Red Reddington looked like a million dollars when he stepped out of the car which had pulled up to the curb seconds before.
He walked jauntily around the backside of the freshly washed Mercedes, his footsteps slowing then stopping completely. A deep frown creased his forehead. His eyes had caught the sight of a slip of paper tucked carefully beneath Liz's windshield wiper.
He stepped forward slowly, removing the neatly folded note, his eyes scanning rapidly the typed words.
You really are a beautiful woman. Not that I haven't noticed before. I know that you're going through a hard time. Just know . . . I am here.
Red's scowl deepened considerably. He looked around rapidly for his friend Dembe who just, as if on cue, rounded the South corner of the street.
Red removed his fedora, motioning the man forward.
Dembe hurried his steps, reaching the rendevous point in record time, sensing a problem.
Red handed the note over, waiting patiently for the large black man to read it. He motioned with his head to the vicinity of Liz's windshield.
"This was not here seven minutes earlier." Dembe's scowl matched Red Reddington's. "There has been no traffic to speak of, no people on the street... nothing of concern."
Red touched the man's shoulder, trusting Dembe implicitly.
"Don't worry Dembe," Red decided to put it out of his mind for the present. "We'll find this 'would be' poet laureate, sooner or later." He straightened his bow tie. "Tonight we're not going to worry about anything."
Samar zipped the back of the dress, laughing. "Can you even move?"
"Barely." Liz adjusted the strap on her heel, then straightened, "Oh, that's better." She let out a long, even sigh. "As long as I don't have to breathe, I should be good." Catching a glimpse in the full length mirror, her eyes widened.
"Oh my god." Her mouth dropped. "Do you believe this?" Her fingers slid into the very low cleavage of the amazing dress.
"Wow." Samar looked at their reflection and then to the woman standing beside her, silently applauding their efforts. Liz turned back and forth, studying her body. "You look stunning."
"Is that the word we're going with?" She asked, unsure, turning this way and that to check her reflection once again.
"Let me put it this way," Samar assured, "Reddington will be proud, happy and very annoyed to have you on his arm tonight."
"Annoyed?" Liz questioned apprehensively.
"He'll have to fight off your potential suitors all evening, so yes, he'll be annoyed." Samar snickered.
"Don't do that." Liz released the breath she'd been holding, backhanding Samar's arm playfully. "I'm already nervous."
Samar fluffed the small train lightly, the heavy crystals clicking on the hard wood floor. "Damn, I like this dress."
"It is nice, isn't it?"
Thankfully Red had told the sales woman what the evenings plans were and what type of dress might be needed, so there were gowns waiting when they had arrived. In her size, no less. How he did that, she didn't want to know.
"I hope he likes it... since he paid for it." She had been annoyed with him at first, having had everything placed on his account. But she figured, why not. It was his turf, he knew what was expected in his crowd. And it was expensive.
Samar hid her smile, "Why is that?" In her short time there, she had seen the way Reddington looked at the woman. He was completely infatuated with her. How Liz didn't see it was beyond her.
"Why is what?" She threw some lipstick and other needed things into her silver bag.
"Why do you hope he likes it?"
"He's always so put together and I'm not. Not really." Liz believed in facing facts. "This isn't my type of thing. I've only been out to these functions with him." She worried her hands, second guessing herself. "I don't ever know if I'm picking the correct attire."
"Has he ever said anything?" Samar questioned, intrigued since she didn't see the previous attempts to fit in with the 'In' crowd.
"No, but maybe he's just being nice?" Liz fretted.
"He has a reputation to protect. He wouldn't..." Samar stopped, hearing the knock downstairs. "I'll go down, you finish."
Making her way down, she pulled the door open, smiling. Her eyes softened at the 'vision' standing so gravely quiet before her. "You look very dapper." Eyeing Red in his evening coat that allowed just a glimpse of his bow tie.
"Is Lizzy all right?" He removed his black felt hat, looking around for the woman, not having expected the agent to still be hanging around so late.
The beautiful agent beamed her approval, having noted the exquisite bouquet hanging limply in Red's hand.
"Yes. She'll be down in a minute." Samar explained the questioning glance. " I'm still here because she forgot the logistics of the dress." Red frowned, tilting his head in question.
"She needed help with her zipper." Samar explained. "Those are absolutely beautiful." she motioned to the flowers.
Reddington glanced down as if having forgotten the fragrant blooms lay against the side of his expensive trousers.
"Ah." Red relaxed, minutely, gallantly offering a perfect single rose to Samar. "So she's about ready?"
Samar brought the soft petals to her lovely mouth, inhaling the rich scent. She smiled warmly at the man.
"I'm coming, Red." Liz called from the upstairs, hurrying to finish the last tasks required.
"Take you're time." He called up to her, then turned his attention elsewhere for the time being.
"Oh, you're wearing them." Red said, pointing down at Samar's feet and the heels he had gifted her.
"I sleep in them." She lifted her trouser leg, showing them off. "I didn't say before, I don't think?" she had been so enthralled by the shoes, "Thank you." she smiled happily.
"It was my pleasure." Red returned the warm smile.
Hearing Liz descending, he turned his head to see her own silver heels touching the stairs, the delicate straps shining brightly against the dim light. When he saw her leg peak through the slit of her dress, his eyes lifted ever so slowly, enjoying the trek...
"Damn..." he blinked his eyes, focusing on the woman.
Samar snickered quietly at his appreciation. Liz had just been saying how unsophisticated she felt next to Reddington. She could see how, from Liz's point of view, Red would have no real interest in a young, inexperienced woman.
In Samar's world, the man not only showed 'interest' but 'involvement.' He still had not taken his eyes off the young woman.
He stood transfixed.
The form fitting blood red gown didn't have any give what-so-ever. A sash, just under her waist held in place by a tasteful flower broach, accentuated her hips and the high slit that ended mid thigh, drew attention to her leg.
The deep neckline stopped just at her sternum and straps ran up each shoulder in a halter-like style.
The gown was unlike anything he thought she would have been comfortable with. Even with him assuring her many times that she could carry it off.
"Lizzy, you are absolutely enchanting." Red extended his hand, helping her down the last few steps.
Still holding her hand, he stepped back looking her up and down. "Red definitely suits you." he grinned at his own unintentional double entendre, then sobered slightly, his eyes mellowing. "Stunning!"
"Okay." The other woman felt suddenly very much the 'third wheel'. "I'm going to go ahead and take off."
Both snapped their head to look at Samar, having forgotten she was even there.
"If you need help later..." She offered, knowing full well she wouldn't get called.
"Thank you so much for being here, Samar." Liz hugged the woman, then stepped back quickly, unsure the embrace would be welcomed.
"Have a good night, be safe."
Red politely opened the door for the woman. He watched her clear the steps, and disappear across the street. He closed the door quietly, having assured Samar's safety, hearing the car pull away from the curb. Clearing his throat gently, he returned his attention readily.
"Your wrap?" he asked.
She pointed to the long coat hanging on the door. The garment, also new, thanks to Red's urging via the saleswoman, complimented her outfit to perfection.
Glancing in the mirror by the door, she automatically checked her hair.
"You couldn't be more lovely. Don't bother trying." Red held her coat open, coming towards her.
Turning her back on him, she heard him grunt appreciatively.
"Fuck..." he whispered his awe.
"What! What's wrong?" She looked over her shoulder at the dress, afraid she'd ripped it.
He stared, transfixed on the sight of the back of the dress hugging her, curving tightly against the woman's backside down to her thighs before flaring out in a short train. The shimmering beadwork caught in the low light of the hall, blinking diamonds of light danced along her entire body and the surrounding hallway with her slight movement. The top of her back and shoulders were bare and warm under the low light.
Damn it all to hell! He had not planned on such a distraction tonight. This was going to be "iffy at best".
When he saw that dress, he knew that his contemporaries, when they caught one glimpse of her, were going to circle like a bunch of foaming mouthed wolves.
In civilized company, he'd have nothing to worry about. But a room full of criminals... it was going to be an interesting evening.
"Nothings wrong." he stepped forward, helping her get one arm then the other into her coat. "Just admiring your gown."
Leaning forward, he captured the light scent of her perfume, inhaling deeply. "You smell just as wonderful as you look."
He lifted the bouquet, "These pale in comparison."
The woman flushed with pleasure, receiving the flowers graciously.
It took damn near all his self control not to bury his nose in the curve of her neck and lick the scent away until he found her natural one and even then, he wasn't sure he'd stop.
Liz flushed brightly at the compliment, beaming, "Well, thank you, Red." She absently grabbed her clutch. "Very much." She smiled, her new found joy, burying her nose into the soft petals. "It's been so long since I..." she lifted wistful eyes, her embarrassment coming to the fore. "You look very nice too."
She blurted the faux pas, taking the time to really observe the man.
Very nice. She thought the 'compliment' so lame... this man looked phenomenal.
She couldn't help but see the marked difference between Red and Tom in a tuxedo. While Tom was handsome, he always seemed to look like a little boy playing dress up in the too baggy formal suit. But Red was dashing in his tailored finery, highlighting his broad shoulders and chest and tapered waist.
One attempted sophistication while the other reeked of it, because no one swaggered in a tux and could carry it off, like Red Reddington did.
And he smelled so good. She had even started sniffing colognes at the store trying to find the elusive brand he used and had been admittedly disappointed in her search.
"And you smell absolutely delicious." she gushed.
"Thank you." he accepted graciously, finding her maladroit ramblings utterly charming. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of calling in a reservation for dinner. I was sure you'd be famished. Though," he ogled the dress hugging her tightly, "I'm not sure where you'll put it."
"I'll manage." She quipped, "Come on, I'm starving."
"As am I, dear Lizzy." Red tilted his head, eyeing her sensually as she walked away. The woman was blissfully unaware, to interested in her bouquet to note his interest.
It was going to be a long night.