The Reluctant Heiress (A Christian Romance Novel)

Part 29 : The Real Date

Tuesday evening. After office.

Telly's cellphone rung. "Hello," she answered smiling.

"Well, Ma'am, your date has arrived," Aiden replied on the other side of the line. "I'll be waiting here for you."

"I'll be there in a few," she hung up and immediately fixed her office desk, looked at her hand mirror tucked away in her drawer and re-touched her lipstick. She stood up, straightened up her black pencil skirt, picked up her red purse and walked towards the door, with her black stiletto making its sweet noise. She let her hair down with those soft curls cascading on her ivory chiffon blouse.

As she walked out of the hotel, she immediately caught a glimpse of Aiden, so handsome in his office attire. He was standing by the passenger side of his dark blue GM truck, ready to open the door for her. Such chivalry!

"You look great!" she complimented him.

"Thanks!" He shyly replies as he rubbed his hand on his neck. "You're looking lovely as ever."

She blushed, just a little.

As she approached him, she could feel everything seemed to be moving in slow-mo: he extended his hand to her, his lips curving into a flirty smile, she gave him her hand, he bowed down to her like a royalty, she hopped into the truck, and he gently slammed the door after her, and he walked to the other side and finally hopped into the driver seat.

"Where do you wanna go?" he asked as he started the engine.

"Surprise me," was all she could say. And off they drove away from Hotel de Lavi.

After a couple of minutes, they found themselves in front of one of the top steak houses in Atlanta. Aiden chose valet parking, so they both got out of the truck at the main entrance of the restaurant. After being ushered to their table, a waitress came to give their menu, where both of them chose a set meal of filet mignon with their choice is sides, with house wine and premium dessert to be served later.

"Wow," Telly finally said as the waitress left them."This is real a date."

"Nothing but the best for you," Aiden said, fixing his eyes on her. "You don't know how long I've waited for this moment."

She smiled, definitely tickled to death inside but she kept her composure. "How long?"

He leaned over and almost whispered, "Almost twenty years."

"What?" She was so shocked at this revelation! "You've liked me since you were ten? How did I not notice that?"

He chuckled and rubbed his hand on his neck. "I guess that's how good I am in hiding it."

"But why did you hide it? Why did you not tell me?" She realized she was being her bossy self again in front of Aiden like when they were kids.

"Well, I tried, but there was always somebody in the way," he replied. "Remember Nick your boyfriend in senior year? You didn't talk to me for maybe 3 years and when you broke up, I saw you when we were cleaning your house and when I asked how you are, you just suddenly cried and dumped all your emotions on me."

"Oh my gosh, I remember that! I'm so sorry!" she said embarrassed at those memories. "I was so foolish!"

And they recollected other high school memories that brought them laughing to tears.

"Why did you not tell me after college?" She insisted.

"In my eyes, you've gotten so much bigger than life," he said a bit seriously. "You were like Liberty and I was that man the size of the ant beside you."

"Oh come on!"

"Yeah, that's how I look at you," he nodded. "And so when I entered the corporate world, I was inspired by you. You made me do my very best so that one day, I'll be able to reach you."

She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'm sorry but newsflash, I am not unreachable. I'm not superwoman. I am not what you imagine me to be. You'll be shocked to know how regular I am."

He reached for her hand, and squeezed it gently. "Let me be the judge of that," he replied. "Right now what I know is that I am the luckiest man in the world sitting here right in front of Ms. Telly de Lavi!"

And with that, her heart pounded like a thousand horses running a race. She could not believe how she could be a recipient of such admiration. 'Is this for real?'

"I wish I knew this earlier, maybe I may have avoided so much pain," she said.

"Sometimes, our life's greatest breakthroughs happen after our greatest breakdowns," he poetically answered. "And the result of those breakthroughs? A different lens. A different perspective in life."

"Wow, that's deep. I feel like I'm a teenager here and you're the adult," she said teasing him.

"Remember I had twenty years to prepare for this so I have a lot of these lines rolled up my sleeves," he teased back. He was seemingly getting more relaxed with her. "Just wait for the others to be rolled out!"

He felt so good being so comfortable with Telly, the love of his life. How on earth did he finally get to this? All he knew was that the Telly who used to be just a dream, was now a reality, a beautiful reality.

Telly has known him as a man of few words, but tonight, he sure was slowly loading up, and she was enjoying discovering more of him. He was fun to be with, and so good with witty banters. He's a country boy and most importantly, has good manners like good 'ole southern boys who love boots, the farm, horses and their mommas.

After their dinner, he took her to some of the galleries in town. Aiden knew how much she loved paintings. As for Telly, she had always loved the art scene but never really had the chance to visit galleries because of her busy schedule. So that evening, she tried to take them all in. But it was a challenge as she was more interested with her company than the artworks they look at. She'd rather look at him, enjoy him and this moment that she wished would last longer.

"I had a great time with you," she said as he parked in front of her home. "Thank you."

"I had the best time," he replied. He took her hand and kissed it gently. "You don't realize how happy you've made me today."

"I'll see you again Aiden," she said as she pulled her hand and hopped out of his truck. "G'night."

He watched her as she walked towards her door. She looked back and smiled at him. He smiled back. His heart was pounding so fast. He has never felt this happy and excited before.

As soon as she entered her house, he drove off. Telly took a deep breath with that smile still plastered on her face. She couldn't believe Aiden would be the one who would awaken her sleeping heart. Could it be? Is he for real? Am I ready to entrust my heart again? What if he hurts me? Oh, a gazillion thoughts rushed into her mind that she could not sleep. It was already past one in the morning. As she lay down on her bed, she could still feel his hand when he touched hers at the steak house... she could still see that beautiful smile, and that infectious laughter... she could still hear the words 'you don't know how long I've waited for this moment'... 'Oh Lord, if you can still hear me, please give me wisdom. I need it'.. and she dozed off finally...

&&&&&&&&Author's Note&&&&&&

Is this the start of something beautiful?

Or too early to tell?

I am a sucker for love stories, specially those where I see His handprints in all areas.