Savior

Chapter 39

-xx-

"I'm warning you now," Derek started as he walked down the hallway towards the bedroom. "I'm not a big Broadway guy."

The black man stopped in the doorway to the bathroom and smiled at the brunette. "I told you my mom would have come with me."

He shook his head as Cate focused on applying her mascara. "I'm not one to bail on date night, baby." She turned her head just enough to see him in the mirror but continued applying her makeup.

"It was sweet of Maura to give us these tickets," she reminded him as she twisted the cover on to her mascara tube. "I really have no clue what we're getting into tonight, but if we don't like it, we can leave at intermission."

Cate caught sight of him in his dress pants and polo shirt and bit down the inside of her lip. How that man could wear anything and look amazing was beyond her, but it could be pretty annoying at times.

She released a deep breath before turning back to finish her make-up application. "I thought you barely wore make-up," he asked with a laugh as he started towards the bedroom.

Cate stuck her head out of the doorway. "Really?" she asked sarcastically. "No, I just keep this make-up box here for fun." She rolled her eyes as she twisted the cap onto her lip gloss and placed it back in the basket in question. "I don't wear a lot but I do wear some."

She stepped out of the bathroom and re-adjusted the towel around her body. As she walked into the bedroom, she caught herself watching Derek trying to select a watch from his ever-growing collection.

"Don't ever give me shit for all of my shoes when you have that many watches, mister," she joked as she walked into the room. She had laid out her outfit for the evening before taking a shower and did her best to get dressed as quick as possible while Derek had his back to her.

"I like my watches," he admitted proudly, as he slipped one on to his wrist. "But I love your heels."

He turned around just as she adjusted the knee length skirt she wore. The floral patterned pleated skirt accented her waist perfectly, and the black v-neck top she wore tucked in to the skirt fit her in all the right places.

Derek took her hand and twirled her in the center of the bedroom. She laughed as her fishtail bread flew over her shoulder.

"You're beautiful," he complimented as he pulled her close to him. Cate heard the sharp intake of breath at the motion and instantly frowned. "I'm fine."

Her eyebrow rose in his direction causing a smirk to take over his face. "I know you're fine," she replied with a chuckle. "We don't have to go."

He shook his head. "The world needs to see you all dressed up," he replied with a smile. "I am so lucky to have you on my arm."

Cate's face broke into a beaming smile at his words. He always made sure she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. She stepped out of his hold to sit on the bed and slip on a pair of heels that complimented her skirt. "We should get going to we can grab dinner before the show starts," she reminded him.

Derek nodded and followed her out of the bedroom.

-xx-

"What's with the watch obsession?" she asked as she reached for her wine glass.

Derek sat across from her and smiled. "My dad fixed watches as a hobby when I was growing up." He instinctively reached for his whiskey glass as memories of his dad flashed across his face. "Most of my collection belonged to him. I've had a few restored over the years."

Cate took a sip from her glass and placed it back to the table. "Which is your favorite?"

He beamed. "It'd have to be his Rolex." Derek sat back in his chair and took a sip of his drink. "My father wore it when he married my mom." Cate smiled in his direction. "They didn't have much when they got married, but my grandpa bought it for my dad. Or at least that's what Pops used to say."

He chuckled at the memory and placed his whiskey glass back to the tabletop. "He would be so proud that you still have it."

Derek smiled at the sincerity of her statement. "He would have loved you, Catie."

She pursed her lips into a smile and bowed her head away from him. She wished that she could meet the man who inspired the man she loved. But she wished more than Hank Morgan was here to see the impressive man Derek became in his honor.

Cate looked up as the waitress returned with their entrees. They thanked her as she placed them on the table in front of them before returning to the kitchen. Derek's eyes lit up as he eyed the filet on the plate in front of him.

The brunette raved about the restaurant around the corner from the opera house, and he was impressed so far. They had one of the best whiskey selections he'd seen and the meat looked incredible. He frowned as he looked across to Cate starting on her salad. "To date night," he offered as he held his glass out to her.

She clinked glasses with him and watched as he cautiously took a sip of his whiskey. He slowly placed the glass to the table with a wince. "You need to see the doctor Monday morning, mister."

He shook his head. "It's much better, baby." Her eyebrow rose in his direction as she stabbed at her food. "Thank you for worrying, though."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm serious, Derek. You should see a doctor if you can't even lift a glass."

Derek nodded. "I'll be okay. I promise. I'm just sore right now." She sighed at his response. "We delayed taking off so I could get looked at. Nothing is broken. I'm just bruised up."

Defeated, she retreated to eating her meal. "I'm going to beat you myself," she muttered.

The black man across from her grinned as he cut into his filet. "I'd like to see you try," he joked back. The look she gave him caused him to laugh. "Give me a few days, and I'll be back to normal." He reached across the table to take her hand. "Though someone didn't exactly let me rest last night after we went out."

She laughed as his fingers ran over her knuckles. "Well excuse me." She scoffed in his direction, all while a smile danced across her lips. "Next time I'll just let you go to sleep, all by yourself."

She dragged on the last words as she reached for her wine glass. "It is impossible for me to pass you up, baby," he replied.

The flirtation in his expression caused the butterflies in her stomach to flutter around.

-xx-

Cate placed her head back against the headrest and let out a content sigh as Derek maneuvered the SUV out of the parking garage they were in. She sent a quick e-mail to Maura thanking her again for the tickets and mentioning how much the enjoyed themselves. On Your Feet had caught Derek's attention and the two thoroughly enjoyed the performance.

It was not the typical show she would have picked, and she was even more surprised that Derek got so into it. The two went into the show only knowing that it was about Gloria and Emilio Estefan, but nothing else. Cate caught herself singing along to the music she knew.

Derek reached over to grab her hand as they exited the parking structure. She turned her head slightly to smile at him. "A successful date night," he said as he turned on to the road.

She nodded. "Extremely successful. I'm planning more of these if you're getting dressed up."

He smirked as he watched her out of the corner of his eye. "I'm just lucky that you look amazing in everything."

Cate had slipped off her heels the second she got in the truck. Two nights in a row with heels higher than usual for her, and her feet were begging to relax. "You look great with nothing on," she teased.

Derek grinned as he turned the SUV on to the highway on ramp. As he got settled on the highway, he relaxed back in the driver's seat; one hand rested on the steering wheel as the other gripped his girlfriend's hand. "I think we'd get along really well," he began.

"What are you talking about?"

"If we got married, I think we'd get along really well." She laughed as he quoted the musical. Gloria was talking to her father about Emilio casually bringing up the fact that they should get married.

"Funny man," she replied, all while keeping a smile on her face.

He laughed. "What? You don't agree?"

She shook her head. "I think that is the most sensible thing you've ever said."

-xx-