Dream Lover (6 page)

The ballroom was immaculate. Lila was a stickler for detail and she had checked and double-checked her lists. She demanded perfection. With the towns most prestigious coming to this thing, it had better be. It was, after all, for the children. She had networked her butt off. It had definitely paid off John thought.

He spotted Lila in a crowd and walked towards her. When she saw him her face lit up. “Well, hello there sugar!” Although she was born and raised in New York, she spent every summer of her childhood and teenage years in her family's hometown of Galveston, Texas, which gave her voice a unique mixture of northern and southern. Her southern accent was always most noticeable when she was excited. They hugged briefly. John stepped back and looked at Lila. “Well Miss Lila Rae, you do look as ravishing as ever.”

Lila gushed, “Oh you are looking pretty spiffy yourself.”

John looked around the room. “Has Liz come down yet?”

Lila gave him a knowing smile. “Not yet, she didn't have time to pick an outfit, so I found something for her. She wanted to have a fit about the dress, but I calmed her down. She should be arriving any minute.”

He looked back towards the grand staircase that was the gorgeous back drop and centerpiece of the room. The live orchestra was playing off to the right side of the stairs.

John turned back towards Lila and pretended to look hurt, but failing miserably. “Now Lila, why didn't you contract out one of my restaurants to cater for this ball? You know I would have done it in a heartbeat
and
at a discount?”

Lila gave out a full melodious laugh. “Sweetheart you know I would have come to you first. But I want your
full
attention on Liz.” The way she'd said 'full' made him look at her oddly. But before anymore could come from it, Lila went in for another hug. “Well, it is great seeing you as usual. But I have to go around and shake more hands and collect more checks. Besides, I think the lady you've been waiting for has arrived.” She gave a wink and walked off.

John smiled at a retreating Lila. He placed his empty champagne flute on a tray of another passing waiter and turn towards the stairs.

Nothing in all of his years of living could have prepared him for the sight that stood above him at the top of the staircase. He felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him. It took her all of two seconds of scanning the crowd for their eyes to meet.

Something flashed in her eyes and he knew they were experiencing the same feeling. His heart felt like it was going to hammer right out of his chest.

Liz was wearing the most elegant and yet sexiest dress he'd ever seen. It was a seductive red chiffon little thing that cinched her upper body to perfection. The bodice was off the shoulders and showed just a peek of the top of her breast. The dress hugged her luscious curves so well, that it looked like it had to be poured onto her gorgeous body.

The skirt of the dress flowed lovingly around her. As she began her descend down the stairs, his breathing become even
shallower, if that were possible. As she was carefully holding her dress up slightly, so she would not step on the dress with her incredibly high heels, he realized the skirt of the dress had a split that went all the way up to nearly the top of her thigh.

For him the earth stood still and there was nothing but the two of them in the room as they moved towards each other like magnets. As he got closer, he looked at her face. She had just a touch of make up on. Her lips were a glossy red. Strawberry. He'd smelled it on her lips the other day. Her hair was also straight. He couldn't recall a time in all the years they'd known each other to have seen her hair in any other style except for the big natural curls. With it completely straight, it reached the middle of her back. They met on the stairs about half way for both of them. He was speechless.

Clearly she was beginning to become uncomfortable, as she began to fidget. “Geez, Johnny!” she whispered. “Will you please stop looking at me like that?”

He shook his head as if to clear out his mind. “Look at you like what?”

“Like...like you want to take a bite out of me!”

He released a strained chuckle, feeling a tightness in a place down low.

“Well, baby that's exactly how you look. Absolutely delectable.”

She let out a shaky laugh.

“Can you breath in that thing?” he asked still bewitched by her.

“No,” she said. Little did he know, it was not the dress that was causing her respiration issues at the moment. No man should look that good in a tux. It had to be against the law or a sin or something.

He couldn't help himself. He reached out to her and grazed his knuckles against her shoulder. Her cocoa brown skin was simply glowing.

She shuddered briefly and then seemed to come back to the reality of them not being the only two in the room. She flashed him bright smile. “So Mr. Parker, I hope you plan on escorting me down the rest of these stairs. I would hate to fall in these shoes.”

He gazed at her a minute longer then said, “Sweetheart you should know by now, that I'd never let you fall.”

He turned on the stairs to guide her the rest of the way down. His hand lightly touched her lower back,
and then his eyes grew wide. He discreetly leaned back and his gut clenched when he realized her entire back was out.

“My God woman, you are going to be the death of me yet.”

She gave him a smile that was meant to look innocent, but was the most seductive smile he'd ever seen.

“I told Lila this dress was too much.”

“Well, I definitely hope the older men have good pacemakers.”

She tried to look shocked, but couldn't help but laugh and she hooked her arm through his. “Come on and let's get this thing over with.”

Lila smiled as she watched the events that had just unfolded on the staircase. It seemed her little plan was coming together better than she anticipated. A blind man could see the two people staring at each other were helplessly in love. Even if they could not see it yet themselves. They were now moving around the room talking to people. She'd picked the perfect evening for the ball.

The fact that a thunderstorm was on the way had not kept the people away, and she'd planned it that way. She knew a certain friend of hers had quite a fear of thunderstorms. As if on cue, the thunder began outside.

She looked over and saw Liz flinch ever so slightly. Only the most observant people would have noticed. Or a man who was madly in love with her. He held her around her waist just a little tighter, squeezing her hip to let her know there was nothing to fear, and she instantly relaxed. Lila walked over to the stairs and signaled for the orchestra to stop for a moment.

“Ladies and gentleman, welcome! I'm so glad so many of you could make it out to this wonderful event for a very good cause, despite the dreadful weather. The children's hospital will be able to do a lot of good things with your donations. In the room to the left, there is a silent auction going on. So go and take a look at some of the things and place your bids! And don't be stingy. This money is for the children! Dinner is about to be served followed by dancing. Let's all have a good time!”

Liz led John into the room where the silent auction was being held. She'd wanted him to see her artwork before dinner. They walked over to the painting and she watched him as he observed it. It was a picture of two lovers. The male was holding his woman so close that their bodies seemingly molded together. He was caressing her face while she stared up at him rapturously, running her hand across his head.

“Well,” she said anxiously. “What do you think?”

Before he could speak, a voice behind them said, “I think it is absolutely provocative.”

They both turned towards the deep rich voice.

“Good evening, Liz,” Andre said with a million dollar smile.

Liz looked at John and tensed slightly then walked towards Andre. “How are you doing Andre?” She gave him a quick hug.

“I'm well.” He nodded towards John. “Nice to see you again, man.”

“Yeah,” John replied in a clipped tone. “Nice to see you again too.”

He moved towards Liz and possessively slipped his arm around her waist. The three of them stood there for a few more awkward moments before Andre decided to speak. “Well, I guess we'd better head out there for dinner.” He turned to walk away then stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Don't forget, you owe me a dance.”

She nodded slightly as he coolly walked away.

That same rage that had come over him the night of their fight returned. He'd never been jealous over a woman before. Not even Susan. However now, he was seeing red. Again. It took him a moment to realize that Liz had asked him a question.

“I'm sorry, Peaches what did you say?”

She gave a slightly exasperated huff. “I asked you,
again
, what you thought of the painting.”

Now he gave her his full attention. His face was completely unreadable. “I think it's the most revealing one you've painted yet.”

She looked at him confused.

He watched her for several moments, then leaned over and grazed her cheek with the softest kiss possible.

“It's wonderful Lizzie. Of course, I didn't have any doubt that it would be anything less.”

Finally, she smiled again. It was a smile that warmed him to his very soul. He took her hand and guided her back to the main room for dinner.

All during dinner, John kept stealing glances at Liz. How the dress fit so well and nothing fell out was beyond him. It had to be against the laws of gravity. When dinner was over, John noticed Andre heading over. “Prince Charming is coming,” he whispered.

Liz kicked him under the table. “Behave!” she whispered, scolding him.

When Andre stopped in front of them, he smiled down at Liz. “I decided to go ahead and take you up on that offer to dance.”

She smiled brightly and got up. “Sure!”

They went out to the dance floor and he twirled her around. She threw her head back and laughed heartily. John felt like he was ready to pummel the guy in the face when he saw Andre place his hand on the small of Liz's back.

“Hey handsome, what's a girl gotta do to get a dance.” John looked up to see Lila standing there with her hands on her hips. He smiled, and like the gentleman he was, he stood and guided her out to the dance floor.

“If looks could kill sugar, Andre would drop dead on the dance floor.”

John looked down at her surprised. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh don't play dumb with me. It's written all over your face. You are absolutely smitten over our girl. I must say, it's about time.”

“Nothing is going on Lila,” he replied shaking his head.

“Nothing may be going on
yet
, but it's only a matter of time.”

John looked back over at Liz and thought about what Lila said. It
was
only a matter of time. And the time had come.

Liz was having an excellent time dancing with Andre. He was an extraordinary dancer. “You're trying to kill men in that dress tonight,” he said close to her ear.

She couldn't help but blush. “Lila picked it out.”

“Well, it certainly is a number. I'm surprised your date let you away from his side.”

Liz shook her head. “It's not like that. We're just friends.”

“Friends do not look at each other the way you two have been looking at each other all night.”

Liz looked down. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You two clearly have deeper feelings for each other beyond friendship. Any man would be a fool to get in the way of you two.”

She was surprised that someone else was able to detect the growing attraction between the two of them, when she couldn't even acknowledge it yet.

She sighed. “I really don't know what else to say Andre.”

He smiled at her. “I'm not one to fight in a battle I have no chance of winning. I know how to bow out gracefully.”

They spun around and stopped near Lila and John. Andre stepped back and held up Liz's hand giving it a quick kiss. Then he turned and tapped John on the shoulder. “I'm sorry man, but Ms. Lila here also promised me a dance.” He gave Liz's hand to John. “Plus I'm sure you've been waiting to dance with this lovely lady.”

John took Liz's hand and placed his other hand on her bare back. The current that flew between them was so intense they barely noticed Andre and Lila dance away. John slowly pulled her closely and they began to dance slowly. They were not even sure of the tempo of the song.

Liz could see the raw passion in John's eyes, causing her pulse to quicken even more than it already was.

“Liz,” he whispered.

She closed her eyes and shook her head. The way he'd said her name was too much for her to handle at the moment. He could tell, so he brought up a safe topic. “How do you think the auction is going?”

She sighed and he felt the warmth of her breath on his chest. The woman was slowly killing him and she had no idea.