Ethan sat up, pulling her with him. He watched her lovingly as she re-dressed. “Tonight was for you but I enjoyed myself, too.” Once she started yawning, Ethan knew it was time to go. One day he would not have to leave her side, he vowed.
“I will pick you up tomorrow for our date,” Ethan reminded her, kissing her softly and gently, keeping it light. If he kissed her with passion like he wanted to he would never have the strength to leave her.
Liz smiled at him. “I am so excited about our date.”
That night she fell asleep feeling hopeful for the future and thinking of Ethan and his hot kisses.
Chapter 9
The next evening Liz stood in front of her bedroom mirror looking at her reflection. She stood dressed only in a lacy black bra and matching thong. Ethan was coming to pick her up in less than an hour and she had no idea what to wear. It was a strange thing for a clothes store owner to say. She had plenty of clothes in her closet, but one of Ethan’s complaints had been that she was too sophisticated. Fashion had been drummed into her since she could dress herself. How did one dress down? Ethan said he was taking her to an Italian restaurant that Ryan recommended.
She sat on the bed feeling panicky. Maybe Ethan was right and they had no common ground besides the physical aspect of it. She decided to call Lacy and ask for her advice.
“Hello?” Lacy answered cheerfully.
“Lacy, it’s me, Liz. I have a problem. I’m supposed to be going on a date with Ethan and I don’t know what to wear,” Liz explained, nervously biting a nail and pacing her bedroom floor.
“Liz, that’s crazy. You own a clothes store for goodness sake!” Lacy laughed. “And I hope you are not asking me fashion advice because I like jeans and flannel shirts and if I’m going out I’ll throw a sweater on.”
“Ethan is taking me to an Italian place Ryan recommended.” She went on to explain her worries. “Maybe I should cancel. What if it’s a disaster? What if Ethan is not attracted to me? He might say I’m too skinny.”
“Okay, Liz, stop and take a deep breath,” Lacy suggested. “You’re just nervous and driving yourself crazy with doubts. You and Ethan belong together.”
Liz sat on her bed and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “You’re right. This date is so important. I want him to like me, Lacy.”
“Ethan likes you already, silly. You’ll like Sergio’s. It’s casual but very roman
tic with candles on the table. Wear jeans and a nice blouse and you’ll be fine, I promise.”
“Thanks, Lacy. I feel better.” Liz sighed. She was just letting her nerves get to her. Either Ethan liked her or he didn’t. She couldn’t force it so she just had to see how the night went.
“Ryan says just kiss Ethan’s brains out and he will love you forever.” Lacy repeated Ryan’s words while laughing. “Men are simple creatures, honey. Remember your advice to me when I was worried about how Ryan felt about me? You said just seduce the guy and it will all work itself out.”
Liz laughed. “I remember. Thanks.” She hung up the phone feeling happier. She pulled out a dark pair of blue jeans and topped it with a green cable-knit sweater and brown suede boots. She added some gold hoop earrings. That was easy. She sprayed some perfume, checked her hair and makeup one more time, and went to wait for Ethan in the living room.
* * * *
Ethan had the radio on but the volume was set low so they could talk. “I hope you like this place. I’ve never been there but Ryan says it’s great.”
“I’m sure I will. I love Italian food and Lacy said it was very romantic. She has fond memories of the place because when she talks of it she gets all mushy,” Liz said with a smile. “This is our first date and I have to admit I am a little nervous.”
Ethan chuckled. “I guess it would ruin my tough-guy image if I said I am, too. We want to make good impressions on each other.”
“I called Lacy to see what to wear,” Liz admitted, feeling silly about her panic attack now.
Ethan laughed. “You, Ms. Fashionista herself?”
“Well, one of your complaints was the way I dressed,” Liz reminded him.
Ethan groaned. “I didn’t mean to sound like I didn’t approve of how you look. I love how you dress. You are sexy and classy. I just thought you wouldn’t want to go out with a small-town deputy who hates suits and parties and doesn’t drive a sports car like Gary.”
“I’m not like that, Ethan. I don’t judge others and I can’t help how I grew up. Do you think spending all my time with various nannies instead of my parents was fun? I would have loved a normal family life where parents take an interest in their kids, and a real home would have been nice instead of hotel after hotel,” she said wistfully, looking into the night. “I love my parents but they are both so busy.”
Ethan felt bad when he realized how lonely Liz’s childhood must have been. He wanted to make her smile not feel depressed. “I’ll introduce you to my family, angel. They are a wild bunch. My sister, Kari, lives with her husband and two rambunctious boys in St. Louis. My parents have a house in Appledale but spend so much of their time with my sister, but they will all be here for Christmas, and you’ll get to know them if they don’t scare you away with all their nosy questions.”
Liz smiled warmly at Ethan. She took him wanting her to meet his family as a good sign. “That sounds nice. I’d love to meet them.”
They chatted casually on the rest of the drive. She told him about her old job in Chicago and how she started her store. He talked about growing up in Appledale with Gabe, Logan, and Ryan and how no matter where he traveled Appledale was home.