Lily (Suitors of Seattle) (6 page)

She smiled up at him in the darkness.  He may be in love with Rose, but he had enough affection to go around.  “I’ve been dreaming about it.”

He groaned softly, his lips moving across her cheek, and going down to kiss her neck and shoulders.  “I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

She wound her fingers through his hair, thrilled that he felt the same way she did.  “I love it when you touch me!”

His hand moved from her back, inside her coat, around to cup her breast, squeezing it gently.  Lily was surprised at first, but when she gave herself up to the pleasure of it, she groaned softly.  “That feels so nice.” 
Wicked, but nice.  She knew her mother would never approve, but it didn’t seem to matter then.

He pressed his lips against hers
, his tongue tangling with hers wildly.  After a moment, he groaned and pulled away from her, resting his forehead against hers.  “You know we can’t keep doing this.  We’ll be caught.”  His breathing was fast and his breath hot against her face.

“What would happen if we were caught?”  Lily had been causing problems since she was old enough to dress herself.  What did she care?

“If we’re caught we’ll be forced to marry immediately.” 

“Would that be terrible?” she asked.  Was he against marriage to her?

“Not at all!  I would just rather marry because we want to marry, and not because we’re being forced into it.  I’d like nothing better than to have you as my wife.”

She sighed, wishing she could believe him.  She knew he still carried a torch for her sister, even though she was married to another man.  She almost wished they would get caught because she didn’t want to have to spend a long time planning a wedding ceremony.  She hated getting all dressed up like a lady and being the center of attention.  Why couldn’t they just get it over with?

He brushed another soft kiss against her lips, before carefully buttoning first her coat and then his own.  He turned the buggy around and drove back toward her house, his arm firmly around her shoulders.  At her house, he helped her down and walked to the door with her.  A quick brush of his lips against hers, and he turned to go.  “I’ll see you Friday evening at six,” he called back over his shoulder. 

As he got into the buggy, he took a deep breath.  They were going to have to marry soon.  Who would have thought Lily, who played baseball and climbed trees better than just about every boy he’d ever met, could
kiss like that?  He was going to catch fire if they weren’t careful.

*****

Lily woke up Friday morning with a huge smile on her face.  She would see Daniel again tonight.  She wasn’t sure why he’d stayed away all week, but she hated not being with him.  She’d kept busy working with the battered women, but it wasn’t the same.  Nothing was the same when he wasn’t by her side.  Despite her reservations about the people they’d be surrounded by, she loved the idea of spending the evening in his arms.

She walked to Rose’s house with a spring in her step.  She couldn’t wait to see how her new dress fit.  A whole evening in Daniel’s arms was her idea of what heaven would be like.

Rose must have been watching out the window for her, because she rushed out of her house wearing her coat as soon as Lily started up her front walk.  “Lily!  Let’s go try on your new party dress!”  The excitement in her voice was palpable, and Lily wondered, not for the first time, how two girls who were so different could have been born to the same parents.

“I hope it fits,” Lily fretted.  “What will I do if we get there and it’s the wrong size?  No one else’s dresses fit me!”  Lily was the tallest girl in their family at five feet ten inches tall.  She was thankful Daniel was well over six feet so she didn’t feel like a giant.

“It’ll fit!  If not she’ll make a couple of small adjustments and you’ll be ready to go.  We need to stop at the jeweler for a necklace, though.  You don’t have one at home, do you?”

Lily shook her head.  “I’ve never cared for jewelry.”

“Well, this dress is going to need something.”  Rose pulled open the door of the dress shop. 

They were greeted by the owner immediately.  “It’s ready.   I stayed up most of the night to finish it, but it’s ready.”  Her blue eyes were red-rimmed, giving credence to her words. 

Lily went straight back with Rose trailing behind.  Once the dress was on, Lily twirled for a moment, delighted at the way the full skirt flared around her.  She’d never really worn a dancing dress, and this one made her feel like a princess.  “How does it look?”

Rose’s face was lit up with a smile. “It’s wonderful, Lily.  I’ve never seen you look so good!”

Lily looked into the mirror and nodded to herself, feeling like she did look special for once.  “What should I do with my hair with this dress?”

Rose made a face.  “Can you have Daniel pick you up at my house?  I’d love
to fix your hair for you.  I have just the right style in mind.”

Once she’d changed back into her regular clothes, they walked to the bank.  Daniel was working at the front as usual.  She waited until he was finished with his customer and went to him, embarrassed to be bothering him at work.  “Can you pick me up from Rose’s house tonight?” she whispered.

He nodded.  “Sure.  Is everything okay?”

“
Yes, she’s just going to fix my hair for me.”  Lily blushed as she said the words.

He shrugged.  “As far as I’m concerned, you can wear braids.  It’s not your hair I care about.”  He squeezed her hand across the long counter.  “I can’t wait to see you.”

She smiled all the way to the jewelry store.  He was such a good man.  She just hoped he didn’t figure out she wasn’t as good as Rose before they married.

Lily was a bundle of nerves for the rest of the day.  She couldn’t find the exact right necklace
at the store, so Rose said she could borrow the pearls Shawn had given her.  It felt strange to wear something that was so expensive, but she wanted to look her best, and Rose assured her she didn’t mind. 

Lily felt silly having Rose fix her hair for her night out with Daniel, but she didn’t know what else to do.  None of the other girls knew nearly as much about how to look their best as Rose did.  Rose had spent years making a science out of the best way to
catch a man.

Rose’s touch was magic, though.  Lily looked at herself in the mirror when Rose finally pronounced her ready, and she was shocked to see the
young lady looking back at her.  Gone was the little girl who liked to run around in boys’ pants, although she could see her lurking beneath the surface.  Instead she saw a young woman with dark red hair and green eyes, who looked like she was a real lady, not just a little girl dressing up as one. 

She looked down at the slippers on her feet, and had to stifle a giggle.  She’d deliberately worn the slippers that she’d once thrown at Rose’s head.  Rose watched her and frowned.  “What’s funny?”

Lily just shook her head, knowing she’d share the laugh with Daniel, but doubting Rose would see the humor even now.

“You wait up here.  I’ll call you when he’s here.  I want you to come down the stairs and make a grand entrance.”  Rose clasped her hands together over her chest, obviously pleased with her creation.

Lily nodded reluctantly.  She saw no need to make Daniel wait even a minute for her, but Rose knew best.  Right?

She paced impatiently back and forth across Rose’s bedroom until she heard Rose call her name.  She took a deep breath, putting her hand to her stomach to try to settle the butterflies that had taken up living there.  Slowly she walked toward the stairs.  She could just picture falling halfway down and landing on Daniel once again. 

The suppressed giggle on her face was the first thing Daniel noticed.  She looked so beautiful and happy that he vowed then and there to never make her cry.  She was a good person through and through and never deserved to be treated with anything but the utmost respect and love.

He watched as she slowly walked down the stairs.  She was halfway down when he noticed the slipper peeking out from under her skirt.  He laughed out loud at the sight of it, his eyes meeting hers happily.  “You wore our slippers!”

She grinned, her eyes meeting his.  “I did.  I thought you’d approve.”

He took her hand in his, tucking it through his arm.  “How could I not?  It’s perfect."  He dropped a kiss on her cheek, giving Rose a half smile as they walked toward the door. 

Lily walked proudly at his side, so happy to be his girl that she couldn’t express it. 

When they arrived at the dance, she felt a moment’s qualm as James stared at her in disbelief.  “Lily Sullivan?  You brought Lily Sullivan?”

Daniel stood proudly.  “I brought the most beautiful woman in Seattle.  I couldn’t find anyone else half as perfect, so I had to bring her.”  He took her coat from her and handed it to the maid who was waiting.  “Don’t mind him.  He’s an idiot.”  Daniel led her though the hall and into the parlor where two other couples were waiting.

She did her best to make small talk, but more than anything she listened as Daniel talked to the others.  There wasn’t a person there who had ever been kind to her at school.

Throughout the meal, she could feel the other young people’s eyes on her.  She’d never really fit in with the other kids at school, because she’d enjoyed things that weren’t “right”.  The boys didn’t want to do things with her, because she was odd, and the girls had nothing in common with her.  It was strange to be sitting among them this way, but for Daniel, she’d do anything.

Once the meal was over, they danced.  Daniel didn’t ask her to dance, but instead took her hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor and twirled her around.  There was someone playing the piano for them, and she enjoyed the quiet music, but
more than anything, she enjoyed being held in Daniel’s arms.

Once, about halfway through the evening, James tapped him on the shoulder.  “May I cut in?”

Daniel looked into Lily’s eyes and must have read her feelings there, because he immediately shook his head.  “I don’t think so.”  He gave her a slight smile as they twirled away.

She politely thanked James for the invitation as they left that evening, but she was thrilled she hadn’t had to spend any more time with him than she had.  As they left, Daniel asked, “You didn’t have a
very good time, did you?”

She shrugged.  “I enjoyed being with you, and I loved the dancing.  I never really fit in with the others, though.”
  She’d do it every day, though, if that’s what it took to make him happy.

He slipped his arm around her shoulders as he walked her to the buggy.  “We won’t spend time with them again, then.  I had no idea you didn’t like them.”
  He shook his head as he looked down at her.  “You should have told me!”

“It’s not that I don’t like them.  They’ve just never been very nice or polite to me.  None of them ever really felt like I was good enough to fit in with them, and that’s always bothered me.”
  Most of the time she hadn’t bothered being an outcast, but occasionally their stares and pointed laughter had hurt her feelings.

Daniel helped her into the buggy and climbed up beside her.  “You’re so much better than them.  I’m sorry I took you there.”  He started driving toward her house.  “I’d suggest going for a short drive before I take you back to your house, but it’s getting late.  I don’t want to make your father angry with me.”

“It’s not that late.  My parents won’t be expecting me for at least another hour.”  She didn’t look at him as she said the words, hoping he would understand that she wanted to spend more time with him.

He looked down at her with a grin.  She enjoyed their time together as much as he did!

He found a quiet street back behind the bank and parked the buggy, turning to her.  She’d already unbuttoned her coat and reached for his buttons before he could.  He smiled, grazing her cheek with the back of his fingers.  “I enjoyed dancing with you.”

She nodded, her eyes on his.  “I enjoyed it as well.  I’d like to spend time dancing again, just maybe with different people.”  She paused for a moment, wondering the best way to get her meaning across.  “I know they’re your friends, but they were
never accepting of who I am.”  She shrugged.  “I just had a hard time feeling like I was good enough when they were around.”

“I understand.  I remembered after we were there.  I’m so sorry I took you there and made you spend time with them now that we’re out of school.”

“It’s fine.  You wanted to have fun, and really?  We did.”  Her hands went to his shoulders under his open coat.  “I loved being able to touch you so freely.”

“You know you’re not supposed to say things like that, right?”

“Does it bother you?”  She didn’t want him to think she was doing something wrong.

“Not at all.  I like it.  It’s just not what a young lady is
supposed
to do.”  There was laughter in his voice as he explained to her what he meant.

She shrugged.  “I’ve never exactly been one to follow all the rules and do just what I’m supposed to do.  I prefer to do what feels right to me.”  She brushed her lips across his.  “And this definitely feels right to me.”

He laughed.  “I can’t think of anything that feels better.”  Gathering her close, he kissed her wildly, realizing that they were getting out of control.  Each time they were alone, they’d begun kissing and each time, they’d done more and more.  He enjoyed it, of course, but he didn’t want to take advantage of her innocence.