Thanks GoddessofSnark for letting me know about the typos. They bug me to know end too. I have fixed them in my copy of my fiction on my computer but I didn't reupload the chapters. That "impeccably" sentence was the worse it absolutely must be changed. And Melissa if you are serious about reviewing every day, I will post once a day. Thanks everyone for the reviews I just might have the drive to finish up "Just For a Time" now.
With dinner plates cleared, the bill paid, and Strings growing empty Elizabeth suggested they call it a night. Robert agreed and then mocked that she couldn't handle his charm any longer. "I suppose if we were to get that gelato I offered earlier, you'd be desperate to take me home. And well frankly Lizzie, my job is too important to me."
"Your job?"
"You know how sleeping with the boss's daughter can only lead to daytime television melodrama."
"Right, that was my feelings exactly. I'd hate for you to become a cliche."
"Thank you." He stood and offered his hand to help her from the table. She was caught off guard but took it anyway. Once standing he didn't let it go. They walked at a comfortable pace until they reached the bar. Elizabeth stopped abruptly at the vacated hostess desk. It caught Robert off guard and he dropped her hand and then stumbled a bit on his feet.
" It's one foot in front of the other. Really, it's not hard, let me show you." He mocked.
"I was just going to ask for a cab."
"Why?"
"Because I don't technically have to be at the hospital for another eleven hours. And, unlike you, I don't have to impress them by showing up this early."
"I do have a car." He stated without inflection.
"Yes, and"
"And it is small, cursed country, but it does technically seat two."
"You and your ego will be very happy in there I am sure."
"Elizabeth. Stop."
"Yes Robert," she smiled taking his lead and walking out the door. She wiped her hands nervously on her coat for fear that he might take her hand again. He did not. He did though reach into his pocket and take out a breath mint and pop it into his mouth.
"You interested?" He asked extending the circular metal pill tin in front of her.
"Sure. Now which ones are the breath mints and which are the Rohypnol?"
He took a mint from the tin and handed it to her. "Safe. I promise."
She smiled flirtatiously at him but he turned and looked to the ground before them. He was difficult to read. As they walked in silence Elizabeth found herself wondering for the twentieth time that night, if she had been too harsh. Perhaps it was the half a bottle of wine, or perhaps the high of having such warm banter after these past few months, but Elizabeth got the nerve to call him on it once they reached his car.
Robert unlocked her car door before walking around to the other side. He unlocked his side and stopped short upon recognizing that she hadn't gotten into the car. "Something wrong?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
He looked across the roof of his car to her confused. "Not yet. But if I drive off and you are still standing there, than yes, you missed the step where you get into the car."
"I don't mean right now. I mean in general. I feel like you have run from hot to cold in a matter of seconds, and I can't keep up."
"Can you get into the car?" He asked, not giving up an inch of emotion. She sat down and placed her hands in her lap. He got into the car a few seconds after her, but didn't put on his seatbelt or place his keys in the ignition.
"Elizabeth," he began, "I don't want you to misinterpret anything that is going on here."
"I wasn't meaning to presume"
He cut her off. "No, let me say this."
She nodded silently.
"You can't say anything that would offend me."
"You say that now, but, at certain moments of the evening you have withdrawn." He didn't respond right away and Elizabeth cursed herself for not letting him "finish" before she cut in again. "Sorry. You go. I'll stop."
"No." He was having a harder time with this than he had expected. "No, don't stop. That feisty way about you it is why I came" he stopped himself but they both knew the intentions of his statement.
There was a beat of silence. "Robert, I'm glad you did." He looked over to her and she nodded an affirmation. He stiffened back into his seat and put on his seatbelt. He started the engine and gunned it a bit in neutral.
"You ought to put on that belt of yours. I saw speed limit signs that read 90."
"Robert that's kilometers not miles."
"Pa-tay-to pa-tah-to" he answered before shifting into first and pulling away from the curb.