the romantic pastel dress she wore. She hoped Robert would find it romantic, so romantic he would ask her to marry him. Or at least go to bed with him. She would die before she admitted it, but this was one time she wished she possessed one-tenth of Delilah Montague’s sultry sexiness. There was a woman who brought men to her knees. A bitter taste filled Lilly’s mouth. Delilah had even brought her father to his knees. As much as she detested Delilah, she couldn’t help wishing she had more know-how in the game of seduction/romance.
Lilly glanced up from the table where she waited for Robert and saw him across the room of one of the most romantic restaurants in Houston—The Brownstone. Her heart dipped. He was shaking hands as he made his way across the restaurant. Robert Huntington was quite simply the man of her dreams. He was handsome, intelligent. Houston Magazine had named him one of the city’s top ten bachelors the past two years running. Lilly still couldn’t believe that he had asked her out. She, who’d once had buck teeth, thick glasses, and a lisp. The lisp still crept into her speech every now and then when she was especially angry or upset.
She took a deep breath, reminding herself to remain calm. She didn’t want to blow this. After all, this was Houston’s most romantic nightspot. Tonight could be the night everything changed for her.
She loved everything about Robert, his ambition, his ideas, his gentleness with her. She envied the closeness his family shared and hoped she could be a part of their inner circle. She sensed his mother and father approved of her. She’d yet to meet his brother, but she knew the entire family held Benjamin in high esteem. When Robert’s father spoke of Benjamin, he puffed out his chest and described him as a chip off the old block. Robert seemed to admire Benjamin. He often talked about seeking his opinion.
Lilly wanted to be one of the family, to spend holidays with them, to be included. When her father had left her mother, she’d never really felt as if she belonged to anyone. Her mother had always been strict, but once her father had left, she’d become nearly impossible to please. Lilly was ashamed of the relief she’d felt when her mother had remarried just a few years ago and moved to New York, but she’d sensed this was, at last, her chance to make a life for herself—a life she wanted. More than anything she wanted to belong. To be needed.
Lilly looked at him again as he smiled his heart-turning smile and looked intently at each person he greeted. His brown hair was cut short, his strong jaw shaven, his shoulders broad beneath his well-tailored suit coat. Her stomach jumped again. Oh, Lord, she hoped she didn’t get sick. She resisted the urge to stand up and wave. She was never sure whether he saw her or not. He usually found his way to her side at functions they’d attended, but he was so passionate about his intent to run for public office that she feared he was looking through her or past her, but not quite at her.
She crossed her fingers by her side. Maybe he would do more than look tonight.
She held her breath as he finally turned to her and sent her reeling with his smile. “Hi,” she said breathlessly.
“Lilly, you look beautiful,” he said and brushed his mouth over her forehead.
She tamped down a spurt of frustration. Sometimes she craved a more overt display. It was probably unreasonable, but she couldn’t help wondering how he would react if she gave him a French kiss in front of all these people. He would probably be shocked. And never call her again.
“Sorry I’m late, but I have something important to discuss with you. I think you’re going to be excited about this.”
Her heart raced in her chest. “I can’t wait.”
He smiled. “Just a little longer. Here’s the waiter. Do you know what you want?”
A proposal, she thought, decent or indecent . She waved her hand. “Why don’t you order for me?”
“That I can
Lilly glanced up from the table where she waited for Robert and saw him across the room of one of the most romantic restaurants in Houston—The Brownstone. Her heart dipped. He was shaking hands as he made his way across the restaurant. Robert Huntington was quite simply the man of her dreams. He was handsome, intelligent. Houston Magazine had named him one of the city’s top ten bachelors the past two years running. Lilly still couldn’t believe that he had asked her out. She, who’d once had buck teeth, thick glasses, and a lisp. The lisp still crept into her speech every now and then when she was especially angry or upset.
She took a deep breath, reminding herself to remain calm. She didn’t want to blow this. After all, this was Houston’s most romantic nightspot. Tonight could be the night everything changed for her.
She loved everything about Robert, his ambition, his ideas, his gentleness with her. She envied the closeness his family shared and hoped she could be a part of their inner circle. She sensed his mother and father approved of her. She’d yet to meet his brother, but she knew the entire family held Benjamin in high esteem. When Robert’s father spoke of Benjamin, he puffed out his chest and described him as a chip off the old block. Robert seemed to admire Benjamin. He often talked about seeking his opinion.
Lilly wanted to be one of the family, to spend holidays with them, to be included. When her father had left her mother, she’d never really felt as if she belonged to anyone. Her mother had always been strict, but once her father had left, she’d become nearly impossible to please. Lilly was ashamed of the relief she’d felt when her mother had remarried just a few years ago and moved to New York, but she’d sensed this was, at last, her chance to make a life for herself—a life she wanted. More than anything she wanted to belong. To be needed.
Lilly looked at him again as he smiled his heart-turning smile and looked intently at each person he greeted. His brown hair was cut short, his strong jaw shaven, his shoulders broad beneath his well-tailored suit coat. Her stomach jumped again. Oh, Lord, she hoped she didn’t get sick. She resisted the urge to stand up and wave. She was never sure whether he saw her or not. He usually found his way to her side at functions they’d attended, but he was so passionate about his intent to run for public office that she feared he was looking through her or past her, but not quite at her.
She crossed her fingers by her side. Maybe he would do more than look tonight.
She held her breath as he finally turned to her and sent her reeling with his smile. “Hi,” she said breathlessly.
“Lilly, you look beautiful,” he said and brushed his mouth over her forehead.
She tamped down a spurt of frustration. Sometimes she craved a more overt display. It was probably unreasonable, but she couldn’t help wondering how he would react if she gave him a French kiss in front of all these people. He would probably be shocked. And never call her again.
“Sorry I’m late, but I have something important to discuss with you. I think you’re going to be excited about this.”
Her heart raced in her chest. “I can’t wait.”
He smiled. “Just a little longer. Here’s the waiter. Do you know what you want?”
A proposal, she thought, decent or indecent . She waved her hand. “Why don’t you order for me?”
“That I can
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