Chapter 105

The din from the crowd nearly drowned out the holiday music that was filtering through the restaurant as they stepped inside the door. No sooner had the hostess seen Jon than their coats were whisked away and the maître’d led them to their table.


The normally muted tones of brown and gray were decked out for the holidays with festive wreaths and tiny white lights. The mantle of the fireplace at the far end of the room was dressed in its holiday best with fragrant evergreen boughs and red bows. Even the tables hadn’t escaped the decorator’s hand with their red napkins and green candles.


Jon had called in every favor he could to get this reservation. Per Se was the hottest restaurant in the City right now and nearly impossible to get into. He had damn near sold his soul to be able to bring her here tonight. And it wouldn’t have been the first time he had done that to get what he wanted.


His eyes followed the gentle sway of Cilla’s hips as they walked across the dining room. It had been worth every ounce of aggravation. She took his breath away, and it wasn’t the wig. He pulled out her chair for her. Well, not just the wig.


It was rare he saw her in anything other than her work clothes or jeans these days. They didn’t get out much because she wasn’t usually feeling up to it and when they did go out, it was never anyplace that required anything dressier than jeans and a sweater. Not that it mattered. He was a jeans guy himself but tonight he had hoped she would wear something pretty for him. He got more than he bargained for with that wish.


Sitting across from him she was silhouetted in candlelight against the large expanse of windows. She fairly glowed tonight. He reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “You look beautiful tonight.”


“Thank you.”


She flipped her hair over her shoulder and his gaze was drawn from the small silver hoop in her ear to the pink sparkle at her throat. She had worn that necklace every day since he had given it to her. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. He had intended on saving this for later, but he wanted her to have it now instead.


As he was about to slide it toward her, the Sommelier appeared. Before he could start his spiel about the wines Jon ordered a bottle of Sancerre. “Excellent choice sir.” He disappeared to fetch the bottle and two glasses.


Jon slid the small, black velvet box toward Cilla. “Merry Christmas Sweets.”


She looked down at the box. “I thought we weren’t doing this until later.” There were gifts under the tree at his apartment, left there for each other when one thought the other wasn’t looking.


“I didn’t want to wait.”


She fingered the box before reaching toward her purse. “Then I guess you can have this now too.” She handed him the box she had brought with her. “Merry Christmas.”


She didn’t wait to see if he was watching her or if he was opening his own gift. She picked up the box. The hinges were silent as she opened the small box. Her gasp wasn’t as quiet. “Oh Jonny, they’re beautiful.” Small pink and white stone encrusted hoop earrings glistened up at her in the dim light of the restaurant.


He smiled. “I’ve noticed you don’t wear much jewelry but I thought these were small enough not to get in your way. And they match the necklace you never take off.”


She fingered the stone at her throat. Of course she never took it off, it was from him. “How bad would Miss Manners yell at me if I put them on right now?”


He chuckled, “go for it. I’m gonna open mine while you do that.”


She nodded and took out the earrings she had been wearing forever. “I hope you like it.”


Sliding the box from the wrapping he grinned. “It’s from one of my favorite stores, how could I not like it?”


She shrugged and put her old earrings into the box and tucked her hair behind her ears. “What do you think?”


He didn’t answer, he was too distracted by the item in the box he had just opened. The square silver charm dangled at the based of the black leather cord. It had a cut out of a crown in the middle. “A crown?” She was the queen of tarts, why would she be giving him a crown?


She gave him a knowing smile. “You are my prince charming, right?”


He nodded and smiled back, remembering the conversation they had had the night after she had first met Abby. “I guess I am.” He pulled the necklace from the box and fastened it around his neck. The charm nestled in the hollow at the base of his throat. Hoping no one would notice, he leaned across the table and kissed her gently. “Thank you.”


A discreet cough had Jon leaning back in his chair and Cilla flushing lightly. The waiter was standing there, waiting. “Are you ready to order?”


Cilla watched while Jon perused the menu one last time. While she waited she slipped off one of her shoes and slid her toes along his shoe and up, under the cuff of his pants.


His body tightened when he felt her stocking-clad toes traveled up inside his pant leg, rubbing where his sock had slid down. His fingers laced with hers across the table, his grip tightening with each stroke of her foot against his calf. Keeping his voice as steady as possible he gave the waiter his order. As the young man walked away he leaned in close to Cilla. “What are you trying to do to me?”


“I don’t know what you’re talking about” she replied not so innocently and moved her foot again.


He closed his eyes briefly before taking a sip of his wine. “You’re trouble, you know that” he said quietly.


She propped her chin on her hand, “yet you’re making no effort to stop me.” Her foot kept up the slight rubbing against his leg.


The truth of it was he didn’t want her to stop. She was enjoying herself and he didn’t want to put a damper on her fun. It had been too long since she had been in such a mood. But if she wasn’t careful, he wouldn’t be able to walk out of the restaurant without embarrassing himself. “Just take it easy Sweets. I need to be able to walk out of here later.”


She let up a little bit while they ate, but only a little. She was still so wound up from their interlude at her apartment that she couldn’t help herself. She really wanted to just shovel the food into her mouth and drag him back to his place and have her way with him. But she couldn’t do that. She patiently waited and ate her meal at a reasonable pace, sipped her wine and chatted with him; all the while doing her best not to look at her watch every thirty seconds.


Slipping her shoe back on, she stood and grabbed her purse. “I’ll be right back.”


He stood, pulling his jacket closed in front of him. “Where are you going?”


“Ladies room.”


He nodded and sat back down to wait. He was as ready to go as she was. If the waiter would bring the bill they could get the fuck out of there and get home. Then it would really be Christmas.


Coming out of the bathroom she found Jon standing there with her coat. “Ready?”


He nodded and held her coat. “Let’s go home.”


No sooner did they clear the door then he had her up against it, unbuttoning her coat, divesting her of her scarf. “You make me crazy. You know that, right?”


She could barely see in the dim light in the hallway, but she could feel every touch, every breath in her ear as he spoke, every pass of his lips across hers.


“You had your fun in the restaurant Sweets. Now, it’s my turn.”