smiled at her reflection in the mirror as she finished Sherri’s brows.
* * *
The dance recital had been a smashing success, mostly because of the adorable little dancers in their clever costumes but partly because Lucas had contributed the refreshments. He’d arranged for a vast array of canapés and desserts to be delivered from Seven-Seventeen, the fine dining restaurant owned by the brothers VanBuren, and he had also provided staff to set up, serve and clean up afterward. He’d made quite an impression on the dance moms—and not just for his generosity. Several of the women in attendance had given him the once-over, devouring him with their eyes.
Sherri had overheard one of the older dancers ask Sydney if he was her mom’s boyfriend and Sydney had answered “yes,” which was both endearing and alarming to Sherri. She was going to have to have a little chat with her daughter soon, that much was obvious. But for now, she was just going to enjoy the evening.
It was off to a great start. When Lucas came to pick her up at her condo promptly at nine, he was not only looking and smelling good, but he’d also brought her a big green plant. He’d insisted on picking her up at her condo rather than having her follow him to the site of their outing.
“When I take a lady out, I pick her up and bring her home. I know it’s old school, but that’s how I roll. You don’t mind, do you?”
When he looked down at her with his long-lashed eyes sparkling and his ridiculously sexy smile, she couldn’t think of a single reason to protest the arrangement. She’d driven home from the dance studio in minutes and even changed clothes, taking off the coffee-colored slacks and matching blouse she’d worn. Now she was wearing a hot orange tank dress made of a supple rayon knit fabric that showed off her slender figure and her legs. Because he was much taller than she was, she could wear her bronze strappy sandals with the four-inch heels and not worry about towering over him; she still barely reached his shoulder.
Sherri never wore a lot of makeup, but she’d added a little blush and lipstick, along with another coat of mascara and a bit of smoky eye shadow. A pair of big gold hoop earrings and an armful of Indian bangle bracelets in gold with bright pops of color completed her ensemble. When she saw the smile on Lucas’s face, she was glad she’d made the effort. He’d changed clothes, too, she noticed. He was now wearing a pair of dark slacks and a really nice shirt that brought out his green eyes nicely. It was her turn to smile as she held out her hands for the plant.
“Lucas, this is a beautiful ficus,” she said. “It’s so sweet of you.”
He ignored her outstretched hands and took the big plant over to the window, placing it gently on the floor. “It’s heavier than it looks,” he said. “And you look gorgeous, by the way.”
“Thank you. I was just thinking the same about you,” she answered with a smile.
The smiles continued as the evening progressed. First they went to a restaurant called Sweet Tea and 3 Sides. It was a barbecue joint that had some of the best food in town. As soon as they walked in the door people were calling her name, waving at her and, in a few cases, coming up to give her a hug. After they were seated, Lucas began laughing softly.
“What’s so funny?” Sherri asked.
“I was laughing at myself because I wasn’t sure you’d like this place, but ever since we came in the door it’s like being with a celebrity. Do you know everybody in Columbia?”
Sherri grinned as she shook her head. “I don’t know everybody in Columbia, but I do treat a lot of children so a lot of people know me as Dr. Sherri. I have my regular practice and I work at the free clinic, too. And more to the point, I love barbecue. I love to eat it, but I don’t like to grill, so I’m here at least twice a month,” she told him.
Just then their server arrived with menus and big glasses of sweet tea. After greeting Lucas, the young woman asked if he wanted to look at the menu or if he’d be having what Dr. Sherri was having. Sherri laughed sheepishly. “Okay, so maybe I’m in here more than twice a month. Like almost every weekend,” she admitted. “But the food is so good, I can’t resist.”
After placing their orders, Lucas reached across the table to take her hand. “You don’t have to explain. I’m a fiend for good barbecue and, luckily, I like to grill so I’ll make some for you whenever you want. And I agree that the food here is excellent. I’ve eaten here several times.”
They chatted companionably over dinner and shared a big portion of blackberry cobbler for dessert. She looked so animated and pretty that Lucas asked what she was thinking about.
“I was thinking that this is the best date ever,” she told him before licking the last of the cobbler off her spoon. “If I’d known how much fun this was I would have started dating a while ago.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Lucas countered. “I’m glad I’m the one you allowed to have the pleasure of your company. And I hope you aren’t tired because I have something else planned for us.”
She didn’t have to wait long to find out what he had in mind. After taking care of their check and leaving a generous tip for their server, Lucas started driving them to a club. He turned to Sherri as he drove and said, “I hope you like music.” She assured him that she did. “Good, because the place we’re going to has some of the best blues I’ve ever heard.”
The name of the club was Night Flight. The music was great; a singer who sounded just like the late Katie Webster was performing. Between sets a DJ played a mix of blues standards and jazz and when Lucas asked if she wanted to dance, Sherri gladly accepted. She used to love to dance, but she didn’t get to do it very often except in her Zumba class or when she and Sydney were playing with the Wii. Dancing with Lucas was a totally different experience. Feeling his big arms wrapped around her as they moved to the music was really, really nice. She loved the way he smelled and the warmth of his body. She relaxed into his strong, muscular arms and everything dropped away from her consciousness, everything except the way her body felt pressed against his.
When the song ended she felt slightly disoriented for a moment. She didn’t want to let go of the feeling of being surrounded by Lucas, but once the music stopped she had no choice in the matter. Back at their table she sipped her ginger ale and looked at Lucas, really looked at him, examining every bit of his face. He gave her a slow smile and leaned over so that she could hear him over the music and loud talking. With his lips touching her earlobe, he said, “You’re looking at me awfully hard. Do I scare you or something?”
A sensation she hadn’t felt since the night Sydney was conceived washed over her like the spray of a warm, gentle shower. She held perfectly still so he wouldn’t see her trembling. “That would be ‘or something,’” she murmured. This time her lips brushed against his ear because it was the only way he’d be able to hear her soft voice.
An odd expression raced across his face, replaced almost immediately by a big grin. “Let’s get out of here so we can talk about it. Is that okay with you?”
She nodded and he rose to hold her chair. As they left Night Flight, her hand slid into his like they’d been holding hands for years. They drove to her condo in relative silence, although the idea was that they were supposed to be talking. In a short time they arrived in her gated complex, and he once again opened her door for her and took her hand as they walked to the house. If he’d been expecting her to give him a demure and chaste thank-you and good-night in the doorway, Lucas was mistaken. Sherri calmly opened the door and invited him in, saying she’d make iced coffee. And just like that, the two of them were alone in the house, together.
