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“Jeez, I hate for you to have to drive back into town,” she said. “I could always drive in.”
“If you don’t mind starting out early, I can pick you up when I get off work. How about six tonight?”
“I have court scheduled for this afternoon, but it might be canceled because of the snow. I should be home by six even if I go.”
She wrote her address down for him, a familiar street not far from where he grew up.
“Is this your parents’ house?” he asked.
“It is,” she said, “but no worries. They’re in Florida until Christmas Eve. I know, pathetic. Twenty-five, and I still live at home.”
“I don’t think it’s pathetic at all. We were practically neighbors,” he said softly. “All those years wasted.”
She looked at him, her eyes glistening, and he seemed so sincere. The regret that they’d just started talking after going to school together since childhood was written clearly on his face.
Holding back, he really wanted to take her hand. But they’d just reconnected a few hours ago. Hand-holding could wait until that night.
“The big question. Do we walk out together and give them a thrill?” he asked. “Or do you want to go ahead of me?”
“Oh hell no. I’m walking out with you. And I’m going to be holding your hand.”
They stood up together, and he held her coat for her before putting his own on. She took his hand, but he let go of it and put his arm around her shoulder instead, and they walked through the café, every head turning to look.
“Jeez, in spite of the height difference, they really make an imposing couple,” a woman sitting behind them whispered.
Onlookers included a few who nodded in approval, and more who whispered derisive comments.
“The bigot’s daughter and the immigrant’s son,” someone sneered. “I’d like to be a fly on the wall when old man Fairchild gets wind of this.”
“You’re not exactly on socializing terms with him, now are you, Buzzard?”
“Not me, but plenty of others around here. You wait and see.”
Chapter 2
At six sharp, he was at her front door. The house was a nice, albeit modest, brick postwar bungalow, similar in style to hundreds like it in the neighborhood.
“You’re right on time,” she greeted him, opening the door.
She’d watched him stroll up the walk, and it was a little breathtaking, like a celebrity was coming to squire her away. He was tall, at least six five, and built, broad shoulders and narrow waist and hips. Thighs like tree trunks—she giggled, thinking it was like the verse from Song of Solomon in the Bible comparing a man’s thighs to columns of alabaster. She glanced away when her eyes went to his crotch, the bulge unmistakable, and a little scary.
“I’m still in my work clothes,” he said apologetically, looking down at himself, and she cringed, hoping he hadn’t noticed her observation of him. She was still a little shaken.
“Me too. I mean my regular clothes. I had to go to court this afternoon after all.” She was wearing the same thing she’d had on when they met for coffee. “I thought I’d get dressed at your place if it’s okay. I’m doing prom night,” she said, holding up an evening gown in a protective see-through bag.
“Ha! That will be great. I’ll wear my tux, and it will really be prom night.”
He took her bag and held the storm door while she locked up. Being together was comfortable for both of them, just enough familiarity to break the ice, but not so much that they had to be on guard not to allow too many of their peccadillos to show. It was still their first date, after all.
Lily saw no reason to hold back her excitement about going out with him. He’d started it at the coffee shop, and she’d go with it. Seeming to like it, he put his free arm around her shoulders. At the curb, he opened the door to his car. She was relieved it was clean and didn’t stink like beer or takeout. She once dated a guy whose car stunk so badly of french fries, she had to wash her hair after spending any time in it.
“How’d you happen to end up in Greektown?” she asked, buckling her seat belt.
She had a rush, wondering if the neighbors were watching; she was unaccustomed to the attention of a gentleman.
“It’s close to school,” he said, getting into the driver’s seat. “And my parents moved there when we arrived from Greece.”
“I had no idea you were born in Greece!”
