First and Only (Callaghan Brothers #2)

*

Ian smoothed the imaginary wrinkles from his crisp white dress shirt, feeling every bit as anxious as he had when he went to his first school dance. He did a quick self-inspection: black slacks, pressed and creased, check. Black shoes, matching and polished, check. Tailored suit jacket and coordinated blue-striped tie, check.

He rapped his knuckles against the door, clutching the bouquet of miniature flowers - white rosebuds and sunset-colored lilies. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself that he was a twenty-seven year old ex-SEAL, and he had done far more difficult things than this.

Lexi was his croie. Taking her out to an exclusive restaurant and proposing was the next natural step. He would wait until after dessert, then –

As they had once before, Ian’s systems went into total lockdown when Lexi opened the door. Struck dumb, he could only stare.

“What?” she asked, taking a step back to let him in. “I look ridiculous, don’t I? I told Taryn this was too much. I’m going to change - ”

“Don’t.” Ian forced the word out, his voice rough and husky, his eyes pleading. “Please. Just... just let me look at you, Lex.”

His heart pounded against the inner walls of his chest as his eyes roamed the length of her body and back up again, certain that he was dreaming. Lexi was dressed in a form-fitting white sheath that had the draped looked of a toga, trimmed in gold with slight accents of blue. The dress showcased her lightly bronzed skin, now glowing with sun-kissed radiance. Slim bands of gold chains adorned her neck, her upper right arm, and her left ankle. Her unpierced ears held gold ear cuffs draped with sapphires. She wore her hair up, allowing streaked strands to fall loosely around her back and shoulders.

“Ian? What’s wrong?” Lexi asked, her brows knitting together in concern.

“Just... give me a moment.”

In his near thirty years, he’d never been quite so thoroughly stricken. Lexi had done what career soldiers could not – she had rendered him completely and utterly helpless. He struggled to breathe through the constriction in his chest.

“Ian? Are you okay?” Lexi took a step toward him, cupping his face gently in her hands. Ian suddenly knew what it was like to be touched by a goddess. She looked up into his face, those golden amber eyes filled with concern and love. For him.

He managed to put his hand over hers, only slightly aware that he was shaking. He closed his eyes and turned to kiss her fingers, saying a silent prayer of thanks. “I am now,” he said softly.

Lexi’s worried expression eased, replaced by a genuine, if not slightly disbelieving, smile, and in that moment Ian knew he would do anything to make her smile again. It would become a lifelong pursuit to make sure she smiled at him, just like this, every day for the rest of their lives.

––––––––

“How did you ever manage to get us in here?” Lexi asked, clearly impressed as they sat at a premier table in the back corner of the restaurant. From there, they had an unimpeded view of a magnificent waterfall flowing among pristine gardens.

Ian had never been to this particular restaurant before, but he knew of its reputation. D’Armini’s was one of the most-sought after places to go, the top-rated restaurant in the Northeast US, boasting the talents of one of the world’s greatest master chefs – Francesco D’Armini. People came from all over the world to dine under his mastery. Getting in, let alone on a Friday night, was next to impossible unless you were a high-ranking political figure or of comparable rock star status.

Or you knew someone who was and they owed you.

Ian smiled and shrugged as if it was no big deal. He’d had to call in a few favors, but seeing that look on Lexi’s face would have been worth a thousand times more.

The dinner was exquisite. When Lexi sent her compliments to the chef, he came out personally, his eyes growing as wide as saucers when his eyes found Lexi. He was an older man – Ian put his age somewhere around mid to late 50s – with the shape of a man who took good care of himself but still loved his creations.

“Alexis!” the man cried in a thick Italian accent. “Can it be?”

She blushed at the attention as some of the other diners turned to look at the patron who had garnered the attention of the chef. “Most beautiful protégé I ever had,” he said fondly with a kiss to each cheek and a warm embrace. “And my most favorite student, eh?”

Lexi blushed deeper, making the big man rumble with laughter. The waiters looked on in stunned silence, unused to seeing the chef quite so jovial.