Elizabeth used the roller to help paint Helen's room a soft yellow. It looked wonderful with the dark wood trim and floors of the master.
Elizabeth picked up on the vibe of the room. She was 99% sure Helen didn't actually want her help or want her staying in the house. She had been cool toward her all day at the zoo the day before. Actually Lucas had been the same way to Helen.
"This is a beautiful color, Helen."
"Thank you," Helen said as she did the edges with a brush.
"You don't like me, do you?" Elizabeth blurted. She couldn't take the tension anymore.
"What makes you say that?"
"Just a guess. What did I do?"
"Nothing," Helen said, sighing and putting her brush down.
"Obviously I've done something to cause you to dislike me. Maybe if you just tell me, I can explain."
"You're not Clara."
"And…"
"That's it. It's not fair of me to feel that way or to tell you like this, but that's it. Clara was a wonderful woman, a good wife and partner to my son, a lovely mother and my daughter-in-law. We were very close."
"So no one will ever measure up? Is that it?"
"More or less."
"Great." Elizabeth was not one to leave a job unfinished but she wasn't wanted anyway. "Um thank you, for letting me stay here. I think I'll find a hotel."
She put the roller down and walked out of the room, holding her tears back until she was safe in her own guest room.
"Wait a minute," she muttered, heading down the stairs and out the patio door to the beach.
"Lucas!" she yelled, much louder than necessary.
He looked up at her, concern in his eyes.
"What is it?"
She walked closer and stood staring at him, hands on her hips, tears rolling down her face.
"Honey, what?"
"Did you know? Lucas, did you know she doesn't like me?"
"What? Who?"
"Your mother."
"Why do you say that?" Apparently the Bouchards liked to answer a question with a question.
"Answer me, please," she said, lowering her voice because Aria now watched them.
"She told me something."
"Why did you tell me she wanted me here? I feel like an idiot. I tried so hard at the zoo to talk to her and I was helping paint…and the whole time…"
"Babe…"
"No. Don't call me that. I'm mad at you."
"Elizabeth, she mentioned that us kissing in front of Aria would give her the wrong impression. I disagreed with her." He took her hand. She didn't pull away so that was a start. "I told her that we aren't doing anything inappropriate in front of her and that she is aware of our relationship."
Elizabeth took her hand back and wiped her face. "And Clara?"
"What about her?"
"I can't compare to her."
"You don't have to, Elizabeth. I won't ever compare you."
"Me either!" Aria said, hugging her waist.
"I love you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's tears reappeared as she lifted Aria into her arms and hugged her tight.
"I love you too, baby. So much."
"You are here now, with me," Lucas told her, wrapping his arms around both of them. "With us. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks."
"I can't stay here. I need to find a hotel."
"Its one more night. We will be going out on our date tonight and breakfast tomorrow before we take you to the airport. You won't see her that much. Why spend the money?"
"Lucas, I know she doesn't want me here." She put Aria down and sighed. "Its awkward being here now."
"I know. I'm sorry."
She pulled out her phone and searched for a hotel nearby the airport. Everything was so overpriced.
"Elizabeth, do you trust me?"
"Of course I do."
"Then I think you should stay here. We will have dinner and the other thing I have planned tonight and tomorrow, you, me and Aria will leave early to spend time together before you leave. Deal?"
She nodded and accepted his hug.
"I love you, Lucas. I'm sorry that I overreacted."
"I thought you were pretty hot. Standing there with your hands on your hips, fire in your eyes."
"Shush," she told him, blushing.
"I love you too," he told her, kissing her softly. "I will always choose you, us. I promise you that."
….
"What do you mean, Lucas?"
"I mean, Mother, that Aria and I are leaving tomorrow as well."
"You're supposed to be here another week."
"Yes but that was before my own mother made my girlfriend feel unwanted and unworthy. Both of which are completely untrue."
"She's not Clara, Lucas."
"You're correct. She's a completely different person. Clara is gone. She has been for four years. She's not coming back. I've moved on and I'd love your support but I can see that isn't going to happen. So, we're leaving too."
"You're choosing a woman you've known for a few months over your own mother?"
He kissed her temple and hugged her. "I love her. Aria loves her. I'm going to marry her so yes, I'm choosing her. I'll always love you but she's most important."
He started walking away, then turned back. "Thank you for watching Aria tonight. This is an important night for us."
"Why?"
"Goodnight, Mom."
….
Lucas led Elizabeth on board the boat where they were taking the harbor dinner cruise. He'd done it before but it had been years.
Seeing the skyline at sunset while eating dinner was one of the most romantic things he could think of. Hopefully she felt the same.
"Oh wow, a cruise?"
"Yeah. There's an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and dinner. Even live music."
"Good evening," a man in a tux said, greeting them as he stood near the pier. "Welcome to the Harbor dinner cruise."
"Good evening," they said to him.
"Just through there," he told them, gesturing. "The bar is on the left."
Lucas intertwined their fingers together and they walked to the bar.
"Good evening," the bartender said. "What can I get you?"
"I'll take a seven and seven," Lucas said.
"And for your stunning date?" the bartender said, winking at Elizabeth.
"You know what I want, sweetheart," Elizabeth said quietly, kissing Lucas' cheek and slipping her hand inside his jacket.
"She'd like a white wine," Lucas ordered, his eyes holding on to Elizabeth's.
"Very well."
Lucas leaned toward Elizabeth, whispering in her ear. "Sweetheart?"
She smiled. "I was just setting clear boundaries."
The man was clearly flirting with her so before Lucas could be jealous, she made it clear who she was with.
"He wasn't wrong. You are stunning."
She touched his tie, smoothing the silk with her hand and pressing her lips to his. "I also have a stunning date. You, in this suit…wow."
"Seven and seven and a white wine," the bartender said. "Enjoy your evening, folks."
Lucas had no intention of doing anything less than enjoying the evening.
….
"Nana? Why don't you like Elizabeth?" Aria asked as Helen combed her hair after a bath.
"Now, sweetie pie, who says I don't like her?" Helen's face colored a bit.
"Elizabeth and Daddy."
"Well, it's not that I don't like her, Aria."
"She thinks it is. She's really nice, Nana, and I love her."
"Of course she's nice."
"Then why don't you like her?"
"Well, truth be told, I miss your Mommy. We used to do lots of things together."
Aria turned around and took Helen's hand. "Like what?"
"Um, let's see. We had lunch every Friday at a Cafe downtown. Your Mom's mom passed away so your Mom told me she always thought God sent me to be her second Mom." Helen wiped her tears and smiled. "We even went to get our nails done at the spa."
"Elizabeth likes that too, Nana! She took me and I got my fingers and toes done!"
"Is that right?"
"Yep! Maybe all three of us can go when you come to visit us."
"Maybe."
"Nana, all my friends have Mommy's and…I'm really hoping that Elizabeth can be my second Mommy too. I need her."
Helen pulled her granddaughter onto her lap and held her tight. "I'm sorry that you lost your Mommy. I hope you get your chance to have a second one."
"Even if it's Elizabeth?"
"Yes. Elizabeth seems to love you and your Daddy."
"Yeah. She told us she does."
….
Lucas led Elizabeth out onto the open deck to enjoy the views of the San Diego skyline as the sun began to set. As the cruise quietly passed by the twinkling city lights that surrounded San Diego Bay they enjoyed listening to the soft music. Elizabeth was snuggled back against Lucas's chest as his arms wrapped around her from behind.
Elizabeth let out a soft sigh of contentment. "I could stay here forever. I feel so loved and safe here with you."
Lucas softly kissed her cheek and nuzzled his nose into her hair just above her ear. "I am so in love with you, Elizabeth," Lucas whispered hoarsely.
Being apart from Elizabeth for those few days waiting for her to arrive in San Diego had been agonizingly long. Lucas finally understood the meaning behind one of his favorite quotes from Dangerous Liaisons, "And it was only when I began to feel actual, physical pain every time you left the room…" He knew he wouldn't be able to wait much longer to ask her to be his wife.
As the crowd started to thin out, Lucas and Elizabeth walked back inside for a gourmet 3-course dinner starting with a Caprese Salad, followed by Crusted Salmon and seasonal vegetables. They agreed to get different desserts to share.
Soon the band started livening up the evening. The band was wonderful and played a great mix of songs covering many decades, delighting them both and stirring a discussion on musical favorites over the years. They discovered they had a mutual love for Elvis Presley, especially his gospel music. Both of their mothers were big Elvis fans and had passed their passions for his music to their children.
Talking about their parents made Lucas a little sad and he shared how much he missed his father, Martin. "I loved to watch my parents dance together at parties. Sometimes he'd play a song, for no special reason, and then sweep my mother off her feet into a dance around the kitchen or any room really. 'A Nat King Cole song works every time,' my dad told me." Lucas chuckled but then his eyes turned misty thinking about his parents. "I'll never forget how they'd lose themselves in each other while they danced. It was magical."
Elizabeth moved her chair next to Lucas and reaching for his hand, leaned in and gave him a tender kiss. With his arm wrapped around her, Elizabeth snuggled into his side and then casually rested her hand on his thigh. She felt Lucas's muscles tense and then he whispered into her ear cheekily, "What are you planning to do with that hand, Beth?"
Elizabeth looked him in the eye, an idea suddenly forming in her mind. To distract him she smirked and as she stood, she ran her hand up his thigh. Bending slightly she whispered in his ear, "Oh I wouldn't want to give away all my secrets."
She winked at him and grinned. "I need to freshen up. I'll be right back."
WOW. This was one of those times Lucas wished they weren't in public. His flirty Elizabeth was irresistible.
After Elizabeth returned they had a lot of fun just talking about each song, telling stories, and sharing memories that the songs pulled from them.
They were enjoying their time and conversation together so much that Lucas almost did not hear the next song's introduction. "This next song is by special request from Elizabeth for her Lucas. This beautiful ballad is from Natalie Cole, 'A Smile Like Yours'."
His eyes widened and his dimpled smile lit his whole face as Elizabeth shyly held out her hand. "Dance with me, Lucas."
She led Lucas onto the dance floor and he pulled Elizabeth into him. Her dress was cut lower in the back and Lucas placed his hand on her bare skin. Everywhere their skin touched felt like fire.
"Thought I'd seen everything there was to see in this world
Now I'm not so sure I've really seen anything at all
I thought life could show me no surprises
And then you came and showed me I was wrong"
Words from the song captured Lucas's attention. Elizabeth was humming the melody.
"I have seen the bluest skies, rainbows that would make you cry
I have seen miracles that moved my soul, days that changed my life
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Seen all the wonders of the world, but I've never seen a smile
As beautiful as yours"
As they swayed to the music, Elizabeth reached out and combed her fingers through his beard, enjoying the feeling on her skin. Lucas was smiling again and she lingered over his dimples and then couldn't resist dragging her thumb across his bottom lip.
"I fell for your charming smile first, you know. When you smile at me like you are now I feel that spark all the way to my toes, Lucas." Smirking, she added, "Those dimples are lethal."
"I thought I'd been everywhere, I've climbed a mountain so high
Sailed the sea, crossed the sky and still I was nowhere at all"
Lucas pulled Elizabeth closer and she rested her head against his chest, just below his chin. He placed their joined hands over his heart.
"Until that day, oh, you came to my senses
And your smile, it made sense out of it all"
Lucas's hand slowly caressed her back causing Elizabeth to shiver. After kissing her temple he whispered in her ear, "You are breathtaking tonight, Elizabeth. This dress is … Wow."
"I have seen the bluest skies, rainbows that would make you cry
I have seen miracles that moved my soul, days that changed my life
I have seen the brightest stars shine like diamonds in the dark
Seen all the wonders of the world, but I've never seen a smile
As beautiful as yours"
They had lost themselves in the song and being in each other's arms so intimately. Other couples gravitated further away giving them their own space on the dance floor.
"So beautiful, comes one time in a lifetime
A smile this beautiful, I've never dreamed I'd ever see"
As the song was ending and the chorus repeated one last time, Elizabeth grabbed his hand and they walked back out to the deck finding a less crowded space to enjoy the starlight.
Lucas turned Elizabeth to face him. "Thank you for the song. Nice touch with the Natalie Cole connection by the way." His charming smile was back in place and he gave a sexy wink.
The energy changed between them, charging the space surrounding them. Elizabeth's gaze traveled from his mesmerizing eyes down to his sexy lips.
Unconsciously she licked her lips…
Waiting… but it didn't take long.
Lucas closed the distance between them. Cradling Elizabeth's face, he traced her jawline with his thumbs and finally gave into what they both wanted… both needed. He planned to kiss her slowly but the build he wanted to take leaped straight into a passionate kiss. He heard Elizabeth whimper and then changed the angle of the kiss. Lucas spanned his hands along her back, his fingers caressing her skin.
A loud blast of laughter nearby finally pulled them apart from each other.
"How much longer is this cruise?" Elizabeth asked before kissing Lucas again.
"We have another 20 minutes before we dock," he replied between kisses.
Their foreheads resting against the other, they tried to control their breathing, at least until one or the other of them went in for another kiss.
"Elizabeth," he said on a shaky breath between kisses. "After we dock, let's find a room for the night."
Leaning into another kiss, Elizabeth replied, "Yes."
Once the yacht had docked they headed to Lucas's car, never once losing physical contact with each other. Both trying to settle their breathing after entering the car, Elizabeth was the first to speak.
"Wait, Lucas, as much as I'd love nothing more than to be with you tonight, we have a very impressionable little girl who needs us back home…"
"I suppose she'd notice if we didn't come back tonight."
"She would." Elizabeth kissed his cheek, lingering a moment. "I love you."
"And I love you."
Thank u Lynn Kersting for all your help with this one!!!!*