She gave him a half hug. “Because I’m not good at anything else.” Like walking. With a sly wink, she shut the door. She was always full of gratitude for any small moments shared with Anthony. He was someone she never had to worry about. She stopped short when she stepped outside. Whoa. A long black stretch limo idled in front of the store. That’s exciting, thought Elly, as she took slow, cautious steps toward the curb. She heard someone clear his throat behind her, knowing who it was even before she shook the hair out of her eyes.
Keith was watering his plants in the twilight, a dirty apron tied around his waist, his thick arms bulging as they misted back and forth, looking like some sort of yard god. He was unabashedly staring at Elly. Let him stare, she thought, I know I look good. Let him think I’m going on a date. It wasn’t often that Elly Jordan thought herself anything more than average, but tonight was one of those nights where she actually felt beautiful. Megan had proved herself to be a fashion wizard—she had dressed Elly head to toe in no time, and the result had been spectacular. The leather pencil skirt that hit her just above the knee hugged her curves in all the right places, and the black stilettos elongated her short legs. A coral ruffled shirt billowed softly in the breeze, belted across the ribs with a soft pink swatch of fabric that pushed her breasts up where they had no business being. A strand of long pearls dangled from her neck, and Elly had actually taken the time to spiral her normally unruly curls. And she was wearing lipstick, something that was maybe a yearly occurrence. Yup, she was hot right now, and Keith could drink her up. Elly clicked quickly toward the limo.
“So, where are you going?” he called.
“Out,” she answered. The sad truth was, it was actually just business.
“Do you have a …,” his voice caught awkwardly in his throat, but he managed to choke it back, “a date?”
Elly shrugged and tried to be graceful as she climbed into the limo. It didn’t work. Her ankle turned over the ridiculous heel, and she practically fell into the open leather seat. She had most certainly given Keith a show. With a groan, she shut the door behind her, thankful for the tinted windows.
She looked up at Keith, staring at the limo, his lips pressed together in a painful grimace. There was a deep frustration in his eyes, and for a second, Elly’s hand brushed the door handle. She hesitated a second too long, and the limo pulled away from the curb, Elly watching silently as Keith faded behind her, drowning the flowers she had worked so hard to cultivate the year before. They were done, she mused, and the distance between them would only grow as time went on. Elly silently wiped a tear from her eye with the back of her hand. No more. Tonight was of the utmost importance and more importantly, she was going to have a fantastic dinner with an infamous celebrity. Who knows, maybe she would even meet someone. The thought of another man kissing her made her stomach twist painfully. Elly leaned forward and rapped on the glass dividing herself and the driver. After a comical pause, it slid down. “Yes, um….” What do I call him? “Sir driver, where are we going?”
He gave a snort of laughter. “My name is Levi, and Ms. Plumb has you starting out the night at Pierre’s Seafood.”
Elly was confused. “Starting out? Where else are we going?”
He gave her a smile in the rearview mirror, his green eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s a surprise, ma’am. But, if I were you, I would stock up on energy drinks and con …,” he trailed off.
Elly leaned forward. “What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“No, you said something. I am your passenger. What did you say?”
“It was inappropriate.”
“No, tell me right now.”
His eyebrows rose. “Wow. You’re kinda scary.”
“I know.”
“I said, make sure you stock up on energy drinks … and condoms.”
“Ewww!” Elly flew back from the partition. “That is horrible! Why would you say something like that?”
“Because I have been Lola Plumb’s driver more than a couple of times, and I know that when she goes out with them, they go ALL out.”
Elly folded her arms. “She’s engaged, you know; you shouldn’t spread rumors like that.”
“I didn’t mean for her. I meant for you. I’ve met her friends many times, if you know what I mean. And if you are anything like them, you will need a lot of vodka and a lot of condoms. I’ve seen it.”
Elly sat back in the seat and pressed the partition button. “Gross. You’re gross.” The window clicked shut. She suddenly felt very small and insignificant in the back of the limo. The rest of the ride was silent and awkward as Elly watched the old brick buildings of St. Louis give way to the hip areas of the new downtown. With a hard screech, the limo stopped in front of Pierre’s. The window came down a few inches. “We’re here.”
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically. “Do I um, give you a tip?”
Levi looked at her like she was crazy. “My biggest tip was two grand. Can you match that?”