Meems here! You know what? Dinner with Shawn and Belle really did seem like a good idea at the time. Certainly better than what I had planned that night. Me, a litre of peanut better and chocolate ice cream (tastes like heaven by the way) and a sappy chick flick with my cat Whiskers. I figured that getting a cat was my first step towards becoming a spinster. I'd be one of those crazy old ladies with a dozen or more cats, who sits on her porch with a shotgun, threatening to shoot anybody who dares to step foot on her lawn. Er…got a little off topic there. Anyway…where was I? Oh, yes. My temporary insanity for agreeing to go to Tuscany that night. You see, I love Belle and all, but sometimes that girl just goes too far. Like setting Brady and me up on a date. You heard right, a date with Brady Black…
Mimi walked through the doors of Tuscany, wearing a little black dress that clung to every curve. She didn't know why she got so dressed up; after all she was just meeting her two best friends. Something told her this night was going to be a disaster. Mimi groaned, inwardly, and took a deep breath. She stumbled a bit on her high stilettos as she made her way towards Maggie Horton, owner and hostess of Tuscany.
"Hi Mag—" Mimi started, but tripped on her heels. "Whoops," she chuckled and steadied herself.
"Hello Mimi," Maggie greeted her, warmly. "You look wonderful."
"Thanks," she smiled and glanced down at her high shoes. What was she thinking?
"I'll show you to your table," Maggie said, gesturing for Mimi to follow her. Mimi did, putting all her concentration into not falling. Maggie led her to a small table, somewhat in the back of the restaurant. And sitting at that small table was none other than Brady Black. "Enjoy your dinner," Maggie told her.
"I'll try," she snorted. Brady knew that snort anywhere. He leaned over his chair and the corners of his mouth turned up into a devilish smile.
"That's attractive Lockhart," he commented.
"Who asked you Black?" she questioned rather hotly. Brady only responded with a wink.
"I didn't know that I'd have the pleasure of your company this evening Miriam," Brady stated smoothly.
"Call me Miriam one more time and this evening will be anything but a pleasure," Mimi said and took a seat.
"And why is that?" he mused.
"Because only my mother calls me Miriam," she shifted uncomfortably. "And when she does, it usually means I'm in trouble. So, it's a little creepy to have my boss use that name."
"Well, the last thing I want to be is creepy. Or thought of as your boss," he, too, squirmed in his chair.
"I hate to burst your bubble, Mr. Black, but you are my boss," Mimi said.
"And your friend, I'd hope," he noted.
"Yes Brady," she sighed. "My friend too."
"Since we're on such good terms then, I must say that you look absolutely ravishing Mimi," Brady remarked.
"Oh please," Mimi snorted once more.
"I speak only the truth," he protested with a smile.
"Except for when you're lying through you teeth," she said pointedly.
"Except for then," he agreed and laughed. Silence graced the table and both Brady and Mimi exchanged uneasy glances.
"I wonder what's holding up that Shawn and sister of yours?" Mimi glanced at her watch and then the door.
"I wonder why neither of them told us that the other was coming…" Brady said.
"Okay, huh?" Mimi asked, clearly confused.
"I'm assuming that Belle invited you to dinner tonight, right?" he paused as Mimi nodded. "Well she invited me too. But Belle never said that you were coming and from the look you flashed when you saw me it's a good guess that she never said I was coming," Brady reasoned.
"Brilliant Einstein," she rolled her eyes.
"Then Maggie takes you to this table," he continued, ignoring her comment. "And Shawn and Belle have yet to arrive."
"Okay I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Shawn and Belle are going to be no shows," Mimi tilted her chair so she could get a better view of the door.
"I hate to say it Meems, but I think we might have been set up," Brady followed her gaze. A look of horror settled on Mimi's face, she opened her mouth to speak, when the chair toppled over.
"Ugh…" a moan came from the floor.
"Uh…you okay Mimi?" Brady peered under the table. He saw her sprawled on the ground, her auburn hair straying from the elegant up-do and her cheeks red with either anger or embarrassment, perhaps both.
"I think so," Mimi mumbled.
"It's nice to know that a date with yours truly gets such a strong reaction. Albeit not a very good one, but strong none the less," he offered her his hand. She graciously accepted, pulling herself up, wincing a bit.
"It wasn't that Brady. Well it was…but the chair…and I was leaning," Mimi fumbled for her words. "That wasn't meant to be an insult, but my 'to-do list' for tonight did not include a date with Brady Black. And call me stupid, but the fact that I didn't even realise it came as a little bit of a shock. However, my new list will include 'kill Belle'," she stated angrily.
"My sister is a complicated woman," was Brady's reply.
"I'll say," Mimi grunted and rubbed her ankle. "Stupid shoes!" she exclaimed and unbuckled the straps.
"I thought you were mad at Belle not your footwear," Brady teased.
"Yeah, well Belle never seriously injured me," Mimi frowned and examined her foot.
"Let me see," Brady knelt down in front of her, gently taking her leg in his hand. The simple brush of his fingertips across her skin caused Mimi to involuntarily shiver. "Well, it's not broken, maybe sprained," he conceded, looking at the slight swelling.
"Th-thanks," Mimi stammered. Brady looked up and her and smiled, carefully letting go of her leg.
"Oh look!" a lady from the table beside them, whispered and pointed. "He's proposing!"
"How romantic," her friend agreed.
Both Mimi and Brady burst into hysterical laughter. Imagine that. Brady Black, proposing to Miriam—correction—Mimi Lockhart.
"I'd say we made progress tonight," Brady said, while chuckling. "I went from your creepy boss to asking you to marry me."
"Brady," Mimi sighed, "you were never my creepy boss. And I suppose my answer is yes."
"I think we should get you home Lockhart," Brady told her, gesturing to her ankle. "Wait…yes to what?"
"Yes to your proposal Black," she grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. "Now help me up," Mimi instructed. "There's no way I'm walking."
Brady smirked and lifted Mimi off her feet.
"I said help not carry," Mimi blushed at the curious stares from onlookers.
"I thought it was customary to carry you over the threshold," Brady said walking out of Tuscany.
"Brady, you moron, that's after you get married," she informed him.
"Oh," he paused. "Well then I'll just have to remember that for next time."
"As if anyone would marry you," Mimi teased.
"You wound me Lockhart," he joked back. "Did you take your car or cab?"
"Cab," she replied. Nodding to her answer he unlocked the door to his jeep and cautiously set her on the plush seat. Leaning over he buckled her seatbelt, causing Mimi to again shiver.
"Cold?" he asked, climbing into his own seat.
"A little," she answered. It was half-true at least. Brady took off his jacket and lightly draped it around her shoulders.
"So the evening wasn't a complete bust, huh?" Brady asked as they drove.
"Can you have an incomplete bust?" Mimi mused.
"You're a strange one Meems," Brady shook his head.
"Hey! I'm deeply insulted…or maybe shallowly," she laughed.
"Shallow, without a doubt," Brady kidded.
"Haha," was her comeback. "Ooh, my stop," she pointed to the large apartment block.
"How's your ankle?" he inquired.
"Better." She continued when Brady gave her a disbelieving, concerned look, "Really I'll be fine."
"Let me at least walk you to the door," he offered.
"Brady Black, always the gentleman," Mimi smiled and stepped out the jeep, heels in hand.
"I had a good time tonight," Brady told her as they reached the door. "Despite the lack of dinner."
"Rain check?" Mimi questioned.
"Definitely," he nodded, moving closer, filling the gap between them.
"Well…goodnight," Mimi whispered against his neck. Her heart began beating faster.
"Goodnight," Brady echoed, letting his lips softly touch her cheek, landing dangerously close to the corner of her mouth.
Hey, I never said a date with Brady Black was a bad thing…