Part 6
Holly slipped her earing into her left earlobe and snapped on the wingback before taking a step away from the mirror to study herself for anything that didn't quite work.
But her Valentino emerald green floor length gown was hanging sensually off every curve. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, catching the glint from her diamond stud that matched the teardrop diamond necklace adorning her neck, that rested elegantly just above her breasts which were slightly exposed from the neckline of her dress.
Holly smiled, it had been a long time since she had last got so dressed up and she could feel butterflies in her gut as she thought about her date tonight with Gail.
"Are you ready yet?"
Holly chuckled at Gail calling through her bedroom door impatiently.
"This girl-girl getting dressed thing…not liking it." Gail continued.
Shaking her head Holly slipped on her heels and went back to the mirror one last time.
"I'll do, I guess." She muttered before slipping her glasses on and going to her bedroom door and opening it.
"Finally!" Gail said throwing her hands up as she spun around from walking the hallway, only to stop at the sight of her girlfriend.
"Wow." The blonde whispered as Holly came into full view.
Pleased with the wide-eyed look she was receiving, Holly gave a little spin. "What do you think?"
Gail lifted her eyes from raking over Holly's body and opened her mouth to reply but could only stutter.
Holly grinned and stepped closer, working her hips with each step and enjoying the reaction as Gail once again eyed her body.
"You look, well…stunning, you look stunning." Gail muttered quietly, her mouth going dry.
Holly smirked, pausing just in front of Gail, who was wearing an equally beautiful black and gold Alexander McQueen dress falling just below the knee. "You look gorgeous."
Grinning like an idiot, Gail leaned in for a kiss but Holly backed away.
"Nuh uh." Holly replied but seeing the touch of hurt in her girlfriend's eye she tilted her head until their forehead were touching and ran her hand up and down the blonde's side over the smooth, silk like texture of the dress. "Lipstick." She whispered to explain her previous reaction.
Rolling her eyes Gail pulled away. "Oh, come on!" She complained then gestured her hand up the length of Holly's body. "You can't seriously be telling me I get to look at you dressed like that all night and I can't even kiss you!"
Holly took a few paces back towards her bedroom and gave a shrug of her shoulder. "Well, I guess we could just not go out?"
"Yes!" Gail replied quickly. Staying in sounded like a fantastic idea. She could kiss her girlfriend without worrying about messing up her makeup and of course, the main tipping point towards staying home, there was a bed nearby. Not that a bed was a necessity.
She grinned and stepped towards Holly again.
"But, then I guess you don't get to find out what I had planned for you tonight." Holly continued, pausing her movements.
Gail rocked her head side to side. "Another night maybe?" She offered as a hopeful compromise. Right now, the last thing on Gail's mind was some surprise, she kinda wanted to spend the evening unwrapping Holly from the dress covering her body. Possibly with her teeth.
"Hmm." Holly said letting Gail approach, let her rest her hands on her hips and touch their heads together again. She let Gail lean in for a kiss, only to teasingly pull back and rub her nose against Gail's as her hand wandered up to grasp the back of the blonde's neck. "But then…"
"Hm?" Gail closed her eyes just waiting for Holly to lean the rest of the way in.
"Then all this effort would be for nothing, and Gail?"
"Yeah?"
Holly smirked and pinched Gail in the side, earning a yelp from the blonde.
"I didn't spend over an hour getting ready just to stay home." And with that Holly headed past the blonde and slipped into her coat and grabbed for her clutch.
Gail pouted, her eyes drawn to Holly, she came close to whining at her when her body was covered by a long dark coat. She rolled her eyes when the older woman stood expectantly at the door waiting for Gail to accept defeat and join Holly as she made her way out to her car.
Pulling on her own coat, Gail huffed as she joined Holly at the door.
"You're so mean."
"It's not my fault you need such a firm hand."
"Spanking?" Gail asked as she climbed into the passenger side of Holly's Z4. "Is that a thing with you, Holly? Do we need to discuss this?"
Holly shook her head and pulled her car out of the driveway and onto the road.
"No really," Gail continued, seeing just the hint of a blush on Holly's cheeks. "Hey, I'm game for trying new things, Hol, I just never had you pegged as someone who liked to…inflict pain, sexually."
Holly ignored her.
"Tell you what, I'm sure we can trade, I'll play naughty school girl and you can put on that sexy white coat of yours and we can play doctor!"
Holly giggled not sure whether or not to take anything Gail had just said seriously.
Gail smiled and glanced around as Holly drove them into the city.
"So, where are you taking me?"
Holly shot Gail a look before concentrating on the road.
"Because, I know you have a love of dancing but, honey, that ain't happening in this dress." Gail continued.
"You're very talkative tonight." Holly added as she pulled up at a stop sign.
Gail shrugged, she wasn't sure why she was so nervous, but tonight seemed to be a big deal to Holly, and with the fancy clothes, she just didn't want to screw up. "I guess I can be quiet, but it's going to be a very strange date when you're left talking to yourself."
Holly snorted. "I don't think you'd be capable of being quiet all night Gail."
Gail's eyes narrowed. "Is that a challenge?"
"No, just an observation on your character."
"Was that an insult?"
Holly giggled and turned onto another road. "You're proving my point."
Huffing, Gail turned her head to look out the window. "Fine, whatever, ignoring you now."
Holly hummed to herself, wondering how long that would last.
"Where are we going?"
Something in Gail's tone had Holly glancing her way. "To dinner, I already told you, the reservation's for 7.30pm."
Gail felt sick, her knee bouncing nervously as her eyes flitted around the street they were on.
"Where, Hol?"
"Gail?" Holly reached over to lay a comforting hand on the blonde's leg but it didn't seem to calm the growing distress she was seeing in Gail's face.
Gail closed her eyes as she realised exactly what street she was on. "Pull over." She whispered as her breathing escalated.
"Gail, sweetheart?"
"Pull the god damn car over!"
Holly quickly indicated and pulled up at the sidewalk, but before she could turn to ask Gail what was wrong the blonde was up and out of the car like a shot.
A car horn blasted at Gail for almost stepping out into the traffic but Gail barely noticed as she made her way to the back of Holly's car and leaned over, putting her head down to try and catch her breath.
This isn't happening! She thought to herself as she felt tears sting at her eyes. A hand touch her arm and her whole body jerked back away from the contact.
"Woah, hey!" Holly said softly as she crouched awkwardly down in front of Gail. "It's just me Gail. It's okay."
"I can't…" Her hands were shaking and she was sure she was going to throw up. "I can't go in there."
"Where?" Holly asked shifting closer but taking care not to touch Gail, she could see the signs of a panic attack and didn't want to do anything to make things worse for the blonde.
Keeping her eyes closed Gail struggled to concentrate on just her breathing, letting the chill of the evening air into her lungs. It took a few minutes and she had to clench her hands into fists to stop them visibly shaking, but Gail managed to look up into Holly's concerned gaze finally.
"Where are we going Holly?" She asked knowing if Holly said what she thought she would it was unlikely that Gail would be able to get back in the car.
Frowning with worry Holly brought her hands up and gently cradled Gail's face, ignoring the tear stains as she gently pressed her lips to her girlfriends. She could feel the chill in them and as she eased back she shifted the last few inches and let their body's touch as much as they could in the position they were in.
"We can turn around and go back home, Gail." But the blonde was shaking her head. "I booked us into the Harbour Restaurant."
Gail let out the breath she'd been holding as more tears escaped down her cheeks. But her hands were still shaking and she wasn't sure she could stand back up never mind get back into the car.
"Talk to me Gail." Holly asked softly.
"Why are we on this street?" Gail asked looking at Holly.
Holly shrugged not understanding. "It's the quickest way to the Harbour."
Gail started shaking her head again. "I can't, I just… I can't."
"Okay?"
A chuckle escaped past Gail's lips as she took in the confusion on Holly's face. "Help me up."
Holly stood from her crouched stance and offered the blonde her arm, helping her to her feet.
Gail gripped Holly's hand needing the contact right now. "There's a hotel on this street I can't go into." She explained.
Holly looked over Gail's shoulder and further down the street looking for anything that would clue her into why Gail was so freaked out. Then she saw it and swore to herself.
The Archer.
"Damn." She muttered to herself stepping into Gail's space and pulling her into a hug, holding her as tightly as she could. "I'm sorry."
Gail accepted the hug, but shook her head as her girlfriend apologised. "Not your fault, I just, I don't think I can go back in there." She explained. It wasn't where she was kidnapped from but the restaurant had such a connection to what had happened to her that Gail wasn't sure she'd ever be able to step foot in the place again, even if it was work related.
"Okay so listen," Holly said wanting to get them out of the area as quickly as possible. "What we are going to do is get back in the car, and I'm going to turn us around and take the next turn. What I need you to do for me is keep your eyes closed and maybe tell me a story about something, I don't know. We can play 20 questions." She offered.
Taking a steadying breath, Gail wiped at her eyes carefully, not wanting to smudge her mascara all over her face. "Okay."
Holly helped Gail then leaned in and kissed the blonde, not pulling back until she felt Gail grin against her lips.
"Turns out my lipstick does look good on you." Holly said with a wink at Gail which earned her a small chuckle. That was good. "Come on." Holly then put her hand to the small of Gail's back and guided her carefully back into the car.
When Holly got into the driver's seat she noticed Gail had her eyes closed. "Okay, so I'll go first, favourite book?"
Gail bit her bottom lip not really wanting to answer, but she knew Holly wasn't going to let her get away without something. Maybe she should lie?
"Gail, that's one of the easiest questions I could think of." Holly said, carefully heading into the opposite side of the traffic and taking the first turn away from the street they were on.
Sighing, Gail replied, "Romeo and Juliet." She admitted, she kept her eyes shut not wanting to see what look that answer had caused on Holly's face.
"Really?"
Gail shrugged, feeling the car make another turn. She was starting to blame Nick bringing up her rape earlier for how strong her reaction was just now. She'd driven on that street before without it ever being like that.
"You know, young love overcoming a multitude of issues to try and be together only to screw it up anyway?" Gail explained. "My kinda story, plus you know, death always works."
"Okay."
"What about you? No, don't tell me, grey's anatomy!" Gail said with a chuckle. "The book not the show."
Holly rolled her eyes. "I gathered."
"So, what was it then?"
Holly grinned, wondering what Gail would make of her answer. "The Secret Garden was a firm favourite growing up, I got it for Christmas one year and spent the whole day reading it whenever I could sneak away." She snuck a glance at Gail. "You know you kinda remind me of-"
Gail scowled, familiar with the book herself. "Finish that sentence and I don't care if you're driving, I'm going to kick you."
Holly chuckled and let it go. "Worst Christmas gift seeing as I mentioned it."
Gail snorted opening her eyes and turning to Holly. "Handcuffs."
"No way!" Holly replied laughing.
"Yup!" Gail confirmed with a nod of her head. "My mom wanted me to practise before going to the academy so I wouldn't make her look stupid. And okay, it was a birthday present, but still… worst present ever!"
Holly shook her head as she pulled up to a valet.
Gail got out and looked at the building, the Harbour Hotel was definitely a place for those with more money than sense. Of course it explained why they were dressed so well. She took another deep, calming breath and stepped over to Holly who was speaking to a member of staff and handing her keys over to them.
Holly smiled as Gail reached her and took her hand. The blonde looked nervous but not as bad as before. "You okay? We can still go if you want to?"
Gail shook her head back and forth. "I'll be fine, but I need to make a stop in the restroom first." She wanted to check her makeup wasn't a complete mess after her meltdown.
"You look great, but no problem."
They walked into the building, the doorman opening the door for them. There was a long reception area and the restaurant was towards the back of the building where it provided views over the waterfront.
Holly paused and allowed the blonde to disappear into the restroom on her own to give her a few minutes to collect herself.
She was wondering if tonight was going to go over well at all and if she should scrap her plans for in favour of ensuring Gail didn't have any lasting effects from the drive over.
In the bathroom Gail was pleased to find she didn't look like a racoon and quickly returned to see her girlfriend frowning to herself.
"Hey." She said, approaching tentatively, wondering if the older woman was having second thoughts about tonight.
Holly turned and offered Gail a brilliant smile and held her hand out in invitation.
"Are you still sure about this?" Holly asked as they started walk to where she could see the maître d' standing at the ready.
"Mm hm." Gail said, "But I just hope you realise that dinner at a fancy restaurant doesn't constitute a surprise."
Holly grinned. "It doesn't?"
"Not a bit."
xxxxxxx
AN/ Can't believe I dragged this chapter this far and didn't even get to the point!
Ah well, next time eh?