Элла Франк - Exquisite

“I didn’t go mom.” she answered rubbing her eyes then closing them, “I just can’t bare to think of her in the cold ground. Maybe, maybe in summer.”

She heard her mother sigh and then say softly, “You’ve been saying that for the past nine summers my girl. You’ll go when you’re ready I suppose.”

“And you’ll keep trying to find out when that is.”

“Your father and I love you Lena.”

She swallowed back tears and squeezed her eyes tight. “I know mom, I know.”

“Alright I’ll let you go. Please eat something.”

“Will do.” she replied rocking forward on her chair to place the phone back. Glancing down she opened her fist to glance at the yellow post it that had been stuck.

Memo:

Dr. O’Donnell,

It’s amazing what one kind find out on Google.

Langley.

And just like that Lena found herself smiling, smug bastard.

Friday night came around quicker than Lena expected. Although her days were long she was finding they were flying by and before she knew it Shelly was calling her to meet up at O’Malley’s, a small Irish pub just down the street from the hospital. Picking up her bag she checked her make-up in the small mirror by the door and walked out. The air was nice tonight, not bitingly cold, but cool enough to redden her cheeks. She pulled her black mid-thigh coat on and tied it around the waist tucking her blue scarf in at the neck before she headed down the street. When she got there it was just around 9pm and the pub was jammed with locals. They had a house band playing tonight and it was clear everyone was ready for the weekend. Lena scanned the crowd and found Shelly sitting by the bar laughing with Liam, the owner. She pushed her way through the sea of people to the spot that was vacant for her then hitched herself up onto the stool.

“Well look who’s here. How you doing tonight young Maggie?”

Lena smiled at the older man. “It’s been a long week but I’m happy to be here about to drink one of your fine ale’s.”

“Is that right?”

Smiling Lena nodded, “That’s right. Start me off with the usual please Liam.”

He winked at her and squeezed Shelly’s hand then walked down the end of the bar. Shelly turned to her, all smiles, and asked, “So how are you tonight Maggie?”

Rolling her eyes at her friend she reached out for a potato chip that was in front of her. “Don’t call me that. I only let him do it because he is sweet and old.”

“And Irish!” she heard Liam yell from just down the bar.

Grinning she crunched down on the chip and nodded once, “Yes and Irish.”

Shelly laughed then picked up her martini taking a sip before putting it back down.“Really though, how was your week?”

“Pretty awful. I had the lovely task of telling a lady her child had leukemia.”

Shelly grimaced and sighed. “See that right there is exactly why I couldn’t work with children.”

Lena reached forward for some more chips and was about to crunch down on them when she heard Shelly say softly, “Holy shit.”

Frowning at her friend Lena turned looking behind her and asked, “What?”

That question was answered the minute her eyes landed on the front door of the pub, right where Mason Langley was standing. Lena spun back around on her chair and hissed at Shelly. “What’s he doing here?”

Picking up her drink Shelly took a quick sip. “How am I supposed to know?”

“Don’t play that innocent shit with me, it wont work. How would he know to come here?”

Shelly placed her glass down and admitted softly, “He called me.”

Lena’s mouth fell open and she sat staring at her friend with nothing to say. Then she gathered her wits and asked softly, “What do you mean he called you? For a date?”

Looking appalled Shelly shook her head, “No! He called and asked for your number and when I told him no, he may have asked me to get you to meet him here tonight. I didn’t think he would actually show.” she finished lamely.

Groaning Lena shook her head and took a gulp from the beer Liam had left in front of her. She’d just started to accept the fact that maybe, just maybe, she’d been a little more obnoxious the other night then she had intended and she’d been leaning toward going back and apologizing to him. It had also been a good excuse to see him again, but to be ambushed? Now that was something she was not ready for. Just as she was trying to think of a good excuse to get up and leave, without killing her friend, she felt him stop right behind her.

Mason had known she was going to be mad. When he’d called Dr Shelly Monroe, she’d warned him how mad Lena would be, but even from across the room he could almost see steam coming out her ears. It’d been three days since he’d called and left the message for her and he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head. He didn’t know what that said about him but something about her had crawled under his skin and refused to go away. He pushed through the crowd and stopped behind her. He watched as she physically stiffened and when it was clear she wasn’t about to turn around he leaned over right by her ear.

“It’s so nice to see you again Dr. O’Donnell.” He saw Shelly stifle a giggle and straightened up winking at her,“You too Dr Monroe.”

“Oh call me Shelly.”

He heard Lena sigh so he turned and signaled the bartender down. He took the stool next to her and rested an elbow on the bar top.  “So this is a nice surprise.”

Finally she turned to face him and when their knees bumped she quickly shifted back. “It’s hardly a surprise when you’re stalking me.” she stated bluntly.

Instead of acting offended he looked at Liam, “I’ll have a Guinness please.”

When he turned back he noticed she was glaring right at him. Her green eyes were twinkling under the light, and although she was in fact glaring at him, she didn’t seem as pissed off as usual. “It was the only way I knew you’d see me.”

“By ambushing me?”

“By going through your friend.” he countered. “Thanks for that Shelly.”

Shelly took that moment to stand. “Ahh you can leave me out of this, thanks. I’m going to go over,” she waved behind her at nothing, “There for a bit.”

Lena shook her head, “Shelly. I’m revoking your friend card.”

Mason couldn’t help grinning at her when she turned back to him.

“Stop flashing your damn dimples around like a weapon.” Lena grumbled as she picked her beer up and took another gulp. The man looked absolutely mouth watering tonight in all black. He was wearing a button up shirt that was tucked into perfectly fitted slacks showing off his broad shoulders and trim cut waist. Draped around his neck was a burgundy scarf to fight off the cool night air and he had a trench coat, that he’d been wearing, now resting up on the bar. His deep blue eyes sparkled as he grinned at her. In a word he was, gorgeous. It wasn’t fair that he was dressed to impress and she was dressed from 7am this morning.

“A weapon huh? I’ve never heard them described like that.”

“But apparently I suppose there have been poems dedicated to them.” she snapped back then she shut her eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so ugly to you.”

He was silent for a moment then leaned toward her and spoke in a voice so deep and smooth it slid right into her, “Actually there’s not one thing I find ugly about you.”

Lena’s eyes flicked up to meet his brilliant blue ones and she shook her head slowly. “This wont work.”

“Why?” he asked and she felt his breath whisper across her lips.

“Because I don’t want it to.” she stopped when she saw his eyes narrow a little, “With anyone. I’m not ready for it to work with anyone.”

He reached out and pushed a piece of hair back from her face tucking it behind her ear, then sat back picking up his drink and taking a sip. Lena sat frozen on the seat and tried to remind herself this was an extremely bad idea. He was a womanizer, he was almost at celebrity status here in Chicago. She didn’t know the first thing about having a relationship, she knew how to run away.

“Stop thinking so hard Lena O’Donnell and enjoy a beer with me.”

Mason watched her pick up her beer and take another quick sip. He knew she was tense, he could feel the waves rolling off her, he just didn’t understand why. She’d pretty much told him, no. She didn’t want to date. Didn’t want to start anything with anyone, but for some reason the more he was with her the harder he was finding it to stay away. He knew she’d come straight from work and tonight she was in one of those classy little skirts he was coming to like a whole lot. It was snug and curved over her hip and finished just above her knee, which meant that right now perched up on this stool it had ridden up to mid thigh. Oh yeah, he liked those skirts, a lot. Her baby blue blouse was tucked neatly in at the waist and her hair was pulled half up on her head and the rest spilled down to her waist. He wanted to wrap his hand around all that hair and pull her in close to him. He also wouldn’t mind wrapping her hair around other parts of his body, but since she was still actually seated beside him, he figured he should keep that enlightening piece of information to himself. “So how was work?”

She tilted her head to him and smirked. “Really? You’re going to ask me about work?”

He shrugged then tried a different question, “Okay, how do you like the weather tonight?”

The last thing he expected was for her to bust out with a huge peal of laughter. He felt his mouth twitch at her hilarity and took a sip of his beer. “Are you done laughing at me?”