Moonstruck at Midnight

Chapter 12 - A First Date

IT WAS 7:55 P.M. when I heard a knock on my door. It was Caleb, and he didn't look too pleased. I was all dressed up and ready for my date with Thomas.

"Your date," he said, lifting an eyebrow, "is downstairs." He sniffed. "I still can't get that vanilla thing off my nose. And my poor jacket's going straight to the cleaners." He frowned as if it were a tragedy.

"Well, I'm not wearing that body spray tonight." I teased. "Just as you requested."

"I can smell your perfume, alright." He gives me a once-over, his lips going into a tight line. "It's even worse now."

Ha! I knew it.

I was about to lock my door, but Caleb jumped in. "I've got it."

As I sauntered down the hall toward the elevator, William's face popped up in my head—again. It was stuck in my frontal lobe like double-stick tape. I uselessly tried shaking the thought of him away.

Focus. You're going on a date with Thomas.

"Having second thoughts?" Caleb asked, motioning me to step inside the elevator. "You can still turn around. I'll handle him."

"Ha, ha." I poked his chest. "I'm just ... a bit nervous."

We stepped out of the elevator, and there he was, patiently waiting for me in the lobby, looking as handsome as he did the day I met him.

"Hey there," Thomas said with a smile as I approached him. I recognized the smell of his cologne. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a brown leather jacket over a white V-neck t-shirt.

What's with all the white t-shirts? And why did they all look so good in them? I would never see a white t-shirt in the same way again. He pulled me closer to him, and butterflies fluttered in my stomach. My cheek burned after the kiss he gave me.

"You look beautiful," he whispered close to my ear, offering his hand.

"Thank you." I grabbed his warm hand and led him outside. "Feel like walking? I can always carry you back home if your feet get swollen." He smiled.

And how could I forget about that?
We walked to a nearby Italian restaurant. Aaron and Caleb followed on foot a safe distance away.

"Do you find them annoying?" I whispered, referring to my bodyguards.

"Of course not," he said firmly. "I have an idea of what happened,

Billie. My parents told me what they knew, which wasn't much. But we don't have to talk about any of that unless you want to."

He turned to look at me, and I nodded in appreciation. I did not feel like talking about my mom's death.

Not today.

We sat at a cozy table in the indoor dining area. The night was a bit chilly to sit outside on the terrace. Candles that had dripped on themselves over time decorated the small Italian restaurant and created a romantic atmosphere.

Caleb followed us inside, and once we were seated, he stood a few feet away with his back against the wall. I cleared my throat, trying to get his attention. Was he planning to stand there the entire time?

He ignored me.

"Caleb?"

"Yes, Miss Murphy," he replied, keeping his bodyguard stance firm. He was rooted to the ground. He didn't seem like he was going anywhere. I excused myself and walked over to talk to him.

 "Would you like to take a seat at the table? We could ask the server to bring an extra chair," I said sarcastically in barely a whisper. Caleb snorted and met my gaze with a slow blink. "I would like some privacy."