose. Hmm..."

  I couldn't help but smile but then I caught myself. Really, Lilly? This guy sends a few flowers and some lingerie and you're ready to forgive him? My phone tweeted and I tapped on the screen to see who emailed me. It was a copy of the travel plans — from Bullet. He included a note in his email that said. "Do you ever check your voicemail or are you ignoring me?" My breath caught in my throat and I stared at my phone noticing a bouncing number one that indicated I had a voicemail message. I tapped on the screen and stepped away from Kate to listen to my message in private. She went about her business, helping me pack. "Hi Lilly, I guess you know who this is. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to our weekend together. Oh, the things I want to do with you." He laughed a little. "I hope you had some time to think of a few things you would like to do with me. I will see you at 6 o'clock and I would love it if you left your panties at home."

  "What is it? Did he cancel on you?" Kate folded clothes into the small, neat piles and laid them on my bed.

  "No, not at all actually." I could feel my face turn pink. What was this man doing to me?

  "What is it?" I handed her the phone and tapped the voicemail so she could hear it. Normally, this was not something I would do but I didn't dare repeat what he said. My heart raced and my pulse quickened and oh my God! I was looking forward to this weekend and I hated myself for it.

  "Oh you are so lucky. He sounds like a wild man. You're going to have so much fun." She scooped up my silk panties and put them back in the drawer with the evil chuckle. "I guess you won't need these." I felt my face flush again.

  "Kate, you don't think he's being a little, too...I don't know...maybe too..."

  "Sexy? Hot? Intense? Pick any of those. You need to go on this trip—don't forget to forward me the itinerary and go! Have a good time, let your hair down—a few times. Now where's the suitcase? Is that what you are wearing? You've only got half an hour."

  "Oh no! Suitcase is in the closet—I'm hopping in the shower. What am I going to wear? Find me something!" I stripped on my way into the restroom, turning on the shower taps to let it warm up. I didn't have time to wash my hair but it was clean and still smelled fresh. I was in such a rush that I had didn't have time to worry over anything. It was going to be me and Bullet—well, and two of his friends. This was crazy—this was crazy! Why was I taking advice from Kate? How can I get out of this?

  "Hey, I laid out a few outfits on the bed and I packed your bag. Uh-oh, I can tell by the look on your face that you are having second thoughts. Stop that, Lilly. For goodness sake, it has been too long since you did something exciting. It's time to leave Evan in the past and move on. I'm not saying you have to marry this guy but at least have some fun."

  "Okay, you know me too well. I'm going but I am texting or calling you every day. You better answer and tell me what happens with Riley."

  "I will, I'm going now and leaving you to it. See you later." With a hug and kiss on my cheek, my dark-haired friend left, probably ready to work on her plan to get Riley back. Maybe that was the real reason for her freak out—maybe she just created that dramatic moment in the restaurant so she could win him back. More challenging that way. I had no doubt that Riley would succumb to her charms. Kate was pretty determined when she set her mind on something.

  I didn't have time to sort through my bag but I did stuff a few pairs of panties in it. For our flight this evening, I opted for a sheath dress and stylish but low-heeled pumps. I touched up my makeup and packed it away and gave my neck a spritz of perfume, which I also brought with me. I slid the lingerie into the front pocket of my suitcase; it was stuffed too tight to get it in the main section.

  I grabbed my purse and filled it with a few other things like my tablet and my favorite lipstick. My phone rang—it was Bullet. He was downstairs waiting in the limousine, which would take us to the airport.

  Are you ready to go?

  On the way now.

  I turned around and looked at my cozy apartment, my sanctuary. Was I ready? I paused before opening the door. Wait, I had to do one more thing.

  I reached under my dress and slid down my panties. I tossed them on the table, leaving them behind.

  Now I was ready.

  Chapter Six

  Bullet

  We pulled into the driveway and I couldn't help but smile. This was going to be a delightful weekend — I was sure of it. Although my intentions were carnal in nature I had to admit to myself that I had an unusual fascination with Lilly Brightwood. Maybe this was a fluke. I half hoped that this weekend would get her out of my system. Yeah, that's what I needed — to get her out of my system and out of my head. She was definitely a distraction,
not part of my master plan.

  The car came to a stop and I opened the door for Lilly. The driver popped the trunk and I watched her walk towards me. Lilly had an athletic, fit figure with a bit of curve at her waist. There was no mistaking that she was a woman, whether you looked at her coming or going. I liked what I was looking at. She wore a sleeveless, slightly metallic, gray sheath dress and sensible heels. Her hair was a little different this time; she wore it straight without her natural curls. Lilly looked like a sleek supermodel but I had to confess, I liked the curls better. They gave her a wild look. I smiled at her, trying my best not to look like the cat that ate the canary. I was happy to see her return my smile with a timid one of her own, even if it was a small one. I had told myself that if she looked miserable I would call the whole thing off. At this point, I owed it to her to do the surgery the way she wanted anyway. Of course, I would not tell her that unless I had to.

  "Hi, Lilly. You look fantastic. Can I take this for you?" I reached for her suitcase.

  "Sure. Thank you. So do you." Once the luggage was stashed, she slid into the car and I sat beside her. I wondered if she took my request to heart and left her under things at home. I did not see any discernible panty line but that did not mean it wasn’t there. Panties were getting smaller and smaller these days. Before I could ask her, my phone rang. Damn! Forgot to put that on mute. I glanced at the phone- it was Page, I had to take it. "Excuse me a minute." I said to Lilly. She nervously smiled and gave me a permissive nod.

  "Yes?"

  "Sorry to bother you, Dr. Steinmann, but Mrs. Milford is blowing up my phone, demanding that you return her call. She says that you must call her because she is in pain. I know that I broke protocol here by contacting you when you are off but she is pretty insistent."

  "Please tell Mrs. Milford that Dr. Regan is taking my calls this weekend. If she has an emergency, tell her to go the emergency room." I felt a little aggravated. It was not like Page to bother me with high-maintenance clients like Milford or Fuentes. "Is that it?"

  Page paused. I felt like she had something else to say. "Page?"

  "Yes Dr. Steinmann. That is it. I will hold all your calls until you contact me. Thank you." She hung up, leaving me puzzled. What was that about? I guess if there were a true emergency, she would have told me. I looked across the seat at Lilly. She was the only mystery I wanted to unravel today. Now that we were here together, I was not sure what to say to her. I was just glad that she was there.

  I decided to take the initiative — this had been my idea and things were moving along well so far. Why change tactics now? I was getting the results I wanted. I sat in the seat next to her, the two of us looking out the back of the limo. I could smell her perfume; it was sweet with seductive amber tones. I reached out and touched her hair. Lilly did not push me away.

  "May I kiss you Lilly? That's all I've been thinking about, kissing you." The beautiful girl beside me gave me a dimpled smile and whispered, "Yes." I intended to be gentle but the feeling of her hands in my hair, her warm lips on mine, her body leaning towards me stirred my passion. Yes, this is what I remembered. This is what I wanted. Slow down, Bullet. You do not want to spook the girl. I pushed myself away and gazed into her green eyes. Before I knew what was happening she was reaching for me, kissing me back. I responded in kind, our lips pressing, tongues moving, senses rising. I enjoyed the silky touch of her skin under my hands — so smooth. She gasped a little when I slid my hand up her skirt a few inches but she did not push away. Lilly made me feel like a high-schooler. Gently I rubbed her leg. I had to know if she left the panties at home. I slid my hand up her dress rubbing the outside of her hip — there was nothing there!

  I chuckled at her. "Lilly! Such a bad girl."

  "Isn't this what you wanted?" She breathed in my ear.

  "Yes, I want this and I want so much more. Will you be mine this weekend?"

  "Yes, but just for the weekend. Remember your promise. I hope you prove to be a man of your word."

  "I made a promise, I plan on keeping it." We had stopped kissing but still our hands touched. If she had been anyone else, I would have taken her in the limousine but this was not how I wanted it to be with Lilly.

  We arrived at the airport in plenty of time to see our luggage safely stowed. Of course, we rode first-class — nothing but the best for her. It was strange to think that she was independently wealthy; I wondered how much. She was probably accustomed to having all of the finer things in life anyway. I was sure I was not impressing her but merely providing her with an experience that she expected. I could not believe how horny she made me. We found our seats and leaned back in comfort to enjoy our ride and wait for our traveling partners.

  "Would you like a pillow or a blanket?" I stared. It was the friendly air hostess I met a few weeks ago, Candy. "Perhaps, something else?" She grinned at me and Lilly stared. There was no denying what Candy meant with her offer. I had one choice, play it cool.

  "No thank you, Candy. I think we have everything we need right at the moment. However, when you come back this way, my friend and I would enjoy a glass of champagne." Her smile disappeared and she nodded, leaving Lilly and I alone. My guess was I wasn't on Candy's playlist anymore.

  "Very friendly service they have on here. Do you get that kind of treatment everywhere you go?" I could tell Lilly wasn't too happy about my interaction with the ditzy blonde but there was nothing I could do about it. Besides, what did she care if Candy and I were members of the mile high club?

  "Yes, very friendly indeed. I travel a lot in this region. It is nice when they can remember who you are, "I smirked.

  "Well she certainly remembers you. You must have left quite an impression on her."

  "I try to treat everyone, especially service providers, with courtesy and kindness. As you can see today, it pays to do so. Ah, here is our champagne. Thank you, Candy." I took the glasses from Candy and passed one to Lilly. "To this weekend. I hope it is a memorable one for you and me." We sipped our drinks in silence. All I wanted to do was strip her down and stare at her beautiful body, especially those perfect breasts with the rosebud pink nipples. I wondered if she would object to joining the mile high club.

  "Bullet! Here we are at long last! How long has it been?" It was Rafe, the blonde Icelander who some women would describe as a Norse god. He had a muscular, fit body that he loved to show off to anyone that would look. I was surprised and grateful that he was not wearing a mesh shirt or a tank top. Since the last time I saw him, about six months ago, he let his light blonde hair grow long. He extended his big hand to me and I shook it.

  "It has been a few months. Good to see you. Won't you introduce us to your friend?" I stared at the girl, Eve; I presumed that stood beside him. Like all of Rafe's women, she was tiny—petite. She could not be more than 5 feet tall and probably weighed about 85 to 90 pounds with her clothing on. She had a perfect hourglass figure and I wondered if she had had some work done and if so by whom? Eve had ridiculously long hair; it hung to her waist in a sheet of dark brown waves. She had olive skin and big dark eyes, quite the opposite of my weekend friend.

  "This is my friend, Eve. Thank you for inviting us this weekend. We are looking forward to some time away." Rafe squeezed Eve's hand affectionately. I guess they were an item. That would be a first for Rafe. He was a physical guy but not affectionate, per se.

  "Eve, Rafe this is..." Lilly extended her hand to the petite brunette and then the muscular Rafe. "I am Lilly. So nice to meet you both." Lilly smiled at the pair and Candy arrived with more champagne and pillows. Rafe's eyes scanned Lilly appreciatively; I'd have to tell him later that she was hands off. Eve nodded and greeted us in an unknown, thick accent.

  Oh yes, this was going to be an interesting weekend.

  Chapter Seven

  Lilly

  That was one big Swede. I could not help but stare at his size and yes, he was extremely handsome. Despite his height and muscularity, he moved gracefully, at least in the short time I
watched him. His friend was less attractive than he was but the two seemed really into one another. They were constantly whispering into each other's ears, laughing and touching. Eve had a thick accent and did not seem to understand much English which was disappointing since that meant I would be forced to talk to Bullet all weekend.

  Like a moody teenager my feelings fluctuated between excitement and trepidation. What was I doing here? That was a question I had been asking myself since I walked down the stairs of my apartment. Either this was the best idea or the worst, and unfortunately, it was too soon to tell. Well, I knew that if it went bad I was going to blame Kate. She had been gung ho, even envious about this trip and me, being the susceptible friend that I am, agreed with her. Bullet and Rafe talked about work; apparently somehow these two were connected in the surgical field. Although I highly doubted that Rafe, with his oversized hands, could perform anything as delicate as a surgery. Eve smiled at me. I took it as an opportunity to engage in conversation with her. "So are you in the medical field also?" She giggled and then giggled some more. After a minute or two, it began to feel uncomfortable.

  Rafe leaned forward. "You will have to forgive Eve. She does not understand much English and she gets nervous meeting strangers."

  "Okay..." She said something to Rafe in another language and the two of them shared a laugh. I hoped I wasn't the subject of their humor. Bullet's hand clasped mine.

  "Do you need more champagne? Do you need anything at all?" His tone was friendly, helpful, but I declined. I wanted to keep my wits about me this time.