Saving Della Ray

I stared at her speechless.

She went around my back and prodded me along. “Well, come on. Jump in the bath. You don’t want to ruin the fantasy for him by smelling of sweat and dust.”

I laughed then. It took less than an hour to get dressed. I did my hair like the last time and wore the same shoes from before, not that I had anything different.

I looked at Nichole nervously. “I still look the same, right?”

She shook her head. “Not really.”

“What do you mean?” I asked worriedly.

“You look ten times better. You have the glow of love and happiness on your face now.”

I smiled gratefully at her. All these years, she had truly been the wind beneath my wings. It seemed as if the more troubles came our way, the stronger our friendship grew. I would miss her like crazy, but she had to finish her art apprenticeship in Arnault. After that, maybe she would move here to join me. Until then, we would just have to speak everyday on the phone.

The doorbell rang making both of us jump.

She laughed. “Stay here and just look pretty. I’ll play the part of your butler.”

I felt too anxious to giggle. I hadn’t seen him in a month and my mouth felt dry with anticipation.

She went out and I heard her say, “Please come in, Mr. Miller. Your date awaits.” Then she was coming into the room again, a huge smile lighting up her lovely face.

Right behind her Gage followed. He was clean-shaven and looked so goddamn handsome I almost passed out with sheer excitement.

He just stood there all six foot four of hard muscle. He was wearing his blue denim jeans, and the same crisp white shirt open he had worn that night when he didn’t turn up for our date. He looked at me with a sexy grin on his face and his eyes were eating me up. As if it was all a grand dream on the radio Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight started playing.

“OMG, Gage, you look so hot!’’ I blurted out. I rushed to him, threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly.

“You ready to go, baby? Because we have unfinished business,’’ he said.

“I am.”

“Your taxi awaits.”

We walked up to the taxi.

My hands were trembling with emotion. I slanted a glance upwards at his face and could hardly believe this was my man. That I actually got the hero. Little ole me ended up with the hero!

“Where are we going Gage?” I asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

I liked surprises, especially such exciting ones, so I quietly got into the seat.

Gage closed the door and came around the other side. He slid in and I could feel the heat from his thigh. I put my hand on it. “Don’t start that now, or we will be going straight to the hotel,” he warned.

I pulled my hand away and he chuckled.

A short while later, we pulled up outside Dolce Vita. I always believed that I was an independent feminist, but I felt a thrill of delight when Gage came around and opened my door. Feeling like something infinitely precious, I got out. Gage paid for the taxi and I turned to face him. “We’re having dinner here?” I’d read about this exclusive Italian restaurant. It was the haunt of celebrities and the rich.

“Unless you don’t want to?”

For a moment, I hesitated, feeling slightly guilty, as I knew dining here would surely cost an arm and a leg.

He understood. “Hey. It’s okay. It’s a treat. We deserve this.”

I smiled up at him. “Yeah, you’re right. We deserve this.”

He took my hand and led me up the steps.

Uniformed doormen opened the doors for us and inside, an elegant woman in black checked off Gage’s name in her reservation book and showed us to our table.

I could feel the other diners’ eyes upon us. I was pretty sure it was not due to me, but the gorgeous beast escorting me. When we were seated, I looked around me curiously. I had never been in such luxurious surroundings before.

“Like it?” he asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

“What’s not to like? It’s absolutely beautiful.”

A waiter arrived with the drinks menu, but Gage told him we would have a bottle of Dom Perignon. He nodded approvingly and went off to fulfill the order.

“Champagne? Hmmm, are you trying to impress me, Mr. Miller?”

He grinned wolfishly. “Is it working?”

“Definitely. I’ll show you how impressed I am later,” I whispered.

The waiter arrived with the bucket of champagne. He poured it into flutes and left.

Gage lifted his glass. “To the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.”

I lifted my glass. “To the most beautiful man I have ever laid eyes on.”

Gage laughed. “And to our mutual appreciation society then.”

I took a sip of the cold bubbles. I felt as if I was in a dream. It all seemed so surreal. So wonderful.